The Prisoner of Beauty

After Xiao Qiao left, the once bustling and noisy Prefect's residence gradually quieted down as the guests dispersed. Seeing Qiao Ping still standing motionless, gazing in the direction of the gate, Qiao Yue approached to persuade him to go inside, saying, "Second Brother, our niece has already gone far. You witnessed the grand scene in the city earlier, and I am truly relieved."

Qiao Ping slowly turned around and said, "Elder Brother, there's something I shouldn't ask, but it has been troubling me for a long time. Taking this opportunity, I dare to ask. Ten years ago, when our father led troops to suppress Li Su, he held back his forces at the critical moment, resulting in the deaths of Wei Jing and his son, thus creating a rift with the Wei family. Did our father actually send a messenger to inform Wei Jing at that time? You were with our father in the army back then, so you should know."

Qiao Yue was taken aback, then showed displeasure, waving his hand, "That's all in the past. Why bring it up now? Whatever our father did back then, he must have had his reasons. How can we, as his sons, question that?"

With this response from Qiao Yue, Qiao Ping's suspicions were confirmed.

Ten years ago, after the incident in Chen Commandery, the Wei family held a funeral, and Qiao Ping was sent by his father, Qiao Gui, to Yuyang to offer condolences. In the mourning hall, the Wei family's generals drew their swords in anger towards Qiao Ping, accusing Qiao Gui of being treacherous and untrustworthy, claiming that he never sent any message and merely watched from the sidelines. Qiao Ping was terrified, thinking he wouldn't make it out of the Wei family's gate alive. Unexpectedly, Madam Xu not only sternly reprimanded the generals in front of him but also gently comforted Qiao Ping. After narrowly escaping, Qiao Ping returned to Yanzhou and recounted the incident to his father, Qiao Gui.

He still remembered clearly how his father frowned for a long time and finally sighed, "With such a matriarch in the Wei family, I fear they will be a future threat to our Qiao family!"

Over the past decade, Qiao Ping had always suspected that his father indeed never sent any message. His father was shrewd and had once been ambitious. At that time, although the Wei family's influence was still in the northern regions of Yan and You, they had no conflict with Yanzhou. However, Wei Jing was known for his strict military discipline, had been enfeoffed as a marquis for his merits, and enjoyed a reputation for wisdom, attracting many renowned scholars, showing signs of becoming a powerful leader.

Perhaps his father considered that if the Wei family rose to power in the future, it would be unfavorable for Yanzhou's expansion, so he took advantage of the situation, intending to eliminate a potential threat by using Li Su's hand.

"Second Brother, the marriage alliance between our families not only resolves the discord but also alleviates Yanzhou's current predicament. What's wrong with that? Don't overthink it."

Qiao Ping smiled bitterly, "Elder Brother, Manman has married as you wished, and Yanzhou's crisis is temporarily resolved. From now on, I hope you will work diligently to restore our Qiao family's prestige. This way, it will benefit the people of the commandery, and Manman will have some support in the Wei family."

Qiao Yue looked embarrassed and laughed, "Naturally, naturally, rest assured, Second Brother."

...

Wei Liang led a team of Wei family's personal guards to escort Xiao Qiao northward, traveling by day and resting by night. At first, the journey was uneventful, but as they approached the border of Ji Province, one day, as dusk was falling and the convoy had not yet reached the post station to rest, they happened to pass through a remote and deserted winding road. Sensing that someone might be following them, Wei Liang immediately ordered a turn back to investigate, but the guards returned saying there was nothing unusual.

Wei Liang, seemingly rough but actually meticulous, remained calm. That night, after lodging at the post station, he personally stood guard outside Xiao Qiao's room with a sword. The next day, he increased the vigilance and hastened the journey, finally ensuring Xiao Qiao's safe arrival in Xindu, Ji Province, before the end of the year.

...The former governor of Jizhou, Gao Tang, rebelled against the court under the pretext that Xing Xun was manipulating the government, persecuting loyal officials, and that the Han dynasty had become a mere shell of its former self. He killed those who refused to follow him and declared himself emperor. The court dispatched multiple armies to suppress him, but Gao Tang, having consolidated his power over the years with a strong and well-equipped army, and leveraging the strategic advantages of Jizhou, proved difficult to defeat. In the end, the court had no choice but to send Wei Shao to deal with him. Last autumn, Wei Shao personally led his troops into Jizhou.

When the previous armies had come to attack, each wave left the people of Jizhou worse off. There were even instances where government troops surrounded villages, slaughtered the inhabitants, and cut off their heads to hang on their horses, pretending they were rebel leaders to claim rewards. The people had long suffered greatly. When they heard that Wei Shao of Youzhou was coming, they were filled with fear and abandoned their unharvested wheat fields to flee in all directions. In some places, entire villages were emptied. However, when Wei Shao's army arrived, they not only refrained from causing any harm but also saw the wheat lying unharvested in the fields. The soldiers disarmed themselves and went into the fields to harvest the wheat, stacking it at the village entrance before leaving. They also captured the bandits and rogue soldiers who had been plundering along the way. Word spread quickly, and soon those who had fled returned home. Many young men even volunteered to join the army. The people along the way, contrary to their usual behavior, welcomed Wei Shao's army with drums and gongs.

With the people's support, Wei Shao's strength grew like a tiger with wings. In several battles, Gao Tang lost multiple cities and eventually retreated to Xindu, where he barricaded himself. Wei Shao did not rush to attack but instead stationed his troops and waited. By the beginning of the year, after several months of siege, he launched a decisive assault and captured Xindu. Gao Tang, with no way out, took his own life. Upon hearing the news, the people of Jizhou spread the word and sent respected elders with a petition of ten thousand names, pleading with Wei Shao to stay. Wei Shao submitted a memorial to the court, stating that remnants of Gao Tang's forces were still causing havoc in the countryside and that he would continue to station troops to eliminate the remaining rebels in response to the people's wishes. The court, wary of his growing power, initially refused and ordered him to withdraw from Jizhou. Wei Shao complied and withdrew. However, when the court subsequently sent several governors to Jizhou, they were blocked by the people at the city gates. The situation became so intense that after several attempts, no one dared to take up the position of governor. The court, unable to exert control from afar, had no choice but to yield to the people's will and appointed Wei Shao as the temporary governor. Wei Shao returned to Jizhou, and the people lined the streets to welcome him. It has been nearly a year since then.

Recently, Wei Shao has been in Xindu. Compared to Yuyang, Xindu is closer, so the wedding was conveniently arranged here.

……

The ancient city of Xindu is not very large, but it is well-known throughout Jizhou.

During the Warring States period, when Zhao and Wei were at war, Zhao lost Handan for three years and used Xindu as a temporary capital. A palace was built in the city, and within it stood a tower called the Tan Terrace, constructed from century-old sandalwood, towering over ten zhang high. From the top of the tower, one could see the entire city. After hundreds of years, it still stands today, having undergone several renovations. The character "palace" was removed from the name "Xin Palace," and it was renamed the "Residence," becoming the current governor's official residence.

When Wei Shao is in Xindu, he stays in the old Xin Palace.

Xiao Qiao's wedding carriage slowly entered through the city gate.

Through the carriage window, she saw the calm waters of the moat and the wide, smooth main road paved with large blue stones, wide enough for ten horses to walk abreast. The houses lined both sides of the road, and the cityscape was different from what she was used to in Dongjun. The ancient customs of Yan and Zhao were palpable. The men, women, and children walking on the street stopped to stare at her carriage, their faces filled with curiosity, as if they were unaware that Wei Shao was about to marry.The carriage, under the curious gazes of onlookers, finally came to a halt in front of the Xin Palace. Armored guards stood solemnly at the entrance, recognizing Wei Liang, and opened the gates to let them pass.

Xiao Qiao was helped down from the carriage, finally free from the days of jolting travel, and entered the Xin Palace accompanied by her maid Chun Niang and several other attendants.

During the journey, to pass the time, Chun Niang had inevitably imagined various scenarios of what their arrival at the wedding destination would be like.

Now, seeing it with her own eyes, although the Xin Palace was grand with its orderly halls and chambers, it was eerily quiet. Far from the festive preparations Chun Niang had envisioned for the wedding, there were hardly any people in sight. After a while, a woman in her forties appeared, dressed neatly with a stern expression that conveyed a sense of severity. This woman, who introduced herself as Zhong, led a few maids and stated that she had been ordered to welcome the bride from the Qiao family. Although her tone was respectful, the look she gave Xiao Qiao seemed to carry a hint of coldness.

Xiao Qiao surmised that this woman, though a servant, must hold a certain position within the Wei household and addressed her as "Madame Zhong" as per custom.

"I dare not accept such a title. I am merely a servant here to follow orders. You may call me Zhong Ao," the woman replied.

Zhong Ao led Xiao Qiao to her quarters, named "Yu Yang," which faced south and was well-lit by the sun.

Zhong Ao left two maids at Xiao Qiao's disposal, saying that she could be summoned if needed, then bowed slightly to Xiao Qiao and left.

Once Zhong Ao was gone, Chun Niang couldn't hide her disappointment and felt even more sorry for Xiao Qiao. She dismissed the two maids left by Zhong Ao and, while busy with the other attendants setting up the bedding and seats, complained in a low voice, finally asking, "Is the Marquis Wei even in the city now? And when is the wedding supposed to be?"

Chun Niang was puzzled, and Xiao Qiao was equally clueless. She rubbed her slightly sore calves from sitting in the carriage for so long, stood up, and walked to the window, pushing it open to look outside.

The courtyard was spacious. Near her residence at Yu Yang, an ancient tall building rose from the ground. A beam of sunlight happened to pass through the gaps between the upturned eaves, casting a bright spot of light that slightly dazzled the eyes.

...

Every day, servants would bring meals and hot water on schedule, and the care was meticulous. However, Xiao Qiao seemed unable to leave the Xin Palace, and it appeared that she had been forgotten.

Zhong Ao had not shown up since that day, and as for her husband—tentatively called that—the man named Wei Shao, there was no sign of him either.

Before they knew it, the end of the year was approaching. Chun Niang began to grow anxious, questioning the two maids countless times, but the maids seemed to follow Zhong Ao's lead. No matter what was asked, they would only shake their heads, and when pressed further, they would kneel and kowtow, begging for forgiveness, which greatly angered Chun Niang. She wanted to confront Zhong Ao for answers but was stopped by Xiao Qiao.

"Let's take things as they come. It's only the beginning. If he's not in a hurry, then I'm even less so," Xiao Qiao thought.

The Spring Festival of the seventh year of Dingkang was almost here. On clear days, Xiao Qiao would climb the Tan Terrace and could see the nearby residents busily cleaning their houses, washing clothes, and airing quilts, preparing for the Spring Festival.It was only after arriving here that Xiao Qiao learned that the Spring Festival, which is regarded by later generations as the most important and auspicious holiday of the year symbolizing reunion and good fortune, did not originally signify good luck in the simple understanding passed down from ancient times. Just like bamboo joints, where the bamboo is smooth except for the "knots" that are bumpy, such days were called "knots" or "festivals." The so-called Spring Festival was actually the most inauspicious day of the spring season. It was precisely to ward off evil and pray for blessings that people celebrated the Spring Festival with customs like cleaning and reuniting, though its liveliness paled in comparison to later generations.

Xiao Qiao couldn’t go out. Of course, she hadn’t thought of going out herself, but no one stopped her from climbing the Sandalwood Terrace beside her residence to gaze into the distance.

The Sandalwood Terrace was indeed very high, even taller than the city walls. Standing on the top-level observation deck, one could see a stretch of wilderness beyond the walls, as far as the eye could see.

……

A few days before the end of the year, it snowed.

At noon, the snow stopped, and the sun came out, surprisingly bright and warm.

Xiao Qiao spent the afternoon dozing in her room. By evening, she climbed the Sandalwood Terrace.

In recent days, she had been climbing the terrace at this time to wait for the sunset.

Beyond the city walls was an endless expanse of wilderness. Watching the sun set at the edge of the wilderness, its last rays of light disappearing as it was completely swallowed by the horizon, she thought that if she were a poet, she might have been able to compose a poem about watching the sunset from a high tower that could be passed down through the ages.

This evening was no different from the previous ones, except that the rooftops were covered with a layer of snow as soft as cotton, and the streets were a patchwork of black and white. The white was the snow, and the black was the road’s original color revealed where pedestrians had trampled the snow away. As usual, people were bustling about, taking advantage of the last moments before the light faded. Carrying loads, pushing carts, walking briskly… A few children were happily piling up snow at the corner of an alley, their laughter seemingly reaching even this high tower.

"It’s getting dark! It’s so cold and dry! The wind feels like it’s cutting through you! There’s a brazier in the room, my lady, let’s go down!"

Chun Niang, who was plump, was already a bit out of breath after climbing dozens of steps. She urged Xiao Qiao to go down, adding a fox fur cloak for her.

Chun Niang had spent the first half of her life in the mild climate of Dongjun and was still unaccustomed to the weather here, wishing she could stay indoors from morning till night.

The wind at the top of the Sandalwood Terrace was indeed strong. Xiao Qiao cupped her hands and blew warm air into them, then pressed her slightly warmed palms against her cold cheeks. Just as she was about to follow Chun Niang down, a faint sound suddenly came from the direction of the sunset.

At first, the sound was faint and muffled, and Xiao Qiao thought she was imagining it. But soon, it became clearer, arriving somewhat abruptly, like a sudden rumble of thunder from the ground.

Xiao Qiao couldn’t help but stop and turn to look into the distance again.

Beyond the city walls, the vast, silent wilderness that had seemed asleep under the blanket of snow suddenly appeared to awaken. At the edge of her vision, a mist of snow seemed to be swept up by a fierce wind, obscuring the sky and half of the setting sun on the horizon. Amidst it, what looked like banners faintly appeared.

"What is that?"

Chun Niang followed her gaze, her eyes widening, her voice tinged with alarm.

Xiao Qiao continued to watch.

The sound of thunder grew clearer and clearer.She finally saw clearly that it was a large contingent of cavalry, numbering in the thousands, galloping swiftly toward the city. As they drew closer, the sound of their approach was like rolling thunder.

"The Lord returns—"

"The Lord returns—"

Amid the faint but earth-shaking rumble of hooves, moments later, a sudden uproar erupted at the base of the city wall near the gate. The cries, carried by the wind, grew louder and louder, rising into the twilight sky above the ancient city of Xindu and reaching Xiao Qiao's ears.

The people on the streets heard it too, and one by one, they stopped in their tracks. After a brief pause, they all began running toward the city gate in unison.

"The Lord returns! The Lord returns!"

The entire ancient city stirred to life as more and more people rushed out of their homes, spreading the news.

……

After Xiao Qiao had arrived in Xindu and spent half a month secluded in the Xindu Palace, on this snowy evening, Wei Shao, the Marquis of Yan, finally returned to Xindu from Boling, hundreds of miles away.