The Prisoner of Beauty

Later that evening, the scouts sent to survey the route returned with news that the Liuhu Ferry was also frozen, and all boats had ceased operations.

Wei Shao had sought out a local who was well-versed in the river's channels. This man knew of a narrow section of the river that, given the extreme cold, would freeze solid in a few more days, allowing passage on foot. He offered to guide them across when the time came.

That night, Wei Shao took Xiao Qiao and left the ancient Wuchao Ferry, traveling several dozen li to stay at a posthouse, waiting for the ice to thicken enough for crossing.

This region, being close to the capital Luoyang, was still under the jurisdiction of the imperial court, making it difficult for local governors to assert too much power. The postmaster, having heard that Wei Shao of Youzhou had arrived with his consort for a temporary stay, did his utmost to accommodate them.

Since taking command of the army at seventeen, Wei Shao had been tirelessly defending against the Xiongnu, pacifying the borders, and conquering territories east and west. He was accustomed to sleeping with a sword under his pillow, never truly relaxing for a moment.

Now, with the ferry blocked and several days of waiting ahead, Wei Shao found himself in an unprecedented state of ease. Outside, the world was frozen, but inside, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The woman he adored was within arm's reach. He cast aside all other thoughts, focusing solely on Xiao Qiao, indulging in the pleasures of love day and night, without a care for the passage of time.

In ancient times, King Zhou of Shang and King You of Zhou had both neglected state affairs due to their infatuation with women, leading to their downfall. Wei Shao had always scorned such rulers as foolish. Yet, he never imagined that he too would one day be so captivated by a woman, so lost in her charms that even Lei Yan and Jia Si went three days without seeing their lord. On the fourth day, when they went to seek an audience due to urgent news, they were told that the lord had taken his lady out early to enjoy the snow, with no indication of when they would return. This left them utterly bewildered.

Alas! For Marquis Wei, this was truly unprecedented!

...

After several days of indulgence, Wei Shao suddenly felt a surge of inspiration one morning. He thought of the majestic scenery along the Yellow River, which he had passed by in haste on previous occasions, never stopping to appreciate it. Back then, he had neither the interest nor the leisure. Now, stranded here with a beauty by his side, why not take her out to enjoy the sights? It would make the trip worthwhile.

He was a man of action. Once the idea struck him, he immediately decided to take her out.

For the past few days, he had kept her confined to their room, barely allowing her to step outside. Wei Shao had been insatiable, and though Xiao Qiao had been accommodating, her delicate frame was beginning to tire under his relentless demands. She was just starting to worry when, that morning, he finally turned his attention to the outside world. Overjoyed, she readily agreed.

Chun Niang bundled her up from head to toe, adding a apricot-colored brocade cloak with a hood. Early in the morning, Wei Shao led her out through the back door of the posthouse. They mounted a single horse and rode along the riverbank.

Though the snow had stopped and the sky was clear, the north wind howled, and the cold was even more biting than in previous days. Xiao Qiao, nestled in Wei Shao's warm embrace, was further wrapped in his cloak, leaving only her eyes exposed. She felt no chill at all.

After being cooped up for days, she was thrilled to finally be out. As they rode, she chatted and laughed with him, enjoying the scenery. Before they knew it, they reached the foot of a steep hill. They dismounted, and Wei Shao led Xiao Qiao by the hand, stopping occasionally as they climbed to the top. Finally, they stood side by side on a stone platform, gazing out at the vast landscape.At their feet, two pale green riverbanks stretched from west to east, winding and majestic. The once surging river was now frozen for thousands of miles, its icy surface reflecting the rising sun, resembling a crystal-clear plain. The undulating terrain on both sides was covered in a vast expanse of snow. At the end of their line of sight, the snow-covered hills and peaks resembled the sinuous movement of a dragon.

Standing in such a vast and boundless world, Xiao Qiao felt a sense of insignificance welling up within her. As she was lost in her thoughts, Wei Shao suddenly raised his arm beside her and pointed to the west, saying, "Look, that's the direction of Luoyang. A round trip there on a fast horse would only take a few days. Xing Xun has been occupying the nest of the magpie for years. It's laughable that Yuan Zhe, who boasts of having a million troops, turned out to be nothing more than an empty name. I once thought he was someone of significance, but now I see he's just a pretender!" His tone was filled with disdain.

Yuan Zhe had previously launched a campaign against Xing Xun under the pretext of serving the emperor. The two sides had been locked in a stalemate at the Si River, and last month, a major battle finally took place. However, Yuan Zhe was defeated by Xing Xun and suffered heavy losses, retreating back to Qingzhou.

Xiao Qiao knew that Wei Shao was likely moved by the scenery and thus suddenly expressed his thoughts. She followed the direction of his finger, gazing toward the distant and unseen glorious capital.

The cold wind howled over the hilltop, making Xiao Qiao unsteady on her feet. Wei Shao wrapped an arm around her shoulder and suddenly added, "If one day this land becomes mine, I will take your hand and share the honor of ruling the world with you."

Xiao Qiao was startled and raised her eyes to look at him.

Wei Shao, however, did not look back at her. His gaze remained fixed on the distant direction of the capital. His words seemed to have been spoken casually, as if they were just an offhand remark.

Xiao Qiao smiled faintly and said nothing.

The wind on the hilltop was strong, and after standing there for a while longer, Wei Shao led her back down the hill. As they had come, they rode together on a single horse, slowly making their way back. As they approached the post station, they saw Lei Yan standing at the crossroads, looking around as if waiting for Wei Shao's return.

Lei Yan spotted Wei Shao from a distance and quickly walked toward him. Wei Shao urged his horse forward, signaling Lei Yan to wait while he escorted Xiao Qiao into the post station. Afterward, he came back out.

"My lord, Yang Xin has sent news," Lei Yan reported as soon as Wei Shao emerged. "Two days ago, Xue Tai's troops were lured into a valley in Mangshan by the leader of the refugees. They were ambushed with fire from both sides, and their troops were thrown into chaos. A fierce battle ensued, and that green-eyed man, fighting alone, charged into Xue Tai's formation with unmatched bravery. Xue Tai was startled off his horse and was struck in the throat by an arrow, dying on the spot."

Wei Shao's eyes showed a hint of surprise, and he pondered for a moment before asking, "What is the current situation there?"

Lei Yan replied, "With Xue Tai dead on the battlefield, Lingbi has now fallen entirely into the hands of the refugee leader, and his power has greatly increased. Xuzhou is in chaos. Xue Tai still has two sons, who have hung white banners on the city walls of Xuzhou, vowing to take the green-eyed man's head in revenge. It seems there will be another fierce battle ahead."

"Where is Yang Xin now?" Wei Shao asked.

"Reporting to you, my lord, Yang Xin initially led his troops to provide support as you instructed. However, upon seeing the situation, he has already withdrawn and is now awaiting your further orders."

Wei Shao fell silent, seemingly deep in thought.

Lei Yan waited for a long time without receiving a response. He recalled the encounter with the green-eyed man outside Hu Village a few days ago, when he had nearly lost his life. Although several days had passed, the memory still sent a chill down his spine. Unable to hold back, he said, "My lord, although this green-eyed man is just a refugee leader, he is truly not to be underestimated. Even Xue Tai fell at his hands. If he is not brought under your control in the future, he will surely become a threat. Fortunately, he is related to you by marriage. If you could recruit him, it might be a win-win situation."Wei Shao said indifferently, "I have no such brother-in-law."

Lei Yan was startled for a moment, then suddenly understood. He thought to himself, indeed.

Although that green-eyed man had killed Xue Tai and now occupied Lingbi, he was ultimately just a lowly leader of vagrants. Considering the status and position of the Qiao family, even if their influence had declined, they would never marry their daughter to a vagrant without some hidden reason. Moreover, given the lord's status, how could that vagrant leader be considered a brother-in-law to the lord?

Realizing his mistake, Lei Yan hurriedly apologized, "This general has spoken out of turn, please do not blame me, my lord."

Wei Shao waved his hand, "It's fine."

"Any other news from Yanzhou?"

He seemed to recall something after a moment of distraction and asked again.

Lei Yan quickly replied, "I had intended to report to you yesterday, my lord. But I couldn't see you, and thinking it wasn't urgent, I delayed. As Jia Si mentioned, the wife of Governor Qiao has been bedridden for several months. Madam's return was indeed to visit her. Madam stayed in Dongjun for three or four days, then joined the green-eyed man and went to Lingbi. The only unusual thing is that during this time, Madam's father, Qiao Ping, the governor of Dongjun, has been posting notices at the city gates, recruiting talents without discrimination, somewhat imitating the ancient King Zhao of Yan's gesture of valuing talent. The whole city is talking about it."

Wei Shao's eyes flickered slightly, and he frowned.

After Lei Yan finished his report, he stood silently by, waiting for Wei Shao to speak.

"Send my message to Yang Xin, tell him to be more vigilant against the vagrant leader. If Xue Tai's son is unable to resist, he must take control when necessary. Do not let Xuzhou fall into the hands of that green-eyed man! If he has any indecisions, he should report to me."

After pondering for a moment, Wei Shao finally spoke slowly.

...

Xiao Qiao returned to her room, took off her tightly wrapped clothes, and inserted a branch of wintersweet that Wei Shao had picked by the roadside into a vase, nourishing it with fresh water. After admiring it for a while, she sat by the stove with Chun Niang, roasting chestnuts and chatting idly.

Gradually, in the soft crackling sound of chestnut shells bursting, a faint sweet aroma filled the air, mingling with the subtle fragrance of wintersweet, refreshing the heart and mind.

"I wonder how things are going in Lingbi," Chun Niang said, using tongs to take out the chestnuts. After they cooled slightly, she peeled off the golden flesh, placed it on a plate, and fed one to Xiao Qiao. "We've been delayed here for a few days, I wonder when we can set off."

Xiao Qiao slowly chewed the sweet chestnut meat, lost in thought, when she suddenly heard footsteps outside the door.

Chun Niang turned around and saw Wei Shao entering unhurriedly. She quickly stood up, greeted him with a smile, and then left.

Wei Shao came behind Xiao Qiao, wrapped his arms around her waist, kissed her, and asked, "What were you talking about with Chun Niang just now?"

Xiao Qiao turned her head, saw him smiling and leaning over from behind, and replied with a smile, "Nothing much. Just talking about my brother-in-law and sister in Lingbi. I wonder how the battle is going. I'm a bit worried."

Wei Shao looked at her. He then sat down beside her, reached out, and lifted her onto his lap, facing him.

Their eyes met.

Wei Shao gazed at her but remained silent.

Xiao Qiao sensed something unusual about him. Seeing his gaze fixed on her face, she instinctively reached up and touched her cheek, laughing, "Why are you looking at me like that? Did I draw a flower on my face?"Wei Shao smiled leisurely and said, "I have some good news for you, something to set your mind at ease. Just two days ago, the leader of the refugees clashed with Xue Tai at Mount Mang, and Xue Tai was slain on the battlefield. The refugee leader has now taken control of the entire Lingbi region."

Xiao Qiao was overjoyed, her eyes suddenly sparkling with delight. She exclaimed happily and immediately grabbed Wei Shao's shoulders, rising from his lap. "Is what you're saying true, my husband?"

In her excitement, she inadvertently pushed Wei Shao down onto the bed.

"Is it really true? You're not deceiving me?" Xiao Qiao pressed further.

Over the past few days, although she hadn't brought up the situation in Lingbi in front of Wei Shao again, she had been deeply concerned. She knew Bi Zhi was a skilled warrior, but the disparity in strength between him and Xue Tai was too great. This time, Xue Tai had marched with the intent to completely annihilate him, and there were too many variables to predict the outcome.

She never expected not only a victory but such a resounding triumph! How could she not be ecstatic?

Wei Shao, now lying on the floor with Xiao Qiao on top of him, gazed up at her radiant, joyful eyes, which were now so close. Suppressing a strange feeling that slowly welled up in his heart, he reached up to stroke her hair and smiled at her. "It's true."