The Two Treasures of the Qiao Clan
The Qiao sisters stood before me.
Qiao Gong hurried to the annex and shouted urgently.
“Prepare the bridal chamber in the annex at once! Dress both girls beautifully and bring them here!”
“Right now, my lord?”
It was late at night. The visitor was the Gate Colonel of the imperial court and his strategist. Yet here was the head of the Qiao clan, rushing out from a drinking party to order his daughters adorned and a wedding chamber prepared.
In this era, it was common for renowned noble families with beautiful daughters to arrange political marriages. But to suddenly appear in the dead of night, barely having met the man, and immediately offer up two cherished daughters while preparing the bridal chamber? It was a marriage straight out of a ghost story.
“Father, we’re here.”
“What? Have we gained a fiancé?”
They were the two treasures of the Qiao family, whose beauty was said to be unmatched throughout Jiangdong. One had lustrous reddish hair that shimmered like polished silk.
Although Qiao Gong had never summoned a physiognomist to boast about his daughters’ appearances, he knew full well that every ambitious young noble and warlord in the region had their eyes on them.
“My dears, this is sudden, I know. But from today onward, you must serve our guest with utmost devotion.”
“I saw them over the wall earlier! I want the tall one with the broad shoulders!”
The Qiao sisters—Qiao Xuehua and Qiao Xuelan—had caught a glimpse of the two men beyond the wall. The elder, Xuehua, spoke first.
“Then may I have the slender scholar?”
“No. Both of you will serve the tall man with the bearing of a warrior that Xuehua mentioned.”
“B-both of us…?”
The sisters’ eyes widened in shock.
Qiao Gong embraced each daughter in turn and finally revealed his true feelings.
“Many local warlords have been eyeing you both. As your father, I wanted to find suitable husbands from prestigious families and marry you off properly. But these are chaotic times. To protect our clan, I have made this decision.”
“Father…”
When Xuelan spoke in a small voice, Qiao Gong told them exactly who the man they would serve was.
“The man you saw today is the grandson of Grand Tutor Cao Ju, a senior minister of the court, and the most cherished nephew of Chancellor Cao Mengde. His fame has already spread across the Central Plains. He rescued the imprisoned Emperor from Chang’an and repelled Lu Bu’s army in Xuzhou. Despite his youth, he has risen to the rank of Gate Colonel.”
“!”
“Oh my!”
“Your father has arranged this through the central court to secure our family’s protection. That is why I am sending you both to him.”
In the end, it was the most basic form of political marriage of the era—two sisters given to a single husband.
And the sisters accepted it calmly. Both had secretly been hoping for “that one,” so learning they would go to him filled their eyes with quiet anticipation.
“I’m the primary wife. You’ll be the ying-cheop.”
“What nonsense! Weren’t you the one who fell for that man named Son Lang the moment you heard about him last time? Go to Jiangdong!”
“How dare you speak to your elder sister like that!”
A short while later, the door opened and two stunning beauties entered.
“Whoa…”
I already had three peerless beauties as wives at home, and I frequently visited noble households, so I had grown rather accustomed to beautiful women. Yet these two were on another level entirely. Even compared to Cai Yan, Yuan Jing, and Lu Ming, they did not fall short in the slightest.
I couldn’t tell which was Daqiao and which was Xiaoqiao at first glance. One was shorter, with an exceptionally voluptuous chest and slightly upturned eyes that gave her a fierce, provocative look. The kind of woman who, once she warmed up to you, became incredibly passionate.
The other had the calm, mature aura of an older sister. She was taller than her sibling, with breasts that were similar or perhaps slightly smaller, but her hips were as full and alluring as Yuan Jing’s, and her legs were long and graceful to match her height.
These two peerless sisters bowed respectfully, then took up the konghou and began playing to liven the atmosphere of the drinking party.
Just looking at their faces was enough to send blood rushing downward.
I really am enjoying far more luxury than I deserve by coming to Lujiang today.
“My lord, both young ladies are truly peerless beauties.”
“Hahaha, aren’t they? These are my precious daughters, whom I have raised like gold and jade. The elder is Qiao Xuehua, and the younger, born the very next year, is Qiao Xuelan.”
“Xuehua and Xuelan… So they are the famous Qiao sisters of Jiangdong.”
“What do you think, Zayul? In your eyes, are my daughters more beautiful than the ladies back in the capital?”
At the mention of “the ladies of the capital,” both Daqiao and Xiaoqiao flinched visibly.
“You said you still have no children, correct? As a father with daughters, I would consider my life a complete success if my girls were to bear your first grandchildren and place them in this old man’s arms. Hahaha!”
When I mentioned that I already had wives, the Qiao sisters’ expressions shifted dramatically. When I added that I had no children yet, they looked at me with even more mysterious smiles.
“This is all so sudden, like some goblin’s wedding. I feel truly sorry toward Lord Qiao.”
“Sorry? Nonsense! It is an honor that a hero of the realm has come to our home. And now we have become in-laws! What finer day could there be?”
With that, a second round of dishes was brought in.
The music was excellent, the two sisters were so beautiful they could make a man forget how to breathe, and they were reserved for me tonight. The accompanying food was equally extravagant.
“This… what is this?”
“Unfamiliar in the Central Plains, I suppose? That is not a snake, but a fish called eel. It resembles a snake and is caught in the Yangtze River. Specimens this large are incredibly difficult to catch.”
I knew what eel was, of course.
But why was this one as thick as a man’s forearm? Did natural eels of this size even exist in this era?
The eel was sliced, grilled, and brushed with a sauce made from seafood broth. Beside it were plates of fragrant wild scallions, fresh wild ginseng, lingzhi mushrooms, abalone, and various other delicacies. Even the liquor looked suspiciously potent—clearly a strong medicinal brew unlike anything I had drunk before.
Were they trying to kill me with indulgence, or turn me into a bull?
“Aigoo, my lord. I am rather tired. May I retire early? I was told you have prepared an upper room for me.”
“Hoho, Dezuo, you’re leaving already?”
“I drank quite a lot. Please forgive me, Lord Qiao.”
Yang Xiu was trying to make a graceful exit.
As he did, he leaned over and whispered to me.
“Colonel, please enjoy yourself to the fullest. I will handle all the practical negotiations.”
Yang Xiu truly had an unmatched sense of timing when it came to reading the room and disappearing at the perfect moment.
So I wrapped the suspicious medicinal liquor and the massive grilled Yangtze eel with wild scallions and fragrant herbs, eating while I stared in rapture at the musical performance of the Qiao sisters—Qiao Xuehua and Qiao Xuelan.
“To come visiting so late at night… It seems this man Lu Zijing was in quite a hurry.”
Liu Ye spoke that way, yet he welcomed the sudden guest, Lu Su, with genuine warmth.
“Ziyang, you and Gongjin are both my cherished friends.”
“I heard that after meeting Lord Zayul in Xuzhou, you had a rather meaningful exchange with him as well.”
“Indeed. That is why I wish to end this with as little bloodshed as possible.”
Liu Ye gave a bitter smile at those words.
“Zijing, are you speaking from the heart?”
“In any case, our Jiangdong forces will provide the military supplies and provisions. If Lord Zayul’s army moves together with us, we can split the blind wealth of that region three ways and negotiate again afterward.”
“I already know that plan will not come to pass.”
At that moment, Lu Su’s usually gentle and smiling expression changed slightly.
Liu Ye quietly sipped his tea and spoke his mind.
“You came as a man of Jiangdong, and Lord Zayul came as a man of the court. Both sides are negotiating over the power and cities of the Lujiang region, yet you have barely made any significant moves.”
“Well, that is…”
“In my view, Lord Zayul has already brought his strategist Dezuo with him and is likely working to win over the local gentry of Lujiang. So what exactly are you doing?”
“Ziyang, I came here to see you.”
Lu Su and Cao Xiu had different ideas.
Both understood that Lujiang Governor Liu Xun had decided the situation was beyond his control. His plan was to submit to the strongest power and live out his days in luxury.
In that situation, Cao Xiu was meeting with the Qiao clan of Lujiang, the remnants of Yuan Shu’s faction, and other local powers to win over the gentry.
On the other hand, Lu Su believed he only needed to persuade one person in Lujiang—Liu Ye himself.
Since Liu Ye was effectively handling all of Lujiang’s affairs in place of the governor, Lu Su wanted to speak directly with the man who managed the practical work.
“Zijing, I made my opposition to my lord clear, but he has decided to launch an expedition to attack Shangliao. While he is gone, Lujiang will become an empty city.”
“Why do you call it an empty city?”
“Zijing, please stop the deception. While Lujiang is left empty, Cao Cao’s army and Sun Ce’s army will fight a decisive battle for it. We will simply follow whoever wins.”
“U-um…”
In the end, Liu Ye drew a clear line.
While Liu Xun’s Lujiang army marched south of the Yangtze to suppress the region, Cao Cao’s forces and Sun Ce’s forces would fight over the empty Lujiang city. The victor would take everything.
Only after clearly understanding his friend’s resolve did Lu Su drain his cup of tea.
“Since I have met you on the first day, I suppose I must begin visiting the Lujiang gentry one by one starting tomorrow.”
Although Cao Xiu would be the first to meet them, it would be Lu Su who brought new proposals to the negotiation table.
They had five days. There was no telling how many gentry would be swayed between Jiangdong and the imperial court during that time.
While Lu Su was making his preparations, Cao Xiu was…
“My lord, we will support you.”
“The annex has been prepared. Please come this way.”
My eyes and ears had been thoroughly spoiled by the music of the Jiangdong Qiao sisters, and my entire body burned from the extravagant feast Qiao Gong had prepared.
At the peak of my good mood, Qiao Xuehua—Daqiao—stood on my right, and Qiao Xuelan—Xiaoqiao—stood on my left.
I wrapped my arms tightly around the lovely Jiangdong Qiao sisters and headed toward the annex with a flower in each hand.
First, I would soak in the fragrant medicinal bath they had prepared, then make full use of the bridal chamber created solely for me. For the next several days, I would remain right here.
The Qiao clan had clearly chosen to support the imperial court and Cao Cao’s army.
This game is already over.
