Qiao Sisters SGYY Biography

[James]

I’ve gotten so many requests for their biography that it is about time one was made. I sat down and tossed this together this morning using my different copies of the novel and some tidbits I had picked up doing research for various people that asked about them earlier. Hopefully you enjoy it.

If you see any mistakes or elements which could benefit from clarification, please let me know. Also, if you have any footnotes to suggest, I would definitely welcome them. When you have a biography with this much fictional content it is easy to miss a detail that readers would benefit a great deal from.

And without further delay, the biography:
(Yes, the post source hard to read. Comment using copy/paste?)

[James]

<b>Qiao Sisters (Xiao Qiao and Da Qiao)
小喬 and 大喬
Lifespan: Unknown</b>
<p>Patriarch Duke Qiao of the southlands had two daughters, known as the Qiao sisters. The oldest, sometimes referred to as Xiao Qiao, was wed to Sun Ce, Sun Jian’s son and Sun Quan’s brother. The youngest, sometimes referred to as Da Qiao, was wed to Zhou Yu. (1) There is no especial reference to either of them in actual history, and the exact details surrounding their appearance in <i>Romance of the Three Kingdoms</i> are largely fictional. Beyond the battle of Chibi there is no mention of what happened to either of them, though it is assumed they both remained in Wu.</p><blockquote>1: Xiao (<span class="hz">大</span>), in this context, translates to ‘Big’, thus ‘Elder’, and Da (<span class="hz">小</span>) to ‘Little’, thus ‘Younger’. Rather than refer to them as Older Qiao and Younger Qiao, the names Xiao Qiao and Da Qiao have become popular alternatives. Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao were names first used by KOEI in Dynasty Warriors 3 when the characters were introduced.</blockquote><p>In <span class="sc">AD</span> 208, after Lady Cai proposed to Liu Zong—Liu Biao’s heir—to cede Jingzhou to Cao Cao, and the young lord agreed, Liu Bei was left with no choice but to flee Jingzhou toward the Riverlands. After some battle he arrived at the Han River Ford, his only hope to resist Cao Cao’s forces and prevent the unification of China under his leadership being a mutual defense with Sun Quan, who had just come into power in the Riverlands.</p><p>Zhuge Liang departed from Liu Bei’s camp and traveled to meet Sun Quan, assuring Liu Bei that he would stir the young lord into action against Cao Cao. In the mean time, Lu Su, a subordinate advisor of Sun Quan’s, having heard of Liu Zong’s surrender, proposed to his lord that after winning Liu Bei’s trust they could perhaps convince hime, along with the remnants of Liu Biao’s forces, to mutually defend against Cao Cao; all part of a measure to transfer power into Sun Quan’s hands so he could contend for the empire.</p><p>Still in <span class="sc">AD</span> 208, Cao Cao, hoping to avoid any cooperation between the two of them, drafted a note urging Sun Quan to attend a hunting expedition to Jiangxia and, in the process of the expedition, remove Liu Bei from power. Sun Quan had not yet reached a decision. Zhang Zhao, a an advisor under Sun Quan, urged his lord to dispatch Liu Bei and surrender to Cao Cao, believing resistance to be useless, and a faction formed supporting his views.</p><p>Lu Su, who was in attendance when Zhang Zhao addressed Sun Quan, did not agree and urged Sun Quan to resist Cao Cao’s forces. Seeing that Sun Quan was still unsure of what to do, Lu Su urged him to meet Zhuge Liang, who was presently inside the city. Sun Quan agreed. Also of the opinion that Cao Cao could be defeated, Zhuge Liang came before Sun Quan and his advisors and was forced to debate his view before them all, though nobody was able to refute his logic. Sun Quan, despite everything, was still unsure of what measures to take.</p><p>Seeing that Sun Quan was still unsure of what to do, Lady Wu reminded him of the advice Sun Ce had given on his deathbed: ‘Consult Zhang Zhao on domestic difficulties, Zhou Yu on external ones,’ adding, “shouldn’t you now be consulting Zhou Yu?” Sun Quan, pleased to remember the advice, sent for Zhou Yu who was previously at the Poyang lakes directing naval training, though Zhou Yu had already come, hearing of the news. He did not immediately meet with Sun Quan.</p><p>Aware of Zhou Yu’s arrival, the various factions visited him to urge him into persuading Sun Quan of their own view, and he dismissed them all after hearing their sides, assuring each that they had his support. Later, Zhou Yu met with Zhuge Liang with Lu Su in attendance.</p><p>After formalities were exchanged, Lu Su questioned Zhou Yu, reviewing their position and asking for his view on the situation. Zhou Yu, however, explained, “Cao Cao acts in the name of the Son of Heaven, the Emperor, and cannot be defeated. He has grown so powerful that any hope of victory against him is little more than a foolish dream, without merit; fighting will bring us only certain defeat. If we surrender, we gain cheap security. Tomorrow I shall send an advocate representative to convey our intentions to Cao Cao.”</p><p>“But that is misguided!” refuted Lu Su, “our estate, founded by Sun Jian, now spans three generations. How can we abandon it to strangers with such a sudden decision? The last words of our Lord’s brother, Sun Ce, to our Lord Sun, urged him to entrust in you for advice in matters such as this, as if you were the great Mount Tai, to preserve the house of Sun. Surely you must not shy away from this trust?”</p><p>In appeal, Zhou Yu responded, “The souls living in the six districts of the Southlands are innumerable, and if we bring to them the disasters of war they will lay their grievances before us in turn. This is why I have decided on peace.”</p><p>“How wrong that would be!” cried Lu Su. “With a general of your talents the defensibility of our land is assured; Cao Cao is far from achieving his ambitions!” The two continued to debate, one refuting the views of the other in turn, though Zhuge Liang simply watched with an amused smile, well composed despite the situation.</p><p>“What makes you smile so disdainfully?” prompted Zhou Yu when he noticed.</p><p>“Your antagonist, Lu Su, of course, who refuses to acknowledge the exigencies of the situation” responded Zhuge Liang.</p><p>“Now you’re mocking me for ignorance?” snapped Lu Su.</p><p>“Zhou Yu sues for submission, it seems perfectly reasonable?” was the response.</p><p>“Any scholar who recognizes realities—and Kongming (2) is surely one—must be of the same mind,” interjected Zhou Yu.</p><blockquote>2: Zhuge Liang’s style name (<i>zi</i>).</blockquote><p>“You too feel this way?” asked Lu Su of Zhuge Liang.</p><p>“Cao Cao is a master of warfare,” explained Zhuge Liang, “whom none under the Heavens dare to oppose. Those who have—Lü Bu, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and Liu Biao—have all been destroyed. No such men remain in the empire, save Lord Liu, who has refuses to, ‘acknowledge the exigencies of the situation’, and continues to struggle with Cao Cao for mastery, however he now stands alone in Jiangxia with his very survival in question. The general’s plan to submit to Cao Cao guarantees the safety of his family in addition to protecting his status and wealth. What does it matter if the sacred throne of the Sun is transferred to another house? Why ascribe it to the Mandate of Heaven? There is no need for such things.”</p><p>Lu Su was moved to wrath. “So you would see my lord bend his knee and endure disgrace before a treasonous rogue?” he demanded (3).</p><blockquote>3: Zhou Yu was already of the mind to oppose Cao Cao. His pretense of supporting surrender was simply to induce Zhuge Liang into requesting aid from the Southlands. Unaware of this, Lu Su is moved to desperation while Zhuge Liang, who is quite aware, simply plays along.</blockquote><p>Zhuge Liang, paying no heed to Lu Su, continued, “I have, however, considered one other possibility that should save us the ritual transfer of sheep and wine while we surrender our lands and offer up the seals of state. You would not even have to cross the river to meet with him, instead sending a single escort in the company of two people. Should Cao Cao come into possession of these two, his million-man army would toss aside their armor, take down their banners, and retire from the fields.”</p><p>“And who are they?” asked Zhou Yu.</p><p>“Parting with them,” responded Zhuge Liang, “to the Southlands could be likened to an oak shedding a leaf, or a granary diminished by a grain of millet. But should he get them, Cao Cao would depart from our lands content.”</p><p>“Who are these two people?” prompted Zhou Yu again.</p><p>“While in residence at Longzhong,” continued Zhuge Liang, “I heard that Cao Cao was preparing a new tower on the banks of the Zhang. It is called the Bronze Bird Pavilion, an absolutely magnificent and elegant creation. He has searched the lands far and wide for beautiful women to fill its chambers. Cao Cao, who by character is inclined to debauchery, has long known that the Southland patriarch Qiao had two daughters; women of such beauty their faces could make fish to forget how to swim, or birds forget how to fly; or humble the very blossoms and outshine the moon. He thus vowed, ‘First, I’ll sweep the realm of opposing forces and build my empire; next I’ll take into my possession the two Qiao sisters and install them into the Bronze Bird Pavilion so my later years might be filled with pleasure, giving me a chance to die without regret.’ Though it may seem Cao Cao has brought his million-man force to conquer the southlands, in reality he comes only for these two women. General, why not speak with the patriarch Qiao to procure the girls, then with a thousand pieces of gold in the company of a messenger, dispatch them into Cao Cao’s possession? With them, I assure you, he would leave most content. In times past Fan Li of Yue succeeded with a similar plan in presenting the beauty Xi Shi to the king of Wu. (4) You should surely act at once?”</p><blockquote>4: Moss Roberts: This is an allusion to a southland legend concerning Fan Li, an adviser to the king of Yue during the Warring States period. After the king of Wu had conquered the Yue at Kuaiji, Fan Li arranged for the beauty Xi Shi to be presented to the victorious king of Wu, ostensibly as a peace offering. Perhaps distracted by Xi Shi, the king of Wu became less vigilant, enabling the Yue many years later to avenge its defeat and and destroy the kingdom of Wu.</blockquote><p>“Can you verify Cao Cao’s desire of these two women?” prompted Zhou Yu.</p><p>“He once commissioned his son, Zhi, a writer of great genius to compose a poem. The result is the ‘Bronze Bird Pavilion Rhapsody,’ (5) its theme only allowing allusions to the fitness of his house for the throne, and his vow to wed the daughters Qiao. Should you wish to hear it, I think I could recall it. I admire it greatly.”</p><blockquote>5: Moss Roberts: This rhapsody served a different occasion in history from the one it serves in the novel. The [<i>Sanguozhi</i>] (p. 558) dates the rhapsody to a winter of <span class="sc">AD</span> 210, i.e., two years after the events of this chapter and after Cao Cao’s grand ambitions had been thwarted. Historically, the poem was intended to project Cao Cao’s imperial ambition in moral rather than martial accents, taking a tone more appropriate for lauding a chastened chief commander; it was not written to celebrate Cao Cao’s plan to conquer the empire. The poet, barely nineteen at the time of composition, used extravagant and deliberate language. […]</blockquote><p>“Try,” was the response, to which Zhuge Liang recited the poem (6).</p><blockquote>6: From <i>Romance of the Three Kingdoms</i>, translated by Moss Roberts.</blockquote><blockquote>A pleasant promenade beside His Majesty:<br />They mount the tiered tower, delight their spirits,<br />And view the teeming richness of the realm,<br />The sphere his sagely virtue rules.<br />These gates he built pierce the mid-sky;<br />The double pylons float to the crystalline.<br />Splendid viewing rooms sit suspended there,<br />Linked chambers seem to hang above the western wall.<br />They peer down on the ever-flowing Zhang,<br />Whose gardens give promise of teeming glory. (7)<br />Aloft on either side, twin towers—<br />Left, Jade Dragon; right, Golden Phoenix—<br />To hold his brides, the Southland daughters Qiao, (8)<br />With whom he will take his pleasure, morning, evening,<br />Look down on the royal city’s spacious elegance;<br />Behold the shimmering tints of distant clouds.<br />Rejoice in the confluence of many talents;<br />Auspicious dreams of aid will be fulfilled. (9)<br />Look up! The gentle solemnity of spring;<br />And hear! The lovelorn cries of every bird.<br />May those proud towers stand till Heaven’s end.<br />Our house has gained a twin fulfillment.<br />Our benevolent influence spreads across the realm,<br />Winning universal homage for our capital. (10)<br />Even the splendor of Huan and Wu, ancient hegemons,<br />Pales beside his sagely grace and wisdom.<br />Most blessed! Most marvelous!<br />His generous favor, extending far and wide.<br />Lend the sovereign house your aid.<br />That unto the four corners peace may reign.<br />Our king is on a scale with Heaven and earth,<br />Radiant as the light of sun or moon,<br />Ever honored as the ultimate principle,<br />Immortal as the sky’s sovereign star. (11)<br />Driving the dragon banners round the royal circuit.<br />Guiding the phoenix chariot round the realm:<br />His clement influence bathes the kingdom’s corners;<br />Prize offerings to him heap high—the people prosper.<br />May these towers stand firm for all time.<br />For pleasure never failing and without end.</blockquote><blockquote>7: The following eight lines are not from Cao Zhi’s original poem, but instead come from Luo Guanzhong’s <abbr title="Sanguozhi tongsu yanyi"><i>TS</i></abbr>.</blockquote><blockquote>8: In Luo Guanzhong’s <abbr title="Sanguozhi tongsu yanyi"><i>TS</i></abbr>, ‘qiao’ reads “holding two bridges”, and is not a reference to the Qiao sisters. A footnote in the 1973 edition of <abbr title="Sanguo yanyi"><i>SGYY</i></abbr> explains, “In chapter 34 it says ‘they built two flying bridges to traverse to space’, so the two <i>qiao</i> must refer to these bridges [of the Bronze Bird Pavilion]. In interpreting the poem this way, Zhuge Liang is cunningly twisting the words to imply that Cao Cao wishes to steal away the wives of Zhou Yu and the deceased Sun Ce. Later, Cao Cao himself speaks of his interest for the two women, validating the poem and vilifying his name, though these are changes made to the novel by Mao Zonggang.</blockquote><blockquote>Moss Roberts: In the [<i>Sanguozhi</i> tongsu yanyi</i>] the lines read: “Embracing two <i>qiao</i> on the southeast, / Like rainbow arches [<i>didong</i>] in eastern sky.” This version describes the towers’ architecture while making an allusion to <i>Shi jing</i>, ode 51, “Didong,” a poem about a marriage that alienates a woman from her family. According to the “Little Preface” to the <i>Shi jing</i>, the moral purpose of ode 51 is to discourage elopement. […]</blockquote><blockquote>9: Moss Roberts: Literally, “flying bears enter the dream,” an allusion to King Wen of Zhou’s meeting the sage Taigong (Jiang Ziya) on the riverbank. References to the father of the founder of the Zhou dynasty reinforce Cao Cao’s protestations of support for the Han. King Wen had the allegiance of the empire but refrained from overthrowing the decadent reigning dynasty. With the next line the original text resumes.</blockquote><blockquote>10: The provincial capital of Jizhou, Ye.</blockquote><blockquote>11: This is where the original poem, by Cao Zhi, ends.</blockquote><p>After Zhuge Liang had finished reciting the poem, Zhou Yu stood violently from his seat, pointing north. “You old rebel! Rogue! This insult is too deep!” (12)</p><blockquote>12: Moss Roberts: Zhou Yu’s jealousy is a theme from the <abbr title="Sanguozhi pinghua"><i>PH</i></abbr> (p. 80): Zhou Yu is too happy with his beautiful wife to heed Sun Quan’s call for help. Gifts of gold, jade, and silk also fail to move him. But when Kongming tells him that Cao Cao has built a bronze tower to house many beautiful women and predicts the imprisonment of the sisters Qiao, Zhou Yu rises to the cause of the south.</blockquote><p>Zhuge Liang also rose from his seat, quickly checking him. “But remember then khan of the Xiongnu, when he encroached on our borders? The Emperor of Han granted him a princess to promote amnesty through kinship? How can we begrudge him two female commoners?”</p><p>“There is something you do not know,” explained Zhou Yu. “Of the two daughters of patriarch Qiao, the elder is the widow of Sun Ce, our late ruler, the younger Qiao is my own wife!”</p><p>Feigning great astonishment, Zhuge Liang showed his remorse. “No indeed! I did not know. I blurted the suggestion—a deadly fault—a deadly fault! I have said something and offended you most gravely, a thousand pardons!” (13)</p><blockquote>13: Zhuge Liang knew before he even entered the room to meet with him.</blockquote><p>“Cao Cao, you old traitor!” cried Zhou Yu, his anger unabated. “The two of us shall not share footing on this earth! I swear it!”</p><p>“The situation must be considered carefully,” cautioned Zhuge Liang.</p><p>“I hold the sacred trust of the late Lord, Sun Ce,” explained Zhou Yu. “How could I bow a knee to one such as Cao Cao? What I said just now was simply to see where you stood. I left Poyang Lake with the intention of attacking the northlands, and nothing will change my heart on this matter. Not even a sword at my breast or an ax at my neck. I trust you will lend an arm, so that we might destroy Cao Cao together?”</p><p>“Should I not be rejected, I would gladly render such humble services as I could. Perhaps presently I might be able to offer a plan to oppose him?”</p><p>“I am going to see my lord tomorrow, we will discuss the matter then,” was Zhou Yu’s response. Zhuge Liang and Lu Su then departed. The next day Zhou Yu went before Sun Quan and questioned Zhang Zhao as to his decision, dismissing it as the opinion of an ill-advised student, then proposing to Sun Quan that they stand together to drive away Cao Cao’s forces. These events, among others, led up to Cao Cao’s famous defeat at Chibi.</p><p>Later, on December 10, <span class="sc">AD</span> 208, before meeting facing the allied southern forces on Chibi, Cao Cao held a party for his officers. Wine was passed around, and as the hours passed he became quite intoxicated. At one point he pointed to the south to Xiakou (14), and shouted, “You do not amount to much, with your puny force, Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang! How foolish it is of you to attempt to shake the Taishan Mountains! What folly!”</p><blockquote>14: Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang were stationed at Xiakou.</blockquote><p>Then, turning to his officers, he continued, “I am now fifty-four years of age. If I can obtain the Southlands I shall have my humble wish. In days long past, the Patriarch Duke Qiao in the south and I were great friends, and we came to an agreement on certain matters, for I know his two daughters, the Qiao Sisters, were of beauty beyond compare. To think that Sun Ce and Zhou Yu would take them as their wives before me! Recently, I constructed the Bronze Bird Pavilion on the River Zhang. If I win the Southland I shall wed these two women and install them in the Tower, and they will rejoice my declining years. My desires will then be completely fulfilled!” He smiled in anticipation, then broke into laughter. (15)</p><blockquote>15: Cao Cao’s affirmation of his desire to make the Qiao sisters his wives, at this point, is not an element of Luo Guanzhong’s <abbr title="Sanguozhi tongsu yanyi"><i>TS</i></abbr>, but instead was later added by Mao Zonggang when he revised the work to further vilify Cao Cao. As mentioned earlier in the biography, the original instance of <i>qiao</i> only referred to the ‘two flying bridges to traverse into space’ on the Bronze Bird Pavilion, not actual people.</blockquote><p>Du Mu, a famous poet of the Tang Dynasty, wrote the following poem (15):</p><blockquote>15: From <i>Romance of the Three Kingdoms</i>, translated by Moss Roberts.</blockquote><blockquote>Half-rusted, broken in the sand, this halberd,<br />Scraped and cleaned, calls up an era past. (16)<br />Had that east wind not done Zhou Yu a turn.<br />Two Qiaos in spring would have gone to the tower.</blockquote><blockquote>16: The broken halberd is a relic from the ensuing battle at Chibi.</blockquote><p>Cao Cao then fought the forces of Zhou Yu and Liu Bei at Chibi and faced a crushing defeat, thanks to several plots formed by Zhuge Liang, Zhou Yu, and Pang Tong, and vital assistance from Xu Shu, who saw through Pang Tong’s plot to chain their ships together, and chose not to advise Cao Cao. The Qiao sisters were never taken from Wu.</p>

[Morg]

Xiao (大), in this context, translates to ‘Big’, thus ‘Elder’, and Da (小) to ‘Little’, thus ‘Younger’.

Shouldn't that be the other way around? I'm sure that Da means 'big' while Xiao means 'small'.

After some battle he arrived at the Han River Ford, his only hope to resist Cao Cao’s forces and prevent the unification of China under his leadership being a mutual defense with Sun Quan, who had just come into power in the Riverlands.

Is that deliberate? Are there no details on the battle itself?

In the mean time, Lu Su, a subordinate advisor of Sun Quan’s, having heard of Liu Zong’s surrender, proposed to his lord that after winning Liu Bei’s trust they could perhaps convince hime, along with the remnants of Liu Biao’s forces, to mutually defend against Cao Cao; all part of a measure to transfer power into Sun Quan’s hands so he could contend for the empire.

Damn that is one big sentence. Perhaps it should be split into two? Highlighted word should be 'him' I believe.

Zhang Zhao, a an advisor under Sun Quan, urged his lord to dispatch Liu Bei and surrender to Cao Cao, believing resistance to be useless, and a faction formed supporting his views.

An extra 'a'

I don't know if you realise, but there is a bit with Da Qiao when Sun Ce dies. It is the only time either of the sisters are directly involved in a scene:

Then he called for his wife, Lady Qiao, and said, "Unhappily we have to part while still in the full vigor of life. You must care for my mother. Your sister will come to see you presently, and you can ask her to tell her husband, Zhou Yu, to help my brother in all things and make my brother keep to the way I have taught him to walk in."

Then Sun Ce closed his eyes and soon after passed away. He was only twenty-six.

Damn good work though putting together that bio considering there is so little to go on. There is also a folk tale about Xiao Qiao murdering Zhou Yu if you want to include it as a footnote...

[James]

Damn good work though putting together that bio considering there is so little to go on. There is also a folk tale about Xiao Qiao murdering Zhou Yu if you want to include it as a footnote...

Awesome. Do you know where the folktale is in written form?
I’ll reply to the rest when I have more time. Thank you very much for finding my mistakes though, much appreciated.

[Morg]

Awesome. Do you know where the folktale is in written form?

It is from a Chinese book of 3K folktales which Empress Zhang has translated parts of over on the Frontier Forums. The book is called "The Complete Collection of Folklares of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and here is the story of Xiao Qiao that she posted there 3 years back:

---------------------------------------
Killing Zhou Yu

People always say that Zhou Yu had been tricked to death by Zhuge Liang. Actually, Luo Guan Zhong had mistaken. So when we read the book, we are misleaded as well. In fact, Zhou Yu had only been sick, his death is caused by his wife, Xiao Qiao.

Speaking of xiao Qiao, her beauty is no less than Diao Chan yet her morals are worse. She never care about politics and the important matters Zhou Yu have to deal with all day. After she is married to Zhou Yu, she can eat whatever she want, dress in the best cloth, have carriage whenever she went out, and bunch of servents. However, even though her life is comfortable, Xiao Qiao is not happy. this is because Zhou Yu have to be in charge of so many important matters each day, that he barely have time for his wife. Even though he always bring Xiao Qiao with him when he is on a campaign, but most of the time he just leave she along in the tent while worrying about battles from morning to night. Xiao Qiao could not stand the loneliness, so she usually went to Zhou Yu's camp and drag him back.

One time, Zhou Yu and his generals are discussing a very important matter, so he did not go back to his tent for three nights in a row. Xiao Qiao went outside and played a very sexy song. Now Zhou Yu get angry finally. He send Xiao Qiao back to Zheng Jiang with her sister, Da Qiao, to live with Wu Guo Tai.

After returning to Zheng Jiang, Xiao Qiao could not bear the loneliness anymore. So she get together with Zhou Yun, who is a servent of Zhou Yu. Speaking of Zhou Yun, his grandfather, his father have served the grandfather and father of zhou yu. Zhou Yun is about the same age as Zhou Yu and is pretty handsome as well. Yet instead of possessing the ability Zhou Yu had, his mind with filled with wacky stuff. Plus a sharp eye that can tell what people want, he got the trust of Zhou Yu, who send him back to Zheng Jiang along with Xiao Qiao to take care of personal businesses. Now Zhou Yun is like in heaven. Everytime he saw Xiao Qiao, he wants to have her. But with Zhou Yu there, there is just no opportunity. Now it is just him and Xiao Qiao, to Zhou Yun, it is like the perfect opportunity. Therefore, he went to Xiao Qiao's room everyday and trying to make her agree, Xiao Qiao, who get lonely, is thrilled with this opportunity. So everyday they get together.

After the battle of Chibi, Zhou Yu got tricked by Zhuge Liang and feel ill. Sun Quan, worried about zhou yu's body, send Xiao Qiao to Chai Sang to care for Zhou Yu. Zhou Yun, as Xiao Qiao's servent, came along with her.

Ever since Xiao Qiao get together with Zhou Yun, she did not care much about Zhou Yu anymore. When she arrived to Chai Sang, she have a headache each time she saw her "husband". Since too many people came to see zhou yu, Xiao Qiao could not get to Zhou Yun three days in a row. On the fourth night, after Zhou Yu had gone into sleep, she went to Zhou Yun's room and cried, "Honey Yun, I am going to go crazy if you are not by my side. Who knows when Zhou Yu is going to die. If he did not die in one year, that means I have to serve him for an entire year, yet I could not each manage a day! What should I do?"

Zhou Yun replied, "Oh, my beauty, what do you want me to do?"

Xiao Qiao said, "He is about to die anyway, if we put some poison in his medicine, then he will go to heaven sooner."

zhou yun, blinking his eyes, and thought, "It can't be done. You brother-in-law (meaning Sun Quan, whose brother married to Xiao Qiao's sister) and Lu Su all care about Zhou Yu very much, and they come at least three times a day to see him. Plus Zhou Yu is getting better. If he suddenly died. They will be suspicious and if they researched his death, there is no way we can get out of it.

Xiao Qiao shouted, "then you want me to stay with Zhou Yu and never come back?"

Zhou Yun covered up her mouth, "shhhh..Don't be too loud or you might get heard." "Of course I want you" seeing the angry look on Xiao Qiao's face, he quickly added, "I have a plan that can kill two bird with one stone, listen closely.." Zhou Yun told her the entire plan, which Xiao Qiao agreed happily.

The next day, after Xiao Qiao served Zhou Yu his medicine, obeying Zhou Yun's order, she said to Zhou Yu affectionaly, "My dear husband. Sawing you sick, I can't eat during mealtime and can't go into sleep at night. I wish to transfer your sickness onto mine and let me suffer instead. In order to make you recover early, I think hard day and night and finally came up with a scheme and maybe can get rid of your disease."

Knowing ther is way to recover, Zhou Yu sit up immediatly and grabbed Xiao Qiao's hand, "My lady, I thank you for your deep love. You really came up with a scheme, tell me about it."

Xiao Qiao hesitated on purpose, shaking her head, she said, "This scheme...you have to..."

"My lady!", Zhou Yu replied, "If it can really cure my disease. I am willing to do anything, will tell me about the scheme."

"If you can suffer a little bit, then I will say it," looking at zhou yu, xiao qiao said with solemnity, "The reason you fell ill is because of that crafty Zhuge Liang. Why don't my husband pretend to be died, and put up a mourning place inside the army. Then we can send this information to Zhuge Liang. If he knew you are died, he will definitely come andd mourn you. We can ambush some swordsman inside the around, when Zhuge Liang came here. With just one little signal, he will be died even if he had ten lives. With Kongming killed, you will feel happy and cured your illness."

"hmmm..." Zhou Yu pondered, "It is such an important matter, I need to discuss it with my lord and Lu Su."

When Sun Quan and Lu Su came, zhou Yu told them the scheme Xiao Qiao came up with. Sun Quan had no objection. Lu Su, because he is the friend of Kongming's older brother, Zhuge Jin, did not want to kill him. Therefore he said, "If we put an empty coffin, Zhuge Liang would know the truth by looking at the stars. If Gong Jin really sleep in it, he will be running out of air to breathe."

Xiao Qiao replied, "This you don't have to worry, we can put some holes on the top of the coffin for my husband to breathe.

Seeing Lu Su still want to argue, she added angrily, "Sir, you don't want my husband to recovery, is it because you want him to die so you can take his position as the commander-in-cheif?"

"What..." honest Lu Su got red by xiao Qiao's inquires, and stoped saying anything.

Sun Quan, saw Lu Su's embrassment, said quickly, "Sister, Zi Jing meant no harm, you don't have to get mad."

"How about this," Xiao Qiao said, "Since my lord and Mr. Lu are afraid to offend Kongming, then you both leave. I will stay here and perform this scheme by myself. If Liu Bei attack Wu for this, you can just hand me over and push all the blame on me, who let me be the wife of Zhou Yu?"

With her harsh words, Sun Quan and Lu Su have no choice but to accept. After they left, Xiao qiao ordered to put together a mourning place and ambushed about two hundred swordsman. Just when darkness had come, Xiao Qiao said to Zhou Yu, "My dear husband, I am sorry but you have to sleep in the coffin today. If not, Zhuge Liang will knew the truth by looking at the stars, then we wasted all our time and efforts for nothing."

Having no choice, Zhou Yu get inside the coffin. After Xiao Qiao put the top in place, she ordered to nail the four corners. Zhou Yu, sensing this, said inside the coffin, "My lady, why did you nail the coffin?"

"I have no choice but to," Xiao Qiao replied, "Kongming is a very crafty people, what if he saw throught our scheme?" Listening this, even though Zhou Yu is not happy, he have to say Xiao Qiao have her reasons.

Meanwhile, Zhuge Liang knew about Zhou Yu's death, yet he refuse to believe it. However, when he is viewing the stars at night, he discovered Zhou Yu's star at the east disappeared, then he finally acknowlege that Zhou Yu is really dead. Therefore, he prepared the gifts and bring zhao Yun with him to mourn Zhou Yu early next morning. When he entered the mourning place, he lay down the gift and cried on top of Zhou Yu's coffin.

Xiao Qiao, on the other hand, is still in Zhou Yun's room and did not get up yet. Last night, after she prepared for everything, they dressed up like a bride and went to Zhou Yun's room. When she knew Zhuge Liang is here already from her servant, she sweated with surprised. The more Xiao Qiao is scared, the more she is unorganized. Without even washing away her make-up and took off the red dress, she put on the mourning cloth and run to the camp.

When she set her foot inside the door, she had seen Zhuge Liang is crying on the coffin, so she run to the coffin and "cried" with Kongming.

Kongming's mourning is out of his heart. Even though Zhou Yu want to kill him several time, he is still admired by Zhou Yu's talent and abilities, think about after the ally of Sun and Liu, Cao Cao never dare to attack them easily, plus the fact that he have some responsibility of his death. Zhuge Liang cried harder.

Xiao Qiao's cry is like a rat crying a cat-sad in face yet smiling in heart. While she pretend to be sad, she took out the wax that she prepared before and use it cover up the breathing hole on the coffin.

Zhuge Liang, getting so tried from crying, raised his head and want to rest a second. But instead, he saw Xiao Qiao is put wax on the coffin, and thought, "something is fishy". He look at Xiao Qiao more closely, and saw her face is covered with make-up and she did not have any tear at all, or all the make-up will be washed away. Then he look down and get more clear, when Xiao Qiao heard Zhuge Liang is coming, she forget to put on mourning shoes, the shoes she is wearing is red with lots of flower.

Zhou Yu, lying inside the coffin, feel his chest is stuffed up since the breathing hole is covered with wax. Therefore, he is moving around. Zhuge liang, who is resting against the coffin, feel there is movement inside, now he finally understand, "Zhou Yu did not die, it is Xiao Qiao who just killed him!"

Kongming thought, "why would Xiao Qiao kill her own husband, that is none of my business, but why would she trick me here, it is obvious that she want to put the responsibility on me. If I don't think of something, probably I won't walk out this camp alive!"

Xiao Qiao feel the coffin stopped moving after a while, she knew Zhou Yu is dead. So she want to leave and give the order to kill Zhuge Liang.

However, when Xiao Qiao raised her feet, she could not move at all. It is because Zhuge Liang steped on her belts. Xiao Qiao is about to get upset and yell, yet stopped instantly when Kongming begin to spoke, "Madam Qiao, you killed your husband with your own hand and want to push the blame on me, how evil are you! I don't care why don't want Gong Jin died, i could keep your secret, I could even took the blame on gong jin's death. Under one circumstances, you have to wait until I leave. If you said 'no', I will let you die with me. The wax on your hand, the make-up on your face, and the red shoe on your feet are evidences that you killed Zhou Yu. Also, don't think this is your camp. Zhao Yun, the hero at Changban, is standing outside, Cao Cao's million army is scared of his name, why should we afraid of your couple hundred swordsman?" After saying those, Kongming walked out quickly and signaled Zhao Yun to follow, they went straight to the shore.

Zhou Yun, who is staying outside the camp, saw Zhuge Liang leave. Wondering they Xiao Qiao did not signal to kill him, he quicked walked inside. When he saw Xiao Qiao standing against Zhou Yu's coffin, with her face as white as a paper, knew Kongming saw throught their scheme. So he quicked ordered, "Pursue Zhuge liang and kill him" But it is too late, when the troop reached the shore, Zhuge Liang's boat is long gone.

Since it already happened, and Zhou Yu is died anyway and Zhuge Liang has gone back to jingzhou. Xiao Qiao lied to Sun Quan and Lu Su that Kongming saw through the scheme and killed Zhou Yu by using wax to cover up the hole.

There is no way Sun Quan and Lu Su even dream that Xiao Qiao would kill her own husband, they believed her of course. When Luo Guan Zhong write the RTK, he did no know whose detail, and thus, make a mistake in his writing.

[harshbarge]

wow thats a crazy story...in some other thread some one mentioned she actually gave input to Zhou Yu at chi bi, in another folktale maybe?

[PrimeMinister Bu Zhi]

Thats a really sad folk tale, as in hardly believable. Just the names, Zhou Yu and Zhou Yun. And the way it is written: "wacky stuff". I don't believe Wu even thought at all that Zhuge Liang was responsible since they never seemed to bare much hate agianst him in anyway in history. I'm just happy with the thought that Zhou Yu died from illness+arrow wound. No Zhuge Liang. No Xiao Qiao. No hate for Zhuge Liang to reopen wound.

[James]

Shouldn't that be the other way around? I'm sure that Da means 'big' while Xiao means 'small'.

The characters were right, but I had the names wrong. Oops…

Is that deliberate? Are there no details on the battle itself?

Yeah. I summarized the contents that early in the biography simply becuase they had very little to do with the Qiao sisters, but I had to write about it otherwise the point at which they were introduced would not have made much sense to someone that hadn’t read the novel.

Damn that is one big sentence. Perhaps it should be split into two? Highlighted word should be 'him' I believe.

That sentence was just a mess. I rewrote it.

An extra 'a'

And it has been smitten verily!

I don't know if you realise, but there is a bit with Da Qiao when Sun Ce dies. It is the only time either of the sisters are directly involved in a scene:

I had forgotten about it, and I didn’t think to search for Lady Qiao while I was scanning the novel files (through my batch find/replace program). In any case, it is included now! Thanks.

Damn good work though putting together that bio considering there is so little to go on. There is also a folk tale about Xiao Qiao murdering Zhou Yu if you want to include it as a footnote...

Hmm… maybe if I make some manner of COB for her, I’ll find an excuse to work with that play. It would definitely be a lot of fun to put up on the site. I wonder why all those Three Kingdoms folktales are so… messed up.

- - - - -

At any rate, here’s the biography:
http://kongming.net/novel/sgyy/qiaosisters.php

I’ll announce it at KMA after I finish preparing some others.
(Hopefully your (Morg’s) others, and the two new SGZs from Lady Wu.

[Guest]

Awesome. Do you know where the folktale is in written form?

<biography>

you are wrong so wrong xiao was the younger sister i nkow this because i trace my family history back to her. and da qiao and xia qiao were very real xia qiao is the only reason they won the battle of chibi your right about her staying in wu though

[James]

you are wrong so wrong xiao was the younger sister i nkow this because i trace my family history back to her. and da qiao and xia qiao were very real xia qiao is the only reason they won the battle of chibi your right about her staying in wu though

Some fiction has found its way into your family history.