The Prisoner of Beauty Episode 1 Recap
> The Prisoner of Beauty Recap
Wei Shao led troops to attack Bianzhou, and when the army approached the city, Xiao Qiao, who was in Yanzhou, became very anxious. She knew that Bianzhou was only Wei Shao's first stop, and Yanzhou would be next. So she went to her grandfather Qiao Gui to inquire what kind of person Wei Shao was. Qiao Gui understood that Xiao Qiao wanted to know about the feud between the two families and started from Wei Shao’s grandfather.
Back then, when Qiao Gui had just assumed the post of Governor of Yanzhou, he held a banquet, ostensibly to socialize but in truth to form alliances. At that banquet, he met Wei Shao’s grandfather and they immediately hit it off, forming an alliance. Later, the State of Wei constructed a canal, while Yanzhou had troops and horses. Wei provided water, and Yanzhou provided military aid—they supported each other and looked out for one another.
But fourteen years ago, Bianzhou dispatched a fierce general, Li Su, to attack Wei and forcibly seized Xindu. Wei waited for Qiao Gui to send troops for support, but his subordinates feared their help would be in vain and that they’d be implicated, so they refused to mobilize. Some feared losing credibility. Coincidentally, Xiao Qiao broke a piece of jade she was holding, and Qiao Gui interpreted it as a bad omen and decided to withdraw the troops.
Wei Shao’s older brother died on the battlefield to protect Wei Shao and the others. At that time, Wei Shao cried in fear. His brother hid Wei Shao in a box and told him never to trust the Qiao family, blaming their defeat entirely on the Qiao family's betrayal. Wei Shao personally witnessed the deaths of his brother and father and heard Li Su order the execution of all males in the city.
In truth, Qiao Gui knew that even if he had sent troops, they likely couldn’t have helped Wei and would have only dragged their own people into disaster. It was a reluctant decision. He believed that Lady Xu, the wife of the Marquess of Wei, was a person of great understanding, so he wrote a letter to her, hoping she would help arrange a marriage alliance to turn hostility into peace. Lady Xu agreed to the match.
Xiao Qiao also thought it was a suitable marriage, but she believed Wei Shao came with hatred and might not accept it. At this time, Da Qiao was playing games with her maids, showing no sense of urgency despite the approaching army. Xiao Qiao analyzed the risks and worried that Da Qiao would be chosen for the marriage alliance.
Da Qiao glanced at the nearby groom, Bi Zhi, with love in her eyes—this subtle movement did not escape Xiao Qiao’s notice. Xiao Zao told Xiao Qiao that Liu Yan, the heir of the royal family of Liangya, and his uncle Liu Shan had come to ask for Xiao Qiao’s hand, but their attitude was very poor.
They brought up how when the Qiao family married Lady Ding back then, she was from a wealthy family, and now they only cared about Xiao Qiao’s dowry. Their words hinted at a fear of being dragged into conflict, knowing Wei Shao had come to attack and Liangya would inevitably be implicated.
After the Qiao family disclosed their intention to form a marriage alliance with the Wei family, Liu Yan claimed he had been taken care of by the Qiao family since childhood and wasn’t afraid of being implicated, urging the marriage to proceed quickly. Liu Shan took the opportunity to agree and praised Liu Yan extravagantly, even presenting their betrothal gifts—though they had replaced the lynx with a mongoose, Liu Shan thought it was good enough.
Lady Qiao persuaded Xiao Qiao to accept the marriage, saying it was far better than Da Qiao’s fate—Da Qiao would be marrying into the dangerous Wei family. At that moment, Wei Shao was surrounding the city, intending to win without a fight. His strategist Gongsun Yang came to inform him that the Grand Lady had arranged a marriage for him, with the bride being a daughter of the Qiao family.
Gongsun Yang feared that the Qiao family might be colluding with Li Su, putting them at risk of a two-front battle. Wei Shao planned to surprise-attack the city before the two sides could form an alliance. Gongsun Yang feared the risks of such a rash move, but Wei Shao ignored him and had already assembled his troops at Bianzhou. In the first battle, Wei Shao emerged victorious, broke through Bianzhou, and captured Li Su alive.
Meanwhile, Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao lay in bed. Da Qiao comforted Xiao Qiao, saying that once she married Wei Shao, the Liangya kingdom would value her more. At that moment, Bi Zhi came looking for Da Qiao. He also wanted to fight Wei Shao to stop the war. Though Da Qiao liked Bi Zhi, she knew he was no match for Wei Shao.
She persuaded him not to go and explained that she could not flee with him either, as she was the legitimate daughter and had responsibilities and duties to fulfill. Xiao Qiao overheard their entire conversation. Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao were to be married on the same day. Da Qiao wanted to give all her good things to Xiao Qiao. Xiao Qiao deliberately asked for some of Da Qiao’s beloved possessions—she only wanted to help safeguard them.
Da Qiao wished Xiao Qiao a happy marriage, and Xiao Qiao wished the same for Da Qiao. Both resolved in their hearts to sacrifice for the other. Xiao Qiao specially escorted Da Qiao to see Bi Zhi, urging her to leave with him. If she married Wei Shao, her life would be over.
Xiao Qiao offered to marry Wei Shao in Da Qiao’s place, hoping Da Qiao could leave with the one she loved—even with simple food, they could be happy. Xiao Qiao realized that Liu Yan was not the person she was looking for—he feared Yanzhou so much that even knowing the betrothal gift was wrong, he didn’t object. That was a form of disrespect. Xiao Qiao said she wouldn’t marry such a timid and cowardly man.
Xiao Qiao told Bi Zhi to treat Da Qiao well. If she ever found out he mistreated her, she would chase him across a thousand miles to kill him. But if he could make Da Qiao happy, she would help him rise to success in the future. Bi Zhi was immensely grateful. Watching Da Qiao’s carriage depart, Xiao Qiao wept. The next day, news of Da Qiao’s departure spread throughout the Qiao household.
No one dared inform the Wei family, fearing they might not return. But suddenly, someone’s eyes fixed on Xiao Qiao and suggested that she marry in Da Qiao’s place. Since Wei was strong and Liangya was weak, they could only offend Liangya. Xiao Qiao came before Qiao Gui and nodded in agreement. Qiao Gui closed his eyes tightly—it was all fate. Though Li Su was tied up in prison, he was still fearless.
He had massacred Wei’s people in the past, and even if now he would be avenged, it was worth it—he regretted only that he hadn’t killed Wei Shao back then. Wei Shao, enraged, ordered Li Su to be dismembered and placed in a box. Gongsun Yang rushed to stop him but was too late. Li Su believed the world already knew of the feud between both sides, and sparing him could win public favor.
But Wei Shao said he only wanted Li Su’s life—public favor was useless to him. Xiao Qiao discussed Wei Shao’s current intentions with Qiao Gui. She believed Panyi was the gateway to Yanzhou and something Wei Shao definitely wanted. If they could use Panyi as a dowry, Wei Shao would likely agree to the marriage. Qiao Gui wept, praising Xiao Qiao’s wisdom as surpassing both her father and uncle.
The next day, her uncle handed over the seal of Panyi to Xiao Qiao and sent her off to marry. Xiao Qiao’s eyes were full of tears as she left with the seal. Along the way, she recalled Qiao Gui’s advice: to overcome strength with gentleness, to remember that this was the way to survive. If she could make the marquess bow his head, she should plan more steps for Yanzhou.
As Wei Shao fretted over the city folk’s lack of cooperation, he heard that Xiao Qiao’s carriage had arrived at the city gate. Furious, he wanted to shoot her with an arrow, but Gongsun Yang persuaded him that by accepting Xiao Qiao, they could obtain Panyi without a single soldier being lost. The Yangshui River had produced two stunning beauties—the Qiao sisters Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao—renowned for their beauty.
Wei Shao ultimately ordered Xiao Qiao’s carriage to be allowed in. Wei Shao felt that Xindu was still in ruins and not a suitable place for a wedding. Gongsun Yang said that there was no conflict—the combined forces of various powers were like a deer, and Panyi was the heart of that deer. Wei Shao replied that if the other side willingly handed over Panyi, then sparing Xiao Qiao’s life was already a mercy.
The next day, during the marriage negotiation, Gongsun Yang proposed holding the wedding in Panyi, while the Qiao family insisted on Xindu. Neither side would yield. The maid Xiao Tao couldn’t understand why they were arguing over this. Xiao Qiao explained the reasoning, and Wei Shao, eavesdropping on the conversation, immediately threatened to send her back if they had no sincerity. But when he lifted the curtain and saw Xiao Qiao behind it, he was visibly stirred.
