The Prisoner of Beauty Episode 1 Recap
> The Prisoner of Beauty Recap
As Wei Shao marched his army towards Bianzhou, his forces drawing near the city walls of Xindu, Xiao Qiao in Yanzhou grew anxious. She understood that Xindu was just Wei Shao's first target, and Yanzhou would surely follow. Seeking insight, she asked her grandfather, Qiao Gui, about Wei Shao's character. Qiao Gui, recognizing Xiao Qiao's desire to understand the long-standing feud between their families, began by recounting the story of Wei Shao's grandfather.
Fourteen years ago, when Qiao Gui first became the Governor of Yanzhou, he hosted a Deer Hunt, ostensibly a competition of archery, but in truth, a gathering to forge alliances. At this event, he and Wei Shao's grandfather became fast friends and successfully formed an alliance. Wei's clan built the Yongning Canal between Panyi and Xindu, providing vital water resources. In return, Yanzhou, with its strong military, offered protection. They vowed to stand together, through life and death.
However, the alliance was tested when the general Li Su from Bianzhou launched a fierce attack on Wei, brutally seizing Xindu. Wei, in dire need, waited for Yanzhou's aid. Qiao Gui’s advisors were divided: some feared that intervening would be futile and only drag Yanzhou into the conflict, endangering its people, while others worried about betraying their ally. In a pivotal moment, Xiao Qiao, a child at the time, accidentally dropped and broke a jade ornament.
Qiao Gui interpreted this as an ill omen for military action and, despite his earlier promise, decided to withdraw his troops. Meanwhile, in Xindu, young Wei Shao witnessed his family's slaughter. His elder brother, protecting him, hid Wei Shao in a box, urging him never to trust the Qiao family again and blaming their defeat entirely on the Qiao clan's betrayal.
Wei Shao watched his brother and father die and heard Li Su's chilling order to execute all the men in the city. The seeds of vengeance were sown deep within him. Qiao Gui, however, had his own complex reasons. He believed that even if Yanzhou had sent troops, they likely couldn't have saved Wei and would only have brought suffering to Yanzhou's own people.
In his despair, he wrote to Lady Xu, Wei Shao's grandmother and a woman of great foresight, hoping she could broker a marriage between their families to transform conflict into peace. Lady Xu agreed to the match. Xiao Qiao, upon learning of this, acknowledged it as an excellent alliance, but feared Wei Shao, driven by hatred, would not truly accept the union. Elsewhere in Yanzhou, Da Qiao, unaware of the dire military situation, was playfully tossing balls with her maids.
Xiao Qiao, keenly aware of the encroaching danger, worried that Da Qiao would be offered as the bride. She noticed Da Qiao's loving gaze towards Bi Zhi, the horse groom, a subtle gesture that did not escape Xiao Qiao's perceptive eyes. Later, Xiaozao, Xiao Qiao's maid, informed her that Liu Yan, the heir of Liangya, accompanied by his uncle Liu Shan, had arrived to propose marriage to Xiao Qiao. Liu Shan's attitude was disdainful.
He inquired about the dowry, referencing Lady Ding's substantial one when she married into the Qiao family, and subtly expressed their fear of being entangled in the conflict with Wei Shao. When the Qiao family revealed their impending marriage alliance with the Wei family, Liu Yan, feigning loyalty, claimed he would not be afraid of entanglement due to the Qiao family's past kindness to him and urged for the marriage to proceed quickly.
Liu Shan agreed, praising Liu Yan profusely, but their betrothal gift, originally meant to be a lynx, was downgraded to a weasel, which Liu Shan still considered generous. Lady Qiao then tried to persuade Xiao Qiao to accept Liu Yan's proposal, suggesting it was a better fate than Da Qiao's impending marriage to the "deathtrap" that was the Wei family. Meanwhile, Wei Shao's army had Xindu completely surrounded, intending to force its surrender through siege.
His advisor, Gongsun Yang, informed him of his grandmother's arrangement for him to marry a Qiao daughter. Gongsun Yang expressed concern that if Wei Shao rejected the proposal, the Qiao family might ally with Li Su, leaving Wei's army vulnerable from both sides.
Enraged by the Qiao family's perceived manipulation of his grandmother, Wei Shao decided to launch an immediate, surprise attack on Xindu, hoping to capture the city quickly to alleviate his grandmother's worries and prevent a potential alliance between the Qiao family and Li Su. Gongsun Yang cautioned against a reckless assault, but Wei Shao, driven by vengeance, ignored him and ordered his troops to advance. In the ensuing battle, Wei Shao's forces prevailed, capturing Xindu and seizing Li Su.
Back in Yanzhou, Da Qiao attempted to comfort Xiao Qiao, assuring her that after Da Qiao married Wei Shao, Liangya would hold Xiao Qiao in high regard. That night, Bi Zhi came to see Da Qiao, expressing his desire to fight Wei Shao to stop the marriage. Da Qiao, though in love with Bi Zhi, knew he was no match for Wei Shao and implored him not to act.
She also explained that as an eldest daughter, she bore responsibilities and could not simply flee with him. Xiao Qiao, awake, overheard their heartfelt conversation. As the date for both their weddings approached, Da Qiao, wanting to give all her cherished possessions to Xiao Qiao, offered them. Xiao Qiao, with a deeper intention, deliberately asked for specific beloved items from Da Qiao, not for herself, but to protect them for her sister.
Both sisters secretly resolved to sacrifice for the other's happiness. Xiao Qiao then led Da Qiao to meet Bi Zhi, urging her to elope with him. She argued that marrying Wei Shao would ruin Da Qiao's life. Xiao Qiao offered to marry Wei Shao in Da Qiao's place, allowing Da Qiao to pursue a simple but happy life with the man she loved. She further explained her rejection of Liu Yan, stating that he was not the man she sought.
His fear of Wei Shao caused him to look down on Yanzhou, and his acceptance of an inferior dowry was a sign of disrespect, making him a cowardly and unsuitable match. Xiao Qiao sternly warned Bi Zhi to treat Da Qiao well, threatening to hunt him down if he failed, but promised to help him rise in status if he made Da Qiao happy. Bi Zhi, deeply grateful, vowed his unwavering loyalty.
As Da Qiao's carriage departed, Xiao Qiao watched, tears silently falling. The next day, news of Da Qiao's disappearance spread through the Qiao family, throwing them into a panic. No one dared to inform the Wei family, fearing severe repercussions. A desperate proposal emerged: Xiao Qiao should marry Wei Shao in Da Qiao's stead. Given Wei's might and Liangya's weakness, offending Liangya was the lesser evil.
Xiao Qiao, understanding the gravity of the situation, approached Qiao Gui and silently nodded her assent. Qiao Gui closed his eyes, accepting this as their destined fate. In Xindu's prison, Li Su remained unyielding, proudly boasting of the three-day massacre he had inflicted on Wei fourteen years prior, regretting only that he hadn't killed Wei Shao. Enraged, Wei Shao ordered Li Su to be dismembered and his remains put into a box. Gongsun Yang arrived too late to intervene.
He argued that sparing Li Su would have won public support, as everyone knew of their feud. However, Wei Shao dismissed the idea, stating that he only desired Li Su's death, finding public opinion useless. Later, Xiao Qiao discussed Wei Shao's ambitions with Qiao Gui. She astutely observed that Panyi, Yanzhou's gateway, would be Wei Shao's next target. She proposed offering Panyi as her dowry, believing it would secure Wei Shao's agreement to the marriage and forge an alliance.
Qiao Gui, moved to tears, praised Xiao Qiao's intelligence, deeming her more capable than her father or uncles. The following day, Xiao Qiao's uncle presented her with the Seal of Panyi, officially making it part of her dowry. With tears in her eyes, Xiao Qiao embarked on her journey, remembering Qiao Gui's parting advice: to master the art of "overcoming hardness with softness" to ensure her survival.
He also urged her, if she could win Wei Shao's favor, to use her influence to secure more benefits for Yanzhou. Meanwhile, Wei Shao was frustrated by the uncooperative citizens of Xindu, who remained wary of his army. Upon hearing that Xiao Qiao's wedding procession had reached the city gates, he flew into a rage, grabbing his bow to kill her. Gongsun Yang quickly intervened, reminding Wei Shao that marrying Xiao Qiao would secure Panyi without a single soldier lost.
He also highlighted her renowned beauty, citing a saying that "of the ten parts of beauty of the Yang River, the two Qiaos account for eight." Persuaded, Wei Shao ordered Xiao Qiao's procession to be allowed into the city. Wei Shao, however, still believed that with Xindu in ruins, it was not the right time for a wedding.
Gongsun Yang argued that the two issues were not mutually exclusive, explaining that the regional powers resembled a deer, with Yanzhou as its head and Wei as its stomach, and Panyi, Yanzhou's gateway, as the deer's heart. He implied that Yanzhou was offering its heart for an alliance. Wei Shao retorted that if Panyi were handed over willingly, merely sparing Xiao Qiao's life would be an act of mercy.
The next day, during the marriage negotiations, Gongsun Yang proposed the wedding take place in Panyi, while the Qiao family insisted on Xindu. Both sides stood firm. Xiao Qiao's maid, Xiaotao, confused by the argument over the venue, asked Xiao Qiao for an explanation. Xiao Qiao clarified that Wei wanted the Seal of Panyi before the wedding, while the Qiao family wanted the wedding first, fearing Wei would renege on the agreement after receiving the seal.
Wei Shao, overhearing their conversation, declared that if there was no sincerity, he would send the bride back. However, as he pulled back the curtain, he caught sight of Xiao Qiao behind it, and his heart involuntarily stirred.
