The Prisoner of Beauty Episode 10 Recap
> The Prisoner of Beauty Recap
Xiao Qiao reflected on Gongsun Yang’s insights about Wei Shao, acknowledging that he was tough on the outside but soft on the inside, with a broad mind, which was why he allowed her to stay in Yujun. She admitted to herself that she had indeed misjudged him earlier and expressed gratitude for the advice. Later, while playing Go, Xiao Qiao praised Gongsun Yang’s exquisite skill, confessing her complete defeat.
Meanwhile, Wei Liang intercepted another letter from Xiao Qiao to Yanzhou and brought it to Wei Shao. The letter was a simple family correspondence, asking for a calming and mind-clearing remedy from Yanzhou as Xiao Qiao had been afraid of the dark and experiencing troubled sleep recently. Wei Shao found nothing suspicious and dismissed it, but Wei Qu, after examining it, suspected there might be a hidden message within the text.
Wei Shao later found Xiao Qiao trying out various candles, hoping to find ones that burned brighter and produced less smoke for him to use while reading at night. Wei Shao grew annoyed, reminding her that they were not an ordinary couple and should maintain appearances, not making such minor issues a public spectacle or trying to snoop into his private affairs. Xiao Qiao denied trying to pry into his privacy, stating she merely wanted to replace the smoky candles.
Xiaotao interjected, clarifying that Xiao Qiao had paid for all the new candles herself, not using any of Wei Shao’s funds. Although feeling a pang of guilt, Wei Shao, in a show of pride, declared that he would have his accountant send money over, asserting that the great state of Wei was not lacking for a few candles. Separately, Wei Shao’s mother also found out about the candle expenses.
She summoned Xiao Qiao, scolding her for being idle and demanding while Wei Shao worked tirelessly outside. Xiao Qiao calmly explained that she had checked the household accounts and there was sufficient budget for the candles, with no extra costs. Zheng Shu, capitalizing on the recent Boya incident, informed Wei Madam that Lady Xu had supposedly chastised Xiao Qiao, putting Xiao Qiao at a disadvantage.
She pressed Wei Madam to arrange her marriage to Wei Shao, arguing that Wei Shao had already agreed to take a concubine and that more than three months had passed since his marriage to Xiao Qiao. Wei Madam, armed with a betrothal letter for Zheng Shu and Wei Shao, summoned Xiao Qiao and urged her to agree to the match and inform Lady Xu. Xiao Qiao refused, citing both Wei Shao's and Lady Xu's disagreement with the idea.
Wei Madam accused Xiao Qiao of manipulating Wei Shao. Xiao Qiao then openly declared her deep love for Wei Shao and her unwillingness to share him with anyone else. She defiantly stated that she would rather die than allow Zheng Shu to enter their household, dramatically clutching her chest as if in pain. Wei Madam, seeing her resolve, was forced to back down.
Wei Shao, having heard of Xiao Qiao’s passionate declaration to his mother, confronted Xiao Qiao, asking if her words of affection were true. Xiao Qiao clarified that her statements were merely a desperate measure to align with his presumed wishes, and he shouldn't take them seriously. She explained that as the Lord of Wei, he should make his own decisions.
She stated that if he desired to take Zheng Shu as a concubine, she would not stop him, but if he did not, she would absolutely prevent anyone from forcing him into something he didn't want. Wei Shao, finding her responses both cutting and strangely comforting, reiterated that they were not an ordinary couple and sternly warned her never to attempt to seduce him with her beauty. Xiao Qiao affirmed her understanding.
Later, Zheng Shu, feigning readiness to leave, was persuaded by Wei Madam to stay. Wei Madam, fearing she couldn't handle Xiao Qiao alone, suggested a desperate plan: to force a sexual encounter between Zheng Shu and Wei Shao. Zheng Shu initially hesitated but eventually agreed. Wei Madam invited Wei Shao for drinks, ensuring he consumed three cups before excusing herself to take medicine, pretending to have a headache. Wei Shao soon felt an unusual heat coursing through his body.
As he tried to leave, a servant claimed Wei Madam's headache had worsened and led him to a room, which was then locked from the outside. Inside, Zheng Shu, wearing revealing clothing, attempted to seduce him. Wei Shao forcibly pushed her away, struggling to control himself, and ordered her to put on her clothes. When Zheng Shu clung to him from behind, he broke free and kicked open the door.
He was enraged to find his mother standing outside, confronting her for conspiring with an outsider to plot against her own son. Wei Madam, trembling in fear, dared not interfere. Stumbling back to his room, Wei Shao saw Xiao Qiao. In his confusion, he recalled Gongsun Yang's advice to confide in a loved one rather than bearing all burdens alone.
He mumbled a promise to Xiao Qiao, assuring her that he would protect her and ensure she always had a home. He then pulled her onto the bed, attempting to kiss her. Startled, Xiao Qiao slapped him, reminding him of his promise on their wedding day in Panyi to allow her a year of mourning for her grandfather. Wei Shao, momentarily lucid, explained he had consumed something "dirty" at his mother's place and urgently requested ice.
He then immersed himself in a tub of ice water to cool down. Xiao Qiao remained nearby, staying behind a screen to attend to him. She accidentally dropped a cup of water but quickly returned with another. Through the screen, she saw his distressed state and the bloodstains on his body, feeling a surge of pity. As Wei Shao gradually recovered, he asked for his clothes.
Xiao Qiao cautiously asked if his wounds were from the battle at Xiaogang, but he dismissed them as minor injuries, unimportant. Once she sensed Wei Shao was significantly better, Xiao Qiao quietly left. That night, she found him curled up on the floor in his room, her worry deepening. The next morning, Wei Shao woke feeling much improved. Xiao Qiao was gone, but a fresh set of clothes was neatly laid out for him.
As he prepared to leave, he overheard Xiao Qiao instructing the servants not to disturb his sleep. Xiao Qiao publicly announced that Wei Shao's old wounds had flared up, effectively covering up the true reason for his condition and protecting his dignity, for which Wei Shao felt grateful. Wei Shao then confronted his mother. She tearfully apologized for her misguided actions, fearing that he would disown her.
She worried that Lady Xu already knew what had transpired, intending to seek punishment from her. Wei Shao reassured his mother that Lady Xu was unaware, and he had no intention of burdening her with the news. He laid down one condition: Zheng Shu must be sent away permanently and never be allowed to step foot in the Wei household again.
Wei Madam reluctantly agreed but pleaded for time to prepare a generous dowry, citing Zheng Shu’s years of companionship and filial care in Wei Shao's absence. Wei Shao gave her three days, warning that any failure to comply would result in him severing all ties as her son. Lady Xu later summoned Xiao Qiao privately, inquiring about Wei Shao's outburst in the east wing and the broken door.
Xiao Qiao feigned ignorance, explaining that Wei Shao's request for ice was merely to alleviate pain from unhealed wounds from the Xiaogang battle. She reassured Lady Xu that she had arranged for ginger tea to ward off the cold and that Wei Shao would be fine. Satisfied, Lady Xu sent Xiao Qiao away.
Wei Madam, despite her own folly, was secretly pleased with Xiao Qiao's discretion, realizing that Xiao Qiao had preserved Wei Shao's and his mother’s reputation by remaining silent. Lady Xu then directly confronted Wei Madam, commanding her to send Zheng Shu away immediately, with no further delay. She emphasized that Zheng Shu would not be ill-treated, assuring Wei Madam that a proper dowry had been prepared and a good husband would be found for her.
Wei Madam, left with no choice, submissively accepted the arrangement. Wei Shao, still troubled by the events of the previous night, received a healing decoction sent by Xiao Qiao. He visited her, learning that she had not revealed a single detail to Lady Xu, not even to her personal maid, Chunniang. Wei Shao was clearly pleased by her discretion.
As they shared a meal, he noticed her wrist seemed painful, realizing he must have hurt her during his drugged state, and felt a pang of guilt. That night, he quietly entered her room and gently applied medicine to the bruise on her wrist. Xiao Qiao woke with a start, but Wei Shao quickly reassured her that such an incident would never happen again before leaving the room. Xiao Qiao stared at the medicine bottle, lost in thought.
Wei Shao became increasingly irritable, leading Wei Qu and his colleagues to speculate he had argued with Xiao Qiao. With the Yongning Canal project nearing completion, an inspection was required. Wei Shao, to everyone's surprise, declared he would go to Panyi for the inspection himself, despite it being considered a minor task usually delegated to others. From that day on, Wei Shao immersed himself in official duties, often ignoring the food Xiao Qiao sent, seemingly avoiding her.
His subordinates were too intimidated to breathe a word. After two or three days of his absence, Xiao Qiao felt a pang of sympathy for him, caught between his mother's honor and his filial duty, and sent word that he was welcome to return home. However, she then learned he was still planning to go to Panyi to inspect the canal. At this point, Wei Madam sent for Xiao Qiao, intending to reprimand her.
Wei Madam furiously accused Xiao Qiao of interfering and preventing Zheng Shu from marrying Wei Shao. Xiao Qiao, her patience exhausted, angrily retorted that Wei Madam had never truly cared for Wei Shao. She pointed out that all of Wei Madam’s schemes—from tampering with the casket to using unscrupulous methods and even drugging Wei Shao—were solely for Zheng Shu’s benefit, never for Wei Shao’s well-being or his standing as the Lord of Wei. Her words enraged Wei Madam, who violently overturned a table. Unbeknownst to them, Wei Shao stood just outside the room, having overheard their entire heated conversation.
