The Prisoner of Beauty Episode 13 Recap
> The Prisoner of Beauty Recap
Wei Yan approached Xiao Qiao as she worked on calligraphy, praising her elegant writing and the fragrant ink, which he claimed suited her perfectly. Xiao Qiao, preparing for Lady Xu's upcoming birthday banquet, modestly downplayed her skills and tried to excuse herself to get more ink. However, Wei Yan stopped her, stating he had come to apologize for his earlier misunderstandings regarding her involvement in Rongjun affairs.
He surprised her by revealing he knew she had written to her family for wheat seeds to alleviate the famine, even studying the "Local Records of Rongjun" to ensure the right seeds were acquired. He admitted his initial narrow-mindedness, having suspected she was seeking foreign aid, and confessed that Wei Shao had read her letter to him, word by word, in front of others.
Wei Yan then thanked her on behalf of the people of Rongjun, successfully sowing discord between the couple. Xiao Qiao was enraged to learn of Wei Shao's intrusion into her correspondence. Her maids echoed her anger, complaining that Wei Shao had not only read her private letter but had also shared it with Wei Yan, especially as she was far from home and had only confided a few words to her family.
Fuelled by this anger, Xiao Qiao immediately called for ink, announcing her intention to send another letter to Yanzhou. When this new letter arrived, Wei Shao confidently assumed it would be about Rongjun's famine and requests for more wheat seeds, believing she still cared for Wei. He ordered Wei Qu and other advisors to read it aloud. They, however, exchanged uneasy glances and made excuses not to read it.
Still convinced the letter contained flattering words about his leadership, Wei Shao took it himself. His expression darkened as he read a scathing message that cursed him as shameless. Gongsun Yang quickly urged Wei Shao to apologize, acknowledging their mistake in checking her letters. Yet, Wei Shao stubbornly refused, dismissing Xiao Qiao as "that fierce woman" and vowing to confront her for her increasing boldness. That evening, Wei Shao found Xiao Qiao waiting at their doorstep.
Feeling guilty, he tried to evade her by feigning exhaustion and heading directly to his room, wishing her good rest. Xiao Qiao, however, followed him. She presented him with the banquet menu, insisting he review it thoroughly, claiming she was new to the household and unfamiliar with everyone's tastes and dietary restrictions. She then brought him the banquet purchase accounts, again demanding his meticulous inspection to prevent any discrepancies.
Finally, she offered him a scroll displaying eight different calligraphic styles for the character "寿" (longevity), asking him to choose for the invitations. Unable to avoid her any longer, Xiao Qiao abruptly shouted "Wei Shao!" , demanding he get up. She confronted him directly about reading her letter.
Stunned that she called him by his given name, Wei Shao retorted by labeling her "fierce" and "disrespectful," asserting he had nothing more to say to "such a fierce woman" and that she should be grateful he married her. Xiao Qiao retaliated, calling him suspicious, a coward for fleeing arguments, and pointing out his only positive trait was his height. She then hurled the scroll at him, prompting him to flee the room.
Still fuming, Xiao Qiao threw another scroll at the door, while Wei Shao, guilt-ridden, opted not to pursue the argument. News of the confrontation quickly reached Wei Yan, who was amused to hear Xiao Qiao had dared to address Wei Shao by his given name. He instructed his subordinate to continue observing their interactions. Meanwhile, Wei Shao avoided Xiao Qiao, creating various excuses to keep busy, which consequently forced his advisors, including Gongsun Yang, to work late into the night.
Xiao Qiao's maids complained about Wei Shao's petty behavior, but Xiao Qiao instructed them not to speak ill of him. She then penned a letter to her older cousin, warning her to be cautious about what she wrote in future correspondence, as Wei Shao was now inspecting her letters. In the letter, Xiao Qiao mentioned Wei Shao was wary since Yanzhou had taken Boya.
Later, a servant brought Wei Shao a copied Buddhist sutra from Xiao Qiao, with a note insisting he review it for errors to avoid disrespecting Buddha or upsetting Lady Xu. Wei Shao, calling Xiao Qiao "that fierce woman" again for her relentless tactics, decided to sleep in the study again, despite the drafty window, to avoid her. Wei Duo returned from Panyi, bringing good news: the Yongning Canal was officially open.
He presented Wei Shao with detailed construction records from Yang Feng, the Panyi mayor. Wei Duo explained that Panyi's prosperity and high wheat yield were due to abundant water, and that with the canal, Xindu's wheat would soon match Panyi's quality. He suggested extending the canal to Rongjun to solve long-term issues. Gongsun Yang cautioned that expanding irrigation would strain Wei's resources and military, making them vulnerable to a Yanzhou attack.
He then directly asked if Wei Shao's hesitation was due to concerns about the Qiao family benefiting. Despite this, Gongsun Yang argued that while the canal might temporarily benefit Yanzhou, it would bring lasting welfare to Rongjun's people and establish a permanent legacy for Wei. Wei Shao, however, said he needed more time to consider the matter. That night, Wei Shao, still avoiding Xiao Qiao, wandered the city streets.
Gongsun Yang subtly hinted that Xiao Qiao was likely waiting for him at home. Wei Shao, feigning a sudden thought, decided to visit Gongsun Yang's mother instead. He later got upset when he found Gongsun Yang and other officers at a tavern, but paid for their drinks and sent them off. With no other options, Wei Shao ended up at Wei Yan's residence. Wei Yan playfully teased Wei Shao about being accompanied by a "towering man" instead of beauties.
Wei Shao explained he couldn't return home so late and was just staying for the night. Wei Shao then confronted Wei Yan, asking why he revealed the letter-reading incident. Wei Yan confessed his lingering hatred for the Qiao family and admitted he wanted to test Xiao Qiao's true intentions regarding the canal project. Wei Shao simply stated that his decision on the canal had already been made, and he trusted Wei Yan.
After Wei Shao fell asleep, Wei Yan's subordinate urged him to kill Wei Shao, arguing it would eliminate a threat to Bianzhou, especially if the canal reached Rongjun. Wei Yan vehemently refused, stating that while he sought to dismantle the Qiao-Wei alliance and would not hinder attempts to harm Xiao Qiao, he would never harm his own "brother."
The subordinate reminded Wei Yan of the Wei family's past slights, including rumors of his illegitimate birth and how Lady Xu had deliberately ignored him for years while subjecting Wei Shao to strict training, all to groom Wei Shao as the heir and keep Wei Yan from power. Wei Yan fiercely defended his grandmother, threatening his subordinate if he dared to speak ill of her again. Ultimately, Wei Shao decided to proceed with the Rongjun canal project.
Following Gongsun Yang's advice, he also appointed Yang Feng as the overseer, noting Yang Feng's efficiency and cost-saving methods. Gongsun Yang suggested that appointing Yang Feng, a trusted aide of Xiao Qiao's family, would also demonstrate trust in Xiao Qiao and Yanzhou. Wei Shao then approached Xiao Qiao, trying to take credit for the canal decision and Yang Feng's appointment. Xiao Qiao, however, correctly guessed it was Gongsun Yang's idea and coolly thanked him instead of Wei Shao.
Despite Wei Shao's attempts to engage her in discussing the canal, Xiao Qiao simply told him he was wise enough to make his own decisions. Meanwhile, Xiao Qiao had secretly written to her family again, requesting wheat seeds for Lady Xu's birthday gift. Her uncle initially hesitated, fearing it would strengthen Wei. However, Qiao Ci and Xiao Qiao's father persuaded him, emphasizing the alliance and Xiao Qiao's dedication to Yanzhou's interests, leading him to agree.
In Bianzhou, Chen Pang confronted Chen Xiang for canceling the annual prayer at Mount Yi to stay with his wife, Su Ehuang, who claimed to be unwell. A messenger then reported that the Longevity Hall at Mount Yi had suddenly collapsed, killing all worshippers. Chen Pang remarked on Su Ehuang's "huadian" (forehead decoration) being auspicious and warding off misfortune, hinting at foul play.
Su Ehuang noticed Chen Xiang's distress, and he confided that Wei Shao's plan to extend the Yongning Canal to Rongjun posed a grave threat to Bianzhou by facilitating swift military movements. Su Ehuang offered to go to Yujun to resolve the matter. She revealed her past connections: Lady Xu was her great-aunt, and she had grown up in the Wei household, experiencing the family's tragedies alongside Wei Shao.
She believed she could easily reignite old grudges and shatter the Qiao-Wei alliance. Back in Yujun, Lady Xu discussed seating arrangements for her upcoming birthday banquet with Xiao Qiao. Lady Xu mentioned a "close junior" from Bianzhou, Lady Yulou (Su Ehuang), who was not on the guest list and asked Xiao Qiao to seat her nearby. Wei Shao's mother expressed her delight at Su Ehuang's impending arrival, reminiscing about her fondness for the girl.
Xiao Qiao's maid later informed her that Lady Yulou was, in fact, Su Ehuang, and that she had once been betrothed to Wei Shao. Xiao Qiao, suppressing her anger, viewed Su Ehuang's visit with suspicion, particularly given Chen Xiang's recent near-fatal illness. Her maids speculated about prophecies surrounding Su Ehuang's "empress's fate." Xiao Qiao emphasized that the crucial task was to uncover Su Ehuang's true intentions for coming. Soon after, Su Ehuang arrived in Yujun, greeted by Wei Qu and others.
