The Prisoner of Beauty Episode 14 Recap
> The Prisoner of Beauty Recap
Su Ehuang arrived at the city gate with her younger brother, Su Zixin, and was welcomed by generals Wei Liang and Wei Qu. Onlookers recognized Lady Yulou, remarking on her noble bearing and beauty. Su Ehuang thanked the generals for the grand welcome, hoping her hurried arrival for her Great-aunt's 60th birthday wouldn't cause inconvenience. Wei Liang assured her she was being too formal and escorted her into the city.
Along the way, citizens spoke of her legendary peony mark and exceptional destiny as Lady Su of Wushan. Su Zixin proudly declared that while many tried to imitate his sister, they could never replicate her success, as her achievements were the result of hard work, not just fate. Su Ehuang, however, confided that if she failed to dissolve the Qiao-Wei alliance during this visit, her efforts would be futile in the eyes of her husband, Chen Xiang.
Upon being directed to a post house instead of the Wei mansion, Su Zixin expressed surprise, having expected to stay in the Lord of Wei's residence. Su Ehuang attributed this arrangement to Xiao Qiao's influence, though she feigned contentment to Wei Liang, calling the post house "peaceful amidst the bustle" and thanking the Lord of Wei for his thoughtfulness.
Meanwhile, the city's streets were bustling with vendors selling "Gorgeous huadian," claiming they would bring love and luck, a trend inspired by Su Ehuang's renowned peony mark. Wei Liang purchased one, initially denying it was for Xiaotao when questioned by a companion. Later, he offered the huadian to Xiaotao, remarking on its popularity among Yujun girls. Xiaotao, however, scornfully dismissed it as "vixen-like stuff" and angrily trampled it underfoot, clearly resentful of Su Ehuang's arrival.
She then confronted Wei Liang, asking if it was true that Lady Yulou had once been almost betrothed to the Wei family. Wei Liang confirmed this. The next day, Su Ehuang sought an audience with Lady Xu, who was discussing the upcoming birthday banquet with Xiao Qiao. Xiao Qiao attempted to excuse herself, but Lady Xu bid her to stay, explaining that she was Su Ehuang's Great-aunt and they had shared a close bond in Su Ehuang's childhood.
Su Ehuang greeted Lady Xu with reverence, describing her challenging life as the Lady of Bianzhou and her deep longing for Lady Xu's affection, hoping her visit wasn't an imposition. Lady Xu kindly invited her to stay and relax. She then introduced Xiao Qiao as Wei Shao's wife, praising her diligent management of the household.
Su Ehuang complimented Xiao Qiao’s captivating beauty and, in an apparent gesture of familiarity, suggested Xiao Qiao call her "elder sister" given her close upbringing with Wei Shao. Xiao Qiao respectfully declined, choosing to address her as "Lady Yulou" to uphold decorum due to Su Ehuang's elevated status and her own youth.
Su Ehuang then subtly alluded to the widespread renown of Lord Qiao's benevolence, a remark that visibly unsettled Lady Xu, prompting Su Ehuang to quickly apologize for her "slip of the tongue." Wei Lady arrived, greeting Lady Xu and warmly embracing Su Ehuang, complimenting her "blessed" appearance befitting the Lady of Bianzhou. Su Ehuang expressed her deep sorrow over their long separation, recalling Wei Lady's past kindness towards her, treating her "like your daughter."
After Xiao Qiao departed, Wei Lady confided in Su Ehuang, lamenting her difficult life under an "overbearing" mother-in-law and a "delicate" Lady Qiao, who, she claimed, had united to make her an "outsider" in the household and even driven Zheng Chuyu out. She expressed her frustration that Wei Shao was too occupied with canal projects for Yongning, Xindu, Panyi, and now Rongjun, to intervene. Su Ehuang, feigning concern, offered her assistance if any "problems" arose with the canals.
Wei Lady revealed that Rongjun was experiencing a drought and that Yanzhou was dispatching wheat seeds, which necessitated the canal construction. Su Ehuang presented grain as a birthday gift for Lady Xu, explaining it was intended to aid Rongjun's famine and was a personal offering, not from her state. Lady Xu, however, deemed grain a serious matter requiring Wei Shao's approval. Wei Lady immediately interjected, certain Wei Shao would accept it due to their shared history.
Lady Xu sharply interrupted her, ordering her to escort Su Ehuang out. Privately, Lady Xu expressed her suspicions, noting Su Ehuang’s seemingly prosperous appearance despite claiming a difficult life in Bianzhou. She recalled Su Ehuang's previous betrothal to the Wei family and her eventual marriage to Chen Xiang of Bianzhou after the Xindu incident, concluding that fate had intervened and remarking on Xiao Qiao's competence as Wei Shao's current wife. Simultaneously, Lord Qiao Yue had sent wheat seeds to Wei.
Xiao Qiao, upon learning of Su Ehuang's grain, worried about Yanzhou's reputation if Wei Shao accepted it, but was relieved to hear he had declined. During a private meeting with Wei Shao, Su Ehuang reminisced about their carefree childhood, including shared moments with Wei Bo in the now-dilapidated courtyard, expressing how returning to Wei felt like coming home.
She subtly shifted to Xiao Qiao, praising her management of the household but expressing "pity" for her, burdened by household duties and the complex historical grievances between the Qiao and Wei clans. She advised Wei Shao to shield Xiao Qiao from political matters. She then reiterated that the grain was a personal gift, not from Wushan or Bianzhou, urging Wei Shao to accept it without reservation.
Wei Shao, however, firmly stated that canal construction was a Wei state affair and that, as the Lady of Bianzhou, it was "no longer appropriate" for them to discuss such politics. He declined the grain, emphasizing his commitment to the Qiao-Wei alliance. Su Ehuang, acknowledging his refusal, promptly left. Later, Xiaotao informed Xiao Qiao about Su Ehuang's meeting with Wei Shao, stirring Xiao Qiao's jealousy. Xiaotao, with a hint of gossip, remarked on the reunion of "old lovers."
That evening, Wei Shao entered Xiao Qiao's room. Spotting the discarded huadian on her table, he mistakenly assumed she admired it and offered to take her to the market to purchase more. Annoyed, Xiao Qiao sharply retorted that she had "hated flashy things like this since I was a child," leaving Wei Shao bewildered and speechless. He then dismissed the servants, who had offered to help him change.
Observing the Qiao family's wheat seeds entering the city, Su Ehuang concluded that Wei Shao's rejection of her grain was a deliberate attempt to distance himself from her and prioritize Xiao Qiao. Su Zixin questioned how she would proceed given Wei Shao's wariness. Su Ehuang responded that if she couldn't act freely, then "Lady Qiao, as the daughter of his enemy, is in an even worse position."
She then reflected on her own past, recalling her betrothal to the Wei family and the subsequent tragedy that befell them after the Qiao Clan broke their word, leading to her marriage to Bianzhou. She declared that she had not forgotten this old grudge, and neither would Wei Shao. Since the canal project and Wei Shao's decisions revolved around the wheat seeds, Su Ehuang decided to target them, hinting at a "hidden piece to play."
Wei Yan was seen meticulously overseeing the weighing of the Qiao family's wheat seeds upon their arrival, instructing that they be "well-guarded." Later, Su Zixin reported to Su Ehuang that "it's done," to which she responded with a sinister smile, remarking that "A grand birthday celebration needs to be livelier." To further her agenda, Su Ehuang publicly praised Xiao Qiao, yet secretly dispatched Su Zixin to contact Zheng Chuyu.
Su Zixin found Zheng Chuyu, who, after offering to guide him to Wei Mansion, accepted his umbrella. He later reported back to Su Ehuang that he had succeeded. Shortly after, Wei Lady learned that Zheng Chuyu had been severely beaten by her in-laws. Despite Lady Xu's prohibition, Wei Lady secretly brought Zheng Chuyu to the outer courtyard.
Zheng Chuyu tearfully confessed that her gambling husband had squandered her dowry and was trying to extort more money, falsely accusing her of infidelity. She blamed Lady Xu for arranging such a miserable marriage. Wei Lady, seizing the opportunity, added that her own difficulties in the household were also because of Lady Qiao.
Su Ehuang then met with them, suggesting that to achieve their goals, they needed Xiao Qiao to "slip up" so Wei Lady could "have the upper hand," subtly offering a "way" that "depends on you." On Lady Xu's birthday, the grand celebration was interrupted by Wei Dian, who, with Su Ehuang's orchestration, publicly exposed the Qiao family's wheat seeds as cooked, effectively framing Xiao Qiao.
During a pre-banquet interaction, Wei Dian performed a sword dance, accompanied by Su Ehuang's singing, a performance that delighted Lady Xu. Wei Lady, eager to stir trouble, noted Lady Xu's happiness and inquired about Yanzhou's "generous gift." Lady Xu proudly spoke of the winter wheat seeds as the "foundation of Yanzhou's prosperity" and her "best birthday gift." Wei Lady, feigning curiosity, persuaded Lady Xu to have Xiao Qiao present the seeds to the guests.
Xiao Qiao brought them forth, explaining that winter wheat was an improved, autumn-planted strain exclusive to Yanzhou, shared as a gesture of alliance. Wei Dian then dramatically pointed out a "smell" and claimed the seeds were "moldy," accusing the Qiao family of treachery reminiscent of their past betrayal fourteen years ago. Xiao Qiao vehemently defended the seeds, asserting her personal inspection and the Qiao Clan's commitment to the alliance and the people's welfare.
Wei Dian, however, demonstrated that when placed in water, the seeds floated, revealing them to be cooked. An elder solemnly explained the dire consequences of planting such seeds, warning of worsened famine. The assembly erupted in demands for Xiao Qiao's severe punishment. Wei Yan unexpectedly interjected, questioning how a "lady of inner chambers" could be involved in "political affairs" and suggesting Qiao Yue was the real culprit. Just then, Wei Shao arrived, silencing the clamor.
He acknowledged the seeds were cooked but vehemently rejected the accusation against Xiao Qiao. He declared he would believe her capable of poisoning his entire family but never of harming the common people.
He then recounted her unwavering loyalty and contributions: restoring public trust in Xindu, fighting alongside him against the Liangya army in Panyi, and persuading experts to repair the Yongning Canal, emphasizing that if she wished to harm the people, she simply wouldn't have helped him build the canal. He concluded that this was clearly a "setup."
To uncover the truth, Wei Shao proposed weighing the seeds, explaining that cooked and dried seeds would be lighter than raw ones, thus revealing if a switch had occurred. Wei Lady, seizing the moment, remarked on Wei Shao and Xiao Qiao's unity and then pointedly asked who was in charge of the granary, subtly implying an alternative culprit. Su Ehuang then chimed in, stating that if it wasn't Xiao Qiao, "then it must be Wei Yan." Wei Shao was visibly surprised, and the assembled relatives turned their attention to Wei Yan, pressing Wei Shao to choose between his wife and his cousin.
