The Prisoner of Beauty Episode 2 Recap
> The Prisoner of Beauty Recap
Gongsun Yang reminded everyone that Xindu was an inauspicious place where tens of thousands perished fourteen years ago, a somber memory that left the Qiao family speechless, acknowledging Yanzhou's past misjudgment. Wei Shao, asserting his dominance, stated there was no room for discussion; the marriage would proceed only if Yanzhou showed sincerity by agreeing to hold the wedding in Panyi, otherwise, they could return with the bride.
He added that the marriage was his grandmother's wish and insisted the wedding take place in Panyi, offering a gift to Xiao Qiao as a token of his intent. An envoy believed this gesture meant Wei Shao genuinely liked Xiao Qiao and advised her to accept the terms and marry him. However, Xiao Qiao saw through the facade, understanding the gift as a thinly veiled threat.
She knew Wei Shao coveted Panyi and would seize it by force if it wasn't willingly surrendered. Her aide suggested that giving up Panyi might not matter if Wei Shao, a dignified lord, wouldn't go back on his word. Xiao Qiao countered that their family feud began precisely because of a broken promise. To navigate this complex situation, she realized she needed to uncover Wei Shao's true vulnerabilities and desires.
Xiao Qiao dispatched her people to gather information about Wei Shao. They reported that he was a narrow-minded and ruthless man, as evidenced by his brutal execution of Li Su, whose body was dismembered and placed into a chest. His soldiers warned others to learn the rules if they didn't want to suffer the same fate. He also forbade the citizens of Xindu from performing prayers and devotional acts.
Furthermore, he was described as suspicious, reportedly killing people in his sleep and refusing to allow anyone near him at night. While his aides speculated he feared assassination, a conversation between his guards, Wei Xiao and a colleague, revealed the truth: Wei Shao’s fear stemmed from being trapped in a small wooden box as a child, during which he witnessed the brutal murders of his father and brother.
This traumatic experience left him with a deep-seated fear of darkness and enclosed spaces, forcing him to sleep with a candle lit, a secret he wished to keep. Xindu, once part of Wei territory, had been occupied for a long time, leading to significant changes in its populace. Wei Shao's daily household census instilled dread among the people, who feared it was a precursor to a massacre of the border region migrants.
They desperately pleaded with Xiao Qiao, whom they saw on the ruined Tan Terrace, to marry Wei Shao swiftly, hoping a wedding would appease him and prevent further bloodshed. Xiao Qiao stood on Tan Terrace, a ruined structure, wearing a captivating red dress. Citizens below praised her beauty, hoping her marriage to Wei Shao would avert war and slaughter. Wei Shao, observing her from afar, scoffed, calling it mere showing off and claiming she was "just pretty."
Having spent time observing the populace, Xiao Qiao felt she understood Wei Shao's intentions. She began to invest in the community, funding repairs for deep potholes on the streets and long-abandoned wells. To thank those who helped, she provided meals, winning over the grateful citizens. She also expressed a fondness for wildflowers, which prompted many residents to clear weeds and gather the flowers to bring to her.
Wei Shao arrived at Xiao Qiao's courtyard, finding her diligently arranging the wildflowers brought by the townsfolk. He was momentarily entranced by the scene. Startled by his sudden presence, Xiao Qiao quickly composed herself. She explained that her efforts were not for personal gain but to show the people that she, a Qiao from Yanzhou, could receive kindness from them.
She proposed that if Wei Shao were to marry her, the very person he despised, it would demonstrate his magnanimity, erasing the people's fear and inspiring their loyalty. Wei Shao, however, was unimpressed. He accused her of manipulating people, just as Li Su had sown discord, stating that both behaviors disgusted him. He warned her not to mistake him for his easily fooled grandfather and urged her to decide quickly regarding the Panyi seal, as his patience was limited.
Despite his coldness, Xiao Qiao remained resolute, confident that her persistence, like water wearing down stone, would eventually prevail. Later, his guard Wei Xiao astutely observed that Wei Shao's real anger stemmed from Xiao Qiao's success in winning the people's favor, a feat the Lord himself hadn't yet achieved.
When children tried to offer wildflowers to Wei Shao, his guard accepted them on his behalf, claiming they were originally for Wei Shao but redirected to Xiao Qiao as his future wife. Despite his guard's attempt to spin the narrative, Wei Shao acknowledged that the people were still hesitant to trust him fully, recognizing that winning their hearts would require time, as "thick ice doesn't freeze in a day."
Soon after, citizens flooded the county office, complaining to County Magistrate Zhen Zhi about Wei Shao's alleged street killings and demanding justice. Wei Shao, observing the unrest, seemed detached. Gongsun Yang reminded him that while he had reclaimed Xindu, its people were no longer the Wei subjects of old. Winning them over quickly would be difficult due to Li Su's past manipulations, and his larger ambitions required their support. He advised patience, comparing governing to managing water.
Meanwhile, Nanny Zhong, Lady Xu's confidante, arrived in Xindu to facilitate Xiao Qiao's marriage to Wei Shao. She guided Xiao Qiao to a specific wall, explaining its tragic history: it was built by the people from the collected belongings of their loved ones, whose bodies Li Su had forbidden them to bury. Over time, its original meaning was forgotten, and it became a mere prayer shrine.
Xiao Qiao, realizing this wall represented Wei Shao's profound loss and a memorial to his deceased family, understood its true significance for him. As Xiao Qiao prayed at the wall for the people, Wei Shao arrived, enraged to see the prayer items he had previously ordered removed still present. He angrily questioned Xiao Qiao's presence, accusing her and the people of forgetting the wall's true purpose and the Qiao family's culpability for its existence.
He then commanded his soldiers to tear down the wall, inciting cries of protest from the citizens. In a sudden act of defiance, County Magistrate Zhen Zhi attacked Wei Shao, calling him a ruthless tyrant unfit to rule Xindu. Wei Shao moved to strike him down, but Gongsun Yang intervened, explaining Zhen Zhi was a loyal officer of the late Wei Lord who had only surrendered to Li Su to protect Xindu's people.
The citizens also pleaded for Zhen Zhi's life, affirming his good character. Undaunted, Zhen Zhi continued to provoke Wei Shao, declaring him no better than Li Su and unworthy of his righteous ancestor. Wei Shao's soldiers clamored for Zhen Zhi's immediate execution, but Wei Shao remained silent. At this critical moment, Xiao Qiao stepped forward.
She boldly proposed a ruthless strategy: since the Xindu people, mostly border migrants, refused to submit, Wei Shao should "kill one to warn a hundred"—or ten, or even a hundred—until they obeyed, thus expediting their marriage. Wei Shao, seeing through her ploy, furiously drew his sword and held it to her neck, denouncing her as a "venomous woman," just like her deceitful grandfather.
The crowd, previously sympathetic to Zhen Zhi, now turned their anger on Xiao Qiao, echoing Wei Shao's condemnation. With his point made, Wei Shao declared he would not fall for Xiao Qiao's manipulative schemes to turn him against the people. He released Zhen Zhi, commending him for his courage in speaking for the citizens. Zhen Zhi, deeply moved by Wei Shao's unexpected magnanimity, knelt and sincerely praised him, recognizing in him the wisdom and compassion of the late Wei Lord.
He pledged his true allegiance to Wei Shao, marking the end of 14 years of Xindu being under enemy rule. Wei Shao smiled, having deftly won the hearts of the people and their magistrate. Wei Shao's decisive action quickly swayed the citizens. People lined up willingly to register and receive grain, expressing their gratitude to the Lord of Wei.
However, a mob gathered at Tan Terrace, surrounding Xiao Qiao and angrily demanding that Wei Shao not marry her, calling her a cruel "viper." Wei Shao dispersed the crowd and approached Xiao Qiao, his gaze momentarily fixed on the sword mark on her neck from their earlier confrontation.
He acknowledged her theatrical display had helped him win the people's favor but reiterated his disdain for her family's manipulative tactics, though he conceded she was "a bit better" than her grandfather for being willing to suffer for her schemes. Before leaving, he placed a healing powder on a pillar for her. In return, Xiao Qiao offered him a prayer plaque, gifted to her by Nanny Zhong, inscribed with the words "Stay united as one."
Back in his chambers, Wei Shao stared at the plaque for a long time, contemplating its meaning, which a young aide explained referred to a couple's eternal unity. The public's newfound trust in Wei Shao, however, led to an unforeseen problem: the number of people seeking food far exceeded the provisions. Many citizens who didn't receive grain became agitated, despite Wei Shao's public assurance that no one would go hungry.
Gongsun Yang informed Wei Shao that a severe drought had ravaged the entire Wei territory, and the number of refugees was much higher than anticipated. The emergency grain distributed had been painstakingly saved through strict rationing across Wei, making it nearly impossible to procure more. Gongsun Yang subtly hinted that a city, referring to Panyi, was within their grasp, suggesting that acquiring it through marriage to Xiao Qiao was the only viable solution to the pressing food crisis.
To further solidify his image and appease the diverse populace, Wei Shao ordered the demolition of the "People's Wall." He declared that the wall, originally built with the lives of Wei citizens, had become a symbol of hatred. He proclaimed that he, having endured the pain of losing loved ones, would not allow the people to suffer further. From that day forward, all inhabitants, regardless of their origin, would be considered citizens of Xindu.
He reinstated Zhen Zhi as the county magistrate, praising his courage, and promised that Wei soldiers would work alongside the citizens to rebuild Xindu so everyone could live in peace. Xiao Qiao watched this address, tears welling in her eyes, seemingly moved by his words, even though she knew his personal grief over his father and brother remained unconquered. As Gongsun Yang and others urged Wei Shao to proceed with the marriage, Xiao Qiao arrived, holding the Panyi seal.
Believing in Wei Shao's "pure kindness," she voluntarily surrendered the seal, offering Panyi's grain reserves to resolve Xindu's food shortage. Wei Shao's demeanor, however, abruptly hardened. He scathingly accused the Qiao family of naively believing that a mere marriage contract could erase fourteen years of deep-seated hatred. He mocked Qiao Gui, suggesting he must have used similar deception to fool Wei Shao's grandfather, and adamantly stated he would not fall for the Qiao family's tricks again.
In that moment, Xiao Qiao realized with bitter clarity that Wei Shao's moving speech at the demolished wall, which had seemingly touched her heart, had been nothing more than a carefully calculated act of deception.
