The Prisoner of Beauty Episode 21 Recap
> The Prisoner of Beauty Recap
Wei Shao, having moved to the Government Office, claimed he found more freedom and comfort there compared to his own home. However, his servant Xiao Tan soon began bringing him hot ginger soup for better sleep, cooling balm for his headaches, hand warmers when his hands were cold, and even home-cooked meals. Wei Shao initially praised Xiao Tan for her thoughtfulness, but he soon realized that all these thoughtful arrangements were orchestrated by Xiao Qiao.
He mused that even while at the office, he was still caught in her "net." When Xiao Tan offered to remove the items, thinking he disliked them, Wei Shao stopped her, deciding to "make do." Curious about Xiao Qiao's recent activities, Wei Shao learned from Xiao Tan that his wife was diligently working on the renovations for the Deer Hunt venue and seeking a talented scholar to compose a poetic exposition to promote the event.
He specifically inquired about Gao Heng, a renowned scholar, and Xiao Tan confirmed Gao Heng's widespread fame. Meanwhile, as Xiaozao was preparing clothes for Wei Shao, she accidentally jostled a wooden box belonging to him. Xiao Qiao quickly cautioned her, fearing Wei Shao's displeasure. She then recalled the jade pendant she had previously seen in the box, noting Wei Shao's intense reaction to it, and remembered seeing a similar one on Su Ehuang's waist.
This sparked her concern that Wei Shao's past with Su Ehuang might not be entirely resolved. In response to her worries, Xiao Qiao instructed Xiao Tan to remove all the comforting provisions she had sent to the office, including the food and hand warmers. Instead, she had Xiao Tan deliver some pastries, claiming they were Wei Shao's favorite. Wei Shao, however, found them unappealing and sent them away.
Soon after, the wooden box containing his treasured items was returned to him by Xiao Qiao. Upon opening it, Wei Shao gazed at the broken jade pendant inside, recalling the moment his elder brother had broken it in two, giving one half to Su Ehuang and keeping the other, with a dying wish for Wei Shao to care for her.
Later that evening, Wei Shao unexpectedly returned to his bedchamber, citing the dampness of the Government Office and a sudden headache. He promptly lay on Xiao Qiao's lap, asking her to massage his head. He then revealed the contents of the wooden box, explaining that it held the relics of his grandfather, father, and elder brother. The jade pendant, he disclosed, was a keepsake from his elder brother, who had once been betrothed to Su Ehuang.
His brother, a formidable and undefeated general, had tragically died in the Xindu Battle. On his deathbed, he had asked Wei Shao to promise two things: first, to look after Su Ehuang, and second, something Wei Shao could not bring himself to articulate. Sensing the second promise concerned the Qiao family, Xiao Qiao tenderly embraced him. Wei Shao then asked Xiao Qiao for her style name, and she softly replied, "Manman," bringing them closer together.
Meanwhile, Bi Zhi received news that Bianzhou had been raided three times this month. He expressed his reluctance to seek help from Qiao Yue, his father-in-law, fearing that it would make Qiao Yue look down on him and potentially jeopardize Da Qiao's standing within her family. Da Qiao, concerned by the repeated incursions and her husband's predicament, decided to write to Xiao Qiao for assistance.
She proposed a plan to visit during the upcoming Deer Hunt as a subtle way to garner support, a suggestion to which Bi Zhi readily agreed, hoping that the Lord of Wei would publicly acknowledge him as an in-law. In a different part of the mansion, Wei Yan summoned several tavern maids, hoping to find one whose "figure and charm" resembled the goddess in his "Goddess of Fish Mountain" painting.
While one woman, named Yu, showed some resemblance from a certain angle, Wei Yan ultimately dismissed them all. That evening, at a family dinner hosted by Madam Xu, Wei Yan praised the new hairpins worn by Madam Xu and Madam Wei, which Wei Shao had gifted them. However, he conspicuously omitted any praise for Xiao Qiao's hairpin.
When Madam Xu pointed this out, Wei Yan playfully retorted that Xiao Qiao's praise should come from Wei Shao, while his duty was to entertain the two senior ladies. Xiao Qiao, genuinely fond of the hairpin from Wei Shao, expressed her liking for it, but Wei Shao, trying to appear nonchalant, dismissed it as a casual creation from leftover materials. Madam Xu, seeing through his pretense, urged him to express his true feelings sincerely.
Rumors soon began to spread through the city about the Yu woman, who claimed to be secretly engaged to Wei Yan and presented his flute as proof. Madam Xu, hearing this, was prepared to overlook the woman's social standing and arrange a formal betrothal. However, Wei Yan flatly denied any such engagement, stating that the Yu woman was merely a visitor who had come to paint, implying she was a common tavern maid.
Wei Shao, however, investigated and confirmed that she was from a respectable family. Sensing that Wei Yan was simply unwilling to explain himself, Xiao Qiao took it upon herself to confront the Yu woman. Through clever questioning, Xiao Qiao extracted the truth: the woman had disguised herself as a tavern maid to gain entry to the mansion, became infatuated with Wei Yan, and, upon finding his flute, had fabricated the rumors to force him into marriage.
Xiao Qiao successfully retrieved the flute and dispelled the gossip, emphasizing the importance of a woman's reputation. Wei Yan, though outwardly claiming indifference to his "rake-like" reputation, was deeply moved by Xiao Qiao's understanding. He realized that while Madam Xu and Wei Shao might protect him, they didn't truly understand his character as Xiao Qiao did. Afterward, Wei Yan, lost in thought, unconsciously added Xiao Qiao's face to his "Goddess of Fish Mountain" painting.
His attendant, Lanyun, saw it and mistakenly believed Wei Yan was painting her. Meanwhile, the scholar Gao Heng, initially claiming to lack inspiration for a poem to promote the Deer Hunt, suddenly found his muse after a visit to the drill ground. Wei Shao, who had mistakenly imagined Gao Heng to be an elderly man, was surprised to discover he was a handsome young scholar.
Urged by Gongsun Yang to treat such a talent with respect, Wei Shao rushed to meet him. Gao Heng presented his completed poem, which, to everyone's surprise, lauded Xiao Qiao's beauty and virtue rather than the Deer Hunt. Wei Yan, witnessing this, bristled with jealousy. Many suggested carving the poem onto a wall for posterity, and even Xiao Qiao, genuinely impressed, expressed a desire to visit the Moya Inscriptions.
Gao Heng immediately offered to be her guide, but before Wei Shao could object, Xiao Qiao politely declined, citing her responsibilities to her grandmother and mother. Wei Shao then intervened, dismissing Gao Heng's poem as off-topic and too narrowly focused on praising Xiao Qiao instead of the grandeur of Wei and the Deer Hunt. Wei Yan, despite his earlier jealousy, agreed that the poem was indeed off-topic.
Wei Shao publicly rejected the poem and instructed Gao Heng to rewrite it and also to compose a song about Wei. Gao Heng, while accepting the task, maintained that his praise was sincere and that Xiao Qiao was indeed a "rare and talented woman." Wei Shao then, grasping Xiao Qiao's hand, led her away from the gathering. As they rode away together, Wei Shao noticed Xiao Qiao wasn't wearing the hairpin he had given her.
When he asked why, Xiao Qiao playfully suggested that since he had made it "casually," he probably didn't like it, so she chose not to wear it. Wei Shao quickly refuted her, earnestly explaining that he had crafted it with great care and affection.
