The Prisoner of Beauty Episode 23 Recap
> The Prisoner of Beauty Recap
After a heartfelt moment where Wei Shao leaned in to kiss Xiao Qiao, she playfully revealed she had been awake. She then asked if his kiss meant he was no longer upset. Wei Shao, a bit shy, lay down beside her, and Xiao Qiao initiated a sweet kiss, leading to a passionate embrace. However, the next morning, Wei Shao awoke to find himself seated by the bed with Xiao Qiao resting in his arms, both fully clothed.
He then realized that the previous night's tender moments had, in fact, been merely a dream. Later that morning, Xiao Qiao woke up, feeling disheveled. Noticing scratch marks on Wei Shao's neck, she worried she might have caused them while drunk and moved to inspect them. Wei Shao instinctively recoiled, then firmly instructed her not to drink alcohol again. Confused, Xiao Qiao murmured that she had never scratched anyone when intoxicated before.
Wei Shao's brothers soon noticed the scratches on his neck. Wei Liang, curious, inquired about them, but Wei Shao vaguely claimed a cat had scratched him. Wei Liang, unconvinced, pointed out that there were no cats in the manor, prompting Wei Qu to scoff at his brother's gullibility. Xiaotao expressed her desire to give Wei Liang a special gift in return for a small gold dart he once gave her.
She felt a simple heart-guarding mirror was insufficient and asked Xiao Qiao for help in creating something better. Xiao Qiao, amused by Xiaotao's sincerity, readily agreed. That evening, Wei Shao returned to find Xiao Qiao out shopping. He noticed a box containing a heart-guarding mirror on her desk and, believing it to be a gift for him, felt a surge of delight.
When Xiao Qiao returned, she proposed inviting her sister Da Qiao and Bi Zhi from Yanzhou to the upcoming Deer Hunt. Wei Shao agreed but specified that guests from Bianzhou need not be invited, as they were not involved in the canal repair project and their presence would create complications for his grandmother and cousin. Xiao Qiao understood.
Wei Shao then tried to subtly prompt Xiao Qiao to mention the gift, asking if she had anything to tell him or if she had forgotten anything. When she offered no hints about the mirror, his hopes dwindled. Meanwhile, Lady Ding prepared to accompany Da Qiao and Bi Zhi to the Deer Hunt in Yujun, also intending to visit Xiao Qiao. Qiao Ci, unhappy about being sent back, requested a swift, thousand-li horse from Bi Zhi, which was immediately granted.
The next day, Wei Shao proudly displayed a heart-guarding mirror to his brothers, claiming Xiao Qiao had crafted a special one for him, adorned with scriptures for protection. To his embarrassment, Wei Liang produced an identical mirror, explaining Xiaotao had given it to him that morning. Flustered, Wei Shao quickly revised his story, asserting that his mirror was actually inlaid with white jade, trimmed with gold thread, and intricately carved with two mandarin ducks, symbolizing deep affection.
The others, quick to praise, affirmed that a gift from Xiao Qiao would indeed be extraordinary. Still hoping for a similar gift, Wei Shao subtly remarked on the harmonious relationship between Bi Zhi and Da Qiao, suggesting Da Qiao must diligently prepare protective items for Bi Zhi, a martial artist prone to injury.
When Xiao Qiao didn't catch his drift, Wei Shao feigned chest pain, claiming he was hurt during a sparring match with Wei Liang, who had been protected by a heart-guarding mirror while he had none. Xiao Qiao, while gently scolding Wei Liang for his rough play, immediately instructed the kitchen to remove all spicy and trigger foods from Wei Shao's meals to aid his recovery.
Later, as Wei Liang conspicuously flaunted his heart-guarding mirror on the street, Wei Shao's jealousy grew. Wei Qu, observing Wei Shao's displeasure, warned Wei Liang that if he didn't handle the situation carefully, he might find himself exiled to a harsh, cold region. Alarmed, Wei Liang secretly confided in Xiaotao about the predicament.
Xiao Qiao, learning of Wei Shao's elaborate description of a non-existent heart-guarding mirror, and after Xiaotao searched all shops in Yujun to no avail, decided to craft the unique item herself, understanding that if Wei Shao had described it, she had to make it a reality. At the same time, Qiao Ci, instead of returning to Yanzhou, used the swift horse from Bi Zhi to hasten to Yujun, instructing his escorts to report that he was waiting in Yanzhou.
Shortly after, Xiao Qiao completed the custom heart-guarding mirror and presented it to a delighted Wei Shao. Their joy was interrupted by news that Su Ehuang had arrived at the post house and wished to meet Wei Shao. Xiao Qiao offered to accompany him, reminding him of her promise to care for Su Ehuang, but Wei Shao declined, insisting that Xiao Qiao, having worked tirelessly on the invitations, needed to rest.
At the post house, the physician reported that Su Ehuang's voice was beyond treatment. Su Ehuang, having deliberately used strong medicine to damage her vocal cords, then concocted a story for Wei Shao. She falsely claimed that after Wei Bogong's death, Qiao Yue, the Governor of Yanzhou, had relentlessly pursued her, spreading rumors of her beauty and musical talent to attract powerful figures for political marriages.
She alleged that Qiao Yue, with his nephew Qiao Ci, sought to abduct her and present her to Wei Shao to solidify Xiao Qiao's position, and that she had poisoned her own voice to avoid being exploited. She also claimed to have broken Wei Bogong's jade pendant during her desperate escape. Wei Shao, though asking for clarification, believed her tale.
Su Ehuang cunningly suggested that the Qiao family acted on their own initiative and that Xiao Qiao was likely unaware, urging Wei Shao not to blame his wife. Believing Xiao Qiao was innocent, Wei Shao agreed and withdrew the invitations for the Qiao family to the Deer Hunt. Upon learning of Su Ehuang's accusations against her family, Xiao Qiao did not plead for them. Instead, she stood firmly by Wei Shao, expressing shared disappointment in her uncle's actions.
She prepared additional gifts, including a warm stove, to ensure Su Ehuang's comfort, intending to personally apologize and even repair the broken jade pendant. Wei Shao, deeply moved, embraced her, forbidding her from apologizing for something she wasn't responsible for. In that moment, he yearned for Xiao Qiao to simply be a woman of the Wei family, free from external entanglements.
Meanwhile, in Liangya, Liu Yan practiced his sword, while his uncle, Liu Shan, advised him to curry favor with the Lord of Liangya rather than solely focusing on martial arts, reminding him that he was the rightful heir. Liu Shan informed him about the upcoming Deer Hunt in Wei, urging him to attend and solidify his position.
Liu Yan worried that his absence would only empower the Consort at his father's side, but Liu Shan cautioned him that his current position was already precarious. Summoned by the Lord of Liangya, Liu Yan found his father announcing plans to take his younger son, Liu Qi, to the Deer Hunt in Wei.
The Consort seized the opportunity to disparage Liu Yan, blaming him for past mistakes that had offended Wei and forced the aging Lord to undertake the journey for reconciliation. The Lord of Liangya joined in, scolding Liu Yan and threatening to depose him. Enraged by their words, Liu Yan drew his sword and brutally murdered both the Lord of Liangya and the Consort. Liu Shan entered at that very moment, horrified by the scene.
He rebuked Liu Yan for committing parricide and tarnishing his name. Liu Yan, however, turned on his uncle with chilling indifference, warning him that he was no longer an uncle but merely a servant of the new Lord of Liangya, threatening him with death if he dared to defy. With blood still staining his face, Liu Yan then calmly ascended to the throne.
