The Prisoner of Beauty Episode 25 Recap
> The Prisoner of Beauty Recap
In the arena, Su Zixin and Qiao Ci faced off. Su Zixin fought fiercely, injuring Qiao Ci and breaking his weapon. Just as onlookers assumed Qiao Ci would lose, Wei Shao intervened, stating that the provided weapons were inadequate. He offered Qiao Ci his treasured spear, which belonged to his deceased brother, Bogong. Seeing the spear, Su Ehuang's eyes welled with tears, recognizing it as her late beloved's weapon, though she quickly composed herself with a forced smile.
Armed with Bogong's spear, Qiao Ci defeated Su Zixin. Enraged, Su Zixin launched a hidden weapon, but Qiao Ci managed to block it. Wei Shao immediately disqualified Su Zixin from further matches, criticizing his malicious conduct. Su Ehuang stepped forward and publicly slapped Su Zixin, taking responsibility for his misbehavior.
She then revealed her true purpose for attending the Deer Hunt: to find a new master for Xue Tai, her late husband's loyal general who had rebelled after being unable to tolerate the new lord of Bianzhou. She presented Xue Tai's military tally, attracting the attention of Liu Yan. Later, Wei Shao and Wei Yan visited the injured Qiao Ci. Wei Shao expressed concern, and Wei Yan also affirmed his care.
Qiao Ci, learning from Xiao Qiao that the spear he used was Wei Shao's cherished brother's heirloom, praised Wei Shao as a good brother-in-law. Xiao Qiao's heart swelled with happiness at her brother's words. Wei Shao then advised Qiao Ci to remain diligent and to be mindful of his conduct as the Future Governor of Yanzhou at the upcoming feast. At the subsequent feast, Wei Shao attended with Xiao Qiao, asking her to distribute the hunted game.
This public gesture underscored her importance, much to her surprise and emotion. Gongsun Yang then presented maps, proposing the expansion of canals to benefit the populace. However, many, swayed by Liu Yan's subtle instigation, suspected Wei Shao of using the project to station troops in their territories and voiced strong opposition.
Xiao Qiao, speaking as both a Wei family wife and a Qiao family daughter, recounted how her grandfather painstakingly built canals in Yanzhou despite initial public misunderstanding, which ultimately led to prosperity. She also highlighted how Wei’s newly rebuilt Yongning Canal had significantly boosted trade with Yanzhou. Yet, the other governors dismissed her words as mere defense of her husband. At this point, Qiao Ci stepped forward.
Speaking as the Future Governor of Yanzhou, he meticulously detailed the benefits of canals for drought-stricken Yanzhou, flood-prone Taozhou, and trade-blocked Zhongzhou. He then pointed out how Wei Shao, in his magnanimity, had set aside a fourteen-year-old blood feud with the Qiao clan to marry Xiao Qiao, all to construct the canal and alleviate his people's suffering. Qiao Ci’s compelling argument swayed many, who then expressed their agreement to the canal project and showed newfound respect for Wei Shao.
Wei Shao was visibly impressed by Qiao Ci. However, Liu Yan remained adamantly opposed, swearing publicly that he would never join the effort or follow anyone else's command. Su Ehuang, witnessing the scene, offered to write to Xue Tai to request his aid for the canal project. Wei Shao thanked the supportive governors, reaffirming his commitment to send 100,000 elite soldiers and a dozen waterworks supervisors to assist with the construction.
After the assembly, Wei Shao thanked Qiao Ci and apologized for his initial harshness towards him. Qiao Ci, in turn, lavished praise on Wei Shao, recounting numerous instances of his kindness towards Xiao Qiao, such as saving her from a cliff, rescuing her from refugees, refusing concubines, and even dismissing all his mistresses for her happiness. While pleased, Wei Shao felt Xiao Qiao had exaggerated his virtues.
Qiao Ci then confessed that Xiao Qiao had meticulously coached him on the speech, and he had spent considerable time memorizing it, anxious about making a mistake. Wei Shao, realizing Xiao Qiao's thoughtful efforts, felt his affection for her deepen even further. Later, Wei Shao sought out Xiao Qiao, thanking her for her trust and regretting his past narrow-mindedness, admitting he once thought all Qiaos were manipulative. He reflected on how, when they first married, both had guarded intentions.
He confessed that he no longer wished to conceal anything from her and yearned for them to become a true couple, sincere with each other. Xiao Qiao took his hand and, with a tender gaze, asked if, after all they had endured together, they were not already a true husband and wife. Moved by her words, Wei Shao embraced her.
Meanwhile, Su Zixin discovered that Liu Yan had murdered his father and brother to usurp his position as the Lord of Liangya. He advised Su Ehuang against associating with such a person, suggesting she seek a more virtuous partner like Wei Shao. Su Ehuang, however, dismissed Wei Shao as too difficult to control and already married.
She revealed her own philosophy: the human heart is both the hardest and easiest to control; understanding a person's desires allows one to manipulate them like a puppet. She then instructed Su Zixin to deliberately spread the news of Liu Yan's patricide and fratricide. Subsequently, Liu Yan hosted a banquet to rally regional lords, but to his dismay, almost no one attended.
Liu Shan speculated that it was due to the rumors of Liu Yan's crimes, but Liu Yan believed the lords feared offending Wei Shao, with whom he had publicly broken ties. Ultimately, only Su Ehuang arrived. Su Ehuang approached Liu Yan, expressing profound understanding for his actions, claiming a shared experience of being unloved, used as a pawn, discarded when no longer valuable, and living in constant fear of replacement.
She spoke of her own upbringing in the declining Su Clan, where her "peony" birthmark was deemed a rare fate, driving her to strive for her clan's revival through marriage. However, this was shattered when she discovered her family was also grooming another girl with a "once-in-a-thousand-year fate," making her realize she was merely a replaceable tool. She revealed that this other girl was later disfigured.
She declared her current desire to find a like-minded partner to achieve great ambitions, not one who coveted her beauty or fate. Liu Yan, discerning her true intentions, asked if she had visited Liangya and offered to show her its beauty. Su Ehuang politely declined, stating her lack of interest in joining Liangya but hoping to foster a good relationship for future assistance.
After she departed, Liu Shan cautioned Liu Yan not to be deceived, asserting Su Ehuang merely sought a powerful backer for herself. Liu Yan, though recognizing Su Ehuang's manipulative nature, admitted she had reminded him of Xiao Qiao.
He mused that Xiao Qiao had chosen Wei Shao over him because she, despite being fostered by Lady Ding, was genuinely cherished by her family and would bravely sacrifice herself for them, unlike him and Su Ehuang, who were mere tools, living like "ants" in constant fear. Liu Yan later sent a pearl as a token, inviting Su Ehuang to Liangya in the future, which she kept but did not intend to follow up on.
As Qiao Ci prepared to leave, Xiao Qiao, saddened by his departure, gave him diligent advice for his journey and reminded him to bring provisions for Da Qiao, who she knew was struggling, when he passed by Boya. Qiao Ci, in turn, entrusted Xiao Qiao to Wei Shao's care, sternly warning him that if he ever mistreated her, Qiao Ci would personally seek justice.
Wei Shao, accepting the charge, also warned Qiao Ci to avoid unsavory places like Luozhong Tavern in the future. Watching Qiao Ci ride off, Xiao Qiao felt a pang of sadness. Wei Shao, noticing her reluctance, playfully swept Xiao Qiao onto his saddle, and they galloped after Qiao Ci to send him off even further. Wei Yan, witnessing their affection, smiled with satisfaction. Later, Su Ehuang sought Wei Shao, requesting temporary refuge in Wei.
She claimed that by revealing her "cards" at the Deer Hunt, she had become a target. Both Liu Yan and the Governor of Taozhou were now pressing to marry her, and she feared her own opportunistic family would force her into an unwanted union, just as they had with her first marriage to Chen Xiang. Appealing to Wei Shao in the name of Bogong, she pleaded not to be a puppet used for gain again.
