The Prisoner of Beauty Episode 29 Recap
> The Prisoner of Beauty Recap
Liu Yan, the Lord of Liangya, sought to marry Su Ehuang, whom he addressed as Lady Yulou. He proposed a lavish betrothal, granting two counties as her personal fief and offering double the betrothal gifts compared to the Governor of Taozhou. Observing this grand gesture, a Wushan envoy immediately knelt, pledging Wushan's full support to arrange the wedding, asserting that Lady Su, bearing the peony mark, would secure the Central Plains for Liu Yan.
Liu Yan, preparing to personally hunt a lynx for Su Ehuang, was met by her instead. She stated there was no need to continue their pretense, noting she had already sent the Wushan envoy away. Su Ehuang then willingly offered her military tally to Liu Yan, granting him control of her 50,000 troops and urging him to deploy them against Wei and halt the construction of the Yongning Canal.
Liu Yan, accepting her sincerity, swore to flatten Wei and share the realm with her upon victory. In Yujun, Lady Xu was meticulously preparing for Xiao Qiao's mourning end rites, commissioning new clothes for her. Lady Wei, recalling her own youth, lamented her current figure, but Lady Xu remarked that every age holds unique beauty, emphasizing the importance of character and family.
Xiao Qiao, in turn, complimented Lady Xu and Lady Wei's past beauty, suggesting it was the source of Wei Shao’s handsome appearance. Lady Xu then hinted at the impending consummation of Xiao Qiao’s marriage to Wei Shao and the possibility of her becoming pregnant. Soon after, Wei Shao arrived and led Xiao Qiao to the courtyard, where he had respectfully placed a spirit tablet for her late grandfather, Qiao Gui.
Overcome with emotion, Xiao Qiao wept, admitting she had always been afraid to mention Qiao Gui’s name to Wei Shao for fear of recalling his past betrayal, but confessed how deeply she missed him. Wei Shao gently took her arm, assuring her that she could confide anything in him from then on. Xiao Qiao then embraced him, finding solace in his arms.
Later, Xiao Qiao, dressed in white, knelt before Qiao Gui's tablet, offering silent prayers as Wei Shao watched from behind. That night, after her mourning period officially concluded, Xiao Qiao adorned herself in a slightly more vibrant dress. At the Government Office, Wei Shao, consumed by anticipation for their wedding night, anxiously looked towards the door.
Chunniang, having learned that Wei Shao had never had a concubine and was likely inexperienced and impetuous in such matters, cautiously advised Xiao Qiao to read a silk scroll hidden at the bottom of her dowry chest for guidance. Xiao Qiao, blushing with embarrassment, agreed to do so. Wei Shao soon rushed back to his residence and found Xiao Qiao. Their eyes met, full of profound affection, and they shared a cup of nuptial wine, both visibly nervous.
Wei Shao asked Xiao Qiao if she was afraid, to which she bravely replied that she was not. Wei Shao, equally nervous, confessed he wasn’t either, making Xiao Qiao chuckle. She thanked him for allowing her a year of mourning for her grandfather. Wei Shao responded that it was only right, recalling their mutual aversion and suspicion when they were first married.
Xiao Qiao then pressed him about his current feelings, and Wei Shao sincerely declared that having her in his life was the greatest fortune he could ask for. He tenderly stroked her cheek and kissed her forehead. However, their intimacy was abruptly interrupted when Wei Liang urgently knocked, announcing that Yanzhou was under siege. Wei Shao immediately convened a military council. His initial strategy was to block Liu Yan's forces at Xiaogang.
However, a messenger reported that Liu Yan had already reached Xiaogang in half a day and was now dispatching 100,000 troops towards Panyi. Xiao Qiao, realizing Liu Yan must have used the secret path between Xiaogang and Liancheng, felt immense guilt and rushed to tell Wei Shao, only to find he already knew.
She confessed that she had ordered her brother-in-law, Bi Zhi, to secretly build the path under the guise of mining for defensive purposes when Wei Shao had marched on Xiaogang after she took Boya. Wei Shao angrily accused her of constantly guarding against him, which had allowed Liangya's forces to advance so easily. This revelation caused a deep rift between them.
Xiao Qiao tried to explain that her initial wariness stemmed from the tumultuous circumstances of their marriage, especially his past intentions to eliminate the Qiao Clan, but that she had since fallen deeply in love with him. Wei Shao countered that she still hadn't informed him about the secret path, despite her supposed change of heart.
Xiao Qiao then challenged him, questioning if he had truly let go of his desire for revenge and if he would still refuse to attack Yanzhou if he hadn't married her, implying he was merely trying to please her. Their argument escalated, with Wei Shao accusing her of fabricating reasons to make him save Yanzhou.
When Xiao Qiao mentioned the possibility of the "Qiao Clan being wiped out" again, Wei Shao threatened to take Yanzhou and wipe out Liangya immediately if she repeated those words. Xiao Qiao broke down in tears. As Wei Shao departed, he assured her that only Wei Liang and a few others knew about the path, promising to protect her reputation.
Late that night, Lady Xu summoned Wei Shao, not to discuss military matters, but to play a game of Go—the unfinished game she had once played with Xiao Qiao. Lady Xu reminded him that in marriage, one shouldn't dwell on wins and losses. Wei Shao, still burdened, asked Lady Xu if they could truly help Yanzhou and forget their deep-seated hatred.
Lady Xu emphatically stated they could, or else he would be no different from Qiao Gui, who had betrayed them. She revealed that she had anticipated such a day when she consented to his marriage with Xiao Qiao and urged him to repay hatred with kindness.
Later, Xiaotao found Xiao Qiao distressed and tried to comfort her, revealing that Wei Liang had informed her Wei Shao had stopped monitoring Xiao Qiao's letters a long time ago, a testament to his trust. Xiao Qiao, however, blamed herself for her distrust and acknowledged that Wei Shao would be justified if he chose not to help Yanzhou. Unexpectedly, Chunniang rushed in with news that Wei Shao had already dispatched troops to Liancheng, a territory of Yanzhou.
Realizing Wei Shao was indeed coming to Yanzhou's aid, Xiao Qiao wept tears of relief and gratitude. Xiaotao delivered a shield to Wei Liang, into which she had sewn a protective charm she had prayed for. Xiao Qiao also went to Wei Shao, bringing a pair of battle boots she had personally made for him. Despite her thoughtful gesture, Wei Shao maintained a cold demeanor, though he was visibly moved inside.
Knowing that a large portion of the Wei army was leaving, leaving their rear vulnerable, Xiao Qiao pledged to secure their home front while he was away. Wei Shao gazed at her for a long moment before silently turning and leaving. The following day, Wei Shao organized his forces. He assigned Wei Xiao to guard Yujun with 50,000 stationed troops, while he, accompanied by Wei Qu and Wei Duo, would lead an expedition to Panyi.
Wei Liang was tasked with taking 50,000 troops to Liancheng, with immediate orders to prepare for departure. Lady Xu personally bid Wei Shao farewell, offering him wine and instructing him not to return until victory was achieved. Lady Wei tearfully promised to await his safe return, prompting Lady Xu to have her gently escorted away. Wei Qu subtly suggested Wei Shao look at Xiao Qiao, who stood watching, but Wei Shao refused, deeming it unseemly, and then mounted his horse.
As Wei Shao led his troops out of the city gates, war drums thundered in farewell. Immediately after his departure, Xiao Qiao declared her intention to travel to Boya to seek reinforcements for Wei Shao. Lady Wei, deeply impressed, promised to comply with all of Xiao Qiao's wishes if she succeeded in bringing Wei Shao back safely. Lady Xu then entrusted 500 of her personal guards, led by General Wei Xiao, to escort Xiao Qiao to Boya.
Meanwhile, Xiao Qiao also sent Xiaotao to Kangjun to deliver a message to Aci, urging him to support Wei Shao in Liancheng. Elsewhere, Wei Yan sought assistance from Chen Pang in Bianzhou, reminding him of Wei and Bianzhou's alliance through the canal construction. Chen Pang, however, was unwilling to help. Wei Yan proposed borrowing 100,000 troops, promising to replenish any losses.
Chen Pang scoffed at the offer, questioning whether the replacement troops would be from Wei or Yanzhou, implying he wouldn't trust them regardless. Angered, Wei Yan left. The generals in Bianzhou openly disparaged Wei Yan, viewing him as a dissolute good-for-nothing unfit to lead. One general challenged Wei Yan, who in turn, challenged all of them. During the ensuing confrontation, as a giant cauldron threatened to crush a soldier, Wei Yan bravely used his own body to shield the man. Witnessing his courage, the generals immediately knelt and pledged their loyalty to their new Young Master.
