The Prisoner of Beauty Episode 33 Recap
> The Prisoner of Beauty Recap
After the ritual, Wei Shao hosted a banquet and expressed his gratitude to his grandmother, mother, and uncles for their care. He then declared his greatest thanks to Xiao Qiao, hoping they would face the future together. He said that from this day on, only the future matters to them, not the past, and they would share fortune and hardship, standing together through trials.
His grandmother praised him, noting that hatred is like a mountain, and it was good that he could remove that burden from his heart. Later, Wei Shao's mother summoned him, urging him to have a child with Xiao Qiao to prevent any changes in their marriage. She worried that due to the mourning period, they hadn't been intimate for a whole year, so descendants wouldn't simply appear.
She presented him with a set of clothes she had specially obtained, explaining that if a new wife wears items from a recently pregnant woman, she will catch the good luck and soon conceive. Wei Shao noted that the clothes belonged to a butcher's wife and had a faint smell of blood, making them unsuitable, but he did not object to the idea of having a child. Separately, Wei Liang discussed his desire to marry Xiaotao.
He planned to save enough military wages and then ask Wei Shao to intercede with Xiaotao's mother on his behalf. However, Xiaotao was impatient, fearing his saving would take too long, and insisted she didn't care for a large betrothal gift or a grand house. Wei Liang, oblivious to her eagerness, continued to insist on saving more, frustrating Xiaotao, who eventually walked away.
Wei Qu, overhearing their conversation, clarified Xiaotao’s true feelings to Wei Liang, making Wei Liang happy and prompting him to ask Wei Qu for a loan to marry her sooner. Wei Shao, still thinking about his mother's advice to have a child, found the idea of using the butcher's wife's clothes improper.
He then called for Mr. Gongsun and urgently proposed strengthening the defenses between Boya and Wei, particularly around Panyi, a crucial hub for the channel that must not fall. He stated that the Qiao-Wei alliance meant he wanted to join forces with Boya to reinforce their military. Just then, Wei Liang rushed in, hoping to ask Wei Shao about his marriage to Xiaotao, but before he could speak, Wei Shao assigned him the task of transporting military supplies to Boya.
Wei Shao also gave Wei Liang a secret errand: to ask Da Qiao for two pieces of her personal clothing, particularly those worn in recent months, under the pretense that Xiao Qiao missed her. He added that if Da Qiao had any baby clothes or toys, Wei Liang should bring one or two back without asking questions. Meanwhile, Xiao Qiao noticed her tastes had changed, and her menstrual cycle was delayed, leading her to suspect she might be pregnant.
She started thinking about names for the baby, dismissing several options as unlucky, but decided not to tell Wei Shao until it was confirmed. Around the same time, Wei Liang arrived at Da Qiao's residence to carry out Wei Shao's request. Da Qiao was already rummaging through chests, eager to find a thoughtful gift for Xiao Qiao. Bi Zhi, concerned about Da Qiao's pregnancy, suggested she didn't need to exert herself.
Da Qiao explained that when she and Bi Zhi had fled, Xiao Qiao had carefully chosen many things she loved, and now she wanted to do the same for her sister, deeply moved by their bond. Liu Shan and Liu Yan returned after a defeat. Liu Shan was worried about potential betrayals, including from Su Ehuang, and pointed out that three of their allies had already turned to Wei. Xue Tai suggested they return to Juejun.
However, Su Ehuang refused to leave, asserting her vow to fight for Chen Xiang's empire and believing Liu Yan was the only one capable of challenging Wei Shao. She planned to unite various states against Wei, believing Wei Shao's forces were tied down by canal construction. Su Ehuang then appeared before Liu Yan in a new dress, reminding him of their betrothal.
She claimed to have had a prophetic dream of a golden dragon ascending, signifying his rise to power, and offered to help him achieve his ambition. She analyzed the Qiao and Wei clans, noting Wei's loyalty to allies and family, while Qiao was more opportunistic and easier to sway. She proposed focusing on the Qiao clan to strike a heavy blow against Wei.
She further offered to travel to various states on Liu Yan's behalf, explaining the situation and persuading them to unite with Liangya against Wei. Liu Shan tried to caution Liu Yan against rash action, given their recent defeat, but Liu Yan, eager for victory, threatened to kill him if he spoke out again. Liu Yan then embraced Su Ehuang.
Su Ehuang later revealed to Liu Yan that she wore a golden butterfly mask because her auspicious fate was blocked by her nosewings, and only the element of gold could break the curse. Wei Liang returned to find Xiaotao. He told her he had asked Wei Shao for reward money and would marry her soon. Xiaotao, exasperated by his continued insistence on accumulating wealth, called him foolish and said she didn't need a grand courtyard, only his sincerity.
Chunniang, however, liked Wei Liang, seeing his stubbornness as a sign of how much he valued Xiaotao. Later, Xiaotao made it clear to Wei Liang that what she truly desired as a betrothal gift was not money or a house, but a simple orchid, specifically mentioning one from Yanzhou. Wei Liang, ever literal, decided to grow the orchid he already had until it bloomed.
Wei Qu, lamenting Wei Liang's lack of understanding, suggested a practical solution: Wei Shao was looking for someone to fetch Qiao Ping from Yanzhou. Wei Liang could take on this task and simultaneously bring back a blooming orchid from Yanzhou, which would allow him to marry Xiaotao quickly. This idea delighted Wei Liang and his brothers, who lay on the ground, gazing at the moon, sharing joyful laughter. Xiao Qiao's symptoms continued, including fatigue, nausea, and a delayed period.
Wei Shao, who had discreetly placed Da Qiao's clothes under their bedding, noticed her constant weariness and remembered her late period. He worried she might be ill and prepared to send for the physician. However, Xiao Qiao revealed she was pregnant. Wei Shao was overjoyed, believing the items he had placed under their bedding had been effective. Wei Shao and Xiao Qiao went to the observatory together.
He embraced her, suggesting they name their child Feifei, after a mythical beast said to bring a carefree life. He wished for both Xiao Qiao and their child to live without worries. They spoke of their hopes for their child to live in a peaceful and prosperous age, with canals reaching all directions, benefiting the people and ending wars.
Wei Shao promised that he, a man of the Wei Clan, would never go back on his word and would never fail Xiao Qiao in this life. In Yanzhou, children were heard singing a rhyme that praised Prefect Qiao Ping while insulting Governor Qiao Yue, calling him "envious," a "cowardly turtle," and a "useless servant."
Zhang Pu, observing this, fanned the flames of Qiao Yue's insecurity, pointing out that everyone in Yanzhou now spoke of Qiao Ping but ignored Qiao Yue. Zhang Pu warned Qiao Yue that with the Wei Lady now pregnant, Qiao Ping would soon be the maternal grandfather of the Wei heir, further jeopardizing Qiao Yue's position. Su Ehuang saw Liu Yan off as he prepared to go to Kangjun.
Liu Yan held her hand, reluctant to part, and kissed her forehead, promising not to disappoint her expectations for his success. Xiao Qiao had a disturbing nightmare, seeing her father in the wilderness, unaware of several wolves menacingly behind him. She cried out repeatedly, but he couldn't hear her. Wei Shao comforted her, suggesting it might just be the baby's movements stirring her emotions.
To ease her mind, he offered to send for her father, Qiao Ping, to come and live in Yujun for a while, allowing him to enjoy family time and be there for her confinement. Xiao Qiao was deeply moved by his thoughtfulness. At the city gate, Xiaotao came to see Wei Liang off. She asked him the true purpose of his trip to Yanzhou.
Wei Liang shyly admitted that beyond fetching Qiao Ping for Wei Shao, he also intended to bring back a true Yanzhou orchid to propose to her. Xiaotao was delighted, and they waved goodbye. Zhang Pu brought Qiao Yue to meet Liu Yan, stating that Liu Yan was the only one who could help Qiao Yue reverse his fortunes.
