Introduction
This is one-of-a-kind drama I have waited for a long time, since I don’t usually wait for them. Both the leading actor and the leading actress are my favorites. Therefore, another article I started blindly while the drama was still airing, not knowing what the ending would be. Let the anxiety begin…
Drama Info
Drama title: The Prisoner of Beauty (Native title: 折腰 )
Alternative title: Zhe Yao
Genres: Historical, Romance, Political
Aired: May 13, 2025 - May 29, 2025
Episodes: 36 | Duration: 45 minutes
Directors: Deng Ke ( 邓科 ), Gao Cong Kai ( 高琮凯 ), and Wang Yi Ding ( 王奕丁 )
Screenwriters: Nan Zhen ( 南镇), Niu Yi Ran ( 牛怡然 ), Zhao Jian ( 赵健 ), and Yu Ya Wen ( 郁雅文 )
Adapted from the web novel "Zhe Yao" (折腰) by Peng Lai Ke (蓬莱客).
Novel English translation: Dark Stars Translations
Where to watch: WeTV, Tencent Video, Viki, and Netflix
OSTs: Full album (fansub)
Trailer:
Synopsis
A retreat on the battlefield orchestrated by Qiao Man’s grandfather fourteen years ago resulted in the deaths of Wei family elders, igniting a bitter clan feud. Now, Wei Shao, the sole Wei survivor, marches on Yanzhou, ostensibly for revenge but truly to restore the vital Yongning Canal. Seeing through his plan, Qiao Man agrees to a strategic marriage to ease the crisis.
Initially at odds, the couple slowly bonds through shared trials. As old grudges fade, love grows. Together, they overcome adversity and fight for peace, ultimately becoming lifelong companions. (Source: WeTV)
Characters
Main Characters
Song Zu Er ( 宋祖儿 ) as Qiao Man / Xiao Qiao
Wei Shao’s betrothed. Intelligent and perceptive, she is good at reading people’s expressions and moods, upright and kind-hearted, unafraid of power, and daring to protect her own and her family’s interests. Initially wary and dissatisfied with Wei Shao, she is gradually moved by his sincerity and talent, becoming his strongest supporter and gentlest companion.
Liu Yu Ning ( 刘宇宁 ) as Wei Shao / Zhong Lin
The head of the Wei family, a cunning and pure-hearted hero. For the sake of the family and the country, he did not hesitate to marry Qiao Man, but he did not underestimate her; instead, he respected her wishes and choices. He gradually developed feelings for Qiao Man, changed many of his thoughts and actions for her, faced storms together, and pursued happiness together.
Xuan Lu ( 宣璐 ) as Su E Huang / Lady Yu Lou
The ambitious Lady Yu Lou. She is Wei Clan’s former betrothed, but seems still unable to forget Wei Shao and unwilling to be replaced by Qiao Man. To win Wei Shao back, she resorts to various means and schemes.
Liu Duan Duan ( 刘端端 ) as Wei Yan / Shi Yuan
Wei Shao’s cousin, the second son of the Wei family. He is arrogant, selfish, and unscrupulous. He harbors unspeakable thoughts about Qiao Man and deeply envies and hates Wei Shao. He colludes with Su E Huang, attempting to destroy the relationship between Qiao Man and Wei Shao and seize the power of the Wei family.
Supporting Characters (Character Chart)
Since someone has graciously translated the character chart provided, I will not list the supporting characters as I usually do. I did check the chart and found that the relationships are pretty much self-explanatory.
Drama Recap Episodes 1 to 6
Episode 1
Let’s start with the background grudge. In the past, Qiao Gui, Qiao Man’s grandfather, and Wei Lun, Wei Shao’s grandfather, made an alliance to support and protect each other’s clans. However, when a powerful enemy, General Li Su from Bianzhou, attacked the Wei State, the Qiao Clan didn’t come to help. Qiao Gui was torn between two arguments from his advisors and family: to help the Wei State or to withdraw. The Qiao army was not strong. At that time, little Qiao Man broke a jade stone for divination, and Qiao Gui saw that as a sign to withdraw. Wei Shao’s grandfather, father, and older brother died in the battle, witnessed by little Wei Shao. Before dying, his brother warned him never trust the traitor Qiao Clan, and he died.
14 years later, the adult Wei Shao is on a fiery mission to avenge his family, attacking the Qiao Family and the Bianzhou State. The Wei Army has grown strong since then. As a peace token, Qiao Gui sent Lady Xu, Wei Shao’s grandmother, a letter with an offer for a marriage alliance. At first, it was Qiao Man’s cousin Da Qiao who was to marry Wei Shao. She’s the daughter of the Governor of Yanzhou, Qiao Man’s uncle. Qiao Man is already betrothed to Liu Yan, a prince of Liangye State. But Qiao Man knows that Da Qiao and Bi Zhi, a slave, secretly love each other. Besides, she’s disappointed with how insincere the Liu Family treated the betrothal gift and how unworthy her fiancé is. Qiao Man arranged for Da Qiao to elope with Bi Zhi. As a parting message, she told her teary cousin to marry Bi Zhi for love and grow old together, since she’ll marry Wei Shao for status and power only.
The Qiao Family is in uproar after Da Qiao’s elopement, especially since Lady Xu had already agreed to the marriage alliance. Zhang Pu, Qiao’s military advisor, suggested Qiao Man to Wei Shao. While the family is arguing, Qiao Man silently nods her approval to Grandpa. Later, she discusses with Grandpa what would make Wei Shao agree to the marriage is by giving the bordering city of Panyi as the betrothal gift. Grandpa is full of regrets and asks Qiao Man to treat Wei Shao and the Wei Family wih kindness that will win over their hatred. The Qiao Family sends off Qiao Man tearfully with a wedding entourage full of gifts and the Panyi City seal.
Meanwhile, although Wei Shao captured General Li Su, the Xindu city where the Army is staying now refuses to cooperate after the takeover. Gongsun Yang, Wei Shao’s military advisor, persuades him to accept the marriage alliance. He worries that the Qiao Army will ally with Liangye State to attack their tired army. Wei Shao is furious to hear that the Qiao wedding entourage has arrived. He wants to shoot Qiao Man in her carriage, but Gongsun Yang persuades him to accept Qiao Man, since Wei Shao will win Panyi City peacefully and get a beautiful wife. Qiao Man and Da Qiao are famous as the beauty twins of the Qiao. Wei Shao doesn’t want to marry, but if the Qiao hand over the city seal, he will let Qiao Man go.
During the negotiation, both parties’ military advisors don’t want to back down on the wedding venue. Gongsun Yang wants the wedding to be held in Panyi, while Zhang Pu insists on Xindu. Qiao Man’s maid is very confused about this, so Qiao Man explains that Wei wants Qiao to hand over the seal before the wedding, and they want the opposite. When Wei Shao overhears their convo, he lifts up the curtain in front of Qiao Man, and declares that if Wei doesn’t act in good faith, he will send her back. Upon seeing the beautiful girl with doe eyes staring at him, Wei Shao couldn’t help feeling a jolt in his heart.
Now I think I understand why they changed the title to “Prisoner of Beauty”. Who is the ‘prisoner’ here… Qiao Man… or Wei Shao?
Episode 2
The negotiation is at a deadlock. Since Wei Shao gives her a gift, Advisor Zhang Pu thinks Wei Shao likes her. They should just give in with the wedding venue, Wei Shao won’t back down from his words, right? Qiao Man sees the gift more as a threat; if Wei Shao wants, he will take over Panyi by force anyway. She would rather find out what his weaknesses and desires are.
The investigation begins, and Qiao Man sends her maids to inquire about Wei Shao. It’s quite a cruel and gloomy picture. For his enemy, Wei Shao cut General Li Su’s limbs and showed them to the public. For the people, Wei Shao forbids them to pray to the ancestors. For the loyal subordinates around him, Wei Shao doesn’t let them get near him at night. Some people think it’s the fear of assassination. In fact, Wei Shao has PTSD from being hidden by his brother in a box while witnessing the killing of his family. Because of that, he develops a fear of darkness.
Xindu used to be Wei territory before the battle 14 years ago. When General Li Su won the battle, he took over Xindu. Now Xindu is a wartorn city. Qiao Man goes up to a high bridge and observes the damage. Her red dress with a flowing robe is quite a scene to the people, and they hope Lady Xiao will marry Lord Wei soon, so there will be peace. Wei Shao watches her and mocks: “Showing off. She’s just pretty.” Says somebody who is in denial…
What a magnificent cinematography!
Qiao Man finds out that Wei Shao wants to repair the city, but people are afraid that he will kill them, so they’re reluctant. She wants to feed them and mentions that the supply cart can’t go through because the roads are torn off and the wells are broken. People willingly fixed them and were fed. She bought wildflowers so women cleared the weeds. Wei Shao tells Qiao Man that both General Li Su’s and her scheming disgust him.
At night, Qiao Man visits the Xindu prayer wall with Nanny Zhong, Lady Xu’s maid. Wei Shao’s grandmother sent her to explain to Qiao Man why Grandma agrees with the marriage alliance. She sees her grandson bear long-time hatred, and she thinks her grandson should move on and leave behind the pain. Grandma gives her a wishing plaque that reads: 永结同心, which means “Forever united in heart”.
The wall was used by the people to mourn their dead family members, and now to pray. Qiao Man now understands why Wei Shao forbids people to pray since the wall reminds him of his dead family members. Wei Shao goes there with his entourage and is angry that the wall is not torn down. He reminds Qiao Man that the Qiao caused this wall to be built. Zhen Zhi, former mayor of Xindu, tried to assassinate Wei Shao but failed. People beg him not to kill Zhen Zhi, and Gongsun Yang reminds him that Zhen Zhi used to be loyal to his grandfather and chose to surrender to General Li Su for the sake of the people.
Zhen Zhi is brought in for judgment. He accuses Wei Shao of being no different than General Li Su; both came and looted the city, not care about the people. Wei Shao is unlike his wise Grandfather. At this time, Qiao Man barges in. She also agrees for Zhen Zhi to be killed. It’s better to kill one person than the whole city, right? Wei Shao thinks that it’s Qiao Man’s scheme for him to look bad in front of people. Instead of beheading Zhen Zhi, he wants to behead Qiao Man. He mocks her because he sees through her scheme, so he won’t kill anyone. Qiao Man leaves, and Wei Shao releases Zhen Zhi. Zhen Zhi and Xindu people wholeheartedly support Wei Shao now.
The next day, while riding with his entourage, people get a total change of heart and praise Wei Shao left and right. On the contrary, angry people surrounded the place where Qiao Man stayed, so she couldn’t go back and stayed on the bridge. People insult and throw stuff at her, and beg Wei Shao not to marry that venomous woman. Wei Shao shouts to people: “Can you tell from here? Why say she’s ugly?” Lol, he goes back and forth with Qiao Man’s beauty… He dismisses them and goes up to meet Qiao Man. He knows she did that for him to gain people’s trust, but he truly hates scheming people. He then gave her a healing powder for the wound on her neck. She congratulates him for gaining people’s favor and gives him Grandma’s plaque.
Wei Shao starts distributing grains, but soon they run out. Gongsun Yang urges him to marry Qiao Man to help them with grains. Wei Shao orders the wall to be torn down, but now with the message for people to forget the hatred and move on, as he has decided to do so. He appoints Zhen Zhi to be the mayor again and gives him back the Xindu City seal. Seeing this, Qiao Man thinks that Wei Shao has let go of his old hatred. Qiao Man then gives him the Panyi City seal to help alleviate the food shortage. But Wei Shao mocks that he doesn’t forget or forgive what her family did to his family, and as her Grandpa tricked his Grandpa, so he did. Only then did Qiao Man realize that all the words Wei Shao said on the wall were to deceive her!
Episode 3
Poor Qiao Man, she’s in trouble now! She no longer has the Panyi City seal as her trump card. The next day, she and her entourage are kicked out of the city. They can’t go back to Yanzhou, so the only place remaining is Panyi, and Qiao Man grits her teeth that she’ll fight Wei Shao to the end to defend Panyi. Wei Shao ignores Gongsun Yang’s plea to take her back since his decision will not look good on Wei Shao’s reputation, kicking out a mere woman.
No sir, it’s the beauty and the brain…
Luckily, Qiao Man’s former fiancé Liu Yan comes to the rescue with Liangye soldiers. Or not? Although no longer liking him, Qiao Man dabs saliva onto her eyes, pretending to cry in fear, asking Liu Yan’s help to defend her and Panyi against Wei Shao. Liangye Army then escort Qiao Man’s entourage to Panyi.
The news about Qiao Man being kicked out of Xindu and now being in Panyi with her former fiancé Liu Yan causes quite a stir. The whole Qiao Family is in distress, worrying about her. Her little bro Qiao Yi blames himself cannot protect his two sisters. Her cousin Da Qiao even feels guiltier that she caused Qiao Man’s danger. Da Qiao and Bi Zhi decide to go to Panyi. On the other hand, Wei Shao is furious knowing Qiao Man is with Liu Yan, and accuses her of eloping with him and chases her down to Panyi to kill her.
Liu Yan wants to marry Qiao Man right away and gives her betrothal gifts, but she, not liking him anymore, reasons that she must ask her elders for agreement. However, Liu Yan’s uncle forces Panyi’s mayor, Yang Feng, to accept the gifts on behalf of the Qiao, thus agreeing with the betrothal. It’s a good thing the wedding doesn’t happen, because Wei Shao is coming!
Liu Yan instigates the Panyis to fight against Wei Shao, which Qiao Man disagrees with since they’re just commoners versus experienced Wei soldiers. When she sees carts of grains coming into Panyi, there is sulfur inside. She thought Liu Yan wanted to fight Wei Shao with the sulfur explosions, but it turns out Liu Yan wants to blow up the dam located in Panyi to flood Xindu, thus putting the Xindu people in danger! Qiao Man strongly disagrees and is very angry at Liu Yan. He orders his soldiers to lock up Qiao Man and her entourage.
Panyi’s layout is easy to defend but hard to attack. Liu Yan only wants the Panyis to fight the Weis to buy time until all sulfur is carefully laid out. The Panyis fight with all their strength, which surprises Wei Shao. Qiao Man manages to escape after burning her tied hand. She runs to the granary full of sulfur and burns it. Seeing that his sulfur is gone, Liu Yan and his army fled the city.
Wei Shao enters the city with his army and is met by Panyi mayor Yang Feng. Yang Feng lies that Liu Yan abducted Qiao Man to marry her at the spot, and points to the betrothal gifts. Her entourage is locked up, but she escapes and burns down the granaries, because Liu Yan planned to flood Xindu City. Wei Shao and his army are horrified upon finding out that the sulfur is not meant to fight them but to flood Xindu. While everyone is searching for Qiao Man, she meets one of the Wei generals, Wei Xiao, and he wants to kill Qiao Man!
Episode 4
Wei Shao caught the arrow just as it was shot towards the running Qiao Man. He explains to Wei Xiao that she saved Xindu. Why do I somehow have a feeling that Wei Xiao may betray Wei Shao one day because of his personal grudge, or his dissatisfaction with Wei Shao’s love to Qiao Man? Hopefully, won’t happen cos I like Wei Shao’s entourage!
Qiao Man escapes from Wei Xiao, but soon is entrapped between two men and two armies… What? Liu Yan is back with his whole army to get Qiao Man??? It doesn’t make sense, and I think it’s for dramatic purpose only. Anyway, he reminds her of the six years of his taking refuge with the Qiao Family, and they were the happiest time in his life. He wants her back, blah blah. Listening to those sickening sweet talks, Wei Shao’s funny general, Wei Lian, asks his boss:
Wei Lian: “My Lord, won’t you say something?”
Wei Shao (towards Qiao Man): “Come here!”
Wei Lian: “Better if you hadn’t spoken.”
While Qiao Man is still hesitating, Liu Yan calls her by her pet name “Man Man” and adds that she’s like a jewel to him. Hearing that, Qiao Man smiles bitterly and yells at Liu Yan that he sees her as a jewel, but he treats others as ants. With that, she turns around and runs fast towards Wei Shao!
Seeing that, Liu Yan’s uncle, Liu Shan, orders their soldiers to shoot Qiao Man. Wei Shao runs forward to hug Qiao Man and protects her, while his soldiers shield him. His generals order an attack, and Liu Shan urges Liu Yan to withdraw. While the soldiers chase the other party, Wei Shao and Qiao Man realize they hug each other and pull away. In anger, Qiao Man slaps Wei Shao! After realizing that Wei Shao and his generals are all looking at her in shock, she falls down and cries hard. The general feels uncomfortable with the situation and runs after their soldiers, leaving the two alone.
While tending her sprained ankle, Wei Shao tells Qiao Man that she’s fussing over such small wounds. Qiao Man’s eyes are filled with tears. She tells him off for ordering people to kill her for boosting the morale and for accusing her of eloping with Liu Yan. Wei Shao listens to her words between tears patiently and then tells her to hop on his back. Aah, that mandatory piggybacking in romantic dramas! Qiao Man rants that she doesn’t want to marry him because he’s no different than Liu Yan, who looks down at her meager dowry, and when Panyi is included, he forces her to marry her. Wei Shao, too, after getting the Panyi City seal, kicked her out of the city.
At home, her maid asks Qiao Man if she truly doesn’t want to marry Wei Shao anymore. Of course, she does, but she wants him to marry her willingly, and asks her to marry him, not by Grandma’s order. Her maid says that she saw Lord Wei look unsettled. Qiao Man smiles. Aah, our girl will play hard to get?
Qiao Man’s grandfather, after being gravely ill, finally passed away. His last message is for them to help Qiao Man as much as possible. He apologizes to Lord Wei and wishes that his grandchildren don’t fail the Weis. Aah, many people mourn for Grandpa, as Qiao Man told Wei Shao, the Xiaos have always cared about their people.
Panyi City is reluctant to cooperate with the Wei Army. According to Mayor Yang Feng, the people see Liu Yan as Qiao Man’s betrothed, and she also entered the city with him. If Qiao Man confirms to the people that Wei Shao is her betrothed and she gave the city seal to him willingly, surely they will serve him. Wei Shao sends every general to invite Qiao Man to talk to Wei Shao, each with their own style, but she feigns sickness and sleeps, lol.
Wei Shao comes with his entourage to beat Qiao Man with a stick, but they see Qiao Man sneak out instead. She receives a letter from her cousin Da Qiao, who is with Bi Zhi. Qiao Man assures the worried Da Qiao that Wei Shao is not that bad, while Wei Shao and his entourage eavesdrop, lol. He’s feeling smug hearing Qiao Man praising his looks, heroism, and kindness, ehm. Gongsun Yang praises Qiao Man for being selfless amongst the selfish Qiaos, as she willingly replaces her cousin, who is in love with a mere slave.
At night, Wei Shao visits Qiao Man, bringing medicine because she is ‘sick’. He says that he comes on behalf of the Panyi people who miss her, lol. When Qiao Man mentions that she’s sick, he hints that he knows she went to the mountain yesterday to meet her sister. However, he won’t do anything because he doesn’t fight with women. Qiao Man smiles when he leaves, so the next day she talks to the Panyi people and explains everything about what Wei Shao did, and even adds that he will rebuild the canals in the city. Panyi is part of Wei now, so the Panyis have to help Wei Shao. The people wholeheartedly agree. Da Qiao, who sneaks in secretly with Bi Zhi, cries happily while listening to Qiao Man’s speech. However, Advisor Zhang Pu is unhappy.
When alone, Wei Shao asks Qiao Man how she knew that he wanted to build the canals. Qiao Man mentions she heard from Grandpa about the Yongning Canal project between Yanzhou and Wei that would benefit them, and threaten Bianzhou. Therefore, Bianzhou attacked Wei, and the project was abandoned. Before leaving Yangzhou, Grandpa gave Qiao Man the project maps. Qiao Man also lies through her teeth that her heart yearns for Wei Shao, which makes him verrry awkward!
The Weis realize that Qiao Man also gives Panyi to Wei Shao because lack of warriors in her family. Grandpa is old, and Qiao Yi is too young. Qiao Man’s father and uncle are worthless. However, Qiao Man finds out that Bi Zhi is super strong. She suggests Da Qiao and Bi Zhi settle in Boya, their city at the border of Bianzhou, Liangya, and Wei, for Bi Zhi to train to be a warrior as a family backup.
Advisor Zhang Pu comes to visit Qiao Man in the evening. He criticizes Qiao Man on giving away Panyi to Wei Shao. Qiao Man comforts Zhang Pu that the Wei Army will be involved in building the Canal, thus Yanzhou has a breathing period while preparing for warriors. Besides, her marriage to Wei Shao will buy time. But Zhang Pu says the marriage may not happen, and gives her the obituary. Grandpa passed away five weeks ago!
Episode 5
Poor Qiao Man, she can’t go back to mourn Grandpa and visit her family because their grand plan of building the Canal has not been realized yet. Wei Shao or her family may cancel the marriage if she returns home. His generals indeed advised him to send Qiao Man back before, now that she has given Panyi City and he has their full support. Advisor Gongsun Yang wisely doesn’t want to decide for him; let him decide for himself the marriage. Now, the news of Grandpa’s death has also reached Wei Shao. He and the generals are very angry that the Qiaos deliberately delayed the message till now that they may not marry, and the Canal building will be delayed. He speaks to Qiao Man privately, asking if she’s still willing to marry him or not. Qiao Man solemnly states that this is her dying Grandfather’s wish, so he won’t blame her for proceeding. Wei Shao leaves her saying nothing, but later he brings back… with a lynx! Before, Liu Yan degraded the betrothal gift from the rare lynx to a weasel… twice! Wei Shao really regards Qiao Man as worthy by giving her a lynx for the betrothal gift!
The gloomiest wedding I ever ‘attended’ in Chinese historical dramas, even for the arranged marriage ones! Before the ceremony, each prays in front of the deceased elder’s spiritual tablets, together with their subordinates. After that, both change into wedding attire. Since they have their wedding ceremony in front of his deceased elders, Wei Shao cannot concentrate, and his mind is full of grief and hatred. Qiao Man watches him quietly. After the ceremony is done, there is no party as the soldiers are still angry with the death of Qiao Gui until Gongsun Yang urges them to drink to their sorrow. Wei Shao leaves Qiao Man alone, but not after telling her that she’s no longer a Qiao but a Wei, and that he won’t harm her, no matter what he does to the Qiao or Yanzhou. After Wei Shao leaves, Qiao Man drops onto the floor and cries miserably.
The next day, before departure to the Wei State, Qiao Man prays to Grandpa for the last time. Her nanny warns her that the Weis won’t allow her to do that in their land. Qiao Man vows that she’ll always be a Qiao. Uh oh, I hope this loyalty to Qiao won’t cause a problem in the future! Who knows what her worthless father and uncle will do against the Weis! And what an unhappy newlywed couple! They travel together quietly while avoiding each other. Qiao Man is weak because of the wounds. Gongsun Yang reminds Wei Shao that his wife is recuperating, but he’s in a hurry to reach Yujun, the capital of Wei State, to attend the memorial ceremony for his dead elders. Hearing that Qiao Man quietly told her maid not to fuss and to get ready to depart.
Wei Shao leaves his wife and her maids outside Yujun while he attends the ceremony. The situation in Yujun is not a happy one either. Elders question his decision to marry a Qiao and not kill the old Qiao Gui, now that he has passed away peacefully. Although Gongsun Yang argues on Wei Shao’s behalf that the strategic Panyi City is the dowry and the more important now is to fulfill his grandfather’s last wish to build the Yongning Canal. It seems this particular uncle Wei Dian is stirring trouble and will be in the future, too! From now on, I will just write him as”Uncle”.
Meanwhile, the weather is harsh with a windstorm. The cart is not strong and is leaking, Qiao Man’s condition is getting worse, and she has a high fever. Wei Shao’s mother sends her new daughter-in-law a divorce letter and wants to send Qiao Man back to Yanzhou. Xiao Tao, Qiao Man’s maid, begs the generals to bring her mistress in, but they are reluctant because of the divorce letter and are waiting for Wei Shao’s order. Finally, General Wei Liang asks for his boss’s audience. That’s when Wei Shao realizes his wife is still outside Yujun, two days after the ceremony is over! He already tasked his cousin Zheng Chu Yu to bring his wife in. But his mother, Chu Yu’s aunt, forbids her niece to bring Qiao Man in and sends a divorce letter instead. Hearing that, Wei Shao rushes to get his wife. His horse kicks all guards who push the cart away, and he princess-carries Qiao Man into the city in the rain.
Episode 6
Before we start… omg this couple below is so cute! General Wei Liang and Qiao Man’s maid Xiao Tao. They bicker ALL the time. Their romance might not make it in my recaps, but their scenes are always comedic relief!
Wei Shao princess-carries Qiao Man all the way from the cart outside Yujun city gate to his chamber, and orders the physicians and maids to tend her. Qiao Man finally wakes up. Her maid says that Zheng Chu Yu comes and tells them Wei Shao doesn’t like anyone else in his room, and Lady Zhu (the MIL) sends her to the side courtyard. Qiao Man realizes that if she agrees to move to the side courtyard, she’ll be sidelined again and cannot be the proper Lady Wei. So she pretends to be weak and coughs a lot, so that the worried Wei Shao orders her to stay in his room, and he moves into the side courtyard. Aww, remember he’s afraid of darkness? Somehow, Wei Shao manages to sleep with a candle, after blowing off some dust. This annoying cousin makes herself look super pretty and delivers fresh clothes to Wei Shao’s room, only to be surprised that it was Qiao Man who walks out of his chamber!
Hahaha… Wei Shao finally finds out that Qiao Man has been pretending to cough a lot in order not to move to the side courtyard. His shocked face being deceived by his wife is hilarious. However, he doesn’t challenge his wife and leaves.
Uncle pushes Wei Shao to take concubines, because his marriage to Qiao Man is political anyway, and unlikely they’ll consummate their marriage. Since Uncle suggests his relative, I think Uncle wants to plant his female spy to seduce Wei Shao or to spy on Wei Shao, or something like that. Wei Shao doesn’t want to take concubines, and he says that even though he marries Qiao Man for political purposes, as time goes by, he finds good qualities in her besides beauty, and he thinks she’s worthy to be his wife. So he won’t take concubines to hurt her dignity. Then they start having feelings with each other. Gongsun Yang also lies about the deep relationship between Lord and Lady Wei, with nods from the generals.
At the same time when Wei Shao and others were defending Qiao Man and their marriage, many servants brought clothes, pieces of jewelry, and delicacies to treat Qiao Man to be the lady of the state.
The maids tell Qiao Man about the conversation between her husband and others on his refusal to take concubines. She thinks hard but concludes it’s not love, it’s complicated, and there must be other reasons. Her maid Xiao Tao already thinks ahead and goes around the city to do business using Qiao Man’s dowry, to secure her lady’s future.
The next day, Qiao Man and Xiao Tao bring red bean soup for Wei Shao, who happens to be in the study room with his advisors. Again, they are pestering him to take concubines despite his refusal. Qiao Man wants to leave quietly, but bumps into Wei Shao’s personal attendant, Xiao Tan, who reports to Wei Shao that his wife is outside bringing him soup. Wei Shao uses this chance to invite his wife in, where no women are allowed to enter, being lovey-dovey and draping his robe around her.
But the display of affection is not only public but private as well. When Wei Shao and Qiao Man come back later, to avoid puddles of rain water, Wei Shao princess-carries her again. Her face is red with a fuzzy feeling, thinking about it while her maids teasing her all along.
As Wei Shao starts giving his wife more attention, Qiao Man returns the same favor to her husband. After examining how shabby the side courtyard is, she orders the place to be cleaned and decorated. She also sent Xiao Tao to ask General Wei Liang about what her husband likes, since he practically lives with them. Poor Wei Liang thinks that Xiao Tao likes him! Upon seeing that the side courtyard is nicely cleaned, decorated, and full of delicacies, Wei Shao is pleased, and takes Qiao Man to see Grandma.
Conclusion
Whew, although there are not many problems yet, the Wei Clan is treacherous. Besides the stated major villains, I see potential minor villains. I hope that our couple’s bond gets stronger, so they can overcome the upcoming conflicts together. Let’s continue to the second part: The Prisoner of Beauty: Recap Episodes 7 to 16!
