Original subtitles

BASED ON THE NOVEL "THE PRISONER OF BEAUTY" BY PENGLAI KE

Grandfather,

what kind of person is Wei Shao?

You should learn about his grandfather first.

When I first became the Governor of Yanzhou,

I held a deer hunt,

inviting lords of various states to a hunting game.

XIAOQIAO QIAO GUI'S GRANDDAUGHTER

But actually,

I meant to make allies.

We were

like old friends from the start.

KANGJUN, YANZHOU

I can never repay you for bringing us water

through the canal.

Now…

QIAO GUI GOVERNOR OF YANZHOU

…let these antlers be the tokens of our alliance…

WEI LUN THE LORD OF WEI

…with Yanzhou.

Lord Wei…

From now on,

whoever dares to invade Yanzhou will be Wei's enemy.

The Qiao and Wei clans

will live and die

together.

As will we.

In the following years,

I built the Yongning Canal

between Panyi and Xindu,

allowing Wei

to have water

and us to have protection.

PANORAMA

14 years ago,

Bianzhou sent Li Su to invade Wei…

14 YEARS AGO, XINDU, WEI STATE WEI BAO, 1ST GRANDSON OF WEI LUN

…and seize Xindu to break our alliance.

Grandfather,

the Qiao clan has sent no one.

They must've turned their backs on us!

That rat Qiao Gui!

Are you going to drag us into war for a verbal alliance?

Father,

we've offered Wei enough supplies over the years

for the sake of your friendship with their lord.

We promised to send troops.

QIAO YUE QIAO GUI'S 1ST SON

Withdrawing them is betrayal!

QIAO PING QIAO GUI'S 2ND SON

We can use a pretext.

Father,

please make a decision immediately.

YOUNG XIAOQIAO

Manman just threw moon blocks for divination.

This is the will of Heaven.

Withdraw!

Father!

Shao, don't cry.

YOUNG WEI SHAO

Shao,

remember this.

Do not trust anyone.

Grandfather was tricked by the Qiao clan.

That's how he ended up like this.

You carry the hopes of the Wei family.

Brother, promise me

not to shed tears ever again.

Father!

This city belongs to Bianzhou now.

It's Chen's.

Throw them into the pit

and bury them with the captives.

LI SU, GENERAL OF BIANZHOU

Kill all men in Xindu in the next three days!

Yes.

You meant to protect Yanzhou from war, didn't you?

To sacrifice one or all?

It would've been hard for me to choose too.

Wei Shao and his troops have come to recapture Xindu from Li Su.

At this point, if we send our troops to assist Li Su,

Wei Shao might not win.

But if we do nothing,

and he captures Xindu,

he'll invade Yanzhou next and seize Panyi.

What to do then?

The late Lord of Wei's wife,

Lady Xu…

LADY XU WEI SHAO'S GRANDMOTHER

…is far-sighted.

I'd like her approval for a marriage alliance

to bury the hatchet.

Is it to marry my cousin to Wei Shao?

If such a marriage alliance

can resolve hatred,

that'll be good.

But Wei Shao saw his grandfather, father, and brother being killed.

We have no idea if he bears grudges against the Qiao clan.

I wonder

what exactly he's like.

WEI SHAO THE LORD OF WEI

KANGJUN, YANZHOU

Here, toss! Over here!

Toss it over!

- Try and hit me too! - Here.

Give me that.

You hit me!

Hit her!

DAQIAO, QIAO YUE'S DAUGHTER

Good. Over here.

- My turn. - Hit her! Come on!

Stop!

Hit me if you can.

- Toss it to me. - Catch it!

BI ZHI, GROOM

Wait. Time-out.

Let me try it.

It's my turn.

Manman.

- Give me that. - Manman.

Manman,

what's been troubling you lately?

Can't you tell me about it?

Wei Shao has had Xindu besieged for days.

I wonder how things are there.

You don't seem worried at all.

Wei Shao's target is Xindu, not our city.

Why bother worrying?

Won't he attack us after seizing Xindu?

Will he?

Bi Zhi, toss it over!

Cousin,

the only way to keep Yanzhou from war

is to form a marriage alliance.

In that case,

you'll be married to Wei Shao.

Me? Marry Wei Shao?

QIAO MANSION, YANZHOU

Liangya's heir, Liu Yan, came with one of his uncles.

XIAOZAO XIAOQIAO'S MAID

His father sent an envoy to propose marriage to you.

I am

the envoy sent by Liangya's royal family to propose marriage with betrothal gifts.

LIU SHAN, LIU YAN'S UNCLE

I heard a tale on the way.

I wonder if it's true.

LIU YAN, LIANGYA'S HEIR

Back when Lord Qiao Yue married you, Lady Ding…

LADY DING QIAO YUE'S WIFE

…your dowry was worth 10,000 taels of gold.

It spread for miles on the streets.

If our heir is to marry Miss Xiaoqiao,

Governor,

will her dowry include a fief?

Uncle…

Young Master,

once Wei Shao seizes Xindu,

Yanzhou will be in danger.

You probably don't know

that my father and Lady Xu of the Wei clan of Wei

have agreed to marry my daughter, Daqiao, to the Lord of Wei.

He'll be my son-in-law.

If Young Master Liu marries my niece, Xiaoqiao,

you and the Lord of Wei will be in-laws too.

How could we be in danger?

Uncle,

I struggled in misery in childhood.

I couldn't have come this far without you two's help.

Cousin Xiaoqiao and I

grew up together.

See?

Our heir has always been grateful and loyal.

In this case,

how about we set the wedding date today

for these childhood sweethearts?

Here.

I toast you all.

Liangya's royal family's betrothal gifts for their heir, Liu Yan,

include a pair of wild geese,

one million coppers,

ten duan of silk,

twelve hu of baijiu,

twelve hu of rice,

twelve hu of proso millet,

two sheepskins,

and a lynx.

That's a lynx?

XIAOTAO XIAOQIAO'S MAID

It looks more like a weasel.

It is a weasel.

You probably don't know

how hard it is to get a lynx.

We didn't have time to hunt one

while rushing all the way here.

Besides,

don't most families use weasels?

We aren't just any family.

Yes.

Sure.

How's everything going, Uncle?

Offering them a weasel is good enough.

A lynx is hard to come by.

Manman,

Liu Yan's feelings for you

matter more than such formalities.

You've been bonded since childhood.

Unlike your cousin,

who'll be married into a deathtrap.

WEI LIANG, GENERAL OF WEI

WEI QU, GENERAL OF WEI

WEI XIAO, GENERAL OF WEI

WEI DUO, GENERAL OF WEI

Guys,

shall we eat or not?

Cut it! I'm starving!

Hurry!

Have a bite.

Add seasoning.

My lord, our feet get itchy when we can't fight.

Xindu is right ahead.

Can't we charge into it?

Or do you think we can't?

Besiegement is better than attack.

The Central Plains region always struggles with drought.

Li Su doesn't have enough provisions.

We can seize Xindu without battle.

Be patient.

What are you doing?

They lack food, don't they?

I'm letting them know that not only do we have food

but we also have meat to eat.

My lord.

Advisor.

- Advisor. - Advisor.

GONGSUN YANG WEI SHAO'S ADVISOR

My lord, Lady Xu sent a letter.

What did my grandmother say?

She wants to marry a girl to you.

I have sworn to my grandfather

to kill Li Su and the Qiao clan.

I won't marry anyone

until I take my revenge.

Yes.

Whisper to me.

Who did Lady Xu pick to marry our lord?

What does she look like?

Let's see it! Come on!

Qiao of the Qiao clan.

Qiao of the Qiao clan?

Calm down.

MR. GONGSUN, WE CAN RESOLVE HATRED BY MARRIAGE.

Think about it.

After seizing all those cities and getting to Xindu,

our troops will need to rest.

If we are caught between Qiao's and Li Su's troops,

we might be in grave peril.

How dare…

those traitors push my grandmother!

If I seize Xindu now,

then she'll have

nothing to worry about, right?

Guys,

move it!

My lord!

My lord!

A reckless raid is likely to fail!

WEI

Fourteen years ago,

the Qiao clan betrayed our family,

causing them to be killed

and Xindu to be captured.

The enemy

is right in front of us.

Everyone,

let's go

to kill Li Su

and the Qiao clan!

Kill Li Su and the Qiao clan!

Kill Li Su and the Qiao clan!

Kill Li Su and the Qiao clan!

Kill Li Su and the Qiao clan!

XINDU

Kill Li Su and the Qiao clan!

Kill Li Su and the Qiao clan!

Let's go!

Wei Shao, you brat! I'll kill you!

THIS SCENE IS REQUIRED BY THE PLOT. DO NOT IMITATE. BE KIND TO ANIMALS.

Charge!

XINDU

QIAO MANSION

Manman,

don't worry.

Yanzhou is your home.

Once Wei Shao and I marry,

Liangya will treat you with great respect.

Fan.

As much as I hate to marry Wei Shao,

I can't elope with you either.

Bi Zhi,

we'll have to part soon.

Wei Shao…

I'll challenge him to a duel

to stop him from marrying you.

A mere groom like you

will be no match for him.

You're up.

I can't sleep.

I have something to discuss with you.

What is it?

After the New Year,

Chunniang and I used our spare time

to sew this wedding gown for you.

Now that Wei Shao and I are engaged in haste,

I'll leave before you.

May I

wear this instead?

Both of us are getting married.

How come your dowry is more than mine?

I'll tell my mother to give you more.

Or you can just take whatever you like from my dowry.

I'm not competing with you.

It's just that once we part,

we're unlikely to meet again.

I'd like to keep something you value as a memento.

Whenever I miss you, I can look at it for comfort.

Don't you want these clothes?

Here you go.

Anything else?

You can have these too.

Is there more?

I sewed these myself.

I haven't worn them yet.

What else?

I mean, by giving me those things you cherish,

you can show how much you love me.

No, not that one.

Trust me.

I'll keep

all of these safe.

I'll give you whatever you want

as long as you can live happily with your husband.

As will you.

Between the two of us,

if you can have a happy marriage,

that'll be enough.

Between the two of us,

if one can have a happy marriage,

that'll be enough.

Get changed.

I'll take you to a place.

- Manman, where are we going? - Hurry!

Manman, what…?

What are you doing?

If you truly love him,

then go with him.

I can't.

You have to.

If you marry Wei Shao, your life will be ruined.

I'm the governor's daughter.

I've been supported by our people.

It's time for me to take responsibility.

If I say

that I'll marry Wei Shao instead,

will you allow it?

You can't!

- He… - He's the worst. I know.

Listen.

A woman's marriage can only go two ways.

One is your way,

to grow old with your love and lead a normal life.

The other is mine.

I don't need my husband's sweet love,

but his status and power.

I used to like Young Master Liu,

but now,

I realize he doesn't deserve me.

He looks down on Yanzhou and me for fear of Wei Shao.

So in that case, why don't I marry Wei Shao

and make the Liu clan of Liangya bow to me?

If you didn't hide anything,

you must've given me all your valuable things.

Your konghou is too heavy,

so I took off its strings for you.

You won't blame me, will you?

Manman, you…

Manman!

Manman…

Sit tight.

I'm helping her elope with you to keep her from harm's way.

But if I find out you mistreated her, I'll hunt you down for sure.

If you do love her wholeheartedly,

then when the time's right,

I'll put in a good word to her parents

and help you rise.

Miss, if you need my help in the future,

I, Bi Zhi, will go through fire and water for you!

Manman!

Set out now,

before it's too late.

Manman!

Manman!

Bi Zhi.

Manman!

Manman!

She's unsophisticated.

Leaving with Bi Zhi is much better

than marrying the Lord of Wei only to be torn to pieces.

Miss, what are you going to do next?

Check the stable again. Go!

- Yes. - What about her room?

- Not yet. - My Lady!

- Go now! - Yes.

Miss Daqiao left a letter.

What happened?

Where is she?

Where is she?!

Darling.

FAREWELL, MOTHER. DO TAKE CARE.

What to do?

If Fan is gone, who will marry the Lord of Wei?

The Letter of Marriage has been sent.

Lady Xu has given her approval.

If the Lord of Wei attacks us for the breach,

what… what should we do?

We'll fight to the end!

ZHANG PU, QIAO YUE'S AIDE

Ci, look at our clansmen.

Can any of them fight?

I suggest

we send Zhang Pu to Xindu

to tell the Lord of Wei the truth and make an apology.

What? I can't handle the wrath of the Lord of Wei.

Tell him…

tell him Fan was abducted on her way to…

the temple!

That's a terrible idea, my lord!

Wei's troops are formidable.

I can't go there alone.

It's walking into the jaws of death, my lord!

My lord, I have a solution.

Say it.

Now that Miss Daqiao is gone,

why not…?

Do you mean…

marry Manman to him?

Brilliant!

- Darling. - Nonsense!

Are you out of your mind?

Good.

That's perfect.

She and Liu Yan are engaged.

Wei is strong while Liangya is weak.

We can't afford to annoy Wei or we'll meet our doom!

Brother, don't you know Wei Shao?

If we marry Manman to him,

won't we be pushing her off the cliff?

Do you have a better idea?

The priority is to find Fan and bring her back.

Fate can't be avoided.

XINDU, WEI STATE

Fourteen years ago,

I ordered a three-day massacre,

yet you managed to survive.

Are you curious

about how I escaped death?

Back then,

I killed your grandfather, father,

and brother.

Too bad

I only have one life.

It was worth it!

Really!

Lord, what should we do with him?

Kill him.

That's too easy for him.

Throw his pieces into a case.

Stop!

My lord!

Don't kill him!

Advisor.

Chopped and done.

PEOPLE'S WALL

That was reckless, my lord.

Everyone knows the feud between you and him.

If you had kept Li Su alive, you'd have gained public support.

What use have I for that?

What I wanted was Li Su's death.

Although you've seized Xindu,

restoring it

requires the help of the people.

Fourteen years ago,

after the massacre by Li Su,

the old and young who were left

built this wall with their families' belongings

to honor the deceased.

It's been so long.

The war has taken a heavy toll on them.

- A wedding at this time could… - I know.

You want me to get married

for the greater good, right?

My lord,

our troops have to recuperate now.

No further action should be taken.

I disagree with you.

It's better to press on…

to seize Panyi.

Manman.

You grew up under my watch.

With your intelligence,

you may or may not go far,

but you can at least protect yourself.

Grandfather,

I'm thinking

that to make the Lord of Wei ally himself with us as I wish,

we need to find out what he wants from me.

Panyi is the gateway of Yanzhou, crisscrossed with rivers.

If Wei Shao means to seize Yanzhou,

Panyi will be his first target.

If I offer it as my dowry,

he'll certainly marry me, right?

You're smarter than your uncle and your father.

Too bad you're a girl.

I can't keep you.

Manman…

Did Heaven mean to bless or punish the Qiao clan,

that it gave a talent like you to us?

What else should I know, Grandfather?

Be good

to him

and the Wei clan,

all right?

The debt I owe from 14 years ago…

has to be repaid by you.

Here's the Seal of Panyi.

Keep it safe.

Thank you, Uncle.

Manman,

don't blame me.

I won't.

Manman,

write to us regularly.

QIAO

Water is the softest thing in the world.

I've been taming it my whole life.

Overcome hardness with softness.

Keep that in mind

and you'll live.

If the Lord of Wei is captivated by you,

don't forget to gain more benefits for Yanzhou.

My lord,

the provisions, troops, and horses in town have been counted and registered.

What about the households?

The locals, they… they refuse to cooperate.

Why?

They must've been misled by Li Su's nonsense.

Forget it. It's not important.

That's fine. They'll come around in a while.

My lord!

My lord,

the Qiao's wedding procession is about to reach the city gate.

QIAO

Are you seeking death?

You're handing yourself to me on a plate.

My bow!

My lord.

My lord, wait!

Hold on.

The Qiao clan means to make peace.

Why not go along with them and marry that girl?

You'll gain Panyi.

Gain Panyi?

Without striking a blow.

It's too good a deal.

Think twice, my lord.

Is her dowry that generous?

XINDU

"The waters are too beautiful thanks to the pretty duo."

The "pretty duo"

refers to Qiao's two girls.

XINDU

Let them in.

Open the gate!

XINDU

Tomorrow, we'll negotiate the marriage with their envoy.

Why not get some rest, my lord?

I asked to see you for that matter.

Xindu needs rejuvenation.

The priority is to gather the locals to rebuild defense works.

This isn't the time for marriage.

Those two things aren't contradictory.

Think about it, my lord.

Picture the forces on the Central Plains as a whole.

Don't they look like a deer?

Yanzhou is the head.

Wei is the belly.

Bianzhou makes the spine.

And Liangya becomes the hooves.

Panyi stands much higher as the gateway of Yanzhou.

Doesn't it resemble that deer's heart?

YANZHOU, WEI, BIANZHOU, LIANGYA, PANYI

Yanzhou will offer us the heart

only if we become allies.

That's the price to pay.

If she hands over Panyi to me,

I won't kill her.

That's the best I can do.

Your name precedes you, Mr. Gongsun.

I admire you.

We've finally met.

You really are one of a kind.

I'm flattered.

I'm not as talented as you, Mr. Zhang.

Yanzhou is indeed a land of talent and bliss.

Panyi especially is well-known for its waters.

I had a chance to visit it years back.

It's been so long.

I wonder how it looks now.

You know, it happens to be part of the dowry

our lord prepared for Miss Xiaoqiao.

After the wedding, you may come along to visit it again.

That'd be great.

If that's the case,

why not hold the wedding there?

Well,

Xindu is known for its majestic mountains.

Having the wedding here matches His Lordship's charisma.

Xindu isn't as rich as Panyi.

It was struck by war not long ago.

Everything needs to be rebuilt.

Panyi isn't as well-guarded as Xindu.

This marriage is of great significance.

It can't take any risks.

The climate in Panyi is better.

The temperature in Xindu is better.

Panyi is Miss Xiaoqiao's hometown.

Xindu is the territory of the Lord of Wei!

Miss,

why are they arguing over the venue?

Wei requests

that we hand over the Seal of Panyi before the wedding.

Our request is vice versa.

What if they change their mind after getting the seal?

That's why we cannot compromise on that.

Go.

Xindu is shadowed by death.

Fourteen years ago,

tens of thousands were buried here.

No need to discuss this further.

If Yanzhou

has no sincerity…

then you may leave

and take the bride back with you.