Original subtitles

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

QIAO GUI PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY ON APRIL 13TH, AGED 60.

I missed my chance to see him one last time.

My lady, I'll go pack our things now.

Let's return to Kangjun at once to fulfill your wish.

I'm on it.

No.

Our greater plan isn't complete.

I must not go back.

QIAO GUI PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY ON APRIL 13TH, AGED 60.

That old perp.

His death was well-deserved.

My lord,

I'll dig up that Qiao betrayer and flog his corpse!

That slippery betrayer escaped us.

Now, even when we take Yanzhou, we will never get to see him fall!

Generals, don't dwell on hatred.

See the bigger picture and act flexibly.

Then, Mr. Gongsun, tell us,

why would they send an obituary now?

The marriage will be canceled due to filial mourning.

Our claim to Panyi and the canal project

will both be delayed!

What scheme is the Qiao clan plotting now?

Does Lady Qiao know of this?

My lord,

Zhang Pu didn't mention it.

Sorry I'm late.

It's fine.

I assume you've read the letter.

Everyone said this marriage would never happen,

but I only have one question.

Will you marry me or not?

I know what your family is planning,

but they don't know our plans.

This marriage

was Grandfather's dying wish.

I don't think he'd blame me for proceeding.

SPIRIT TABLET OF THE LATE LORD WEI JING

Is Miss Xiaoqiao asleep?

What is this?

A lynx.

SPIRIT TABLET OF THE LATE LORD QIAO GUI

A man's mind is truly unfathomable.

Days ago he dodged marriage talks, avoiding the match.

Now, suddenly, he won't wait another moment.

You wouldn't blame me, right?

Here comes the bride.

SPIRIT TABLET OF THE LATE LORD WEI JING

Shao.

LATE LORD WEI LUN

You have to shoulder responsibilities now.

LATE BROTHER WEI BAO

You carry the hopes of the Wei family.

My lord.

Lower the fan.

Cleanse your hands.

Share the ritual meal.

Eat the millet.

Drink the broth.

Taste the sauce.

Drink from the nuptial cups.

SPIRIT TABLETS: WEI BAO, WEI LUN, WEI JING

The rites are completed.

That Qiao traitor died too easily.

But today is our lord's wedding day.

Right.

Today's a joyous occasion.

No more dark thoughts.

Come on, drink!

Let's toast!

Here, drink up!

- Come on, drink! - Cheers!

Let's toast!

- Drink. - Cheers!

Lord Wei.

From today onward,

I shall call you, "My lord."

You can take those off.

You must be tired.

Rest early.

From this day on,

we are husband and wife.

No matter what I do to the Qiao clan,

or to Yanzhou,

I will never harm you.

Nor will I leave you homeless.

Thank you, my lord.

But I have one condition.

From now on,

you are a Wei,

not a Qiao.

- Bottoms up! - Come on, finish it.

SPIRIT TABLETS WEI BAO, WEI LUN, WEI JING

SPIRIT TABLETS WEI BAO, WEI LUN, WEI JING

SPIRIT TABLET OF THE LATE LORD QIAO GUI

The marriage is now sealed, and the covenant set.

Since His Lordship has made his vow,

you can rest assured as his bride.

He's not a bad man.

But I'll always be a Qiao,

always putting the Qiao clan first.

That cannot be changed.

LATE LORD QIAO GUI

Look upon it well, my lady.

In a few days,

we'll depart for Yujun with the Lord of Wei.

Once we cross into Wei territory,

we can no longer honor Lord Qiao's tablet.

SPIRIT TABLET OF THE LATE LORD QIAO GUI

Are you cold, my lady?

I'll fetch hot water.

Mother, take this.

- But you need it. - I'm fine.

Xiaotao, hold the umbrella.

Oh, this child…

My lady, we're traveling overnight,

and since you're not healed, it might slow your recovery.

The soldiers have been away so long.

It's reasonable that they're eager to return.

We'll rest properly once we reach Yujun.

We don't yet know what awaits us in Yujun.

Let's get in now.

This journey has been full of snakes and earthworms,

a sign of heavy rain within two days.

The road ahead is marshy.

Traveling after rainfall will be far too dangerous.

Our siege on Panyi has delayed us by days.

If there are any further delays,

I'll miss the memorial rites for my family.

All right.

I'll give the orders.

My lord,

traveling overnight is no problem for us,

but your wife is injured.

Should we press on, or wait for her?

Keep moving.

Soldiers, prepare to depart!

Yes!

Hey.

What now?

Hold this.

- Thank you, General Wei. - Hold on.

I saved your life back in Panyi,

and this is your attitude?

What's wrong with it?

His Lordship already told my lady that they are even,

yet you act like I still owe you something.

They have made peace.

You're the only one still snapping at me.

Am I?

No.

Wait.

My lord has ordered us to keep traveling.

Fetching water wastes time.

Are you serious?

It's freezing. We just wanted hot water.

The memorial rites

for His Lordship's grandfather, father, and brother are in a few days.

Would delaying the trip for your water be appropriate?

How long could fetching water take?

Too long.

- Picking a fight? - Tao.

Let's set off.

All right.

Do you hear that?

No water.

YUJUN, WEI STATE

His Lordship has returned!

His Lordship has returned!

His Lordship has returned!

His Lordship has returned!

His Lordship has returned!

WEI

His Lordship has returned!

His Lordship has returned!

Shao.

Chuyu.

For the past half month…

ZHENG CHUYU WEI SHAO'S COUSIN

…I've waited here for you every day.

I'm glad you're back.

Have all the clan members arrived?

All the uncles and the regional prefects are here

except for General Wei Dian.

He's still on the road.

We made it coming all the way from Panyi.

Couldn't he make it from Hanjun?

He's doing this on purpose.

Wasn't Lady Qiao supposed to enter the city with you?

I left her outside the city.

But after the memorial rites,

I'll trouble you to bring her in.

Wei Liang, Wei Xiao, Wei Qu, Wei Duo,

you stay behind.

The rest, follow me.

Yes.

Thank you, generals.

YUJUN

Why am I stuck here?

Couldn't you three stay instead?

Quit your whining.

Why can't it be you?

Let's draw lots.

No.

I never win at that.

You can only blame your own bad luck for that.

How dare they leave us in this desolate area outside the city?

I thought he'd treat Her Ladyship better once we arrived in Yujun.

He doesn't mean to shame us.

But the memorial rites are being held for three generations of the Wei family.

Our presence would be improper.

We should remain outside.

LADY ZHU, WEI SHAO'S MOTHER

SPIRIT TABLET OF THE LATE LORD WEI LUN

ANCESTRAL VIRTUES ENDURE

You're not even fully grown yet.

How can you claim the clan leadership?

You're shorter than the seat itself.

What, are you gonna climb onto it?

If a child ascends to leadership,

I fear…

WEI DIAN, PREFECT OF HANJUN

How will a boy who cries at the sight of blood

lead armies in the future?

When will Wei's blood feud be avenged?

Exactly! This child cries at the sight of blood.

How will he ever take revenge?

- My son… - Indeed.

What can he possibly achieve?

When will our vengeance be settled?

Lady Xu has arrived.

Have you all had enough?

Greetings, Lady Xu.

Wei Shao,

though not yet of age,

shall inherit the clan leadership anyway.

This…

I

pay my respects, my lord.

I pay my respects, my lord.

I, Zhonglin, swear to Heaven,

I'll kill Li Su and the Qiao clan!

Kill Li Su and the Qiao clan!

Rise.

Husband.

Bogong.

Why did you both leave me so soon?

All these years,

I've thought of nothing else

but avenging you.

One day,

when I've taken revenge,

I'll join you underground so we can reunite.

But today,

Zhonglin

is marrying our enemy's daughter.

How can I ever face you

with dignity now?

I authorized their marriage.

Zhonglin isn't to blame.

A marriage is one thing,

but Zhonglin,

you didn't execute that Qiao traitor!

You let him die of old age.

Someone!

Escort Lady Zhu to get some rest before grief overwhelms her.

Hold on!

Lady Zhu speaks the truth.

Lady Xu, why silence her now?

Uncle,

you're late again.

Affairs in Hanjun kept me occupied. That's why I was delayed.

Surely the late Lord of Wei's spirit wouldn't hold it against me.

You, on the other hand,

married our enemy's daughter.

How could his spirit rest peacefully?

Don't forget

who once shouted,

"Kill Li Su and the Qiao clan!"

General,

our lord has retaken Xindu and slain Li Su.

What of it?

The Qiao clan's betrayal was worse than Li Su's crimes.

You were in Xindu back then.

You saw the massacre yourself.

Yet now,

you welcome a Qiao into our home.

How can the late lord

rest in peace?

Indeed.

Look around you.

Who here hasn't lost a father, brother, or son?

The Wei clan and the Qiao clan are sworn enemies.

Yet you…

you married a Qiao woman.

Fine.

Let's see how you explain this to our ancestors!

Exactly.

- Mr. Gongsun. - Here.

What is this?

The seal of Panyi.

Panyi is the gateway to Yanzhou.

By marrying Lady Qiao,

we took Panyi without a single battle.

From now on,

Yanzhou's gates lie open.

Capturing Kangjun

will be as easy as reaching into a bag.

Pretty words.

If you've taken Panyi,

why not press the advantage and seize Kangjun now?

Uncle, if you must ask,

then I have a question for you.

As Prefect of Hanjun,

after I took Xindu,

I sent urgent dispatches demanding reinforcements.

Yet I waited for days.

Why…

did no aid arrive?

You can't just accuse me.

Everyone, I never received a single letter.

Otherwise, I would've sent help.

Fine.

I will get to the bottom of this.

I marched my troops

only to fulfill Grandfather's wish

to restore the Yongning Canal

and benefit the people.

I've never forgotten the feud between our two families.

But if I could wait 14 years,

I can surely wait ten more.

YUJUN

This is outrageous, making us wait here in the pouring rain.

They only barred you from entering, my lady, not your maids.

I'll confront them.

Don't be rash.

Are we just supposed to wait here forever?

When has my lady ever endured such humiliation?

Since His Lordship still hasn't come,

matters must still be unsettled.

With clan relations still fragile,

we must bear this slight.

We knew marriage here would be difficult,

just not this difficult.

This won't do.

Zao, let's hang the rain tarp.

Go ahead.

Take umbrellas.

Pull harder!

Lower it.

Lower.

Goodness. Let me help. Come on.

Harder.

Come on.

Zao, assist him. He can't manage alone.

Use what you have!

Come on.

One, two…

Pull!

Don't let go!

One, two, three!

This way! Over here!

Duo, fetch the brazier.

- Draw straws. - Hurry!

There.

That's enough.

Quick! Secure that stake tighter.

That side. Move it over.

- Hold it steady! - Okay.

No, I… I'll go ask outside.

General Wei Liang,

My lady is ill.

Can't you let us in?

Go back.

How did it go?

My lord.

How is this different from expelling us from Xindu?

We'd have been better off in Panyi.

At least closer to Kangjun.

Her fever's getting worse.

What do we do?

Our luggage is soaked. There are no dry covers left.

You go that way.

- You two, come with me. - Yes.

Are you here to escort us into the city?

We've been ordered to take you to Yanzhou.

Yanzhou?

Yes.

Nonsense! On whose orders?

My lady is married to the Lord of Wei.

She's the Lady of Wei now!

Not anymore.

LETTER OF DIVORCE

Faster!

Letter of Divorce?

Hey!

- Don't move! - Get down!

- Down, now! - What are you doing?

- On your knees! Stay down! - What for?

Kneel!

Since our lord married Lady Wei in Panyi, he wouldn't banish her now.

Something's wrong here.

Enough nonsense! Get down!

What are you doing?

Don't touch our belongings!

You guard the carriage.

Wei Liang, enter the city at once and seek confirmation.

- Get down! - What's going on?

My lord,

General Wei Liang requests an audience outside the city.

Why is Wei Liang outside?

Have you forgotten?

He's been outside for days attending Lady Wei.

TAN, ATTENDANT

With the recent storms, she's been ill for some time.

The rites concluded two days ago.

Why wasn't she summoned inside?

I don't know.

Shao.

I have urgent matters to report.

The situation is grave and sudden.

Forgive my abruptness.

I beg your pardon.

Speak.

Days ago,

you ordered me to escort Lady Qiao into the city.

All was prepared,

but Aunt had other plans.

Aunt acts out of motherly love.

Everything she does is for your sake.

So, I followed her instructions.

But afterward,

I feared that this might not align with your wishes.

So I came to tell you

for my own peace of mind.

What are you trying to say?

Aunt feared Lady Qiao would bewitch and endanger you,

so she sent someone to deliver a Letter of Divorce.

- What? - I beg you, Shao, don't blame Aunt.

This is madness!

YUJUN

What are you doing?

- Stop! - Move aside!

Why?

Don't pull it out!

Step back!

It's out.

- No, don't pull it out! - It's been pulled out. Ready.

- Leave them! - Get away!

My lady!

Speak to me, please.

Pull harder!

General, please. Please.

My lady is ill.

General…

- General, you… - Go away!

Hurry! Pull harder!

My lady.

Generals.

I beg you,

please ask His Lordship again.

There must be some mistake.

He wouldn't cast her out like this.

- I implore you. - Stop this. Please, get up.

I'm begging you.

Enough. Enough.

You've always scowled at us.

Why act like this now?

Wei Liang went to inform His Lordship.

No response yet.

His Lordship's mind seems set.

How I treated you before…

That's all my fault.

Punish me however you want.

But my lady has never harmed you.

She was already injured.

Now she's burning with fever.

If she's jostled on the road back,

she'll die.

I beg you.

Back in Panyi,

she burned her own arm just to help you all,

and it's still not healed.

How can you be so heartless?

Even if His Lordship is determined to cast her out,

he shouldn't take her life.

- Hurry. - Move the carriage.

Move, now!

Hey!

No!

No! Hey!

No, stop!

Step back!

Quick, push it through.

Don't be afraid.

Stop pushing. They can't leave.

What do we do?

At worst, we'll get beaten with the military rod.

For something this serious, it'll be 40 blows at least.

But…

- Don't! Stop pushing! - Go away!

Don't be afraid.

I'm here.

Stop! It's not allowed!

Get lost!

Block the carriage first!

My lord.

Who sent you here?

It… it was Lady Zhu.

- Get lost! - Yes, my lord.

My lord.

My lady is burning with fever.

Please, save her.

I beg you, my lord.