Original subtitles

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

QIAO CI, YANZHOU

QIAO CI, YANZHOU SU ZIXIN, WUSHAN STATE

He's good.

Young Master Ci's weapon isn't quite handy.

Stop.

If he hadn't lost the spearhead,

then Su Zixin might not have gotten close.

It's just a match.

Su Zixin struck fiercely with no regard for honor.

Victory or defeat happens in an instant.

Su Zixin is truly bold.

In a duel in the arena,

what matters is fairness and justice.

Since the weapon we prepared isn't good,

change it to one that suits you

and fight again.

- Wei Xiao. - Yes.

Bring me

- my treasured spear. - Yes.

Latest report:

Qiao Ci from Yanzhou lost his spearhead and was wounded.

Wounded? Then…

- Brave choice. - Why?

Isn't he best at using the spear?

How could he get hurt?

What to do?

Don't worry.

The match isn't over yet.

Let's wait and see.

Bogong's spear…

You carry the hopes of the Wei family.

Take the spear.

PEACE AND PROSPERITY

Ci, be careful.

Don't worry.

This time, I'm well prepared.

He'll have to admit defeat.

Don't worry.

Good for Qiao Ci.

Watch out!

Is it over?

Yes.

What's the result?

He won!

Yanzhou won!

Yanzhou won!

That's great!

Who just said Yanzhou couldn't win?

Pay up.

You lost.

Don't look down on Young Master Ci.

- It's all yours. - Wow, we won so much.

Exactly. What poor judgment.

Duang, your judgment was spot on,

betting on Young Master Ci.

It wasn't me.

His Lordship had his eye on him long ago.

He's the one with vision.

No wonder.

His Lordship has a good eye too.

- Let's go. - Let's go.

We'll bet again next time.

The warrior from Yanzhou has won.

Good!

- Good! - Well done!

- Mr. Qiao. - Excellent!

- Good! - Well done!

- That was brilliant! - How impressive!

Young Master Ci is impressive!

In a duel, no malicious moves are allowed.

Su Zixin,

you tried to harm your rival with a hidden weapon.

Is this the kind of conduct taught in Wushan?

Su Zixin

tried using malicious means.

His qualification for further matches is revoked.

My lord, weapons are blind.

In the arena, one must go all out.

I simply didn't expect that using hidden weapons was against the rules.

I thought it was okay

but never thought I'd end up hurting Young Master Ci.

Ehuang.

My lord,

I failed in teaching him.

Zixin was too eager to win

and lost his composure on stage.

But he had no intent to cause harm.

Please don't blame him.

Sparring comes with bumps and bruises,

but I've fought many battles.

Whether it was intentional or not, I can tell.

Su Zixin is crooked.

Lady Yulou, if you don't keep him in check,

he'll only drag you down.

Wushan hasn't joined the Deer Hunt for years.

Even if you return without success,

I believe your family

won't blame you.

My lord,

actually, I haven't told you

the whole reason why I came.

My cousin acted poorly.

Sorry about that.

But the reason we came to this event

was not to seek glory for Wushan.

XUE TAI, JUEJUN

I was once the Lady of Bianzhou.

After my husband passed away,

the new Lord of Bianzhou

couldn't tolerate his old subordinates,

forcing Xue Tai to go independent.

Xue Tai has indeed rebelled.

It's not that Chen Pang couldn't tolerate Xue Tai.

He just couldn't suppress him.

Besides Juejun,

he's seized quite a few territories too.

Yes.

He alone controls Juejun, commanding 50,000 elite troops.

This time,

I came to find him a new master.

I believe General Xue

will achieve great things.

So, Lady Yulou

has powerful support behind her.

Xue Tai follows Lady Yulou.

If someone marries Lady Yulou,

wouldn't they get Xue Tai's troops as a dowry?

Exactly.

My lord,

I didn't mean to hide it from you.

However,

as the Lady of Bianzhou,

I have duties to fulfill.

General Xue

is loyal and steadfast.

I can't abandon him.

Yes.

What happened today is my fault alone.

My lord, please don't blame my cousin.

Whom you befriend

is entirely up to you, Lady Yulou.

I don't care.

In a few days,

I'll be hosting a feast for the lords.

Send off the invitations for me.

Be sure to send one to Lady Yulou too.

Understood.

Does it still hurt?

My lord. Mr. Wei.

Why are you here?

Aren't you supposed to be preparing for the feast?

Well, Yan was worried about Qiao Ci,

so I brought him to check on him.

Yes, I'm concerned about Ci.

And I'm the only one who is.

It's just a cut.

Not serious.

You bled so much and still say it's not serious?

Today's match was exhilarating.

That spear was perfect.

I could've gone a few more rounds.

You need to be more steady.

Still, Qiao Ci's martial skills are excellent.

Not many in Wei can handle a spear like him.

Zhonglin, do you think I should learn from Ci?

I think that would be wise.

Really?

However, now that you've won the title of Combat Champion,

you don't need to overexert yourself at the hunt,

lest your sister worry.

Also, at the feast in a few days,

you'll represent Yanzhou.

Mind your words and actions.

Understood?

Yes, my lord.

My lord, Mr. Wei,

I'll take care of him.

Don't worry.

Sure.

Rest well.

At the drill ground today,

His Lordship even spoke up for me.

Looks like he cares about me.

His Lordship has a cold face

but a warm heart.

Your heart is full of him.

I just said something nice about him,

and you're beaming.

I'm not defending him,

but the spear you used today

belonged to his close kin.

Wei Yan?

His late brother, Wei Bao.

Really?

They say this spear

is an extraordinary and rare weapon.

I don't know how good the craftsmanship is,

but the fact that His Lordship was willing to lend you

his late brother's weapon

shows how much he values you.

You've won the title of Combat Champion today.

Don't become arrogant.

Stay diligent.

Also, don't forget what I told you about the feast.

It seems there's no doubt about the Hunt Champion winner now.

With so much talent,

Liangya has really risen lately.

Today's selection of Combat Champion and Hunt Champion

is truly satisfying.

Why not take this chance

to pick a Top Beauty as well?

Speaking of the top flower,

none surpass the peony.

Chen Pang was quite lucky.

No wonder he built the Yulou Pavilion.

With a beauty by his side and beautiful singing every night,

how fortunate he was.

Indeed.

Lady Yulou is beautiful.

The Lady of Wei is stunning.

If we're choosing beauties, let's not be biased.

The Lord of Wei is here.

My lord. My lady.

Everyone, please take a seat.

Thank you, my lord.

You should do this.

Governors,

today, the Lord of Wei not only invites you to a feast

but has also prepared gifts for all.

Everyone, please come here.

Let's go and have a look.

This…

RONGJUN

Is this a map of the world?

Well…

Look here.

This is the canal which was newly built in Wei.

It channels water along the route from Panyi to Rongjun.

It brings water to the dry lands

and opens up trade routes among three cities,

so more goods are able to circulate.

It's a triple-win solution.

- What a major achievement. - It's truly great.

So the Lord of Wei is just holding this feast to show off?

Not quite.

It's about discussing how to share the water source with all of you.

What do you mean?

Wei has benefited from the canal,

but I don't wish to keep them to myself.

I am hosting the Deer Hunt

and serving food and wine

to let everyone know,

only with favorable weather

can we have peace and prosperity.

So you mean we should also build canals?

Indeed.

I hope to extend the Yongning Canal in all directions,

connecting every river across the Central Plains.

This way, we can solve the drought problem

and ease the suffering of our people.

Most of the wars in the Central Plains

have been over water.

The people suffer terribly.

When I went to Panyi

to inspect the Yongning Canal,

I saw the refugees with my own eyes

in rags,

living in the open.

If we in power

only chase pleasure and power

instead of trying to ease the pain of the people,

we'll surely face the consequences one day.

You're right.

The people in Yenzhou have been suffering from drought for years.

I've long wanted

to learn from Wei.

I'm on board if you can keep your word

and divert water to Yaozhou.

It does sound feasible.

Indeed.

Lord of Liangya, what do you think?

I do not agree.

Why not?

You only want to use the canal

to control our armies.

Why should I accept that?

To show good faith,

I will dispatch troops

to help with canal construction.

Since you're sending troops for the canal,

may I ask what your real purpose is?

The troops, or the canal?

That's right.

Once the canal is complete,

troops from other states

will be able to reach our heartlands by water.

How will we defend ourselves then?

- Right? - Yeah.

He's got a point.

There's something more to discuss.

Yes, yes.

You're overthinking it.

The benefit of the canal

is not only easier travel

but better livelihoods and peace.

Ten years ago, Yanzhou relied solely on the weather.

Harvests depended on luck.

When my grandfather wanted to build the canal,

the people were against it.

He went around persuading them

and even dug the canal himself.

Only after the first canal was built

did the people begin to understand.

Thanks to the Yongning Canal, which was newly rebuilt by the Lord of Wei,

trade between Yanzhou and Wei has been flourishing.

Yanzhou is now much more prosperous.

That's the true value of the canal.

Tell me, my lady.

Are you speaking for Wei or Yanzhou?

I am both a Wei and a Qiao.

My lady, since you're married,

of course you're speaking for the Wei clan.

- Don't you all agree? - Yes.

Certainly.

Then may I speak for Yanzhou?

- You? - He…

Young Master Ci may be young,

but he's the future Governor of Yanzhou.

He can represent Yanzhou.

Yenzhou lacks water.

In the past three years,

rivers have dried up and crops have withered.

As far as I know,

tens of thousands are displaced by hunger every year.

Why won't Yanzhou build canals?

Taozhou is low-lying and plagued by floods.

It's known as the State of Floods.

During disasters,

the people beg for food elsewhere

only to return when the floods pass.

Even so, they won't abandon their homes.

Sir,

how can you turn a blind eye to this?

The people in Zhongzhou are hardworking.

They produce silk and fruit in abundance.

But rough terrain blocks trade routes.

Goods must be carried over mountains through human labor.

Many lives are lost each year because of this.

In such circumstances,

why do you refuse to build the canals?

You…

Fourteen years ago,

the Qiaos and Weis became bitter enemies.

The Lord of Wei once swore to wipe out the Qiao clan.

Yet he married my sister. Why?

Because he knows his people have suffered from water-related disasters for too long.

To build the canal,

he was willing to set aside hatred.

With such vision and magnanimity,

what are you afraid of?

Right.

Well said, Young Master Ci.

Yenzhou agrees to build the canal.

We have plenty of people in Zhongzhou.

Maybe we can contribute labor.

Yaozhou can provide funding.

Taozhou agrees as well.

The Lord of Wei went to great lengths to host this event

and even sent a brother-in-law to persuade us.

He just wants to bring the states under his rule.

It's fine if the rest of you yield,

but I won't.

Today, I swear

that as long as I hold power,

I'll never become anyone's subordinate.

The Lord of Wei isn't doing this for his own gain.

I'll write to Xue Tai

and persuade him to help.

Thank you all for your trust in me.

To show my sincerity and speed up the canal project,

I will dispatch 100,000 elite soldiers

and over a dozen waterworks supervisors to assist with your canal construction.

You're truly magnanimous.

We are willing to help Wei in this endeavor.

Thank you, everyone.

- You're too kind. - Don't mention it.

Goodbye.

Ci.

My lord.

Thank you for today.

I was too harsh on you before.

Please don't take it to heart.

But you treat my sister well.

I also had some prejudice against you before.

Later, I realized it was a misunderstanding.

You nearly fell off a cliff

to save my sister in Rongjun.

That's what I should do for her.

You even fought off

hundreds of refugees alone to rescue her.

It wasn't that dramatic.

You refused to take concubines for her

and even quarreled with your own kin.

You sent away all your mistresses just to make her happy.

Did she tell you all that?

In this world, besides me and Father,

no one else would go that far.

She's really gone all out praising me.

However, seeing you stand on your own today,

I believe she's very proud.

Actually,

I was afraid she'd scold me.

She spent hours yesterday telling me about each state's situation

for the speech today.

I was worried I'd misidentify someone and cause a scene.

Luckily, I bluffed my way through.

She told you what to say?

I should have guessed.

Still, you did great.

GOVERNMENT OFFICE

What brings you here?

Is there no more work at the office?

It's all handled.

Ci told me everything.

I just want to ask you this.

How did you come up with all that to compliment me?

Ci's still a kid.

He misunderstood you before.

I just wanted to comfort him.

Please don't blame me for making things up.

How could I?

You've worked hard.

I promised to help you build the canal.

It's what I should do.

So,

you only did all that

because you promised me?

No other reason?

I have to fulfill my promise to you.

You once told me something.

You said

that not every Qiao

is scheming or calculating.

I didn't believe you then,

but now I do.

I was narrow-minded before.

Please don't blame me.

When we were just married,

we both had hidden motives.

I don't know when it started,

but I no longer want to hide things from you

or lie to you.

I want sincerity between us.

Because of one Letter of Marriage,

we went from strangers to family.

Now, I have a question.

Do you want to become my true wife?

GOVERNMENT OFFICE

After all that we've gone through…

am I not your true wife to you?

THE LORD OF LIANGYA WILL HOLD A BANQUET PLEASE GRACE US WITH YOUR PRESENCE

Ehuang.

I found out something.

Liu Yan killed his father and siblings to become the Lord of Liangya.

Good for him.

Ehuang,

if you plan to remarry,

shouldn't you pick someone with a better chance of winning?

Judging by today's feast,

I think the Lord of Wei seems to be quite respected.

He might be the one to unify the Central Plains.

But he already has a wife, and he's hard to control.

Now that the Deer Hunt is over,

all the powers will start to leave.

I have no reason to stay.

You mean you're going after the Lord of Liangya?

Spread the truth about Liu Yan.

This…

Well…

One's mind is both the hardest

and the easiest to control.

As long as you understand what a person truly wants

and what they're thinking,

you can control them

like controlling a puppet.

Have the invitations all been sent?

Why hasn't anyone shown up?

Everything was fine before.

However,

everyone suddenly found out about what you did in Liangya overnight.

I told you.

You were the rightful heir.

- Why… - It's just an excuse.

They're avoiding my invitation

because I've fallen out with Wei Shao.

They're all afraid to take a side.

My lord,

Yenzhou sent word that the governor got drunk

and can't attend the banquet.

- Leave. - Yes.

My lord, the Governor of Yaozhou suddenly fell ill.

The Governor of Zhongzhou is also occupied.

Neither of them can make it.

Is Lady Yulou not coming either?

Please don't misunderstand my cousin.

She couldn't bear to see you drink alone and came to attend.

I heard you

were raised by others

and grew up in Yanzhou.

So what?

I am similar to you.

I grew up

in Yujun.

People like us,

unloved by our families,

are given away like pawns from a young age.

We are never favored by fate.

I came today to comfort you.

You did no wrong

by killing your family.

They used you

and discarded you when you were no longer useful.

You tried to please them but failed.

You lived in constant fear of being replaced.

The pain you feel

is something few can understand.

Yet you can?

I was born in Wushan.

I'm from the declining Su clan.

Since childhood,

they said my forehead birthmark looked like a peony,

symbolizing the rare empress's fate.

For years,

I took it upon myself to help revive the Su clan,

carefully managing my marriage prospects.

Until one year…

I suddenly discovered

they had another girl with seven moles on her palm.

They said that was…

a once-in-a-thousand-year fate.

At that moment, I realized

I was just a pawn to them

who was replaceable

when no longer useful.

What became of that girl?

She was disfigured.

You did not come only to confide in me, right?

I have wandered all my life

and used to people coveting my beauty and fate.

Right now,

I just want to find a like-minded partner

to discuss the great cause with.

Have you been to Liangya?

Not yet.

Liangya is beautiful this time of year.

After the Deer Hunt,

I can take you there

to enjoy the scenery.

Thank you, my lord.

Liangya is not the only place

with beautiful scenery in the world.

It's late now.

I will take my leave.

I have no intention of relying on Liangya.

I only wish

to form a good bond with you.

In the future,

if I need help,

I hope you will assist.

My lord,

Lady Yulou

just wants to plant that flower on her head

in good soil.

Don't be fooled by her.

I know well she is just pretending.

Then why are you so melancholic?

She reminds me of someone.

Lady Qiao.

These days,

you've been reunited with old friends.

That'd certainly remind you of the past.

Just now,

I suddenly understood

why she abandoned me

in Panyi that day.

Lady Qiao was born in the Qiao clan,

raised in luxury,

and loved by her grandfather and uncle.

Lady Ding treats her like her own daughter.

Besides,

she has family like Daqiao and Qiao Ci.

If I were her,

I'd sacrifice for a family like that too.

I'd also swear to protect all the people.

However…

I had no maternal family protection

and was bullied by a wicked woman.

As Lady Yulou said,

people like us

only deserve to live like tools.

We're always living in fear.

One misstep can lead to being scorned and rejected.

Lady Qiao is high above me.

We're fated to walk separate paths.

It's not that I see others as ants,

but that I was born…

like an ant.

Lady Yulou is the same.

VIRTUOUS WORDS

The Lord of Liangya asked me to send this.

Did he say anything?

He said he'd depart from Yujun tomorrow.

With this pearl as a token, he'd like to invite you

to visit Liangya in the future.

- Please thank the Lord of Liangya. - I'll take my leave.

Put it away.

Yes.

You must be careful on the way.

If only I hadn't let Yulu return to Kangjun first.

Then he'd be there to look after you.

I came alone,

and I will leave alone.

Enough.

When I'm not by your side anymore, you must work hard every day.

Tell Father that I'm fine.

Tell him not to worry.

Also,

when you pass by Boya on your way back,

make sure to send some supplies to Cousin.

It's no better than Yujun or Kangjun.

Cousin's life must be hard.

Noted.

My lord,

I'm entrusting my sister to you.

If I ever find out you haven't treated her well,

I will seek justice for her myself.

Mr. Wei.

Let's drink together another day.

Drinking is fine,

but you can't go to places…

like Luozhong Tavern anymore.

Understood?

Right.

Here.

Do you want to know whose horse is faster,

Qiao Ci's or mine?

Let's go.

My lord,

Lady Yulou wants to see you.

Is she leaving?

Lady Yulou says she can't leave for now and begs for your protection.

This is my fault.

I forgot that a jade is a crime in itself.

At the Deer Hunt, I revealed what I have.

Both the Lord of Liangya and the Governor of Taozhou

want to force me into marriage now.

For now,

I don't even dare return to my family.

That worthless family of mine would surely push me out.

Back then,

I was forced to marry Chen Xiang.

It was the same situation.

I was too young then to decide for myself.

But now,

I no longer wish to be a puppet used for gain.

For the sake of Bogong,

Zhonglin,

may I stay in Yujun for a while to hide away?