Original subtitles

♪If not for you♪

♪I wouldn't have wanted to make a name for myself♪

♪Only when I have your love♪

♪Is my invincibility not in vain♪

♪The towering peaks I've conquered♪

♪Leave me♪

♪Feeling empty♪

♪I've given everything♪

♪Just to follow you♪

♪Through life and death♪

♪Could it be that love♪

♪Is the true end of this life♪

♪Why does every battle♪

♪Bring deeper pain♪

♪I never got it♪

♪You once promised me♪

♪You'd give me ordinary days♪

♪Then I'd rather♪

♪Face blades and fall♪

♪Into your arms instead of the clouds♪

♪I'll pass through layers of fog♪

♪And barriers♪

♪The world's rights and wrongs, wins and losses♪

♪Who's to weigh their worth♪

♪Only love♪

♪Gives me a sky as wide as the sea♪

♪I only want to be your hero♪

=The Prisoner of Beauty=

=Episode 14=

There is Lady Yulou.

So noble.

(Yujun)

- Lady Yulou. - Lady Yulou.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

This is my cousin, Su Xin, whose style name is Zixin.

These are generals Wei Liang and Wei Qu.

Say hi to both generals.

Nice to meet you.

To make it in time for Great-aunt's 60th birthday,

I came in a hurry

lest I might cause trouble.

I didn't expect

the Lord of Wei to send you two

to receive me outside the city.

I don't deserve this.

Lady Yulou,

you're too kind.

It's getting late.

Let me escort you into the city.

What a beautiful carriage.

Who's inside?

That's Lady Yulou's carriage.

The legendary Lady Yulou?

The one with the peony mark?

Lady Su of Wushan.

Her fate is exceptional.

She was born noble.

No wonder the generals came to welcome her.

She really is a belle.

So beautiful.

They try to imitate you,

but they can never succeed.

So many believe in fate,

but how many understand

that nothing comes easily

in this world?

Even gifts from heaven

require one's own effort.

What I have today

was not easily earned.

The foolish believe

that they can obtain

your empress's fate by wearing a huadian.

But they don't know that fate is hard to change.

You've borne the destiny

of the Su Clan of Wushan since childhood.

Guided by great scholars,

your vision is extraordinary.

How could common women ever compare?

That's not entirely fair.

If I fail to break the Qiao-Wei alliance on this trip,

then in my husband's eyes,

I'm no different from those common women.

Is this the place

the Lord of Wei has arranged for us to stay?

Yes. This is the best post house in Yujun.

(Yujun Post House, Wei State)

Lady Yulou,

are you dissatisfied?

Not at all.

This place,

peaceful amidst the bustle,

is just what I wanted.

The Lord of Wei is thoughtful.

Lady Xu said you've had a long journey

and may rest here first.

No need to rush to the mansion.

This...

Didn't you say the Lord of Wei

would have us stay at the mansion?

Why is it the post house instead?

It must be Lady Qiao's idea.

Gorgeous huadian!

Once you put it on,

you'll meet a man in one day

(Rouge) get married in three days,

and find a devoted man in ten days.

Gentlemen,

buy one for the lady at home.

This is the hottest trend in Yujun right now.

I don't need that to win a girl's heart.

Let's go.

Give me

- the most popular one. - Sure.

- How much? - Three wen.

Do you really believe what that seller says?

Xiaotao surely doesn't want something like that.

She won't like it.

Don't talk nonsense.

It's not for Xiaotao.

Can't I wear it myself?

What's wrong, Duang?

Here, take this.

This...

Why do you have one too?

Girls in Yujun now

love this huadian.

After I escorted Lady Yulou,

I picked one up for you on my way back.

Why do girls like this kind of thing now?

Who says we do?

Whoever wants this cheap stuff

can have it.

Alright, alright.

Don't pick it up.

Okay, I won't.

I get it. You don't want it.

Why are you angry?

What do you know?

Let me ask you something.

Answer me honestly.

I heard Lady Yulou

was almost betrothed to the Wei family.

Is it true?

Yes.

Does she like it

or not?

My Lady,

Lady Yulou has come to pay her respects.

Let her in.

- Yes. - Ask Lady Zhu

to come and meet our guest.

Yes.

Grandmother, you have a guest.

I'll take my leave.

You stay.

It's fine.

By seniority,

she should call me

Great-aunt.

When she was young,

we were very close.

Sure.

Greetings,

Great-aunt.

Get up.

Take a seat.

Thank you, Great-aunt.

I heard your husband is gravely ill.

I'm only celebrating a birthday,

yet you came all this way.

Great-aunt,

though I am

the Lady of Bianzhou,

I'm bound by many constraints,

walking on thin ice.

I often recall my childhood

when you were always

so kind to me.

This year, I missed you too much,

so I came in haste.

I only hope

I haven't disturbed your peace.

If you're here to unwind,

then stay and relax.

Thank you, Great-aunt.

This is Lady Qiao,

Zhonglin's wife.

She's excellent at managing the household.

I've long heard

the Lady of Wei

is as radiant as the sun.

Now that I've met you,

you're truly captivating.

I was caught up

chatting with Great-aunt.

Sorry for neglecting you.

Please

accept my apology.

I hope we can

spend more time together

so today's meeting won't be in vain.

You're too kind, Lady Yulou.

I feel the same.

No need to be so formal.

I grew up with the Lord of Wei.

You can just call me Ehuang.

You're now

the Lady of Bianzhou.

I'm still young.

I dare not lose decorum.

It's only proper to address you as Lady Yulou.

You're a Qiao, even more noble than I am.

Lord Qiao's reputation for benevolence

is known throughout the land.

I spoke out of turn.

Great-aunt, please forgive me.

My Lady,

Lady Zhu is here.

Greetings, Mother.

Ehuang,

long time no see.

You look more and more blessed.

As expected of the Lady of Bianzhou.

You flatter me.

Since we parted ways in Yujun,

I didn't expect

to only see you again now.

You always treated me like your daughter.

In Bianzhou,

I often thought back

and couldn't help but weep.

Back then, I had no choice.

Look at me,

chatting on and almost forgetting

the main reason I came.

Great-aunt,

I heard Rongjun is suffering famine

so I brought some grain

along with me

as a gift for your birthday.

I hope

you won't find it unworthy.

Grain

is no trivial matter.

This must be decided

by Zhonglin.

He'll accept it.

They grew up together

after all.

Ehuang,

you're so thoughtful toward Zhonglin.

How touching.

This is what family means.

Enough with the chatter.

Grandmother, you must be tired.

I'll take my leave

and serve you another day.

You're thoughtful.

Everyone

should go rest now.

Yes.

My Lady,

Lady Yulou looks

much fuller than before.

Yet she claimed

she was constrained and had a hard time

in Bianzhou.

She used

to care for the Lord

meticulously.

I once thought she had feelings for him.

Who would've thought

she'd marry the Lord of Bianzhou

just a couple of years

after the Xindu incident?

She was planning for her future.

Nothing's wrong with that.

I guess she and I

just weren't fated.

I find

the Lady of Wei

quite clever and capable.

You've worked hard for years.

You can finally enjoy some peace.

Peace?

That's not in my fate.

I only hope Lady Qiao

lets me

live a quiet life.

Why do you say that?

Just now,

I saw how much Great-aunt

favored her.

I thought...

If you saw it in one day,

you can imagine

how things usually are for me.

Mother is always overbearing.

Lady Qiao acts all delicate.

She even fooled Zhonglin

into driving Chuyu

out of the house.

Now,

the two of them stand united.

I'm the only outsider left

in this home.

Why doesn't Zhonglin

speak up for you?

He's busy.

He was fixing the Yongning Canal,

and now he's working

on the canal for Rongjun.

I can't help with those things.

I just try not to add to his burden.

Only a mother thinks this way for her son.

No one else would.

That's true.

You understand me best.

If only you could stay longer this time,

so we could have

a proper talk.

You just said the Lord of Wei

was working on the canal for Rongjun.

Didn't the canal for Xindu and Panyi

just get completed?

Why the rush to divert water to Rongjun?

Are there some problems?

Maybe I can help.

I heard Rongjun suffered from drought.

Yanzhou

is sending wheat seeds,

so they need the canal.

What can we women do

about these things?

I once suggested to Lady Yulou

that she meet you at the office,

but she insisted

on coming here.

It's fine.

Lady Yulou.

Long time no see.

You're now the Lord of Wei.

Do you remember?

Back then, we and Bogong

used to play in this very courtyard.

How carefree and happy.

After so many years,

this place has fallen into dilapidation,

yet standing here

feels like just yesterday.

Yes.

It truly does.

Though I was born in Wushan,

my happiest childhood days

were spent with you guys.

Now returning to Wei

feels almost like coming home.

Indeed,

Wei can be considered

your second home.

The day I arrived at the mansion,

I learned the Lady of Wei

has been taking care of Great-aunt

and managing the household meticulously.

Lady Qiao

is gentle and considerate,

kind and wise.

She must've given so much.

Yes.

She has worked hard.

More than just hard.

It pains me to think of it.

I heard

Lady Qiao was much loved at home,

never having to worry about anything.

Yet she's here now,

handling so much.

Zhonglin,

here's a piece of advice.

Managing the household is hard enough.

Don't let Lady Qiao worry

about the grudges

and political affairs

between the Qiaos and Weis anymore.

(Birthday Banquet Guest List)

I keep wondering these days:

Why did Lady Yulou

suddenly show up

after all these years of absence?

Could you explain further?

She came with grain.

She must have a purpose.

I've already asked Uncle for seeds.

If the Lord

accepts her grain now,

it'll be a shame to Yanzhou.

I know Rongjun is in drought,

and Yanzhou offering seeds

was Lady Qiao's way

of easing the tension between the two clans.

Still, we can't rule out

the ill intent

of the Qiao Clan.

This time I came

not just to celebrate Great-aunt's birthday

but also to do my part

to help Wei.

I brought grain

to aid Rongjun

through the drought.

This batch of grain

is not from Wushan

or Bianzhou.

It's simply a gift from me personally.

Please don't feel pressured.

If Yanzhou and Wei join hands

to open the canal in Rongjun,

they'll be

surrounding Bianzhou.

How can Bianzhou stand by and watch?

That's why Chen Xiang

sent Lady Yulou as a mediator

to stop Wei

from building the canal in Rongjun.

Canal work is Wei's state affair.

Now that you are

the Lady of Bianzhou,

it's no longer appropriate

for us to discuss politics.

So, I can't accept

your grain.

Rongjun's drought

has drawn support from many prefectures.

Besides,

I can't betray

the Qiao-Wei alliance.

Yes.

I didn't consider it thoroughly.

I'll take my leave.

Zhonglin.

Wei Liang

humiliated me

with such a cheap gift.

Stop laughing.

My Lady,

Lady Yulou and the Lord

were almost betrothed.

So what?

So what? Well...

We just got rid of Zheng Shu,

and now Lady Yulou shows up.

How are you supposed to live in peace?

If I spend every day

dwelling on his old flings,

then life will truly become unlivable.

Anyway,

I heard that Lady Yulou

asked to see the Lord.

Who knows what it'll be like

when old lovers reunite?

After Bogong passed,

I married the Lord of Bianzhou.

Do you still resent me for it?

I was just a girl back then.

It wasn't what I wanted.

I was forced into it.

Let's not speak of the past anymore.

Now,

I only wish you

endless good fortune.

My Lord.

My Lord.

Oh, you like this kind of thing?

Then

I'll take you to the streets later

and buy you more in other styles.

You're busy with affairs of state.

How could I trouble you with my concerns?

Besides,

I've hated

flashy things like this

since I was a child.

Help the Lord change.

No need.

You may leave.

- Yes. - Yes.

What happened?

The Lord of Wei rejected

free grain?

He's distancing himself from me

because I'm the Lady of Bianzhou.

The Qiao Clan of Yanzhou

sent wheat seeds to celebrate

(Qiao) Lady Xu's birthday.

(Grain)

If the Lord of Wei is wary of you,

Ehuang,

how will you make your next move?

If I can't act freely,

then Lady Qiao, as the daughter of his enemy,

is in an even worse position.

The Lord of Wei remembers the past

and holds grudges.

When my betrothal was on the table,

if the Qiao Clan hadn't broken their word,

and if tragedy hadn't struck the Weis,

Bogong wouldn't have...

The Su Clan wouldn't have sent me to Bianzhou.

I've never forgotten that grudge.

The Lord of Wei wouldn't forget either.

In that case,

Ehuang,

what should we do now?

The canal is for the seeds,

and the Lord of Wei rejected my grain

because of the seeds.

If something happens to the seeds...

Don't forget.

We still have one hidden piece to play.

(Granary, Qiao)

(Grain)

Then I'll trouble you, Mr. Wei.

There's no need for such formality.

I should be the one

thanking Yanzhou for aiding Rongjun.

It's what we should do.

Mr. Wei, the wheat has been weighed.

Please take a look.

Make sure it's well-guarded.

Yes.

As expected of someone from Wei Mansion.

If she had better clothes,

her bearing and looks

would match any noble lady.

What a pity.

To help you, I must do this.

I didn't mean to offend you.

I'm new to Yujun

and not yet familiar with the area.

May I ask you

for directions?

Where do you want to go?

Do you know the way

to Wei Mansion?

Wei Mansion?

You're going to see the Lord of Wei?

Yes.

Who are you?

Ma'am,

this gentleman is

the young master of the Su Clan from Wushan.

He came to offer birthday wishes

to Lady Xu.

Oh, you're a noble guest.

I'm Su Xin.

My style name is Zixin.

You look so lovely.

Which heartless husband

would let you

labor out here alone?

The route to the mansion isn't far,

but it is a bit tricky.

If you don't mind,

I'll go home and get changed

and then guide you there.

I would

love that.

Here.

Take this umbrella.

Thank you, sir.

Ehuang,

I've got her.

Chuyu was beaten by her in-laws?

Hurry and bring her here.

I need to ask about it.

But Lady Xu said

she wasn't allowed in the house.

Bring her to the outer courtyard.

Just don't let Lady Xu find out.

You...

I'm going now.

Where

is Mother going so early?

My Lady.

My Lady.

The guest list is ready.

No need to consult Lady Zhu.

My Lady.

Here are ritual records of birthday banquets in Yujun,

family genealogy, guest list records,

and family gathering records.

They're all for your reference.

Thank you.

Can I take these back with me?

Of course. But there's no need to carry them.

The Lord said you could use the study.

If you need any books or records,

just ask me.

The Lord prepared these?

Yes.

(Guest List)

What does the Lord mean?

Maybe he's afraid I'll ruin the banquet

and embarrass him.

Or maybe he genuinely

cares about you.

Chuyu.

Let me look.

Aunt,

please save me.

Come on, get up.

What happened to your face?

Get up now.

They accused me of being indecent with another man

but the truth is that gambler squandered my dowry

and wanted more money from you.

Aunt,

the marriage Lady Xu arranged for me

has put me in great misery.

My life hasn't been easy either.

If it weren't for Lady Qiao,

you would've had everything you wanted.

It looks like

to make this work,

we need Lady Qiao to slip up

so you can have the upper hand.

Mother supports her now.

What can I do?

There

might be a way,

but it depends on you.

(Granary)

Greetings, Mr. Wei.

Anything unusual in the granary today?

All is as usual.

Please rest assured.

(Granary)

Ehuang, it's done.

A grand birthday celebration

needs to be livelier.

I heard

Lady Yulou is gifted in music.

Would I

be lucky enough

to enjoy a performance today?

The Lord of Wei has heard me sing.

You may ask him.

Shiyuan,

Lady Yulou is noble now.

She's no longer someone

you can joke with like before.

I only hope

her singing can entertain you

on this special day.

How do you plan

to entertain me yourself?

Shiyuan,

why not perform a sword dance?

I can sing along.

What do you think?

That'll be wonderful.

It'll be great.

Sounds good.

♪The graceful grass♪

♪Stands alone yet captivating♪

♪My longing for it♪

♪Twists into the night♪

♪The graceful grass♪

♪Carries my distant yearning♪

♪My honest husband♪

♪Truly worries me♪

Bravo!

How beautiful!

Beautiful!

Mr. Wei is truly charming.

You're hiding such talent.

If you were on the battlefield,

you'd be a mighty warrior for sure.

Indeed.

Your voice is like that of a goddess.

Thank you, Great-aunt.

Grandmother,

may you

live long with endless blessings

and everlasting health

and peace.

Mother, you must be in high spirits today.

Shiyuan performed.

Lady Qiao gave a thoughtful gift.

I heard Yanzhou

also sent a generous gift.

Grandmother has seen it.

Yanzhou sent winter wheat seeds.

Just seeds?

Winter wheat is the foundation of Yanzhou's prosperity.

Giving this

shows great sincerity.

It's the best birthday gift I could receive.

It's just winter wheat.

Is it really that special?

You didn't seem interested

in this before.

Zhonglin, what are you doing?

I...

Want to use the restroom?

Go on then.

This child...

Mother, I mean no offense.

I'm just curious.

Since we're all here,

why not have Lady Qiao

bring out the seeds

for everyone to see?

Right?

- Yes. - Great.

Let's see them.

We want to see what winter wheat is like.

Grandmother.

Mother.

These are the wheat seeds from Yanzhou.

Please have a look.

This winter wheat

is an improved strain.

It's planted in the autumn equinox

and harvested in the fifth month

of the next year.

It's perfect for easing food shortages in early summer.

But winter wheat

has always been exclusive to Yanzhou.

Yanzhou produces and sells them,

but it never gives away seeds.

This time,

on Grandmother's birthday,

Yanzhou shares them

in hopes

of standing together with Wei

through thick and thin.

What's that smell?

Could it

be mold?

Yes.

How dare you!

I want to ask you today.

What exactly is your family up to?

Fourteen years ago,

you broke your word

on the battlefield

and caused enough misery to our family.

How dare you present

these rotten seeds as a gift?

Take them away!

Mother,

I personally inspected

these seeds.

Every single one was carefully selected.

This concerns an alliance between our families

and the lives of our people.

The Qiao Clan would never

treat it lightly.

From what I see,

each grain is full and intact.

They're not rotten.

Though the seeds

aren't rotten,

they're floating.

They're cooked!

Cooked!

They're cooked!

How could they be cooked?

They're truly cooked.

Cooked seeds.

How can cooked seeds be planted?

Let me see.

It's hard to tell if they're raw seeds.

If the people plant them

and they don't sprout,

they'll blame themselves

for not tending the fields properly.

Then they'll miss the planting season,

and the famine will be even worse than this year.

People live on food.

Everyone, they must hate us deeply.

Exactly.

What were they thinking?

The seeds that won't grow.

What a malicious scheme.

It looks like Yanzhou's seeds are here

to cause havoc.

We demand an explanation today.

What's going on?

The seeds are the foundation of a state.

We need an explanation.

Everyone says Yanzhou's seeds are the best.

If they send us duds,

the farmers will suffer.

If the seeds are steamed and dried,

it'll be hard to tell if they're cooked

without careful examination.

We can test them

to find out.

Look. Some are floating.

Look, look.

They're cooked.

That's right.

They're all cooked.

The seeds are all cooked.

That can't be.

My Lady,

I swear I didn't know.

Grandmother.

Everyone.

My uncle may be foolish,

but this is serious.

He would never risk

the lives of Wei's people.

There must be a misunderstanding.

A misunderstanding?

Good thing there's no war now.

Grain is extremely important in wars.

How would we feed the soldiers

and the people without grain?

The Qiao Clan

- is so vile. - Indeed.

There will be famine every year.

My Lady, what should we do?

Shall I go beg the Lord?

He might not help us.

It's a plot against our people.

We must get to the bottom of this today.

We demand an explanation.

We need an answer.

The Lady has always been cautious here

just like me.

How can you gang up on a woman?

How can a lady of inner chambers

get involved

in political affairs?

In my opinion,

it was Qiao Yue who did this.

Grandmother,

perhaps someone plotted to frame us.

Please look into it fairly.

Look into it?

The truth is right before us. Stop trying to deny it.

They might not be seeds from Yanzhou.

They're definitely from Yanzhou.

- Stop denying it. - Exactly.

Yanzhou's envoy presented them.

They must be from Yanzhou.

How wicked.

You try to use steamed seeds to fool the people.

What are you up to?

This is Grandmother's birthday banquet,

not a place for shouting.

Silence!

Shao, they're all cooked.

I already know.

In that case,

punish the Lady now.

At Grandmother's birthday banquet,

what a surprise to see a mystery

instead of a puppet show.

Clearly,

someone wanted to disgrace our family.

What mystery?

Lady Qiao clearly plotted this.

With bad seeds,

she wants our people to starve.

She ignores the people's suffering.

She's pure evil.

Why are you laughing?

I'm laughing

because I'd believe you

if you told me Lady Qiao wanted to poison my whole family,

but I'd never believe

she'd harm the people.

Get up.

Grandmother,

back in Xindu,

Lady Qiao risked her reputation

to help me win back the people's trust.

The people of Xindu

volunteered for labor.

Then in Panyi,

she risked her life

to fight off the Liangya army

with me.

Afterward,

using her identity as a Qiao,

she persuaded local experts to help repair the canal.

The Yongning Canal

revived after 14 years

because of her.

All of you here

drink from your cups

yet forget who made it possible.

♪Sing a song of longing♪

If she wants to harm the people,

she doesn't need to go this far.

She just needs to refuse to help me with the canal.

So,

this must be a setup.

♪The memories can't be retrieved♪

♪I went through a lot just to understand you♪

♪White wings♪

♪Fall into my hands♪

Before entering Yujun,

the seeds must've been weighed.

Dried seeds

are lighter than the raw ones.

So if there was a switch,

we'd know by weighing.

Guards!

- Yes! - Yes!

Weigh the seeds.

The Lady and the Lord are of one heart.

She wouldn't betray him.

If the seeds weren't tampered with before storage,

then the problem lies after.

May I ask

who manages the granary?

Could it be

someone else is plotting

against the Lord?

According to Lady Yulou,

if it wasn't

Lady Qiao,

then it must be Wei Yan.

How interesting.

My Lord.

Should we continue weighing?

Shao,

if neither Lady Qiao

nor Wei Yan is behind this,

you owe us

an explanation.

- Exactly. - Yes.

- We must have an answer. - Yes.

How can our people be treated this way?

My Lord,

one is your wife,

and the other is your cousin.

Who will you choose?

Mr. Wei is just the Lord's cousin,

not his real brother.

You mustn't show favoritism.

♪The moonlight is as silent as the deep sea♪

♪From afar♪

♪It once lit up dreams with a breath♪

♪But vanished with a sigh♪

♪Brushing past my fingertips♪

♪My heartstrings were stirred quietly♪

♪As if we once met before♪

♪Holding back a love so deep♪

♪Love asks for nothing in the end♪

♪Leaving only obsessions♪

♪I've wandered in the world♪

♪Yet cannot have it all♪

♪We meet and part in the fires of war♪

♪Embracing, leaving tender marks of love♪

♪With one breathtaking glance♪

♪How could I ever forget♪

♪I would cross mountains and seas♪

♪To spend time with you♪

♪When we grow old♪

♪Nothing will change♪

♪The misty rains never cease♪

♪Falling gently on your brow♪

♪Lingering in my heart♪

♪I would sever fate's ties♪

♪To protect your smiling eyes♪

♪Even if behind me lies a storm♪

♪No matter the trials♪

♪I carry this longing for the journey♪

♪This life♪

♪Will not be in vain♪

♪I would cross mountains and seas♪

♪To spend time with you♪

♪When we grow old♪

♪Nothing will change♪

♪The misty rains never cease♪

♪Falling gently on your brow♪

♪Lingering in my heart♪

♪I would sever fate's ties♪

♪To protect your smiling eyes♪

♪Even if behind me lies a storm♪

♪No matter the trials♪

♪I carry this longing for the journey♪

♪This life♪

♪Will not be in vain♪