The Prisoner of Beauty

Presentation

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Overview

Synopsis

Qiao Man is from the Yan Clan who’s been enemies with the Wei Clan since their betrayal 14 years ago. But when Wei Shao is about to wage war on them, she marries him to ensure peace between the realms. Will love be stronger than hatred?

My Opinion (No Spoilers)

This is definitely the kind of dramas for which I scream: GO WATCH IT! It’s simply amazing! The intrigue is so well woven, you don’t get bored for one second. Plus, you don’t spend 30 episodes on the same problematics. Here, the action is fast-paced and we really move on from one situation to another. Moreover, I loved how intricate the leads’ romance is, as they go from enemies to lovers. They learn to trust each other and rule together, while also trying to move on from past wounds. Even secondary characters are awesome (like Wei Shao’s cousin for example) and have a real evolution and purpose in the drama. But what I liked the most is the fact that the romance and the marriage is really at the heart of the story. The alliance formed by Qiao Man and Wei Shao is political, strategic, vital for peace, but also emotional, as it leads to dilemmas between love and duty; family and state; personal grudge and people’s well-being. The ending is as perfect as the rest of the drama. There’s really nothing to criticize here!

Analysis

Historical context

Characters
Xue Fang Fei, all for revenge
The ‘cruel’ Duke
Wan Ning, the devil wears jewels
Shen Yu Rong, denial at its peak
Ji Shu Ran, the evil stepmother

The world’s a stage
Act 1 – Zhennu Hall
Act 2 – The School of Integrity
Act 3 – Luyang
Act 4 – Huaixiang
Act 5- Dingzhou
Act 6 – Ji Shu Ran’s downfall
Act 7 – Wan Ning’s pregnancy
Act 8 – The rebellion
Act 9 – The battlefield

A brilliant chess game
On the Emperor’s side
The Duke is King
Queen Jiang Li
Wen Ji and Lu Ji, the static rooks
Jiang Li’s father as the Knight
Consort Ling, a useful bishop
On Prince Cheng’s side
Wan Ning, Queen of the Palace
Yuan Song, the trusted rook
Shen Yu Rong, the unexpected Knight
Li Zhong Nan, the frail bishop

The 2 revenges

Cinematography

The symbols
The Duke’s fan
Shen Yu Rong’s flute
Xue Fang Fei’s pendant
The pear blossoms

Historical context: First, let me give you some historical context (even fictitious). The story takes place during a time of political unrest and deep-rooted grudges. The land is divided into 5 main regions: Wei State, Yan State, Bianzhou, Liangya Country and Boya which is more of an independent city at the beginning. Each areas has a family who rules the territory. If you connect all of these places on a single map, it forms the shape of a deer. In the middle, there’s the deer’s heart: Panyi (object of discord between the clans).

Wei State: The Wei State is ruled by the Wei clan. They are clever and honorable warriors. Once they give their word, they never go back on it. 14 years ago, 3 generations were decimated following the betrayal of the Qiao clan. Wei Shao (Liu Yu Ning) became the unfortunate ruler at a young age after the death of his grandfather, father and older brother. Nevertheless, he could count on his grandmother’s support in political affairs.

Yan State: Led by the Qiao clan, they are the primary enemies of Wei State. The elder of the clan, Qiao Man’s (Song Zu Er) grandfather, used to consider Wei Shao’s grandfather as his sworn brother. But he prioritized the well-being of his people over his friendship 14 years ago, leading to tragedy and resentment. The Yan clan is considered mischievous. They are good at scheming, they can be manipulative, and are not to be trusted. They are the actual opposite of the Wei clan.

Boya: At the beginning of the drama, Boya has no significant importance. It’s ruled by a Governor, but it’s impoverished and constantly attacked by outsiders. Each State wants to absorb it into their territory. Thanks to Qiao Man’s strategy, the Yan clan manages to get their hands on it. Bi Zhi (Zhou Lu La) and her cousin Da Qiao (He Hong Shan) become the protectors of the place.

Bianzhou: A long time ago, the ruler of Bian kidnapped the daughter of Wei State. He raped her and a son was born of this violation. This son is Wei Yan (Liu Duan Duan), Wei Shao’s cousin. For his own good, his real origins were hidden. Instead, the family always said that he was the son of a servant. This event profoundly destroyed the relationship between Bianzhou and Wei State. The Wei grandmother immediately considered Wei Yan as her own, but she never forgave Bianzhou for ruining her daughter.

Liangya Country: At the beginning of the drama, Liangya Country is neither dangerous nor powerful. They are outsiders who are trying to reinforce their alliance with the Qiao clan through marriage. Qiao Man is supposed to marry Liu Yan (Ji Xiao Bing), the young lord of the Liangya State. However, Liangya is unstable. It is subject to internal strife due to the ruler’s remarriage. Liu Yan’s future as Lord of Liangya is unsure and scheming is at its peak. These internal conflicts are the reason why Liangya wants to strike a good alliance with a stronger clan.

Characters: Due to these power games, characters have to navigate a giant chessboard.

Qiao Man: Qiao Man is the daughter of the Prefect of Yan. He’s an admirable, upright, fair, kind and benevolent man who’s beloved by Yan people. Qiao Man has inherited these qualities from her father. She’s also very close to her grandfather who taught her strategy. He also passed onto her his guilt and regrets. This made Qiao Man reflect upon the clan’s former betrayal. She wants to make amends on her grandfather’s behalf, while protecting the people. Indeed, Qiao Man considers peace her utmost priority. She’s seen decades of war and its dire consequences. That’s why she wants to put an end to them. On top of that, she’s loyal and reliable. She takes her cousin’s place in the marriage to Wei Shao, when she discovers that Da Qiao is in love with Bi Zhi. She cares for her cousin and her well-being, so she switches places with her. Finally, Qiao Man is a formidable opponent. She’s good at playing the political game. She can scheme, is always ten steps ahead and is resourceful. Her wits and beauty precede her and both come in handy in the future.

Wei Shao: The Lord of Wei is a conflicted man. At the beginning of the drama, he’s blinded by revenge. He’s been raised in hatred towards the Qiao clan. Though her grandmother always insisted he lets go of his grudges, the other members of the clan fostered resentment. Wei Shao also witnessed the deaths of his family adding even more anger towards the Yan clan. However, Wei Shao is not a blood-thirsty tyrant. He wants to avenge his family, but he’s also very dedicated to the well-being of his people. If he can avoid war, he’ll do it. That’s why he accepts his marriage to Qiao Man. She may be the enemy, but she’s bringing with her a considerable dowry: the city of Panyi which is at the crossroads between States. It’s the most strategic place in the land that gives its owner control over the dams, the water canals, and blocks armies from transiting. Reluctantly and under his grandmother’s advice, Wei Shao gives in. Later on, we discover a character who is hard on the outside, but soft on the inside. He’s innocent in love, slow-witted and dense. He’s clumsy in his actions and tends to get angry fast. Nevertheless, he’s also protective and doting. Once he’s chosen to trust Qiao Man, he did it wholeheartedly. Wei Shao is like the two sides of a coin: one that displays a fierce and cruel warrior, another that showcases a loving husband and good ruler.

Wei Yan: I think this secondary character was absolutely fantastic. I was expecting him to be a pebble in leads’ shoe, but he turned out to be quite moving. Wei Yan is the hidden son of the ruler of Bian. At the beginning of the show, he’s being used by his father to scheme against Wei State. Wei Yan doesn’t understand why his family lied to him nor why he’s always been refused important political tasks. His origins seem to be the answer. So, he’s obviously resentful. However, I underestimated this character’s love for his family. Like any Wei member of the clan, he’s a man of honor. He’d never turn his back against his kin, even if it causes him prejudice. At some point, Wei Yan needs to choose between his future as the Lord of Bian and an idle life alongside his grandmother in Wei. Against all odds, he chooses his Wei family. He’s aware that he may never satisfy his ambitions nor have a role to play in the governance of the State, but he accepts it. Later on, he develops feelings for Qiao Man. His unrequited love causes dangerous rumors within the clan, so he willingly leaves in order to protect everyone. He goes to Bianzhou and that’s when his second life starts. Though he’s at odds with his father, his righteous behavior earns him his generals’ respect and obedience. Before his departure, he’d also made a promise to Wei Shao that he’d never attack him and he holds on to it. Better, he comes to his rescue with an army at the end. That’s proof of their brotherhood, but also that Wei Yan has the potential to become an excellent ruler for Bian and a valuable ally for Wei. His double origins could’ve destroyed his relationship, but instead he used it for the greater good.

Lady Yu Lou: Lady Yu Lou is (Xuan Lu) a pitiful villain. She comes from a small clan who’s constantly used her as a pawn to strike alliances. They basically sold her off in order to gain power. On top of that, they belittled her and forced her to spread a rumor that the peony tattoo she has on her forehead is the mark of fate. The man who’d marry her would rule the mainland. That’s obviously a self-made prophecy, but it’s fed the legend all her life. Unfortunately for her, Yu Lou didn’t have a lot of chance at love. She was first supposed to become the Lady of Wei through her marriage with Wei Shao’s older brother. But he died, so she found another husband in the ruler of Bian. His sickness took him away early on, so Yu Lou was left with no other choice but to find another husband. At the end, she marries Liu Yan, the Lord of Liangya. Throughout the drama, Lady Yu Lou is the enemy. She schemes constantly in order to destroy the fragile alliance between the Wei and Qiao clans. She’s manipulative, mischievous, self-centered and selfish. She’s convinced herself that her life had been a succession of unsuccessful love relationships. She’s certain that her husbands never cared nor loved her, when in reality it’s the absolute contrary. Wei Shao’s older brother knew that her prophecy was false, but he still wanted to marry her. He even asked his brother to protect her in his final moments. Her second husband was entirely devoted to her. He built palaces for her and even went against his uncle to include her in the political sphere. She was an advisor and a lover. On top of that, he gave her an army of 50,000 men before his death, so she would not suffer under his uncle’s rule. Even her last husband, Liu Yan accepted to marry her instead of making her his concubine. He had no obligation to do so, but he admired her fierceness, wits and audacity. Here again, he cared for her until the very end. In reality, Lady Yu Lou never really understood their love. She misinterpreted their actions and pitied herself for not having a happy life. She blamed her bad luck on others and paid the price at the end.

Bi Zhi and Da Qiao: From the very beginning, Bi Zhi and Da Qiao have been together. Bi Zhi is the servant in charge of the horses for the Qiao clan. He’s developed feelings for Da Qiao which are reciprocated. He’s soft, attentive, caring and entirely devoted to Da Qiao. He would do anything to protect her. Reversely, Da Qiao only has eyes for Bi Zhi. She’s devastated at the thought of having to marry Wei Shao, but she knows that her status comes with sacrifices. She’s however given a chance at happiness with Bi Zhi thanks to Qiao Man who helps her escape and takes her place. After that, the two lovers are on the run. They are trying to find a place to stay where they can establish themselves and build a life together. Boya becomes their anchor. Though Da Qiao knows that her father will never accept Bi Zhi in the family, she’s made her choice. She’d rather be with him in an unknown country than separated from him at home. Later on, Bi Zhi becomes the general of Boya thanks to his inhumane strength and fighting skills. He’s honorable and appreciated by Wei Shao. Da Qiao also believes that she’s got everything she could dream of. Even her mother and cousins are now thinking of Bi Zhi as part of the clan. Her father however is unbending and even uses their profound love for each other to his advantage. He threatens Bi Zhi with Da Qiao’s life to control him during his and Liangya’s uprising against Wei State.

Romance blooming in adversity: The entire plot revolves around the enemies-to-lovers trope. Here, both Wei Shao and Qiao Man have all the reasons in the world to be wary of each other in their marriage. Nevertheless, love blossoms in their marriage and wins it all.

Past hatred: Wei Shao lost the men of his family due to the Qiao clan’s betrayal 14 years ago. Yan State was supposed to provide an army to help Wei forces against the intruders, but they never came to the rescue and condemned the Wei family. This betrayal is engraved in Wei Shao’s memory, making him hate and resent the Qiao clan. He also promised he’d avenge his family members. At the beginning of the drama, Wei Shao is depicted as a cruel general who’s marching towards Yan. His objective is to destroy the enemy and he won’t stop. Worse, Wei Shao is winning every single of his battles. Yan’s fate seems sealed. That’s why the Qiao grandfather offers a marriage alliance to Wei Shao’s grandmother. This is the only way to prevent war and to protect the numerous people indirectly suffering from Wei Shao’s grudge.

Trust issues: The beginning of their marriage rhymes with distrust. Wei Shao is convinced that Qiao Man is a spy whose only goal is to protect her clan against him. Conversely, Qiao Man is afraid that Wei Shao would attack Yan whenever he’s got the occasion. That’s why she reaches out to Bi Zhi and Da Qiao, so they would take over Boya. Later on, she even makes them build a tunnel between Boya and Liangya in case they need an emergency escape. Even within the family, Qiao Man’s presence is not well accepted. Her mother-in-law detests her and wants Wei Shao to take a concubine. Each and every action in the house is subject to suspicion starting with the letters that Qiao Man sends to her family. On top of that, others are trying hard to nurture this distrust like Lady Yu Lou for instance. She wants to turn the spouses against each other by pretending that Qiao Man’s brother tried to assault her. Their marriage is a succession of hurdles that test their relationship and their mutual trust.

Love conquers all: Neither Qiao Man nor Wei Shao is stupid. Both are very aware that everyone is waiting for their alliance to fail, and thus implicitly entertaining the tension. Their maturity and respect for each other turn out to be quite an advantage. Qiao Man made a promise to her grandfather. She also decided to get married to Wei Shao, expecting she would only receive hatred from him and his clan. Nonetheless, she understands how critical their understanding is for the land and its people. That’s why she refuses to be swayed by rumors or schemes. She stands up for herself, makes her intentions clear from the beginning, and makes it her duty to become the Lady of Wei. She also realizes that Wei Shao is far from being the terrible general everyone depicted. He’s always been guarded due to his past, but he shows his vulnerability at times. This makes Qiao Man fall for this man who respects her. Indeed, he agrees not to consume the wedding and let Qiao Man mourn her grandfather. He listens to her opinion and trusts her judgement. He even accepts her at the ritual ceremony for his fallen family. These are grand and small gestures of love that Wei Shao displays episode after episode. As Lord of Wei, Wei Shao is quite taken aback when he first meets Qiao Man. First of all, he’s stunned by her beauty. During their time in Panyi, he’s surprised to see her encourage the people to side with him. Afterwards, he’s astounded to discover that Qiao Man truly cares for the people whether they are from Yan or from Wei. She chooses him over Liu Yan because she knows he’s a fair man who shares her values. Even in their marriage, Qiao Man never complains. Instead, she only shows affection towards her husband. She’s diligent and is trying hard to conquer his heart (and stomach). Once they start opening up to each other, Qiao Man and Wei Shao become a true power couple. They are impressive together, capable of trusting the other’s decisions and never blaming the other for their choice like when Wei Shao leaves for war. He entrusts the capital and the women of his family to Qiao Man. After that, he’s confronted with a dilemma: either march forward with his army against the enemy or go back to protect his family. He chooses the first option, knowing that Qiao Man will do whatever it takes to keep her promise. She vowed she’d trust him and would not intend anything against the Wei family. She’d protect the clan with her life, and that’s what she does. She understands her husband’s decision and doesn’t run away. Thankfully, Wei Yan arrives to the rescue.

True to yourself: The best thing with this couple is that love doesn’t mean Qiao Man or Wei Shao renounces who they are. Qiao Man makes it very clear several times that she’s the Lady of Wei and would die to protect them. But she’s also part of the Yan clan and will always have their safety at heart. Her heart belongs to both places. Wei Shao knows that and values her for remaining true to herself even after their marriage. Similarly, Wei Shao doesn’t bury his desire of revenge right after his marriage. He’s torn between his duty as a Wei descendant and is responsibility as a ruler. He also makes it very clear that loving Qiao Man will not erase her family’s betrayal. However, she’s now part of his family and will always protect her. He’ll also keep his promise as an ally of Yan State. Nonetheless, he won’t be an active help to Yan nor will he forget their past. That’s why he is so cold towards Qiao Man’s uncle who’s now the ruler of Yan State. Wei Shao is respectful towards his wife’s direct family, but will not take part in active political discussions with them. Both lovers remain true to themselves.

Burring the hatchet: At some point in the drama, Wei Shao is torn between his overwhelming love for Qiao Man and his resentment towards her family. He feels terrible to have failed his brother, father and grandfather by falling for the enemy’s granddaughter. That’s why he can’t fully open up to his wife. But his grandmother is there to guide him. She has also suffered greatly from the betrayal, but she’s a wise woman. She knows that it’s worthless to obsess over past events. Resentment and hatred only bring unhappiness. She wants her grandsons to be happy and to live in the present. And if that means she has to make peace with the enemy and abandon her revenge, so be it. Wei Shao eventually comes around and agrees with her vision. Let bygones be bygones. Both clans now have a chance to move forward and heal their old wounds. So, they should take that chance and bury the hatchet. Wei Shao stops blaming himself for letting his people down and decides to make his happiness prevail over others’ memory.

A true ruler: Qiao Man fell in love with Wei Shao because she saw in him the qualities of a great ruler. First, he shares her vision. He also doesn’t discriminate between his people and others’, meaning that Yan people for example are as important as Wei people. Everyone should enjoy peace and bliss. That’s one of the main reasons why he abandons his idea to go to war against Yan. Second, Wei Shao is a strategist and a great politician. He knows how to play on the chessboard, but he never tortures nor threatens people’s lives to get what he wants. Last but not least, he’s a visionary. His desire to build Yongming Canal is because he’s got at heart the well-being of the entire mainland. He wants every State to participate, so that they build together a better world. Amongst all Lords, he’s the most courageous one. He doesn’t fear criticism and is determined to succeed. Unlike Liu Yan from Liangya for instance who is willing to kill everyone in Panyi to conquer it or refuses to participate in the construction of the canal out of selfish interests. Wei Shao is the perfect ruler who can unify all clans behind a common goal.

Selfish love: Bi Zhi and Da Qiao are the leads’ exact opposite when it comes to love. When the main protagonists take others into account, the second leads only see themselves. This selfish love is what causes two catastrophes in the show. The first is when Wei Shao is being attacked by Liangya. Qiao Man goes to her cousin to beg her to save her husband by sending troops. If she doesn’t do it, Wei Shao will probably die. Da Qiao refuses, emphasizing that this would put her husband at risk. She can’t live without him and thus can’t have him go to war. This creates a fall-out between the cousins. After these events, their bond will never go back to how it was. Qiao Man eventually finds another solution and saves her husband, but it was a close call. The second time occurs at the end of the show. Da Qiao is taken hostage by her father who’s now sided with Liangya. Bi Zhi is terrified at the idea of losing his lover and mother of his child. To protect her, he accepts to work as a puppet. He declares war to Wei Shao and kills people under Liu Yan’s command. He’s even willing to kill Wei Shao if it means saving Da Qiao. In that situation, Bi Zhi doesn’t really care who has power at the end of the day. His only wish is to protect his wife. Although both their actions are commendable and proof of great love between them, the couple’s devotion causes grief and devastation to many others. For the sake of everyone else, it’s not viable. Da Qiao understands that her being alive means that Bi Zhi may be controlled by someone else again because of her. So instead of taking the risk, she kills herself and puts an end to their story. That’s the only way to free Bi Zhi from his passionate love.

The ending: There couldn’t have been a better ending to this show than the one we got. In the final scenes, peace between the clans is established. The canals have been built all over the mainland allowing all the people to access water. This means that the risk of drought, famine and war has consequently diminished. Wei Yan is now the Lord of Bian and has kept his cordial relationship with his cousin. Qiao Man’s brother has taken over Yan State under the good guidance of her father. Liu Yan and Lady Yu Lou have died, meaning that Liangya can no longer attack. Boya still has Bi Zhi – or we suppose so. Finally, Wei State is taken care of by our favorite couple who’s welcomed their child. They all form a happy and united family. After so many years of hatred and war, blissful times have started.