The Prisoner of Beauty (折腰) poster

CompletedOn NetflixHistoricalRomancePolitical

The Prisoner of Beauty

折腰

English title
The Prisoner of Beauty (aka Zhe Yao)
Chinese title
折腰 · Zhé Yāo
On Netflix?
Yes — India, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand
Episodes
36 episodes · 45 min each
Status
Completed
Starring
Song Zuer and Liu Yuning
Original network
Tencent Video
Premiered
May 13, 2025 – May 29, 2025
Genre
Historical, Romance, Political
Based on
折腰 by Penglai Ke

Updated

What is The Prisoner of Beauty about?

In a war-torn age modelled on the late Eastern Han, the Qiao clan once broke faith with the Wei clan on the battlefield, and Wei Shao lost his father and brother as a result. Years later, Wei Shao has become a powerful warlord and the weakened Qiao family needs an alliance to survive, so Xiao Qiao is sent to marry him in her elder sister's place. Arriving in a household where many resent her family, the clear-headed bride and her guarded husband have to work through old grudges, rivals and wartime politics as their arranged marriage slowly turns into something real.

Based on the novel: 《折腰》 by Penglai Ke (蓬莱客).

The Prisoner of Beauty cast

Full cast
  • ActorSong Zuer

    Song Zuer as Xiao Qiao

    宋祖儿 饰 小乔Lead

    A quick-witted daughter of the Qiao clan who is married into the enemy Wei household in her sister's place.

    CharacterSong Zuer as Xiao Qiao
  • ActorLiu Yuning

    Liu Yuning as Wei Shao

    刘宇宁 饰 魏劭Lead

    The formidable young lord of the Wei clan, who blames the Qiao family for the deaths of his father and brother.

    CharacterLiu Yuning as Wei Shao
  • ActorXuan Lu

    Xuan Lu as Su Ehuang

    宣璐 饰 苏娥皇

    An ambitious noblewoman of the Su family, said to be fated to bring power to whoever wins her.

    CharacterXuan Lu as Su Ehuang
  • ActorLiu Duanduan

    Liu Duanduan as Wei Yan

    刘端端 饰 魏俨

    Wei Shao's cousin, a capable and proud member of the Wei household.

    CharacterLiu Duanduan as Wei Yan

  • Liu Xiaoqing as Dowager Lady Xu

    刘晓庆 饰 徐太夫人

    Wei Shao's grandmother, a kind, clear-sighted matriarch whose word carries the most weight in the Wei family.

The Prisoner of Beauty episodes

Release schedule

The Prisoner of Beauty has 36 episodes, each about 45 min. It aired on Tencent Video from May 13, 2025 to May 29, 2025, and all episodes are out.

Where to watch The Prisoner of Beauty

All options

Netflix carries it only in a few Asian markets. Elsewhere, Viki, WeTV and Tencent Video's YouTube channel are the main options.

More The Prisoner of Beauty guides

Dramas like The Prisoner of Beauty

Sources