The Captured Bride

This film (drama)Also known as抢来的新娘，is aMainland ChinaProducerwomen sex，At2009Released in year 。The dialogue language isMandarin Chinese，Current Douban rating7.9(For reference only)。

The Ying family is from a military background, and General Ying Zhentian is a well-known figure in the area, known for his ruthless nature and described by outsiders as a "demon." Shunan is the bride taken by Zhentian, serving as the seventh concubine. In the Ying household, she encounters a strict mother-in-law, an enchanting second concubine named Binglu, a mad sixth concubine named Xiangzhen, and armed guards, all adhering to strict rules. Many stories unfold here. Zhentian orders all war captives to be executed, and although Shunan pleads for their lives in vain, she meets a new aide-de-camp, Xiao, who was married by the general that day. Zhentian negotiates with General Peng, wagering gunfire against the condition of releasing the captives. He has Shunan participate in the gamble, which she naturally loses, resulting in the captives being released. The moment she returns home, Shunan realizes that Zhentian deliberately let her lose, subsequently releasing the captives. Shunan’s heart begins to soften. The mad Xiangzhen is Shunan's only friend, but when Xiangzhen falls ill, their mother-in-law forbids visiting the hospital for fear of tarnishing the Ying family's reputation. Shunan pleads desperately but to no avail; in frustration, she barges into the conference room to plead with Zhentian for Xiangzhen's life. Zhentian slaps her, and the mother-in-law inadvertently knocks her down. In the ensuing confusion, Xiangzhen dies, leaving Shunan in despair. She refuses to eat or take medicine, and it is Zhentian, with his unkind hands, who pulls her back. Xiao also expresses his affection for her. Shunan is a smart daughter-in-law who resists being constrained and is full of curiosity about everything in the Ying family; she realizes there are many things she doesn't understand. Why do so many concubines suddenly disappear? Why is there a prohibition on anyone entering a specific courtyard in the Ying family? Why did the general marry them if he doesn't touch them? Too many questions lead her to trespass into a room considered forbidden by others. What she sees is an elegantly furnished room, women's jewelry and clothes, Zhentian’s garments, and photos of a woman hanging on the wall. Her name is Gu Manrong, Zhentian's first wife. Through her mother-in-law's words, Shunan learns the backstory. In the past, Zhentian and Manrong were deeply in love, but Zhentian's father worried that his son would be distracted by love and neglect his career, leading to a confrontation in which Zhentian's father killed Manrong. Ever since, Zhentian's character changed dramatically, pouring out all his anger and hatred on the battlefield, becoming a terrifying killer feared by others. To comfort her son, his mother incessantly arranged marriages and concubines for him, but Zhentian was never moved. At this point, Shunan reignites her tender feelings for Zhentian upon learning the origin of the situation. General Peng reignites the war, and Zhentian’s subordinates are dissatisfied with his decision to release the captives, causing a dispute. Meanwhile, Xiao reveals his true identity as Peng’s adopted son and an undercover agent. He offers Shunan a packet of poison, suggesting she kill Zhentian and run away with him. Shunan is unsure what to do, and all of this is observed by Zhentian. Zhentian orders Xiao to be captured and feigns drinking tea, testing Shunan’s sincerity. This angers Shunan, and she resolutely drinks her brewed tea to prove her innocence. General Peng's men rescue Xiao, who is reluctant to leave Shunan behind and insists on taking her with him. Shunan refuses, but reluctantly, she is forced to the garden, where Zhentian's men surround them. To ensure his safety, Xiao aims his gun at Shunan’s head. To save her, Zhentian stabs himself with a dagger, and Xiao and his group hastily retreat. In the shock of the moment, Shunan is moved by Zhentian's sincere heart, and their night visit reveals their true feelings to each other. With his injuries not healed, Zhentian takes Shunan outside the city, where they stand in front of a few graves, one of which belongs to Xiangzhen. Xiangzhen tells Shunan that she is neither mad nor dead—this was all a strategy devised by Zhentian to save her. Unable to stop his mother from marrying him off, Zhentian wanted to spare those girls from harm, so he used this strategy to let them begin new lives. Shunan is once again astonished; she never expected the seemingly fierce general to possess such tender feelings and consideration for others. She envisions the beginning of two blissful lives. However, war breaks out again, and Zhentian's subordinates are seduced into rebellion. Binglu sacrifices herself to protect the general, and a woman who loved and admired him interprets her love with her life. Although she never received the general’s affection while alive, she dies smiling in the arms of her beloved. The general encounters an ambush while out in battle, and his whereabouts are unknown. Ignoring the danger, Shunan goes searching for him; her calls bring the unconscious general back to consciousness. Not far away, Xiao raises his gun, but when the gunfire sounds, it is he who falls. He sacrifices his life to fulfill Shunan and Zhentian's love.