BU BU JING XIN
EPISODE 6
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CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS: THE PRINCE AND THE COURTESAN
The Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year,
has arrived and Ruoxi is out at night with the maid, Qiaohui. There is a sea of red everywhere.
When Ruoxi espies Yinxiang who has brought Lu Wu out with him to see the sights, she
waves to draw his attention. It must have struck Ruoxi that Luwu is
Yinxiang’s precious treasure.
Together, they have some food and drinks at
a restaurant.
Yinti, the Fourteenth Prince, coincidentally
appears with some men for the same purpose. On seeing Luwu, whom they recognise
to be a courtesan even though she is in male garb, Yinti’s companions pass
some mean and uncouth remarks about her. Luwu’s flushed cheeks betray signs of
embarrassment, not for herself but for Yinxiang.
Yinxiang, enraged with a half-civilised
ferocity lurking in his eyes, smashes his teacup on the table. Although he looks
like a raging bull, there is evidently no waste of words.
Seething with outrage, Rouxi slams them and
beats the crap out of them for their inappropriate behaviour.
The men, though supposedly from the upper
echelons of society, are not divested of the behaviour that is associated
with the hooligans of the lower strata of society.
Mistaking Rouxi to be also a courtesan,
they hold her in contempt, but when they finally realise that she is
from the respectable Ma'ertai family, they, with befitting embarrassment,
scramble to make their apologies and then, beat a hasty retreat.
The overbearing Yinti demands that Ruoxi
go back with him. Not wanting to make a scene, she bade goodbye to the
embarrassed couple.
YINSI’S MANOR
Yinti brings her back to Yinsi’s manor. Even
in the presence of Yinsi, Yinti and Ruoxi quarrel heatedly over his
interference in her affairs.
Yinti, with his upright carriage and strict
demeanour, and looking probably like her former over-strict school principal,
argues animatedly that a lady of her status and class should not be in the
presence of a courtesan of ill-repute or a lowly prostitute.
Which lady of good breeding and in her
right mind would be seen in the company of a courtesan? It irks Rouxi that
Yinti is not just meddling in her affairs and infringing on her rights but
also imposing his ultra conservative ideas on her. Wild tigers must have been
doing somersaults in her brains. She is furious. If looks could kill, they
would have killed him in that instant!
Yinti thinks he is doing her a favour and
protecting her good name. He is outraged and there is an edge of irritation
in his voice as he berates her.
Who does he think he is to order her around? Is he another one of them who is staking his territorial claim on her?
He does not seem to be too pleased with her
lately, and viewers would learn that in the future he would be displeased
with her and her attitude to the point of bearing down on her with regular
criticisms. It would gratify her indeed when anything occurs to please 'his
royal majesty'!
Ruoxi is impatient with him as his
reasoning does not make any sense to her. Raising her voice, she quotes instances of
prostitutes who help the emperors or heroes or die for love. Some were good
people.
Yinsi, her brother-in-law is greatly humoured
by the whole scenario, and their youthful candour and heated exchange.
He is amused to watch the embattled girl defending those who are despised by society. 
Yinsi says pointedly to Yinti that he would
solve the problem, so, Yinti reluctantly leaves.
Yinsi, with undisguised delight, compares
Yinxiang, the 13th Prince and her. Both are non-prejudicial,
non-judgemental, fearless and embrace liberal values.
Then, he invites her to sit down, and then, abruptly changes the subject.
‘Are you afraid of the Maiden Selection?’
She is rueful over the matter and keeps
fidgeting with her bangle.
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A SHAM MARRIAGE: YINSI EXPLAINS TO RUOXI ABOUT HIS
RELATIONSHIP WITH RUOLAN
Yinsi thinks it is time to reveal the
secrets of his failed marriage with her sister, Ruolan. He steels himself to
spill out the details about the immeasurably sad moments although it hurts
him to do so.
He recounts his first meeting with Ruolan.
He was mesmerised by her amazing high
spirits the first moment he saw her.
She was fifteen and had followed her father
to the capital. It was spring. He was out riding with two companions and he
saw her riding on a hill.
‘She rode her horse even better than what I
saw on Yinreng’s Equestrian Day. Her laughter was like silver bells ringing merrily
across the vast expanse of space. It was full of immense joy and everyone who
heard it felt its innate musicality; it was irresistible and infectious.’
‘There are so many pretty girls in the
Forbidden City but Ruolan is somewhat different.’
Viewers must be thinking he has been
describing a fairy who has descended to the earth.
‘I tried to learn more about her and was
eager to marry her. I was so besotted that I was ready to plead my case with
the emperor to grant her as my consort. To my great fortune, coincidentally,
the emperor had sent out the edict that Ruolan would be betrothed to him. I
was ecstatic and I went straightaway to get a special gift for her, a Phoenix
bloodstone bangle.’
Is it this one? Ruoxi queries.
Yinsi makes no response but carries on with
his tale.
‘The much-awaited wedding arrived. But,
alas, the maiden I had waited for two years was not what I imagined her to
be. She never smiled and never rode horses after that day.’
‘It was mystifying. I sent people to the Northwest of China, to investigate and I realised the reason
why she was sad. The people alerted your father about the investigation, and
to avoid trouble, the general she loved was sent to the front lines, and unfortunately,
he died in one of the wars.’
Yinsi’s voice sounds lifeless and drifts
away. His consort has never recovered from the shock of the general's death.
It is one of life’s twists and cruelty.
Sometimes, one abandons reason to get the thing that one wants but to one’s
shock, one realises that it is just a delusion. It is a lesson to everyone.
Guilt twists her mind and Ruoxi tries to
take the bangle off because she thinks it should belong to her sister. But he
places a restraining hand on her. What he tells her next whacks her like a
thunderbolt; the bangle is for the person he likes! The bangle is a token of
his affection. She does not have to figure out what he is saying; it is
crystal clear.
Her brother-in-law has fallen in love with
her.
‘Promise me not to take it off. I’ll find a
way to make the emperor grant you as a gift to me.’
His love is not reciprocated and she
rejects his offer. She is not interested in him nor does she want to be the
emperor’s concubine.
Yinsi does not blink an eye. He advises her
to dress plainly so as not to attract the Kangxi emperor’s attention during
the Maiden Selection day.
Had Rouxi been foolish or desperate, she
would have accepted his offer straightaway.
But, she thinks to herself, ‘I want someone
who loves me and treasures me, not someone whom he wants to entertain himself
with. I am not a plaything.’
Viewers might be asking the question, ‘Is
Yinsi thinking of her as a replacement lover?’
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RUOXI ENTERS THE PALACE OF THE SON OF HEAVEN: MEETING CHIEF
EUNUCH LI DEQUAN
Ruolan, anxious about the coming Maiden Selection exercise, goes
shopping with Ruoxi to prepare for her entry into the palace.
Minghui and Mingyu happen to enter the same shop. Evil always pops up
when one least expects it. Mingyu deliberately grabs the set of unique
earrings that they admire and favour, and quickly purchases it.
But Ruoxi is not unhappy with her pugnacious behaviour. She seems to have learnt to let go of certain things in life and the combative spirit has left her. Moreover, she remembers Yinsi’s reminder to be more plainly attired. 
Later, the Gulolo sisters discuss Ruoxi and her sudden lack of
competiveness. Minghui says she’s intelligent and chooses her battles
carefully. If the emperor chooses Ruoxi, being her sister, Ruolan’s status would
be elevated to her level.
The parting of the sisters is tearful. It is difficult to leave
behind one’s loved ones even though they are both living within the walled
Forbidden City.
Ruoxi follows Yinsi into the palace to her unknown future.
All the maidens receive an essential grounding in the code of
court behaviour.
Eunuch Li Dequan prescribes Ruoxi some special etiquette to be
followed and also imparts to her some private advice. She is being mentored
by the chief eunuch who personally serves the emperor.
An experienced maid
also secretly gives her some support, raising her level of confidence a few
notches.
She is strongly advised not to disappoint Yinsi who has gone to
great lengths to ensure her stay in the palace is trouble-free.
Yinsi has requested Yinzhen and Yinti to beg their powerful imperial mother,
Concubine De, to remove Ruoxi’s name from the Maiden Selection list.
Yinzhen is already in his mother’s chambers before the arrival of
Yinti. Their imperial mother is greatly surprised that both her sons are of
one mind concerning Ruoxi’s predicament. She makes it understood that she
would be delighted if both of them are united in the future. Concubine De
promises them that she would certainly help them and Ruoxi.
 
Meanwhile, Concubine Liang, on the instructions of Yinsi, requests that Ruoxi be given to her as a maid. However, she does not understand why
Concubine Hui has also been trying to get Ruoxi to be her maid.
Concubine De also wants her. She has heard that Minghui has gone to see Concubine Hui about some matters concerning Ruoxi. 
To prevent further conflicts in the Inner Palace, Ruoxi is appointed
to be a Tea-Lady to serve the emperor.
 
Yinsi informs Ruoxi of the breaking news, that is, her name has been
taken off the Maiden Selection list but the sad news is that she might
have to serve the Kangxi emperor as a Tea-Lady for an indefinite period of
time. When the time comes, the Son of Heaven would also have the right to
marry her off to whomsoever he pleases. That is the flip side of the arrangement.
One night, after serving the Kangxi emperor for several late nights, Ruoxi is worried about his overtime administrative duties.
Fearful as she is, she
oversteps her duties, and with trepidation, reminds the emperor about his
bedtime. The emperor, however, is not displeased and accedes to her advice
to retire to bed.
Eunuch Li Dequan has observed Ruoxi for some time. He informs her she has a more important role to play. The role of Head
Tea-lady is in the pipeline.
She is to serve the Kangxi emperor and is
granted 2 maids, Yutan and Yunxiang, to assist her.
Pleased with the new development, Ruoxi irons out the details
with the other maids on how to serve the emperor to his satisfaction. She is
now saddled with more responsibilities. It is a tricky path to walk as they
would be serving the emperor when he deals with the day-to-day business of
the court.
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YINSI’S EXPRESSION
OF HIS LOVE FOR RUOXI: GIFTS – A BOOK & A HANDKERCHIEF
 
It is Autumn. The leaves are falling. Yinsi has sent Ruoxi
a book and an embroidered handkerchief to express his love.
Yinsi visits Ruolan to tell her the good news that the
emperor is pleased with Ruoxi.
Meanwhile, displeased with the machinations of Minghui, he has refused to see her. Because
of her interference in the Inner Palace, Ruoxi has been made the Tea Lady for the
emperor instead of a maid to Concubine Liang, Yinsi’s mother.
If Ruoxi is a maid, she would be allowed to leave the
palace after several years. It means freedom for her. Instead, now, she would
be indefinitely stuck in the palace, serving the emperor.
Yinsi is furious with her interference and has not
forgiven her.
Yinzhen and Yinxiang discuss Ruoxi. Due to her good
fortunes, she is not chosen as a concubine but as the Head Tea bearer.
Yinzhen hopes to get her out of the palace one day.
They discuss the Crown Prince’s recklessness and lack of
judiciousness in his undertakings. Just because the emperor dotes on him, he
has become too arrogant and is out of control.
In the course of their conversation, Yinxiang asks him about his favourite things, like his
favourite snack or tea. Yinzhen must have been wondering why Yinxiang is
taking so much interest in the personal details of his life. So unlike him!
Meanwhile, someone has complained about the Crown Prince. He has been
personally raised by the emperor but he has turned out to be the worst of all
his children.
The tea ladies have been alerted about his unhappy state
of mind that day.
When Ruoxi enters the court, the emperor is asking his
other sons for their opinions on the situation.
Yinzhen, being politically shrewd, tries to placate the
emperor. He understands that it is in his best interests not to badmouth the
Crown Prince as he is the emperor’s favourite son.
But Yin’e, as usual, with his bumbling and undiscerning mind,
let out his frank opinions which have not been properly filtered in his mind.
Aghast that he has made a huge blunder, Ruoxi purposely
spills tea on him to stop him from creating further conflicts, and also, more trouble for
himself.
The others who are present know her real intentions.
Later, Li Dequan properly admonishes her for her
interference in court affairs which are out of bounds to maids like her.
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YINZHEN REVEALS HIS PERSONAL DETAILS TO RUOXI
Yinzhen appears in the palace garden and has a conversation with her. It must
have puzzled him that Ruoxi is so interested in him, and has even enquired about his
personal details from Yinxiang.
Putting on a very serious demeanour, Yinzhen tells her that if
she has any questions about him, she should ask him directly and not go
through a third party. So encouraged, she asks him some questions immediately.
He does not expect that she would fire away, but the
questions come rolling thick and fast.
She pumps him with question after question at lightning speed, and surprisingly,
he responds in a rapid-fire way.
How does she steer through all the mass of information in
her head? One can bet that most of the viewers have forgotten most of the
questions and the responses, as soon as they roll out of the questioner and the answerer’s mouths.
But, the most important piece of
information that viewers remember is that Yinzhen’s favourite flower is the water
magnolia.
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