BBJX: Episode 14

BU BU JING XIN EPISODE 14

YINZHEN’S UNIQUE GIFT TO RUOXI: SNUFF BOTTLE WITH ‘REVERSE PAINTING’ Yinzhen is absorbed in either painting a snuff bottle or just fiddling with it. He is seen holding an instrument that looks like a delicate tool.  His expression is serious. Yinxiang appears. He is bored and has dropped by to see his older brother. He is surprised that Yinzhen is interested in micro-painting. Is the bottle an ordinary snuff bottle or one with Chinese reverse painting?  Reverse painting or inside painting is a painstaking technique that demands deep concentration, meticulous and intricate workmanship. (Some viewers may not know that Chinese reverse painting or inside-painting is done in bottles which are only a couple of inches high.  The painting of the inside or the inner wall of the bottles started during the Qing Dynasty. The inside painting craft came into being during the Daoguang Period. The earliest inside painted bottles are thought to have been made in the period between 1820 and 1830. Yongzhen (13 December 1678 – 8 October 1735) could not have painted one during his lifetime. However, his imperial father, the Kangxi emperor, did commission the creation of beautifully hand-decorated medicine or snuff bottles with well-fitted lids.) Yinzhen asks Yinxiang what he thinks of the miniature painting. He says that the two spotted puppies look fierce but the white one is fearless and does not bow to the other puppies. ‘People should be like the white puppy and face challenges without fear.’ Yinxiang commented that the white one looks very cute. Ruoxi is mulling over her love predicament and touching her bangle. Her thoughts are miles away. She has fallen ill with a cold and a blocked nose. A eunuch appears bearing a gift box containing a small cute snuff bottle for Ruoxi, but she is not interested. Yutan holds up the miniature bottle for her. It is from Yinzhen. Ruoxi’s interest is aroused and she looks up. It is cute and has a red hardstone cap. The puppies have interesting and funny expressions. ‘Are we being compared to puppies?’ Why would Yinzhen send the gift? Yutan is surprised. ‘Yinzhen saw me in the rain and knows that I’ve fallen ill since I’ve not been serving tea to the emperor.’ Ruoxi looks at the puppies and is reminded of the bullying incident involving Minghui and Mingyu. The snuff, which is powdered tobacco, has a strong scent. Yutan tries the snuff and she sneezes. She insists that Ruoxi tries it. The two friends laugh and fool around with the snuff bottle.    Ruoxi serves tea to Yinzhen and Yinxiang in the pavilion. The autumn weather is fine and the emperor has come out for a walk and to look at the beautiful flowers. Ruoxi sees him with his sons including the Crown Prince and Li Dequan. Li Dequan advises the emperor that  since it is autumn and the wind is cold, so, he should put on another layer of clothing. The Crown Prince drops by. Yintang exclaims that the emperor is in a happy mood. Yinreng challenges Yinsi to a board game, ‘Go’. A dog suddenly bolted from the care of a maid and springs into the robes of Yintang who seems to have cynophobia. Yintang jumps up in fear and Ruoxi, proving to be very agile, quickly catches hold of the dog and places it in the crook of her arm and pets it. Yinzhen smiles, probably because he remembers his snuff bottle gift to her. She ventures a peek at him and inwardly squirms, then passes the dog back to the flustered maid. His mere presence has caused her to catch her breath and she feels the heat rising to her cheeks. Rouxi leaves but Yinti catches up with her and questions her about her relationship with Yinsi, yet again. Yinti seems to be his elder brother’s keeper and claims his right to pry and snoop into his love affairs. Yinti reports to her that he is surprised that when he asked Yinsi why he had not submitted the marriage proposal to the emperor, he did not give him an answer. ‘What has happened to the both of you? I saw you exchanging glances with Yinzhen.’ He seems to think he is entitled to wrest an answer from her. She tells him not to be a nosyparker and to stop meddling in their business. ‘As for Yinzhen, any explanation that I give would not be acceptable to you!’

FUTILE PROPOSAL BY MINGHUI & RUOLAN: YINSI & RUOXI'S UNION   Minghui is with Yinsi. She could feel that he is downhearted.  Watching him, she makes it clear that her father would help him with his difficulties but he gently rejects her offer as he feels that she has already done enough for him. What he needs her to do is to revert back to her original self when they first married. Probably, when she was in the throes of her romantic love for him, she was blissfully and passionately in love with him. She was likely to have been positive and eager to please. But then, the stressful environment in the Forbidden City, must have exacted a toll on her and changed her. But what remained unchanged is her tremendous love for him. Therefore, it is not surprising when she says, ‘I will do anything for you.’  Minghui is deeply in love with him, idolises him and is willing to sacrifice for him, and those feelings have translated into long-term passion. Yinsi knows it. Has he been using those feelings to his advantage? He lifts his hand and she puts hers into his. MINGHUI PROPOSES THAT RUOXI TO MARRY YINSI Minghui would do anything for her man, even to the point of getting him a bride that he wants. One sympathises with her. The poor woman. She is long suffering, tolerant of Yinsi’s foibles, being selfless and magnanimous. Her own needs are eclipsed by her husband’s needs. Is she compulsively overdoing it when she barges into Ruolan’s residence and makes some false accusations that Ruolan is scheming to take Yinsi away from her. Has Ruolan ever been trawling for Yinsi’s love? Minghui knows very well that Ruolan has never been her rival and has never even tried. Viewers look incredulously at Minghui. Then the intention of her surprise visit  becomes crystal-clear. She claims that the Beile has a lot of worries and she couldn’t cheer him. She knows that he is in love with Ruoxi. She decrees that what Ruolan can do is to allow Ruoxi to marry Yinsi.  Minghui, in her confused mind,  is probably thinking that Ruoxi can wave her magic wand and weave her magic spell over Yinsi and make him happy. Such a shocking proposition! Minghui tells Ruolan that ‘A man’s fate is a woman’s destiny’. What does she mean? Is a man’s life decided by fate? Would his fate be his wife’s destiny? If a prince is fated to be the emperor, his first consort would destined to be the empress. Minghui wants to shape  Ruoxi’s destiny by proposing that she marries Yinsi but it is not his fate to marry the woman he loves the most. The wife’s destiny is decided by the man’s fate, that is, if one believes in fate. Yinsi does not believe in fate and is not a prisoner of his own mind. He wants to fight for his destiny, to be the next Qing emperor. Yinsi is despondent and craving for Ruoxi and he is pouring his energy into his work. Being the self-sacrificer, Minghui has suppressed her anger and misery to make Yinsi happy.  Ruolan prays to Buddha for Ruoxi’s success, health and peace. RUOLAN DISCUSSES RUOXI WITH YINSI Yinsi visits Ruolan. He confides that her place has a calming influence on him. It is probably because he does not feel any pressure in her presence as she is not demanding nor manipulative. She enquires if he has any worries and whether Ruoxi can help relieve his stress and worries. 'Ruoxi has come of age; she is of a marriageable age.' Is there an unwritten rule that she is ripe for the picking? Ruolan argues that if she marries Yinsi, she will be well-treated. If Ruoxi has an unhappy marriage, then, she has failed her parents. Ruolan would be held responsible for her sister's unhappiness. RUOLAN DISCUSSES MARRIAGE TO YINSI WITH RUOXI Ruoxi is informed that Empress Liang wants to see her. Ruolan is there. ‘Do you want to marry Yinsi? Do you like him? You know him all these years. He treats all his wives well.’ Ruolan dangles the carrot that they can meet frequently and become companions. ‘Are you not bothered by all this?’ Ruoxi asks. ‘Princes have many wives. I’m indifferent to such matters.’ ‘If it is your general Qing San, would you feel the same way? ‘If it is for his own good, I would agree to it. Even if he loves someone else, he would also treat me well.’ Ruolan advises Ruoxi to mull or deliberate over the matter. It seems Ruoxi is quite a drinker. She drinks when she is happy and when she is sad. She also drinks wine to drown her frustrations and confusion. Her sister’s words ring shrilly in her mind.  Ruolan has argued that having many wives and children shows a man’s good fortune. Ruoxi's mind is highly disturbed. She goes outside and watches the falling snow.

SWAN SONG IN THE SNOW: RUOXI & YINSI - FINAL PARTING OF WAYS Ruoxi meets Yinsi on the snow-covered jetty. He has been waiting for her. She wants him to cut his losses. Punitive action has been taken against him by the emperor for his naked ambition. His bid for the Crown Prince position has been frustrated. An attempt on his life has been taken by Yinreng, the Crown Prince. Fortunately for him, it had been thwarted, but what if Yinreng had succeeded? Since he had not, what next? Yinsi is in a vulnerable position. Ruoxi has a vision of his fate and destiny. His ‘gloom-and-doom’ future awaits him. She makes a last ditch attempt to change his mind, and she asks him in desperation whether he would give up his bid for the throne. She is guilty of trying to engineer the future. Yinsi would not play into her hands; he is too determined not to go ahead. It is difficult to let go of one's fierce, single-minded ambition that one has tenaciously nursed since young. But, she already knew his answer. And, she has already made her decision.  ‘One last time, can you comply with my request?  I want you to tell me personally. Agree or don’t agree? Why must you demand that I choose the two things that I can simultaneously have? He purses his lips. His decision is already set in stone. No? His face is distraught. Not everything goes the way he wants. His ego must have been given a deft blow. It is a sad, moving and painful moment of truth for both of them. She knows what would happen to him. Ruoxi does not pose the million dollar question to him, ‘Do you think you would really be able to ascend the throne?’ Although he has optimised his potential and trained himself for the top position in the empire, he would have no chance of ascending the throne. It is a momentous decision for her and a significant moment for the future. Ruoxi had earlier decided to try to change history, but she has failed to manipulate it to the way she wants. She cannot save Yinsi from his fate and destiny. She has tried to compel him to give up the throne for her, and therein, change his destiny. But the throne is his priority in life and he is obsessed with power and being the emperor.  A frown has replaced his smile. He is puzzled by her attitude. He no longer has that spark in his eyes. THE CRUX OF THE PRINCES’ CONFLICTS: RUOXI’S FATEFUL WARNING TO YINSI AGAINST YINZHEN Her final parting words are warning words, ‘You must watch out for Yinzhen’. Those prophetic words would be the launching pad for the conflict between the two princes. 'What are you saying?' He looks at her in consternation. Rouxi blurts out, ‘Watch out for  Wu Sidao, Longkodo, Neng Gengyao, Tian Jingwen and Li Wei. Yinsi does not realise the significance of those words. To his shock and disbelief, Rouxi says calmly, ‘From this moment, we will have nothing to do with each other.’ It is a clear parting of ways, and the time has come for her to distance herself from him. Their love would be wiped clean from their lives. He is left to soldier on without Ruoxi in his life. She tells him in no uncertain terms, ‘I am a person who is afraid of death and is not worth holding onto!’ In this moment of truth, she has made the decision not to choose Yinsi. It is perhaps that very moment is the one that she clearly shows she has a good head on her shoulders. She is cool and calm. Ruoxi is intelligent and has already calculated the price of being with him. If you knew predestination and what the future is like, would you plunge headlong into a path of folly? She has already chosen the way she wants to go. He, on his part, does not understand her thoughts, and is overwrought with pain. He is left with a battered soul. It is diem horribilis for him, a horrible day for him.

YINZHEN, YINXIANG AND RUOXI: MEETING IN THE SNOW Fearful that her resolve would weaken, she quickly flees. She runs but falls in the snow. and sprains her leg. She does not get up immediately. Yinzhen and Yinxiang come upon her, lying prostrate on the snowy ground and, she says she cannot go back on foot. Yinxiang offers to carry her but Yinzhen disagrees, and instructs him to get the assistance of the palace retainers to bring her back. ‘How can a prince carry a palace maid? Rumours would be rife if it comes to the knowledge of the residents of the Forbidden City!' When Yinxiang goes off to get help, she nearly falls. Yinzhen holds his hand out for her to grip as the snow falls thick and fast. She is silently mourning and weeping. Is it because of the pain from the sprain of her ankle or is it because of Yinsi? Feeling sorry for herself, she cries a little. She is in dire need of consolation. Being icy-cold emotionally, Yinzhen is not particularly receptive to her emotional pain, and he brusquely tells her to stop weeping. She is in physical pain and emotionally distraught at the same time.  She needs empathy but there is none from him Probably, he is uncomfortable and awkward with her emotional state, and is in no mind to understand her. He could be insensitive to her situation or perhaps, he is trying to mask his real feelings. Rubbing salt into the wound, he ridicules her, ‘If you want to torture yourself, it’s better that you hide in your room and weep, and you can cry to your heart's content!’  If the haughty, aloof and hostile prince does not want to show any sympathy, he could at least hold his tongue! Is he mocking her for being a crybaby and making an exhibition of herself? ‘Obnoxious prince! The mockery in his voice is clear, ‘If  you want to wallow in self-pity, do it in secret!’ He’s not human, and is not even trying to be civil. Couldn't he just say some soothing or appeasing words? The insufferable prince lacks the charming manners of Yinsi, ‘The Virtuous Prince’. But, what can one expect from an iceberg! He has no understanding of women, being the macho man that he is. How can one be attracted to such a brute! It seems Yinzhen is unsympathetic towards weak women.   Suddenly, in her exasperation, she pushes him away, but she falls.   He stretches out a hand to offer assistance but she pushes his hand away. ‘Do you want to sit in the snow?’ How different he is from the chivalrous, kind and virtuous Yinsi! She throws tantrums and hurls a ball of snow at him. The detestable prince is unperturbed and is not even impressed by her anger and frustration. Fortunately, Yinxiang appears with the palace retainers and she is helped onto the stretcher.  It makes sense that her hurt feelings have spawned resentment. As she is being brought away, she could not resist hitting him with a ball of snow, an interesting show of the savage anger that is boiling over, much to the amusement of Yinxiang. Yinzhen has to hold himself accountable for the outburst of anger towards him. Now, who’s the one laughing his way to the palace?

YINSI’S LOVESICKNESS: YINTI ADMONISHES RUOXI OVER YINSI After that emotionally-draining day, another day not too dissimilar arrives. She is incapacitated and on crutches, and she is dependent on Yutan for palace news and gossip. She is told that Yinsi is down with a cold and could not attend court. Suddenly, Yinti barges into the place and angrily admonishes her. He roughly catches hold of her hand.  Why did she agree to accept Yinsi’s love in the first place if she has no intention of marrying him in the end? Why start something if there is no future? Is she unapologetic about it?  Why has she led him on? ‘Are you purposely being cruel? Are you toying with his emotions and being flirtatious?' Ruoxi does not want to trade insults with him. She wonders if he has a vested interest in her relationship with Yinsi. Why is he always stepping on her toes, and barking at her? To avoid a clash, she complains about her pain. Mr Iron Grip then unceremoniously grabs her hand and she cries out in pain. ‘Now that you're in pain, can you feel another person’s pain?’ ‘Who are you to impinge on my freedom and meddle in my affairs? Let me go! Let me go!’ she screams. Ruoxi does not want to explain herself nor bare her soul to him. He would not understand. It is not easy for her to set the story straight because if she were to tell him about the future, he would think that she has gone bonkers. The question is why did Ruoxi agree to the relationship in the first place? Yinsi has gone to great lengths to make her fall for him but she did not reject him. Her rejection of him now is not something he deserves. She is a heartbreaker. She does not want to cross swords with Yinti and tells him to leave. Just then, Yinzhen and Yinxiang appear just in time to  witness their quarrel. Yinzhen advises Yinti to pay their mother a visit as she misses him.   ‘In a few days, I’ll come and see you,’ Yinti warns her of his next visit. Yinzhen and Yinxiang are concerned about her tears but she explains that Yinti and her have been squabbling like that since young. It’s no big deal and things would blow over in a few days. ‘Don’t keep it bottled up. If you can share your problem, just share it. We want to help you solve your problem.’ The irony of it all is that they tell her to report the matter to Yinsi and that though Yinti is as stubborn as a mule, he would listen to Yinsi, not knowing that the cause of the conflict is Yinsi. Yinzhen asks her about her leg injury. The imperial physician has informed her that she has twisted her tendon. They take their leave. But Ruoxi wants to personally speak to Yinxiang. When Yinzhen turns to leave, Yinxiang says he has nothing to hide from Yinzhen. Ruoxi mentions that she had a heart-to-heart talk with Minmin. She divulges that Minmin fancies him and she has confessed her love for him. Yinxiang exclaims that there are plenty of men in Mongolia. He takes pains to explain that he is not interested in a woman or even a goddess who has not touched his heart. It is clear that Minmin has not unlocked his heart.  Poor Minmin. Some women are indeed unlucky to be attracted to certain men 'like moths to a flame'. If she flies too close to the flame, her wings would indeed be singed! Before he leaves, Yinzhen advises her to take care of her injury and have a complete recovery.

CHINESE NEW YEAR When Chinese New Year arrives, Ruoxi's leg has not completely recovered. Nothing has changed. It is cold and she puts her hands over the coals to warm herself. Yutan is back early from the New Year Eve’s festivities. She could have fun and meet important people but she is worried that Ruoxi would be alone by herself. This shows how loving Yutan is to Ruoxi. She hands over to her a ‘good luck pouch’. She has brought back some delicious food for Ruoxi. Ruoxi queries her about her sister, and is told that Ruolan has come with Yinsi. He looks tired and pale because of his illness. She drinks wine to drown her sorrows. She falls asleep and in her dream, Yinsi tells her that life is meaningless without her. She rushes forward to hug him but he disappears. It is just a dream. DRASTIC CHINESE NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS: RETURN TO SENDER - LETTERS FROM YINSI It is the first day of Chinese New Year and she makes her new year resolutions. She has decided to do something drastic and inauspicious. She fears that if she does not do it that day, she would not have the courage to do it later. Ruoxi writes a letter to Yinzhen and says she has decided not to marry but instead follow the ways of the Buddha (become a nun) and to write scriptures for her mother. She wraps up the letter with his gift (snuff bottle) to be sent back to him. She writes many letters but she throws them away. Meanwhile, she tries to take off Yinsi’s Phoenix bloodstone jade bangle but could not.  A eunuch comes by to give her a letter from Yinsi. She wraps the unopened letter with Yinsi’s previous love letters and send them back to him. From that moment, she declares she has nothing to do with Yinsi. YINZHEN’S CHINESE NEW YEAR GIFT TO RUOXI: A MAGNOLIA HAIRPIN Then another eunuch comes with a present – a magnolia hairpin from Yinzhen. She wraps it up with his other gift of perfumes and has them sent back to him with a letter. Why would she, Ruoxi, want to commit herself to a prince who may not be true to his word and to a lifetime of misery and disappointment? She does not want to enter a household where evil relatives and human creepy crawlies might crawl out of the woodwork. She does not need a man to ruin her life. She runs outdoors  to release her tension. Lifting up her hands, she shouts, ‘New Year, New Start!’ It would be the beginning of a new life for her. Yinzhen receives her letter and the returned gifts and smirks. Yinsi receives Ruoxi’s packet of returned letters. The return of his love letters signals the end of their relationship. He is morose and crunches his hand until his knuckles show.

MT. WUTAI – A SPIRITUAL RETREAT: YINSI LETS GO The emperor discusses Mt Wutai with Ruoxi. It is a sacred Buddhist mountain in Shanxi. It is the home of many of China’s monasteries and temples. He shares that the last time he went to Mt. Wutai, she has not yet entered the palace. The emperor tells Li Dequan to include her in the trip this time round. Ruoxi begs not to be included as she has been sick and has not fully recovered. She would not be able to serve the emperor well. She probably knows that Yinsi might be going and tries to distance herself from him. The emperor is indulgent and agrees to her request. Then, the eunuch announces the arrival of Yinsi. Their eyes do not meet. They are estranged. Yinsi pretends not to see her. He holds his head high. She flees in misery and tears. Is this the end that she wants? Is she going to live a future of regrets? Ruolan visits Concubine Liang. She is worried about Ruoxi. ‘Did you reject Beile? You have rejected a man you could live your whole life with. This is your life and happiness but whatever you decide, I will support you.’ The two sisters hug each other. CLOSURE FOR YINSI: LETTING GO After he returns from his Mt Wutai retreat, Yinsi and Ruoxi meet in the palace grounds. ‘It seems you have let go and got over it.’ ‘The beautiful scenery in Mt. Wutai has made me forget earthly things.’ True enough, just as she has thought. He has gone on the trip to Mt Wutai which is a perfect getaway to recover from the failed love relationship. It is the perfect spiritual retreat for him. Stepping away from it all has given him the chance to reconnect with himself and realign his priorities and regain ‘himself’. He has come back a different man. She has made the right decision not to go or else they would have been put into a difficult position. He, perhaps, realises that Ruoxi is unatainable, like a blue rose. The blue rose symbolises mystery, unattainability, and is admired as an unrealizable dream. Therefore, he should just let go of her. Since he came back, he explains that he has a hectic work schedule and has no time to think of too many things. However, Yinsi is curious about the names of the people she has mentioned whom he should be cautious about. He asks about two persons whom he has no knowledge of, Wu Sidao and Tian Jingwen.  ‘Does Yinzhen not have a lame adviser by the name of Wu Sidao?’ She tells him that she cannot disclose the reasons why he has to be cautious about them. Then, they parted ways.