BU BU JING XIN
EPISODE 17
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YINXIANG & LUWU: A LOVE STORY AGAINST ALL ODDS
Yintang’s cronies are crowing, and drinking to celebrate his
narrow escape from punishment by the Kangxi emperor.
However, Yintang, still reeling from the exposure of his corrupt
practices, is morose and outraged over his predicament brought on by Yinzhen
and Yinxiang.
Luwu, the courtesan, appears in the Chinese restaurant where
he is drowning his sorrows. She is buying some wine.
It is said that revenge is a dish best served cold. But for
Yintang’s cronies, revenge is more satisfying if exacted immediately.
His companions of less than desirable reputation point out
that the lady at the counter is an intimate friend of Yinxiang. Their eyes follow her with mischief foremost in their minds. They consider her fair game for their kind of monkey business.
One of them says she is familiar and that he has seen her
before in a brothel.
Goaded by his unsavoury henchmen, Yintang, being sore about
the exposure of his involvement in the corruption case, vents his anger on
her by allowing his men to bully and vilify her.
They call her over and force her to drink with them. She
drinks the first cup out of courtesy, but when her tormentors force her to
partake of the second cup, she resists. She gently tells them that she has some
urgent matters to attend to at home.
It is obviously pretty humiliating for her to be manhandled, and
the situation is made more frightening by the presence of the venomous,
vengeful prince.
In the midst of being harassed, Yinti appears in the nick of
time to save her. He swiftly ushers her out of the premises and apologises
for his brother’s lack of gentlemanly behaviour.
Out of consideration for Yinxiang, she explains that they did
not bully her but had just offered her a drink, to which she had refused.
She requests Yinti not to reveal his intervention in the
matter to Yinxiang. She seems to be wary of trouble and is considerate of
Yinxiang’s feelings.
What is foremost in her mind is protecting Yinxiang’s
reputation and feelings.
There is a vast, unbridgeable difference in their status; she
is a courtesan and he, a highly respected prince. She understands that although
he is broadminded about their differing stations in life, she is inevitably
scared of the ugly rumours that whirl around Yinxiang and her.
If the incident comes to his knowledge, Yinxiang would be
furious with Yintang, and that would widen the rift between the two brothers.
Her fears fuelled by the thought of his welfare forces her to
protect his feelings and image. It is a tender love story.
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PRINCELY BROTHER RISES UP IN ARMS AGAINST PRINCELY BROTHER: YINTANG VERSUS YINXIANG - BRAWLING OVER LUWU 
Yintang, Yin’e and Yinti are with Ruoxi, and they are joking
about the lantern that Yin’e has specially bought for Ruoxi.
They recount the incident in which Yin’e has used his status of a
prince to forcibly demand that the shopkeeper sell the lantern to him. Ruoxi
does not appreciate the gift. Only certain things that Yin’e is excited about
truly makes Ruoxi happy, and this is not one of them.
Ruoxi airs her opinion on the lantern. To her, it is just an
ordinary item, so Yin’e should not have harassed the shopkeeper about it, and he must
send it back.
Suddenly, Yinxiang appears. It is shocking to see a refined and
cultured prince ranting and raving as he lurches forward.
A furious thunderstorm has broken. Yinxiang seems to be
gnashing his teeth as he berates Yintang for harassing Luwu.
Yinxiang would have rolled a few violent punches at him, had he
not been held back by Yinti and Ruoxi.
Ruoxi suspected that Yinxiang wants to punch the daylights out
of Yintang . It would be a good solution for their conflict. But, everyone
knows that anger is the precursor of violence. A vicious and blooody fight would have
ensued. The two brothers would have fought tooth and nail and inflict terrible injuries on each other.
But those present restrain them. Ruoxi is fearful that the
conflict would reach the emperor’s ears, so she instructs Yin’e to drag
Yintang away.
Ruoxi invites Yinxiang back to her residence, and she and Yinti
try to appease his anger. If the whole thing blows up, it would do nobody any
good.
Luwu would be dragged into this slimy situation and raked over
the coals. Luwu has already been redeemed many years ago and is now a respectable entertainer.
Ruoxi is told that Yintang had bullied Lu Wu in broad daylight.
Ruoxi is furious and volunteers an outrageous idea, ‘Get a few
people to catch him, cover his head and bash him up’ in the manner of a 21st
century gangster who is all out for revenge.
She does not think that the princes are a specially anointed class of
superior human beings who could do whatever they like.
Harassment of young ladies is a reality and a staple of 21st
century life but is manageable because the victims have recourse to the law.
But, if a powerful Qing prince has transgressed the law,
everything is covered up. Yinti, as
expected, does not want to make a mountain out of a molehill. He argues that blowing
this out of proportion has its downsides. Ugly rumours would swirl around, and
how would one expect Luwu to live her life and hold her head high?
Yinxiang is seething with rage and would not put up with it. He
threatens that if Yintang ever bullies Luwu or any other defenceless girls
again, he would go for the jugular.
Given Yintang’s basic character, it is not easy for him to let
the matter rest but Yinti would report it to Yinsi for him to arrive at a
solution.
Is it Luwu’s fortune or misfortune to have met Yinxiang? Ruoxi
muses. Luwu treats Yinxiang more than
a friend, and he, on his part, has been protecting her all these years. Luwu is worried for Yinxiang but she would never confess her feelings for Yinxiang.
Yinti is annoyed with her for parking herself in other people’s
business. She should, instead, think about herself since she has reached the
age of discharge from the palace and she is of a marriageable age.
Instead of waiting for the Imperial edict, she should let the
emperor know about her choice of a life partner. She has been told by the
various princes to think about her future spouse. She is a slacker in this
area.
Ruoxi is given another
refresher by Yinti on planning for the future. He wants to drill into her
that she must play her hand in shaping her own future but she has been too complacent
and is not living in reality.
Yinti again intrudes on her
private life and advises her to
marry Yinsi. Being
unreceptive about the idea, she does not want to prolong the conversation.
Perhaps, Yinti too, is aware of Ruoxi’s various charms and has
set his sights on her.
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PERFECT GETAWAY: RUOXI’S SANCTUARY AMONG THE LOTUS PLANTS
Ruoxi has received a letter from Minmin joyously telling her that
she has found her ‘Star’.
Ruoxi has gone to Yinzhen’s favourite lotus sanctuary to relax and
be alone by herself.
She does not have to rough it out trekking in a forest to find
peace.
She has borrowed Yinzhen’s little boat and she can be by herself.
She can cry and laugh loudly in that place and be herself, and not be bothered
by what the others think of her. No wonder Yinzhen likes the place.
COLD CALCULATION: THE CROWN PRINCE, YINRENG, COVETS RUOXI
On her way back, she bumps into the Crown Prince and Prince Heshu
who is handing in his father’s request to the Kangxi emperor for permission to
allow Minmin and Irgen-Gioro Zuoying to be married.
Prince Heshu, showing his veiled interest in her, invites her to
visit the grasslands one day.
But Yinreng scatters the Mongolian prince’s hopes by saying that he
not only has to invite her but also her future spouse. Yinreng, the lecherous
and calculating Crown Prince stares at her with interest as she hastily takes
her leave.
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RUOXI: SLEEPLESS IN THE FORBIDDEN CITY 
Yin’e’s marriage of inconvenience does not seem to be working
well. Yunxiang, one of the maids, reports to Ruoxi that Mingyu has beaten him
up. He has a swollen head.
Yinti drops in for a visit.
Suddenly, Yutan brings back bad news. It is learnt that the
Crown Prince has requested the Kangxi emperor for her hand in marriage.
It seems he, being the Crown Prince, needs someone who is
meticulous, organised and well-educated to be by his side.
It appears that the emperor is not too pleased with the idea
because he has been hemming and hawing that he needs to keep Ruoxi to be his
maid for a few more years since he is already old. He needs someone like her who is
able to care for him well. Later on, he would marry her off in style. There
is no promise that Yinreng would be the lucky man.
Ruoxi is shocked.
Why would the Crown Prince be interested in her? She could figure it out. There are a slew of good reasons.
First, she is close to and has a good relationship with the
emperor, who considers her to be precious to him.
Second, she has strong ties with the Mongolians through Minmin.
The Mongol ruler treats her like a daughter. Yinreng could solidify his position and
strengthen his power and political influence through his relationship with the
Mongols through these ties.
Third, the high and well-respected status of Ruoxi’s father is an asset.
It is easy to lambast Yinreng because he does not love her. It is difficult to deny that he is one of the most cold, overly ambitious, conniving and calculating princes in the Forbidden City.
If the emperor agrees, she would have to prepare a three metre white
sash to commit suicide, as Yinzhen had warned her about.
Ruoxi knows everybody’s ending but not hers. She cries over
spilt milk, that she has not taken precautions concerning her marriage.
How do we analyse the situation? Has her 21st century mindset prevented her from the perceiving certain truths in her present
reality? Does she believe she is empowered and can make decisions without
anyone impinging on her choice. Does she think that she is special and above
the others, above the rule of the emperor, and she can determine her own
future?
Has she lulled herself into a fantasy that she is from the
future and so, no one can exert any pressure on her and she can make her
decisions on her own terms? Is she above the law?
Ruoxi finally wakes up to the reality. She has to come down
from her high horse to embrace the eighteenth century.
Women of the twenty-first century are blessed with choices in life
but she has to remind herself that she is in the 18th century. What is her current marriage trajectory like? She may be smart, competent and
independent but she cannot escape from the reality.
Given the Son of Heaven’s record of being able to impose his
will on the future of others, Ruoxi sees no way of escape.
Finally she feels her nerves working against her. She has
absolutely no control over the outcome. Does it serve her right for not listening to the princes who are concerned for her?
She feels sick and cries. She has sleepless nights reflecting
on the worrying matter.
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CONSPIRACY OF THE FOURTH PRINCE AND
EIGHTH PRINCE FACTIONS - KILLING TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE: DOWNFALL OF
YINRENG AND PROTECTION OF RUOXI
Yinti hurriedly reports to Yinsi about Ruoxi’s plight and
requests him to help Ruoxi. He reports that after Ruoxi heard the news, she
fainted.
Yinsi feels Ruoxi has survived so many upheavals in her life. This
one is no different but Yinti feels that the emperor would not reject the
Crown Prince’s request.
Yinsi suddenly remembers the Fujian fraud case and asks Yinti
to get the accounts books out. Yinti protests that the case is closed.
Yinsi is blunt when he insists that they have to be unswerving
in their pursuit of toppling Yinreng.
‘One knock can cause some vibrations but yet nobody has thought of giving it another knock to topple him. I want to give it another knock and send shock waves throughout the court. Then we can save Ruoxi from the clutches of Yinreng.’ 
Ruoxi falls sick. Years ago, she had felt downhearted when
Yin’e was compelled to marry Mingyu.
She sympathised with him then, but now she could empathise with
him and understand how he must have felt. How could anyone be of the same
wavelength unless they have gone through a similar experience? Her pronounced
misery is tinged with hopelessness.
Her head is filled with swirling thoughts. ‘I felt disgusted with his lecherous look
when he looked at Minmin. Have I made the wrong choice? Has my persistence
led me the wrong way? Have I destroyed myself? Yinzhen, Yinti, and Yinsi
have reminded me about determining my future. I thought I have many
more years but I didn’t know that someone has lecherously hankered after me. It is too late to regret.’
Yutan feels her forehead and detects a high temperature, and
the imperial physician is called.
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YINZHEN: A PROMISE TO HELP HER 
Concerned about Ruoxi's emotional condition, Yinzhen arrives to offer her a few words of comfort. He reassures
her that the emperor has not issued an imperial edict. He instructs her not
to be worried but instead to have a good rest.
When he gets up to leave, she stretches out her hands to restrain
him and to hold him back. It is an appeal to him not to go and also to help
her.
He rebukes her for not listening to him. He gives her a dressing
down and tells her that it is a wake-up call for her.
‘Now, it has happened, what’s the use of holding me back?’ 
Wincing, she gives him a look of reproach and she lets go, thinking that he does
not want to help her.
But Yinzhen holds her hand with both his hands, to show her that
he is genuinely concerned.
He mutters that he cannot promise her anything because she has to
understand that their adversary is the Crown Prince, the most powerful person after the Kangxi emperor.
‘But don’t worry, I would not leave you alone.’
She cries and he lovingly wipes off her tears with his fingers. Are the tears welling in Ruoxi’s eyes, tears of gratitude or tears of regret?
He seems distraught but his reassuring presence puts her at ease.
Holding hands seem like a sign of intimacy, especially when he caresses her
hands. Is this a positive sign that their romance is about to begin?
With his promise that he would look out for her, Ruoxi must have shuddered with relief. Her emotional state of mind improves.
When he leaves, she wonders aloud what she can do to prevent the
emperor from betrothing her to the Crown Prince. She thinks that if she can
hang on till the next year, the emperor would not betroth her to the Crown
Prince because the Crown Prince will…..
She comes to her senses in time to stop herself from spilling out
her secret knowledge of the imperial family.
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YINTI: THE BEARER OF GOOD NEWS 
Yinti visits her.
‘Do you know why the Crown Prince wants to marry you?’
It is surprising to the viewers that Ruoxi shakes her head. They know that she already knows the reasons. 
Yinti informs her that Lord Suwan-Guwalgiya
has requested permission from the emperor to allow his daughter Minmin to
marry Irgen-Gioro Zuoying. However, Yinti cannot discuss the details
with Ruoxi just yet.
He tells her to try to delay the emperor
from issuing the edict.
It is inconvenient for Yinsi to visit her
but he wants the message to be conveyed to her, ‘In 10 days’ time, there will be a chance for her to determine her
destiny.’
Yinti admonishes her for not thinking about her future husband. Many of the princes have given her golden nuggets
of advice concerning her future but she has neglected their advice. Being the eternal busybody, he insists yet
again that marrying Yinsi is a thousand times better than marrying the Crown
Prince. She wants to throttle him, but she knows he is well-meaning, and so, she thanks him when he leaves.
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THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST YINRENG 
Yinxiang has followed Yinzhen’s instructions. He has
listed the names of those who are involved with the Crown Prince.
‘Why does the Crown Prince want
to marry Ruoxi?’
'His supporter, Souertu, has died of starvation in prison. If he
marries Ruoxi, he will have the support of the Mongols. His position would be
solidified with Mongol support but Ruoxi would be sacrificed. This will teach Ruoxi a lesson.
She should be more flexible. She thinks she can solve a problem by being
cheeky. I don’t have 100% confidence to solve the problem,’ Yinzhen declares.
But Yinxiang has great confidence in Yinzhen that he would be
able to find a solution to the problem.
When Yinzhen instructs him to pass an accounts book to Yinti, it comes as
a huge surprise to Yinxiang.
‘Giving it to him is the same as giving it to Yinsi,’ Yinzhen explains.
‘Are you sure you want to collaborate with Yinsi to topple the
Crown Prince?’
‘At least, it will make Yinreng too busy to think of marriage.
This must be kept a secret or else we cannot save Ruoxi, and we would also get
ourselves into hot soup,’ Yinzhen warns. Yinzhen's reasoning makes sense.
Later, Yinxiang passes the accounts book to Yinti.
Yinti is puzzled because of the close relationship between the
Crown Prince and Yinzhen. It is an act of betrayal on Yinzhen’s part.
‘We all know Yinreng’s
character. We are all united in helping Ruoxi.’
Yinti echoes his sentiment. Yinti wonders whether Ruoxi is fortunate or unfortunate to have
so many people helping her.
The twist in the tale is a
pleasant surpise. The Yinzhen Faction and the Yinsi Faction have joined
forces to topple Yinreng in order to save Ruoxi.
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YINSI ASKS MINGHUI FOR HELP
Yinsi seems lost in thought and Minghui understands his mood. She
is worried about his health. She wants to share his problems.
Yinsi requests Minghui to help him. He wants her to get the help
of her high-ranking relative in exposing the truth about Yinreng and his
men’s corrupt practices.
She wants to know the odds of success since it is a risk to her
uncle. She is also curious whether it involves Ruoxi. She can put two and two
together. She knows of his intention
of helping her. He seems evasive and retorts that she can forget about it if she minds.
Minghui tells him firmly that it pains her to see him suffering.
She has never regretted marrying him and she loves him without reservation.
She confirms that she would help him in any way and however
difficult it is, as long as it reduces his worries.
He loses no time in affirming her status as his ce’fujin and
asserts that nobody can replace her marital status.
Meanwhile, Ruoxi conspires with Yutan to dispose of the medicine
that she has been prescribed for her illness. She wants to prolong her illness. Yutan is
alarmed that she wants to remain sick.
Ruoxi pours cold water over herself to make herself sicker.
The emperor is puzzled about Ruoxi’s prolonged illness. He
instructs Li Dequan to get the Imperial Physician to look after her properly.
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SEEDS OF REBELLION: THE KANGXI EMPEROR ORDERS AN INVESTIGATION
AGAINST YINRENG
The emperor receives a report from ‘Zenguo Gong’ that the Crown Prince is forming his own political
group which includes the military groups.
The Kangxi emperor is upset and summons the presence of the
princes for an audience.
Yinreng declares that he has been framed. ‘It’s a pack of lies.’
It is surprising that Yinzhen steps out to defend the Crown
Prince.
Since the emperor cannot verify the truth of the matter, he
orders the Third Prince to investigate the accusations.
Yutan reports that the emperor has ordered an investigation about
the corruption of Yinreng. The Crown Prince would be kept very busy trying to
defend himself.
When Ruoxi hears about the fate that befallen the Crown Prince,
she smiles and says that the ‘Sword of Damocles’, that has hung over her head
for some time, has been removed.
The emperor would now not bethroth her to the Crown Prince
because she is a precious and valuable asset to him.
Ruoxi is now associated to two important political groups. One is Minmin’s
Mongol group. The other is Irgen-Gioro Zuoying’s Manchurian clan, that is, when Minmin marries him.
Why would the Kangxi emperor allow an incorrigible, disloyal son
to benefit from those relationships? Ruoxi realises that she is the catalyst
that sets Yinreng’s downfall in motion. This is Heaven’s will.
The princes meet the Kangxi emperor. Yinzhen speaks of the
implications of the collusion issue of the Crown Prince with the military.
Yinsi declares that Yinreng has the intention to rebel and destabilize
the emperor’s position.
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KNOWLEDGE IS POWER: ALPHA FEMALE, RUOXI POPS THE QUESTION TO YINZHEN, THE FUTURE QING EMPEROR 
Ruoxi goes back to her room and opens the gift box given to her
by Yinzhen. She studies the delicate magnolia hair pin and she puts it in her
hair, an obvious indication that she has accepted Yinzhen.
She goes out and she sees Yinzhen passing by. Guilt overcomes her
and she quickly removes her hairpin.
Yinzhen notices her hand movements and tells her candidly that the
hairpin looks good on her. She feels
embarrassed.
Then, she asks the question which the viewers would perceive as ‘unspeakable’.
She asks shyly if Yinzhen is willing to marry her.
The viewers must have gasped. It appears that she is thinking that there is no point in being coy. She knows that Yinzhen is the future emperor.  |
