BU BU JING XIN
EPISODE 20
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SOULMATES: YINXIANG DRINKS MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL WINE WITH RUOXI
AND DISCUSSES YINSI-YINZHEN’S FEUDS WITH HER
 
Yinxiang and Ruoxi are discussing her relationship with Yinsi.
She does not want Yinzhen to know the truth about that relationship. What
Yinzhen does not know would not hurt him. Ruoxi knows if the truth were known,
that would be the end of their relationship.
She cannot reveal the reason why to Yinxiang but she cannot take any
risks.
Yinxiang promises that he would not let the secret out. She is grateful
for having a friend like him.
‘I want to share some of Yinzhen’s
worries but it is difficult to get close to him. You’re different. Although
you’re not as educated as us, you’re not less knowledgeable than us. If
you’re willing, you would be able to open Yinzhen’s heart. Only you can do
it. You can understand his ambition and his pain.
   
‘Remember, everything you have
is from the emperor. He loves, favours and trusts you because you don’t have
any hidden agenda. You don’t take sides.’
‘You must serve the emperor
wholeheartedly, and not be involved in the feud of the princes or else,
you’ll lose everything that you have. The consequences are too horrible to
mention. We have secret desires and we want ranks and honours. We strive for
the highest position but we will face up to our responsibilities and bear the
consequences.
‘Why must you sacrifice for us?
You must distance yourself from the princes, Yinsi, your brother-in-law;
Yinti, and Yin’e. If you’ve promised to love Yinzhen, you belong to him. But,
if you are in involved in their conflicts, you’ll suffer even more. Remember,
this the royal family. I want you to look after Yinzhen well and not
bother about the rest. Who wins or loses is our business.’
‘Let’s get drunk and don’t talk about such banal subjects.’
 
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UPHEAVAL AND BETRAYAL IN THE QING COURT - YINSI’S SHOCKING CONSPIRACY WITH MANDARIN
OFFICIALS AGAINST YINZHEN: YINXIANG TAKES THE RAP - 10-YEAR HOUSE ARREST
The emperor is holding court. Wangxi warns Ruoxi to be careful
because the emperor’s face seems darker than usual.
Her eyes are fixed on the emperor. He wants to bring the
princes to heel.
The Kangxi emperor is angry and he is barely able to keep his
temper in check. He throws a teacup at Yinzhen. It is as if his hand has
sliced through the air. Yinzhen, his face
devoid of emotion, keeps his cool and does not wince. He is at the mercy of
the emperor.
‘I’ve already stipulated that
whosoever schemes against or slanders the Crown Prince has committed treason, and is a traitor to the empire.’
‘You’ve ordered someone to spread rumours and to slander the
Crown Prince. The denigration of his public image and the defamation of his
character might raise questions concerning his suitability in the succession issue. He might lose his position at any
time. What a conniving, devious prince!
The emperor fears that the throne issue would be put under an uncomfortable microscope. 
‘I did not conspire nor connive
with anyone.’
Two officials confess that they did it and that it had nothing
to do with the Yinzhen.
‘You’re loyal to him. Do you
have me in your heart when you protect him? For these past 2-3 years, you’ve
been dealing with Yinzhen. There is ample evidence concerning the people you meet
with and your secret meeting places.’
‘If it is not you, who is
the conspirator? Do the others covet the Crown Prince’s position?’ the emperor thundered.
‘Although I may have
conversations with them, I’ve never instructed them to slander the Crown
Prince.’
Fear has taken root in the audience hall. Ruoxi remembers
Yinsi’s words. She has no doubt about it that he is the one who has
perpetrated the lies. She is shocked when she realises that she has never
understood how his mind works. Her heart thuds and her anxiety climbs.
Yinsi is trying to kill ‘two
birds with one stone’ - the Crown Prince and Yinzhen.
She remembers his warning not to choose Yinzhen as her life
partner or else all that he has done for her would be in vain. She would have to suffer with him.
Ruoxi knows that the two officials have been pretending to
help Yinzhen but, are, in fact, under
the control of Yinsi. She knows that the Crown Prince would be stripped off
his title but what would be Yinzhen’s fate? Then, it hit her like a thunder bolt. Yinxiang! It is Yinxiang, not Yinzhen, who would be punished.
Yinzhen has been framed. Yinxiang must have drawn a ragged
breath. He voices a protest.
Since the truth is exposed, he confesses he is responsible for
instructing the officials to spread the lies. He took the rap for Yinzhen. Yinzhen
is not just his brother, he is more than that. He is his best friend and the
keeper of all his secrets. None expects that he would take the blame.
The blow to Yinzhen’s faction could have flattened him
politically. Although Yinti is from the opposing faction, he speaks up for
his biological brother, Yinzhen because of their blood ties and possibly, their
mother.
‘In my opinion, it is not Yinzhen’s
doing. Yinzhen is like a hermit. He meditates and recites scriptures. He is filial and is considerate of your
feelings. He isn’t that type of person.’
The accusers, the two officials, quickly change their tune and
lay the blame on Yinxiang. The faces of those present must have registered
surprise.
Then, the emperor asks Yinzhen a seemingly legitimate
question.
‘Yinzhen, was it Yinxiang who
did it?
Ruoxi thinks to herself that the question is a trap question.
Yes or no. Either answer is wrong. If ‘Yes’, then it would be a definite
confirmation that Yinxiang is wrong and he would be punished. If 'No', the
accusers would point out that Yinzhen is colluding with Yinxiang, and both
would be punished.
The time seems to stand still. Yinzhen knows that the question
would test his integrity and test the depth of his relationship with Yinxiang
and his love for him.
Yinzhen claims that it is not his doing and he does not know
whether it is Yinxiang’s doing or not. Can one detect Yinzhen’s strong instinct
for self-preservation? But, he also does no injustice to Yinxiang. Yinzhen’s expression is black
and deadly. He would definitely take revenge for this moment!
Imperial justice is swift and unbending for all the sons of
the Kangxi emperor except for his most favoured son. The emperor issues a
decree announcing, ‘Third Prince, put
Yinxiang under house arrest at 'Yangfen Jiadoa'. The two officials involved
will be sent to the Ministry of Justice to be punished.’
Yinxiang takes off his Qing Guanmao
(headgear) and puts it on the floor, and according to court etiquette, thanks
the emperor for having stripped him off his princely positions.
The Kangxi emperor is single-minded when it comes to
destroying obstacles in his way. The crime is too great and the
punishment is brutal. Whosoever goes against the emperor’s favourite son is
going against the emperor himself. It is a question of power, privilege and
prejudice!
‘Yinxiang, today, is our
separation day,’ Ruoxi
thinks silently to herself.
She knows the conspiracy unfolds layers of complications and
injustices in the struggle for the throne. Many are impacted by the emperor’s
wrath.
Yinxiang has taken most of the hit. Yinzhen is badly shaken by
the ordeal and the experience would haunt him for the rest of his life. The
scales have fallen from his eyes! Probably, he has not been politically ready
for the big fight and to navigate the corridors of power and is almost swept
away like the debris in the force of a storm!
Blood must have been surging through Yinzhen’s veins. That
day is spiritually devastating for him and tears well up in his eyes.
When the court is dismissed, there is a determined look in
Yinzhen’s eyes. All his anger is held in. He must have gripped his fingers in
his rage because viewers observe blood oozing around his ring finger.
 
When Ruoxi
urges him to return to his manor, he is too emotionally drained and
distracted to respond. There is a trace of moisture in Ruoxi’s eyes.
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DROWNING HIS SORROWS: YINXIANG’S 10-YEAR HOUSE ARREST
Yinzhen has not attended court for some time. He is probably
reflecting on all the conspiracy at home.
Li Dequan advises Ruoxi to hold her emotions in check. The
emperor is extremely despondent.
‘You’re serving the emperor. You
should know by now what to say and what not to say. By all means, avoid
trouble. You are intelligent, need I say more?’
Yinzhen is with his wife, Lady Ulanara. She sympathises with
him. And they talk about Yinxiang who is vegetating in his 'prison'. Luwu goes to see Yinzhen to request for help.
 
She kneels and
pleads with the guards for a chance to talk to him about Yinxiang but he refuses
to see her. He understands that she is a deeply passionate woman.
  
Yinti visits Ruoxi. He has brought Luwu’s letter begging for a
chance to look after Yinxiang in his detention house. She has also knelt in
front of his manor to ask that the letter be delivered to Ruoxi. He feels
sorry for her. He would help her if he could, but the emperor has decreed
that no one is allowed to be in contact with Yinxiang. No one dares to speak
up for him.
 
Ruoxi writes a reply to Luwu promising to help her but will not
guarantee results. Yinti chides her for being a nosy parker and that even if
her feelings are real, she should stop putting a finger in every pie.
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PLEAS FOR MERCY: RUOXI KNEELS IN THE RAIN TO BEG THE KANGXI
EMPEROR TO ALLOW LUWU TO BE WITH YINXIANG
While out on a stroll in the palace garden, Ruoxi begs the Kangxi
emperor to allow Luwu to be with Yinxiang. Despite knowing that it would be
detrimental to her relationship with the emperor, she kneels and kowtows on the ground, pleading with the emperor.
 
When he silences her with a sharp look and
walks off, she knows that she would not remain in his good graces but she
remains kneeling.
Yinzhen and Yinsi are informed about Ruoxi’s situation.
 
Yinsi instructs Yinti not to interfere. It is raining. Yinsi is
exasperated that both the Maertai sisters are stubborn. Viewers realise that he is not fated to gain their love.
 
Yinzhen goes to see her to give her support. Their hug is
witnessed by Yinsi and Yinti. It must have pierced Yinsi in his heart.
When Yinzhen leaves, he stares coldly at Yinsi who has a smirk
plastered on his face, revealing his smugness. Perhaps, that moment, it
appeared that Yinzhen must have wanted to strangle Yinsi. Yinsi may have the
upper hand then but he does not know of his future, that of precipitous
decline.
Yinsi tells Ruoxi off wth a touch of impatience in his voice, ‘Even if you don’t love yourself, you
should think of Ruolan.’ He meant that her ‘health and safety’ is
important. If Ruolan knows, she would be anxious and disturbed.
Yinti wants to ask her a few questions but Yinsi probably thinks
that one should quickly disassociate or distance oneself from someone who has
fallen, and so he admonishes Yinti.
‘The game of Chess has ended.
Victory is at hand. One wrong move, and we can lose the entire game.’ He likens the fight for the Crown Prince
position to a chess match.
The secret is finally out! He has probably thought two or three
moves ahead of his opponents. He has also probably thought that the chess
game is over and he has emerged as the champion.
In this scene, he has probably fallen a few notches in the popularity poll of the viewers. 
There is no trace of regret. He leaves. This shows his
relationship with Ruoxi is over. He has hardened his heart and there is probably
no more love for her in his heart. The reality of palace politics takes over.
Since Ruoxi has decided to be with Yinzhen, he will not be bothered with her.
She has to suffer the consequences of her acts by herself. It seems love is
so fragile. It does not take him long to be over her. If there is a head
count for critters, can we consider him to be one?
Yinti insists on staying
back. He loves her enough to bring her something to eat. He wants her to tell
him if it were him, would she do the same for him as she’s now doing for
Yinxiang? He does not understand her enough and wants to know the answer. He says
Yinxiang understands her and he would not ask such a question. Her reply is if
it were Yin’e, him, or the other brothers, she would also do the same for
them. Yinti, having got his answer, is very happy. He is like a little puppy
whose head has just been caressed.
Yinzhen is at home and is standing in the pouring rain. His
consort is pleading with him to go into the house. He tells the maids to
bring his consort into the manor. Without his permission, no one is allowed
to come out.
 
‘No matter how heavy is the rain,
I'll bear it with you,’ Yinzhen
seems to be speaking to Ruoxi. In this incident, Yinzhen shows his passionate love for
Ruoxi.
Meanwhile, Ruoxi is not able to bear the onslaught of the pouring rain and she faints.
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