BU BU JING XIN
EPISODE 32
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RUOXI ATTEMPTS TO TELL YONGZHENG ABOUT HER 21ST
CENTURY IDENTITY
Ruoxi wakes up after her fainting spell. The eunuch announces
the arrival of the Yongzheng emperor. She apologises for the loss of the
child.
‘Your health is more important,’ Yongzheng comforts her hoping to alleviate
her suffering.
‘Children are angels with broken
wings on earth. The Heavens don’t want our child to suffer so they take her
back. Don’t blame anybody. If somebody is at fault, I’m to be blamed,’ Ruoxi pleads.
‘What’s most important is your
health. I don’t want you to worry about other people. I’ll get mad.’
After she has recovered, Yongzheng and Ruoxi go for a walk in
the palace gardens. The flowers are blooming.
Yongzhen says he’s preparing the ceremony for bestowing a title
on her.
Ruoxi says it’s not necessary since they have lost the child.
Earlier on, it was necessary to acknowledge her status but now it is a
different situation. She does not want a title.
‘I’ve never been afraid before.
Now, I’m afraid of losing you.’
‘I’m also afraid of losing you.
Actually, I’m not from here or from this era. I’m Chang Hsiao. I’m afraid I’ll
unwillingly leave this place. Like, how I did not want to come here in the first place.’
‘If you leave here unwillingly,
I will go everywhere to search for you.’
This is the most swoon-worthy quote and the most memorable romantic drama
moment - the Yongzheng emperor’s declaration of his love for Ruoxi. He has articulated the
right words to make love swell in Ruoxi’s heart. Any girl in love would find
it irresistible if her man expresses his love earnestly in this way.
Based on the Yongzheng Emperor’s character and personality,
viewers would not be surprised if he really searches for her high and low in
a different world or in a different era.
But this touching moment is not enough to change her mind about
leaving him. She just wants the moment to stand still and have that picture
of him etched in her memory.
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YINSI IS COMPELLED TO DIVORCE MINGHUI: MINGHUI’S FIERY SUICIDE
Minghui begs Yinsi to obey the imperial edict and divorce her.
‘If you ask me to accompany you
to die, I won’t hesitate, but this involves others, Hong Wong and hundreds of
other relatives. Think of those who have been with you since young. Think of
my family. Disobeying the edict is an unforgivable violation.’
Minghui, as usual, prepares the writing instruments. This time
she writes out the divorce document and coaxes him to stamp the document. He
crunches his fingers of one hand and holds out the other hand to do what his consort wishes and
stamps his chop on the document, crying pitifully as he executes the act.
Minghui must have remembered that not too long ago, she had
helped prepare the writing implements for Yinsi to write his divorce for his
other consort, Ruolan! Her previous action must have come back to haunt her.
Minghui is expressionless and detached as she thanks him but
he holds her tightly as if he could not let her go.
‘In those days, I was only dazzled by your position and your status, and I did not cherish your deep love, thus causing you be in
this state. But, letting you go back to your parents' home will save
your life. You would not have to be worried that you're treading on thin ice every day.’
 
‘Wangye, I understand. You’ll always be in my heart.’
However, he does not speak those words she wants to hear, the
moving words that would touch her heart.
She walks out of their manor in a baffling manner with eyes that
are glazed, the divorce letter clutched tightly in her hand. The thunder rolls in the distance.
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MINGHUI: SUICIDE
Yinxiang and Yongzheng are arguing over the divorce edict.
Ruoxi overhears the argument and is highly disturbed.
Later, she urges Yinxiang, at all costs, to
prevent Yinsi from executing the edict.
Ruoxi says, ‘It’ll cost her life.’
Ruoxi and Yinxiang ride like the
wind to Yinsi’s manor.
 
Yinsi refuses to entertain any
visitors but Ruoxi insists on seeing him.
Ruoxi proclaims that he must not divorce Minghui.
 
‘Go and find Minghui before any
untoward mishap happens.'
‘What else can happen?’ Yinsi
asks, his lips curve into a smirk.
‘Wake up. Actually, how much do
you understand her feelings?’
‘Of course, I understand. When
everyone gave up on me, only she was there to take care of me and comfort me. When I was struggling with my problems, she supported me. When I gave up, she understood me. I was crazy, stupid and was a fool!’ He smashes a cup into smithereens.
‘There is a pearl in my house
but I went around looking for another one.’
His voice is full of utter regret. ‘I’ve sworn, I will treat her properly for the rest of my life. Why
is Heaven so cruel? When I give way, the emperor pushes me further into the
corner. I thought if I were cautious,
I could have peace. But, it is only recently that I realised that it is
impossible.’
He laughs cynically. ‘My
ending is already settled. But she is different. The only thing I can do for
her is to let her go.’
‘You have understood everything.
But, how come you are not able to understand her heart?
‘Do you really think letting her
go is the best arrangement? Don’t you want Minghui to walk together with you through life?’
‘Do you know that she is not afraid of anything? What she is only fearful of is that you don’t want her. You’re her
everything!’ Ruoxi
concludes.
Suddenly, Yinsi wakes up to reality. He has been wallowing in self-pity.
The three of them ride off in search of Minghui. When they arrive at
her residence, what they could see ahead of them is a burning building, and they can vaguely see
a hanging figure consumed by raging flames.
Minghui has committed suicide. Yinxiang holds onto Yinsi to
prevent him from rushing into the flames. Yinsi bellows in anguish and pain. ‘Let me go!’
Yinsi, with his brows knitted together, cries out in an accusatory tone
that Minghui went to see Ruoxi only to express her anguish.
‘What harm did she do to you to
deserve such a fiery ending? Now, are you satisfied?’ Yinsi condemns Ruoxi, who cries in despair.
Yinxiang, on seeing Ruoxi’s tormented expression, could not
restrain himself anymore and blurts out what Yongzheng wants to be kept a
secret.
‘Because of Minghui’s words, Ruoxi
has a miscarriage. And she cannot bear any more children for the rest of her
life!
Ruoxi is shocked. It is the first time that she is aware of her
physical condition.
Yinxiang does not want Yinsi to blame an innocent party nor does he want matters to become more complicated.
‘You still have Hong Wang, your
son. For whom did Minghui sacrifice her life? You should know that in your heart.
What must you do next? You can find the answer in your heart!’
‘Live a life worse than
death, drift and live without a purpose!’ He kneels in front of the
burning house.
Ruoxi and Yinxiang return to the palace. Yongzhen has been
waiting for them the whole night.
It is inevitable that Ruoxi and Yongzheng’s relationship would take a turn for the worse. Ruoxi
is emotionless. She is like one of the walking depressed.
‘Dawn is coming. The emperor
should prepare to go to court,’ she says in a detached tone to no one in particular.
Yongzhen knows her moods. He reaches a hand to touch her but
she abruptly turns away.
‘Take care of her. She cares for
others. I only care for her.’ Yongzheng has no love for others and his love for her is obsessive.
Yinxiang comforts her, ‘Rouxi,
don’t torment yourself. Minghui’s death has nothing to do with you.’
‘I think surviving is hard, and seeking death is easy. It turns
out couples may not grow old together nor be fated to die together.’
Yinxiang consoles her, ‘It
is not your fault to begin with. It is nobody’s fault. Things are
complicated. Fate has played a cruel trick on us!’
Then suddenly, her mood changes and she comments, ‘In the future, I’m not able to have children
again, but that’s good as I don’t want my children to suffer in the Forbidden
City!’
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QIAOHUI’S FEAR: WARY OF EVERY STEP – ‘BU BU JING XIN’
In this segment of the drama, Qiaohui blames herself for the
events that had happened.
Qiaohui regretfully admits that she has always been reminded to
be wary of her steps by Ruoxi, that is to be 'Bu Bu Jing Xin' but she is at fault for being so careless.
She has thought that a meeting between Minghui and Ruoxi is just a minor
matter but as it turned out, it has led to Ruoxi losing her baby and led to
the death of Minghui. For everyone in the palace, their ears have to pricked
up and their every step cautious. It seems like they are walking on
minefields or walking on thin ice.
Ruoxi tells Qiaohui lifelessly, her eyes tired and dull, ‘How could anyone know the ending? Things
have just started to heat up. Right now, it is just the beginning. It is just the second year of the Yongzheng Emperor’s reign.'
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THE AFTERMATH - FAR TOO LATE: YINSI REMINISCES ABOUT MINGHUI’S
LOVE
Mingyu shrieks at Yinsi, claiming that her sister would never hate
him at all, even in death.
But Mingyu hates him to death.
‘If it is not because of you, my sister wouldn’t have died. You are a
murderer! Give my sister back to me!
Yinsi remembers his conversations with Minghui. They had been moving
experiences for him.
‘I know I‘ve been wrong about my pettiness. I care deeply about you and your feelings. I couldn’t be without you. During those days when you wouldn't talk to me, I thought of dying rather than living,’ Minghui's spirit cries.
‘I've a gem like you by my side, and yet, I’d never cherished you,’ he woefully tells her spirit.
‘Don’t worry, I'll help you with your problems, however insurmountable. I'm troubled by the predicament you're in. I instinctively understand your feelings, without you ever saying a word. I’ve never regretted marrying you,’ her spirit says.
As a Chinese proverb goes, ‘It takes hundreds of rebirths to bring
two persons to ride in the same boat; it takes a thousand eons to bring two
persons to share the same pillow.’
This goes to show just how precious yuánfèn is.
But Yinsi and Minghui are not able to grow old together.
‘You are a gift given to me by the
Heavens,’ Yinsi says to Minghui’s spirit.
‘Minghui, previously, you didn’t
want me to be forced by the emperor to retreat in defeat. From now onwards, I
will not back down. I will not let you down!’
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MINGYU FEARS FOR YIN’E: APPEALS TO RUOXI FOR HELP
Mingyu, who has not begged any one before, begs Ruoxi to help
her consort, Yin’e.
Rouxi has not expected her to kneel.
‘Yin’e has been humiliated and
bullied. He is living a life worse than death.' Minghui accuses the Yongzheng Emperor to be
behind his suffering.
‘It is the doing of the emperor.
Yin’e has refused to come back and the emperor is using this against him. He
has been forcefully brought back and is now in confinement.’
‘Since the beginning, the winner
takes it all. But, why must he make it difficult for us? First, it’s Yinsi,
then, Minghui, then me and after that, Yin’e. Why does the emperor push us
into a corner? I see one by one being tortured. I beg you to speak a word or
two for us that, based on brotherly ties, he should to let us go.’
It is shocking for Ruoxi to see Mingyu 'kowtowing' to her.
‘I do not have regrets being Yin’e’s wife.’
‘I won’t let you and Yin’e suffer,’ Ruoxi promises.
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RUOXI’S CONFESSION TO HER CRIME - DAMAGING TRUTH: THE ENORMITY OF
RUOXI’S WARNING AGAINST YINZHEN - THE CATAYLST FOR THE YINZHEN-YINSI CONFLICT - YONGZHENG TURNS ICY COLD
Yinxiang discusses Yin’e’s situation.
‘If it is about Yin’e, I don’t
want to hear about it. I’m the emperor and he is my subject.’
‘Yin’e has never disobeyed you
and never fought for the throne. Can you give him a lighter punishment?’
‘My mind is set,’ Yongzheng
says with an air of finality.
‘Are you being impartial or are
you set on destroying him?’ Yinxiang questions him
without mincing his words.
‘Enough! I am punishing him
because he deserves it. Those people with him are schemers. I cannot have a
speck of compassion for him.’
'Have you ever thought of Rouxi? They have been playmates since
young. If you hurt him, you’re hurting Ruoxi too. Ruoxi has already been hurt too
badly.'
‘I’m doing it for Ruoxi. They're not going to see the end of me,’ Yongzheng states with a vehemence in his
voice.
‘Rouxi will not stand on the sidelines doing nothing when things fall apart. She is the ‘Death-Defying 13th Sister’. She will certainly take desperate measures in an attempt to
save and protect those around her. Do you want to see Ruoxi sacrifice her
own life before you stop?’ Yinxiang pleads in desperation.
‘They are the ones who don’t
want to stop! This is a battle between brothers! I’ve tried to keep Ruoxi out
of it but they have brought her into the picture!’ he rambles like a paranoid.
Has the Yongzheng Emperor descended into
paranoia?
‘It’s them! It’s their fault!’ Yongzheng hollers.
In the midst of their argument, Ruoxi comes in with a wine set complete with wine cups and a
pitcher of wine. What is symbolic of the wine set?
‘The people in the Inner Palace
cannot interfere in the matters of the court. Go back,’ orders Yongzheng.
‘Let me handle everything’, Yinxiang coaxes Ruoxi. He instinctively
understands that Ruoxi is going to do something drastic.
‘So, do you remember the first
time we drank wine together? You can say we were brought together by wine. Our
friendship today will end with wine.’ She then dramatically drinks a cup of wine facing Yinxiang.
Startled, Yinxiang shouts, ‘Ruoxi,
what are you trying to do? Don’t try anything!’
‘I want to tell the truth
today.’
   
‘All along, you thought it was
Minghui who killed the baby.
It was me who killed the baby!’
‘Stop the nonsense!’ Yongzheng orders.
‘How do I begin? Back then, I
said a few words to Yinsi, my then brother-in-law. I warned him to be very
careful of Yinzhen, the Fourth Prince, Longkodo, Nian Gengyao and so on,’
Rouxi confessed.
‘Rouxi, if you’re pleading for
mercy, you cannot put all the blame on yourself,’ Yinxiang tries to put a restraint on her.
‘I said all these to Yinsi because
I know. I know everything. Because I know, I tried to warn him. This is the
absolute truth. Yinxiang and Yintang also know. If you don’t believe, you can
check with them. I’m sorry. Yinxiang, the one who has caused you to be confined for 10 years is the bosom buddy
you’ve trusted so much. If not for the warning, Yinsi would not have acted on it and tried
to set Yinzhen up. And, you would not have been implicated. Your suffering
was all because of me. My deteriorating health is what I deserve. The child died because
of me.'
'Yongzheng, on the surface, Yinsi and his faction were against you, but
the instigator, who directly or indirectly caused all these conflicts was me, the person
you loved the most. All these years you've hated the wrong people!’
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