Beyond The Realm Of Conscience [TVB][E]

A rather exciting episode.

Hin Yeung said he had no confidence in winning and Sam Hou said "But what you said to that General Ma just now.." and Hin Yeung said "Was just a show of confidence. I just wanted him to get off my back. Moreover I thought you were braver, just a lady and yet you showed guts to defy him" and Sam Hou smiled and said "I only did what was right" but Hin Yeung looked at her with admiration (as much of admiration in terms of acting that Kevin Cheng can muster).

Anyway, remember the chess competition? Actually it is Go competition but you know what I mean. Anyway big day, hero Hin Yeung playing against the Japanese Go master whose name I still didn't catch and won't need to since this is the last we see of him. Tension! Meanwhile, evil Eunuch by the name of Ma Yuen Tzi or for short, Eunuch Ma or evil Eunuch feared losing because his assistant said "Sir, you recommended that Ko Hin Yeung for this position but his behaviour is an insult to you" and Eunuch Ma nodded and said "That Lau Sam Hou! I must get rid of that chess master and also that annoying Lau Sam Hou!" and so he concocted a rather not so brilliant plan; he said to his assistant (King Kong); "You will kill that lowly servant Lau Sam Hou in that chess master's room and we will blame it on that chess master and Empress Dowager will surely make a fuss and execute that chess master".

Did I say it was a stupid plan? Why?

a. who would believe the chess master killing Sam Hou for no good reason? His migraine did it? Blahhhh

b. we are talking Sam Hou here, the one with 1000 lucky stars above her, it will never happen, not even a slap

c. come on, Charmaine Sheh dead in episode 5? NO WAY!

And so sam Hou was happily walking as she always do in this series carrying as usual an empty tray when she was I suppose you can say "knocked" unconcious by that classic handkerchief thingy and she was dragged to the chess master's room, she woke up, not quite startled and the eunuch King Kong took out a knife and... and... aaaaaaand....

God damn it! The duke appears and knocked him unconcious.

Did I say lucky stars? 1000? Make that 1001!

Sam Hou was like huh? and duke was like "I found your hairpin and I saw this eunuch up to no good, so I followed him and saw what he tried to do to you! Why did he want to hurt you?" and Sam Hou baffled said "I don't know. Whose room am I in? Oh, the chess master...but why? Oh my god! The chess competition! Have we lost the competition?" and she ran all the way to the hall very worried to see Hin Yeung and gang walked out smiling. She was again baffled and then relieved when Hin Yeung excused himself and walked to her and she asked "You won?" and Hin Yeung smiled and said "No, no one won the competition, we were equals" and so he explains...

FLASHBACK!!

During the competition the chess master placed a ermm.. what do you call? Ok, chess piece in such a way that there is no win and no lose. Hin Yeung stood up and declared "There are no winners! It is a stalemate!" and the emperor was like huh and he explained "We have equal number of chess pieces, with no other moves to be made by either side" and chess master stood up and said "Your majesty's kingdom is full of talented chess player, I admit defeat in the face of such formidable opponent" and of course Japanese dudes were not happy.

Then present time Hin Yeung said "There was no way for me to win but I realised the chess master was not going all out. He played for stalemate. He was always very aggressive, I wonder what changed his mind..."

Meanwhile duke with his mother and explained how he came across a kidnapped Sam Hou and his mother said "You shouldn't risk exposure!" but the duke with some spine said "Mother, we are indebted to Sam Hou, how can I not help her?"

True.

Meanwhile Eunuch Ma was very angry with the failed eunuch and secretly said to have him killed.

Then we see Sam Hou, Hin Yeung and Japanese chess master drinking and that prompted my sister to say Sam Hou is such a free roaming maid, can even sit down and drink with higher ranked people but in her defence, Hin Yeung isn't rank conscious.

Anyway they all thanked the Japanese chess master for not being aggressive and he said "For that I thank Lady Sam Hou for her help and advice. I was too consumed in my need to win, when at one time there was a fire that killed my wife and children and disfigured half my face, I didn't run back in to save them, instead I went in to save --- (I didn't catch this part; I think he either went back to save the chess board or his officla custume). For that I live in eternal regret at my own selfishness. But after what Lady Sam Hou did for me, I realise I can have a second chance. I shall return to Japan a changed man and shall live by Lady Sam Hou's 3 codes in life; Speak good words, do good deeds and show good will" and they were happy for him and cheered to that and Hin Yeung welcomed the chess master to come back anytime and the chessmaster gave each of them a similar gift; thus this must be their first "ding ching soon mutt".

Anyway somewhere along the way Sam Hou was again delivering something when she bumped into Eunuch Ma who promptly stopped her and said "I would wish for your dept to make me a costume, something befit me" and Sam Hou irritated said "I am afraid we only make clothes for the empress dowager and the concubines. We are govened by the head of palace maid and I am afraid any request shall have to be made to them. I am afraid I will of no help to you in this regard" and the assistant eunuch said "You insolent lowly maid!" and I think it was Eunuch Ma or the assistant who said "Are you not afraid of repercussions for denying this request?" and Sam Hou bravely said "Please remember General Ma that whilst your superior is his majesty, I have my own superior and she is the empress dowager herself. If anything happens to me or any of the 4 depts, you will be answerable to her which I am sure you wish to avoid. Let us forget what happened that day. I will not breath a word to anyone about what you tried to do and you will henceforth leave me alone. If you leave me alone, I shall leave you alone. please excuse me, I must be on my way.." and she left with the eunuch fuming.

Kam Ling met with an eunuch and asked about the crying maid (from ep 4)'s mom. I can't remember her name. Siu Yung? Siu Yeung? Something. Anyway the eunuch said "Her mother died, but at least she got to see her mother before her mother died" and Kam Ling looked sympathetically and agreed. And the eunuch flirtatiously said "I got you a gift!" and placed on her wrist a bracelet and then held her hand which Kam Ling playfully accepted.

Pause here.

What kind of palace is this with so many flirtatious eunuchs and equally flirtatious maids?!

Anyway unfortunately Susanna and 3 other heads saw then and Susanna immediately scolded Kam Ling for having no shame, bringing the depts into disrepute and for flirtating so unshamelessly. Oh dear... Kam Ling quickly gave back the bracelet, and the eunuch left angrily and Susanna went on and on until Michelle rightfully stepped forward and said "If you wish others to behave as you advised, perhaps you should listen to your own advise. You are still wearing that earring I see.. how can you say that of her when you yourself behave in such a scandalous way? Shall I remind you of the scandal?" and Kara said "Come on, let's not speak of the past".

Don't worry, you will know later what's the scandal, finally.

Anyway, Susanna angrily retorted "Be that as it may, Kam Ling is from my dept, so it is my duty to teach her. Kam Ling, do you understand? Say you do!" and Kam Ling said on the verge of tears "Yes I understand".

Poor Kam Ling.

Meanwhile Chui Ma Ma collected the make up she bought from kind eunuch, Bo Gut Chong I think but then pretended to have no money at that moment to pay him so will pay later. Michelle walked past and argued with her and then that woman left. Very brave of Michelle to argue with her since she is Empress Dowager's woman you see. She did threatened she can be the head of palace maids to which Michelle answered "On what basis? You're not qualified" but she retorted "I am the empress dowager's people. Does skill matter?"

True.

The Duke was talking to his dead tortoise when Kam Ling walked in and fell hard on the ground. The Duke ran to her and asked "Are you alright?" and Kam Ling without looking retorted "WHAT DO YOU THINK?! EVEN THE GROUND IS BULLYING ME!" and then she looked up and saw it was the duke and she quickly apologised for her behaviour and the duke said it was ok and then Kam Ling felt save enough to chat with him and said "I am having a very bad day. She scolded me you know? As if she was faultless. Already she is such a tyrant just because of her rank, she thinks she can scold everybody!" and the duke played along and said "Then be higher rank, you cn scold people" and Kam Ling smiled for the first time that day and said "Yes you're right! If I am of higher rank I don't need to be scolded anymore. But what rank?" and she looked at the duke playfully and asked "Do you think I am pretty?" and the duke said "Yessss" and Kam Ling said "If so, will you take me as a concubine?" and the duke taken aback asked "Do I really have to if I say yes?" and Kam Ling said "No" and the duke shouted "Yes I will!" and Kam Ling overjoyed laughed and said "Yes! I am a concubine! I can now scold people, I don't have to look at other people's mood!" and they both laughed heartily BUT empress dowager's servant, Chui Ma Ma heard all of that and sniggerd.

Pause here.

I thought it was just a playful banter and showed the lighter side of Kam Ling even if she should have known better and not be too open about such banter. Susanna however strict was just trying to teach her decorum. Someone as smart as Kam Ling should know that, so I am surprised. Sam Hou on the other hand keeps to herself so that explains why she hardly gets punished even if to my count there should be at least 3 ocassions when she should have been dead already.

Emergency meeting attened by Empress dowager, Chui Ma Ma, duke and Concubine Zheng, 4 heads, maids of each dept and the head of palace maid. Trouble!

The Empress Dowager motioned to Chui Ma Ma who walked out and pointed to Kam Ling to come forward which she did and Empress Dowager acidly said "So... do you think you have what it takes to be a concubine? How dare you ask the duke to marry you! What do you think you are?" and Kam Ling fell to the ground crying and scared whilst Susanna looked worried as she continued "Oh.. wait.. surely you can't believe you can be another maid turned concubine like Concubine Zheng here?" and she looked at Concubine Zheng and said "My sister, you have set a rather bad example. Now every lowly maid thinks they can be like you, seduce the duke and marry him to gain position. How could you be such a bad influence?" and duke was very angry but kept his temper in check as Concubine Zheng on the verge of tears said "I am sorry for my example my sister, I ma very sorry". I tell you this is the empress dowager opportunity to insult Concubine Zheng through Kam Ling. She said "You, the head of palace maid, how do you teach your staff to have such dreams? Such insolent lowly palace maid" as she looked at Concubine Zheng who kept apologising with the Duke looking elsewhere and the head of palace maid a good woman in her way said "My lady, I apologise for her indiscretion. She is still young, please forgive her" but the empress dowager said no and said "No... she will be punished for such thoughts. Chui Ma Ma, read the punishment, I wish for her to be slapped on her mouth" and Kam Ling scared said nothing, Sam Hou looked alarmed and as Chui Ma Ma walked forward and I have no doubt she will beat the crap of Kam Ling, Empress dowager said "Surely the heads can carry out the punishment themselves instead of Chui Ma Ma" who looked sort of disappointed and the head of palace maid motioned Susanna who walked forward and reluctantly beat Kam Ling's mouth until it bled and bruised. I was waiting for that moment and indeed, there came Sam Hou running out hugging Kam Ling and said "I am willing to be punished on behalf of Kam Ling" and as if she was protected by an invisible shield of good luck charms, no one seem to hear nor see her because surely the empress dowager will not stand for such an interruption? Anyway the duke quickly stood up and like a silly boy looked at Kam Ling and then looked away and said "Ewwwww, she is so ugly! I won't marry her!" and the empress dowager said "You won't?" and he said "I won't!" and so the punishment stopped.

Alone, Concubine Zheng was crying hard as the duke held her hand and said "I am sorry mother. I didn't know one innocent banter couldhurt so many people, I didn't know she would take this opportunity to insult you in front of everybody" and Concubine Zheng cried and said "It is alright" and the duke said "I am sorry" as she continued to cry.

Pause here.

Quite an insult actually. But Kam Ling had it worst.

Anyway Sam Hou took a bowl of porridge for Kam Ling when she saw June who said "Why bother? Can't even stand a bit of punishment, hiding herself in her room,what a failure" and Sam Hou just opened the door and gasp as she saw a paifr legs hanging midway, meaning someone hung herself and then ... Kam Ling walked by and was shocked as well.

SO WHO WAS IT?!

Kam Ling still bruised said "I thought if anyone should kill herself it would be me. How can *crying maid who lost her mother* try to kill herself?"

Note. The maid didn't die. Sam Hou rescued her in time.

Anyway appearently the young maid incurred a lot of debt due to mother's medical bills and it was discovered someone in the palace has been acting as a loan shark which is illegal. So the head of palace maid asked who else borrowed money from loan shark and a few admitted and named an eunuch. The head went to see Eunuch Ma and I thought it was him but no, anyway they investigated, tried to bring in another eunuch of lower rank who grabbed a passing Senior Ko and Hin Yeung fought him, and the eunuch was scared of being interrogated by Eunuch Ma and so killed himself there and then.

Empress Dowager saw what happened (She looked magnificent by the way) and scolded Eunuch Ma and Head Of palace maid who promised to investigate thoroughly if not OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!

Michelle went back to her room and saw Susanna holding some books and Susanna said "So.. it was you? You were the loan shark. I have in my hands your account books!" and Michelle said "What are you talking about? ohhhh, you planted evidence! Those are your books" and so Susanna retorted "How can you twist my words? How can you twist the facts? You did it! You're despicable! When you said something about my earrings I know.. (actually i don't get this part either)..." and Michelle angrily retorted "You're the despicable one! Remember how you denied me my chance to see my dying mother? Just so you can see your lover?" and Susanna said "You were the manipulative one. I won the chance to leave the palace for a day, but you changed the name on the list, denying me my chance to see him" and Michelle said "Or rather denying you the chance to run off with him!" and so the argument continued...

Ah a man in between except Michelle is not in love with the man..

Anyway Head Of Palace maid and 2 other heads overheard and the head said "Enough!" as Susanna explained about the books and she said "We shall keep this within our own depts as I figure out how to explain to the Empress Dowager" but Chui Ma Ma was there so bad luck!!

All were hauled before Empress Dowager who refused to listen to the Head Of Palace maid anymore and as Susanna again explained about the books and Michelle said Susanna framed her and inevitably each accuse the other of misdeeds, the empress dowager heard enough and said "ENOUGH! Since this is the case of each accusing the other, both shall be punished!" and Susanna and Michelle both looked up in surprise.

Next episode, Kam Ling again said something wrong and this time she will have her lips sewn shut!

Kam Ling, when will you ever learn?

I have had enough of Michelle and Susanna bickering and I am not even remotely interested in their friendship turn enemies turned epic whatever.

I am more interested in how the duke became Emperor. And if he is such a great emperor as one is promised, how can he let Kam Ling kill off so many people? Can he not see what kind of woman he married? Now that I wanna know! Because it makes him as incompetent a king as the present one, except one who can't control his women.

Performances wise, nothing outstanding by Tavia who managed to be competent but still not quite memorable yet. She still has little to do. But as shown in this episode. her Kam Ling is very rash, impulsive, emotional and very very strong.

As for Charmaine's Sam Hou, she escaped yet again without serious injury and I can see her Sam Hou is someone who keeps to herself. brave and not very impulsive so therefore wise and yes, incredibly lucky. Charmaine so far is ok and except for that scene where she stood her ground with that eunuch where she showed a bit of human emotion, the rest is still bland and without much personality.

Moses is ok, thus far.

I've had it with Susanna and Michelle's character who bickers all the time. I really don't care why they bicker and I find both of them immature, tiring and boring. It's their 1 dimensional characters' fault but their performances were also 1 dimensional. I have hardly seen them go beyond 2 expressions at most.

But the one who rules is Susan Tse for her commanding presence (oh when she dies I shall cheer!) and her evilness that everytime she opens her mouth I worry for anyone who crosses her except for Sam Hou and Mary Hon for her suffering Concubine Zheng. Now I know why her make up is the worst and the most pale, because she is sick in a way, often bullied, insulted and trampled on by such mean words.

Frankly this series is getting a bit exciting now. It is most exciting everytime it concerns the duke, Concubine Zheng and the evil empress dowager.

And I wonder, is this maid in question (the Siu Yung or Yeung or whatever) the debated one as in how she died and came back to life? If she is, then let me answer once and for all. She tried to kill herself but Sam Hou saved her so she didn't die. After all we are talking about Sam Hou's magical touch here.