The plot thickens in this one, starting with a falsehood of sisterly love when in actual fact things are not what they seem.
By the way I am on Team Sam Hou because I do feel Kam Ling though was right to do what she did in here,however it says a lot of her character, that sort of person she is to say one thing and do another.
Madam Choi was released and she was with Susanna and Michelle when General Ma arrived bearing gifts, and congratulating them but Madam Choi was not pleased since he refused to help before and Susanna insulted him by saying "well, someone here refused to help before, and now is here to take the last glory. A gentleman never does that!" and Michelle interjected "Oh no no no, don't say the word gentleman, that is not applicable in his case!" and he looked humiliated as Madam Choi thanked him and yet at the same time rebuked his efforts to heal the rift as she said "Luckily I have been blessed with unity in my 4 depts, so I thank you but no thanks".
Anyway the maids got news that Chui Ma Ma was handed over to Madam Choi for punishment. Hin Yeung said "Maybe the Empress Dowager could not bring herself to punish Chui Ma Ma and so asked Madam Choi to do it and since Madam Choi has a reputation of being kind and lenient, maybe she wishes Chui Ma Ma to be let go in the end" but Kam Ling said it better and I agree with her when she said "I disagree. Clearly the Empress Dowager don't want to be seen as someone punishing her old servant who has followed her for years, so she passed the responsibility to Madam Choi who will have to make a decision whether to get rid of Chui Ma Ma. And if the empress dowager is not pleased with the punishment handed down, our 4 depts are in for some trouble" and Sam Hou worried as well.
Chui Ma Ma was brought before Madam Choi with the other 3 heads there and is it me or is it like one line per actress in this scene? Anyway a chair was brought forward for Chui Ma Ma to sit and arrogantly she sat down saying "Clearly you must know the empress dowager is treating me well with this gift of a chair for me to sit on!" and Madam Choi said "You've mistaken Chui Ma Ma. I remember when I was as young maid myself, I have made a grave mistake with a sewing task but I was saved because you said you liked that embroidery, and so I present you with this chair to sit on, as my way to show my gratitude for your help then. Right now, I am here to pass a sentence on you for your loan shark activities" and Chui Ma Ma angrily stood up and said "How dare you pass a sentence on me! Don't you know who is my master?! The Empress Dowager herself! You have no right to punish me, only she could do so but clearly in sending me to you clearly she wishes for you to release me! I have been her maid since I was 12 and when she was a mere concubine! She will not wish for me to die!" but Madam Choi said "Again you've mistaken her intent Chui Ma Ma. I am here on the orders of the Empress Dowager and on her orders and on her behalf I hereby sentence you to death. Take her away to the prison to be dealt with later!" and Chui Ma Ma pushed the guards away and said angrily "I heard you have a benevolent heart which is why the Empress Dowager sent me to you. Now you wish for me to die? Madam Choi, in the end you're just like everyone else in this palace, willing to kill to get what you want! At least I have the guts to admit that!" and the 4 other heads each sort of said they're sisters, they love each other, etc as Chui Ma Ma said "Really? Is there no one here who does not want the position of head of palace maids?" and they all looked guiltily as she continued "Madam Choi, be careful, be very careful. The palace has always been a place of grudge and fighting for attention, for position, for power. You will not sit long there and one day you too will be replaced. Everyone wants your position!" and Michelle said "We are not like you!" and Chui Ma Ma angrily retorted "Have none of you ever done any wrong to another? No one at all?" and I think Susanna or Michelle said "We are not you! We do not hurt others for self gain!" (yeah right!) and Madam Choi said "The relationship between the maids in all 4 depts are very strong, don't try to divide us! Take her away!" and Chui Ma Ma pushed and shouted "You don't dare! This is not the result the Empress Dowager wanted! She wants you to release me! I don't mind dying, because sooner or later I will be seeing you in the afterlife as well! But are you ready to take that responsibility?!" and Madam Choi angrily said "I will take that responsibility and if as a result I shall have to see you in the afterlife, so be it!" and so Chui Ma Ma was dragged away.
Pause here.
Madam Choi was very brave here, after all who knows what the Empress Dowager actually wanted?
Well they went before the empress dowager and she said slowly "Madam Choi, I am not happy" and immediately they thought they were in big trouble but the empress dowager continued "Chui Ma Ma's crimes should have had her "chu ng chuk" but I suppose beheading her is quite enough" and everyone was glad to hear that as Madam Choi said "I thank Empress Dowager for your willingness to allow me to clear my name and the name of my depts". And the empress dowager said "Be that as it may, I worry about where your loyalty lies, with all that protestations. Do remember who is the master and who is the servant and as I have always taught you all... what was it?" and they said "Once a servant, always a servant" and she said "Remember that, always".
Ok, happy ending thus far. But she really hates servants doesn't she?
Pause here.
Chu Ng Chuk basically means all relatives within 5 steps of Chui Ma Ma is supposed to be beheaded as well. 5 steps doesn't mean step 1, step 2 but rather in relationship, like mother, father, brother, sister, I suppose the in laws as well as the nieces and nephews until 5th step in relations. Usually I hear 9 steps but hers is 5 steps. Still will involve quite a lot of lives. But what Chui Ma Ma said has some truths in it. And I suppose Kam Ling is the personification of Chui Ma Ma except Chui Ma Ma is petty in her aims whilst Kam Ling aimed higher.
Anyway, Sam Hou thanked Hin Yeung for his bravery and Hin Yeung again said Sam Hou inspired him since she was very brave, first. Sam Hou gave him a handmade pouch (poor Duke!) and Hin Yeung accepted it gladly. And as she passed the pouch to him, his finger lightly brushed hers and they looked at each other and voila! Attraction.
And here I was thinking Sam Hou is so darn free! Because when she is not wearing her maid's outfit, she must be on leave and she is on leave, a lot. And this is one palace that is so darn free as in people can walk left, walk right, sit down, chat, walk, chat some more and all that. I thought there is a decorum that man and woman, a maid and an official can't be of such proximity? I mean Kam Ling got a bracelet and she got scolded non stop and here we have 2 sitting, chatting, exchanging gifts and all. What sort of a palace is this?!
Anyway Duke walked past to offer Sam Hou some sweets, Sam Hou saw the scars on his hand which he sustained when he fell being chased by Chui Ma Ma and suddenly the Duke said to Hin Yeung "You know kung fu? Teach me so I can protect myself!" and Sam Hou said "Maybe you should, so that he can have better health and won't be bullied" and so Hin Yeung taught the Duke who learned diligently, especially when alone. Frankly all I can see Hin Yeung doing is a lot of fabric flying around, his costume is a hindrance.
Meanwhile Susanna and Michelle were treated to a delicious feast by a concubine elect (meaning not yet a concubine, chosen to enter the palace to be chosen by the Emperor and once chosen then an official concubine) who has never met the emperor for the 8 years she was in the palace. Concubine Wai has a sad life and is poor as well. She begged them "I have been in this palace for 8 years but I have never had the chance to meet the emperor but now I have been chosen to be presented to him during the grand feast. I need a nice dress and a nice hairpin. Here is some money, please help me" and she gave each a small pouch of money but each respective assistant looked at their respective heads and said quite clearly "We have been requested the same by many others concubine elect to make dresses and jewelry as well and they paid much more. I am afraid this is not enough .." and so they put back the pouch of money on the table, with Susanna looking stricken. Concubine Wai went and took all the money she had, which isn't much and begged but Michelle said "I am sorry for you for your predicament since all ladies not chosen by the age of 25 will be sent to the maids dept to do hard chores and washing and I am happy you could see the emperor. Some concubines never had that chance in their lifetime, with a thousand of others for him to choose from. Alright, I will see what I can do" and Susanna smiled as she looked at Michelle and she said "Me too, I will see what I can do" and Concubine Wai thanked them profusely.
Duke was learning Kung Fu alone and he was doing very well when the emperor in a bad mood since his hunting days have been cut short for reasons of work passed by and saw the duke doing something. The duke immediately stopped and the emperor and General Ma went to him and the emperor taunted the duke and said "You're learning kung fu eh? Let's duel!" and General Ma gave him a big stick and the duke tried to avoid the stick and had to hold back from hitting the emperor to save his disguise but the emperor beat him again and again and when the stick was snapped into 2, he used his fists and legs and poor duke was hit till he flew onto the tree. And the Emperor was going to punch him hard in the chest when Hin Yeung flew in front and took the punch but Hin Yeung being skilled wasn't hurt at all. He immediately kneel before the emperor and said humbly "I beg your majesty's forgiveness for failing to teach your royal uncle properly. I will make sure to tutor him well the next time" and duke said "Your majesty is great, no more fighting" and the emperor arrogantly said "Of course I am great! I am the emperor" and he stalked away. Oh how I wish him dead! Anyway when they were gone duke said thanks to Hin Yeung and called him "Sifu" but Hin Yeung humbly said "My lord, please do not call me that!" but the duke said "But you saved my life, you're my sifu and the best sifu there is. No one would dare to oppose the emperor but you did!" and Hin Yeung smiled and was charmed by the Duke's honesty.
Pause here.
I think Hin Yeung is growing on me. I like him. I like the fact that he was heroic and like Sam Hou he did what is right and never got hindered by things like rank, etc. In fact he kinda reminded me of Susanna except Susanna looked glum all the time whilst Hin Yeung always have this slight smile that Kevin Cheng does. A pity about Kevin Cheng's acting though...
Sam Hou and her superior were sent to see what sort of design Kam Ling and girls came up with for Concubine Wai's jewelry and Kam Ling observed "I thought Lady Chung would never accept such work on a pittance but she did" and Sam Hou and superior said "She has changed since what happened, she is even more friendlier to us now". Then Susanna appeared and Susanna said "Kam Ling, I give you the task of designing Concubine Wai's hairpin" and Kam Ling was very very happy, Sam Hou was happy for her but June looked at her with murderous eyes.
At night, June secretly entered Kam Ling's room and changed something as Kam Ling confronted her and Kam Ling angrily said "You changed my makeup cheek powder! You want me dead! You want to kill me!" and June cried "No no I never wanted you dead!" and Kam Ling said "You will continue to do this for as long as I don't stop you! I will tell Lady Yuen now!" and June begged tearfully "You can't do that! You can't! She will kick me out! Please Kam Ling, I only wanted your cheeks to swell and get red, that's all! I never meant you death or such harm! I was jealous! I was angry you were given that opportunity! Please, please forgive me, I swear I will leave you alone! I swear!!!!" and Kam Ling then said "Ok, fine! I will let you go this time but as punishment, you must taste your own medicine. Dip your finger into the powder!" which she did and then she tearfully left.
Next day Susanna noticed June's finger wrapped in a bandage and she said she hurt her hand whilst fixing a hairpin. But there was a commotion and they rushed to Kam Ling's room. Here I was a bit confused until all was revealed not much later. Anyway Kam Ling's face was covered and she was crying and June was shocked and Susanna asked what happened and uncovered the face which was swollen and red and Kam Ling said "I don't know what happened. I used the red powder and here I was, with this face. Who would do such a thing?" and she cried hard and June panicked and Susanna knew and rushed to her and demanded to see her finger and then saw it red and swollen and said "YOU!" and June cried and said "No no I didn't mean it! Kam Ling, you said you forgive me! You said so! You put it on deliberately!" and Kam Ling cried "Why would I do so? How can you do this to me?!" and Susanna seems to hesitate (maybe in her heart she suspected something?) but finally she said "How many times have I said to treat each other like sisters? This is unforgivable! You are hereby ordered to leave my dept!" and June cried hard but the decision was made.
June was leaving when Kam Ling, face still swollen swaggered to her and said "I heard you are transferred to the common maids dept, oh all the washing and cleaning and washing of concubines' feets.." and June angrily said "You set me up!" and Kam Ling said "Well you did make it easy for me. What? Should I just stand by and let you harm me again and again?" and June said "So I suppose you think you can have my position now?" and Kam Ling said "Whatever happens in the jewelry dept is no longer of your concern" and she turned to leave and came face to face with a shocked Sam Hou. Kam Ling stared on the floor in shame as June walked to Sam Hou "You should be careful of this sister of yours. She is not above hurting you to get what she wants" and she left. Sam Hou and Kam Ling stood before the well as Sam Hou said "Didn't mother always taught us never to harm others? Kam Ling, how can you do that? She was one of us, we are to treat each other fairly" and Kam Ling cried "But she was always a bully. She took credit for what I did, she did placed that powder in my room, she wanted to harm me" and Sam Hou said "Be that as it may, for what you did to her..." and Kam Ling said "Sam Hou, I was only protecting myself. I promised myself to treat those kind to me with kindness and show no mercy to those who are mean to me. If I don't do that Sam Hou, I will forever be bullied, I will forever be left behind. Please understand, I will never do that to you, I was only protecting myself!" and Sam Hou sighed and said "Let's not argue anymore, there is no point in doing so. You will believe what you want" and Sam Hou left, disappointed with a tearful Kam Ling.
Pause here.
I understand why Kam Ling did what she did and June deserved it. But to promise A and to give B is a matter of character and whilst Kam Ling was justified in getting rid of June who will eventually do many more harm to Kam Ling, what she did though was not to get rid of competition but clearly revenge for what June did to her. That's vindictiveness so I suppose Sam Hou was right to be disappointed with her. So I am on Team Sam Hou on this not because as she said she must treat others with love, I mean how many times you must be trampled on, etc but rather because Kam Ling did what she did out of revenge. That's wrong, at such an early stage.
Later, or somewhere along the way, I can't remember, Sam Hou and Kam Ling delivered the dress and hairpin and Concubine Wai was very happy with the results as she said "In all my life I have never encountered such beautiful creations! Thank you!" and suddenly that snotty concubine appeared. I think she is Concubine Wong but I never did catch her name. I shall call her snotty concubine. Anyway she appeared and said "Such beautiful creations, so unbefitting on such a specimen. So you wish to seduce the emperor do you?" and she ordered the maids to take the dress and hairpin and said "I shall keep these for myself" and gave Sam Hou and Kam Ling money which they refused to take but she said "Keep these money, they're payment for your respective heads so as not to make any more dresses or hairpins for this woman" and she grabbed the hairpins on Concubine Wai's head and said "Such cheap materials" and threw them onto the floor and stepped on them and then she left. Sam Hou and Kam Ling looked at Concubine Wai and she looked at them sadly and said "I thank you for your efforts nonetheless" and resigned to her fate.
Pause here.
Now we all know why she hasn't seen the emperor and such. That snotty concubine must have interfered. I wonder, does the emperor have an Empress?
At night, Kam Ling found Sam Hou at her usual place and Kam Ling said "Here are some high class threads for you, those aren't good" and Sam Hou continued what she did as Kam Ling said "Sam Hou, please don't be angry with me! I swear I will never harm those kind to me, like you" and Sam Hou sighed and said "Are you planning to apply for her position?" and Kam Ling said "I already did, and I swear I will be a better supervisor than her" and Sam Hou smiled and forgave Kam Ling and Kam Ling asked "What that hairpin for?" and Sam Hou said "For concubine Wai, but with just ordinary pearls mounted on the hairpin, it is a bit ordinary right now" and then Sam Hou thought "Why not? We put some glowing powders on it!" and so it was.
Late at night, Kam Ling and Sam Hou met with Concubine Wai and gave her the ordinary looking 3 pearls hairpin and Concubine Wai said "I can't thank you enough, even if for this hairpin" and Sam Hou smiled and said "Please come closer and look" and she took away the light and suddenly the pearls were glowing beautifully in the dark. Concubine Wai was very happy and nearly cried and said "I don't know how to thank both of you, for your kindness, I am in no position to reward you..." and Sam Hou said "We do not wish any reward" and Concubine Wai left wearing the glowing hairpin as Kam Ling said "I feel very happy having helped her" and Sam Hou smiled too.
The Emperor was walking at night when he saw what he thought was a firefly floating by and he chased after that source of green glow when he realised it was a person and he ordered that person to stop and Concubine Wai fell down and the emperor ordered her to look up and Concubine Wai timidly looked up and he saw how beautiful she was with the soft green glow lighting her delicate features and he was smitten.
I suppose a day later Kam Ling and Sam Hou were ordered to meet with a newly installed concubine and it was Concubine Wai, now looking beautiful and glamarous in her new dress and hairdo (really high hairdo) and Sam Hou and Kam Ling were very happy for her as she said "I am not sure how I can thank you both, if you would accept a gift" and Sam Hou said "No we don't wish for a gift" as Kam Ling wanted to and she said so and so Concubine Wai gave them some rare tattoos that she said even the other high ranking concubines don't have.
Sam Hou and Kam Ling were cleaning when Kam Ling lifted her arm and showed Sam Hou the tattoo there and said "I thought I better put it under the sleeves, so that I can look at it often and be very happy" and Sam Hou smiled when someone came and said the head of palace maid wanted to see them. Curious they left quickly and saw I believe the 3 heads or something with head of palace maids and that snotty concubine.
Snotty concubine said "Didn't I pay you all to not make any dress or hairpins for that Concubine Wai?" and Susanna said "We never did" when snotty concubine said "Well someone did" and head of palace maids asked who did and Kam Ling too scared to speak said nothing and Sam Hou as usual immediately said as she was trying to protect Kam Ling "I did it! I designed the hairpin!" and the snotty concubine went to her and slapped her (yes! finally! but not hard enough!) and said Guards, drag her out and chop off her hands and see if she dare to defy my orders" and Kam Ling rushed to Sam Hou and held a shocked Sam Hou but Madam Choi ever the champion for the maids said "You have no right to hand down punishments, these 4 depts are governed by the empress dowager and only she can order any punishments" and snotty concubine said "You dare to question me?" and Madam Choi said "If that is the case let us bring this before the empress dowager" and snotty concubine said "Yes indeed!" and so ..
The Empress Dowager must be very busy with all these stuff.
Anyway she asked them "What is it this time?" and things were explained but the Empress Dowager said "I remember you, Lau Sam Hou..."
Pause here.
I think by now the empress dowager can even SPELL her name.
Anyway she said "You designed that hairpin?" and Kam Ling was very scared to say anything and Sam Hou bravely said "Yes I did, I made it for Concubine Wai" and Empress Dowager said "But aren't you from the embroidery dept? What is an embroidery dept's maid making a hairpin, which is the duty of the jewelry dept?" and Kam Ling said "She took pity on Concubine Wai and so she helped her by making her a hairpin" and head of palace maid basically explained "We have actually made a dress and a hairpin for Concubine Wai but... but.. Concubine Wong took them away as she said she liked them" and Michelle said "My girls have always been multi talented so to know how to make such a jewelry is of no surprise" and Susanna said "Her mother was Lady Kong who came from a long line of famous jeweler and Lau Sam Hou, her daughter has inherited her gift" which by that time Michelle looked rather pissed (oh another bickering coming soon) as snotty concubine said "Don't sway away from the main point here! She..." and the empress dowager basically told her to shut up and said "Oh that hairpin with the 3 ordinary pearls, how did you think of such an excellent idea of covering it with glow powder? Such simple design and yet so elegantly made" suddenly Concubine Wai appeared with that hairpin and empress dowager smiled and motioned her to sit next to her and said "Haven't I taught you Concubine Wong to treat the other concubines fairly?"
Pause here as I would like to do this just for one moment;
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAAHHAAAA
Yeah right, coming from the big bully herself! That woman is mad!
And she continued "Concubine Wong, do remember your position and for as long as I am alive I AM THE MASTER OF THESE MAIDS!" and snotty concubine looked well.. she looked humiliated. Empress Dowager said "I heard that the list of maids to be considered for the supervisor position in the jewelry dept has been decided?" and the answer was yes as Kam Ling looked up hopefully and then came the bombshell; "There will be a change to that list. I hereby appoint Lau Sam Hou as the supervisor for the jewelry dept" and Kam Ling looked shocked, not nearly as shocked as Sam Hou who was keeping her head down, head of palace maids looked worried, snotty concubine looked pissed, not nearly as pissed as Michelle whilst Susanna was smiling broadly.
Next episode, Kam Ling cried to herself in her room "Why am I not happy for Sam Hou?" as Sam Hou asked I believe Susanna whether she thinks it was Sam Hou who revealed some secrets to which Susanna said "You, no but I wouldn't trust Kam Ling" to which this Palace being a mansion, Kam Ling naturally overhears.
A good episode with more stories which explains why this is so darn long.
First of, I like the story of Chui Ma Ma and her warning which is true. Kam Ling is revealing her true nature and Sam Hou, in her good luck in a silly innocent way landed the position Kam Ling wanted and one that Susanna always wanted her to be in. Now Sam Hou is Kam Ling's supervisor! Sometimes that empress dowager in her craziness do appreciate good art and does make good decisions. She is still crazy though.
All those idealistic "Love thy sisters" is silly though because we know in the end that's not the case.
That being said, Susan Tse deserves a thumbs up for this scary crazy woman character who hates maids and yet is a hypocrite. Excellent performance.
Moses Chan did well yet again. I am beginning to like his performance as he jumped from innocent duke to wise duke. That scene during that kung fu play was to me excellent acting from Moses.
That being said, again Edwin Siu the emperor right? Oh I hate that emperor and so I suppose a good performance. Could do with a bit more evil look. Sometimes I look at him so young, so handsome, can't be evil you know?
Mandy Cho, no comment.
Michelle and Susanna, still 1 dimensional!
Ching Hor Wai who plays Madam Choi deserves a mention. She was excellent in the scene as she retorted Chui Ma Ma and I think she gave the role authority and compassion.
June Chan was ok in her limited role.
Tavia now has a chance to broaden her performance and whilst I still see Tavia in this role (I mean she does talk/walk/act/behave the same in all her performances, whether as good or evil characters, the difference being the swagger and her eyes), I thought she did her role competently as Kam Ling now is more than just 1 dimensional. However why does she always cry so loudly? In fact why does she always talk so loudly? Whispering can be an even more effective way of portraying a manipulative evil character as Kam Ling will be. She is just too in your face sometimes.
Kevin Cheng.. no comment. What more can I say?
Charmaine Sheh did well in this episode, especially that scene where she saw Kam Ling and June arguing, the disappointment, and then later the right amount of nonchalance and shock in certain scenes. Whilst I am Team Sam Hou, I still feel her character lacking and her performance a bit broaden today is still of wide eyed innocence.
And I hated that scene where she and Kevin feel attracted to one another. Quite simply because the palace in this case is now not just a mansion, but a free reign mansion. So free, so open. I can't buy that.
But other than that I am enjoying the series thus far, more than I care to admit.
Posts
December 9, 2010 at 3:11 PM
the snotty concubine went to her and slapped her (yes! finally! but not hard enough!)
Actually that was a real slap, but I guess Tracy felt awkward slapping someone, especially the 1st sister lol.... Tracy mentioned that Charmaine asked her to slap for real and she did.
Agree abt Sam Hou character writing, she's like kelefeh (purpose wise) with the screentime of a lead. :P