NOTE
I have added several scenes which were discussed in comments section to the recap.
I just don't get the writer. This series is like some drama queen. All drama but all fake drama.
I have added several scenes which were discussed in comments section to the recap.
I just don't get the writer. This series is like some drama queen. All drama but all fake drama.
Anyway, last episode, Kam Ling says to an awakening Po Yin, "Sister..." whilst smiling deviously.
Po Yin was surprised to see her and Fei Yin handed a bowl of something as Kam Ling said "Sister, I am here to deliver this bowl to you, for your consumption" and Po Yin asked as she was a bit scared "What is it? The smell is so strong. The doctor advises me not to simply take any medicine..." and Kam Ling said "This is not medicine, sister" and Po Yin panicking asked "Where's my maid?" and Kam Ling said "She will never return, not even if she wanted to" and so my conclusion is they killed her. Po Yin now really panicking stood up and walked around as Kam Ling said "Sister, you have to drink this" and Po Yin said "What is it?!" and Kam Ling said coldly "It is to abort that bastard in your womb" and Po Yin said "What? No! No! Why are you doing this?" as Kam Ling now mad with the power to decide Po Yin's fate gloated and smiled sinisterly and Po Yin now crying "Why? Why are you doing this to me?!" and Kam Ling now seriously crazy screamed "WHY? I will tell you why! The likes of you, that arrogant bitch you, the idea of you becoming empress thanks to that thing in your womb, that makes me sick to my core!" and Po Yin tearfully said "Yes, I was mean to you and if I have hurt you, I am sorry" but Kam Ling wasn't satisfied with just an apology and said "The palace is a scheming place, one has to fight and claw to get recognition, more so to be empress. There is no 2 ways about that!" and Po Yin knowing she was trapped cried "But I never wished to be empress! I never thought of fighting with you for any recognition!" but Kam Ling said her most favourite quote "The palace and concubines are scheming anyway! You said never, but the fight is always on and never ends!"
Kam Ling, there are like only TWO concubines, what the hell are you raving about?!
Kam Ling continued "I have been waiting for this day! Yes, I put those fragrance on me, you know why? To induce miscarriage. And yes, I killed your mother. I made sure the doll was in her room, I made sure it was found" and Po Yin now shocked tried to fight Kam Ling as Kam Ling roughly pushed her and said "You, ugly arrogant bitch, the empress? The way the emperor and empress dowager poured their attention on you and that bastard child of yours..that makes me sick! You, empress?! Pleaseeeeeeeeee.... you're not even qualified to wash my feet!" and Po Yin cried "Please no... please..." and Kam Ling smirked "Blame your godfather. Your godfather plans to install this bastard of yours as emperor and kill the emperor himself. Your bastard must die!" and Po Yin cried "No! No! I will tell the emperor, I will tell the empress dowager!" and Kam Ling said "Pointless to do so since I am acting on the order of the empress dowager" and she pushed Po Yin down and with satisfaction poured the poison into her mouth as Fei Yin cryingly gulped them down.
And here is probably one of the most wasted opportunity for at least some credible drama. I would have loved to see Po Yin struggling to survive, with pain as she clutched her belly and then die a painful death as Kam Ling stood over and look satisfactorily at what she achieved to her enemy. No such scene.
Kam Ling came to see a very pale empress dowager and said "I have told sister on what was happening and sister knew what she must do, so she took the poison voluntarily... but... but.." as she cried "not only did the baby die, sister lost so much blood she died as well!" and Empress Dowager cried in anguish.
How stupid.
Emperor was shocked to hear Po Yin died suddenly, he knew she drank something causing miscarriage and her death. So he ordered "I order the palace investigations to investigate what happened!" which is really the only thing he was ever good at ordering but to no results. Empress Dowager walked in dejected and pale as she said "You can take that order back" and emperor asked "Why mother?" and she confessed "I ordered that she drink that poison"
Pause here. Technically not poison, more like potion? But for all I know, Kam Ling could have given her poison for good measure. How can anyone at 7th month pregnancy being force fed this potion not die? Moreover Kam Ling wasn't gentle at all and she wanted her dead.
Emperor in tears asked "Why?" and she answered "Because the day she gives birth to the crown prince is the day you will die!" and emperor said "You knew about Ma Yuen Tzi's plans?" and Empress Dowager said "I never expected Concubine Yin to die. I only wanted the abortion but I never ever expected her death..." and there was nothing more the emperor could say.
Pause here. I know he loves his mother but I am very surprised by his lack of emotional outburst. Come on! She just killed your wife and child. Ok, the official story is Po Yin voluntarily took the potion but obviously she didn't have much choice even if you don't know Kam Ling force fed her. I wanted him to be angry with his mother. She usurp his power, she made him incompetent to even protect himself, his child, his wife. She took a drastic measure, yes to so called save him, but he should be angry as he should have felt he was under control of his fate and yet he wasn't. Someone did the dirty deed for him, the unthinkable for him which he would never do and he should be angry he wasn't shrewd enough to do that and at the same time losing his 1st unborn child and a wife he appreciates. But no, not even an outburst. What sort of a husband and a rule is this that the only solution to his problem, momentarily is for his woman and his child to die for him so that he can continue to exist? He is not fitting as a man. He would go all out for Sam Hou but Po Yin was a sacrifice for him that he is ready to make. Well the decision was not for him to make since his mother made it for him. And right at that moment, any man will feel incompetent and throw a tantrum. He was way too calm.
Well, he did thought about Po Yin and the poem she wrote for him and he did cry a tear or two. That's it. And the way Po Yin was dispensed with and spoken of no more is disgusting. I find emotionally this series is cold and the way Kam Ling goes about killing because she just wants to get rid of Po Yin as she hated her is just petty and unbecoming of a grand villain.
The right question is what would Empress Dowager Kwok have done? I will tell you what she would have done. She would see the so called threat by Ma Yuen Tzi as non existence. She has the ego and enough arrogance to believe she can defeat him and guess what? She is right! All these drama about the day the child born is the day emperor dies is nonsense. Why not temporarily swap the boy for a girl? That would solve the problem, momentarily whilst the emperor should have just knife Ma Yuen Tzi to death. The only reason Ma Yuen Tzi is seen as a competent villain is because all the good guys are incompetent.
What a dumb way to tell a story.
But thankfully that's where the dumbness ends for this episode, although Kam Ling get stupider and stupider and stupider until her insanity takes over.
Hin Yeung with General Man who dropped the jade he gave to Po Yin who gave him back so he wouldn't know what happened but for Chinese that is a bad sign. Hin Yeung promised to fix it when the butler walked in and asked about the huge heater which was broken. Next we know, Hin Yeung has smuggled General Man out with him hidden in the huge wooden heater and the rest were knocked unconcious. Again we are not shown how, just that it happened. What a lazy way to tell a story.
He met up with loyal guards and then was chased by General Ma's men and so he hid the wooden box heater with General Man in it in some bushes. There goes General Man. He can't scream, he can't move, so if no one finds him, he would starve or die of thirst. Hin Yeung went on to fight valiantly but when will this man ever recognise the fact that he is just not a skilled fighter? Because he was easily hurt, his men all killed, he ran to the edge of the cliff, was stabbed, knew he had no choice and so he jumped.
Haven't even reached Prince of Qi and they're all supposedly dead. Supposedly because we all know he ain't dead. General Man, I am not too sure.
Sam Hou in the temple praying when Emperor walked in, his eyes red and teary as he said to Sam Hou "Sam Hou... I just got news, General Man and Hin Yeung were ambushed and General Man is missing. Hin Yeung was last scene injured and fell off the cliff. His body couldn't be found" as he choked on tears, more than he did when he knew his child and wife died by the way. Sam Hou cried "No! No! Hin Yeung promised me when the flowers bloom he shall return! He is not dead! His body is not found! No..No..." as she cried but not pitifully. I find Charmaine too restrained in this scene and not much tears though her face screwed with pain and attention as much as she can muster. The emperor seems more concerned for her than anybody else. But yes, poor Hin Yeung.
Susanna did not cry, but she choked on tears as she controlled her emotion when she found out what happened. Siu Shun however was in tears as far as I can remember. So now Siu Shun has 2 godmothers alive. He is jinxed. Why? 2 godfathers, both dead (well supposedly dead, at least 1 of them).
General Ma insisted on increasing security in the palace from 10,000 guards to 15,000 guards I think, which is his way of placing more control in the palace.
Pause here.
Not even a scene to show General Ma in anguish over Po Yin's death, or at least over the fact his plans, ruined by someone. Not one to show him sneer and said "I WILL KILL THAT INCOMPETENT FOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!" in his trademark voice. Not one.
Emperor as usual his yes man said surprisingly "I will think about it" but General Ma says "Better not think too long". Oi! Who is the emperor here?! Where are the PM? The ministers? Everybody? Why is the eunuch always there dictating stuff?
The 3 heads plus top madam were together when they got news Empress Dowager wishes to see them urgently and so they rushed to the hall and there was Empress Dowager and Kam Ling side by side and General Ma standing there. Empress Dowager said "General Ma has got news that some herbs have been missing from the kitchen and he wishes to question all of you on this" as Michelle said "If this requires investigations, the herbs must be valuable. What were they? Ginsend? Ling Zhi?" as General Ma said "Ordinary herbs all meant to nourish a pregnant woman" and all were shocked, Sam Hou quiet, Kam Ling looking at her as General Ma said "I received an anonymous letter who told me so and I checked and indeed it is true" and Kam Ling said "General, your implication is someone here is pregnant and for a maid to be pregnant with someone's child, that is punishable by death. You must investigate thoroughly on the identity of such person!" as Empress Dowager agreed and said "If you admit now, I can at least spare you your life!" and I was thinking, yeap, Kam Ling wrote that letter. General Ma said "That is not necessary, I already know who, it is...(as he pointed at Sam Hou) this lowly maid, Lau Sam Hou!" and everyone looked at her and Empress Dowager shocked as General Ma said "Do you deny that?" and Sam Hou kneeled and said "I do not deny that. Please forgive me my lady" and General Ma said loudly "Well it is true then! My Lady, order for her death now!" and Empress Dowager was stuck on what to say, the heads all kneel as Michelle said "Please forgive Lady Lau! Please spare her life!" as General Ma said "Spare her life? My lady was right to say this is punishable by death. Order for her death now!" and Empress Dowager still stuck and Sam Hou looking down, in fear I suppose as Kam Ling looked on satisfactorily when suddenly the Emperor's voice boomed "Not if the child in the womb is mine" and everyone shocked, empress dowager rather happy as Emperor walked in and General Ma said "Your majesty, don't simply admit when the origin of the child is questionable!" as Emperor said "You don't think I will know what I did? With Concubine Yin's sudden death, this pregnancy is a blessing in times of my despair of my loss" as he held his hands to let a very shocked Sam Hou to stand as Emperor said "Lau Sam Hou, you're hereby appointed as a concubine and due to your caring and kind nature, I hereby decree you shall be known as Concubine Tak, all the rewards shall follow with that title. I order the depts to arrange a grand wedding as soon as possible to celebrate Concubine Tak's appointment" and Sam Hou still in shocked was prodded by the heads and she suddenly woke up and looked at the emperor intently and thanked him.
Kam Ling was throwing a tantrum with Fei Yin .... "When I wrote that letter, I suspected she was pregnant. But I never expected that slut to seduce the emperor and have his child!" as Fei Yin rubbed it in with more insults as Kam Ling cried in anguish and hatred "What is it about Lau Sam Hou that she is always so lucky? I had to claw, be insulted, humiliated, suffer just to get to where I am and all she had to do is stroll in and here she is, a concubine, pregnant with the emperor's child!". Well, Kam Ling, for one, NO ONE IS FIGHTING WITH YOU!!!!!!! She is delusional as she went on to swear "I will not let her get away with this! No one fights with me and wins! No one!" and suddenly eureka! as she said "I shall have an ally in General Ma. He hates her with unequal passion. Just one letter and he pounced on it! Oh yes, General Ma shall be an ally in my cause"
Kam Ling = crazy.
Wedding night, Emperor appears, Sam Hou now dressed as a concubine and I must say Charmaine looked stunning in that hairdo which unfortunately only for the wedding night. She greeted him, calling herself "Your servant greets your majesty" and Emperor said "Still calling yourself a servant? You're now a concubine, no longer a servant". Alone, she said "How can I ask your majesty for this? To admit responsibility to a child that is not yours, to give this child a royal status when it is not of royal blood, how can you ever answer to your ancestors for the wrong you did?" as Emperor said "Hin Yeung was my trusted man, a loyal servant and a good friend. Now that he is missing, it is the duty of a friend to take care of his wife and child" as Sam Hou said "I can't thank you enough, if not for you, my child and I will both be dead. I shall wait for Hin Yeung, for as long as his body is not found, I shall remain hopeful he is alive somewhere" and Emperor said "This is the Sam Hou I know, the Sam Hou who taught me a bite of the sweet Tong Lin Zhi in the midst of bitterness of life. Sam Hou, for as long as I shall live, I promise you, I will take care of you and the child, I shall preserve the Ko's family bloodline" and Sam Hou gratefully said "On behalf of the Ko family, I thank you" and Emperor said "Well now, sleep well" and he left.
Wait! Cannot leave if not General Ma will think something's wrong!
Anyway he did a noble act, that I must agree.
Then eunuch announced "Empress Dowager urgently requires the audience of your majesty" and General Ma was surprised when Empress Dowager rushed in and said fearfully "I had a dream! I dreamt the empire is in peril!" and General Ma said "My lady, that is just a dream" and Empress Dowager crossed said "It is not just a dream! It is a sign! My son, you will have to offer prayers to the heavens at *** (can't remember the name but that is the stronghold of General Ma's army and I suppose the official temple is there), you must leave at once!" and Emperor reluctantly said "General Ma's army base?" and General Ma sensing an opportunity for some mischief said "Indeed. Your majesty is welcomed there! I will send my men to ensure your majesty's safety" and Emperor said "If that is the case, General Ma,you shall accompany me" and General Ma, wary but agreed.
Empress Dowager alone with Emperor as she said "I am not sure if what I said about the dream was a wise thing to do, but son, you must be careful" as emperor said "That may be his stronghold but mother, now is the time to act. I will end his life there and take control of the palace" as Empress Dowager nodded.
Pause here.
Now this is where it is getting even dumber so my earlier statement that this episode can't get any dumber is wrong. Where more worse to kill General Ma than at his stronghold? Is the emperor trying to make his own life more difficult than it is? The best place to kill General Ma is in the palace! That's it! Why go to god knows where on pretense of whatever, bring yourself to the enemy's lair to kill the enemy in his lair and expect to escape unharmed?
But I repeat thankfully this is where stupid ends for now.
Sam Hou and Kam Ling were both there to greet empress dowager and emperor when Emperor said "I will be leaving for *** and I do not know when I shall be returning. Meanwhile, Concubine Tak, Concubine Lai, both of you shall accompany mother every day, to lessen her loneliness as she waits for my return".
Sam Hou looked worried as she went to see the Emperor who was also as worried. Sam Hou said "I know why you're going to *** and I wish you well. Here, a gift for you along the journey..." and Emperor took the gift, opened it and it was full of the sweet, Tong Lin Zhi. Emperor, grateful said "I shall remember your message to me when I left the palace as a child, when I was in exile, when I was hunted down...I shall always remember the sweet Tong Ling Zhi in the face of bitterness of my circumstances. Sam Hou, I do not know if I shall return alive. So I must say what has been in my heart for a very long time" as Sam Hou looked on as he said "I appreciate Concubine Yin and Concubine Lai, but the one I love with all my heart all these years is... you, Sam Hou" and Sam Hou shocked as Emperor said "But I envy Hin Yeung, because I know you have given your heart to him. That is why I hide away the handkerchief you once gave me, in the hopes of shutting my heart" as he took out the handkerchief and gave it to Sam Hou as he said "Here, please keep it for me. I only hope as I leave it to you now as Sam Hou, that when I return from my ardous journey, you shall return this handkerchief back to me as Concubine Tak" as Sam Hou looked on, speechless.
Finally, confession of love, I think. I am pretty sure that was what he said. What he meant is since Hin Yeung is dead, he will take care of her and when he returns, hoping she will return his love and I damn well wished this was the case but we all know Hin Yeung ain't dead.
So the men all gone from the palace.
Kam Ling was walking by as Fei Yin said "Since the emperor is away, my lady shall have time to relax a little" but Kam Ling said "Relax? This is no time to relax. This is the time to garner support on my side. Tell the 4 depts that from now on all of my every affairs shall be handled by them" but Fei Yin wisely said "But that is against protocol. Moreover to do that will alienate them. They will side with that Lau Sam Hou, since they're already close" but Kam Ling arrogantly said "I will bend them to my will, I will have my way, I will assert my influence on them and show them who's boss" which is crazy. She is like the female version of Shih Huang Ti in his later years when he was delusional. Only she never achieved Shih Huang Ti's greatness, not even a whiff of his greatness. Then she overheard Susanna and Siu Shun talking..."Siu Shun, take this money and find a monk out there to give prayers to your godfather so that his soul may rest in peace" and Siu Shun nodded sadly as he said "The Man family is so pitiful. Mrs Man died executed, Concubine Yin and her child died as well and now godfather... the entire Man family, wiped out. I wish I am General Man's real son, at least he would have a descendant left to carry his name and offer prayers to him..." as Susanna said "You are his son!" as Siu Shun said "Huh?" as Susanna said "I wanted to tell you so long. General Man and I are your real parents!" to a shocked Siu Shun and suddenly Kam Ling said "Well, do tell more, I so want to know. But wait, tell your story in front of the other heads of depts!" as Susanna looked on fearfully.
Susanna and Siu Shun kneeling on the floor, Kam Ling sitting at the place normally for top madam and I was thinking, when did she take on the duties of an empress? She is just a concubine.
Well this is probably the best scene in this episode and quite a showdown.
Anyway Kam Ling said "I overheard Lady Yuen confessing to having an illegitimate son with General Man, and that son is Siu Shun. How do you explain that, Lady Yuen?" and Susanna said "My lady has heard wronly. Siu Shun is my godson, not my real son" as Siu Shun said "Yes they're my godparents" as Michelle also said "I can bear witness to that, I was at the ceremony" but Kam Ling said "But you said so, he is your real son with General Man, so now you're denying that fact?" and Susanna said "Siu Shun is just my godson" as Michelle said "Maybe Lady Yuen may have mixed the up the terms unintentionally" and Kam Ling angry said "If you won't confess, a bit of torture may encourage some truth from you! Drag them away to be tortured!" and eunuchs said "Yes my lady" when Sam Hou arrived and forcefully said "Stop!".
Sam Hou looking angelic in her make up, the nice ones wear pastel tones, evil ones heavy red lipsticks. I like her wedding hair better, this one looks more like Marge Simpson at some angle but Charmaine does look elegant in this attire even if too flowery.
Sam Hou rushed to Kam Ling, looked at Susanna who smiled back as she said "Sister (she calls Kam Ling big sister, if I remember Sam Hou is older right?), what is this commotion about?" as Kam Ling explained and Sam Hou said "But there is no proof to justify torture" as Kam Ling said "I heard the confession myself. Moreover, a bit of torture will encourage her to tell the truth!" as Sam Hou said forcefully "But sister, you have no authority to give such an order. All matters relating to the depts is under the jurisdiction of the empress dowager and since she is unwell, then this matter shall be postponed until she is well to decide" but Kam Ling now raising her voice said "Since empress dowager is sick, then I volunteer to take over her duties and therefore I have the right to give such an order" and Sam Hou retorting said "If such is the case, then I too shall listen and decide together with sister" which is true since they're same rank as Sam Hou moved to stand beside Kam Ling who stared at her and spoke loudly "Are you trying to pick a fight with me?! We all know how close you're to Lady Yuen who treats you like her own daughter" as Sam Hou said "No sister, I am merely here to ensure all is fair!" and they looked at each other with dagger looks when Michelle said "There is a solution. Do the blood test and see if their blood mix. If they do, they're guilty, if they don't, there is no more to this" and Kam Ling said "Indeed! Yes, do so!" as Susanna stared at Michelle, worried. Fei Yin poked their fingers, the blood seem to mix and Susanna panicking said "Please forgive .." as Michelle hurriedly interrupted her and said "Lady Yuen, let the result be announced first, do not interrupt" but the blood doesn't mix and Fei Yin said "The blood doesn't mix" and Kam Ling looked disappointed, everybody relieved, Susanna confused and Siu Shun said loudly "So I am not Lady Yuen's son as I have already said so!".
So... Siu Shun ain't her son and Michelle knew? Why? We shall know...
tomorrow... as Sam Hou said "Sister, it was all just a misunderstanding" as Kam Ling smiled and said "Yes, a misunderstanding" and Sam Hou then turned to look at Kam Ling and she looked at Kam Ling dully whilst Kam Ling stared back, unable to hide her contempt.
Next episode, General Ma slaps Kam Ling senseless, Emperor was bombed out of his room, Sam Hou takes over and announce herself as emperor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT NONSENSE! Prince of Qi should be taking over!
Anyway I like the last scene. When Sam Hou has a temper, she is no pushover and she showed Kam Ling that tonight. She argued with valid points, she retorted everything Kam Ling said and she was forceful. I like this Sam Hou. And that stare at Kam Ling was quite right. It was as if to say "I beat your evil plans, so now what else? Bring it on!". Kam Ling is just insane, finding fights with even Susanna and Siu Shun. And what makes her think she can rule over the dept? Sam Hou was right to say what she said.
I also like the emperor's confession of love. Simple and to the point. Even if I may say Emperor is mostly useless, he is a decent and a good man and Hin Yeung was lucky to have such a friend and Sam Hou would be very lucky her child and herself call this man father and husband respectively. Imagine if the child is a son; the possibility of non royal blood as emperor is delicious. But we all know that ain't gonna be the case.
No comments on the acting. All the same as with my previous observations although Charmaine did well tonight except for that crying scene. As she grows older, she is better at being angry than being sad. Or rather being angry and being shocked than being sad and tearful.
Posts
January 12, 2011 at 12:21 PM
On the Po Yin abotion scene, the part I remember most clearly was when Kam Ling recounted what a bictch Po Yi used to be. Po Yin, finally realising that all was not forgiven and sensing that she was in a precarious position, admitted that she was bitch and apologised to Kam Ling pleadingly.