EPISODE 7

I am very excited to write tonight's recap because it's a good one.

Interesting the first scene did not start with Sook Ling or Yee Soon or even the fate of Yuen Kei. It started with a very happy and excited looking Onn Sin (kinda missed her not seeing her in last night's episode) running to the big door and we hear a narration that the maids are only allowed to see their families once every few years. Onn Sin wrote to her grandma but sadly enough the grandma didn't come probably because she was too late in arriving at Beijing. She was the last one standing when suddenly the announcer called out the name of the dead maid and Onn Sin realised her parents were there. The eunuchs quickly ran to the parents and delivered the bad news. Onn Sin saw the maid's old father crumbling to the floor as the old mother fell too. Onn Sin could only hold back her tears.

Very sad scene.

Next we see Hung Mo being beaten by several people as an eunuch looked on and his buddy, Chan Song was hiding I think behind a tree, looking scared. Then we found out why; Hung Mo paid this eunuch bribe for a better and higher ranking job but the eunuch "ate" the money and since eunuch was backed by some powerful relative, he didn't really care if Hung Mo complained to everyone about him. After all he was just a lowly servant.

After they were gone Chan Song flew into a rage when he realised Hung Mo used up their savings and Chan Song blamed Hung Mo for dreaming beyond his own capacity and Chan Song ran away in anger.

Meanwhile, a gloomy looking Hung Mo went into the shrine (apparently shrine for ancestors of the Emperor which was interesting that any "pig, cat & dogs" can go in and have a conversation in there as well)and he saw Onn Sin burning paper money. Onn Sin was grieving for her friend, that maid who died whilst Hung Mo was grieving about his lack of luck. Onn Sin said to Hung Mo in what was really a very heartfelt conversation about their lowly status that he should stop dreaming and go home since "you're free to go away as you like beyond these walls whilst we, the servants in here do not have that luxury" and Hung Mo sarcastically retorted that "We are of no different from one another, whether behind these walls or outside because a lowly servant is still a lowly servant anywhere". But Onn Sin confessed that "I can't even pray for the soul of my dead friend. I thought it matters whether my friend's parents received her body or her ashes, but I was wrong. I saw her parents today and I realised I was wrong and in the end I did nothing for her, I could do nothing. We the servants must die happily if it is the command of our servant, we must accept our fate without question" and Hung Mo said "No, why should we? Why should only the ancestors of the Emperor be the only souls fit to be given respect in this shrine? Even in death aren't we servants human beings too? No, I won't accept that" and he boldly took out the flute that the maid was carrying (which actually belonged to Onn Sin) and hid in underneath the table where the what do you call those? Name plates? Anyway where those things were and said "From now on every time the Emperor bows and pays respect to his ancestors, he shall pay respect to *the maid's name here*". Frankly I can't remember her name. Was it Sou Ying? Onn Sin was shocked at his bravado but I guess she appreciated his intentions.

A very good scene. This scene would have my vote as the most memorable tonight and I always find the conversation between Onn Sin and Hung Mo very profound, and I kept nodding my head as how true what they were saying. Very real conversation even if the idea that they could walk in and out of the shrine without question at any time is beyond me. Still very good scene.

Next story shifted to Yee Soon.

Yuk Ying was healing fast as Onn Sin was now responsible for all medicine to be given to the candidates. Yuk Ying sincerely (though I doubt it) said to Onn Sin a big sorry as she had been rude to her and disbelieved Onn Sin's advice that the palace can be one cruel place and Onn Sin said Yuen Kei will probably be thrown to outer state and will serve the rest of her life as maids in various households. Yuk Ying gave Onn Sin money so that she could bribe the guards to given Yuen Kei lesser hard times. Onn Sin was rather touched by Yuk Ying's very false gesture. Yeah, so fake! Anyway then Yuk Ying asked what Bak Yeung liked as she wanted to give him a present to thank him and Onn Sin said "I think you better not give him any gifts since many concubines have given him more expensive gifts, I don't think he wants any". By the way Onn Sin doesn't really know Bak Yeung that well.

Still Yuk Ying went ahead and sent to the medical dept a very expensive gift and a big ang pow. Senior Dr Bak was not pleased and he tracked down Bak Yeung having his wine on board of some sampan with 2 women and the more he shouted after him the more Bak Yeung walked away. In the end Senior Suen huffed and puffed and told Bak Yeung about the gift. Bak Yeung was surprised and senior Suen said it was unwise to accept such gifts since everybody knew Yu Fei wouldn't be too pleased about it and he was courting trouble for accepting a gift from a candidate.

Bak Yeung swiftly returned the gift to Yuk Ying and Yuk Ying asked why? and Bak Yeung wisely said "You should know that medical consultation in the palace is free" and Yuk Ying quickly changed her expression from innocently shocked to cunning surprised and said "Why you can give favours to all other concubines except me?" and Yuk Ying quickly threw herself at him and tore open his costume and then jumped away and slyly said "I will report that you tried to take advantage of me..after all I saw your mole on your chest" and Bak Yeung said "Didn't you know moles can be removed?...There are many cunning concubines in this palace and I have seen my fair share of them. You do not need my help since you're cunning enough to help yourself but you're not the most cunning I have ever met" and Yuk Ying looked genuinely lost for words and then Yuk Ying said "You have my word, one day I would be the Emperor's favourite concubine and when that day comes you will be rewarded for doing me favours" and Bak Yeung retorted and said "There are many concubines in this palace, I am afraid I may not live long enough to see that day" (cue: meaning Yuk Ying probably won't be a concubine or a favourite of the Emperor's) and Yuk Ying then walked to the side of the door and opened her dress and let Bak Yeung see her ermm green undergarment (which was really too much in those days) and Bak Yeung was very embarassed and Yuk Ying smiled and said "I could see you are a man and you could not resist me..how would you think the Emperor would feel when he sees me like this? It would be wise for you to help me and do me favours because one day you will see rewards for doing so" and Bak Yeung just stood there like an idiot thinking "what should I do?!??!??!?! Eh she's right mah! Yu Fei is old mah!". If you'rw wondering how come she can take her clothes off in public, she was standing behind one half of the door where she was shielded. Clever scene if you ask me. So what will Bak Yeung DO???

Next Bak Yeung sent medicine to Yee Soon who was looking very pale, unhappy and gloomy. Bak Yeung was always very honest with her about how he felt about Yee Soon since he thought she ratted on Yuen Kei to make her the scapegoat. So he said "I do not understand you. You have achieved your goal, you have found a scapegoat but you act as if you have a guilty conscience." and Yee Soon was too sad for words and merely and weakly said something I forgot and then Bak Yeung said "If you must know, Yuen Kei died on her way to outer state as she was being escorted out (earlier Yuk Ying told this to Sook Ling who told Yuk Ying to hide the secret, I thought it was a lie but then Bak Yeung confirmed it, poor Yuen Kei)" and then Yee Soon was so shocked that she bursts into tears and Bak Yeung said "If you feel responsible for her death, then you must take this medicine and live on because only by living can you receive your punishment by your conscience" and Bak Yeung left and Yee Soon cried and cried and cried. Bak Yeung was quite mean to Yee Soon if you ask me.

Next scene we know the lusty old Emperor shall be choosing his concubines giving them one rank up, the title of which I do not know and do not care. I just care that I would have to suffer the acting of Yu Yeung who looks nothing like an Emperor. I pity the women having to kiss him and all and I hope I won't see those scenes. Anywa Yu Fei was having a bath and we see her ugly stretch mark on her stomach. Then we see her having this cold war by words with the Empress who mentioned that "My dear sister, you look radiant!" and Yu Fei said "So do you my sister" and the Empress smilingly said "Ahh no I do not..I could not escape the ravages of time, and my dear sister neither could you ...The Emperor loves your small waist my dear sister, I do hope you could keep it small after giving birth to the lovely princess" and then promptly handed over some bottle of cream into the face of Yu Fei (very funny, because the Empress seems rather generous with gifts that we know Yu Fei will never use). Yu Fei looked worried and then said "Well the Emperor shall be choosing the concubines soon my sister" and now the Empress looked worried. Anyway the Empress also mentioned Yuk Ying's name and Yu Fei looked worried. Basically this scene is who is more worried looking. Rather boring.

Next we see Yuk Ying running into Sook Ling's room and having a friendly conversation with Sook Ling and giving Sook Ling a burner (?) with incense in it to calm her mind. Sook Ling thought nothing of it until at night she began to hear things and see imaginary moths. And that coupled with a rather half mad Yee Soon who was grieving for Yuen Kei that kinda spooked Sook Ling. Let me say this; I knew from the moment Yee Soon went bonkers that she pretended to go bonkers because it was all so FAKE. Bad acting if you ask me or maybe..you know I'll explain more later.

Sook Ling realised she was imagining things and she quickly suspected the burner and accused Yuk Ying of being evil and fakest of the fakest fakes of the fakeville. Yuk Ying protested her innocence to deaf years.

That day everybody prepared to model walk (yeah they were walking that way) to see the Emperor when Sook Ling started to see moths. Poor girl...NOT!

Where was I? Oh yeah comeuppance time. Before that, Sook Ling asked an eunuch to give an anonymous letter to someone and that someone gave it to Yu Fei who deemed this as a favour given as the letter implied that they must look out for a fan with treachery type of poem sewn on it and that person is Yuk Ying. Yu Fei wanted to get rid of Yuk Ying anyway so tomorrow we shall see if she succeeded and you and I know of course not!

Once in the big hall, there the Emperor gave jades to those he liked (so one rank up) and I think flowers to those he doesn't like (I guess go home?) and Yuk Ying got the first jade. The rest we never know because right then Sook Ling went bonkers as she heard things and saw moths and was running around madly and the Eunuchs was trying to catch her when she bumped into Yee Soon and Yee Soon said "My dear sister, are you alright?" and Sook Ling asked "Yee Soon, why are you here?" and Yee Soon said "Yee Soon couldn't be here and said I should be here" and Sook Ling thought Yuen Kei entered the body of Yee Soon. Anyway there she was running around madly and Yee Soon was standing behind the huge pillar and she was silently crying and yet also smiling. Then we see flashbacks of some repeated scenes which was boring until we see Yee Soon putting something into Sook Ling's tea (so Yuk Ying was innocent after all!) that made her imagine stuff and last scene was Yee Soon sitting alone in her room with her chin on her hands as she slowly pushed the marbles (that Yuen Kei loved to play when she was alive) to the floor, which was the sound Sook Ling heard and tearfully said "I promise you, I will not give up, I will survive in this palace".

Tomorrow we shall see how Hung Mo got his big break.

Tonight's episode is interesting because we see the more deceptive side of Yuk Ying who is the fakest of the fake, the sincerity of Onn Sin who is probably the only character without an agenda of personal gain and Yee Soon who is not as bad as she first appeared. And right in the middle we have Bak Yeung, the cunning doctor who knew everything and wisely said nothing but still got sucked into the vortex of deception.

No doubt I really like Onn Sin. She is sincere, genuine and many times I emphatise with her. I often find her scenes down to earth and possibly real and very thought provoking and profound. I know why many see her as boring and not useful since she hardly do anything like deceiving people or getting fans by her side and now already episode 7 still a maid. But in her status as the maid and however little scenes she had, every time Onn Sin appears, she gives this series compassion. I am quite bored with all the back stabbing and worries and who will get the Emperor's love scenes, like Yu Fei. In fact I am beginning to get bored with Yu Fei who has TWO types of scenes; worried and mean. Nothing else thus far. Onn Sin gave this series (at least these 7 episodes) a certain sense of reality that I appreciate. And Maggie Cheung was fastastic. I guess you must appreciate a character that did not create so much drama and yet managed to give drama in a more grounded way and I know I am not making sense so I shall move on.

Yu Fei boring. But costume very nice. Empress also nice and scenes interesting, have yet to see the evil Empress.

Hung Mo interesting but am getting tired of his "WHY MUST I BE A SERVANT ONLY" lecture and hopes he gets a promotion soon and get on with his life. Chan Song was more about hysterical drama tonight, but should be as such since money all gone!

Yee Soon is fast becoming a character I am beginning to like. I pity her sometimes, that she may have tried hard to topple Yuk Ying but in the end her happy family of 3 sisters were toppled by the eldest one, Sook Ling and in the end she had to topple Sook Ling because of Yuen Kei which was why she was crying. Imagine sisters for decades and in the end they all ended up like this.

Yuk Ying is one cunning character but not so cunning as Bak Yeung was more cunning. Her scene with him was an eye opener but also showed how desparate she was in finding an ally in her cause. I thought she was going to offer herself to him but of course, she was just showing off the goods. She must remain a virgin for the Emperor, after all. And Yuk Ying is interesting in the sense that she may have been victimised before but now she only had to sit back and see her competitors being slowly taken out one by one by in fighting, for example Yee Soon and gang.

Performance wise, Maggie Cheung Hor Yee definitely exceeded my expectation. Her silent moments with her expressive eyes were the best.

Sheren Teng as usual.

Bowie Lam is now getting used to his lines so he fared much better than before.

Moses is not a great dramatic actor, so basically he was bearable.

June Chan was excellent tonight, the way she spoke her lines was perfect for someone so fake.

Gigi Lai was not that bad tonight but still is the worst. But I think like Charmaine Sheh, this may be due to the thought that "my character is pretending so why not I exceggerate (I hope spelling is right) a bit to make the difference between 2 personalities more believable)" which was really unnecessary because I could see fake written all over and it was amazing Onn Sin didn't see through this Yuk Ying. Her worst scene was not her fault. It was her encounter with Bowie and the camera was so cloe to Gigi's fave, I could see her every wrinkles and lines on her face and suddenly her big eyes and big smiles with poofy red cheeks were really scary looking. She was truly so ugly in that scene I wonder why the camera had to be so close to her face? I repeat the camera angle made her look more ugly than before.

Before I move on to Charmaine, I must note this. In HSDS 2000, Charmaine played Chow Chi Yeuk, the prettiest in the series whilst Gigi Lai was Chiu Man, who was always teasing Cheung Mo Kei about his feelings for Chi Yeuk since Chi Yeuk was so pretty. So that means Chiu Man wasnt as pretty as Chi Yeuk and it is a tradition anyone playing Chi Yeuk must be pretty. And I saw Charmaine in there, she was ravishingly beautiful. Gigi was pretty of course. Now in 2004, we see a reversal of roles. Yuk Ying is supposed to be Chi Yeuk and Yee Soon is Chiu Man. Really it is like HSDS in here.

Anyway I don't agree with the casting in here. Charmaine should have been Yuk Ying and Gigi should be Yee Soon because I feel Charmaine is prettier and her acting when she controls herself is more controlled. But I will admit Charmaine now was not Charmaine 4 years before. A great pity and sometimes I wonder when Charmaine undertook the massive weight loss plan did she ever considered herself pretty before? Because she was prettier before, now many said she looked tired and her face elongated. I have to agree. But her eyes is still as expressive as ever.

And so how did she fare tonight?

Well well well in that scene where she sat there looking gloomy as Bowie's Bak Yeung delivered his stinging lecture Charmaine was very good at those quiet moments of reflection. And then she had to cry. She used to cry so well, so beautifully but nowadays her face just contorted into such a messy look and her tears seem fake. I want to see the puffy red eyes Charmaine again! Not this skinny long dark scarred whatever. And she should seriously remove that scar on her cheek or maybe get make up to hide it because it made no sense; how could Yee Soon with a scar on her chin ever pass through in the first place? Other than that awful fake crying scene where she wailed and her awfully fake "I see Yuen Kei" moments, Charmaine was really very good in here tonight.

Anyway why everybody looks so dark in here?

- For screencaps of this episode do check out Sehseh's WAB page -