EPISODE 21

This episode can be retitled "How men hurt and how the women they love hurt them" because tonight two male leads (the only 2 male leads in this series) got really hurt by the woman they love, one intentionally and the other unintentionally. Quite sad actually.

And so Yuk Ying slept with the Emperor. Very active libido this dirty old ham sup man. And poor Bak Yeung stood outside of the door listening to the giggles and all and his heart was hurt beyond words. He walked away and left the golden pouch Yuk Ying gave him on the rock and walked away.

Next day Yuk Ying went back to Onn Sin and she was so happy she cried whilst hugging Onn Sin and Onn Sin was happy for her too. Not long later Yuk Ying became Wah Kwai Yan, although I would have wished to see Yee Soon's expression when she knew Bak Yeung upped her again but alas, no such scene. Just her looking at a very happy Yuk Ying, expressionless.

Bak Yeung then went to see Yee Soon enquiring about her health and Yee Soon was quite sarcastic when she said "I do admire you, that you're able to give the woman you love to another man, how does that feel? I have always pitied you because I thought you were a fool used by Yuk Ying, that you were nothing but a foolish man but then you volunteered to give her to the Emperor and you're no fool." Bak Yeung wasn't too happy about what was said and left and Yee Soon again looked rather..ermm....well...expressionless. Can't figure her out.

Somewhere along here Bak Yeung saw Yuk Ying again and Yuk Ying was asking for his advice on what medicine to take to ensure the birth of a son. Bak Yeung was of course very hurt but he said he will make her some vitamins to take good care of her health to ensure pregnancy and Yuk Ying was very happy but Bak Yeung was gloomy.

Then we see probably the most romantic scene in this series thus far, the Winter Sonata scene. You see Hung Mo wanted to see Onn Sin to confess his love for her and to have her promise herself to him, since she was to leave the palace after the winter. So he took her out to the wide big compound filled with slippery snow. Whilst Hung Mo walked in front trying to effectively tell her that he is in love with her, she was at the back trying to stand and walk properly. When he saw her having difficulty in walking, he rushed back to her and helped her up and again off he went talking about their would be family. When he looked back, Onn Sin almost bumped into him. Onn Sin smiled and said "Oh, I am sorry. I was walking on your footsteps, it is easier that way. Brother Hung, I would like to walk in your footsteps from now on, with you to guide the way and I shall follow, and I think that is the best arrangement to this, don't you think?" and Hung Mo smiled and led the way. Effectively she heard him and she accepted his proposal, simple as that. BUT SO ROMANTIC! I was like melting inside. Reminded me of Joon Sung walking in Yoo Jin's footsteps! Ahhhhhhh...

BUT tragedy looms. Siu Luk Tzi saw the happy moment and he looked well, Wong Tak Bun's only expression in this series is serious. Anyway before this scene he was at the Empress' delivering something to her when he forgotten something and went out. Then the Empress came back thinking she was alone with her eunuch but Siu Luk Tzi was outside listening when she said she was the one who hired men to kill Onn Sin's grandma and now she wanted the men killed as well. Why she did that we will know later.

Siu Luk Tzi was in dilemma; should he tell Onn Sin since she is leaving soon? But he told her after seeing her with Hung Mo and Onn Sin couldn't believe it. She was about to react when the Empress called for her and so she went to see the Empress. With the Empress, the Empress expressed her gratitude to Onn Sin for taking care of Yuk Ying and yet implied that "I am sure Soon Kwai Yan is not too pleased with this but she has to bear with it. I am the Empress and everybody under me is of equal chances to have the attention of the emperor. Everyone wants to attract his attention but no one should take all attention, everyone should strive to show ther strengths but should not over emphasise on their individuality. I am sure Onn Sin, you would understand what I mean? Since your grandmother is dead, I would hope you will continue to stay here and take very good care of Yuk Ying".

Onn Sin ran back to Siu Luk Tzi and tearfully said "Why did you have to tell me? WHY?! I don't want to know, I would be happier not knowing!" and Siu Luk Tzi said "I did thought about not telling you, but I could not stand seeing you kow tow-ing and doing every bidding of that woman who murdered your grandma, your enemy." and Onn Sin said "Is there any difference now? I know and I still have to kow tow and do her every bidding" and Siu Luk Tzi said "It is up to you what you want to do with the information I just told you. You could forget about what I said and leave this palace after the winter and marry brother Hung and go on with your life but I know you couldn't. You can seek revenge and since you have Yuk Ying by your side, you have a chance to do so" and Onn Sin was like now that she knows, what more can she do?

Next morning she wrote Hung Mo a letter terminating their relationship, and so she chose revenge.

Pause here.

Siu Luk Tzi is very evil don't you think? I am not sure this is intentional or not but hear me out. He heard the empress' confession, then he saw Hung Mo and Onn Sin having a romantic moment walking on the snow. He knows she will be leaving soon and she will definitely marry Hung Mo. But he loves her, he can't bear to see her go and be with another man and so the only way to have her stay in the palace is for her to know the awful truth. What an awfully disgusting man if you ask me.

Hung Mo was shocked. He rushed to Onn Sin and emotionally demanded an explanation but Onn Sin brushed him aside and said whatever's in the letter, that's the reason. Hung Mo asked "Is it Yu Fei? Did she do something to you? Is it the empress? You were ok yesterday but why have you changed today? What changed?" and Onn Sin refused to look at him and Hung Mo desperately said "Is the reason me? Do you think I am not good enough of a man to take care of you? Well I can change. Just tell me, I can leave this palace, I can abandon my ambition and forsake fortune, just tell me and I will change. Tell me..." and Onn Sin simply reaffirmed her stand. Hung Mo tearfully said "Do you remember this handkerchief? It was the poem that inspired me to work hard and brought me to you. Don't you remember?" and Onn Sin looked at the pink handkerchief with poem and said "I am sorry, I didn't make this" and Hung Mo angrily said "Of you course you would deny that now!" and Onn Sin said "I really did not make that" and she walked away leaving Hung Mo devastated but she too had tears in her eyes.

Hung Mo was looking at the oink handkerchief with poem when suddenly a gush of wind blew it away onto the path of a person who picked it up and Hung Mo shouted "Give it back to me!" and she turned and she was a much subdued Yu Fei. Hung Mo quickly acknowledged her presence and Yu Fei said "So, you're the guard who saved the emperor's life? You have earned a great deed" and Hung Mo humbly denied that and Yu Fei said "With you by the emperor's side, I am glad...is this handkerchief yours?" as she eyed the handkerchief curiously with a glint in her eye and Hung Mo said "Yes" and she gave it back to him as she went on her way.

Pause here.

Yu Fei, poor woman in a way. Now so alone but I think such life is so much better than to grab and cheat and all. Anyway, like I speculated before I said the pink poem handkerchief was not by Onn Sin and she denied it tonight. Some may say she was denying it for denying sake BUT look at the way she denied it. She really looked at it and denied it and Maggie Cheung is not THAT bad an actress in portraying the right looks. When Yu Fei picked it up, there was a subtle glint of recognition in her eyes and again Sheren Teng is NOT THAT bad an actress in portraying the right looks. Why would she then say she was glad Hung Mo was taking care of the emperor when she hardly knew him? To her the handkerchief was like a fated encounter. I believe she made the handkerchief and that Onn Sin was telling the truth. If not the writer won't spend so many moments with Hung Mo almost asking Onn Sin about the handkerchief but didn't.

That morning in the medical dept, Bak Yeung found Hung Mo drunk. When Hung Mo took the hot wine from the boling water without even wincing in pain, Bak Yeung was shocked and quickly attended to Hung Mo's minor injury to his fingers. He asked Hung Mo what was wrong and Hung Mo could not say much, except his heart was hurt and he is trying to drown his sorro. Bak Yeung sadly remarked "The best way to drown your sorrows is to forget. Give her away, let her be and forget about her, that is the only way you can leave your pain behind. Even if you can't forget, you must ignore that dull pain" as if speaking of his feelings for Yuk Ying.

The Emperor then saw Bak Yeung and said thank you to Bak Yeung for giving him the best medicine making him feeling strong again, meaning Yuk Ying. Bak Yeung accepted the thanks and also informed the Emperor that Hung Mo wasn't feeling well and so he would take sick leave. The Emperor asked Bak Yeung to take good care of Hung Mo.

That night at Heung Fau's, Bak Yeung too took the hot wine bottle from the boiling water without any feeling of pain. Heung Fau quickly stopped him from hurting his fingers and Heung Fau asked "You seem distracted? Is it because of that girl in the palace?" and Bak Yeung said "No, no" and Heung Fau poured him some wine and said "If you drink too fast, you get drunk fast but in the morning the pain will return just as fast. To drown your sorrows by being drunk, you have to drink slowly, get drunk slowly, get away from the memories of her slowly and in time you will be able to dull the pain" and Bak Yeung drank to his heart's content.

That morning Bak Yeung saw Yuk Ying who was now Wah Kwai Yan, dressed very nicely and she smiled at Bak Yeung to thank him but Bak Yeung tried to distance himself.

That night as he was walking at the palace he saw a what do you call a "kiu" in English? Anyway that thing passed by and it was Yuk Ying disguised as an eunuch (to escape detection but for why I really do not know since everybody knew) and she saw Bak Yeung walking back. She said stop and she smiled at Bak Yeung and said "It will snow soon, here take this umbrella" and Bak Yeung didn't dare to look at him and said "No, I am ok, there is no need for that, I dare not accept it" but Yuk Ying good naturedly say "It is because of you I am in this position. It is just an umbrella, please take it" and Bak Yeung took it, Yuk Ying went on her way and zoom to Bak Yeung's eyes, brimming with tears. Definitely really hurt.

He went back home to Hau Shu but slept in another room. Hau Shu was very excited to see him and when Senior Suen came back, Hau Shu begged her father in law not to see Bak Yeung that night. You see everytime they see each other the father will scold the son. In the morning, Bak Yeung was sitting on the swing when Senior Suen walked out and their eyes met for the longest of time. Then Senior Suen saw his bandaged finger and he quickly said "Do you want me to look at that finger of your?" and Bak Yeung said "It's ok, I am fine" and Senior Suen said "Fine? Are you sure? If you finger is fine, what about other places?" (implying Bak Yeung's heart, I think Senior Suen knew Bak Yeung being in love with Yuk Ying) and Bak Yeung said "If you don't mind, I would like to stay here for a few days. If you could please inform the palace I am not feeling well enough to return to my duties" and Senior Suen agreed as he saw his only son looking rather depressed.

And so the entire palace knew Bak Yeung did not return to work because of his hands when in reality he hurt his ONE finger only. Fook Nga asked Yee Soon with much concern "Dr Suen has never not attend work even for one day when he was sick, he must be very sick now" and Yee Soon sighed and said "Yes, I guess you can say he is sick. Remember what I said about him? It must be very difficult for him to let go of Yuk Ying, I guess you can say this time he is very sick" and zoom to the concerned face of Fook Nga and ...

tomorrow, best quote I guess when Yu Fei told Onn Sin "the Empress' life is not for you nor I to take...only the Emperor has that right" and so Onn Sin seduces the Emperor. Poor HUNG MO! I am ready to cryyyyyyy.......

Most memorable moment is the Winter Sonata moment but the best scene had to be Bak Yeung looking like he was about to cry as Yuk Ying's "kiu" went pass him. So sad.

Weak plot but great performances tonight. Why weak plot? Why would the Empress want to kill the grandma? So as to make a brilliant maid to remain to do what? I mean why be so like counting everything with just a maid? Is she so desperate? But apart from that, tonight we discover how giving Bak Yeung is although it is killing him but he tried not to show it, how sad Hung Mo is but how willing he is to let go of everything for love (and a promising plot between him and the down and out Yu Fei) and how despicable Siu Luk Tzi is. If you really care for Onn Sin, you wouldn't have told her because now she was so happy with Hung Mo. Jealousy rears its ugly head, like what it did to Yee Soon who now have given up on Bak Yeung but she still cares a tiny bit.

I feel very sad for the men tonight.

Performance wise, Gigi Lai is ok tonight since the focus is not on her.

Charmaine Sheh did it best when she simply sat down, and deliver her lines in a cold way because any attempts to have her act will only showcase her weakness in anything dramatic or emotional. So basically she did well tonight.

Rebecca CHan best costume. Definitely.

Moses Chan was surprisingly very good in controlling his emotions as in not overact in the scene where he confronted Maggie Cheung about the breakup. It was probably his best acting moment as he begged Maggie not to leave him and to tell him why and the hurt in his eyes is very evident. He is best when he is with Maggie. Great chemistry together.

Wong Tak Bun was dull.

Yu Yeung was simply bad.

Sheren Teng not enough for me to comment.

Chan Hung Lit had one brilliant moment when he stood at the porch or whatever at his son sitting on the swing for the longest of time. Classic expression. Very good performance.

Irene Wong and the girl who played Heung Fau were also ok.

Maggie Cheung was simply the best female actress as she had to do so much in such a short space of time. Her hurt, her pain, he dilemma was all done perfectly and the way she refused to look at Hung Mo and walked away was I believe a very good acting moment as one sense that whatever she said was hurting Hung Mo but it was also hurting her. Great performance. I must note too that during the commercial break moment, there is one like title scene where there's Hung Mo facing Yu Fei with Onn Sin in the middle, her eyes looking rather vacant. What an expression because that's Onn Sin's life basically, very sad. I pity Onn Sin, she is having such a shitty life and after knowing what happened to her grandma, how could she walk away?

But best acting tonight overall had to be Bowie Lam as he tried his best to hide his hurt but his eyes deceived him time and time again as he looked at the woman he loved being given away by himself to his own master. Tonight really belong to Bowie Lam with his non expressions but his eyes full of tears that could not and should not roll down his cheeks. I am amazed and I am glad to have him back in form again and I guess now I know why he totally won that Most Popular Award. He must because this episode itself proves what a great actor he is.

Overall, an excellent episode. Plot is bad, but the performances will bowl you over.

Onn Sin is still my most favourite female character and as she walked through this perilous journey in the palace, I felt like I was walking with her. Her story is one that has a beginning, a middle and definitely an end. I feel so sad for her and I find her the best character in this series because she is nice, she is kind and yet she is forced into this situation to do something she does not want to do but had to because she knew too much. What a character.

Hung Mo is my most favourite male character because he started out very ambitious and almost ruthless but for love he was willing to let go of everything and I find him very courageous and giving. Also because I like him for liking Onn Sin. Moses Chan may not be the best actor but he brought out the gentlemanliness and the goodness of Hung Mo effectively.

I like Bak Yeung too and I am beginning to appreciate Yuk Ying because she is one single minded lady, everything she did she did it for her mother and that is a virtue even if someone should hang Gigi Lai for killing this character with her over the top acting.

Yu Fei remains as one character I can't bring myself to like, nor pity. But it would be interesting to see how the writer redeem this character to give her goodness because right now I still do not like her.

Don't miss this episode however silly the plot may be.

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