EPISODE 29

And the story is approaching the end, and by the way it is going, each episode at least one character will die. By the end of this series, half the character will die. Very speedy deaths.

Let's count heads;

- Siu Luk Tzi (yesterday)
- Fook Nga (today)
- probably 3 or 4 major characters (tomorrow)

Half the cast, gone.

Anyway continue on.

Yu Fei gave Onn Sin poison. Hung Mo was shocked and said "Do you think that would help Onn Sin by her poisoning the empress?" and Yu Fei said "Not poison the empress, but poison herself in front of the empress after eating her food, only then can I spread the rumours that the empress poisoned Onn Sin and will the emperor then take notice and take action as I am sure her eunuch will definitely reveal secrets because of his master's fall from power". Hung Mo, rightly so was disgusted and said "You're pushing Onn Sin to her death" and Yu Fei said "Well she is going to die anyway, why don't she die with a purpose and her death would mean something instead of now, meaningless?". Yu Fei of course didn't say it in such a heartless way, she actually said it with emotions, like really hard emotions. Hung Mo whispered "Her death would then benefit you isn't it? Is you desire to topple the empress so strong that you're willing to push Onn Sin to her death. I asked for your help not to push her to her death but to safeguard her safety. I have always thought of you as a good person, only today do I realise how ruthless and heartless you are in attaining your goal" and Yu Fei looked tearful as she said "there is nothing you can do for Onn Sin now" and Hung Mo said "I'll stop her is it is the last thing I'll do" and he left.

Pause here. First I do not thing Yu Fei deliberately pushed Onn Sin to her death nor did she intend to because she wanted Hung Mo for herself. Nor do I think she did this because she wanted to kill the empress. I think she offered this solution to Onn Sin as she sincerely thought this was the only way. I think she was misunderstood.

Hung Mo went to see Onn Sin but she refused to see him. He shouted at her door "Do you think it is worth it to sacrifice your life? Siu Luk Tzi's death would be meaningless. Onn Sin, please reconsider, please don't do this" but Onn Sin was confused as she wondered what she should do.

Next day Onn Sin I think was on her way to have kinda like lunch with the empress who has invited other concubines. Yu Fei was not going as she said "There is no point in going, moreover, it will be a day of tragedy to which I do not wish to be a witness". So poetic, I mean myself.

But Hung Mo stopped Onn Sin (looking rather orange) halfway and Onn Sin said "Please let me pass" but Hung Mo stood there like the man he was (oh yeah, very manly Hung Mo) and said "I'll not allow you to kill yourself" and Onn Sin said "That is the only way" and Hung Mo said "Don't you get it? Yu Fei is using you to achieve her revenge against the empress. Wake up, stop being used by her, this is not worth it!" and Onn Sin said "Is that what you think of Yu Fei? You have misunderstood her. Everything she has done, she has done it for you, to safeguard your interest, to ensure your safety. This way, only Yu Fei and I are involved, and you're not involved". Hung Mo was like DING as in suddenly woke up and realised Yu Fei was in love with him.

Pause here. What Onn Sin meant was Yu Fei and herself did not want to involve Hung Mo, so that Hung Mo won't do extreme stupid stuff which will get him killed. Lucky man, 2 women thinking about him first and foremost.

But Hung Mo said "No, I will not let you. If you go there now, I'll surrender myself to the palace guards and confess to the killings of the 2 eunuchs (remember this? Ah seem like so long ago)" and Onn Sin shocked said "Don't be foolish. You'll die!" and Hung Mo said "I'll not let you walk through this journey alone". So romantic! Onn Sin was having second thoughts but Onn Sin then said "Fine, do what you must. I'll still do what I must" and Hung Mo then walked away and Onn Sin quickly called him and said "Where are you going? Don't do it!" and Hung Mo said "No, I am going to see the emperor, I am going to tell him about the empress, I am sure he will be fair in all this and stop the empress!" and Onn Sin said "It won't help!" and Hung Mo said "I'll try" and he ran to the emperor.

The emperor was very busy thought because revolts by the peasant rebels were going on and he was busy, very busy so Hung Mo had to wait.

Meanwhile, Senior Suen approached the empress and informed her of Bak Yeung's action and his intention to retire and the empress was not happy but Senior Suen gave her Bak Yeung's 3 fingers and the empress said "Alright, you may retire if you wish" and senior Suen left but the empress in an evil look said "He knows too much". Which means she will kill him before letting him leave. Senior Suen then went home and told his daughter in law whom I discovered is not called Hau Shu but Hou Suet (how I can make such a mistake? I heard Hau Shu, I swear!) that he was sorry for putting her into such a difficult situation like running away but Hou Suet good naturedly said "It's ok father, at least now I can spend a bit more time with Bak Yeung". Bak Yeung came home and politely greeted Hou Suet who ran off to cook for him. What a wonderful wife and of all the wonderful women as you shall discover who were all in love with Bak Yeung, he had to pick the rotten one. No taste. Only Hung Mo got good taste. Emperor everybody also can. Anyway Senior Suen and Hou Suet will leave first, whilst Bak Yeung said he wanted to say his final goodbyes to Fook Nga at her funeral. But I think he will then smuggle Yee Soon out, something Senior Suen didn't know.

Somewhere along here the empress was investigating about Eunuch Tsui's involvement and the rumour that he had planted some girls in the palace. Since he was dead, she summoned Mrs Tsui. Mrs Tsui refused to let the empress see her face and when the empress saw her face, she recognised her as the maid of the kwai yan whom she disposed off years before (you know that 3rd skeleton in the well) and Mrs Tsui threatened the empress and said "If my lady insists, may I be allowed to repeat what happened years before?" and Mrs Tsui was slapped silly as the empress asked "Who did Eunuch Tsui plant into this palace? WHO?". Very cruel woman and suddenly Mrs Tsui dropped dead and confirmed that she bit her own tongue and committed suicide. The eunuch then said "Your majesty, I heard of rumours that Mrs Tsui used to visit Fook Kwai Yan, perhaps there is a connection" and the empress gave that evil look. As the body of Mrs Tsui was carried out Fook Kwai Yan saw the blood dripping. She didn't see the face of the body but I think she knew since she was rushing there, probably heard that Mrs Tsui was in the palace. She gloomily went back to the palace and met with Yee Soon and gave her some advice; "Yee Soon, be very wary of the empress. Remember that" and then she met with Bak Yeung and had a long chat with him where she said "Dr Suen, please promise me, if you have the opportunity, please take Yee Soon away from here. The Empress meant to harm her, I know because I saw Mrs Tsui dead and sooner or later they'll realise the connection between myself and Mrs Tsui and eventually myself and Yee Soon. Please help her" and Bak Yeung was saying "How can I? One can't simply leave the palace unless there is a death of a concubine" (I think her body must be escorted out of the palace for burial, how impersonal) and suddenly Fook Nga vomitted blood and as she laid dying in his arms and Bak Yeung asked why Fook Nga confessed "It's only poison. I have taken them for years, now I just take a little bit more. I am tired Dr Suen, so very tired. I took the poison because that is the only way I can see you often, to have you by my side" and Bak Yeung realised she loved him THAT much and he said "You were the most favoured concubine 7 years ago, why did you throw it all away for me?" and Fook Nga said "It was worth it, for me, but I am not the only one who loves you, we sisters married the same man and fell for the same man..." and then Yee Soon rushed in and saw her dying and tearfully asked "What happened? Why?" and Fook Nga gasping said "Yee Soon, listen to me, leave this palace with Bak Yeung, remember my words" and Yee Soon said "No, I won't, I will not leave you, why is everybody leaving me? Why is everybody dying on me?" and Fook Nga said "You must leave! Your sister would never rest, it would have been her wish! Leave!" and then she died. I don't think Yee Soon ever knew at that point Fook Nga was her sister. It was a very sad scene but also too long, I was waiting for her to stop talking and die for a full minute.

Anyway, she died.

Back to the empress. Shortly after Senior Suen left, Yuk Ying's maid came to see her offering some news for a chance to go home earlier and that concerns about the baby.

Back to Hung Mo waiting outside and guess who was in it? The Empress telling the emperor what she found out. "The baby by Wah Kwai Yan (Yuk Ying) is not your majesty's! This is confirmed by her maid. And perhaps your majesty may consider checking into Soon Kwai Yan's baby as well" and suddenly the emperor said "You mean they all meant to harm me? If that is so my empress, you shall bear the largest portion of the blame" and the empress was shocked. The emperor explained "Here I am worried about the rebels and my dynasty and there you are telling me the problems with the concubines. You're supposed to be in charge and you have done a bad job and have burdened me further!" and the empress was like "How can you say that? I was merely telling you the truth, I have evidence, I have witnessess" and the emperor was like "I do not wish to listen to your deceitful lies anymore! I have always know what you have done empress, I have known for years how you bully the others and ruled with tyranny but I have always closed one eye because you're the empress. But do not challenge my authority, do not stretch the limit of my patience" and the empress was in tears as she said "You think I meant to harm you? Those women, those concubines, they do not care about you. They just like the status but everything I have done, I did it because you're my husband and I am your wife, I am trying to safeguard your interest, to protect you!" and he said "Get out! GET OUT!" and angrily she left, screaming why why why is everybody against her.

Well for once the emperor is doing something useful but I understood his problems.

But before this scene, Hung Mo was still waiting when suddenly Yu Fei arrived and she said she wished to speak with him. She whispered "There is no point for you to wait her, the emperor is busy. Leave now before you make a mistake" but Hung Mo said "I will not leave until I see his majesty" and Yu Fei whispered "You will only hurt Onn Sin more. What do you think the emperor will think of you when you strolled in and express your concern for Onn Kwai Yan?" and Hung Mo knew what she meant because then the emperor would think they're having some affair and YU Fei said "I took back the poison, your purpose of seeing the emperor is no longer in existent. I will figure a way to save Onn Sin". And so Hung Mo left.

Meanwhile outside the palace, Chan Song has joined the rebels and was awaiting eagerly to get into the palace (he knew the way after all) to settle old scores with Hung Mo.

Pause here. Chan Song joined the rebels?! Let me laugh it off for like a few paragraphs.























Ok, continue.

Whilst the empress was angry with the emperor's reaction Yu Fei cooly strolled into her room and politely said her greeting and announced that "My dear sister, I am here to announce a very good news. I shall take Onn Sin as my sworn sister from today onwards and whoever shall do harm to her, I shall not forgive this person and shall ensure her downfall" and the empress was screaming "WHY ARE YOU PROTECTING THAT SLUT? (oh yeah, slut is the right translation for the word she used) WHY ARE YOU FIGHTING MY EVERY DECISION? WHY?!" and Yu Fei merely strolled out.

Back at her place, Onn Sin was very grateful whilst Yu Fei said "I have done what I shouldn't have done. But I am still powerful enough to ensure your safety, so I have done what I must" and Onn Sin said "I don't know how to thank.." and Yu Fei cut her off by cooly saying "There is no need for gratitude. We are all in the same boat, so now we must ensure it never capsize" and Hung Mo suddenly kneeled before Yu Fei and conveyed his gratitude, much to the displeasure of Yu Fei who really didn't want his gratitude. And Yu Fei invited Onn Sin to stay at her place, to protect her in a way.

Very good of Yu Fei and she did all these for Hung Mo. Lucky man!

At night as they were star gazing, Yu Fei said to Onn Sin "There is still time to mend the broken ties, take this opportunity to mend it with Hung Mo" but Onn Sin sadly said "My time to mend such ties has passed. I have hurt those I didn't want to hurt, harm those I never wished to harm and broken ties that I can no longer mend (she meant Hung Mo). I cannot involve him anymore in my troubles, I am married now to the emperor, it is impossible and Yu Fei, you know that yourself" and Yu Fei sadly said "Yes. How funny fate is isn't it? If it is not for my forcing you to marry that eunuch, you wouldn't have known how much Hung Mo loves you. If it is not for my fall from power, I wouldn't have strived to gain back my power and see things differently. If I hadn't been Yu Yuet and I've never entered the palace, and if I have met Hung Mo earlier, I wouldn't have ended up this way". Onn Sin could only agree.

Pause here.

Excellent scene here which I will has my vote as the most memorable scene for this episode. For one 2 good actors. 2nd 2 pretty actors. Most important of all, the contrast. Onn Sin had Hung Mo but she threw it all away and regretting she did that as she sadly noted broken ties could no longer be mended, simply because she's married it makes a whole lot of difference who she is married to. Yu Fei on the other hand never had Hung Mo and wished she had met him earlier and she would never had thrown away the opportunity. Two women reflected on their love for one good man and how different their situations are, and don't know which is worse; Onn Sin because she knew Hung Mo still loves her and will do anything for her and yet she can never be with him or Yu Fei because she loves him, can never be with him, will do anything for him but his heart belongs to someone else. I think Hung Mo likes and respects Yu Fei but he loves Onn Sin of course. Excellent scene and I can't blame them for fighting over Hung Mo, a great man in my opinion.

Anyway next day big thing happened. The emperor asked to see Hung Mo and told Hung Mo he was leaving the palace for some official business but meanwhile the emperor wanted Hung Mo to do something; "I have been very bothered with the problems of my concubines. It has caused me distress. But I know there is a solution and Hung Mo I want you to settle it for me" and Hung Mo said yes and Emperor said "I want you to kill Suen Bak Yeung". Of course Hung Mo was shocked but well Moses Chan was like you know injected with Botox or something because he didn't look appropriately shocked.

Next thing, emperor was away and then suddenly the rebels broke through the heavily guarded forbidden palace and last scene was a very angry looking Chan Song standing in the middle of the big big space looking rather deadly, unshaven but deadly.

Tomorrow, last episode Hung Mo said he has to kill Suen Bak Yeung, Yee Soon told Suen Bak Yeung to run for himself and not care about others, the Empress intends to use the rebels to kill off Yu Fei, Yu Fei and Onn Sin got attacked by rebels, Bak Yeung tried to persuade Yuk Ying to run but ended up slapping her (hurray!) and well we know who will die.

Story wise, tonight is a contrast of emotions. I feel after so many episodes the one character that kinda is consistent is Hung Mo who is my favourite character. I still don't like Yu Fei but I am beginning to get very annoyed with the empress. Ah a jealous woman after all. I was asked who loves the poor emperor then? Simple. The empress lar. Who else? I can't stand Yuk Ying and luckily she's not in this episode.

What I find disgusting though is how useless Bak Yeung become. I can't feel for his love for Yuk Ying which I will is blinded kind of love, the worst form of love there is. Blinded not just to her weaknesses but to her obvious flaws that are borderline questionable on her integrity. And I also can't understand why Yuk Ying's personality is like a yo-yo and I'll explain more in my review. Anyway disgusting. Bak Yeung was rather useless. And I bet it would be Yee Soon herself who had to escape on her own as that dumb man go after that idiotic woman. They do deserve one another. Feel for their love? Give me a break. Where got love? Onn Sin - Hung Mo - Yu Fei maybe.

Performance wise, Rebecca Chan did excellently, especially the confrontation with the emperor. Why she never won that veteran award? She deserves that award for this performance. She was truly vindictive, evil, unreasonable and yet never really shouted much.

Sheren Teng played a rather serious but mellowed down Yu Fei and I like this change. I guess the times in the cold palace deflated Yu Fei's ego which is great but still she looks arrogant. Good performance though.

Maggie Cheung as usual great. No more comments.

Jade Leung was good as Fook Nga but her death scene was far too long.

Charmaine Sheh is good as the perpetually depressed looking Yee Soon but she faltered a bit in that Fook Nga death scene. Her performance there was melodramatic, her actions deliberate therefore timed therefore fake therefore not very good. Other scenes she was good because doesn't require much acting.

Bowie Lam didn't do too well. Same problem as Charmaine Sheh, the only difference is degree of melodramatic acting, in his case lack of melodramatic acting. He seems ill at ease playing an emotionally vulnerable man and it shows. More in my review.

Moses Chan was ok. I like his Hung Mo but seriously this man needs more expressions to his Botox face you know. But he does resemble the righteous and romantic Hung Mo in many ways. I kinda like the idea of him being Min Jung Ho if there was ever a HK version of Jewel In The Palace because frankly Ji Jin Hee wasn't that great an actor. Moses did well in those tears are gonna roll down my cheek but not yet scenes. Just his facial expression is lacking. Oh imagine what Jang Dong Gun could do with this character!

Yu Yeung was ok but really what a miscast.

One funny observation. Previously I wrote that the emperor may find himself with a surplus of concubines but now he may find himself seriously lacking concubines with one dying in each episode. Very funny.

Anyway a very good almost last episode but still this series is spiralling towards ridiculousness so it's great it is ending tomorrow. I mean how could the rebels just run into the palace? Of course this series won't show the technical side of it after all it is not important, what is important is they're inside the palace to create a diversion so that everybody could run. Now the emperor may find himself lacking a guard, one doctor, 4 concubines, one empress and an unborn child. Funny.

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