The Empress of China Episode 39

episode 39 spoilers ahead

Spoilers Ahead

1. Before making his choice, Li Mu tells the emperor that he has confirmed what he has known all along: that he does not love her. He asks that should Meniang live, he wants the emperor to allow her to choose to stay or not. The emperor agrees. He drinks both cups of wine (called it!). And dies.

2.Elsewhere, the emperor summons Meniang to his candle room and lights a candle. Again he asks her what she wants. She tells him the same thing as last episode. He embraces her and tells her that because of Li Mu's traitor parents and plot to kill him, he had to kill him. He did it secretly. She breaks down in tears and tries to kill herself but he stops her, embraces her, and states that he owns her and decides when she dies. She begs for death. He gives her poisoned wine, she passes out.

3.She awakens in a cottage outside the city, dressed as a boy. Li Mu is there. First he states that Prince Jin saved them, but then he reveals the truth: the emperor staged his death because Chancllor Zhangsun would have had him killed. The emperor had a candid conversation with him and revealed that he was right, he could not love appropriately, but he admits he loves her enough that he doesn't want to see her condemned to Gonye Hall (where consorts without children go when the emperor dies, to live as nuns). He wants her to be free. And he believes that he will likely die during this expedition but has no regrets. He makes Li Mu swear to protect her for the rest of her life.

4.Li Mu then releases a very emotional Meniang from their childhood marriage promise and explains to her that he wants her to be happy, she can go her own way. She embraces him and promises to love him in their next life.

5.Elsewhere, the emperor leaves for war. He and his soldiers clash with the enemy on the battle field it is bloody. Meniang is racing to see him. She is attacked by men, but Li Mu appears and admits he has been protecting her from the shadows this whole time (he has an oath to the emperor). Together they plan to see the emperor.

6.Back at the palace, Li Zhi continues to avoid his wife. Concubines are chosen , and he seems to like one, much to the discomfort of his wife. Elsewhere, Xu Hui, who was named Able Consort for saving Meniang's life, is selecting concubines for the emperor. At first she seems nice but then she dismisses each one because of crimes she discovered their families had committed (not sure if she actually had them killed). While walking around the palace, she overhears some maids gossiping about her and one plans to ask for retirement. She has the women locked up in Yeting and their tongues removed. She explains she must use the harsh ways of Consort Wei to everyone watching to ensure she can control the harem.

7.(she seems to be a little crazy) She then lovingly talks to the candle holder used to kill Wenniang, her personal attendant, and asks her if she knows if the emperor can see how she is taking care of the harem for him. She wonders if she should plan for her future, since she is childless and does not want to go to Gonye hall.

Comments:I think that the plot is being developed in certain ways to account for a few historical things:
1)Wang, the crown princess, never bore the crown prince any sons even though he had children with other concubines. Perhaps him not sleeping with her can attest to this (as in he did not like her)
2)Wang had a famous rivalry with another concubine (other than Wu)
3)Meniang was said to be extremely good and fair in developing her friendships and was said to have befriended everyone in the harem, ensuring her control, while others were rude or used harsh methods. In this way she seized power not by being a tyrant or disdainful but by respecting others.
4)Multiple times in the series, the emperor is seen to have his consorts remembered well and events are framed a certain way. Even Consort Yang reports that the history of the emperor was washed down to make him seem not so evil. In this manner, the story tellers can effectively reframe Wu Meniang since her story could easily have been doctored, historically making her look far worse than she was. While this is likely true, I think the show makes her seem more innocent than she should be and I also think that as a woman, her actions are simply viewed as worse because were she a man, no one would care. But I do agree that history probably made her seem worse than she actually is. The biggest challenge to this statement is the fact that accounts of her fairness and kindness have survived, but I am not sure if that is all taken from the same source.

This episode was much less interesting than other episodes. It gets a an 8 still because they are clearly transitioning into new plot lines and it is difficult to do that effortlessly/seamlessly.

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