This review may contain spoilers
Mostly sad but a worthwhile watch.
Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace is a poignant reminder that sometimes, love isn't enough. Despite being an overall sad drama, it's a relatable and realistic portrayal of everyday relationships. I enjoyed the acting, storytelling, and Ruyi's careful planning for exoneration, without murder or malice everytime she was wronged. Ruyi's vindication, and consort Lings eventual retribution made this drama well worth watching.
Ruyi was correct not to resuscitate her love. It died a thousand deaths, leaving nothing left to resuscitate. It started when she confessed she didn't know how to untangle the knot the emperor tied in her heart, due to his treatment towards her after their child's death... but it died a million times when the emperor made guard Ling Yunche suffer due to the emperors own cruelty, insecurity, and wish to hurt Ruyi with his continued treatment of guard Ling and Ruyi afterwards.
Although I appreciated the conclusion, two elements didn't sit well with me. Firstly, the emperor's decision to cut his hair and add it to the box with hers, while I think this action is exactly something someone like this would do. I felt it violated her wish to be free of him. Secondly, the plum tree's bloom at the end felt like an inadequate attempt to show their love redeemed. It was a million wrongs, and decades too late, for even symbolic redemption.
It's a tragic irony that some men and women are so myopic, that even after, the death of someone one who cared for them selflessly, their sense of conceit is so staggeringly large that they will never take a look in the mirror and see their own wrongs. Most will only truly be sad for their sense of loss of the dutiful carer, rather than the love of the person. They will most likely continue to point their fingers at others, so as to hide from the consequence of their own overinflated ego. The persons who truly care for them, are repaid with nothing but cruelty and emotional abandonment.
If you're thinking that grace and love can overcome everything, you're probably wrong, and are most likely just wasting the love and care you have to give. If you're able to move on, and share your love with people who will help it grow, and multiply, don't hesitate. Don't continue to water the dead plum tree of your unrequited love; unlike Ruyi's plum tree at the end of this drama. What is well and truly dead will never again blossom.
Ruyi was correct not to resuscitate her love. It died a thousand deaths, leaving nothing left to resuscitate. It started when she confessed she didn't know how to untangle the knot the emperor tied in her heart, due to his treatment towards her after their child's death... but it died a million times when the emperor made guard Ling Yunche suffer due to the emperors own cruelty, insecurity, and wish to hurt Ruyi with his continued treatment of guard Ling and Ruyi afterwards.
Although I appreciated the conclusion, two elements didn't sit well with me. Firstly, the emperor's decision to cut his hair and add it to the box with hers, while I think this action is exactly something someone like this would do. I felt it violated her wish to be free of him. Secondly, the plum tree's bloom at the end felt like an inadequate attempt to show their love redeemed. It was a million wrongs, and decades too late, for even symbolic redemption.
It's a tragic irony that some men and women are so myopic, that even after, the death of someone one who cared for them selflessly, their sense of conceit is so staggeringly large that they will never take a look in the mirror and see their own wrongs. Most will only truly be sad for their sense of loss of the dutiful carer, rather than the love of the person. They will most likely continue to point their fingers at others, so as to hide from the consequence of their own overinflated ego. The persons who truly care for them, are repaid with nothing but cruelty and emotional abandonment.
If you're thinking that grace and love can overcome everything, you're probably wrong, and are most likely just wasting the love and care you have to give. If you're able to move on, and share your love with people who will help it grow, and multiply, don't hesitate. Don't continue to water the dead plum tree of your unrequited love; unlike Ruyi's plum tree at the end of this drama. What is well and truly dead will never again blossom.
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