Episode 9: Welcome To The Harem

I really like this episode because it focuses on harem politics and clearly explains it to viewers who may not be familiar with the harem (perhaps taking into consideration a foreign audience).

-Our episode opens up with Zheng yet again in Li'er's room. He straight out tells her that he has just decided that the child is his (perhaps this is the only way he can accept it) by telling her that Lord Zhao is the father's child (Lord Zhao, in case you forgot, was the identity he took when pretending to be a merchant). He basically tells her that he will always want her (like saying I love you without saying it, I think, but she won't think that of course).

-Outside of the chambers is a servant of Ruo'er spying. Just when I was wondering how the heck she managed to sneak past the guards, Lord Zhong (chamberlain) shows up and catches her in the act but I think he lets her go.

-Ultimately, the emperor leaves without sleeping with her. Elsewhere, Jing Ki is led away for hard labor but swears he will return to rescue Li'er.

-Zheng is walking with Zhao Gao and basically says he feels guilty for spending every night in the harem. Zhao Gao assures him that this is good because the foundation of the state is the harem, after all, that's where heirs come from. But to avoid in-fighting, he urges him to pay attention to the other women, and he accepts this as sound advice.

-Meanwhile, Ruo'er is happy to brag about the emperor visiting her and Madame Jing (the woman he sleeps with after leaving Li'er each night) is out of sorts because of this. Elsewhere, a guy who I cannot remember--some random spy--seems to be very much interested in what is going on the state of Qin. He listens to gossip about how Li'er has quickly managed to get pregnant and this surprises him. Sorry, but I just cannot remember who he is.

-The Grand Queen Dowager holds a meeting with the emperor and basically is hyper critical of Li'er, citing all of the bad things she has done from attacking servants to the general. Ruo'er sits next to her. The emperor chooses his words carefully as he does not want to offend her and rationalizes her behavior as natural as she came from a military family and reminds Ruo'er that it was her suggestion that led to the duel. With no other fuel, the Grand Dowager acknowledges that it is still good that he is bringing in new women and that Li'er is pregnant. She again tries to get him to name a queen, but he states that while he isn't ready, he does want all of his concubines to have children.

-After he leaves, the Grand Queen Dowager makes it clear that she will not have Li'er as Queen. She wants Ruo'er to be Queen and plans to feed Li'er medicine to make her miscarry. She also lectures Ruo'er on working harder to get pregnant. Now all of this sounds atrocious but this is just harem politics. Li'er's arrival has not only disrupted this bubble, but it is incredibly insulting that the king favors a commoner warrior woman, while these women have been groomed from the cradle to possess certain qualities that are the 'ideal woman' in addition to working hard to maintain their status in the harem. In this way, I can understand their anger. This is all basically acceptable behavior, so long as you aren't caught, because you are expected to fight to win the ultimate prize, which is giving birth to a son who may one day be the emperor--it's like the ultimate in prestige and honor.

-Ruo'er decides lady Jing will be the one to get the medicine in her food. This is pretty smart because it gives her power over her, the only other competition she really has, and could also be a way to get rid of a rival.

-Li'er falls suddenly ill and is in danger of having a miscarriage. The emperor is furious by this and orders Zhao Gao and the chamberlain to investigate. If they fail to find out who is responsible he will kill both of them and the servants serving Li'er. On the one hand, it is normal to order an investigation, but that is a pretty big deal.

-Jing visits Ruo'er who is extremely confident that she is safe. After all, Ruo'er tells her that Zhao Gao is her guy (so earlier, when he suggested that the king visit other concubines, it wasn't to prevent disharmony it was really because he wanted him to visit Ruo'er) and the medication is actually a prescription prescibed to her--so she can't be to blame. It is heavily implied that Jing is in danger.

-Jing visits Li'er and essentially is there to curry favor. She is smart, and responds to Li'er's direct and blunt dialogue by being as direct as she can be while making herself sound like a friend. After she leaves, Li'er naturally expresses skepticism for her visit. Her servant explains to her that women like Ruo'er and Jing have solid positions because they are from powerful states, other concubines go to them to curry favor. But Li'er is pregnant and has the favor of the king, so Jing would want to curry favor with her. She implores Li'er to think of her child and consider taking advantage of the kind's attention to protect her unborn child.

My Thoughts:
I strongly think that Li'er may actually be more submissive to the emperor to protect her child. She has the mind of warrior, and it is almost like being pragmatic and tactical. She will stand to gain much more for her child's safety if she shows the emperor some affection, and it could also send a message to the other women.

I think that Jing is a bigger threat than Ruo'er. Maybe it's because I watched a lot of Empress of China. But the quiet ones always seem to be the ones who pull the biggest surprise.

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