American Perspectives: Being The Emperor Isn't Easy. "Scarlet Heart" C-Drama Ep. 25-30 response

Being the Emperor really isn't easy, and in Episode 25, I'm already beginning to see Ruoxi slip away from the 4th Prince as he becomes the new Emperor.  He is tasked with making sure his kingdom is running like a well oiled machine, which also means he has to deal with intense pushback from family members who were also engaged in this cutthroat battle for the throne.  And handling them with kindness and love isn't going to cut it.  In a situation like that, back then and now, it never will.  I mean, here in the US, people would be rolling on the floor laughing if someone suggested that we deal with the January 6th insurrectionists (those who wanted to keep Donald Trump in office, so they stormed the capitol), by being loving, kind, and understanding.  Why? Because we know damn well it won't work.  Same thing when it comes to dealing with a bully.  Being kind and compassionate to a bully gives them more ammo.  From what I've read, the best way to deal with a bully is to fight back, and successfully kick their ass.  Some may argue that 4th Prince is the bully.  I disagree.  His whole family, except the 13th Prince is opposed to him being king.  They are conspiring behind his back, and they previously tried to destroy him, so I believe he is 100% justified in kicking their ass on his terms.

He has to deal with his life and the people who take part in it, as something under constant scrutiny.  In the same way that BTS does now, and in the same way the actor Nicky Wu, who plays the 4th Prince, had to recently deal with in real life regarding his marriage to Liu Shishi.  My goodness, people are relentless over every micro detail.  Shocker! Nicky Wu didn't hold the door for Liu Shishi, it must mean they are divorced!!  (Clearly, none of these over analytical people have been in a long term marriage.  In mine, many of those formalities began to fall away in year 2, and no my husband is not an asshole, there's just no need for over the top Victorian Era formalities when we've been together for over 10 years, but I digress, and that's most certainly not the point of this blog).

He can't trust anyone because someone may be using everything he says and does against him.  As a result, he has to harden his heart even more.  He has to separate emotional ties from politics.  Ruoxi is his lifeline, his stress relief from all of this, but unfortunately, Ruoxi is not capable of keeping business and pleasure separate.  Because even though the brothers understand it's just business/politics, as this is nothing out of the ordinary for them, Ruoxi is taking it very personally.  With her being in the palace for over 20 years, I feel she should understand by now that the emotions must be separate from the politics.  And of course, because I always use 기황후 as my baseline for strong female characters now, I ask myself: "Why can't she be adaptable like 기황후? She had more than enough time to do so, and 기황후 proved that a female character like that would still be very likeable." (I get the feeling that many television shows regardless of what country they come from are afraid of making too many characters like 기황후 in fear that they won't sell whatever product placement is embedded in the show).

Because the 4th prince has to harden his heart, he has to give harsh punishments.  This most certainly isn't a position for the faint of heart, or the highly idealistic.  Heck, in Albuquerque, NM, where I'm from, about two years ago, we had a couple of young political officials resign due to mental health issues, and I'm pretty sure it was because they came into these positions starry eyed, idealistic, ready to "change the world" (that phrase in and of itself makes me want to barf.  It screams American Arrogance 2.0).  This is a position that requires raw determination and a sharp focus.

He will lose a lot of people he cares about.  His own mother looks at him with disdain, and refuses to acknowledge him as her son.  The love of his life is beginning to waver, and his brothers are constantly looking for ways to undermining him, even using his own son to do so.  In addition to needling Ruoxi, and planting seeds of doubt. Being at the very top is a very lonely place.  Being Emperor isn't easy.