American Perspectives: Ji Chong Brings Ma Zhaixing Home (The Wolf Ep. 38-39)

Prince Bo cries as he protects Ma Zhaixing in her sleep, not knowing that Ji Chong has been watching them as he steps away to collect his thoughts.  Day breaks, and Ji Chong reveals himself to Prince Bo at the river.  Prince Bo is looking extra tired and vulnerable as Ji Chong begins to speak.

He reveals that he knows Prince Bo's real feelings for Ma Zhaixing, and that he was the one who made sure that she knew the Wolf Bone flower could kill him so she could use it to her advantage.  Prince Bo tells Ji Chong not to let Ma Zhaixing know his feelings for her.  He wants to stop the King of Yang from committing additional atrocities in the name of political gain, and he doesn't want his love for Ma Zhaixing to be used against him.  He intends to return to the capitol to be executed for treason, since he couldn't die at Ma Zhaixing's hands on the battle field.  He wants Ma Zhaixing to know, he wants her to feel vindicated so she can finally be at peace for the atrocities he committed against her family.  Prince Bo tells Ji Chong to never ever let Ma Zhaixing know the truth so she can never suffer again.

Ji Chong mentions that had they not fallen in love with the same woman, or been from enemy sides, they would have been great friends.  

Ma Zhaixing wakes up to Ji Chong sitting beside her, and she tries to hide her disappointment.  After all, she had an epiphany about Prince Bo the night before, and he did leave without saying good bye.  To make it look believable that he chased Prince Bo away, he cut his arm with Prince Bo's sword prior to his departure.  Ma Zhaixing isn't completely buying the story, but she's accepting it for now. She has a lot to contend with when she returns to the Jin Kingdom, and the method of Prince Bo's departure is neither here nor there.  

Her dormant feelings for Prince Bo have returned, and she's currently in a position where she has to figure out how she's going to handle them.  Little do they know, Prince Bo is watching them leave, and he whispers, "See you in the next lifetime, Ma Zhaixing."

It's heart wrenching because you know they love each other, but they also have so much bad karma to clear before they can move forward.  Similar to the healing process that occurs after betrayal trauma has been committed.  Just going back to each other and ignoring the past isn't going to work in the long run.  They have to deal with their own underlying issues independently.  So, instead of trying to find Prince Bo, Ma Zhaixing agrees to leave with Ji Chong.  Instead of turning back and saying good bye to Ma Zhaixing, Prince Bo chooses to face the King of Yang, and end the atrocities for once and for all.