American Perspectives: A War and An Arrow Pt. 2 ("Ashes of Love" Ep. 31)

 

 

**The intent of The Flower Realm by 사극 Paradise is to support women and men in rejecting the culture of pornography, and to live a life of integrity without manipulative intent.***

 

"Ashes of Love" is a Xianxia drama based on the novel "Heavy Sweetness. Ash-Like Frost," by Dian Xian.  The writing presented here is based on observations from the television show "Ashes of Love."  Dialogue credit goes to the English subtitle translaters from the "Gone with the Shirt Team" at Viki.com.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Qiang Huo drops to her knees in the gazebo.  "Jin Mi, I'm sorry."

 

Jin Mi kneels down in front of her, and pulls her up.  "Get up," she says gently.

 

Qiang Huo begins to sob.  I royally fucked up.  I just thought that if I can't have her, nobody can.  I thought that if she wasn't going to get away from him, I would make her get away from him.

 

"Other than qingyue," says Jin Mi, "I really don't know any other colorless and tasteless poison that won't get immediately noticed by me, and not cause any abnormalities in my pulse.  Slowly, it becomes a lethal poison."

 

"I deserve to die a thousand times," Qiang Huo sobs.  "It is indeed qingyue.  I just didn't know--"

 

"You didn't know that my body...has an intense and unusual reaction to it.  Even Auntie doesn't know about it.  These past years, I've been testing medicines behind your back.  A medicine is three parts poison.  Inside my body now, what's flowing isn't blood anymore.  It's already poison."

 

Qiang Huo's heart breaks.  I acted like a jealous wife, a controlling mother, and this is the price I pay.  

 

"Everything has its antagonist," says Jin Mi.  "Poison can counter poison.  The poisons inside my body have actually reached a balance.  These poisons for me aren't harmful anymore.  It's just that...qingyue has fire properties.  It's too lacking in cold.  It can completely destroy the balance within my body.  When the balance got broken, the poisons inside my body have become uncontrollable."

 

Qiang Huo sobs.  "You know about the tribe's rules more than I do.  Why then must you...Jin Mi, we are sisters.  It's impossible for me to harm you.  I poisoned you just to catch your attention, and make you leave this place as soon as possible.  Never thought that you would be this stupid.  I couldn't dare mention this to Auntie.  I...I..."

 

"Qiang Huo," says Jin Mi.  She puts her hand on Qiang Huo's shoulder.  "I'm not blaming you, nor am I blaming Auntie.  The tribal rules of the Sacred Healer Tribe are above everything.  I am the Saintess.  It is I who broke the rules.  I shouldn't have fallen in love.  I deserve to die."

 

"What's good about King Yi?"  Qiang Huo asks disdainfully.  "You clearly knew that this would happen, yet you still fell for him.  I know...I know that you're not a woman who looks at appearance and gets easily bewitched by it."

 

"That's right," Jin Mi agrees.  "What's good about King Yi?  I also don't know.  I don't know what's good about him, but I also feel...that everything about him is good."

 

Qiang Huo grabs her arms.  "Jin Mi, I've prepared money and clothes.  I really don't want to kill you.  Jin Mi, quickly leave.  Don't return here or to Sacred Healer Tribe.  I know that no one can beat you in terms of medicine making skills.  Since you already know that it's qingyue, you surely can cure it."

 

Jin Mi tearfully shakes her head.  "I'm not leaving.  Qiang Huo, this time, I'm going to live as Jin Mi.  I'm not the Saintess.  I'm Jin Mi.  I'm willing to use my life in exchange."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Father, what are you trying to do?"  Sui He asks.

 

"Sui'er, blades have no eyes.  Hurry and come here," says Lord Nanping.

 

Sui He looks back at King Yi.  She and Lord Nanping dismount their horses.

 

Instead of going to her father as expected, Sui He gets in front of King Yi, and protectively holds her sword in front of him.  He'd better want to, at the very least, fuck me after this.  He'd better be so turned on, that he absolutely cannot resist me.  

 

Lord Nanping frowns.  Even until the very end...My daughter, you are a super dumb ass, setting yourself up for a lifetime of anger, hatred, and disappointment.  

 

King Yi nervously looks down at Sui He's sword.  Oh, boy.  She's going to have unrealistic expectations tonight.  

 

"Sui'er," says Lord Nanping, "why must you be this obstinately persistent for a man who doesn't love you?"

 

Sui He blushes.  You just had to call me out, Father.  Just you wait.  I'll make him love me.  

 

"If he really cared about you," Lord Nanping continues, "he would have married you long ago."

 

I've thoroughly read 'The Art of the Bedchamber,' Sui He thinks.  Once he has a night with me, there won't be anyone else.  She looks over at King Yi for some kind of indication of a change of heart.

 

He's not wrong, King Yi thinks.  He pointedly avoids eye contact with Sui He.  You really suck at Nunchi, he thinks.

 

When he doesn't make eye contact, Sui He sadly looks away.  She can't exactly announce to him at this very moment that she's reading 'The Art of the Bedchamber,' and hey, do you wanna give it a go?  Her heart sinks.  Even in this world, this is how it's always gonna be.  "Order them to retreat first, and I'll go there."

 

King Yi looks over at her.

 

Lord Nanping smirks.  "Retreat!"

 

Sui He feels mortified beyond belief as Lord Nanping's men withdraw.  This fucker couldn't even step up and pretend to honor our betrothal.  Instead, he just goes silent in front of every man in Huaiwu.  I feel so stupid!!!  

 

Lord Nanping can't contain his grin.  If this is what it takes for Sui'er to get a clue, so be it.  "Come.  Come here to Father."

 

Sui He expectantly looks over at King Yi, desperately hoping for him to grab her, get down on his knees, and proclaim that he's loved her the entire time, he's just afraid of being vulnerable.

 

It doesn't happen.

 

Sui He walks toward her father.  Her steps are slow, her face is burning, and she wants to cry.  Heavenly Empress will be so disappointed in me.  

 

Lord Nanping grins and chuckles.  That's my girl.  

 

King Yi watches her warily.  Sui He is known all over the kingdom and beyond for her hair trigger temper.

 

Each step gets heavier and heavier as she approaches her father.  For Heavenly Empress' sake, I must do this.  Her heart pounds in her ears, and she drops her sword with a clattering sound.

 

Lord Nanping chuckles.  Good girl.  Now, you finally get it.  "King Yi, you see that?  My daughter--"

 

Sui He lunges forward, dagger in hand, and without hesitation, she stabs Lord Nanping in the gut.

 

Lord Nanping grunts in surprise.

 

Qin Tong's eyes widen in horror.

 

King Yi gasps.

 

Lord Nanping grabs Sui He's arm.

 

Sui He's eyes burn with tears.  Why did I stab my father over a man?  Will this even be worth it?

 

"Sui'er," Lord Nanping gasps.

 

"Father," says Sui He.  "The kindness you showed me in this life, I will remember it.  You are a good father."  Tears roll down her face.  Unfortunately, regardless of gender, the sex drive trumps the rational brain.  "But, too bad...compared to Xu Feng, you are only...an insignificant mortal."  And now, Xu Feng owes me, big time!  So he has to be with me, whether he wants to or not!  

 

What the hell is wrong with you?  Lord Nanping wants to ask.  After all this time I taught you how to be independent, you still bowed down and deferred to your hormones.

 

Sui He stabs the dagger further in, with the ease of sticking a hot knife through a stick of butter.

 

Lord Nanping grunts in surprise.

 

King Yi gasps.  Shit.  Shit.  Shit.  I should have never let Sui He help.

 

"Marquis!"  Qi Chong pushes Sui He away.

 

"Sui'er...Sui'er..."  Lord Nanping gasps.  He crumbles to his knees.

 

What have I done?  Sui He thinks.  He's the only one in all of these worlds who genuinely loves me.  Heavenly Empress sees me as an accomplice.  Xu Feng never wanted me.  Heavenly Emperor?  If he could get away with it, he'd try to fuck me and forget me.  

 

"Marquis!  Marquis!"  Qi Chong yells.

 

Lord Nanping loses his strength and falls backward as he bleeds out from Sui He's lethal stab.

 

"Marquis!  Marquis!"  Qi Chong shakes him.  He looks up at Sui He hatefully, and rises.  As he's about to slice off her head, King Yi deflects his sword.  He dō strikes Qi Chong across the torso, striking him dead.

 

"Men of Marquis Nanping," Qin Tong announces, "listen well!  If you put down your weapons now, and follow King Yi to the battlefield to kill the enemies, you can make up for your crimes with merit."

 

King Yi approaches a tearful Sui He.

 

Well, maybe I can get sympathy sex from him after all, and that will get him to stay, Sui He thinks.

 

"We will then not go after you for trying to assassinate King Yi," Qin Tong continues.  He draws his sword.  "If not, your crime is punishable by execution of your whole clan!"

 

Several soldiers run to Qin Tong's side.

 

"I didn't know that Father would actually dare commit the crime of attempting to kill the King to usurp the throne," Sui He sobs.

 

King Yi cautiously puts his arm around her, but uses his manner hand, and doesn't touch her.  If I let my hand touch her, she will come to the wrong conclusion.

 

Sui He looks up at him, thrilled that she can rest her head on his shoulder, close to his chest.

 

King Yi patiently waits for her to pick up on the manner hand, and his body being stiff as a board.  Please use your nunchi and pull away!! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

King Yi and Qin Tong walk into the encampment late at night.  They enter his ger, tired as hell. 

 

"Your Majesty, you just successfully forced the Liangguo Army to retreat," says Qin Tong.  "Don't you want to rest for a night first before setting out?"

 

"Cousin," Sui He says pitifully as she enters the ger.  While she feels remorse, she intends to use this to her advantage.

 

"Go now," King Yi whispers to Qin Tong.

 

Qin Tong bows and exits.  Be careful with that one, he thinks.  You break it, you buy it.  

 

Sui He looks at King Yi with the most pitiful face she can muster.  "Cousin, my father is already dead.  Now, you are the only person left whom I can rely on."

 

King Yi groans internally and suppresses a shudder.  Don't do this to me.  "I know.  I will forever remember what you did for Huaiwu.  If you encounter any problems in the future, I surely will not just sit and watch."

 

He's cancelling the marriage, Sui He assesses.

 

"I only have one problem," Sui He says pathetically.  She puts her arms around him, and her head on his chest.

 

King Yi's skin crawls.  Please don't do this to me.  Looks like I'm going to have to keep a sharp eye on my drinks every time we're in the same room.  

 

"That is, how to make you willingly marry me."

King Yi wants to throw up.  I knew it.  This woman is insane!  Fuck.  He tries to distance himself from her without causing her to go ballistic.

 

"Cousin, are you still bothered about my matter with Puchi Jun?"

 

No, it was the best thing to happen to me, King Yi thinks.

 

"That was just a misunderstanding," Sui He insists.

 

Don't do this, King Yi thinks.  If you stabbed your dad, you will most certainly stab me when things between us go sideways.  Or, worse yet, you will hurt Jin Mi without hesitation.

 

"I...my love for your is very sincere," Sui He insists.

 

I'm sure it is.  

 

"The heaven and earth can bear witness to it."

 

Please stop.  You murdered your father over a wedding.

 

"In this lifetime, I won't marry anyone, but you."

 

And you'll be a miserable Queen with a dead bedroom, while I take Jin Mi as a high ranking concubine.  I don't want you!  

 

Sui He squeezes him tightly.

 

King Yi recoils.  "Sui He."

 

"A man's fleeting life is just borrowed," Sui He says desperately.  "If Cousin won't agree to it, I am not willing to continue living."

 

You don't have it in you to take your own life, King Yi thinks.  He gently pushes her back.  "Sui He, I already have someone in my heart.  I am unable to accomodate anyone else.  Hence, from now on, I will treat you like my real sister."

 

Ew!  No!!!  Fresh tears roll down Sui He's face.  Even in this world...What did I do to be so cursed by the Heavens?  "Is that person in your heart...Jin Mi?"

 

"Yes," King Yi whispers.

 

Sui He's jaw clenches with rage.  "Why is it her?  She's the Saintess of the Sacred Healer Tribe.  You and her will never have a future."  And she most certainly hasn't read 'The Art of the Bedchamber.'  

 

King Yi braces himself for the dreaded female meltdown.

 

"Cousin, I have loved you since I was little," Sui He whines.  "I did so many things for you.  Even my father...Yet you're being this heartless to me."

 

"Sui He," King Yi says gently.  "I know about your feelings."  Who doesn't?  "I feel grateful for everything that you've done for me.  But...But it's also making me shiver all over, even if I'm not cold."  Killing your father is an enormous red flag.  "I know that I'm unable to repay it.  If you ever get in danger in the future, I surely will risk my life to protect you.  But in regards to marrying you, I really can't promise you that."

 

King Yi decides to walk away, but Sui He grabs his wrist.

 

"Cousin!"  Sui He cries out.  Don't do this to me!  "I've done all this for you.  What's good about Jin Mi?"

 

She isn't related to me, and she isn't transactional.  She also gives me space to process my feelings.

 

"Good enough that you won't stop pursuing her from heaven to earth!"  Sui He says venomously.

 

"Sui He!"  King Yi takes a deep breath.  "Because of what happened, lately, your emotions are unstable.  Let's just talk next time."

 

As he gets ready to finally walk out, Qin Tong enters, right on cue.

 

"Why didn't Your Majesty remove your armor?"  Qin Tong asks.

 

Because I planned on ripping it off tonight, Sui He thinks.

 

"Is the horse prepared?"  King Yi asks.

 

"It's prepared," Qin Tong replies.  "I even chose a group of elite soldiers to escort you back to the Mountain Villa."

 

"Take Lady home," King Yi instructs as he walks away.

 

Hot tears of anger burn Sui He's face.  Jin Mi, I will never let you get your way.

 

 

...To be continued...