American Perspectives: Sore Spot Pt. 3 ("Ashes of Love" Ep. 51)

 

 

***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.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

The night sky in the Heavenly Realm shines beautifully as Jin Mi makes her way back to Xuanji Palace.

 

Run Yu watches her cross the bridge to get to her quarters.  It's good that you know to come back, Run Yu thinks.  Mi'er, how must I handle you?  If I let you out, I'm afraid that your body will escape.  If I lock you up, I'm afraid that your heart will escape.  How long do you plan to torment me?  Must he die before you can completely be mine?  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sui He strolls down the hall with her two court ladies.  "His Majesty has already granted me this Gucheng Royal Palace.  Go tidy it up."

 

"Yes."

 

"You two leave first," Sui He pauses in the hallway.

 

She walks the hallway alone, and hears some sinister sounding laughter.  She stops right in front of the door and shoots fire energy from her finger.  The double doors unlock, and she pushes them open.

 

"Delicious!"

 

"Do you want some?"

 

She comes upon King Yancheng's sons Xuan Shou and Cai Shou eating at the table.

 

Oh, hell no!

 

"I'm not giving you anything to eat," says Cai Shou.

 

Drool drips down Xuan Shou's chin.

 

They look over at Sui He.

 

Cai Shou rises and approaches her.  "Little Immortal!"  He attempts to grab her, but Sui He steps away, causing him to fall on the floor.  He stands up and goes toward Sui He again.  Sui He extends her leg and trips him.  

 

She firmly plants her foot in his torso.

 

Cai Shou grabs her leg and laughs.  "Little Immortal!"  His hand travels further up.  "Royal Father must have sent you to play with me!"

 

"Move your dirty hand away!"  Sui He yells.  "Die!"  As she's about to generate flame energy, Xu Feng enters the room and grabs her wrist.

 

Sui He kicks Cai Shou's hand away.

 

"Your Majesty, kill them," says Sui He.  "Grind their bones and scatter their ashes."

 

"Take them away," says Xu Feng.

 

Four guards enter and carry the two men out.

 

"Little Immortal!"  Cai Shou yells.

 

"King Gucheng is now outside escaping for his life," says Sui He.  "We must eliminate his descendants."

 

"They are the two sons of King Yancheng," says Xu Feng.  "King Gucheng gave them medicines to make them crazy, and locked them up here, so he can control the old subordinates of King Yancheng.  They are already very pitiful.  Why must you still be ruthless and exterminate them?"

 

Compared to the tantrum you threw over a grape?  Sui He thinks.  Compared to how you've turned into a misogynist who treats all the serving women like porn objects because you were hurt by that Flower-Water Deity Hybrid Trash???  "That toad like thing was grabbing on to me!  Don't you care at all?"

 

"He's not in his right mind.  No need to lower yourself to his level."

 

He was on the verge of finger fucking me!  Sui He wants to shout.  Get a clue!  "In your heart, my position is actually inferior to those crazy sons of King Yancheng?"

 

Xu Feng sighs.  Fuck.  I walked right into that one.  No wonder Father idealized Zi Fen and skirted around mother.  Mother held him accountable.  Zi Fen was a highly subservient pretty face who barely spoke.  He sighs and walks out.

 

Damnit!!  Sui He thinks.  Why is it always about him?  She quickly grabs him by the waist.  Maybe if I offer anal, or a threesome, he'll no longer be angry with me.

 

Xu Feng tenses up.  Our relationship is purely transactional, in addition to the flattering image we present to the public.  Don't expect anything else from me.

 

"I initially thought that by sparing no effort to save you," says Sui He, "I could earn a place in your heart."  Two can play this transactional game.  "But in the end, am I just having a unilateral love?"

 

Xu Feng pries her hands from his waist.  He turns to face her.  "Sui He, I never forgot that you saved me."

 

"In your heart, am I just a savior?  These past days, you have been first kind, then cold to me.  My heart has been hoping and falling with this.  Do you know that when you treat me nicely, how happy I am?  When you're cold and heartless like this, how sad I get?  What really is your heart made of?  Why can't I understand you, no matter how hard I try?  You should understand that I never wanted to be just your savior, and I don't need you to repay me with anything!  I just want to be your wife.  Just want to stand side by side with you, and share the joys and sorrows of this world with you!  Is it that hard?"

 

"Sui He, right now...there are so many problems in the Demon Realm.  Just let me handle everything first."

 

Blow it out your ass, Sui He thinks.  "You still can't forget about Jin Mi, am I right?"

 

"Stop mentioning her," Xu Feng bristles.

 

"If you have really forgotten her, why be afraid that I'll mention her?"  Sui He explodes.  "She betrayed you, lied to you, and even killed you!  You still can't forget her."

 

"Enough!"  Xu Feng snaps.  I needed an out from the moment of truth anyway.  

 

"I did so much for you," says Sui He.  "What did I get in return?"

 

Xu Feng takes a deep breath.  He reluctantly squeezes her arm.  "Today is your birthday.  Don't let these things affect your mood."

 

If Cai Shou sexually harrassed Jin Mi, you'd be all over it, Sui He thinks.  Let's cut the crap, shall we?  "I won't bother with those two crazy people anymore.  I will appropriately settle them."

 

Xu Feng steps away, nodding his head in approval.

 

"Xu Feng," Sui He whispers after he has left the room.  "I will surely make you completely mine."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cai Shou and Xuan Shou are placed inside a cave.

 

"Let's go," says a guard.

 

"We'll just leave like this?"

 

"Or what?  You want me to stay and accompany them?"

 

"Don't know how these two crazy sons of King Yancheng offended our new master.  If not because Demon King intercepted, they almost got killed."

 

"This...but isn't this worse than dying?"

 

"Meeting a stinky, fierce, woman like that, we will surely suffer."

 

"Demon King will surely suffer."

 

"Let's go."

 

The two guards exit.

 

"Don't go!"  Cai Shou crawls across the dirt.  "I want to eat!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sui He walks out to the dock to join Xu Feng.  She puts a black cloak over his shoulders.  "Demon King, it's almost nighttime.  Be careful of catching a cold."

 

Xu Feng rolls his eyes and sighs.  "Thanks."

 

Sui He stands beside him.  "No need for thanks between us.  Today, I got teased by those two lunatics and behaved inappropriately.  I said some harsh words.  Don't take them to heart."  Anything to get him to like me again...

 

"Don't worry, I understand."

 

"Demon King, do you really hate Jin Mi?"

 

Shit.  "A person who killed you, would you not hate her?"

 

"Hating her means that you still remember her.  I'd rather that you completely forget her.  That way, I can finally enter your heart."

 

Xu Feng turns to face her.  "Sui He, I said before that I remember everything you did for me.  In the future, let's stop talking about that person so that it won't spoil our mood."

 

Sui He nods.  She looks out at the river.  "Before, I never truly appreciated the scenery here at Wangchuan River.  Looking at it today, it's actually so magnificent.  It must be because I have you by my side."  She puts her hands on his waist.  "I really hope that we can always be like this from now on.  This way, I'd be content."  She leans on Xu Feng, and he slightly recoils.

 

"Okay.  Then from now on, we'll come here often.  I prepared a birthday banquet for you tonight.  Let's go back."

 

Sui He leans against Xu Feng again, and this time, he doesn't recoil, but he's slightly stiff.  I need her backing, he thinks.  I need that Bird Tribe Alliance.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Demonic gisaengs dance in the center of Yujiang Palace.  Sui He sits on the settee, while Xu Feng is lying down next to her left, openly drooling over the gisaengs.

 

Sui He looks over at him demurely.  Well, I guess that's what men do.  If I act cool about it, he'll like me more.  

 

Jin Mi enters the empty walkway.  She peers through the colored doors and sees Sui He's birthday spectacle inside.  Phoenix, although you only have Sui He in your heart, I still want to see you.  

 

With a swish of her hand, she transforms into a white rabbit.  She pushes her way through the doors, and hops across the floor.

 

Jin Mi makes her way up to the platform where Xu Feng and Sui He are sitting.

 

"Wishing Princess more blessings and longer life!"  The gisaengs chorus.

 

Sui He rises and walks to the edge of the platform.  "You all leave first."

 

"Yes," the gisaengs exit.

 

Sui He looks over at an apathetic Xu Feng.  "I am very grateful to Demon King for organizing my birthday celebration today."

 

"It's enough that you like it," says Xu Feng.

 

Jin Mi observes them from a corner.

 

Xu Feng gestures to a court lady.  She pulls off the lid from the jade box.  As she's about to pull out the gift, Xu Feng says, "Wait."

 

The court lady retracts her hand.

 

Sui He looks at Xu Feng curiously.

 

He rises from the settee and removes Sui He's cloak.  He reaches inside the box and pulls out a cloak made from peacock feathers.

 

Jin Mi's heart sinks.  Does she have the Phoenix Feather Hairpin, too?  

 

He drapes the cloak around Sui He's shoulders.

 

Sui He blushes and her heart races.

 

"The night is damp and windy," says Xu Feng.  "Avoid getting cold."

 

"Demon King..." Sui He whispers.

 

"No need to act in such a formal manner when it's between us.  Stop calling me Demon King.  Call me Xu Feng."

 

Sui He smiles.  "Xu Feng."

 

Jin Mi frowns at them.

 

A court lady steps forward.  "Demon King and Princess are really a perfect match.  Demon King is of noble blood.  The best in the Six Realms."  She grabs Jin Mi's rabbit form out of the corner.  "Even a rabbit who hasn't cultivated a human form also admires you."

 

Xu Feng looks at the rabbit and smiles.  "How did you know that this rabbit admires me?"

 

"Upon entering, it just stayed there and stared at you, not blinking at all."

 

Sui He looks down at the adorable bunny.  She affectionately strokes her fur.  "This rabbit is so pretty.  It's fur has no other color at all.  Xu Feng, can you gift it to me?  I'll train it to become my pet."

 

Jin Mi begins to squirm.

 

"There are some things that you can't tame just because you want to," says Xu Feng.  "Maybe you want to raise that, but you don't know if one day, it'll pounce on you instead."

 

Sui He laughs.  "It's just one rabbit.  Moreover, it's so well behaved.  How could it hurt anyone?"

 

"Behaved?"  Xu Feng asks.  "Let me see."  He extends his hand.  "Is it really well behaved?"  He cautiously studies the rabbit.  Memories of Jin Mi getting a pair of rabbit ears in the Demon Realm come flooding back.  He can't help himself.  He smiles, and reaches out to touch her.

 

No, I can't let Phoenix discover me!  Jin Mi thinks.  She nips at his finger.

 

Xu Feng recoils.

 

"Xu Feng, are you alright?"  Sui He asks.

 

Phoenix, sorry, Jin Mi thinks.

 

"Not only fierce tigers bite," says Xu Feng.  "A rabbit biting can catch you more unprepared, right?"