Torn Between Two Lovers

Title: 还君明珠 / Huan Jun Ming Zhu

English Title: Torn Between Two Lovers/Returning Pearl to Husband

Episodes: 40

Cast:
Dong Jie as Jin Ming Zhu
Huang Shao Qi as Qin Tian Bao
Li Zong Han as Lin Zhi Wen
Liao Xiao Qin as Yang Hong
Sun Xing as Ma Jun
Shen Meng Sheng as Jin Zai Yue (Ming Zhu's father)
Liu Xue Hua as He Xiu Rong (Ming Zhu's mother)
Li Li Qun as Qin Xiao Hu (Tian Bao's father)
Liu Yan Yan (刘燕燕) as Zhang Yu Feng (Tian Bao's mother)
Zhang Dan Feng as Qin Tian Fu (Tian Bao's younger brother)
Liu Zhi Han (刘至翰) as Qin Tian Hong (Tian Bao's older brother)
Dai Chun Rong as Ms. Gua
Chen Li Yuan (陈丽媛) as Fang Nai Mei
Liu Fang (刘芳) as Auntie Mei

This is a remake of the 1980s television series starring Su Ming Ming and Damian Lau.

Plot: (Spoilers)

Jin Ming Zhu is the daughter of Jin Zai Yue and He Xiu Rong, a concubine, her father and his first wife treats both her and her mother poorly, but for her mother's sake she manages. Her family was once very rich but due to her father and his first wife's spending habits the family has fallen into ruins.

Her father and his first wife decide to marry her off so they can take the red packet money. Ming Zhu begs them to let her stay so she could look after her sick mother, but they refuse and decide to go on with the wedding.

Ming Zhu's mother's sickness worsens and she needs to see a doctor.

Ming Zhu, with the help of her former teacher, takes her mother away on a boat to the city to find a doctor, but Ma Jun, a bandit, waylays them and kidnaps Ming Zhu and her mother. He demands 20000 large coins for their release; he warns if the police are called in he will kill them.

The teacher returns and tells Zai Yue and his wife, but they instead call the police as they don't have the money even if they do Ming Zhu and her mother isn't worth that amount to them.

Ma Jun's men are killed during the pickup, he returns, angry, and puts the blame on Ming Zhu, Ming Zhu argues that she had told him beforehand that her family has no money; he just didn't believe her, his men were killed because of his stubbornness.

Her words drive Ma Jun crazy, he holds a gun to her head, but his remaining two men ask to spare her so they could rape her. Ma Jun agrees, Ming Zhu fights back and runs away. Ma Jun corners her and threatens to make her life a misery, Ming Zhu refuses to be violated, she declares she would rather die than suffer the humiliation.

Ma Jun calls her bluff, but Ming Zhu is good to her words and commits suicide in front of him, this shocks Ma Jun and he saves her.

He makes a deal with her that if she could survive being their slave for 10 days he would release her. He ensures her chastity and safety during the 10 days. Ming Zhu agrees on the condition that he releases her mother, who she claims is sick and dying.

During the ten days, Ming Zhu and Ma Jun make a connection, where Ming Zhu realizes that Ma Jun's deeds are all fuelled by his deep hatred and anger to the world while Ma Jun admires Ming Zhu's strong personality and gentle demeanour.

Ma Jun's men kidnap Ming Zhu behind his back and try to rape her; luckily Ma Jun comes to her rescue. Each day they get closer and Ma Jun starts to have feelings for Ming Zhu, while Ming Zhu worries about her mother's health.

The 10 days is up and Ma Jun keeps his words and lets her leave, Ming Zhu returns home to find her mother's health in a worst state from being neglected for so long. Her father and first mother throws them both out because Ming Zhu can no longer get married since no one would believe she hasn't been violated.

Two years pass, Ma Jun is still thinking of Ming Zhu and his men offer to take her back for him. He angrily refuses and goes out to find a prostitute, instead he meets Ming Zhu by accident, though she doesn't see him.

Ming Zhu works the streets as an entertainer (she plays an instrument I don't know the name off in English). Ma Jun is so angered he takes his men back to the Jin household. He threatens both Zai Yue and his wife, Zai Yue must agree to send Ming Zhu back to school and get Xiu Rong (Ming Zhu's mother) a doctor.

Zai Yue agrees and goes looking for the two, Ming Zhu learns of Ma Jun's interference and she refuses his help, they have a disagreement, Ming Zhu finally gives in and goes away to the city with her mother, carrying the money Ma Jun had given her.

Ma Jun watches her leave and throws away his jacket, the jacket that she had washed for him.

Ming Zhu arrives in the city and takes her mother to a doctor; she donates the rest of Ma Jun's money to charity to pay back for some of his sins.

One of those charities is an orphanage where by accident she meets Li Zhi Wen. Zhi Wen learns of the donation from an unknown source and believes it to be her.

Li Zhi Wen is a music teacher at Ming Zhu's new school and along with her friend Fang Nai Mei she joins the quire. Zhi Wen is displeased with their appearance as he feels they are nothing but rich girls who want to have some fun. Ming Zhu sets him straight on the subject and he becomes less antagonistic towards her.

While out walking with Nai Mei, Ming Zhu and Nai Mei's skirt are splashed with mud from a passing car, Nai Mei is mortified and throws mud at the car, the car stops and the owner gets out, he is Qian Tian Bao, notorious playboy. Tian Bao apologies then requests that they clean his car since he had apologized for his wrong so they should fix theirs. Nai Mei is willing to argue the point but Ming Zhu stops her and cleans his car with her handkerchief.

Ma Jun and his men get ambushed by Tian Bao's father. Qian Xiao Hu's army and his remaining two men are killed. Ma Jun goes to Tian Bao's older brother, Qian Tian Hong's, wedding to kill Xiao Hu. Ming Zhu is also present as she is in the quire for the wedding. She sees Ma Jun as he is about to kill Xiao Hu and calls his name. Distracted, he misses and in the confusion kidnaps the new bride as leeway. He locks himself up in the upper floor with the new bride.

Ming Zhu begs Xiao Hu to let her help. Xiao Hu allows her in, she goes to Ma Jun and talks him out of it, she strikes a bargain with Xiao Hu for Ma Jun. He will release the bride if Xiao Hu guarantees Ma Jun's safety, Xiao Hu agrees.

Ma Jun releases the bride and walks out, he tips his hat to Ming Zhu to say goodbye, Ming Zhu smiles at him, but Xiao Hu goes back on his words and has his men shoot Ma Jun in the knees, he then kicks Ma Jun down the stairs. Ming Zhu tries to help but is held back.

Ma Jun pulls out his small handgun and aims at Xiao Hu. Xiao Hu pulls Ming Zhu over as a shield. Ma Jun, not willing to harm Ming Zhu, commits suicide by shooting himself in the chest near the heart. Ming Zhu runs over to hold him; he tells her in his whole life, her tears were the most beautiful things he had ever seen. Ming Zhu is sadden by his death; Zhi Wen helps her bury Ma Jun.

Ming Zhu cuts her hair short and meets Zhi Wen again when he comes to her house to help fix up the house. Her father and first mother had also come to live with Ming Zhu and her mother since they had run out of money. They both look down on Zhi Wen since he is a poor orphan. But Ming Zhu's mother and she both like Zhi Wen who is a nice guy.

Ming Zhu and Zhi Wen starts to get closer and his cousin is angered at them, she causes a fuss with Ming Zhu in school and Nai Mei defends her, which gets all three into trouble.

Zhi Wen argues with his cousin then moves out, his cousin goes to look for Ming Zhu, Ming Zhu tells her there is nothing between them but she doesn't believe her.

Ming Zhu receives a letter from her later to come and meet at a bridge at night with Zhi Wen, Ming Zhu, afraid she might do something goes to look for Zhi Wen, but Zhi Wen isn't home.

As Ming Zhu is walking to the meeting point she sees Zhi Wen's cousin dead on the ground, Ming Zhu is arrested and the chief investigator suspects her. He talks to a local noodles salesman and he claims that Ming Zhu and Zhi Wen's cousin were fighting over Zhi Wen.

The Chief Investigator doesn't believe Ming Zhu and tries to force her to admit. Ming Zhu refuses and ask to see the Chief Of Police, this angers the investigator and he tries to hit her, but Zhi Wen comes in time and stops him. The Chief Investigator refuses to let Ming Zhu go and instead he locks her up.

Zhi Wen goes to look for Tian Bao for help, Tian Bao calls his younger brother Tian Fu and his gang, they manage to find the real culprits and force a confession out of them.

Ming Zhu is released, she and Tian Bao meet and Tian Bao laughs at the odds. Yang Hong, Tian Bao's girlfriend feels uncomfortable with Ming Zhu's presence but keeps her mouth shut.

Tian Bao realizes Zhi Wen likes Ming Zhu and tries to help, but his help lands Zhi Wen in trouble with her parents and Tian Bao goes to apologize. Ming Zhu's parents like Tian Bao better because he is a rich guy.

Ming Zhu's father gambles and owes a lot of money, he gets chased out in the street. Ming Zhu and Zhi Wen sees and tries to help but instead they get chased, Zhi Wen gets knocked unconscious and falls onto Tian Bao's car.

Tian Bao takes him to the hospital and yells at Ming Zhu for causing Zhi Wen's injury; he threatens to harm Ming Zhu if she doesn't offer herself as a reward for Zhi Wen helping her. Ming Zhu replies calmly that Tian Fu and his friends also helped her escape jail, should she offer herself as a reward too?!

Zhi Wen wakes up and Ming Zhu goes to get him some water. Tian Bao uses the chance and tells Zhi Wen that he had been unconscious for 3 days and nights, and Ming Zhu had never left his side, she had always been holding his hand and whispering sweet words to him.

Zhi Wen believes him, the next day he finally tells Ming Zhu his feelings. Ming Zhu also accepts him but he later realizes that he had only been unconscious for a couple of hours. Tian Bao admits he lied but states that it was necessary since Zhi Wen was a coward and Mushroom Head (Ming Zhu) is to stubborn to make the first move.

Their relationship progress smoothly, Tian Bao gets his girlfriend Yang Hong to double date with Ming Zhu and Zhi Wen but Yang Hong dislikes Ming Zhu and is often subtly rude to Ming Zhu. Tian Bao doesn't notice and Ming Zhu doesn't seem to mind as she doesn't like Tian Bao.

Ming Zhu's father learns of Qian Xiao Hu and states that Qian Tian Bao and Jin Ming Zhu are engaged, Ming Zhu's first wife tells Zhi Wen to give up and this saddens him, Tian Bao sees Zhi Wen being sad and asks him but Zhi Wen tells him to go ask Ming Zhu.

Tian Bao thinks Ming Zhu has left Zhi Wen for another man and tells her off, Ming Zhu tells him of their engagement but Tian Bao doesn't believe her. Ming Zhu tells him she has no reason to make it up and Tian Bao starts to remember of such an engagement. He sees how Ming Zhu is very serious about the incident and tells her not to worry as she isn't a great beauty anyway so the world won't have a big loss.

Tian Bao declares that he'll marry her and still can have his many girlfriends outside, Ming Zhu is angered at his words and slaps him, she furiously tells him that she would never marry a person like him.

Tian Bao realises his mistake and goes home to talks his parents out of the engagement. His mother goes with him to the Jin household, she sees Ming Zhu and likes her but she could also see that Ming Zhu doesn't want to marry Tian Bao. She gives Ming Zhu's parents some money and they're willing to let the engagement go.

Things return to normal and Zhi Wen and Ming Zhu starts seeing each other on a regular basis, Tian Bao and his girlfriend Yang Hong frequently goes out with them but Yang Hong is still distrustful of Ming Zhu's and Tian Bao's relationship.

Zhi Wen's uncle goes crazy and kidnaps Nai Mei's father, Zhi Wen and Tian Bao dissolves the situation, Ming Zhu thanks Tian Bao with her eyes, Yang Hong sees and gets jealous.

Tian Bao has a misunderstanding with his father and moves out, he moves in with Yang Hong. Yang Hong gets him a job on the police force where he would be paid a large amount for doing nothing, but instead he takes the teaching job Ming Zhu offers him at her school. Yang Hong is angered that he choose Ming Zhu over her and they break up. Tian Bao moves in with Zhi Wen.

Zhi Wen has been working a lot of overtime to make money so he could marry Ming Zhu and offer his Uncle a better life, Ming Zhu tells him they could both take care of his uncle so she comes over every day to cook and clean.

Tian Bao and Ming Zhu start to spend more time with each other and Ming Zhu mellows out to him, she starts to call him by his name.

Yang Hong has an argument with the Chief Investigator who likes her but she likes Tian Bao, he vows to hurt Tian Bao. Yang Hong is worried and goes to look for Tian Bao at Zhi Wen's house, she sees Ming Zhu and misunderstands the situation, she slaps Ming Zhu and this anger Tian Bao, he tells her to leave, and she does so after she realizes Zhi Wen's uncle is also home.

Yang Hong goes to look for Tian Fu and tells him about the threat, Tian Fu and his friends tails Tian Bao and protects him, they see how Tian Bao and Ming Zhu get along very well and Tian Bao seems to be very happy when his with Ming Zhu.

Yang Hong once more tries to get Tian Bao to leave, Tian Bao ask for Ming Zhu's advice, she tells him to stay and fight with Tian Fu and his friends as backup. Tian Bao agrees, Yang Hong angrily leaves.

Tian Bao ask Ming Zhu to tell Zhi Wen and Zhi Wen's uncle to leave along with her, Ming Zhu ask him if he's scared, Tian Bao says he's just worried for the people around him, Ming Zhu gives him a safety charm Zhi Wen had given her, Tian Bao is touched by the deed and can't seem to forget the feel of Ming Zhu's hand.

Tian Bao starts to realizes his feelings for Ming Zhu, Tian Fu also ask him about it because both him and his friends thinks Tian Bao has feelings for her, the knowledge pains him so much he goes drinking and the Chief Investigator frames him for Revolutionary Acts.

Zhi Wen learns of it and decides to go avenge for Tian Bao, Zhi Wen's uncle tells him if he goes he will die, what will happen to Ming Zhu then?! Zhi Wen says he will always love Ming Zhu but he can't let Tian Bao die like that. Ming Zhu doesn't stop him and lets him leave, instead she tells Tian Fu to go look for their father.

Qian Xiao Hu comes in time to save his son, Tian Bao is released and the Chief Investigator is captured, Xiao Hu waits for Tian Bao at home but he refuses to go home, instead he goes to look for Zhi Wen and Ming Zhu. His feelings for Ming Zhu grows and it pains him even more, he goes out drinking and is dragged back by Tian Fu and friends, Ming Zhu stays to take care of him all night.

Tian Bao wakes up the next day and finds out. He is so angry he tells her off, Zhi Wen's uncle yells at him and Tian Bao apologise and leaves, Ming Zhu runs after him and ask him what was wrong, she says they are friends. Tian Bao returns the safety charm and tells her to keep it well, its Zhi Wen's feelings for her.

Ming Zhu urges him to tell her what is wrong, Tian Bao finally tells her he had fallen in love with someone he shouldn't have, and he grabs her by the shoulders and asks her what he should do. Ming Zhu is so shocked she pushes him away and tells him she loves Zhi Wen. Tian Bao leaves and moves out of Zhi Wen's house.

Tian Bao starts to live life badly, he drinks and gambles all day, Zhi Wen is worried about him, and doesn't understand why Tian Bao moved out. Ming Zhu doesn't say a word about anything, Zhi Wen starts to suspect.

Ming Zhu goes to look for Tian Bao and tells him she can be his friend but she can never accept his love, he shouldn't be ruining his life because of her. Tian Bao denies liking her but goes away broken hearted. He stops gambling and pretends to be his old self again in front of everyone; Zhi Wen can see through the lie and tells Ming Zhu that Tian Bao is in a lot of pain.

Ming Zhu's father gambling debtors comes to the house, they want to take Ming Zhu as payment but her mother steps in so they take her instead. Ming Zhu is hurt in the process yet her father and first mother don't try to help, she goes looking for Tian Bao and begs him to save her mother.

Tian Bao goes to his father for help, Xiao Hu tells him to kneel to him if he wants the help, Tian Bao does so and Xiao Hu is angered at his submission but he keeps his promise and helps save Ming Zhu's mother.

Tian Bao takes Ming Zhu to see her mother and Xiao Hu realises who it is the Tian Bao is willing to kneel for, Ming Zhu begs to meet her mother, but before she can her mother commits suicide. Ming Zhu is choked by her mother's death and Tian Bao tries to comfort her.

At her mother's burial, Zhi Wen gets angry at her father's and first mother's words and tries to beat her father up. Ming Zhu yells for him to stop and he does so. Ming Zhu is so broken by the death of her mother she falls apart, Zhi Wen tells her to believe in him, believe that he would always love her and take care of her, Ming Zhu leans on him and Tian Bao is so shaken at the sight he falls into depression again.

Tian Bao's parents calls for Tian Fu for information, he finally spills the beans on who Tian Bao is in love with. Tian Bao's parents want to help but don't know how since they both know Ming Zhu and Zhi Wen are a couple, and Tian Bao will never fight his best friend for Ming Zhu.

Tian Fu seeing how his brother is suffering, goes and talks to Zhi Wen. Zhi Wen had already guessed that Tian Bao is in love with Ming Zhu but refuses to give her up. Tian Fu states that he has no power to protect Ming Zhu, since the first person Ming Zhu thought of to save her mother was Tian Bao, not him.

Tian Fu's words hit hard and Zhi Wen ask Ming Zhu on the topic, Ming Zhu doesn't answer but he understand that even if she had come to Zhi Wen, he would have taken her to Tian Bao so she skip the middleman altogether. Ming Zhu says there is nothing between her and Tian Bao, Zhi Wen says he knows but there could have been.

Zhi Wen decides to leave for France, so that Ming Zhu and Tian Bao can be together. Ming Zhu is hurt but she doesn't say anything. Tian Bao finds out and goes to talking to Zhi Wen. Zhi Wen tells him to take good care of Ming Zhu. Tian Bao is angry and tells him he will be marrying Yang Hong. Zhi Wen doesn't believe him.

Tian Bao goes and proposes to Yang Hong, Ming Zhu is worried at the outcome, but Tian Bao assures her it's because he loves Yang Hong, Zhi Wen however, still decides to leave.

Zhi Wen's uncle finds out his reason for leaving and is angry at him. He says they both want to give Ming Zhu to the other but now Ming Zhu would be left alone after her mother just died.

Nai Mai goes to see Ming Zhu, who had moved into the school dormitory after her mother's death. She tells Ming Zhu that Zhi Wen has moved his departure day early, he would be leaving tomorrow. Seeing how hurt Ming Zhu is, she goes and yells at Zhi Wen.

Zhi Wen finally realises his mistake and decides to go look for Ming Zhu, however, he is captured by Tian Fu and forced to break up with Ming Zhu. They had also captured his uncle, and Zhi Wen agrees and goes to see Ming Zhu the next day before his supposed departure.

Zhi Wen asks Ming Zhu if she is angry with him, and she tells him yes, but she can't stop him. He hugs her and tells her to wait for his return, Ming Zhu agrees and they part ways. Tian Fu who had seen the whole thing is angry and yells at his friends. His friends take it out on Zhi Wen's uncle.

Zhi Wen is also beaten and forced to write a break up letter to Ming Zhu. Later that night, Zhi Wen's uncle gets very sick, but they refuse to let him out. Zhi Wen manages to find an escape route but his uncle commits suicide as not to hold him back.

Zhi Wen escape, Tian Fu and friends give chase, in a struggle, Tian Fu accidently fires a shoot at Zhi Wen and he falls off the cliff, Tian Fu finds the body and buries it in the forest. Zhi Wen survives the fall and the live burial, manages to crawl out to a nearby road, he is then saved by a newspaper owner and taken back to the city for recuperation, but Zhi Wen has lost all of his memories.

Tian Fu goes to Yang Hong and tells her the only reason Tian Bao is marrying her is to keep Zhi Wen for Ming Zhu, because Zhi Wen knows Tian Bao loves Ming Zhu. Yang Hong is furious but Tian Bao managers to convince her that he does love her.

Tian Fu, not wanting Tian Bao to cause himself any more misery, listens to Tian Hong's scheme. He drugs Tian Bao before the wedding and takes him away, while Tian Hong forges a break up letter from Tian Bao to Yang Hong on the wedding day.

Yang Hong is humiliated and leaves the city, Tian Bao realises what happens but Yang Hong refuses to see him again. He is hurt and goes home and picks a fight with his father, he claims it was all his doing and is beaten up by Xiao Hu.

Tian Bao goes back to Zhi Wen's place and locks himself in the dark, Ming Zhu goes to look for him and ask him why he did such a thing to Yang Hong, Tian Bao gets angry and tells her to leave.

Tian Fu goes to look for Ming Zhu and begs her to go see Tian Bao, she refuses; Tian Fu finally admits the truth that it was all his and Tian Hong's doing. He also tells his father who proceeds to beat up both sons then goes to look for Tian Bao. Tian Bao is too broken from the incident, he refuses to see reason. Ming Zhu comes to see one more time and yells at him for being a coward. Tian Bao leaves the city the next day.

War breaks out, the Qian family's army goes to war with a neighbouring army. Zhi Wen and his new family leaves the city to find shelter in the country, Nai Mei and family have also made plans, she tells Ming Zhu to come along. Ming Zhu agrees but also ask for a pass for her remaining parents.

Ming Zhu tells him but her first mother is still being mean, they try to leave but is instead push back in when bandits come looking. The first mother dies when she is stabbed by a bandit for not giving up her money, Ming Zhu's father is also hurt.

Ming Zhu goes looking for Nai Mei but Nai Mei and family has already left, Ming Zhu goes to the hospital to look for help for her father and she meets Tian Bao again. Tian Bao is now a doctor and has matured much. He helps save her father and the two grow closer each day.

Tian Bao meets up with his family again and the Qian family wins the war.

Meanwhile, Zhi Wen marries his saviour's daughter and is seen by Nai Mei on his honeymoon.

Ming Zhu is still waiting for Zhi Wen and she wants to go to France to look for him, Tian Bao offers to help and tells Tian Fu to go by a ticket. Tian Fu instead send the break up letter before to Ming Zhu, Ming Zhu reads the letter and breaks down, but she hides her pain from everyone, especially Tian Bao.

Nai Mai returns to the city and goes look for Ming Zhu, she tells Ming Zhu what she saw and Ming Zhu shows her the letter, Nai Mai is furious.

Ming Zhu had become a nurse at the hospital and she works herself sick. Tian Bao finds out why and spends more time with her.

They are witnessed by Yang Hong who has returned. Tian Bao goes to apologise to her but refuses to marry her, she is bitter at the events and hires goons to rape Ming Zhu. Tian Bao finds out and threatens to kill her if Ming Zhu is harmed. Tian Bao comes in time to save Ming Zhu but she faints from exhaustion.

Tian Bao stays by her side throughout the hospital stay, he refuses to sleep or eat and drink, his family tries to talk him out of it but he refuses.

Ming Zhu finally wakes up and she tells him she wishes to keep a distance with him, Tian Bao proposes but Ming Zhu declines. Ming Zhu goes home and decides she wants to go away for a while, she ask Tian Bao not to help her anymore and he tries to keep his promise though it pains him so.

Ming Zhu goes to a church and decides to be a nun, Tian Bao talks to her to no avail so he goes to a temple to be a monk, Ming Zhu talks to him to no avail either. Tian Fu and his parents also try to talk Tian Bao out of it but he refuses, Xiao Hu is so angry he calls for Ming Zhu's arrest, he wants to force her to either marry Tian Bao or die, Zu Feng (Tian Bao's mother) says that if Ming Zhu dies, so will Tian Bao.

Tian Fu goes to see Ming Zhu and begs her to reconsider, if there was no Zhi Wen, would she have loved Tian Bao?! Ming Zhu ponders on the matter and finally goes to see Tian Bao on the day he is to shave his head, she tells him she will marry him, Tian Bao is overjoyed and they get married, Yang Hong also comes on the day and wish them a full life, with barbered hints.

Tian Bao and Ming Zhu go away for the honeymoon, Tian Hong who has been having an affair with Yang Hong has an argument with his wife, Xiao Hu in an angered state shots and cripples Tian Hong, in anger he takes Yang Hong into the house, Tian Bao and Ming Zhu returns on the day.

Tian Hung's wife commits suicide and the whole house is shaken but Tian Hong doesn't care, Yang Hong and Tian Fu's mother are in cahoots and they create trouble for Ming Zhu. Tian Bao is given the leadership of the army since Xiao Hu's health is declining.

Ming Zhu and Tian Bao are supposed to go to another town together but Ming Zhu falls pregnant and stays behind. On her way to see her father, Ming Zhu saves a young girl who turns out to be Tian Fu's mother's niece, she treats the girl bad and Ming Zhu steps in to help, this creates further problems between the two, Yang Hong adds fuel to the fire.

Xiao Hu and his first wife (Tian Hong & Tian Bao's mother) goes away so Xiao Hu can recuperate, leaving Ming Zhu in charge of the household, much to 2nd Madame(Tian Fu's mother)'s displeasure.

Tian Bao returns and treats the new girl nice, she falls in love with him, Yang Hong gets Tian Hong to rape her and put the blame on Tian Bao, Ming Zhu believes the story and the young girl commits suicide when she realises Tian Bao doesn't love her.

Ming Zhu is so angry at the outcome she goes into early labour, she refuses to talk to Tian Bao after the birth of their son.

Xiao Hu and his wife returns to the house, they try to patch things up between the two.

Zhi Wen during the time has returned to the city and became a journalist; he is outraged at the Qian army's doing and abuses them in his article. Qian Xiao Hu is furious and orders his 2nd Blood Brother to give Zhi Wen and his family a lesson, Xiao Hu's 2nd Brother takes things overboard and kills the whole family, Zhi Wen escapes and an order for his arrest is put up under Tian Bao's name.

Tian Bao's mother arranges an outing to the temple with Tian Bao and Ming Zhu, but Tian Bao is called away to an emergency prior to their leave. Xiao Hu receives information about Zhi Wen's family and sends men after Ming Zhu and his wife for protection.

Tian Bao finds the arrest warrant and realises the person is Zhi Wen, he learns of the mascara and rushes to protect Ming Zhu and his mother.

Both arrive too late and Zhi Wen shoots at Ming Zhu, Tian Bao's mother saves her and dies, Ming Zhu sees who it is and calls for Zhi Wen but he doesn't realise who she is.
Tian Bao receives the news and goes to the hospital, he finds out his mother is dead, both he and Ming Zhu grief for her, Ming Zhu demands to know why Zhi Wen would want to kill her and Tian Bao can't answer.

Tian Bao goes to look for Tian Fu, Tian Fu admits his wrong doings to Tian Bao, Ming Zhu enters during the argument and demands an answer, Tian Bao takes the blame, he tells her everything he did was so he could have her, but now that he has had her she is free to leave him, Ming Zhu slaps him and walks out.

Ming Zhu moves into Nai Mei's house but soon receives word of Zhi Wen's arrest, she returns to Tian Bao's side, hoping to save Zhi Wen. Tian Bao is joyous to see her, Ming Zhu request to see Zhi Wen and Tian Bao agrees.

Ming Zhu explains to Zhi Wen their history and how they had come to part, Zhi Wen pretends to believe her, she releases him and he uses the chance to capture her. Xiao Hu, grieving for his wife, refuses to release him even for Ming Zhu's safety.

Tian Fu and Tian Bao steps in and saves Ming Zhu, Tian Fu hits Zhi Wen on the head and he recalls Tian Fu as the person whom had harmed him, Ming Zhu calls for him and their memories rush back to him, he calls her name and tells her Tian Fu wants to kill him.

Ming Zhu wishes to go to him but Tian Bao holds her back, Zhi Wen recognises Tian Bao and is both furious and heartbroken that his best friend would harm him.

Xiao Hu stops them, he declares Zhi Wen is to be executed, and Ming Zhu faints as Zhi Wen is taken away. When she wakens she gives Tian Bao the cold shoulder and he doesn't try to talk to her.

Tian Bao, Tian Fu along with Xiao Hu's bodyguard hatches a plan to save Zhi Wen on that night, the bodyguard is suppose to take Zhi Wen to Ming Zhu's new house (Ming Zhu's father now lives there after she married Tian Bao), but Zhi Wen escapes and runs back to her old house, finding the house empty he leaves.

Tian Bao sends word for Ming Zhu on the same day that her father is sick and wishes to see her, Ming Zhu rushes back home to realise it was a lie. She goes to her old house to remember Zhi Wen by. The bodyguard also arrives and Ming Zhu learns of Zhi Wen's escape with the help of Tian Bao and Tian Fu, her words angers the bodyguard who tells her the truth.

He was ordered to take Zhi Wen to Ming Zhu's house where Ming Zhu would be visiting her father, he was to give them a large amount of money and help the two escapes the city, Tian Bao and Tian Fu were prepared to use their lives to apologise to their father, Ming Zhu is shaken at the news and returns home.

Xiao Hu is so angered at Zhi Wen's escape he suffers from his old sickness when Tian Hong and Yang Hong adds fuel to the fire, Tian Hong and Yang Hong lets him die and puts the blame on Tian Bao. Tian Bao and Tian Fu has a falling out and Tian Fu runs away when they find out his been using opium.

Tian Bao kneels in front of his parents alter and repents his wrong doings, Yang Hong comes to gloat, Ming Zhu returns to see the scene. Yang Hong admits everything was her doing, the new servant girl was raped by Tian Hong, Tian Fu's opium addiction was by her manipulation, even the fact that both Tian Hong and her had sat and watched as his father slowly died.

Ming Zhu appears and makes up with Tian Bao, Tian Bao threatens to harm her but Yang Hong was prepared and pulled out her gun, she blames everything on Ming Zhu and wishes to kill Ming Zhu so that Tian Bao would know how it feels to lose the one you love. Tian Bao shields her Ming Zhu and this angers Yang Hong even more, Ming Zhu uses the chance and tries to wrestle the gun away from Yang Hong but is shoot in the arm instead, Tian Bao succeeds and the whole household arrives from the earlier gunshot.

Tian Bao captures both Yang Hong and Tian Hong and wants to kill them to avenge for the lives they took, Yang Hong declares she is pregnant with a Qian child, Ming Zhu stops Tian Bao and he agrees to let them go.

Ming Zhu takes her son back to her father's house but halfway her car is hijacked by Zhi Wen, Zhi Wen tells her he is going to take her away so that Tian Bao can no longer cause harm to her, Ming Zhu tries to tell him the truth, but Zhi Wen doesn't believe her. Instead, Zhi Wen accuses her of wanting to stay with Tian Bao for money, he leaves her behind and leaves, and he later joins a bandit group.

He becomes sworn brothers with the leader and tells him about Ming Zhu and Tian Bao, how Tian Bao was his best friend and had tried to kill him to take Ming Zhu, the woman he loved, but now Ming Zhu has fallen for the riches and refuses to leave Tian Bao, the Gang Leader agrees to help him take revenge.

During the mean time, Yang Hong gives birth to a son but her and Tian Hong bicker over the child's real parentage, Yang Hong starts to regret her wrong doings when she realises how important her child is to her. Tian Hong follows an opposing army and tries to cause harm to Tian Bao, this throws the city into turmoil so Tian Bao arranges for Ming Zhu, their son and her father along with some of the other servants to leave the town, Ming Zhu however stays behind with him.

Tian Hong knows that he would likely be killed after the Qian army is defeated warns Tian Bao of impending danger of an ambush, however, the general already knows and Tian Bao's army is still defeated, Tian Hong managers to escape and goes back for Yang Hong and his fortune, Yang Hong refuses to leave her son behind so Tian Hong leaves them behind, but he dies in the process.

Tian Bao and Ming Zhu escape by train to meet up with their son and her father, the train is stopped halfway and Tian Bao goes to investigate, his men have been killed and he is captured by Zhi Wen and his men, who have been hired by the general.

Ming Zhu goes to search for Tian Bao, she is captured by the Gang Leader who takes her to Zhi Wen, Zhi Wen beats Tian Bao up and she tries to stop him, he pushes her away, Ming Zhu falls and hits her head and stops breathing. Zhi Wen is shocked and so heartbroken he repeatedly calls her name.

Tian Bao is taken to another carriage and told that Ming Zhu had died; Tian Bao tries to take his own life but then remembers his son, so he escapes instead.

Ming Zhu survives the head injury and is taken to hospital by Zhi Wen, she begs to see Tian Bao when she wakes up and this angers Zhi Wen. Zhi Wen keeps her confined to the hospital room and tells her she must live well if she wants Tian Bao to live. Ming Zhu offers to stay by his side if he releases Tian Bao, Zhi Wen tells her to kiss him, but she refuses, seeing that Ming Zhu really does love Tian Bao, Zhi Wen cries by himself in the rain.

Zhi Wen is promoted to captain and moves into a large mansion; he moves Ming Zhu into the mansion and keeps her confined there for two years.

During the mean time, Tian Bao had found his son, but Ming Zhu's father had passed away and soon the nanny also passes away, he takes his son away since the general is still looking for him. He goes to another city and meets up with Tian Fu and Yang Hong, he tells him Ming Zhu had died.

Earlier, Yang Hong had taken her son and started begging on the street, she meets up with Tian Fu and the two don't get along, but Tian Fu is still and addict and Yang Hong, wanting to make up to her pass doings, sells her son to buy Tian Fu opium, Tian Fu finds out and goes to the opium house to get her son back. The two reconcile and decide to go back and look for Tian Bao, but by that time the Qian army has been defeated and Tian Bao is on the run.

Tian Bao, Tian Fu, Yang Hong and the two boys tries to leave the town when war hits, they meet up with a friend who tells him Ming Zhu had survived and has been kept captive in Zhi Wen's mansion. Tian Bao tells them to go ahead while he goes back for Ming Zhu, but Tian Fu and Yang Hong refuse and they all return.

Tian Bao wishes to enter Zhi Wen's residence to see Ming Zhu but its well guarded, Tian Fu however takes the chance and sees Ming Zhu, he tells Ming Zhu Tian Bao is alive and waiting for her outside, Tian Fu is captured, Ming Zhu questions Zhi Wen but Zhi Wen avoids her questions.

Zhi Wen hatches a plan, he release Tian Fu and Tian Fu leads them back to Tian Bao, Tian Bao realises and they escape, Yang Hong and her son is separated from them and gets captured by the generals men, while Tian Fu knocks Tian Bao unconscious and lures the gang leader away, he is shoot. Tian Bao comes too late; Tian Fu has already died from his injuries.

Yang Hong is taken to the general and Zhi Wen, the general threatens to kill her son if she doesn't reveal Tian Bao's whereabouts, Yang Hong refuses to the end and he shoots at her son, Yang Hong takes the bullet and dies. Zhi Wen offers to get rid of Yang Hong's son and the general gives him the child.

Zhi Wen's conscious haunts him, he also finds out about the generals secret dealings with the Japanese and secretly works against the general.

Tian Bao contracts a disease, he gives himself up along with his son to Zhi Wen, Zhi Wen takes the child and gives him to the nanny who's taking care of Yang Hong's son, Tian Bao is put into custody.

Zhi Wen goes to see Ming Zhu and she tells him he would regret for the rest of his life if he harms Tian Bao, she urges him to go search for the truth behind his family's killing, about who had saved him.

Xiao Hu's bodyguard from before who saved Zhi Wen comes back and tells him the truth, it was Tian Bao who had saved him, Zhi Wen also talks to Xiao Hu's 2nd blood brother who killed his family, the brother tells him the order was given by Xiao Hu, Tian Bao had no knowledge of the matter until after the fact.

Zhi Wen goes to see Tian Bao and apologises to him, he takes Tian Bao to see Ming Zhu, and he also hires a doctor to treat Tian Bao.

The general finds out about Tian Bao and questions Zhi Wen, Zhi Wen states that he wants Tian Bao to be well and healthy when he tortures and kills him. Another captain under the general suspects Zhi Wen of double crossing and tells the general so, the general believes him and tells him to keep an eye on Zhi Wen.

Zhi Wen finds proof of the generals dealing with the Japanese and steals it, the other captain finds out and tries to arrest Zhi Wen, Zhi Wen kills him, leaks the information and puts the blame on the captain. The general believes Zhi Wen's story and Zhi Wen tells him Tian Bao's execution date has been set, he invites the general and the general agrees to come.

Tian Bao who has been cured is taken to a ware house and is to be executed, the general arrives but Zhi Wen's has set a trap, along with Tian Bao they manage to kill the general.

Tian Bao, Ming Zhu, their son and Yang Hong's son leaves the city, Zhi Wen watches sadly as they leave.

Characters:

Dong Jie as Kim Ming Zhu

Ming Zhu really didn't do much beside being a vase, she started out with potential during the Ma Jun plot line but soon fell into the girl two guys love role, she doesn't say much and doesn't do much. Ming Zhu is a gentle character who deals with problems internally, she's an introvert, and it shows.

After she is married, she brightens up a bit but this doesn't last long as she thinks Tian Bao has betrayed her, it's not till Zhi Wen captures her and locks her in the hospital room does her old strong self appears again.

Dong Jie plays the character well, though she isn't given much room to shine like Liao Xiao Qin (Yang Hong), Dong Jie was never really required to over exert herself, or to give a breakthrough performance. Ming Zhu, isn't a very tough character to play, depending on how each actress interoperates the character, the viewers will see a different type of Ming Zhu.

Dong Jie choose to show Ming Zhu as a strong willed girl, but easily affected by her emotions, she loves Tian Bao, but doesn't trust him, she loved Zhi Wen, but wouldn't stop him from leaving, and she's not a forceful person. Yet, even after two years in confinement, she still maintains a cold relationship with Zhi Wen, though she did once love him, she no longer does.

Which brings up another point, when Ming Zhu finds out Tian Bao was the cause of her breakup with Zhi Wen, she left Tian Bao and only returned to him to save Zhi Wen, then when she found out Tian Bao had nothing to do with it; she left Zhi Wen for Tian Bao.

If she hadn't found out the truth, would she have left with Zhi Wen? I would say yes, but I doubt by that time, she still loved Zhi Wen, her meeting with him in the jail cell was oddly devoid of love, and she seemed to be there solely on the purpose of saving Zhi Wen because she had in avertedly caused his misfortune.

Was this what the script writer had intended? If yes, then why did she run after him and fainted? If no, then Dong Jie must have misunderstood the script, there were certain times throughout the film it feels like she's letting herself be hurt by not talking up to others.

Did Dong Jie do a good job? She did what she was supposed to, she did it well, but not outstanding, I could see shadows of her earlier roles in Ming Zhu. Dong Jie's crying abilities maintained their high standards, her best scenes would be with Li Zhong Han.

Dong Jie and Li Zhong Han worked well together, their chemistry was so intense throughout the film even when she no longer loved him. However, her chemistry with Eric Huang was almost nonexistent, even after their married, after all the trials and retributions they still didn't have the same level of chemistry she had achieved with Li Zhong Han's Zhi Wen. Whose fault was it? I don't know, I would likely say it was Eric Huang's fault, but it could be just the fan girl in me talking.

Eric Huang Shao Qi as Qian Tian Bao

Eric Huang isn't a stranger to me; I've watched him in a long Ming Dynasty film where he played a minister to the founder. I remember him being very good in that film, he was handsome and smart, and he played the character very fitting.

However, his Qian Tian Bao, I didn't really like, he seemed too old to play the character at some parts, mostly at parts where he was required to show Tian Bao's mischievous and fun loving nature, he seemed out of place and a bit too old to be acting so childish.

He however, flares much better in more serious scenes, though I don't know how many love scenes he has done, as he still seems awkward in them.

His Tian Bao and Dong Jie's Ming Zhu start out okay, they do manage to find a semblance of romantic sparks but it dies off soon afterwards, after he has mellowed out and became a doctor, their link with each other doesn't appear for the rest of the film.

His best emotional scene would be when he tells Ming Zhu that he had fallen for someone he shouldn't have, the scene was done well and at that one point, his love for Ming Zhu was bleeding of the screen. Yet, afterwards, it never appeared again, the scene where he thought Ming Zhu had died and wanted to die with her was very lacking, he should have managed to portray his misery but he didn't, compared his suicide attempts to Li Zhong Han hugging Ming Zhu's body and calling her name, it paled dramatically.

Putting the love aspect aside, his portrayal of a general was also disappointing, he didn't have the aura of a general, neither did he seemed talented enough, when Xiao Hu gave Tian Bao the military running's, I was shocked, Tian Hong, although a jerk, seemed more talented and more worthy of the position.

His changed from a playboy to a doctor was also unbelievable, I don't know how long had passed but it didn't seem long enough for him to become a doctor, but this is scripting fault, not his, he did play the doctor role well though. Eric fitted the doctor image, he fitted the image of an intellectual, and he seemed more at eased with it.

Did Eric do a good job? To be blunt, no, he didn't fit the image and seemed out of place during most of the scenes, his chemistry with most of the cast was lacking, he didn't manage to create a rampart with any of the other characters, even with Dong Jie's Ming Zhu or Li Zhong Han's Zhi Wen.

Li Zhong Han as Lin Zhi Wen

I have seen Li Zhong Han once in the Young Detective Files 3, where he played a fun loving character, when I saw him in this film, I didn't take notice, he was less attractive and his character was boring. But as a series progress, he changed my opinion, I would say he started to become less boring when he found out Tian Bao loved Ming Zhu and he was willing to leave.

The scene where he tells Ming Zhu at the dinner table that he would be going to France for 5 years, he watches as her tears fall while trying to usher his, was the scene that captured my attention. Li Zhong Han portrayed his determination and heartbreak so well, add on to that Dong Jie's silent tears, it was very emotional.

Li Zhong Han played both the soft hearted Zhi Wen and the ruthless Zhi Wen to perfection, and his love for Ming Zhu was so touching I started rooting for them by the end of the film.

As the tamed teacher, Zhi Wen was such a gentle and nice guy; you would understand why Ming Zhu fell in love with him, as the bitter young man, every word, every movement he made changed, he was a changed man, and not in just words. Yet, his change of personality didn't change his love for Ming Zhu; he loved her despite the circumstances, despite her betrayal in his eyes.

Li Zhong Han's unsatisfactory looks didn't detract from his character or his acting, if anything, I believe it helped prove his acting ability, if he had been attractive, it would have been easier to sympathise with him and to root for him, but since he wasn't a pretty boy, it was his character that attracted.

Li Zhong Han portrayed his love and anguish so well, he outshone the rest of the cast, memorable scene would be when he talked to Ming Zhu when she was unconscious in the hospital, his voice wavered between gentle and harsh, signifying his love and hate for her.

Another scene would be when she offers to remain beside him in return for Tian Bao's release and he tells her to kiss. The look in his eyes, those unfallen tears, the slight tremble to his harsh tone. Perfect.

And when he realise she loved Tian Bao, he left the hospital and walked in the rain by himself, and in the end when he watched Tian Bao and Ming Zhu leaving, both times his anguish was so real I felt like crying for him.

Did he deserve the fate he got? Yes he did kill Tian Bao's mother, but like Tian Bao said, it wouldn't have turned out that way if Tian Fu hadn't interfered in the first place, and Xiao Hu hadn't caused the death of his family. Between the two men, who deserved Ming Zhu more? I would say Zhi Wen.

It makes one wonders with his acting ability, if he was casted as Tian Bao instead, how would it have turned out?!

Liao Xiao Qin as Yang Hong

Yang Hong started out nothing more than a proud and jealous woman, she loves Tian Bao and is afraid to lose him; she tries hard to keep him beside her by offering him an easier life, though her pride was also what drove Tian Bao away.

Her mistrust of Ming Zhu isn't uncalled for, Ming Zhu represented what she doesn't have, although both are beautiful, Ming Zhu is from a respected family with intelligence and a gentle personality, the type of girl most families want their son to marry, Ming Zhu's appearance in Tian Bao's life threatens her hold over Tian Bao's heart.

Insecure in their relationship, Yang Hong is afraid Tian Bao will one day fall for Ming Zhu, her obvious jealousy of Ming Zhu and her mistrust of Tian Bao' s and Ming Zhu's relationship causes her to do many things that drive Tian Bao away . Had she been more truthful to Tian Bao and less jealous of Ming Zhu, Tian Bao would have remained with her.

Her hatred for both after her betrayal was understandable, though we can't blame Ming Zhu but it is true, if Ming Zhu had never appeared, Tian Bao would never have had a change of heart, though if his heart was with her in the first place was never mentioned.

Her changed to a better woman after her child is born is also understandable, after having accepted Tian Bao doesn't love her and her husband mistrust her, she finds condolence in her flesh and blood, she starts to worry if her misdeeds would be reattributed on her own child.

Her connection with Tian Fu was something unexpected, I had originally thought they were going to develop a love relationship between the two, which would have been wrong, but it turned out they only found a new family in each other.

Her ultimate demise was a shock but not uncalled for, she did cause the death of another person, and ruined the lives of others, had she lived, it would have been an injustice, but considering her child survived while the unborn child of the servant girl died along with her, Yang Hong got the better end of the deal.

Liao Xiao Qin played her character well, her character didn't seem that hard to play until she became a beggar, as high class as she was before, watching her play a beggar made it more affective, although she didn't give an outstanding performance in any of her scenes, even in the scenes where she was suppose to be begging.

However, the award for the most tear jerking scene would have to go to her death scene, the music, coupled with the crying little boy and her assuring smile was very heart aching, it was the only scene in the whole series I cried in.

Her chemistry with the rest of the cast was average, she did manage to have some form of connection with Tian Fu during the down periods, but it was too little too late to really make an difference to her overall acting ability.

However, worthy of mentioning is her crying scenes, I had never expected Liao Xiao Qin to be any good at crying, since she seemed to much of a pretty girl, when she was a beggar she seemed oddly cleaner than the rest of the beggars on the street, much cleaner then Tian Fu, but her crying scenes where done well, she didn't seem out of place and her voice wasn't to shrill.

Perhaps the main difference between Dong Jie's crying skills and Liao Xiao Qin's crying skills is the fact that Dong Jie was blessed with a lower voice, her voice allowed her to cry without sounding like a chopped pig, while Liao Xiao Qin's voice was of a high tone so when she cried it felt like she was holding back a little so that she wouldn't sound like a chopped pig.

Zhang Dan Feng as Qian Tian Fu

Till now, I have seen Zhang Dan Feng in three films, including this one, funny thing is all three is with Dong Jie, I had first seen him in The Second Month as a young student boy, then in Stolen Love 2 as the illegitimate child of Cha In Pyo, and now in this film.

All three films I was never impressed with his acting, it was never of a really high standard but then his character was never given a chance to grow beyond the boy, however, in this series, he changed my mind, he has potential.

Qian Tian Fu starts out as a rich kid, the sort of guy who only knows how to spend money and play around, his affections for his brother and jealousy of Zhi Wen although seemed a bit gayish, but understandable, living in a family with a tyrant father and a mother who always picking a fight and an older brother who tolerates him, it's understandable he would be attached to whoever is nice to him, Tian Bao is the only person who really treats him like family and he loves his brother for it.

The existence of Zhi Wen threatens his place in his brother's life, it was obvious to everyone that Tian Bao loved Zhi Wen more than he loved his little brother and that hurt Tian Fu more than anything else, which leads him to do wrong against Zhi Wen.

Zhang Dan Feng is used to this rich kid type characters by now so it's no challenge to him, but it's not till he has to portray an addict did he shock me. His portrayal was so disgusting and realistic I wanted to close my eyes to the sight. Zhang Dan Feng deserves to be given more chances to tune his acting.

Special Mention

Liu Xue Hua as He Xiu Rong

Watching Liu Xue Hua was a torture, not because she was bad or anything, it's just it reminds you so much of the passing of time. Liu Xue Hua was a very popular actress back in the late 80's to mid 90's, to think, only 10 years ago she was very famous and played many beautiful characters, now she is getting relegated to old mother roles.

Her character design was always suppose to be a beautiful person but very sickly and mistreated, so her costume and makeup was very light, which makes her look very old and haggard.

Most of her scenes are very average, since they didn't require her to do much; any other actress would have been just fine.

It's not till her death scene that we she her shine, she portrayed her fear and crazed so well it was painful to watch, it took me a few tries to actually get through.

Another problem is, she and Dong Jie didn't really have any connection as a parent and child, Dong Jie manage this better with the Shen Meng Sheng (her father), maybe because Xiao Rong is a very timid person that it seemed she barely had any personality, there wasn't any importance to her character beside the need to show what type of person Ming Zhu is.

Sun Xing as Ma Jun

Ma Jun would have been a great character to keep, but had he lived, it would have been hard to root for whom Ming Zhu should end up with. Ma Jun loved Ming Zhu, but he was so angry with the world and his own fate that he knows if Ming Zhu had followed him, she would have nothing but pain, so he let her go.

Sun Xing fitted the character well, he looked like a bandit and portrayed his sadness well, and he was a character that was so tortured by his past he wished to ease it by killing those he dimmed similar to the people who killed his family, which in his eyes is everyone in the world.

Sun Xing and Dong Jie scene's were done very well and I enjoyed their story immensely, even till his death, he never told her he loved her, I doubt Ming Zhu knew he loved her either, but considering all he did for her and in the end he even die then rather take a chance at her life, it was quite obvious.

Ming Zhu maybe had an idea but she didn't love him, so she overlooked it, which is sad since it seemed he died because of her meddling, though his chances of survival without her meddling are still close to nil. Due to his death by Xiao Hu's hands, when Xiao Hu died I didn't feel any sympathy, yes Xiao Hu was a man who loved his wife and his family but he is also a tyrant who can kill without a blink of an eye.

But then so did Ma Jun, he had killed innocent people for money, like Xiao Hu had killed innocent people to gain power and protect his family, so they did deserve their fate.

Character Design:

My main beef with the film would have to be the costume, the female lead was poorly dressed and her hairstyle was horrible.

Dong Jie's Ming Zhu was suppose to be very beautiful as to warrant the attention of three men and the jealousy of Yang Hong, but her hairstyle and costume during the middle of the film where Eric Huang's Tian Bao started to fall for her was horrible, she looked so old and bloated, when other characters commented on her beauty it was unbelievable.

As unbelievable as it may seem, she looked much prettier and younger later in the film where she was suppose to be in her late 20's. which is odd, since at the start she was suppose to be around 18 or 19 but she looked about 25 while by the end of the film, where she was suppose to look 25 she looked about 20. It was all the hairstyle, the bob cut really did not sit well with Dong Jie's fuller face.

Her costume was another main reason, she was mostly dressed in dark colour clothing during her teen and early 20's, they were not only dark they were also loose fitting and seem to just drape on her, while after she is married to Tian Bao she was dressed in light colour clothing that were more body hugging, showing her petite figure.

Compared to the other two young females, Yang Hong and Nai Mei, she looked out of place and less attractive. Nai Mei was properly dressed for a well to do young lady and Yang Hong was also properly dressed for a worldly call girl.
Both Nai Mei and Yang Hong looked attractive, but it is Yang Hong who steals the limelight, she was not only well dressed, her hair fitted perfectly with her face, even through her tougher times, she still retained the same hairstyle. As much as it pains me to say, she outshone Dong Jie in the looks department by a long shot.

Dong Jie's black costumes where an eyesore and so was her bob cut wig, even though her waved stiff as a stick hairstyle wasn't much better, it at least took 5 years of her face.

However, as an extra note, this series was shoot after Butterfly Lovers, where Dong Jie had to gain weight and cut her hair short to look more like a boy, so during the start she looked bloated so had to wear darker clothing to look thinner, and had to wear a wig to fit the character, she lost weight as the series progress and her hair grew out longer by the end, hence she looked younger and wore prettier clothes.

The males, were mostly dress appropriately, nothing really seemed out of placed except the fact that Eric Huang also looked bloated in the earlier parts with his 4 piece suits. Eric also didn't fill out his military costume as well as both Li Zhong Han (Zhi Wen) and Zhang Dan Feng (Tian Fu).

Oddly, it's always the two leads that come up short with their costumes, while other characters designs where perfect for them, its Dong Jie and Eric Huang who receives the bad designs.

Set Design:

Nothing much to complain about, neither is there much to praise, the best scene would have to be the very first scene where Ming Zhu runs through a field of yellow flowers and returns home to a house filled with red wedding items.
They were both very beautifully film, the contrast between the two scenes one after another was done very effectively, especially when Sun Xing's Ma Jun followed suit on his horse, travelling the same path as Ming Zhu.

Seeing the same image only with different undertones left a very large impact, Ming Zhu's path at that stage was filled with only turmoil, there seemed to be no escape route available.

The rest of the scenes were done well there were few beautiful shoots but mostly of the same location.

Music:

To start off, I don't know Chinese so I can't tell what the songs are saying, but the theme song was lovely, it was sang by a female singer and the tune was very sad, it was also played many times during the film, mostly in scenes where Ming Zhu was suffering alone.

The ending theme song was sung by a male singer, and the only line I understood was ‘say goodbye', it was mostly used in scenes where the relationship between Ming Zhu, Zhi Wen and Tian Bao was brought up. I believe it was suppose to signify the ‘wanting' or ‘waiting' of the characters for each other.

However, the English words used made the song seemed a bit to modern for the time era, I would have preferred a song that was fully Chinese, so even though I won't understand it would at least sounds like it belongs.

The music was mostly used as backdrop to the love triangle of Ming Zhu, Zhi Wen and Tian Bao, most scenes where characters were dealing with other issues were left unaccompanied or accompanied by instrumentals. This is expected in most films so it wouldn't bother most viewers.

Memorable Scenes:

- Ma Jun taunts Ming Zhu and she bangs her head against the door to prove her determination to protect her chastity.
Why this is memorable? She broke the door. I was laughing my head off when that door fell; you would have expected her to have at least a cracked skull considering how thick that door was.

- Ma Jun watches as Ming Zhu leaves the town. Throws his jacket away then we skip to two years later and his standing in the field of yellow flowers.
Sun Xing really tugged at your heart strings in these scenes; his longing for Ming Zhu was very romantic even though he forced himself to never see her again. His presence in the field of flowers differ vastly from his first appearance there, before he represent danger and impending doom while now, he represented longing and unrequited love.

- Tian Bao tells Ming Zhu he has fallen in love with her.
One of Eric Huang's best scenes, his pain was so evident it was hard not to feel sorry for him, Ming Zhu's reaction was expected and that's what hurts the most, because he knew that from the start.

- Zhi Wen telling Ming Zhu at the dinner table he will be going to Paris for five years.
It was a very emotional scene and I felt so bad for Ming Zhu, I never cared much for her, she was a bit to perfect for my liking, but by this scene I started to understand her more, Ming Zhu was just that type of person who would never really speak up, and that is one of her worst habit. Both Dong Jie and Li Zhong Han did this scene so well, the love they had for each other was overwhelming, their tears were heartbreaking.

- Zhi Wen going to see Ming Zhu before he supposedly leaves for Paris.
The scene was beautiful, visually and auditory.

- Zhi Wen remembering who Ming Zhu is in the prison.
Li Zhong Han was superb, his hate filled eyes changed in an instant to loving eyes the moment he remembers who she is.

- Zhi Wen kidnaps Ming Zhu and tries to take her away, she tells him that his misfortune wasn't caused by Tian Bao and he thinks she has had a turn of heart and leaves.
Zhong Han was so good; he showed love, anger and hate so well. I felt sorry for Dong Jie though, that fake baby was very big, and looked very fake, she was suffocating that baby with the way she was holding it too.

- Zhi Wen burns the car he escapes with and watches as image of himself, Ming Zhu and Tian Bao burns in the car.
I really like this scene, it showed how Zhi Wen changes, he watches as his former self, his love for Ming Zhu and his friendship with Tian Bao dies in the fire. It was a very effective scene.

- Zhi Wen thinking Ming Zhu had died and called her name.
A touching scene, Zhi Wen was calling Ming Zhu names but the moment he thought she died it all changed, his whole attitude changed.

- Zhi Wen and Ming Zhu in the hospital room.
I love all the scenes in the hospital, it wavered between love and hate on both sides, especially when Zhi Wen grabbed her to kiss her but when she fought back he pushed her away and when he tells her if she wants Tian Bao to live she must eat. My heart was beating so hard it was painful.

- Tian Fu finding out Yang Hong had sold her son for his opium.
Very disturbingly realistic scene, it was painful to watch, but like a bad smell you know you won't like but you just have to take a sniff, you just had to watch this scene.

- Zhi Wen is told Ming Zhu has a fever and he goes to see her but she calls out for Tian Bao, Zhi Wen is angry and leaves, refusing to call for a doctor.
His care and attention can turn sour so fast, and just as fast turn back. No matter how much he claims to hate her, he can't let her go neither can he watches her suffer.

- Zhi Wen telling a maid to stop calling Ming Zhu as Mrs Tian, but by Miss Kim, he calls her by the name, then sees the clothing she made, gets angry and tells her she has to forget Tian Bao, he also tells her that they will be together.
Zhi Wen seemed so desperate in this scene, so desperate for the love he lost.

- Zhi Wen takes Ming Zhu to the church where they had been before.
Dong Jie looks good! Her new hairstyle fits her. You could feel the change in her after two years, before she was very jumpy and emotional, but by now she had mellowed out. Another reason is, Zhi Wen was recapping their memories but Ming Zhu was cold to those memories.

- Zhi Wen finding Ming Zhu asleep on the couch.
My mum had told me in the old version, Zhi Wen tried to rape Ming Zhu, so I was expecting it, but he didn't, that was actually in character for Zhi Wen. Instead of trying to rape her, he ran his hand along her hair, without touching her, it was miserable watching him want her but loving her enough to not want to hurt her.

- Yang Hong and Tian Fu's death.
Both deaths were depressing, but not uncalled for, between the two, Yang Hong's death was more effective, since she had a child to cry for her, the kid was cute.

- Ming Zhu and Tian Bao meeting each other again after years apart.
The chemistry between Dong Jie and Eric Huang was revived, and the sadness that Zhi Wen was feeling as he watched the love of his life portray her love for her husband.

- Zhi Wen talks to the general about killing those who cause him harm.
Li Zhong Han was so scary, I'm expecting him to be in an evil role next, he excel in it so.

- Zhi Wen and Ming Zhu saying goodbye for the last time.
It was so obvious Zhi Wen is still in love with her and is heartbroken to see her leave, but Ming Zhu no longer feels the same for him, there was no inkling of love left in her. With the amount of chemistry they had as lovers, to come to this point in time and change their relationship so convincingly, I applaud both Li Zhong Han and Dong Jie. Though to me, it would always be a sad ending, since I was rooting for either Ma Jun or Zhi Wen.

Review:

My main reason for watching this film was for Dong Jie, since I had started liking her in Butterfly Lovers, though I did find the film entertaining but there were too many tragedies for my liking. I have always preferred a more realistic film compared to soap opera type plots.

The story moved on a steady pace, it didn't feel too dragged at most parts, though I thought the extra story of the maid girl was a little off, but it seemed to be used as a catalyst for Ming Zhu and Tian Bao's rift.

Most people got their just deserves even though the viewer may no longer blame them, like Yang Hong and Tian Fu.
Yang Hong caused the death of the servant girl, but by the end of her life, her trials to correct her mistakes earned her right to a better life, but a life was lost and no matter how one makes up, it ultimately doesn't bring justice to the dead.

Tian Fu, who had caused the whole misunderstanding, had done so for his beloved brother, and maybe even because of a seeded jealousy of Tian Bao's affection for Zhi Wen. He however, turned for the better and still ended up dying for his brother.

Tian Fu and Yang Hong's plot line was the most engaging and emotionally demanding in the entire film, great acting from both actors made their earlier scenes so unbearable to watch and their ends to heart wenching to take.

Having never seen the original, I wouldn't know which was better, though I did enjoy this film, but it's not really my cup of tea, I doubt I would have watched the original since my main reason for watching isn't there.

The plot itself, it's so engross in love trials that the military aspect, the power struggle is left out, though I'm not a particular fan of either and do prefer to watch the love story, but without the extra titbits, the love trials seemed so overplayed and too much like an old Taiwan tearjerker.

I found the married life of Ming Zhu and Tian Bao overdrawn, it wasn't until Zhi Wen comes back for revenge after regaining his memories did the film really pick up, even the love story became more interesting. All though, I would have preferred it if Tian Bao and Zhi Wen really did turn against each other, considering the body count that lay between them, only in a soap opera would they forgive and become best friends again.

My favorite character would have to be revengful Zhi Wen, I loved all the the scenes with him, and his story was more interesting since he looked like a character who could turn very bad.

His love and hate for Ming Zhu was also something I enjoyed immensly, if his storyline didn't appear I don't think even Dong Jie could force me to sit through the last few episodes as fast as I did.

Torn Between Two Lovers is an enjoyable film if you like to watch drama and like a happy ending, but if your more into realistic films with more negativity then it's the type of film where you would most likely watch once.