Originally Posted by
grace
What others may describe as Erkang’s aggressiveness, I see assertiveness and leadership on his part. Maybe these people can describe some of Erkang aggressiveness, so that I can better understand where they’re coming from.
A superficial analysis on Erkang’s character might better explain my point of view.
Not only has nature endowed Erkang with good looks (as evinced by the number of ladies falling for him) but also intelligence. Added to that is his innate ability to excel in everything he does from scholarship to martial arts. But more importantly, Erkang is born privileged into a prominent, powerful and aristocratic family. Given his background as a God & sovereign favored man, it is no wonder that Erkang is head and shoulders above his counterparts, which of course imbued him with great pride, confidence, assertiveness and leadership, and perhaps not a little of single mindedness. (Some may add aggressiveness.) Unsurprisingly, his prestigious position and status as the Emperor’s handpicked palace security chief only served to heighten his own sense of importance.
Because he is highly favored by the Emperor and Dowager from young, his future has been all but decided. He was to marry whichever princess as decreed by his sovereign. Being first born, he was to carry on his family name honorably. In short, prosperity and power notwithstanding, Erkang’s future looms monotonously and colorlessly, where he can’t even choose his own wife, let alone, a woman he loves. Rebellion against tradition and customs is unthinkable, then.
Because of his duty, Erkang is trained to lead and take charge. He greatly differs from Yong Qi in that the latter is not given much responsibility inside or outside the palace, let alone, leadership training. It is enough for him (Yong Qi) to just survive the court intrigues and to compete for his father’s favor by doing well in his books and hunting. Which is why he defers greatly to Erkang for important decisions, even though the latter is his minion. Imo, Yong Qi comes across as a hen-pecked, pushover imperial boyfriend to XYZ. (Again, some may substitute hen-pecked or pushover with ‘less intimidation’. (Only semantics)
Although surrounded by people day in and day out, life at the top is lonely and lacking for Erkang. To keep himself neutral and above court and political intrigues, and jealousies; Erkang is deliberately aloof and solitary. (Yong Qi is more Ertai’s friend.) At this time, Erkang is resigned to his lonesome and solitary, albeit high status, lot; that is, until Ziwei shows him a more ‘colorful’ and joyful world if he had the courage and assertiveness to make it happened. Whereas before, Erkang was resigned to follow tradition, marry Qing Er if so decreed for as yet, the word, soul mate did not exist in his world; ie, not until Ziwei came along. It was love at first sight, or perhaps destiny is at work . In Ziwei, Erkang found his other half, not to complement him but to complete him. But ironically, Ziwei is also his noticeable weakness. Because of Ziwei, Erkang is weak, therefore, ‘aggressive?
To me, Er Kang is a man who is not afraid to fight for his love and future, despite the odds. And the odds are big indeed in the form of tradition too ingrained, and obdurate as mountains, But fought he did, forcefully or intelligently or rebelliously. (Or aggressively? so be it). But in all his ‘aggressiveness’ and ‘scariness’ he has never once hurt Xiao Yan Zi, not even when she so irresponsibly and unforgivably lost Ziwei. It’s not just a misplacement accident, but a life and death close-call incident to Ziwei and Erkang (he won’t survive the death of his Ziwei) (I, myself, would not be so magnanimous as Erkang with just one scary glare, if XYZ were to lose my blind sister or a loved one. Nor would I be so tolerant as to forgive XYZ her life threatening silly antics throughout their fugitive run . Would you, for real.. when death dodged your every step, and always seems one step ahead of you? Would you really overlook her consistent irresponsibility for her cuteness when lives are carelessly and thoughtlessly put in jeopardy at every turn? Of course, like Erkang, in the end, I would blame myself more for trusting XYZ. What does that say about XYZ as a person? After that incident, would you still want your blind sister/ loved one be close to XYZ, knowing that at any moment, your blind love might get hurt? )
So I for one, totally empathized with Erkang ‘scary’ reactions. My adjective, would be heartbroken/ his collapse, 崩溃