As an entirely separate thought- I thought that the scene when Ruoxi finally was forced to tell 4th why Kangxi was punishing her was a very moving one.
She had told no one that the reason she was sentenced to indefinite hard labor was that she refused to marry 14th.
Everyone assumed she had begged on 8th's behalf over his most recent fall from grace.
And know that before that scene she and 4th had a pact.
Between them, nothing but the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the brutal, honest truth.
In that light, she had told 4th that she wanted to marry him (straight up!) because she thought that he could defend her and help her escape from the Forbidden city into a safe small courtyard where she could get away from the politics and strife.
4th had earlier laughed and broken her unrealistic dream of serving Kangxi forever, or being retired as a maid to do what she wanted once dismissed from service. 4th pointed out that as 8th's sister-in-law, from a good Manchu family, and also with strong ties with Mongolia via Princess Min-min, Min-min's husband and Min-min's father, she was a valuable pawn.
Sooner or later, some prince would convince Kangxi to bestow her as a gift. The best thing for her to do was to pick a prince she could stand, even if not love, and be assured of a comfortable future with and try to influence Kangxi's choice. He further told her to do it soon, because she didn't have all the time in the world.
Ruoxi was crushed that her dreams were unrealistic and that she thought she was fighting so hard for her freedom, and yet still she wasn't free and would never be.
4th didn't spare her. And so Ruoxi didn't spare 4th.
She told 4th that she could lie and tell him that she fell in love with him because he saved her, or because he was heroic etc., but really she wants him to marry her because she thinks he's going to be a reliable tree for her. 4th laughed a little bitterly at her candor, but told her he wasn't willing to marry her... yet.
(Funnily he waited for a while to say "yet" so that Ruoxi laughed a little bitterly that she had overestimated her own worth!
)
But yes, so it is that 4th was shocked that Ruoxi turned down 14th.
This scene is worth translating here-
他脸色骤暗,“皇阿玛想把你赐给十四弟?你为什么不愿意?”我微笑不语。他问:“你不是一直想着逃离紫禁城 吗?不是总想着找个小院子平平安安过日子吗?大 好的机会就在眼前,为什么不要!为什么偏要抗旨?十四弟相貌出众,文才武略在我们兄弟中也是拔尖的,现在最 得皇阿玛倚重,对你又极好,你忘了大雨中他为你 一跪就是一夜吗?你还有什么不满意的?”我道:“事情已经过去,再提又有什么意思?”
他低头无语,半晌,忽地抬头看着我坚定地说:“若曦,你 必须告诉我原因。”我捂着心口,侧头笑道:“顺从了自己的心,它不愿意,我一点办法也没有。”他表情似喜似 悲,盯了我半晌后道:“造化弄人?我偏不信这个 邪!我不信我们无缘!就是老天不给,我也要从他手里夺来!”一面举手轻抚着我脸庞,一面一字一顿地道:“我 一定会救十三弟出来,也一定会娶你!”说完,一 甩袖转身大步而去。
4th's face darkened "Father wanted to give you to 14th brother in marriage? Why weren't you willing?"
I smiled wordlessly.
He asked "Haven't you always wanted to escape the Forbidden city? Aren't you thinking about finding a small courtyard somewhere to peacefully live out the rest of your life? The opportunity was right there in front of you, why didn't you take it? Why defy an edict? 14th brother is handsome, his scholarly and martial achievements equally outstanding, and he's in Kangxi's favor right now. Plus he's been good to you- have you forgotten he knelt all night in the rain for you? How could you still refuse him?"
I replied "It's over now. Why rehash the past?"
He bowed his head silently for a moment and then suddenly looked up with force. "You must tell me why."
I pointed to my heart and laughed "I gave way to my heart. It was unwilling and there was nothing i could do about it."
Looks of joy and heartbreak passed over 4th's face and he was silent for a half moment.
"I don't believe in fate, I defy fate. I will snatch from fate's hand."
He stroked my face and said the next words, one forceful word at a time.
"I will save 13th and I will marry you."
And then he turned and was gone.
***
It is the first time I think that 4th appreciates that Ruoxi loves him now, and it's more than a way out of the Forbidden city for her.
And later, as 14th garnered more and more glory and honors, 4th only once asked Ruoxi if she regretted her choice. And she said no.
Again it's all incredibly bare, specially given Ruoxi hardly ever got to see 4th- "barely once a year"- and yet their meetings were always short and filled with only the most mundane, the least dramatic slow conversation about their health or the seasons. Like all the other moving scenes in the novel, they're all very understated, and in fact this one I translated might be the most explicit 4th and Ruoxi ever get to expressing themselves.
For readers of English fiction, this seems laughably mute, with hardly any drama. But I think the idea, for better or for worse, that the really important words don't need to be said is a very strong force yet in Chinese fiction.
I think of it as a type of Chinese water painting- where clouds and water are often painted with no paint. So that a whole painting can be mostly blank spots with bits of mountains in-between to imply the massive monoliths but not explicitly portray them.
So it is that the drama in all the scenes are sometimes around what doesn't happen and what isn't said.