Bu Bu Jing Xin

This article is about the novel. For the television series, seeScarlet Heart.

Bubu Jingxin

Covers of all three volumes of the 2012 Taiwanese edition published by Yeren Culture Publishing ( dã nhân văn hóa nhà xuất bản )
Author	Tong Hua
Original title	Bộ bộ kinh tâm
Language	Chinese
Subject	Time travel, Imperial China
Genre	Romance, historical fiction,chuanyue
Publisher	Jin gian g Original Network ( Tấn Giang nguyên sang võng ) Ocean Press ( hải dương nhà xuất bản ) National Press ( dân tộc nhà xuất bản ) Huashan Arts Press ( hoa sơn văn nghệ nhà xuất bản ) Hunan Literature and Art Publishing House ( Hồ Nam văn nghệ nhà xuất bản ) Yeren Culture Publishing ( dã nhân văn hóa nhà xuất bản )
Publication date	2005
Publication place	China
ISBN	978-7540450977

Bubu Jingxin
Simplified Chinese	Bộ bộ kinh tâm
Traditional Chinese	Bộ bộ kinh tâm
Literal meaning	Startling by Each Step
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Bùbù Jīngxīn

Startling by Each Step,also known asBubu Jingxin(Chinese:Bộ bộ kinh tâm), wasTong Hua'sdebut novel. Originally published online in 2005 on Jin gian g Original Network (Tấn Giang nguyên sang võng), it was later published by Ocean Press (Hải dương nhà xuất bản), National Press (Dân tộc nhà xuất bản), Huashan Arts Press (Hoa sơn văn nghệ nhà xuất bản), Hunan Literature and Art Publishing House (Hồ Nam văn nghệ nhà xuất bản), and Yeren Culture Publishing (Dã nhân văn hóa nhà xuất bản). Tong Hua revised the novel in 2009 and 2011. The latest edition contained an additional 30,000 word epilogue.

The story features a twenty-first century woman whogets transported back in timeto the court dramas of the late Kangxi reign of the Qing dynasty. The novel was most prominently adapted as the television seriesScarlet Heart,and was later also adapted into a radio drama, feature, film, stage play and a Korean drama.

Synopsis

Twenty-first century woman, Zhang Xiao, encounteredtraffic collisionafter work that sent her back in time to theQing Dynastyduring theKangxi Emperor's reign (in the year 1704). She found herself trapped in the body of a young daughter of aManchuaristocrat, Ma'ertai Ruoxi, younger sister of Ma'ertai Ruolan, who was aconcubineof the emperor's eighth son,Yinsi.Stranded in the past, Ruoxi became acquainted with Kangxi's other sons, including the fourth princeYinzhenand his full brother, the fourteenth princeYinti.She forged a close friendship with the thirteenth prince,Yinxiang.Using charm and wit, Ruoxi won the emperor's favor and became hislady-in-waiting,attending to the monarch and his family.

During Ruoxi's stay in theForbidden City,she and Yinsi developed a mutual attraction. She initially rejected him but later agreed to marry him if he gave up his ambition for the throne. Ruoxi knew that Yinsi's path will ultimately lead to his lifelong imprisonment after Yinzhen became emperor. Yinsi refused and Ruoxi warned him to be wary of Yinzhen, providing him a list of those who would support his ascension.

After breaking up with Yinsi, Ruoxi fell in love with Yinzhen. Meanwhile, Yinsi and his supporters, acting on Ruoxi's advice, framed Yinzhen for plotting against the crown princeYinreng.Yinxiang took the blame and was sentenced to house arrest. After this incident, Yinsi discovered that Ruoxi was romantically involved with Yinzhen. The battle for the throne became inflamed when Yinreng's other crimes later came to light. The crown prince lost both his position and freedom. Kangxi then began to show preference for Yinti and offered Ruoxi as a concubine to him. Ruoxi, however, declined. Outraged by her boldness, the emperor demoted her to the laundry department.

Kangxi eventually died of illness. With military support fromLongkodoandNian Gengyao;Yinzhen staged a coup and seized the throne from Yinti to become theYongzheng Emperor.Yinzhen then released Yinxiang from custody and began a romantic relationship with Ruoxi. In an attempt to keep the secret that Yinti was named heir before their father's death, Yinzhen placed him under house arrest. Ruoxi is often caught between the rival factions.

The ninth son,Yintang,manipulated Yinsi's wife Gororo Minghui into telling Ruoxi that Yinsi acted against Yinzhen years earlier. Ruoxi was shocked by this revelation, and in addition, remembering Yinzhen told her once that he initially had no desire to become an emperor, she realizes her actions inadvertently shaped events (seepredestination paradox). Her despair brought on a miscarriage and she descended into illness. Enraged, Yinzhen blamed Yinsi and his wife, issuing an edict forcing them to divorce, which led the latter to commit suicide. Remorseful of the consequences, Ruoxi confessed the truth to Yinzhen and Yinxiang, leading Yinzhen to treat her coldly. Ruoxi is unable to withstand the mental stress and asked Yinti to help her leave the palace. Yinsi knew that Yinzhen would not allow Ruoxi to leave and decided to intervene. He disclosed details of his past romance and an angered Yinzhen allowed Ruoxi to leave.

Ruoxi's emotional anguish affected her health. She begged Yinti to send a letter to Yinzhen, requesting to see the emperor one last time before she dies. However, a misunderstanding caused the letter to be thrown aside unread. After three days, Ruoxi concluded that Yinzhen's absence confirmed that his love for her has faded, and she died (in the year 1725 at the age 35). When news of Ruoxi's death reached Yinzhen, he rushed to Yinti's house, regretting his actions after learning that Ruoxi still loved him.

Blaming Yinsi and Yintang for Ruoxi's death, Yinzhen charged his half-brothers for ambiguous offenses and banished them from the imperial household. Both would eventually die in 1726, as Ruoxi predicted.

History remained unchanged.

Adaptations

• In 2011,Chinese Entertainment Shanghai Ltd.adapted the novel into the television seriesScarlet Heart,starringCecilia Liu,Nicky Wu,Kevin Cheng,Lin GengxinandYuan Hong.Asequelbegan filming in March 2013.Multimedia produced this drama complete with English subtitles.
• In 2011, following the success of the television series, Feiran Zhuosheng Radio Drama Associations (Nổi bật trác thanh kịch truyền thanh xã đoàn) adapted the novel into theradio dramaBubu Jingxin,starring Tang Tang as Ma'ertai Ruoxi.
• In 2012,Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre,Beijing All Entertainment Co., Ltd. and Culture of China Media Group adapted the novel for the stageBubu Jingxin,starring Michelle Gong as Ma'ertai Ruoxi/Zhang Xiao.
• In 2015, the novel was adapted into the feature filmTime to LovestarringIvy Chen,Tony YangandShawn Dou.
• In 2016, South Korea produced its own version of the story,Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo,set inGoryeoand starringIU,Lee Joon-giandKang Ha-neul.
• In 2024, the novel was adapted into a Thai drama titledScarlet Heart ThailandbyGMMTV,starringTu TontawanandMetawin Opas-iamkajorn.

External links

• Bu Bu Jing Xin Reviews- spcnet.tv
• Bu Bu Jing Xin Forums- spcnet.tv