American Perspectives: Feng Xi's Embarrassment ("Twisted Fate of Love" Ep. 4)

Duke An is dealing with some strange phenomena happening in his manor.  He was informed by Feng Xi that Dong Yue has supernatural gifts, and under the pretense of being sick, he sends someone for her.  Lu Chuan relays the news.

Lu Chuan

Dong Yue finds this absurd, as she is an Historian, not a doctor.  His request for her makes absolutely no sense.  Lu Chuan also hands her an unwanted gift from Feng Xi.  It is a Hanfu he saw her eyeing previously, and when he noticed, he mentioned he wanted to see her in women's clothes.  She is horrified with this gift, because no gift comes without some sort of string attached.  She quickly hides it so Lu Chuan doesn't start speculating about her gender (he still assumes she is a man).  She quickly explains that it's just a bunch of necessities.

Dong Yue is trying to get out of seeing Duke An by pretending to be sick, but she is caught by her supervisor.  He informs her that Feng Xi requested the favor on Duke An's behalf, and that Taishi Bureau is not in a position where it can afford to offend either man.  So, with grave reluctance, she gets to Duke An's manor, and comes upon a plant in the garden that is dripping blood.  Dong Yue has no explanation for the plant.  The only reason she can "foresee" the future is because she's 8 years back in the past.

A slave named Ming Zhu, with a massive red scar on her face is dragged outside.  She was being beaten due to frightening the lady of the house about the supernatural phenomena.  She insists these things are happening dut to retribution.  She is slapped across the face, and Dong Yue intervenes, requesting her opinion, and her help.  Duke An accepts the request.  He leaves them on their own, and Dong Yue helps Ming Zhu get up.

Dong Yue inquires about Ming Zhu's allegations of retribution, and Ming Zhu states it's because her brother Xiaosi died.  He died because he accidentally broke a teapot, which infuriated the duke, who beat him until he died.  Ming Zhu stated Xiaosi was then buried in the garden, in the location of the blood dripping plants.  According to Ming Zhu, since his death, many strange things have been occurring in the garden.  She says he's been haunting her dreams.  She begs Dong Yue for justice.  Dong Yue is feeling very overwhelmed as she is also not someone who communicates with spirits.

Dong Yue has tea with Duke An and reports her findings.  She suggests he sit in the courtyard, bare chested, transcribing the scriptures until all the strange things stop.  Duke An is very hesitant.  She insists that in order to make it work, he find an official born in the year of the tiger, during a leap year.  He would also need to transcribe scriptures, bare chested.  Duke An asks his servant who would fit that description.  Servant is unsure.  Duke An then remembers that Feng Xi precisely fits that description.  Dong Yue hides a smile, as she intends to get back at him.

She tries not to laugh while Feng Xi and Duke An are standing in the garden, uncomfortable, not keen on going bare chested.  Feng Xi questions Dong Yue's motive, and suggests all three of them go bare chested.  Dong Yue says it would be counter productive if she participated.  Duke An finds her explanation acceptable, and tells Feng Xi to take it off.  Feng Xi is also trying not to laugh, trying to stay serious, while asking her if it will work.  While Duke An is temporarily gone, she admits she is doing it as payback for the unwanted gift of women's clothing, and sending her over to Duke An's to ward off evil spirits.  Feng Xi insists he's trying to help her get promoted in Taishi Bureau by putting blood on the plants and bringing her over to ward off evil spirits.  He tells her she is ungrateful, but she smiles wickedly because he still has to go shirtless.  He moves close to her like he's going to kiss her, and then stops.  He asks, "So you want to see me naked?  So you think what happened last time in the pool is not enough?" (Which was when she first met him, and found him partially nude in the pool).  He grins wickedly, and she glares at him.  

She lets Duke An know she's leaving, as she doesn't want Feng Xi getting the wrong idea.  Her intent was to humiliate him, not to oggle him.  Therefore, Feng Xi initially ends up with the final laugh.  

Duke An compensates her handsomely, and doesn't want anyone outside the manor knowing about the strange phenomena, or about them having to write the scriptures partially nude.  In exchange for the bribery, Dong Yue requests to take Ming Zhu as her servant, and Duke An agrees.

Dong Yue brings Ming Zhu to Taishi Bureau and takes her to her room. Dong Yue immediately applies ointment to Ming Zhu's wounds.  Dong Yue promises to free her soon.  Because Ming Zhu thinks Dong Yue is a man, Dong Yue remembers that she can't touch Ming Zhu, so she lets Ming Zhu finish up with the ointment.

Feng Xi has caught a cold from sitting outside, partially nude, transcribing scriptures.  He did not expect Duke An to take Dong Yue's remedy seriously.  Dao Le is laughing at him, as he admits to being embarassed.  He wraps the Daxiushan of his Hanfu tightly around his body, as he is still very, very cold.  Duke An remains outside in the nighttime wind, partially nude, transcribing scriptures.