American Perspectives: Ming Zhu's transition into Zi Yuan ("Twisted Fate of Love" Ep. 10)

Ming Zhu is out of prison and back at the Feng Manor.  Because it is assumed that Ming Zhu is dead, the very red and distinctive birthmark has been removed from her face, and her name has been changed to Zi Yuan.  She is now assuming the identity as a niece of Feng Xi, and because of that, she now has to undergo nobility etiquette training.  She's learning such things as proper posture, proper walking, proper eating, and to not talk while eating.  She is also learning to embroider, which is something she isn't crazy about.

Feng Xi's concubine, Li Yu Rou, who he regards more as a friend than a lover, is training her.  There may be a hint of jealousy on Yu Rou's part, but Zi Yuan is the least of her concerns.

Zi Yuan is feeling frustrated with the entire process, and decides to go do some laundry.  The other maids are horrified, and won't accept that. Dao Le reminds her that she's now a lady of the family, and does not need to do the laundry.  Zi Yuan isn't accustomed to all this change, and doesn't quite know what to do.  She is especially struggling with the etiquette lessons which seem to be more work than they are worth.  Dao Le tells her to stop making excuses, and that he'll help her become accustomed to her new identity, and help her develop self confidence.

He sits in on her lessons as moral support.  She's still struggling, and she keeps stabbing herself with the needle while embroidering.  Yu Rou tells her she has to have a set of Mandarin ducks completed by the next day.  After Yu Rou leaves, Dao Le takes a good look at Zi Yuan's embroidery.  Zi Yuan has an idea.  She asks Dao Le to help her.  He tells her that he also doesn't know how to embroider.  Zi Yuan mentions that she would rather learn how to swing knives and swords.

Dao Le gets excited.  "You want to learn martial arts?" Zi Yuan confirms. She feels that if she had known martial arts, she would have been able to protect herself and her younger brother, and that he wouldn't have been murdered.

Dao Le insists that he and Feng Xi can protect her.  Zi Yuan doesn't always want to rely on others, and insists she wants to learn martial arts to protect friends, family, and herself.

Zi Yuan says she doesn't have to learn from Dao Le, who is resisting, but will instead learn from someone else.  He insists he's the best teacher, and she responds that she'll learn from anyone but him.  She walks away, and he's a bit surprised.

Dong Yue comes to the Feng Manor to visit Zi Yuan.  They are very happy to see each other.  Dong Yue doesn't mind what identity Zi Yuan assumes, just as long as she's safe.  Dong Yue touches Zi Yuan's arm, and she winces.  So, Dong Yue rolls back the sleeves on Zi Yuan's hanfu and sees some bruises.  She is pissed, thinking Feng Xi did it.  She goes to his study, ready to rip him a new one.  She rips his book from his hands, throws it down, and tells him he's too sinister and cunning.  Feng Xi insists Zi Yuan caused the bruises herself, and Zi Yuan confirms.  Dong Yue says she's going to take Zi Yuan away.  Feng Xi agrees, but it will cost 100 taels in gold.  Because Dong Yue doesn't have that kind of money, she agrees to embroider all night to work off the debt.

Both Zi Yuan and Dong Yue embroider late into the night.  Both are very subpar at it.

Dao Le stops by to give them snacks and relay information from Feng Xi, who is dissatisfied with their embroidery.  Dong Yue is given the option to embroider only one item instead. She happily agrees.  However, that one item is a wedding dress, to be worn when she marries Feng Xi.  She is immediately disgusted, decides not to agree to it, and gets back to work on the other embroidery projects.

Dong Yue later finds out from Zi Yuan that she is indeed not the abused maid of the manor, but the Young Lady of the Feng House.  She clarifies that Feng Xi had Dong Yue do all the embroidery because he wanted to see her.  It was a means to get her to come to the manor more often, and that he would never scheme against Dong Yue.

Dong Yue points out that Zi Yuan refers to Feng Xi as Lord Feng, and admires him.  She asks if she's correct in her assumption that Zi Yuan wants to stay at Feng Manor.  Zi Yuan confirms this, and Dong Yue tells her not to worry, her safety is enough.