American Perspectives: The Back Story on Feng Xi and Third Prince ("Twisted Fate of Love" Ep. 15)

 

3rd Prince and Feng Xi have an interesting history that predates their triangulation with Dong Yue.  At one point in their childhood, they were friends.  Feng Xi would go to great lengths to protect and defend the 3rd Prince when he was alienated in the palace.  And then...things went sideways.

 

Much of this is coming to a head for Feng Xi.  He is having a hard time getting to sleep, so he goes out into the garden.  Dong Yue is also there, holding her flute, contemplating.  

Feng Xi had to kill some bandits earlier that day whom he really didn't want to kill.  He's tired of killing, but he has to keep doing it for a number of reasons: politics, vindication, protection, salvation.

He walks over to his beloved, knowing that she is still very wary, but he chooses to love her unconditionally anyway.  He knows she'll come around.

She wants to know why he's up so late.  He admits to thinking about the bandits.  In turn, he wants to know what's on her mind.  She wants to know if the bandits were working for him.

"What kind of person do you think I am?" he asks, non defensively.  "I'm an official, not a bandit.  That group was my men, but they're not real bandits."

"Your goal was to spare the Yang Clan, wasn't it?" Asks Dong Yue.  She's beginning to understand the political games, even though she doesn't necessarily like or agree with them.

"I could also point fingers at the real bandits.  Look these hands are most suited for playing instruments and writing poetry, but I forced Yang Yan to die, and killed the bandits."

"Do you regret it now?" Asks Dong Yue.  

"I wear a mask everyday, and live in the midst of lies." Responds Feng Xi.  "I'm already used to it.  Regret?" he smirks.  "I don't have that right.  If my life is filled with lies, then I wish for you to be my life's only truth."

Dong Yue is a bit unsure.  "Then what do you want me to do?" She asks calmly.

He asks her to play a song for the deceased official Yang.  

Dong Yue sits down by Feng Xi, and begins to play her jade flute that only the two of them can hear.  He rests his head on her shoulder.  Time passes and he falls asleep on her shoulder.  She affectionately looks at him, and lets him stay that way.

She later takes him to his room, where he quickly goes back to sleep in his bed.  She sits beside him, holding his hand.  When day breaks, he wakes up and sees her.  "Did you know your flute playing can stop me from having nightmares? I've been a minister for so many years, but I've never had a night of restful sleep.  Last night's sleep was my most comfortable one."

"The melody was for Lord Yang, it wasn't for you," Dong Yue explains.

"That's not important," says Feng Xi.  "In the future, if I'm unable to sleep, will you play for me?"

Dong Yue doesn't answer.

 

3rd Prince returns to the Wind Pavilion with cuts all over his arms.  Qiuxiao, his personal guard, insists they go to the palace at once. 3rd Prince resists the suggestion.  "When I do things for my royal father, I do it out of loyalty, not by using sneaky methods."

Qiuxiao wants to confer with the Emperor due to the 3rd Prince's current struggles.  She's not a fan of Dong Yue, due to her close relationship with Feng Xi, and the pain it's putting the 3rd Prince through.

"By doing this, you're thinking too little of me and my royal father," 3rd Prince says.  He asks her to leave.

Dong Yue meets up with the 3rd Prince in the Wind Pavilion.  She's caught between her mutual love for Feng Xi and her friendship with 3rd Prince.  3rd Prince is sure she's being manipulated by Feng Xi.

"Once upon a time, I also believed that he was a good person," begins 3rd Prince.  "But do you still remember what I told you? When he was my reading partner, he once did something that I can never forgive."

He then proceeds to tell Dong Yue of their childhood.  The left prime minister had scolded Feng Xi, and in response, Feng Xi slipped poison in his cup.  The young 3rd Prince is angry and disappointed.  Young Feng Xi is kneeling before 3rd Prince.  "Your Highness, I was caught because of my stupidity, but the left prime minister isn't a good person.  You shouldn't trust him so easily."

"That's enough," the young 3rd Prince interjects.  "I know that recently, the Feng family has been in conflict with the left prime minister, but the court is the court.  You're so young.  How could you be so cruel and vile?"

"It wasn't because of what happened at court!"

"You should leave!  I cannot forgive you.  In the past you treated others harshly.  I just thought you had a bad personality.  However, playing with poison and scheming against others is unacceptable.  Take him away!"

The guards take the young Feng Xi away, and he's stripped of his appointed role of studying with the prince.  He is immediately removed from the palace.

3rd Prince tells Dong Yue he isn't interested in spreading rumors. He's just concerned she'll be tricked by Feng Xi and lose her sense.  He asks Dong Yue to return to the Wind Pavilion.  He doesn't want her entangled in Feng Xi's battles.  

She pauses and says she'll investigate thoroughly, as many of the assumptions she has had about Feng Xi have been incorrect, or there was usually much more to the story.  She asks 3rd Prince to not make a move.  He promises not to, but he insists she stay safe.