American Perspectives: The Backstory on Feng Xi and Consort Feng ("Twisted Fate of Love" Ep. 19)

 

Consort Feng is the Emperor's favorite concubine, and Feng Xi's sister, or so we think.  He status with the Emperor has profoundly impacted Feng Xi's political situation, and if it weren't for her, there's high probability that he would be dirt poor.  There is, actually, much more to the story than this, which will unfold in this article.

Consort Feng is in her beautifully decorated palace, embroidering.  She has everything that many women could possibly want: a rich husband, a cat, maids, and a well decorated room, in addition to a very loyal brother.

She lays her embroidery down, and looks disappointed.  "I was so hopeful when it comes to you, and yet for another woman, you've done me wrong.  Yet I still have to act magnanimously to speak on your behalf.  However, you just don't know how my heart aches."

Her servants think she is talking about the Emperor, and the newly pregnant Consort Wan.  She isn't, and Consort Wan being pregnant, is news to her, but she has to regain her composure and act like she was indeed talking about the Emperor, and not Feng Xi.  Initially, one thinks she's an insecure sister who cannot let her brother go, but as the story develops, it becomes clear that isn't the case.

Her servant encourages her to try and have a child due to her favored position with the Emperor.  A child from Consort Wan could easily compromise Consort Feng's precarious status.  That a flower won't stay in bloom forever, and that she must think further ahead.

Consort Feng isn't keen on what she's hearing.  Her servant kowtows, apologizes, and gets Consort Feng her medication.  Consort Feng decides to skip her meds as she has some thinking to do regarding whether or not she should get pregnant.

 

A men's perfume sachet is found in the area of the destroyed platform that had the military weapons Feng Xi was hiding, and planning on using to exchange for Dong Yue in an ugly battle with Left Prime Minister.  Instead of giving Left Prime Minister the weapons, he had set them on fire instead, and was still able to get Dong Yue.  The Left Prime Minister is pissed that his plan to destroy Feng Xi has been foiled.

This perfume sachet is beneficial to Left Prime Minister, as it is something he can use against Feng Xi.  On the sachet, Consort Feng has embroidered: "Meet at Jade Peak Mountain on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month." It also says, "The pitiful dragon and the lonely goose don't know yet."  Left Prime Minister is getting a good look at it from the comfort of his home.  He and Zang Fei speculate that it's Feng Xi's.  They remember that the siblings grew up amongst the commoners, but Left Prime Minister implores, "What sister embroiders a love poem on her brother's scent sachets?"

Left Prime Minister has an idea.  "I wonder, in order to destroy Feng Xi, we have to start with his consort sister?"  He tells Zang Fei to put the sachet back where he found it, and to watch Feng Xi closely.

Zang Fei is instructed to investigate Consort Feng and Feng Xi's backgrounds to find out who they really are, and if they are even related.

Consort Wan is determined to unseat Consort Feng from being the favored concubine.  She is teaming up with Left Prime Minister to come up with a plan to do so.  Because Consort Wan is pregnant, she has a high likelihood of gaining the upper hand.  Consort Wan reveals that her spy told her about Feng Xi making secret visits to Consort Feng's palace, which is absolutely not allowed.  Aside from Eunuchs, no man, other than the Emperor is allowed in the Inner Palace/Women's quarters.  (It's to guarantee that whatever pregnancy occurs is from the Emperor).  Consort Wan thinks he is visiting to provide fertility treatments from non-royal physicians.  Left Prime Minister is sure there's more to it.  When the siblings do meet in secret, according to Consort Wan, a pot of camelias is left in the corner of the royal gardens.

Left Prime Minister is further investigating Feng Xi's background, and finds Yan Biao, the nephew of a former servant in the Feng Manor, whom Feng Xi has been giving money to.

Yan Biao reveals that the money Feng Xi is paying to his uncle is hush money.  He doesn't want Yan Biao's uncle revealing that he isn't the biological son of the Late Lord Feng.  It was Yan Biao's uncle who had found him in the streets, brought him back to Feng Manor, and got him adopted by the late Lord Feng.

Prime Minister gets up and pulls back the curtain separating him and Yan Biao during his interview.  "Do you have proof?"

"It's been so many years," replies Yan Biao.  "There's not even the (orginal) Feng Manor anymore.  Where are you going to find proof?"

"What about his sister?" Asks Zang Fei.

Yan Biao confirms she is the biological daughter of the late Lord Feng.

Left Prime Minister moves closer to Yan Biao.  "Then you are saying that the Feng siblings aren't real blood siblings?"

"Of course," confirms Yan Biao.

Left Prime Minister strokes his beard and strategically considers how he will use this valuable piece of information.

 

At Feng Xi's request, Dao Le was able to find his perfume sachet, which Zang Fei had recently taken, and stealthily put back in the place it was found. Dao Le informs Feng Xi that he met an old woman from the palace who is requesting Feng Xi come to the Imperial Gardens to admire the camelias with her.

Dao Le thinks it's a bad idea for Feng Xi to secretly meet his sister right now.  He reminds Feng Xi that they should only meet if it's urgent.  Feng Xi thinks she is requesting to meet due to her anxiety about Consort Wan's pregnancy.

Feng Xi is waiting in the gardens for Consort Feng.  She approaches him.  She asks why they are meeting.  Feng Xi denies initiating the invitation.  They are soon surrounded by guards.  The Emperor and Consort Wan arrive.  Emperor is pissed, Consort Wan is smirking.

Feng Xi bows.  Emperor wants to know what the hell is going on. They go inside for further questioning, both are kneeling to the Emperor, while Consort Wan watches gleefully.

Consort Wan suggests Consort Feng and Feng Xi are having an affair.  Feng Xi asserts they are siblings, and they most certainly wouldn't be doing that.

Consort Wan asks to see his sachet.  He hands it to her, and she reads the love poem Consort Feng embroidered.

Feng Xi insists the sachet was originally for Dong Yue.  Consort Wan doesn't believe it.  She lets them know she has a witness.  In comes Yan Biao, who kneels before the Emperor.  Yan Biao confirms that Feng Xi is indeed not the late Lord Feng's biological son.

The Emperor orders a search of Consort Feng's palace.

Feng Xi admits he has been hiding something from the Emperor, but outsiders aren't privy to it.  Emperor asks his servant and Yan Biao to leave.

Feng Xi discloses that Consort Feng isn't able to get pregnant, and that he met with her to help her get fertility drugs.

Consort Wan smirks.

Feng Xi is adamant they are biological siblings (they aren't) and said that Consort Wan is making it all up due to jealousy.

A servant returns with Consort Feng's medications, which turn out to be contraceptive pills.  Consort Feng is on the verge of being toast.  Emperor throws the plate containing the pills, shattering it.  Consort Feng is terrified.  Emperor goes to them and draws his sword.  Consort Feng shields Feng Xi.  Feng Xi insists they are siblings, and that he was told to find fertility drugs.  He's thinking fast.  "Someone must be framing her!"  Emperor is livid, and he throws down his sword.

"Guards!" shouts Emperor.  Two guards come for Feng Xi, Consort Feng is placed on house arrest.

 

3rd Prince visits Feng Xi in prison.  He lets him know that Lu Yuantong's staff is writing a memorial in his favor, and that he is also on his side.  A chance for exoneration exists.  3rd Prince lets him know that he wants to defeat him in an open and honorable way, not in a sleazy way.  Feng Xi smiles.

Feng Xi is temporarily released, and 3rd Prince brings him over to Consort Feng's palace.  Consort Feng feels bad for implicating Feng Xi, as he has now been demoted from the Ministry of Rites.  Feng Xi tells her all she needs to do is regain the Emperor's favor.  Feng Xi can't believe the contraceptive pills are hers, but she confirms they are.  She admits it's because she isn't in love with the Emperor, she's in love with Feng Xi.

Feng Xi is not okay with this.  He's firm in his exclusive interest in Dong Yue.  He makes it clear that he regards himself as Consort Feng's younger brother only.  He tells her not to disclose those feelings ever again, as they make him very uncomfortable.  He bows.  She feels better for disclosing it.  He acknowledges what she's saying, and takes his leave.

Consort Feng decides she can't continue on, and she drinks poisoned wine in her final chapter.

Feng Xi senses something isn't right.  His "Little Brother Sense" is tingling, so runs back to Consort Feng's palace.  His instincts are correct.  She's on the verge of death.  Unable to get up from the floor.  Feng Xi runs to her, trying to help her up.  He sees the wine, and asks if she prepared the poisoned wine in advance.  She confirms.  She feels embarassed about her feelings for him, so she planned on dying if it couldn't work out.  Feng Xi asks why she's being so foolish.

She's burnt out on being a concubine, burnt out on being with someone she doesn't love, and burnt out on her secret.  Feng Xi is devastated by her decision.  She's the only family member he has left.  Consort Feng orders Feng Xi to leave, as Emperor will be coming by soon.  He kowtows and quickly exits, as he knows she's right.  He doesn't want to let her die alone, but he has to honor her wish.  Emperor is the final one to see her as she proclaims her sincerity and takes her last breath.  Emperor promises to restore Feng Xi's position per her dying wish.