American Perspectives: Breaking it off with Yu Rou ("Twisted Fate of Love" Ep. 20)

 

"As long as I stay by your side," Ru You says softly, "I can do anything."

Feng Xi is annoyed.  He's trying to let her go easily, but she seems to be missing the point. "Fine!" He snaps impatiently.  "Stay then."

Yu Rou smiles, not realizing that the status quo is going to take a hard left turn.

"Dong Yue is now the madam of Feng Manor," he informs her.  

Yu Rou's face momentarily drops, but she quickly regains her composure.

"Just as you wish," says Feng Xi, "be a maid who does menial work then." His intent is to push her out.  Something he takes for granted as a man is that her options beyond Feng Xi are few, so she's going to hold on for dear life, even if it makes her look stupid to the modern viewer.  Especially to the Modern American female viewer.

"Serve her well," he continues.

The emotional exhaustion on Ru You's face is apparent.  It's not fun being in love with someone who doesn't love you back, being a concubine to someone who hasn't consummated the title, and not having the privilege of being able to start over with a clean slate.

"When you gave me the hairpin from the previous princess, I was so happy, "Yu Rou begins. (The hairpin, the gift that keeps on giving, and a reminder to the men out there why you don't give another woman you aren't interested in expensive gifts). "I even thought that after all these years, you will finally look at me--"

"Shut up!" Feng Xi interrupts.  (He totally brought this upon himself.  This is precisely what happens when unavailable men do not draw clear boundaries with women, all because they want to temporarily boost their ego).  "If you want to be a maid who does menial work, then stay.  If you don't want to, then leave."  He begins to walk away.

Yu Rou is kneeling, and remains so, as he walks by. "My Lord, do you still remember when we first met?"

Feng Xi pauses and remembers the scenario.  Yu Rou is looking beautiful in her pink hanfu, accompanied by her attendant.  Feng Xi has been in a fight, and is pushed into a table, his lip bleeding.  He looks at Yu Rou, she looks back.  Some guards dressed in black are looking for him, but he is hidden in her curtained sedan.  He pulls back the curtain and thanks her.

Yu Rou stands up, reminding Feng Xi that he owes her for this act of kindness in the past. "At that time, you said that this kindness you would return ten fold."

Feng Xi, however, is not so easily manipulated.  "All these years, I gave you jewelry, food, and clothing.  Isn't that enough still?" What he doesn't fully understand is that when she leaves the manor, she will be in a significantly lower position than when she entered.  She can't return to her family, she's been displaced, and her displacement is a reflection on how her family raised her.  Therefore, they would be humiliated, and would not want the shame. She can't be a concubine to another nobleman because she had been so focused on Feng Xi, that she didn't exactly go out of her way to cultivate other options.  Marriage to someone else of a noble status? As a previous concubine: 99.9% out of the question!

"You've already given me more than enough," she admits.  "With your capability, I believe you'll definitely make a comeback.  I believe that we'll meet again." She kneels and kowtows to him.  He walks away.  The door is closed, and there's no persuasion that will work.  While this author does not like Yu Rou, this author empathizes with her determination to stay.

 

Feng Xi and Dong Yue are walking together on a trail surrounded by greenery.  "Let's bid farewell here," Feng Xi says gently.  He bows to her.

Dong Yue grabs his arm and stops him. "What do you mean 'Bid Farewell'?  Didn't you tell me I'm the new Madam of Feng Manor?"

"Feng Manor?  Take a look, do you still think I have the Feng Manor?" he is mortified about his fall from grace, so he's covering it up by acting like a dick. "I only said that to make Li Yu Rou angry so she would leave.  What is it? Do you think it was true?" (Dong Yue would be totally justified in slapping him at this point).

"Feng Xi, you have already driven everyone around you away.  Now, you're also driving me away." Dong Yue points out.  "Do you really want to be some lonely person?"

"Dao Le joining the army, it's to train him. If Li Yu Rou and the rest stay with me, they'll worry and be afraid.  I might as well set them free.  As for you, you stayed with me.  Isn't it just to kill Lu Yuantong?  What is it?  Did you get so comfortable after staying so long at Feng Manor?  Have you already forgotten what you actually wanted to do?"

"I didn't forget that I've wanted to kill Lu Yuantong," Dong Yue replies.  "However, that day at Qishan, you risked your life to save me.  Was that all fake?" she yells. "You told me that you would never leave me.  Was that fake, too?"

"So what if it's true?!" Replies Feng Xi.  "If you continued to be your arrogant self from before, I still would have liked you.  However, look at you now!  What's the difference between you and those ignorant women in the capitol?  How could I keep you by my side?" He turns to walk away.

Dong Yue runs after him. "Stop thinking that you can use the same tactic on Li Yu Rou to deceive me."

"Let me tell you the truth.  If you insist on killing Lu Yuantong, I'll be adamant on saving him.  Duke of Dingyuan and I have planned for many years for the sake of this nation.  It's time to embark on the last step.  What? Do you also want to seek refuge with me and the Duke Of Dingyuan to enjoy glory and wealth?"

He walks away from her again.  This time, she doesn't follow, but she doesn't remain emotionless as a tear rolls down her cheek.

Feng Xi finds a quiet spot on a grassy hill.  Assassins sneak up behind him.

Dong Yue is listlessly walking.  Her white jade flute begins to play, and she instinctively knows Feng Xi is in danger.  She runs to the quiet spot on the hill.  He isn't there.  "Feng Xi!" she yells.  She does, however, see a blood trail.  It leads to the edge of the hill, and then stops.  "Feng Xi!" she yells again.  "Don't scare me!  Quickly come out, now!"

She scans the area.  As she moves, someone behind her grabs her arm.  She quickly turns around and sees Feng Xi.

Dong Yue's defenses crumble, and Feng Xi's facial expression softens.  He pulls her closely and kisses her.  He puts his hand on her face, she puts her hand on his waist.  He touches his forehead to hers.  They hold their embrace, and he lovingly strokes her hair. She grabs his hand.

"Where are you injured? Why is there so much blood?" Dong Yue asks.

He smiles.  "I'm fine.  Di you really think that just a few assassins could kill me?  However, I see how much you care for me, and it feels pretty good." He smiles at her.

Dong Yue hits him.  "Scoundrel!" she says.

He laughs.

"Where are you going now, then?" she asks.

"Just come with me."

They go to a beautiful secluded home below the mountain.  "The scenery remains the same, yet the people have changed.  Do you still remember this place?" Feng Xi asks.

Dong Yue nods.  It's the place they first met.  He tells her the deed for the home is in her name, as he is no longer allowed to own property.  He says he never expected her to be willing to help him, time after time.  "At my most helpless time, you would be willing to stay with me." He holds her hands and embraces her, ready to begin a new life together.