American Perspectives: A Partially Clean Slate ("Twisted Fate of Love" Ep. 23)

 

After Dong Yue's immortal lover, Er Yu, gave her an additional chance at life to once again prevent the war, things have gotten a bit messier in another way.  3rd Prince finds and intercepts the stolen military weapons.  Lu Yuantong finds out Feng Xi is secretly working against him.

Lady Murong meets Feng Xi down by the river.  She informs him of 3rd Prince's interception, and how General Luo revealed their plan to work against Lu Yuantong.

Feng Xi plans on going to Zhuming Post and convincing Lu Yuantong that he isn't working against him.

Dong Yue realizes Feng Xi is in further danger as she overhears Zang Fei telling General Luo that Lu Yuantong and Feng Xi are meeting.  She heads to Wind Pavilion.

Feng Xi greets Lu Yuantong at Zhuming Post.

Lu Yuantong questions his loyalty.

Feng Xi assures him that he remains loyal.

Dong Yue knocks on 3rd Prince's door.  He is happy to see her.

She asks him if he had obtained the stolen military weapons.

"So, it is indeed about this," sighs 3rd Prince. "This ordnance is a gift for Lu Yuantong from Feng Xi." He asks her to sit down with him for some tea.

"It'll take too long to tell the story, and this matter is extremely urgent," says Dong Yue.  "I beg your highness to let me have the ordnance."

"Extremely urgent?" 3rd Prince implores.  "Don't worry.  I don't have any plans to impeach Feng Xi immediately." He takes a sip of tea.

"Luo Chun, who was transporting the ordnance, is a spy planted by Feng Xi in the Dingyuan's army.  When you robbed the ordnance, Luo Chun's identity was exposed. Lu Yuantong won't let this matter go for Feng Xi," says Dong Yue.

"By saying this, are you saying that I acted without thinking first? Feng Xi privately transferred the ordnance.  That's punishable by law," argues 3rd Prince.

"Your highness, you really have a deep prejudice against Feng Xi.  He's not what you think--"

"Feng Xi, Feng Xi," 3rd Prince rolls his eyes, the jealousy and resentment becoming more evident. "Feng Xi again."

"I will always remember your kind intentions towards me."

"However, you abandoned my kind intentions," 3rd Prince snaps.

"One can't control love," replies Dong Yue.  "My heart doesn't have space for another person."

"Even if you don't like me, you also shouldn't like someone..." 3rd Prince sighs.  What's the point?  "Dong Yue, I'm doing everything right now, it's all for you."

Dong Yue doesn't believe it. "If you're really doing this for me, let me have the ordnance then."

3rd Prince stands up. "This ordnance is the evidence of Feng Xi's crime, so if you want it, then take it over my dead body."

"Don't you force me!" replies Dong Yue.  She draws her sword, and points it at his throat.  He looks at the blade in disbelief.

"Dong Yue."

"Your Highness.  I don't have any other choice."

 

Feng Xi and Lu Yuantong are talking and drinking tea.

"If there are sufficient reasons for doing something," says Feng Xi, "there isn't only one path to get there."

Lu Yuantong is intrigued.  "I'm willing to hear the details."

Feng Xi smiles.  "You personally witnessed that old case back then.  If we have any evidence, we could create some waves. Then we can gain some benefit from it."

"What old case?" Lu Yuantong asks.

Feng Xi looks mildly disappointed, but regains his composure. "I have complete trust in Duke Lu.  Why are you pretending that you don't know?  Of course, it's the old case about the Ming Family." (Feng Xi's mother's family). "Since the Ming Dynasty, the Mount Hao Army ha been creating chaos at the border.  His majesty sent General Ming to redress this.  Legend has it that General Ming became famous in this battle.  Mount Hao delivered a document of surrender to hand over to his Majesty.  However, who knew that when his Majesty opened it, it was a secret letter of treason with the enemy.  Is the unquestionable document of surrender from General Ming a fable?"

Ly Yuantong pauses. "You're very concerned about the old case of the Ming family."

"If I can take advantage of it, of course I'm concerned," Feng Xi replies.

Lu Yuantong laughs loudly.  "You are still indeed the one who doesn't do anything without gains. As to whether there's really a document of surrender, I'm not very clear.  It's because after his majesty lost the entire Ming Family, he was heartbroken.  After a long time, not many people would mention this again.  I advise you not to mention this, either. No one will benefit from this."

"I'm not concerned about the old case of the Ming Family.  However, if we can let his Majesty suffer some losses from a general sense of insecurity, then it would be a good opportunity for you."

"Enough!" Lu Yuantong rises from his chair. "Let's not dwell on the old case of the Ming Family anymore.  We've reunited today.  I want you to identify someone."

 

Dong Yue holds 3rd Prince hostage while the ordnance is being loaded onto a cart.

"I already did what you wanted, but you're still not releasing his Highness," says Qingxiao, 3rd Prince's personal guard.

"Is that all?" Dong Yue asks.

"I've already transported a few of the other chests to the capitol," Qingxiao replies. "Those are the only ones left."

"Your Highness," Dong Yue says.  "I'm sorry!" She sheathes her sword, and leaves the with the cart full of weapons.  She does not like that she had to threaten her friend to save her lover.

"Let's go," 3rd Prince softly says to Qingxiao.

 

General Luo is brought to Feng Xi at Lu Yuantong's manor.  He is gagged and has cuts on his face.

"Do you know this person?" asks Lu Yuantong.

Feng Xi looks at him, pretending not to recognize him. "He does look familiar, but I don't know him."

Lu Yuantong knows he's full of it. He points out that he's Luo Chun who has always been by Lady Murong's side, and a spy planted by Feng Xi.

"No wonder I find him familiar!" Exclaims Feng Xi. "It turns out that I met him when Miss Murong came to the capitol.  As for you to say that he's a spy, that's something I really wasn't aware of."

Lu Yuantong laughs. "This person couldn't endure punishment, so he revealed all your schemes against me.  This is also an unexpected gain for me."

Feng Xi looks at Lu Yuantong curiously. "How could he speak the truth while being tortured?  Duke Lu, you trust him, but not me?"

"You are a renowned liar who doesn't care one bit about people's lives.  How do you expect me to trust you?"

Feng Xi smiles.  He gives Luo Chun the side eye. Luo Chun watches Lu Yuantong.

Lu Yuantong draws his sword at Feng Xi, but before he fully unsheathes it, Dong Yue bursts into the room.

"Duke Lu!" she calls from across the room, confidently walking up. Feng Xi turns to look at her.  "Before you clarify everything, Duke Lu, is there are need to get so angry?"

"And who are you?" asks Lu Yuantong.

Dong Yue bows. "I am Dong Yue, and I've met you in the past."

"Dong Yue?" says Lu Yuantong. "You're that female official who's partially possessed by an immortal, and is also Prime Minister Feng's confidante. Isn't that right?"

"Duke," interjects Feng Xi, "She was the woman at the Grand Banquet of the Capitol--"

"That's right!" Dong Yue interrupts. "That's me.  I had been framed for trying to assassinate the Duke, and I was cleared of the crime." Feng Xi walks up to her. "They investigated and found the truth, so they cleared my name."

"Why aren't you at the capitol?" asks Feng Xi.  "Why are you here?"

"Prime Minister, it's because I speculated that you'd encounter a catastrophe and be harmed by a villain; hence, I came."

He smiles softly at her.

She looks at Luo Chun. "This Luo Chun embezzled and held the ordnance in his private possession, and he even framed my prime minister.  He's just a low life and a scoundrel. Fortunately, I was smart, so I intercepted the ordnance that he wanted to steal.  It's outside right now, and is the concrete evidence." Feng Xi is impressed.

"Zang Fei, bring the ordnance in here," instructs Lu Yuantong.

The find the cart outside, complete with all explosives.

Dong Yue asks Lu Yuantong how can they form an alliance when he is always suspicious of Feng Xi?

"You can't blame the Duke," says Feng Xi.  "In the eyes of the Duke, I'm cunning."

Duke Lu strikes Luo Chun and has him dragged out.  He informs Feng Xi that he has been summoned by the capitol, and he knows he's going to be a hostage.  Feng Xi says he will help him, and to reconsider what he said about the Ming Family case.

Lu Yuantong leaves for the capitol.

Dong Yue and Feng Xi have some time alone.  He moves close to her.  "It's been a long time since we last saw each other."

"You're naturally cunning," replies Dong Yue. "I shouldn't have worried about you."  She still loves him, but she's keeping a distance.

"If you're not worried about me, why would you be here?"

"I just didn't want to see you die.  However, don't think you can keep getting involved with me! Otherwise--"

"Otherwise what?"

"Nothing.  I'm leaving now.  Don't follow me unless you want to be whacked!"

"We've had many misunderstandings between us," says Feng Xi, "but if you are willing to wait for me, once I've completed my task, I'll definitely come to find you."

He does't see her smile as she walks away.  He is smiling as well.

Dong Yue returns to the home Feng Xi gave her, the place where they first met.  She wonders if she had trusted Feng Xi from the very beginning, could the chaos have been prevented? She walks around the grounds, contemplating.  She goes inside.  She combs her hair.

She goes to the puppet theater, watching "The Story of Xi Yue," and reminiscing about herself and Feng Xi.  The show ends, and Dong Yue is left standing alone.  She walks behind the puppet screen, and then away.  She looks back and sees Feng Xi in a jade colored Hanfu embroidered with cranes on the front.  She walks to him, but stops halfway.  "Why are you here?" she asks.

"What about you?" he asks.  "Why are you also here?"

She stutters.  She can't answer him.

He moves closer to her. "Yue'er. I originally didn't understand your heart, but since you've come, I won't let you go anymore." He kisses her.  She tries to push him away, as she still wants to keep her distance, and not get too involved with him just yet.  However, she then decides it no longer matters, and she kisses him back, and let's him embrace her closely.

She agrees to come back to Feng Manor, and to continue their new start on a partially clean slate.