American Perspectives: Feng Xi Rejects Yu Rou ("Twisted Fate of Love" Ep. 29)

 

Because Feng Xi has completely forgotten Dong Yue, and Dong Yue has moved out of the manor; Yu Rou is thrilled to pieces.  "Finally! An opportunity for his love," thinks Yu Rou.

 

Dong Yue is sitting in her room at the Lasting Abyss House, trying to get all her frazzled emotions together.  She didn't want to move out, but Feng Xi's memory loss is not only taking a toll on him, it's taking a toll on her well being.  Leaving seemed to be the best maneuver at the time.

Like Yu Rou, 3rd Prince is also seeing an opportunity with Dong Yue with this current turn of events.  He is most certainly going to make another attempt for her affection.

3rd Prince smiles, happy with this new found luck, and he knocks on Dong Yue's door, before entering her room.

She rises from her seat. "Your Highness, what brings you here?"

He tells her he heard about her departure from Feng Manor.  He lets her know that the Royal Wind Pavilion is always an option if she needs a place to stay.

Dong Yue is hesitant as she has just left one serious relationship, and it wouldn't surprise her if 3rd Prince was eager to start another.  "The public is ridiculing me, yet only Your Highness would say these words to me.  However, if I moved back to the Royal Wind Pavilion, I don't know what kind of rumors and gossip would spread.  I'm worried Your Highness would be dragged into it."

3rd Prince smiles.  "Between the two of us, we don't need to be like this--"

"Your Highness," Dong Yue interjects, "I've already made up my mind."

"If you insist on it, I won't force you.  It's just that...when I have time, can I come to visit you?" asks 3rd Prince.

"Of course! I'll always be good friends with Your Highness."

"Good!" 3rd Prince feels relieved.  At the very least, he still wants to be her friend.

 

Feng Xi is sitting by Yu Rou at the table, and she is pouring him some tea.  He is preparing to eat.  He is visibly uncomfortable, as the vibe feels very, very off.  He puts down his chopsticks.

"Is there any servant in the Feng Manor who can play the flute well?" he asks Yu Rou. 

She looks a little startled as it would be to her extreme disadvantage if he remembered even the slightest thing about Dong Yue.

"Among the servants," she says nervously, "even those who are literate, are not that many, much less any who are able to play any instruments at all.  My Lord, why would you ask about this?" (Even though she really doesn't want to know).

"Last night in the yard, I heard the flute sound."

Yu Rou is quickly thinking of a believable explanation. "Perhaps some maid thought it was elegant, so she secretly learned how."

Feng Xi sighs and looks at his food.  He isn't entirely satisfied with the explanation.  Yu Rou affectionately adds some food to his bowl.

"What's wrong? Is the food not to your taste?" she asks.

"Not that," says Feng Xi.  "I have a lot of work related matters, so I'm just a little absent minded."

Yu Rou is very worried because even though he doesn't remember Dong Yue, her chance of consummating her concubine title with him is still very, very marginal.

 

Back at the Lasting Abyss House, Lu Chuan is visiting Dong Yue to catch up on the latest Feng Manor gossip. "At present, no one dares to bring you up in front of his Lordship.  However, his Lordship has sharp eyes and ears.  He'll find clues eventually."

"By then, even if there are any clues at all," Dong Yue replies, "Feng Xi will have already stopped loving me, so he would no longer care."

Lu Chuan is concerned. "You...are really going to let everything go?"

"I'm fine, but it will put you in a difficult situation.  For something this big to have happened to Feng Xi, yet you aren't able to write about it in 'The Chatters of the Capitol.'"

Lu Chuan smiles.  "Do you think I have nothing else to write about, so I would only write about the downfall of the minister?"

Dong Yue smiles.

"Wait!" Dao Le barges in, with Zi Yuan behind him.  "What downfall?" He is livid.  "I'm telling you, you only waste all of your time writing random things." Dao Le is still very jealous of the friendship between Lu Chuan and Zi Yuan. "You definitely cannot write about this!"

Lu Chuan slaps his hands on the table and stands up.  "Do you think I don't know that?  Who says I wrote random things, and only you understand the minister the most?"

"Of course! I spend every day by Uncle's side, I naturally understand him much more than you do!" says Dao Le.

"Do you know what divine friendship is?" asks Lu Chuan. "You can't say that you understand him just because you follow him around all day."

"It's better than those who wish they could follow him, but can't," smirks Dao Le.

"I--," says Lu Chuan.

"Enough!" Zi Yuan cuts in. "Don't the two of you feel ashamed at all in front of sister Dong Yue, competing about who understands the minister more?"

The two men exchange glances and look away.

Dong Yue has a request for Lu Chuan.  She asks him to recall his gossip books that have information about her relationship with Feng Xi.

He assures her that it has already been done, but there are still too many copies, and not enough volunteers to get all the books.

Zi Yuan volunteers Dao Le.  He resists, as he does not want to work with Lu Chuan.  Zi Yuan reminds him that it's to help Dong Yue.  She tells him that if he doesn't help, she will. Because Dao Le doesn't want her working with Lu Chuan, he finally agrees to do it. Zi Yuan does not know that Dao Le is acting this way due to jealousy.

 

Dong Yue is taking an evening stroll.  She stops in front of the puppet theater where "The Story of Xi and Xue" is still showing.  She sees Feng Xi walking to her, but does he remember her?  He passes her, and it is evident that the answer is no.  She walks away.  He looks behind him, and sees her leaving.  He is feeling confused.  There is something familiar about her, but he can't figure it out.

Dong Yue returns to the Lasting Abyss House.  She looks at the broken pendant Feng Xi gave her.  She sits on her bed and opens the book of illustrations Feng Xi drew.  Some of the memories make her laugh, and some make her cry.

"Feng Xi, in the end, you still forgot about me."

 

Yu Rou is at the Feng Manor instructing the male servants to hang a portrait in Feng Xi's study.  It is covered with some cloth, so it is unknown as to what is on there.

Feng Xi walks in. "What are you hanging?"

Yu Rou walks up to him, and stands beside him.  "Prime Minister, don't you remember? You had asked a master artist to paint this." Originally, Dong Yue was in the picture, however..."It was just delivered today, so I told them to hang it here."

"Is that so?" asks Feng Xi.  "Remove the cloth and let me take a look." The servant pulls of the cloth.  Instead of Dong Yue in the picture beside him, it is now Yu Rou, which has essentially ruined the integrity of the portrait.

"The brush stroke is exquisite in both form and spirit," says Yu Rou.

Feng Xi is not impressed.

Yu Rou adds, "He's indeed a master artist in the capitol." She is all smiles, looking at the portrait.

Feng Xi grunts.  "Definitely so. However, many officials enter and exit my study. I fear it's inappropriate.  Just hang it in your room, then."

Yu Rou's face drops.  At this point, she isn't even second choice.  Actually, she isn't even on the list of Feng Xi's romantic interests.  "Yes," she says.  "We'll do as you say."

Feng Xi walks away, and it's apparent that he doesn't like the painting at all.

Yu Rou is disappointed with the epiphany that she isn't even second choice.  "Take it down, then," she dejectedly tells the servants.

 

Feng Xi is tossing and turning in his bed.  He feels like something is off, as he reaches under his pillow, but he doesn't know what it is, and he doesn't know what he's looking for.  He sits up and recalls placing a book of illustrations under his pillow.  The book that is now in Dong Yue's possession.

The next morning, he is looking for Dao Le.  Feng Xi notices the flower tattoo on his chest, and he wonders if Dao Le can help him.  Dao Le doesn't know where the tattoo came from.

Feng Xi remarks that he has forgotten a lot of things lately.

Dao Le decides not to reveal too much, as that isn't what Dong Yue wants.  Instead, he tells Feng Xi that he was sick for an extended period of time.  He says that the tattoo is from Yu Rou.  In Feng Xi's mind, something about the explanation doesn't seem right.

Yu Rou is in her room, combing her hair.  She knows her chance for romance with Feng Xi is next to non existant.  Her servant hands her a new, light purple Hanfu.  Her servant is concerned it may be a little too revealing for Yu Rou's taste.

Yu Rou sees it as her last ditch chance to get Feng Xi.  She places a silver bird hairpin in her hair.  She hopes that tonight will be the night they finally consummate her concubine title.

She goes to Feng Xi's room, wearing her purple, off the shoulder Hanfu.  He looks up from his book, and then gets back to what he was reading.

Yu Rou moves closer to the bed.  Feng Xi remains disinterested.  She sits on the edge of the bed.  Hoping for something, ANYTHING.  Still, no interest.  "My Lord, you have been busy with work lately.  Perhaps you should relax." She strokes his leg, and massages his knee.  He does not look up from his book, or give any indication whatsoever that he wants, or enjoys what she is currently doing.  Yu Rou is disappointed, and she moves her hands to his arm.  She rests her head on his shoulder, and it is now apparent that he isn't enjoying it.

"Yu Rou?"

"I have been sheltered in your manor for ten years already," she clings to his arm.

"You've saved my life before," Feng Xi acknowledges.  "So I've always thought of you as family."

Yu Rou looks disappointed. "I also regard you as family, but after all these years," she strokes his chest, "I have been feeling too lonely." 

He continues to read his book.

She tries to hold him closer, but he moves away.

"Lonely?" he asks. He continues to read his book. 

"I know that I'm from a humble birth.  I was born in a brothel, and I am not worthy to be your wife.  However," she puts her arms around him, "My Lord likes me, and I like My Lord, too.  Why do we waste our time? Why don't we, tonight...just let me stay here to serve you?"

He moves away from her.  "You've thought too much. Why would I care about your family background?"

"Then just let me be your real woman." She tries to kiss him, but he keeps moving away.

"There are certain things that still don't feel right," he explains.

"In what aspects?" asks Yu Rou. "My Lord built the Moon Garden for me," she lies.  "We have had our portrait painted together, and gone out as a couple.  This is how we've been."

He recoils from her repeated attempts at touching him.  "I still have to think some things over."

Yu Rou is disappointed.  "How long do you need to think about it?"

"I don't know.  Let's talk again once I'm clear about everything.  It's already late. Go back and rest."

Yu Rou is extremely disappointed, and mortified.  "Then I won't disturb your rest."  She's on the verge of tears.  This was not the outcome she was so sure she was going to get.

Feng Xi watches her walk away.  He thinks to himself, "The person I've forgotten, is it really Yu Rou?" He just can't get himself to believe it.

The next night, Feng Xi is having some tea in his study, getting ready to read another book. He asks the servant serving his tea where Yu Rou is.  She explains that Yu Rou is sick.  She tells him that the Physician says Yu Rou is depressed.

Feng Xi acknowledges the answer, and politely tells the servant to take his leave. "Depression?" he thinks out loud.

 

Dong Yue is trimming flowers in her room.  Wen Xin stops by to see her.  Wen Xin suggests they participate in the flower convention with Dong Yue's basket of flowers.  Wen Xin only wants to participate because unlimited pastries are given to the participants.  She begs Dong Yue to go.

Dong Yue concedes.

They go to the convention and run into 3rd Prince.

"What is that bad guy doing here?" Wen Xin asks as she sees Feng Xi and Yu Rou enter the room.

Dong Yue admonishes her.

Yu Rou sees them and makes a point of touching Feng Xi's arm, moving closer, and saying loudly, "The Prime Minister is very thoughtful to take me out to relax, I'm very happy."

"You need to take care of everything in the residence," he replies.  "So I hope you'll recover soon."

3rd Prince looks at Dong Yue.  He suggests they get Wen Xin a snack.  

Dong Yue looks back, and makes eye contact with Feng Xi. She walks away, and he feels a glimmer of recognition.  "Who's that lady with the 3rd Prince?"

"She's probably his new guest?" Yu Rou says weakly.

He's not buying it, but he nods his head in acknowledgement.

Dong Yue's flowers are included on the competition table, due to Wen Xin accidentally breaking Lu Chuan's entry.  Dong Yue's entry, titled "The Moon Reflects The Holly," unexpectedly received one vote, when she didn't expect to receive any.  The display had been a little over pruned, as flower arrangements aren't Dong Yue's area of interest.

"It seems like someone understands older Sister Dong Yue," says Wen Xin.

"The act of pruning flowers is about simplicity," Yu Rou approaches Dong Yue. "If you prune too much, you might as well just bury the flowers."

3rd Prince glares at her.  She immediately bows, momentarily regretting her cattiness.

"Everyone has different tastes," says the 3rd Prince.  "One may not necessarily dislike it when it has been pruned too much.  Didn't 'The Moon Reflects the Holly' receive a vote, too?"

"The vote for 'The Moon Reflects the Holly,' wasn't that the one Your Highness cast?" Yu Rou asks.

"I'm not one of the judges, but frankly speaking, I would never play favorites," replies 3rd Prince.

"Then this is so strange," says Yu Rou.  "I wonder who has such bad taste." Strong words from someone who isn't even second choice to her love interest..."that he voted for 'The Moon Reflects the Holly.'"

"It was I who chose it," Feng Xi approaches them.

Yu Rou is mortified.  "My Lord."

Feng Xi smiles at Dong Yue and bows to her. "The beauty of Holly Flowers isn't in the budding branch or in the pot it's placed in," he looks at 3rd Prince. "But it's when the fallen flowers are scattered and flying around like snowflakes."

Yu Rou feels like an idiot.

"That's right, it was me," says Feng Xi.  He walks around the table.  He looks at the flowers.  "This pot of Holly Flowers are arranged and trimmed very nicely, so it doesn't lose the true meaning of the flower, whereas the other flowers are so tacky and only seeking to win.  This is the only one which was interesting and natural.  This is the true reason for the vote."

Dong Yue and Wen Xin walk away, as this is a little too much for Dong Yue to process right now.  Feng Xi watches her leave.

Yu Rou knows she won't even make it to second choice at this point. Her chance at romance is toast.

Feng Xi looks at the floral arrangement lovingly, further confirming her worst fear.

 

That night, Yu Rou approaches Feng Xi by the pond.  She puts his cloak on him. 

"Tell me," he says, "these Holly Flowers that I planted, were they to symbolize our love?  However, it seems that you don't really like Holly Flowers."

Yu Rou forces a smile. "My Lord, you are mistaken," she lies. "It's because I like them so much, which is why I was angry.  I was angry that the flowers were trimmed in such a way."

"Is that true?" Feng Xi does not believe her.

"Of course that's true." She tells him not to overthink it, and to take a rest.

He tells her to rest, as well.  He isn't sold on her response. It doesn't feel right, and they have lived together for ten years, so of course he's going to know her subtle nuances. He looks up at the Holly Flowers in the tree.  The stories are not adding up.