American Perspectives: Good Fortune Inn ("Twisted Fate of Love" Ep. 31)

 

It's late at night, and Feng Xi and Dong Yue have arrived at the Good Fortune Inn. They are both famished. The Inn looks a little shady, like it might be some sort of hideaway for organized crime. Feng Xi, however, seems to have some sort of familiarity with it, so Dong Yue decides to cautiously trust him.

She is looking down at the edge of the dining table, and notices some small, yet deep and unsightly, cuts.

They are served their meal of some delicious looking buns, vegetables, and meat. Feng Xi is relaxed, ready for some good eating and drinking.  Dong Yue is feeling slightly on edge.  As Feng Xi is about to take a drink, Dong Yue grabs his arm to stop him.

"What's wrong?" he asks.

"This is an inn that robs and kills guests," whispers Dong Yue. "The wine could be poisoned."

He takes a look at his cup of wine, then looks back at her. "You're overthinking it." He raises the cup to his lips, and she grabs his wrist.  She anxiously shakes her head. He puts the cup down.

The Inn Keeper is observing their actions.

Dong Yue picks up the roll, and tears it in half, revealing some meat and vegetable filling.  She carefully smells it to see if there's any poison.  She hands it to Feng Xi.  "Don't you think the bun smells a bit strange?"

He takes a piece and cautiously smells it.  Without a second thought, he devours it in one bite.

Dong Yue looks at him in disbelief.  She feels like he isn't taking her concerns seriously.

He chokes.

"Is there really poison in the bun?" Dong Yue asks anxiously.

He points to his throat, trying to speak.

"The owner of this Inn is an expert in martial arts, and both of us are wounded right now," Dong Yue says anxiously.  She cannot let anything happen to Feng Xi, even though he still doesn't remember her.  "We can't defeat him."

Feng Xi continues to point to his throat impatiently. "No." He quickly swallows his food.

Behind them, a suspicious looking group of people walks in. They are dressed in armor, and Dong Yue observes them cautiously.  They sit down at a table, ready to order and eat.  The men are gossipping, but then they take notice of Feng Xi.  They surround his table, and pull out a wanted poster, comparing the drawing to him. They ask if he's Feng Xi, and he confirms.

Dong Yue slowly reaches for her sword.  As the men pull out their swords, ready to arrest, Dong Yue stands up with her sword fully drawn. No one lays a hand on her beloved Feng Xi!  Like a Mama Bear protecting her cub, this woman doesn't play around.

"Something is not right," one of the men says as he begins to lose his balance.  They all wilt into the floor, one by one, like a bunch of dead flowers.

Dong Yue is confused. She looks over at Feng Xi. The Inn Keeper walks in, and she points her sword at him. The Inn Keeper and his servant lightly kick the men lying on the floor.  No movement.

"Rotten brat!" says the Inn Keeper.  "How dangerous! The knock out drug wasn't even accurate."

"Isn't this your line of work?" asks the servant. "Why didn't you do it yourself?"

"I'm telling you," the Inn Keeper wags his finger at him, "if my wife hadn't died early, I'd have no interest in dealing with you."

"It's because my older sister died young that you keep neglecting me," argues the servant.

Feng Xi is grinning.

"Still squabbling with me, aren't you?" asks the Inn Keeper. "I'll hit you!" He gets ready to strike the servant.

"Wang Chui!" Feng Xi intervenes. "The child is still young.  Don't hit or scold just to discipline him."

"My Lord, you just don't know," says Wang Chui, the Inn Keeper.  "This boy is really stubborn.  If I don't discipline him, he won't listen."

"So you were in this together?" Dong Yue is pissed.

Feng Xi smiles and laughs softly. "Old Chui," Feng Xi begins. "We haven't seen each other for so long, but your buns still taste this bad."

The servant chuckles.

"It tastes bad?" Wang Chui asks. "That shouldn't be the case."

Dong Yue is thoroughly annoyed.

Feng Xi goes into his room.

An older man is waiting for him.  "Young master," he says.

"Uncle Yuan," says Feng Xi, "It's been a long time."

"Young Master," says Yuan, "I've worked here for over 10 days, but I never saw you arriving. There were so many rumors flying around out there that made me so worried."

"I've caused you to worry," Feng Xi says sincerely. "Although there are twists and turns, I've been able to obtain the Surrender Document."

"The Surrender Document?" asks Yuan. 

Feng Xi's hands are shaking as he unfurls it.  He has tears in his eyes, as the switching of this document to a fake letter of treason many years prior caused profound harm on his family.

"This is the lives of the fifty four members of my Ming Family," sobs Uncle Yuan. "Fifty four lives!"

"I'm handing this surrender document over to you to take to the county of Mount Hao," says Feng Xi.

"This involves the innocence of the Ming Family and your future prospects.  I...I'm terrified."

"If you hadn't taken me out from the palace, would I still be alive? No one else in this kingdom has the rights to keep safe this Surrender Document. Besides, when I enter the capitol, Lu Yuantong and Left Prime Minister will go up against me.  The Surrender Document isn't safe in my hands."

"You're entrusting such an important task to me.  I will accept it."

"All right.  When the time is right, I'll invite you to the capitol to discuss our great plan."

"I'll listen to your arrangements.  Young Master, take care."

 Wang Chui's servant is dragging the dead soldiers out of the inn. 

"Drag them all out to the back of the garden for fertilizer," orders Wang Chui.

"I know! I know!" says the servant.

Dong Yue approaches Wang Chui. "Aren't you dragging them to the back of the kitchen to be mincemeat?"

"Miss, you have misunderstood." He walks to a table full of delicious side dishes. He shows her one of his rolls.  He splits it and gives her a piece.  "Smell it."

She recoils.

He laughs. "These are real pork buns, not human meat buns."

"Aren't you running an Inn which robs and kills guests?"

Wang Chui sighs and sits down. "I, Wang Chui, used to do that in the past.  From here to the capitol, it's all my territory.  It was such a pity that I didn't keep my eyes open and robbed Prime Minister Feng.  After he had offered me amnesty, I've worked with him ever since."

"Your name is really Wang Chui?" asks Dong Yue.

"Whether a name is real or fake, isn't important.  However, since I started following Prime Minister Feng, I stopped robbing. He gave me money to open this Inn.  I also took a wife, and have lived a good life.  Who would still want to continue robbing?"

They both laugh.

"Why isn't Feng Xi here yet?" asks Dong Yue.

"His Lord is in the back, catching up on good times with the kitchen cook."

Dong Yue and Yuan cross paths in the hallway. Yuan is carrying the red box with the Surrender Document, and he immediately hides it behind his back.

She acknowledges him, and recognizes him as someone who has worked with Feng Xi before.

Feng Xi comes out of his room after Yuan, and sees Dong Yue. "Were you looking for me?" he asks.

"Yes.  What took you so long?"

"I was just chatting with a friend who I hadn't seen for a long time."

"Wang Chui prepared some wine and food. Let's go over there."

"All right."

"Uncle, you are back!" says a little boy. Feng Xi kneels down to give him a hug.  Another little boy runs up to him, also wanting a hug.  Wang Chui shoos them both away.

Wang Chui, Feng Xi, and Dong Yue sit down to eat. "Those two children seem very close to you," observes Dong Yue.

"Miss," says Wang Chui, "His Lord adopted those two illegitimate children. Don't mind them."

"Illegitimate children?" asks Dong Yue.

Feng Xi laughs. "Listen to his explanation."

Wang Chui continues, "Miss, you may not know, everyone in this Inn has all received the grace of His Lord.  His Lord gave us a new lease on life.  It's not too much to say that we were reborn."

"Older Brother Wang," interjects Feng Xi, "your words are too somber.  Helping and taking care of these kids, it's all entirely your hard work."

"It's what I should be doing," says Wang Chui.

"Everyone says you're greedy, corrupt, and ruthless." Says Dong Yue. "It turns out your money has been spent on these kinds of places."

Feng Xi blushes. "Those who don't know me, if they want to curse me, that's fine. As long as I know, and my close friends know, I'm content.  I have made quite a number of sincere friends in the past few years.  Older brother Wang is one of them.  Older Brother Wang, this is a toast to you."

"Thank you, My Lord."

Wang Chui asks how Feng Xi turned into a wanted criminal.

Feng Xi speculates he was set up by Left Prime Minister to be blamed for Lu Zhengming's injury.  He knows he needs to quickly get back to the capitol to clarify the misunderstanding.

Dong Yue points out there will be many obstacles along the way, as Left Prime Minister has lied for a reason.

Wang Chui has a solution. He reaches into the top part of his Hanfu, and pulls out a document.  He hands it to Feng Xi.  

Feng Xi takes it.  "Customs clearance document?" he asks. He opens it up and reads, "Bai Yunshan and his wife Bai Yan? How did you get this?"

Wang Chui smiles.  He explains that he used to rob the rich to help the poor.  That he obtained it from a rich merchant and his wife.

Feng Xi turns to Dong Yue.  "Then I'll have to trouble you, my wife."

 

Feng Xi and Dong Yue are in line to pass through the gate of the capitol.  Feng Xi is wearing a sky blue hanfu and a fake mustache.  They are stopped at the gate, and they produce the customs clearance document.  Feng Xi adds a little money to get things moving quickly.

"Stop," says the guard.  He looks at Dong Yue.  Then he tells them to go in.

After they pass through the city gates, Dong Yue asks Feng Xi if he wants to know who she really is.  He says it isn't necessary because he trusts her.

"All right, then I'll be taking my leave," says Dong Yue.

"You saved me, so how should I repay you?"

"I helped you upon seeing injustice.  I don't know you, either.  There's no need to repay me."

"Then where should I go to look for you?" asks Feng Xi.

"There's no need to look for me, My Lord. We'll never meet again."

"If I really want to find something, there's nothing in the kingdom that can prevent me."

Dong Yue looks at him.  "My Lord, you're right.  By saving you, I also obtained emotional consolation from you. So you don't need to feel that you owe me anything. Just treat this journey as a beautiful dream." He sadly watches her walk away.

 

That night, Feng Xi returns to Feng Manor with a severely injured Lu Zhengming.  They are walking right into Lu Yuantong and his followers mobbing the Feng Manor.  Dao Le and Zi Yuan are relieved to see Feng Xi.

"Your son is here!" announces Feng Xi.

Lu Yuantong and his men rush to the cart. Lu Zhengming is crying.  Lu Yuantong draws one of his guards swords, and points it at Feng Xi's throat.

"Feng Xi, tell me!" commands Lu Yuantong. "Why did you harm my Ming'er?"

Feng Xi tells him he didn't harm Lu Zhengming.  Instead, he was the one who saved him.

Lu Yuantong doesn't believe it.

Feng Xi indicates that it was Left Prime Minister's men.  He promises to catch the culprit in two days.  If not, Lu Yuantong can punish him as he sees fit.

"Fine," says Lu Yuantong. "I can give you two days.  If you break your word, you'll know the consequences."  Zhengming is taken home with Lu Yuantong.  The rest of the mob leaves with him.

 

Lu Yuantong and Feng Xi are at Lu Manor.  It has become apparent the culprit behind Lu Zhengming's injuries is associated with Left Prime Minister. Feng Xi is sure that it was intended to get Feng Xi and Lu Yuantong to go against each other, and destroy their alliance.

Feng Xi advises him to leave the capitol immediately.

Lu Yuantong resists.  Feng Xi explains he needs to have more of his people with him, or the fight will be pointless.

 

Dong Yue is having a snack of Lotus seed soup in the market.  She is remembering when she, Wen Xin, and Feng Xi were eating Lotus Seed candy at the Lantern Festival.  Wen Xin had shoved some Lotus seed candy in Feng Xi's mouth, and it produced a strong reaction, in that he was struggling to breathe.  Wen Xin rushes to get him some water.  While waiting, he rests his head on Dong Yue's shoulder.

"Not bitter, not bitter," Dong Yue says, as she eats her soup alone.  She sees 3rd Prince's cart going by.  She begins to wonder if 3rd Prince and Left Prime Minister are working together.  She certainly hopes not, but the evidence is undeniable.

Dong Yue goes to Royal Wind Pavilion to investigate.  She sees an Eagle flying overhead, which is associated with the Eagle Assassins.  She is sneaking around, and notices the Eagle Assassins, who had harmed Lu Zhengming, are at the Royal Wind Pavilion.  Dong Yue is appalled. She sees they have captured Yuan.  She doesn't want to believe it.

She runs into 3rd Prince.  He is surprised to see her.

"Why are you here without advance notice?" asks the 3rd Prince.

"Your Highness, I wanted to thank you for saving me. Do you have an important task right now?"

3rd Prince says he only has minor tasks, and that he can help her later.

"It's nothing important," says Dong Yue.  "I realized we haven't discussed poems in a long time."

He is thrilled to pieces, and immediately asks her to stay.

 

That evening, Feng Xi confronts 3rd Prince about sending Qing Xiao to Feng Manor to assassinate him.

3rd Prince is appalled, and wants to know where she is.

Feng Xi claps, and Qing Xiao comes out.

"She's okay," Feng Xi says, "but her hands were almost stained with blood, just like your heart."

"What do you mean?" asks 3rd Prince.

"I would like to advise you to keep your distance from the Left Prime Minister."

"Are you negotiating with me?" asks 3rd Prince.

"I'm letting you take Qing Xiao away without any conditions." Feng Xi pushes her over to 3rd Prince.  "However, I hope you'll remember that you don't regard me as your friend, but I don't regard you as an enemy. I won't stop you from becoming the Crown Prince, but I hope the current Crown Prince will be a wise king in the future.  I won't pursue the assassination of Lu Zhengming.  It still doesn't mean other's won't pursue it."

Feng Xi then asks 3rd Prince if he's familiar with the Eagle Assassins. 3rd Prince is visibly uncomfortable.

"I don't know what you're talking about," says 3rd Prince. "Let's go back," he says to Qing Xiao.

"Lu Yuantong's son is gravely injured and paralyzed," says Feng Xi. "This isn't a small matter." Feng Xi advises him to find a scapegoat if he does not want to be on the receiving end of Lu Yuantong's wrath.

3rd Prince says nothing, and walks away with Qing Xiao.

 

Dong Yue is in Zi Yuan's room, asking her about Feng Xi.  Apparently, her plan to never see him again didn't last long, as she is in Feng Manor at this very moment.  

Zi Yuan is teasing her about not letting him go. Dong Yue is concerned about the memory loss. Zi Yuan suggests to start over with a clean slate as strangers because they clearly like each other.  Dong Yue doesn't want to talk about it anymore, as the suggestion has hit a nerve.  She politely leaves.  However, she left behind something important.

After Dong Yue leaves, Zi Yuan reaches across the table and picks up the book Dong Yue left. It is the illustrations Feng Xi had made in order to restore his memory of Dong Yue.  Zi Yuan smiles.  She has a plan.

 

"Twisted Fate of Love" is available to watch on Viki or Youtube.  Dialogue is adapted from the English subtitles provided by "A Twisted Love Team at Viki.com"