American Perspectives: Feng Xi's Compulsive Lying Comes with a Price ("Twisted Fate of Love" Ep. 35)

 

"Father!" Dong Yue calls out to Lord Wen as he is stepping into his carriage.

He looks at her strangely.

She bows her head in embarassment.  She smiles, and says, "Lord Wen, take care. Let's meet again soon."

"Let's meet again soon," Lord Wen agrees, and he bows.

"You must come back safely, father," Dong Yue whispers as his carriage departs.

 

Dao Le and Zi Yuan see Dong Yue at the riverbank.

"Sister Dong Yue!" they call.

She turns to look at them.  "What a coincidence.  You two arrived just as I was about to leave."

"You only wanted to leave after seeing us come, didn't you?" asks Zi Yuan.

"Sister Dong Yue," Dao Le adds, "We've looked for you for so long."

"After seeing Lord Wen off, you never returned to the manor," says Zi Yuan.  "Aren't you afraid that Minister will worry about you?"

"Even you two remember that I come here when I'm unhappy," says Dong Yue.  "He's already forgotten everything I said."

"Are you still angry with Uncle?" asks Dao Le. "Uncle must've had his reasons for doing this."

"Do you know some secret or something?" asks Zi Yuan. "I swear that I'm not hiding anything from you."

"The truth is," says Dong Yue, "I don't think Feng Xi was trying to hurt Lord Wen.  Perhaps he has other plans.  It's just...why wouldn't he tell me?"

Zi Yuan interjects. "If the Minister doesn't want to tell you, and you continue thinking like this, aren't you just troubling yourself?  Besides, every time he's hidden something from you, he did it for your own good."

"That's enough.  You two should stop worrying about my relationship with Feng Xi.  Talk about yourselves, then."  Dong Yue leaves the happy couple at the river bank.

Zi Yuan observes, "In Sister Dong Yue and the Minister's case, before one wave settles, another rises.  When will things become at peace?"

"So true!" agrees Dao Le. "It's still better to be like the two of us.  There isn't so much spiraling love, hate, and sadness.  How simple.  How nice that is!"

Zi Yuan gives him a look. "Look how delighted that made you.  How long have we been together? How do you know what will happen in the future?"

"What do you mean?" asks Dao Le. "I won't be like Uncle, keeping all my thoughts to myself.  Whenever I have things to say, I'll tell them all to you."

She smiles at him. "It looks like you've learned no deficit of bad thoughts from your uncle." She pinches his side.

He winces.  "So mean! It looks like teaching you martial arts was the wrong decision."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing.  Actually, I meant to say all my bad thoughts weren't all learned entirely from my uncle.  If a man isn't bad, then that would be weird." He brings his face closer to her's, and kisses her on the cheek. He begins to walk away.

"Dao Le, stop right there!" shouts Zi Yuan.

 

That evening, Dong Yue finds Feng Xi in her bedroom.

"Why are you here?" she asks.

"While reading Lu Chuan's latest  issue of 'The Chatters of the Capitol,' I found something interesting and wanted to share it with you."

"What interesting news?" Dong Yue doesn't know what to expect.

He stands up and shows her the page. "Take a look! It's said that Right Prime Minister, a man in his own right. For the sake of his own woman, he even tattooed a flower on his chest."

"What story did you make up this time?" Dong Yue asks.

"How is it something I made up?"

"If you didn't tell him, how would Lu Chuan have known about this?  Moreover, how could this Holly Flower story be published widely to the public?"

"I specifically had someone tattoo the Holly Flower on my chest because I wanted to always have you on my heart.  Why would I lie to you?"

"The Holly Flower on your chest...you specifically got someone to tattoo?"

"What's wrong?" asks Feng Xi.  "You're unhappy that someone else touched me?" He grins wickedly.

"Let me ask you again.  The Holly Flower on your chest, did you really specifically get someone to tattoo it?"  She already knows the answer.

The truth is, he doesn't remember.

Dong Yue explodes.  "I'm the one who personally tattooed that!"

Feng Xi is shocked.  "You personally did it?"

She is rummaging through her books, and finds the book of illustrations.  "What you said before in the Moon Gardens, I already thought it was strange. Until I found this in your room, did I understand." She holds up the book of illustrations. "You've just been looking at the contents of the picture album, but you haven't recovered your memory at all!  You've been lying to me this whole time!"

He walks up to her.  "I just...want you to be happy. I don't want those forgotten memories to be the biggest obstacle between us."

"Feng Xi, do you know what the biggest obstacle between us is?  It's not the lost memories, but the lost trust.  It's always your usual bad habit of lying to people." She furiously throws the book on the floor, and runs out of her room. Her rage is completely understandable.  A man who lacks honesty is the absolute worst.

"Dong Yue!" calls Feng Xi.

He takes the illustration book back to his study.  While his lying may be well intentioned, the destruction remains.  It is frustrating being with someone  who compulsively lies to get ahead, and who compulsively lies because he refuses to be vulnerable.

"Holly Flower," he thumbs through the book. "Tattoo." He continues to thumb through the pages. "Why didn't I write it down?" I just didn't want you to be disappointed, he thinks.  I didn't think it would hurt you even more deeply. 

He goes outside to the Moon Garden.  He reaches up and touches a flower from the Holly Tree. He picks up Dong Yue's white jade flute.  He begins to play "What Night is Tonight."  Why, he thinks.  Why can't I remember anything? 

Unbeknownst to him, Yu Rou brings him some food.  He doesn't look up to see who it is, because he's assuming it's Dong Yue.  "Is it you?" He's still looking down. "You came to see me." He embraces her around the legs, while still not confirming her identity.  "I remember now...your name...comes from the Holly Flower.  I wonder how much of I omitted of our memories.  If I can't remember it all, will you leave me again?" He bursts into tears.

"Then just let her leave," says Yu Rou, excited for yet another opportunity, though she still isn't even second choice.

Feng Xi looks up and realizes with disappointment who it is. He recoils from her, and backs far, far away.  "It's you?"

"How many times has Dong Yue given up on you?" asks Yu Rou. "Why, even now, do you still keep thinking about her?"

"She's never given up on me!" Feng Xi snaps.  "Others just won't understand."

"What about me?" asks Yu Rou. She tries to touch him.  He recoils and backs away. "If it weren't for me, would you still be alive now?" she asks. "Why do all my years of companionship mean nothing to you?"

"I remember your goodness, and remember your kindness.  That's why I've always tolerated you. When I lost my memory, and you lied to me, I didn't do anything about it.  You destroyed the Moon Garden's door plaque.  I also didn't pursue that.  However, you can't keep being like this.  I remember always telling you in the past, you can always make the Feng Manor your home, but you've always been a free individual.  In the future, no matter where you go, whatever you need, as long as you say it, I can fulfill any of your wishes."

She grabs his arm desperately. "I don't want to go anywhere." He tries to break away from her. "I just want to stay by your side.  I just wish you had a spot for me in your heart."

He finally breaks free. He glares at her. "However, my heart only has Dong Yue. Whether or not she's by my side, my feelings still won't change.  It's just like the bird's nest soup.  No matter how tasty someone else makes it, it's still not what I want.  Yu Rou, I hope you'll let go.  You should find the happiness that belongs to you."

"Prime Minister, are you driving me out?" She is incredulous.

"Give up!" he says. This time around, he has not been giving her mixed signals, and he has offered her financial support, so she doesn't have to be out on the streets.  Therefore, she's got to go.

"Prime Minister!" she cries after him.

He does not listen to her, and he keeps walking.

She breaks the teapot that was on the table under the Holly Tree.  The sobbing is uncontrollable.  Because there were no mixed signals this time around, this author has no empathy. Her emotional manipulation did not work, she's got to go.

Awhile later, Yu Rou is at Feng Xi's door. "Prime Minister, I know you're in the study," she says sweetly. "I'd like to say farewell to you in person.  Please let me see you.  Prime Minister?" She slides the doors open, and discovers he isn't there.  Being the creep that she is, she decides to go walking through his chambers, uninvited.  Still no Feng Xi.  She snoops through his documents.

Prime Minister, let me do something for you for the last time, she thinks.

She sees a shadow move across the front window.

Feng Xi is in the underground secret room which has the shrine he created for the Ming family.  He is speaking to the Memorial tablets.  Yu Rou has found her way down there, and she is spying on him.

He talks about finding the Surrender Document.  He vows revenge.  He opens up the box containing the seal with his real name, Pang Xi. He smile at it, and holds the seal lovingly.

Yu Rou is observing everything.

"When the time comes," says Feng Xi, "I'll use the gift that you gave me to comfort you in heaven."

 

Wen Xin wants to see her father, so she hitches a ride from someone with a horse drawn carriage.  He drops her off midway, but assures her that all carriages going through the capitol stop here.  She smiles at him.

"Thank you, Uncle."

"Sure."

 

"Have you seen Wen Xin?" Dong Yue asks a maidservant.  "She's the little girl who came from the Wen Manor a few days ago."

"No, not at all."

She sees Dao Le and Feng Xi talking. She hides behind a pillar.

"Did Wen Ye obtain the Surrender Document?" asks Feng Xi.

Dao Le confirms.

"Just give him a ride then," says Feng Xi.

"All right."

Dong Yue quietly sneaks away.

"Do a good job," Feng Xi says to Dao Le.  "Go alone, and obstruct him lightly. Ensure that the Surrender Document reaches the Crown Prince."

"Since you're delivering it to Crown Prince, why must we stop him?" asks Dao Le.

"If the Crown Prince sees that we're trying to seize the Surrender Document, he wouldn't think that we are colluding with Wen Ye, then he'll believe that the Surrender Document is genuine."

"I understand," says Dao Le.

 

Feng Xi is knocking on Dong Yue's bedroom doors.  He's not giving up on her, and he has no concerns about the aftermath of their fight. "Dong Yue, I have something to tell you."  No response. "Then I'm coming in." He slides open the turquoise and white doors.  He walks through her room and can't find her.  He sees a letter on her dining table.

He scans over it. "It looks like she went to look for that little girl. Such a big matter, why didn't she discuss it with me?" he asks outloud. He then realizes that Dong Yue was listening in on his conversation with Dao Le a few minutes ago.

"Oh no!  She couldn't have misunderstood, could she?" Feng Xi is horrified.

Lord Wen's driver is driving the horse drawn cart at high speed through the forest.

Lord Wen is in the back, opening and closing the red box with the Surrender Document.  He is feeling very anxious.  The cart comes to a sudden halt.  Lord Wen takes the document out of the box, and hides it in his hanfu.

Dao Le is in the middle of the path, blocking further movement. "Lord Wen, hand over the Surrender Document, and your life can be spared."

Lord Wen begins to run away.  Dao Le chases after him, flying through the air.  He lands in front of Lord Wen, and kicks him to the ground.  Dao Le moves toward him like he's going to stab him, but Qing Xiao (3rd Prince's personal guard) stops him.  Qing Xiao and Dao Le begin to spar.  Qing Xiao is soon joined by 3rd Prince's men, and she orders them to protect Lord Wen.

"You know whose backing I have," says Dao Le, "and you still dare to be stubborn."

"Speaking of backing," smirks Qing Xiao, "Yours is nothing compared to mine.  Attack!"

Dao Le and Qing Xiao continue to spar.  Dao Le continues yet again to look as if he's going to attack Lord Wen.  Qing Xiao blocks him by kicking Lord Wen's feet out from under him so Dao Le's blade doesn't make contact.  While she is sparring with Dao Le, she unknowingly cuts off his ID pendant, which falls to the ground.  Dao Le is also unaware.

Since the Crown Prince's people are here, thinks Dao Le, the Surrender Document should be safe.

"Protect Lord Wen and leave!" Qing Xiao shouts to her men.

Not even five minutes, and 3rd Prince and Qing Xiao's men are met with an ambush from the Eagle Assassins, who absolutely do not want 3rd Prince getting the surrender document.

Qing Xiao is horribly outnumbered. "What do you want to do?" she asks Hongzhe, the Eagle Assassin leader.

"Hand over the Surrender Document!" Hongzhe demands.

"The Left Prime Minister has indeed been lying to His Highness the whole time," remarks Qing Xiao.

"Attack!" says Hongzhe.

Wen Xin is hiding behind the bamboo trees, witnessing it all.  She is absolutely horrified.  She sees her father defenseless, and in a very vulnerable position.  He is at the mercy of 3rd Prince's guards' capabilities.

"Father!" gasps Wen Xin. 

Qing Xiao grabs Lord Wen.  

Wen Xin sneaks her way into Lord Wen's cart.  

Qing Xiao takes Lord Wen to his cart, and tells him to deliver the Surrender Document to the 3rd Prince. He rushes into the cart, and Qing Xiao continues to block the attackers. She slaps the cart horse on the butt with her sword, and it begins to take off.

Hongzhe begins to run after the cart, but Qing Xiao blocks him.  He pushes her down and stabs her in the heart.

Hongzhe picks up Dao Le's ID pendant and tassle.  Perfect planted evidence, he concludes.  He pockets it, and goes running after Lord Wen's cart.

Wen Xin screams.

"Who's in there?" asks Lord Wen.

Wen Xin pulls back the curtain, "Father."

"Wen Xin? Why are you here?"

"I'm here to pick you up.  What just happened?  These people--"

"Those people are bad people, and they want to take me away.  Wen Xin, stay well inside.  Let's go home."

"Okay."

The horse continues to go at top speed, but the cart hits a rock and rolls over, sending Lord Wen flying. Wen Xin climbs out of the toppled cart to see her father.

The Eagle Assassins are not far behind.

Wen Xin and Lord Wen begin to run away.  They get to a quiet spot in the woods, but Lord Wen can't run much further.  He tell Wen Xin to not make a sound.  He hides her in a little, tiny house.  He sits down to catch his breath.  He knows the assassins aren't far away.

The assassins approach and surround him.  Sweat is streaming down his face.

"Lord Wen," says Hongzhe.  "Don't make us do it.  Hand over the Surrender Document!"

Wen Xin is horrified at what she is witnessing.

"Surrender Document..." says Lord Wen.  "It was lost while I was running, can I ask My Lord to spare my life?"

"Seeing Lord Wen sitting here, without moving, it makes me think you've hidden the Surrender Document."

"I definitely didn't," says Lord Wen.  "I just injured my leg.  I can't move. Right now, I can't even walk. I wouldn't dare hide the Surrender Document."

"Is that so?" asks Hongzhe. "Since that's how it is, then let me send you off." He draws his sword, and stabs Lord Wen right through his body. The blade penetrates the curtain of the little house Wen Xin is hiding in.  She is terrified! She sees Hongzhe twist the blade and her father struggle.  She is fighting back tears, anxiously biting her finger, and she's trying her hardest not to make a single sound.

Dong Yue is frantically running through the forest.  Her finger begins to hurt, and because she can feel what Wen Xin feels, she knows Wen Xin is in danger.  Her heart begins to beat quickly.

Hongzhe kills Lord Wen, and searches his Hanfu for the Surrender Document.  He successfully finds it.  Left Prime Minister has joined him, and Hongzhe hands the document over.  Left Prime Minister gloats about his score, and about undermining 3rd Prince.  Wen Xin is witnessing all of it.

Before he leaves, Hongzhe drops Dao Le's ID pendant right next to Lord Wen's body.

Wen Xin has been anxiously biting her fingers, and she removes them from her mouth.  Her face is soaked with tears.  She wants to throw up.

Dong Yue is still a distance away, but she can feel all of Wen Xin's pain.  She fights through it, and continues to look for her.

Wen Xin is in front of her father's body, screaming.  She goes running, looking for help.

Dong Yue finally finds Lord Wen's body, but she does not find Wen Xin, who can tell her the truth.  Instead, she sees Lord Wen's body and Dao Le's pendant.  She's not coming to the conclusion that Feng Xi would want her to.  She is devastated.  She was hoping she could prevent her father's inevitable death.

Feng Xi finds Dong Yue, and his men are following after.  He sees her holding Dao Le's ID pendant.  He kneels down beside her.  He puts his hand on her shoulder.  "Dong Yue."

She recoils.  "Lord Wen is dead!" she screams. "Did you kill him?"

He shakes his head. "No, I didn't."

She holds Dao Le's ID pendant in front of her. "This is Dao Le's tassle.  How do you explain this?"

3rd Prince and his men find them.  He sees Dong Yue holding the tassle. "He's lying," 3rd Prince hisses. "Wen Ye is dead.  Qing Xiao is also dead.  How do you explain all of this?"

Feng Xi is shocked. He stands up.  "Don't tell me you really believe that Dao Le killed both of them and left his tassle on the body?  Using this method to pin the blame on me is too childish, don't you think?"

"You sent people to intercept Lord Wen to get the Surrender Document.  Then I sent Qing Xiao to protect him, now they are all dead.  Let me ask you. How do you explain all of this?" 3rd Prince growls.

The two men are in a stare down.

"If it wasn't for my people's interference," Feng Xi growls back, "How would you know that the document in Wen Ye's hands was genuine?  If it wasn't for your suspicions, Lord Wen and I wouldn't have to put on a show to get him exiled. First, it was a cover up for others. Second, it was to use an outsider to obtain the Surrender Document and use you to hand it over to His Majesty.  Today's matter, I indeed did not plan it well. But the one who killed Wen Ye, definitely wasn't me."

"I received a letter from Wen Ye," says 3rd Prince. "But as of now, the whereabouts of the Surrender Document are unclear, and no one knows what the contents of it are."

"I don't want to keep arguing with you." Feng Xi puts his hand on Dong Yue's shoulder.  "Dong Yue, do you believe me?"

She pauses and looks at Lord Wen's body.  "Lord Wen is dead," she sobs. "I won't believe you again."

"Dong Yue, why don't you understand?" Feng Xi asks softly.

"Feng Xi," 3rd Prince interjects.  "If this was your plan with Wen Ye, then fine. It's also fine if it's the truth about the Ming Family, but as of now, your empty words have no proof.  There's no way to arbitrate.  However, Wen Ye and Qing Xiao's death...you can't escape taking the responsibility for.  You must come with me to the Ministry of Justice."

"What if I say I'm not going?"

3rd Prince draws his sword and points it at Feng Xi's throat.

"Enough!" screams Dong Yue.  "Do you think that enough people have died today?"

 

"Twisted Fate of Love" can be viewed on Viki or Youtube.  Dialogue adapted from English subtitle translation by "A Twisted Love Team at Viki.com"

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