American Perspectives: Feng Xi regains his Memory ("Twisted Fate of Love" Ep. 37)

 

Feng Xi and Yu Rou are about to get married. Yu Rou is overjoyed, dressed up, and ready to go. Feng Xi is ready to go, all right, as in, he's actively looking for a way to escape!

Yu Rou is in a bit of a delusional daydream.  Feng Xi has specifically stated he doesn't want to marry her, however, she has it in her mind that they will live happily ever after.

Feng Xi still isn't in his red wedding hanfu.  He looks like he is preparing to be executed.  The gears in his head are turning, as this will be a much more challenging situation to escape.

 

3rd Prince finds a note tacked to a pillar on his porch.  It reads: "Feng Xi's private house in the Eastern Suburbs.  Come immediately when you read this.  Dong Yue."

"Relay my command," 3rd Prince says.  "Gather the men and horses. We are heading to Feng Xi's private house in the Eastern Suburbs."

 

Dong Yue is dressed up in her battle gear, galloping to Feng Xi's residence, ready to tell anyone who gets in her way who the boss is.

 

Lu Yuantong is ready to stage an uprising, and he's motivating his guards to do so.  He lets them know that there's no turning back.  The plan is to immediately rebel after the wedding, and overthrow the Emperor.

 

Zi Yuan and Dao Le, in addition to their back ups, are also galloping like hell into the forest.  No way are they going to let anyone overtake Feng Xi.

Feng Xi is finally in his red wedding hanfu, looking exceedingly radiant.  He swings open the double doors to his room, and he carefully examines his sleeves.  He smirks.  "Let's go," he says to himself.

Yu Rou is looking beautiful in her wedding hanfu, her face covered with a transparent red veil.  She is standing in front of the alter in the presence of Lu Yuantong and Lu Zhengming.

Feng Xi enters the Ritual Hall behind her.  He walks across the shiny hardwood floor.

Lu Yuantong laughs, as he has the two exactly where he wants them. "If you were any later, you would have missed the auspicious time."

"Duke Lu, you have great ambition," says Feng Xi. "You probably have already prepared men and horses.  Even if I missed the auspicious time, I also wouldn't dare delay your great matter."

"You're indeed cunning," says Lu Yuantong. "Fine.  Let's start the ceremony."

"First bow to Heaven and Earth." Feng Xi and Yu Rou bow to the open doorway.  "Second bow to the elder!" they bow to Lu Yuantong, and it is obvious that it pains Feng Xi to do so. "Husband and wife, bow to each other!" Yu Rou is all smiles.  Feng Xi is all reluctance.  She bows to him, he does not bow to her.  She bows to him again.  As he is about to bow to her, Dong Yue bursts in, ready to save the gentleman in distress.

"Hold on!" she yells across the Ritual Hall. The joy and adoration in Feng Xi's eyes when he sees Dong Yue is evident. The horror and disappointment on Yu Rou's face is obvious.

The guards block Dong Yue from the entrance with their swords, but she is in attack mode, and does not care. She continues to walk forward, and the guards walk backward, continuing to aim their swords at her.

Feng Xi conceals a smile.

"Feng Xi," says Dong Yue.  "We pledged undying love and you said you'd only marry me.  Why are you suddenly marrying Yu Rou instead?"

Yu Rou tears off her red veil.  She glares at Dong Yue.

"Didn't you already say you were breaking everything off with me?" asks Feng Xi. "Yu Rou and I are getting married today.  What does it have to do with you?"

"You spoke sweet words to make me fall in love with you.  In a blink of an eye, you're marrying this woman? I won't allow it!" exclaims Dong Yue.

Yu Rou is appalled. "What do you mean this woman? Prime Minister and I have always been a couple.  It's you who suddenly appeared out of nowhere, seducing him, and taking him away from me over and over again.  It's our wedding day.  What are you doing here?"

"Dong Yue!" Feng Xi shouts.  He approaches her.  "I don't want to waste time talking to you.  Today is our happy occasion.  Leave now!"

"I can't!" says Dong Yue. "If you don't give me an explanation, I definitely won't let this rest.  I need to take you with me today!"  She grabs his wrist.

"Hold on!" shouts Lu Yuantong.  He rises from his seat. "Today is the wedding of my adopted daughter and Prime Minister Feng.  Those who are here, are all guests.  Who said he could leave when you said so?"

Dong Yue is surrounded by guards. 

"Duke Lu, it's my happy occasion today, so we must not see blood!" Feng Xi insists.

"Father," Yu Rou says sweetly, "kill Dong Yue for me, and I'll give you the Imperial Jade seal immediately."

"If any of you dare kill Dong Yue today, this wedding will be over!" exclaims Feng Xi.

Yu Rou pulls the wooden box with the Imperial Jade seal out of her wide sleeve. "The Imperial Jade seal is right here!" she says triumphantly.

The guards move in on Feng Xi and Dong Yue.  Feng Xi kicks them away.  Dong Yue blocks with her sword. Lu Yuantong moves toward Yu Rou.  Just as he reaches for the box with the seal, Feng Xi kicks his hand away.  As Feng Xi is about to grab the box from Yu Rou, Lu Yuantong blocks him.  Lu Yuantong successfully grabs the box.  

Dong Yue is continuing to fight off the guards with her sword.  Dong Yue sees Lu Yuantong kick Feng Xi away.  Lu Yuantong has successfully kept the box.  He slowly opens it up.  He looks at Yu Rou and glares at her.  There is only a rock in the box.  The rock falls to the floor with a clatter.

Feng Xi breathes a sigh of relief. 

"Where exactly is the Imperial Jade seal?" shouts Lu Yuantong.

Yu Rou and Feng Xi stand up.

"I hate you," Yu Rou says to Feng Xi.  "I hate your indifference.  I've hated you for so many years.  You've never known how to cherish me.  However, no matter how much I hate you, I still couldn't do anything to betray you.  Don't worry Feng Xi. What I shouldn't give away, I will never give away."

Lu Yuantong grabs a sword from the ground, and stabs Yu Rou in the stomach before she can say anything more. "I'm tired of you!  Dare to play me?  Men, capture both of them!"

Zang Fei puts his sword next to Dong Yue's neck.

"Stop!" yells Dao Le.  He, Zi Yuan, and their men enter the Ritual Hall. "Older sister Yu Rou?" Zao Le says in shock.

Feng Xi runs to her, and keeps her from falling face down on the floor. "Yu Rou."

"My Lord."

"Don't talk, I'll stop the bleeding."

"I only wanted a wedding," Yu Rou sobs softly.  "A wedding which belongs to us.  Don't blame me."

Dong Yue looks at her with empathy.  She understands the complexity of the situation.

"Don't blame me," Yu Rou continues.

"I won't blame you," says Feng Xi. "From the moment you saved me, you became part of my family. Why would I blame you?" He wipes the tears from her face.

"My Lord, this painting...should have been you and Dong Yue.  But I still want this painting.  After I'm gone, you must keep it properly.  Promise me!"

With tears streaming down his face, Feng Xi says, "I promise you."

Yu Rou presses her forehead to his, while continuing to cry. "Being able to die in your arms, I have no regrets."  She begins to run out of breath.

"Yu Rou," says Dong Yue.

"Older sister Yu Rou," says Dao Le.

"Where's the Imperial Jade seal?" asks Lu Yuantong.  "Without this, they don't have a reason to live."

More guards enter the Ritual Hall. Yu Rou is no longer living, and Feng Xi gently lowers her to the floor.  He glares at Lu Yuantong and stands up. He walks to him. "I know where the Imperial Jade seal is," says Feng Xi.

"Feng Xi, don't hand it over!" shouts Dong Yue.

"I'm the only one who knows where it is. Let them go, and I'll take you there," Feng Xi says to Lu Yuantong.

"Duke Lu, Feng Xi is full of tricks," says Zang Fei.  "You must not believe him."

"Since I came here," says Feng Xi, "you've calculated all my steps.  I'm also unable to turn around a hopeless situation.  I'll hand over the Imperial Jade seal.  I only ask that you spare the lives of everyone here.  I'm willing to return to the mountains to live in seclusion, and won't obstruct your great plans again."

"Feng Xi!" shouts Dong Yue. "I know what you're trying to do.  Don't go!"

"Uncle!" shouts Dao Le.

"My Lord!" shouts Zi Yuan.

Feng Xi turns to look at the three of them. "Be good," he says.  "Take care."

"Feng Xi, don't play any tricks," says Lu Yuantong.  "Otherwise, they'll all die."

Feng Xi walks ahead of Lu Yuantong while Zang Fei is behind Feng Xi, holding a sword to his neck.

"Don't play any tricks," says Lu Yuantong.

"Duke Lu, don't be so anxious," says Fang Xi.  He takes them to a cave beside the manor. 

"Move," says Zang Fei.  Feng Xi walks forward.

Dong Yue, Dao Le, and Zi Yuan are tied together at the waist in the Ritual Hall.  They are uncomfortably seated on a red and white rug.

"Listen carefully," Dong Yue mutters to the other two. "Feng Xi isn't taking Lu Yuantong to get the Imperial Jade seal. He only wants to activate the mechanism to bury Lu Yuantong in there."

"Then wouldn't Uncle also be in danger?" asks Dao Le.

"The Prime Minister has thought this over carefully, so he should know the danger of the mechanism," says Zi Yuan.

"Zi Yuan," asks Dong Yue, "do you carry any darts with you?"

Zi Yuan scans the room.

 

Feng Xi leads Lu Yuantong and Zang Wei through a secret passageway in the cave.

"Feng Xi!" shouts Lu Yuantong. "There's a limit to my patience."

"If it could be easily obtained," says Feng Xi, "then anyone could get their hands on it, right?" He walks to a large cabinet in the middle of the room.  Zang Fei is still holding the sword to his throat.  He pulls out the 2nd cabinet drawer from the bottom.

Dong Yue, Dao Le, and Zi Yuan are still tied up.

With a dart, Zi Yuan is stealthily sawing away at the rope.  She manages to cut away the bonds around her wrists.

Altogether, they are able to break free.  They stand up and begin to fight the guards. Dong Yue lifts up one of the guards, and throws him into a group of guards, knocking them all down.

They are able to get past the men and to the door.

Zi Yuan tells Dong Yue to go, while she and Dao Le continue to block.  Dao Le agrees. Dong Yue immediately goes running out the door.

Feng Xi pokes the top drawer of the cabinet, and the ground, walls, and ceiling begin to shake.

Lu Yuantong tries to run away, but Feng Xi grabs him.  They begin to fight.  Lu Yuantong throws Feng Xi into the wall.  As Lu Yuantong begins to run up the stairs, Dong Yue kicks him in the chest, sending him tumbling down.  She runs to Feng Xi.  She helps him up.  "I know that in order to help me and the Kingdom, you chose to give up on revenge to perish with them.  However, I won't let you face this alone."

They try to leave, but the roof and walls are caving in.  They cannot go foward.  Zang Fei gets crushed by heavy stone beam.  Lu Yuantong is crushed to death.

The doorway is blocked by the rubble.

"No matter what I arrange," says Feng Xi, "you were always outside of my control, disrupting my plan."

"You made everyone and the kingdom your chess pieces," replies Dong Yue. "I'm no exception, either."

Feng Xi gives her a sad smile.  

"However," Dong Yue continues, "you forget, I'm a disobedient chess piece."

Feng Xi laughs softly, and he has tears in his eyes.  He holds her closely.  "I have no regrets and never looked back. It's you who gave me the taste of indecision.  For a chess piece like you, I'm willing to overturn the entire game."

Dong Yue's eyes tear up.  "It's fine to be used by you.  It's also fine being treated as a chess piece by you.  Being able to finish this round of games with you, I have no regrets."

Feng Xi begins to cry.  "However, this chess game was too short.  I could only accompany you until here, so I'm not satisfied."

"Yes," agrees Dong Yue.  "However, I'm still very lucky.  It's because I'm your Dong Yue, and you're my Feng Xi."  Dong Yue begins to cry.

They tightly embrace as the rubble falls around them.  They aren't letting each other go.

"However, Dong Yue," says Feng Xi.  "I don't want you to die right now."

"Feng Xi, what are you doing?  Feng Xi! Feng Xi! Feng Xi!" larger pieces of rubble begin to fall from the roof.  They fall down, but he makes sure it is himself who gets directly under the large piece of falling rubble, instead of her.  He is on top of her, but he is holding the rubble with his back so she can escape, or at least breathe.  She does not want to leave.

Dao Le and Zi Yuan enter the cave after all the rubble has fallen. They call for Dong Yue and Feng Xi.  They frantically run down the stairs.  They try to pry away the larger pieces of rubble.  They venture further into the cave.  They finally find Feng Xi under a huge rock.  Together, Dao Le and Zi Yuan make a tremendous effort to lift up the rock.  They are able to throw the rock off, and they find Dong Yue under Feng Xi's body.  Dong Yue's face is soaked with tears, and she is in a very dissociative state.

Zi Yuan and Dao Le move Feng Xi's body off of Dong Yue.

Zi Yuan tries to talk to Dong Yue.  Dong Yue notices Feng Xi in Dao Le's arms, and she immediately goes to Feng Xi's body, putting her arms around him.

"Feng Xi! Feng Xi!" cries Dong Yue. "Feng Xi? Feng Xi! Feng Xi!" she screams.  She pulls his body closer to her, and hugs tightly.  Dong Yue is crying so hard that she's struggling to breathe. "Didn't we already agree to see the sunset together?  We still need to complete the record of Xi Yue.  We also agreed to sweep the floor, cook together, and also watch the Holly Flowers bloom.  Why? Why did you abandon me? Why?" Dong Yue screams.  "Why?" She embraces him tightly.

3rd Prince and his men rush into the cave, and see that they have arrived too late.

Dong Yue is screaming and not letting go of Feng Xi.  She hears her jade flute playing, and she's able to get a breath.  Her tears slow.  She looks at Feng Xi.

 

She is transported to the Immortal Realm.  She is kneeling on a Lily Pad in the middle of a lake, and she is initially confused.  She rises, turns around, and sees Er Yu in his black hooded cape, standing behind her.  She runs to him, and grabs his arms.

"Er Yu," she says urgently. "I want to save Feng Xi!  Er Yu, I..." Dong Yue looks up and sees that his cape is open, bare chest exposed.  She sees the Holly Flower Tattoo that she had put on Feng Xi. "Er Yu...who exactly are you? After all these years, why did you refuse to let me see your face?"

"My face was ruined a long time ago," says Er Yu.

"Your face..." says Dong Yue. "Your face...was also ruined by Lu Yuantong.  Isn't that so?"

He doesn't answer.

Dong Yue continues, "When I time travelled back, I couldn't find you.  It's because you're Feng Xi."  She reaches for his hood, and tenderly pushes it back.

She sees Feng Xi with a severe burn scar on his face. Dong Yue gasps. 

"Dong Yue, when you returned this time, you succeeded in stopping Ding Yuan's rebellion.  Why do you still want to time travel?"

"It's because Feng Xi died.  You died, but I don't want you to die.  Since I could stop Ding Yuan's rebellion from happening, I definitely can change your fate."

"Have you ever thought of this?" asks Er Yu. "Between stopping the war and saving me, you can only choose one.  This is fate."

"Even so, I have to save you!" Dong Yue insists.  "I want to alter the fate with you."

She puts her hands on his cape. "Er Yu, if you help me, you're helping yourself, too."

"The spiritual power of this flute can send you back again, but the spiritual power is being exhausted.  This is the last time you can go back.  Moreover, this time, you will have to pay an even bigger price."

"Even if I pay the price," says Dong Yue, "I'll do it willingly."

He looks at her.  She closes her eyes.  He plays the white jade flute with the blood red veins.  

She is transported back, through the water, white jade flute in hand.  She swims up to the surface.

"The first time I met Feng Xi, I fell in love with him.  But because I didn't trust him, I failed to stop the war from breaking out.  The second time, Feng Xi forgot me, but we still loved each other.  He used his life to pay the price of stopping the war from breaking out.  I thought what I wanted most, was to stop the war.  But I understand now.  What I want most is Feng Xi."

She is transported back to Yu Rou's wedding, right after Yu Rou has been stabbed.  Yu Rou and Feng Xi are kneeling on the floor, their foreheads touching.

"Where's the Imperial Jade seal?" Lu Yuantong growls. "Without the Imperial Jade seal, there's no reason to keep them alive."

Dong Yue, Dao Le, and Zi Yuan are surrounded by Lu Yuantong's guards.

"I know where it is!" declares Dong Yue.

Feng Xi and Lu Yuantong look at her.

"I know the layout of this house very well.  Release Feng Xi and the rest, then I'll take you there."

Feng Xi stares at Dong Yue in horror. "Dong Yue, stop fooling around. There is no way for you to know where it is. I'm the only one who knows."

"Lu Yuantong, you know very well Feng Xi is full of tricks," says Dong Yue. "Either he takes you there, or I do.  Make a choice!"

"Older Sister Dong Yue!" says Dao Le and Zi Yuan.

Feng Xi stands up.

"Dao Le, Zi Yuan," says Dong Yue,  "Feng Xi, you all must stay alive and live on well."

"Listen carefully," says Lu Yuantong.  "If anything goes wrong, you will all die."

Feng Xi can't believe what he is seeing.

Dong Yue leads Lu Yuantong and Zang Fei to the cave.

"My patience is growing thin," says Lu Yuantong.  "I will give you 15 minutes."

"Almost there. If it were that easy to find, then he's not Feng Xi."

This time, Feng Xi, Dao Le, and Zi Yuan are tied up, surrounded by guards, and sitting on the red and white rug.

"Zi Yuan," Feng Xi whispers.

Zi Yuan stealthily uses her golden dart to saw away at the rope binding her wrists together.

The three are able to break free, and they jump up.  They attack the guards in all directions, and make their way to the doorway.

Dong Yue leads Zang Fei and Lu Yuantong to the cave.  She gestures to the entrance.  "It should be right here."

Lu Yuantong watches her carefully.

Zang Fei tells her to move.

"Don't go in!  There's a trap in there!" Feng Xi shouts.

Zang Fei grabs Dong Yue and holds his sword to her throat.

"Feng Xi," says Lu Yuantong.  "I've had enough of this cat and mouse game.  I don't believe that without you both, I can't find this Imperial Jade seal."

"Stop!" 3rd Prince and his men arrive on scene.  "Lu Yuantong, you're treacherous and want to rebel!  Release Dong Yue, and surrender without a fight, now!"

"Just only you?" Lu Yuantong sneers.

"Duke Lu," says Zang Fei, "the Crown Prince's men are from the Riding Tiger Camp.  It seems like he's prepared to take action.  We haven't assembled our soldiers and horses yet, so we shouldn't be reckless." Zang Fei gives Dong Yue a hard push forward.  Feng Xi catches her.

Zang Fei and Lu Yuantong jump over the roof, while 3rd Prince's archers fire their arrows.

"Dong Yue," says Feng Xi.  The jade flute begins to play.  Dong Yue, I remember everything now, thinks Feng Xi.  His memories of her begin to flood back.  He pulls her closely to him.  She wraps her arms tightly around his shoulders, while smiling and crying.

 

That evening, Dong Yue and Feng Xi are back at Feng Manor.

Feng Xi is very concerned. "Did you use the power of the jade flute again?"  He is holding her hands.

"How did you know?" Asks Dong Yue.

"I'm the only one who knows about the mechanism in my private home, but you could lure Lu Yuantong to activate it.  Other than the jade flute, I can't think of anything else."

"I indeed can't hide anything from you," says Dong Yue.

"You reversed time and space so you must have seen something you didn't want to see," says Feng Xi.  "Did Ding Yuan start the war?"

Dong Yue shakes her head and smiles.  "Not that."

Feng Xi looks at her, confused. "Oh," he says.  "I want to see, other than this, what else could be worth it to you to use the jade flute to reverse everything."

"I had wanted you to live," says Dong Yue.

Feng Xi pauses.  Dong Yue smiles.  He hugs her tightly, under the Holly Flower tree.

"Don't you want to know how you died?" asks Dong Yue.

"No need! I must have died for you." He embraces her some more, and Dong Yue smiles, satisfied wither her decision, satisfied that Er Yu had been Feng Xi all along.

 

"Twisted Fate of Love" is available to watch on Viki or Youtube.  Dialogue adapted from English subtitle translation prepared by "Twisted Love Team at Viki.com"

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