American Perspectives: Feng Xi Meets Er Yu ("Twisted Fate of Love" Ep. 40)

 

Feng Xi is in his study with Dao Le. He's showing Dao Le a detailed map of the capitol.

"All those that are marked here," Feng Xi waves his hand over the map, "are the businesses of the Left Prime Minister.  Go investigate them, perhaps there'll be more surprises."

"Surprises?" asks Dao Le.

"Today, I saw one of the Left Prime Minister's businesses being sold to others.  They should be people from the Eagles.  They are probably looking for something important.  I don't care who's secretly backing them.  The Left Prime Minister's relics must be connected to his death.  More importantly, it might be related to the Ming Family."

"Uncle, are you saying we might be able to reverse the case?"

Feng Xi nods. He folds up the map and hands it to Dao Le.  

"I understand, I will do it now," says Dao Le.

 

Feng Xi, Dong Yue, Dao Le, and Zi Yuan are walking along the trail at Feng Xi's private residence.

"You seem to miss this place very much," says Feng Xi.

Dong Yue smiles.  "What I miss are the days we spent here." She holds his hand.  "I love seeing you, not thinking about anything, not plotting, and living a carefree life everyday."

Feng Xi smiles. "This kind of life is coming soon."

They look at each other lovingly.

"Lord Feng, Miss Dong Yue," says 3rd Prince's new personal guard.  He bows to them.

"Why are you here alone?" asks Feng Xi.

"After returning to the palace, the Crown Prince was placed on house arrest at Taiji Palace," answers the personal guard.

"What?" Dong Yue asks.

"Is His Majesty delirious from his illness?" asks Dao Le.  

"Rumors are flying around in the palace that His Majesty has the intention to depose Crown Prince," says the Personal Guard.

"In my opinion," adds Zi Yuan, "His Majesty wants to use the Crown Prince to lure Prime Minister into coming."

"Even if the Crown Prince isn't placed under house arrest," says Feng Xi, "I also don't have any intention to hide from His Majesty."

"If we want to save him," says Dong Yue, "we'll need a long term plan.  We must not act rashly."

Feng Xi turns to her. "Xinyao (3rd Prince) is in trouble.  His Majesty is still far away, and you are worried about me?"

"I...can't I be somewhat selfish?"

Feng Xi affectionately strokes her arm and smiles. "Fine.  I will listen to you.  I will consider at length." He looks around. "Everyone, go back and rest now.  Let's go." He puts his arm around Dong Yue's shoulders, and they walk away.

 

Feng Xi is taking a nap.  He is not sleeping peacefully.  "Why?" he says in his sleep.  He sits straight up and throws off the covers.

Dong Yue immediately bursts into the room. "Feng Xi?"

He is breathing heavily and can't stay still.

Dong Yue sits down beside him and holds his arm.  "What's wrong?"

He turns to her.  "I dreamed of my mother."

"Was it a good dream?" Dong Yue asks hesistantly.

"I thought that once I took my revenge, mother would smile in my dream.  But in the dream just now, she kept shedding tears...just like twenty years ago.  It's just like seeing His Majesty for the last time."

"This possessed you for half of your life," explains Dong Yue. "Although your enemies are dead, it's still impossible for you to feel at ease so quickly."

"Although I got my revenge, the Ming Family case still hasn't been able to be reversed.  I can't exonerate the injustice that was done to my mother.

"Do you feel your mother would blame you because of this? Perhaps your mother cried not because of the injustice done to the Ming Family, but for you."

"For me?" asks Feng Xi.

"Whoever sees their loved posessed by hate and revenge would find it hard to extricate themselves from this.  She would feel pain and cry."

Feng Xi hugs Dong Yue.  Dong Yue, he thinks, you know this matter isn't that simple and that there are things I can't let go of. 

Feng Xi, Dong Yue thinks. You bore too many burdens for too long.  Let me face them for you this time.

 

Dong Yue goes into the tea house that used to be owned by Left Prime Minister.  She's looking for evidence.

She notices a cabinet underneath a Buddha.  She pulls out the key Left Prime Minister gave her, and she walks up to the shrine.  She places her key in the lock of the cabinet, and it smoothly slides open.  Her eyes widen.  She sees a black wooden box.  She pulls it out and carefully opens it.  Inside, are several folded pieces of paper.

A letter? she thinks. She unfolds a piece of paper. "The War at the Border dragged on for too long," it reads. "Ming Qian has the strong support of his army and is challenging the Imperial court, repeatedly demanding rations, funds, and additional troops to protect the country.  Special Supervisor of the army, Fang Yuan, you will secretly monitor his movements and have men return to the capitol to submit daily reports."

Dong Yue opens up another piece of paper.  It reads, "I received your secret report. Mount Hao has surrendered with doubt.  It is inevitable that there would be fraud.  If MIng Qian dishonestly uses this in name of surrendering and colludes with Mount Hao to obtain the land of Great Yin, the kingdom will go into chaos.  Remember that you must seize control of the surrender document.  I will enact other plans.

"Incompetent ruler!" Dong Yue says out loud.

She pulls out one more piece of paper.  "Twelve gold medals were issued.  You and Lu Yuantong act according to plan.  I will personally handle the evidence for treason.  Once Ming Qian is back at the Imperial court, I will arrest him."

Dong Yue brings the documents back to the private home and shows them to Zi Yuan.

"So the truth of the Ming Family is this?" asks Zi Yuan.  "It's not worth General Ming doing what he did."

"My guess is this letter was used by the Left Prime Minister for self preservation," says Dong Yue.  

"If the Right Prime Minister saw this letter," says Zi Yuan, "I'm afraid he and the Emperor--"

"What you're saying is correct," interjects Dong Yue. "Hence, I don't want to see Feng Xi be like that for father and son.  I don't want to see Feng Xi become someone like the Emperor.  I especially don't want to see Feng Xi live in hatred forever."

"Then you really decided to go to the Imperial Court and see the Emperor?" asks Zi Yuan. "If you go alone, would it be risky?"

 

A servant informs the Emperor that Dong Yue wants an audience with him. 

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Dong Yue and Lu Chuan bow.

"Formalities exempted," says Emperor.  "Rise."

"Lu Chuan," says Emperor, "you let others convey your thought of a solution to arrest the surviving evil doer of the Ming Family, Feng Xi?"

"Your Majesty, that is actually not Lu Chuan's idea," says Dong Yue. "Lu Chuan bringing me to see Your Majesty was something I forced him to do."

Emperor leans on his pillow and smirks. "Don't tell me, you will give up the dark side and turn to the light side by revealing Feng Xi's whereabouts."

"I want to persuade you to avoid imminent disaster before it's too late," says Dong Yue. "Establish an edict of guilt for the injustice of the Ming Family."

"How presumptuous!" the Emperor roars. He coughs. "That's completely absurd." He can't stop coughing.

Dong Yue does not care. "I think Your Majesty is in the wrong."

Lu Chuan hands her an envelope. She holds it up. "I also have the Prime Minister's letter as proof.  It elucidates how he exchanged the surrender document and forged secret letters to the enemy.  It also elucidates who personally wrote the letter to the enemy.  The mastermind behind framing General Ming is precisely Your Majesty."

A servant hands the letter over to the Emperor.  Emperor opens it up, staring the truth right in the face.  "What a good move, Fang Yuan!" he says sharply.

"The Left Prime Minister acts like a loyal gentleman on the surface," says Dong Yue, "but in reality, he looks to gain an advantage for himself everywhere.  A person like this, leaving himself an escape route, is not a surprise at all."

Emperor looks her straight in the eyes, and tears up the letter.

Dong Yue smirks. "Your Majesty, for such an important letter, how could I just casually bring out the authentic one?"

"You..." says the Emperor. "What exactly do you all want to do?"

Dong Yue and Lu Chuan kneel to the Emperor. "Dong Yue only wants to request for the Emperor to let off Feng Xi, to set right an injustice for the Ming Family," says Lu Chuan.

"Set right an injustice?" asks Emperor.  He laughs bitterly. "Set right an injustice!"

Dong Yue pulls another letter out of her Hanfu. The servant hands it to the Emperor.  Emperor unfolds it and sees Pang Xi's stamp.  Emperor freezes.

"Is Your Majesty familiar with this seal?" asks Dong Yue.

"It's Xi'er's seal," says Emperor. He looks distraught.  "Where did you get this?"

"This imprint is from the jade seal that Feng Xi carries," answers Dong Yue.  "He's your son with Imperial Consort Ming, he's the second prince of Great Yin."

Emperor looks down at the paper again.  "Is Feng Xi really Xi'er?  Is Xi'er Feng Xi?"  He can't believe it.

"Right now, Feng Xi still doesn't know the orcherstrator behind the Ming Family miscarriage of justice is indeed Your Majesty," Dong Yue explains. "I also don't wish for my husband to reach the state of father and son destroying each other.  If Your Majesty can agree to my request, I can guarantee Feng Xi will never know this secret." Not a good idea! "If Your Majesty stubbornly refuses to follow the right path, the original copy of this letter will be sent to Feng Xi immediately.  With his personality, he will definitely disregard everything to overturn the injustice on the Ming Family.  Perhaps he will even collude with Lu Yuantong to weigh the pros and cons.  Your Majesty, please fully consider the pros and cons yourself."

"No wonder every time Your Majesty sees Feng Xi, you always have an indesribable good impression of him.  Heaven, you let Xi'er avoid a calamity and also let him stay by my side.  Could it be...could it be that you're giving me a chance to atone for my crimes?" asks the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, are you truly willing to atone for your crimes?" asks Dong Yue.

Emperor sighs. "In fact, regarding the old case of the Ming Family, it was always like a big rock in my heart.  I regretted, too.  I was sad, too."

Emperor begins to cough.  "Don't worry.  Three days later, I will hold a grand ceremony for the conferment of Second Prince to the palace.  I want to acknowledge this son of mine.  At the same time, I will issue a guilty edict to redress the Ming Family."

 

Feng Xi is anxiously scurrying around the private manor.  He wants to know where Dong Yue is.

Dao Le insists that he stop worrying, Dong Yue went out to buy something.

Feng Xi doesn't believe it. "His Majesty's spies are around the capitol now," Feng Xi says anxiously. "Why didn't she tell me when she went out?"

"Isn't she back?" asks Zi Yuan.  

Feng Xi turns around.  He excitedly reaches out to Dong Yue. Lu Chuan is standing behind her. 

"Dong Yue," says Feng Xi, "why did you go out for such a long time?" He holds her hands.

"Lu Chuan and I just came back from the palace."

"Did you go to the palace?" asks Feng Xi. "Do you know you are playing with your life?"

"I knew you would panic," says Dong Yue.  "Not only did we not lose our lives, but I also brought back a piece of good news."

They go inside to have some tea. "Is His Majesty really willing to redress my Ming Family?" Feng Xi asks.

"I didn't expect things would go so smoothly, either." Says Dong Yue.  "When His Majesty saw that imprint, he completely changed.  Perhaps he thought you were no longer alive, and he couldn't recover his mistake.  That's the reason why he was so firm.

Feng Xi takes Dong Yue's hand.  "I didn't see the Left Prime Minister's letter."

"What he wrote was just a forged secret letter.  It's to replace the surrender document to deceive his majesty," Dong Yue lies. "Even if this letter falls into your hands, you and His Majesty will still have a stand off.  War would still be inevitable.  By then, it won't be father and son acknowledging each other, but breaking ties instead."

"For more than 20 years," says Feng Xi, "in my heart, I already didn't have a father a long time ago."

"I know," says Dong Yue.  "You have been bothered by the grievances of your Ming family for a long time.  Like how bitter the lotus seed is.  However, when there is more hatred, even candy can't relieve the bitterness anymore.  Set aside your grudges and hatred.  You can start a new life.  Don't you want to see your mother smile again?"

Feng Xi has a lot to think about.  "Okay.  However, I have a request. The conferment ceremony must be in Wen Wei Hall.  Lu Chuan, Ministry of Rites will take charge of this ceremony.  Relay this to His Majesty."

"It can be done," says Lu Chuan.  "However, after the fire at Wen Wei Hall, it was vacant for many years.  Even after the restoration, I fear it might be impolite to hold the ceremony there."

"Wen Wei Hall is the residence of my mother," explains Feng Xi.  "If I can exonerate my Ming family in there, my mother, in heaven, will be able to smile."

"Okay," says Lu Chuan. "Leave this to me, then."

Night falls, and the full moon is out, shining on the Holly Tree.  Dong Yue is standing under it, at the edge of the pond, playing the white jade flute.  The blood red vein running along the flute is becoming much more distinctive.

As if on cue, Feng Xi comes walking out of his room to watch her play.  He stands next to her and takes in the lovely music.

"Why did you stop?" he asks.

"The person who taught me to play this tune is Er Yu.  What a pity that he doesn't know the full score."

"I wonder why, when I first heard this, I found it very familiar."

It's because you are Er Yu, thinks Dong Yue. 

"I probably won't ever see Er Yu again.  I fear no one will know the full score of this tune."

"What night is the night to meet my beloved one?" Feng Xi asks.  "Since there are two of us, why worry that we can't compose 'What Night is Tonight?' Use your memory to think it over again and write the incomplete score.  Let's fill it in together.  What's so difficult about this?"

"This is a good idea!" Dong Yue agrees enthusiastically.

He smiles softly at her.

They sit under the Holly Tree, Dong Yue writing out the score, Feng Xi playing the flute.

Feng Xi pauses.  "This is it, more or less," he says excitedly.

Dong Yue hesitates.  "However, I still think the previous one is better."

Feng Xi grabs the brush, and dips it in the ink.  "Do this based on mine.  I will listen to you during the next round, all right?"

Dong Yue sighs.  "Don't think I will believe you!  You will still tell me to listen to you in the next round."

Feng Xi laughs.  "A woman should follow her husband's orders.  You must listen to me forever.  This is not bad, either."

"You are so domineering.  Forever is such a long time.  How could I possibly be with you forever?"

"If you're not with me forever, who will be?"

Dong Yue says nothing, and Feng Xi looks at her expectantly.  "Are you unhappy now?" he asks.  "All right, you can fill it in." He smiles at her adoringly.

She looks at him sadly.  She puts her hand over his.  She smiles.  "Okay.  For you, I will give my forever." But forever is such a short time, she thinks.

The next morning, the completed score is on the table outside under the tree.  She hands it to Feng Xi.  He carefully looks over it, and is pleased with what he sees.

"'What Night is Tonight?' is finally completed," Feng Xi says happily.

"If one day I'm no longer by your side," says Dong Yue, "when you are playing this tune, regard it as if I were still here."

Feng Xi drops the score on the table.  "Didn't you say you wouldn't leave me? What's on your mind again?"

"I don't mean it like that," she says.  "What I am saying is, a human can't live past a hundred years, but the tune can still be spread. Perhaps it can traverse time and space, and be immortalized."

Feng Xi feels relieved.  He holds her hand.  "'What Night is Tonight?' is the evidence of our love."

"Come with me!" Dong Yue says.  She leads him to the trunk of the Holly Tree and begins to play the flute.  He watches her with adoration.  He has memories of his mother playing the flute in Wen Wei Hall in front of the Emperor.  He remembers chasing 3rd Prince.  He remembers how happy everyone was.  Then, the bad memories come back.  His mother banging her head against the wall, and committing suicide.  A guard covering Feng Xi's mouth to keep him from shouting. "Your Highness, you are the last descendant of the Ming Family.  You must not make any mistakes.  Forgive me, Your Highness."

Feng Xi begins to collapse against the tree.

Dong Yue immediately stops playing. "Feng Xi! What's wrong?"

"I have a headache," he says, "from thinking about the past.  This is too unreal."

"Don't think about the painful past again," says Dong Yue.  "The future is long.  Isn't it enough for you to think about?"

Feng Xi takes a deep breath.  "If your prediction that day at Zhuming Post is accurate, I probably won't have that long to live."

Dong Yue anxiously shakes her head.  "It won't happen.  Since we could change what ever happened, your fate can be changed, too.  Feng Xi, you must not despair."

"When I was young, I witnessed my most beloved person die in front of me.  Even when I was homeless, I never lost hope.  By going into the Tiger's den, if I can exonerate my Ming Family, if I can save 3rd Younger brother, even if it's hard to predict life or death, even if the prediction comes true, it'll still be worth it."

Feng Xi, Dong Yue thinks. LIfe and death are not that unpredictable.  She hugs him tightly.  You died once for me in a previous life.  This time, the one sacrificing life won't be you. 

Her arms drop, and she collapses in Feng Xi's arms.  He kneels down to keep her from falling.  "Dong Yue! Dong Yue!" He picks up her arm and notices it partially fading away. "It looks like I didn't see it wrongly that day." He looks at her arm incredulously.  "Dong Yue, what's going on?" Her arm fades in and out.  His head begins to hurt.  He hears the flute playing.  His eyes widen, and he picks it up.

He's trying not to cry.  He feels tormented.  He is standing on a large lily pad in a pond, Er Yu is behind him.

"Feng Xi," says Er Yu.

Feng Xi turns around to face him.

Er Yu pulls back his hood, revealing himself as Feng Xi, but with a face badly scarred from burns.

"We finally meet," says Er Yu.

"Who are you?" asks Feng Xi.

"You also finally finished writing the score.  I forgot 'What Night is Tonight?'"

"Are you Er Yu?" asks Feng Xi.

"That's right.  I'm indeed Er Yu, and also Pang Xi."

Feng Xi is stunned.  "Are you...indeed me?"

"There are two mega forces in this world," says Er Yu.  "Love and Hate. This tune contains the past wishes for a lifetime's love of His Majesty and The Imperial Noble Consort.  It also contains her unwillingness to die.  And also your hopeless resentments and hatred."

"So this is to say you're my unresolved hatred?" asks Feng Xi.

"After your original death, your resentment didn't scatter.  It transformed me into a wandering soul that survived in this world, until I met Wen Xin, and we depended on each other.  In this chaotic world, she was my only warmth.  She wanted to change the fate of this kingdom.  I made use of the spiritual power to reverse time and space to help her go back to the past.  Do you remember now?"

"So it was me who found Dong Yue."

"It looks like I've completed my mission," says Er Yu.

"Wait!" Feng Xi begins to cry.  "Are you saying that the price for Dong Yue to traverse time and space is her life?"

Er Yu says nothing.

"There must be another solution," says Feng Xi.

"You can only resolve the knots in your heart on your own.  It's you who can exonerate the Ming Family.  It's also you who can save Dong Yue's life."

"Can I save Dong Yue?  How can I save her?"

"The Lotus Body of Dong Yue was created by the Spiritual Power of this flute.  Every time she traverses time and space, its spiritual power will be exhausted.  Only if you can return it to its source can you continue the life of this flute."

"How then?" asks Feng Xi.

"There is only the owner of this flute." Er Yu's body begins to turn into glittering gold ash, gradually fading away.  "And that is your life, too." Er Yu completely vanishes, and Feng Xi is back with Dong Yue.

He is anxiously gripping the flute, crying.  Dong Yue remains unconscious.  He cannot let her disintegrate.

 

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

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