American Perspectives: Self Sacrifice in Exchange for Peace ("Twisted Fate of Love" Ep. 42)

 

The heavy iron doors loudly creak open as Feng Xi and Dong Yue are lead to the torture room to be interrogated by 3rd Prince.  The guards push them down to their knees in the presence of the 3rd Prince.

"You may all leave," 3rd Prince says to the guards.  "This is concerned with the Royal Family's secrets.  I must conduct the task personally and privately."

The four guards bow and exit.

3rd Prince rises from his chair.  He waits for the doors to close before he says a single word.

"Get up quickly!" says 3rd Prince. He helps them stand up.  "I already recruited men to take you out of the palace tonight." He begins to unlock Feng Xi's shackles.

Feng Xi and Dong Yue place their hands over 3rd Prince's. 3rd Prince looks at them in shock.  Why would they want to stay? "What are you doing?" he asks. "Don't you know what the punishment for regicide is?  Are you really so eager to die?"

"We cannot leave," says Dong Yue.  "If we left, then this matter would never end."

"Xinyao," says Feng Xi.  "You will become the Emperor.  Don't be so influenced by your emotions."

"You're the one influenced by them, not me!" shouts 3rd Prince.  "You shouldn't be this impulsive to carry out the guilt of being an assassin."

"Lu Yuantong had the poisoned wine served to the Emperor right in front of us," says Feng Xi. "Someone had to drink it.  The person who drank it was not supposed to be you, the Crown Prince."

"There must be another way," insists 3rd Prince.  "I can ask Ministry of Justice to look into it and clear your names.  I'm sure the innocence will be returned to you."

"Tomorrow morning," says Dong Yue, "news of His Highness' death will be spreading.  If no one admits to being the murderer, then Lu Yuantong will use this opportunity to cause trouble and start a war in the name of Prince of Qin."

"Lu Yuantong will do it sooner or later," 3rd Prince points out.  He doesn't want to lose his two favorite people.  "It's not as if sacrificing your lives would stop it from happening."

"That's right," Feng Xi agrees. "This war will be fought sooner or later, but now is not the time.  The Emperor just died, and you are not crowned yet.  The court will inevitably be a mess.  Having a war now is like shoving the commoners into a wildfire."

3rd Prince looks like he wants to throw up.  He is on the verge of being Emperor, and he has to part with his two best friends.  "You're right.  I will find the real murderer and avenge my father.  Then no one will oppose my claim to the throne, and I can temporarily stabilize the court.  What about you?  When you become known as a murderer of royalty, you will never be able to see the day in which the Ming Family is exonerated."

Feng Xi smiles. "Back then, my uncle was urgently called to the palace.  He already knew that Emperor would not treat him well.  He could've brought soldiers with him into the capitol, but he did not.  He also didn't let the commoners face the chaos of war.  In his heart, the family's reputation and his personal life did not mean a single thing to him compared to the lives of the commoners.  He took the label of a criminal in exchange for peace for the world.  Today, we want to do the same." He holds Dong Yue's hand. "Besides, when His Majesty admitted his wrongs, I had already completely given up my hate." Dong Yue and Feng Xi smile at each other.

"Your Highness," says Dong Yue, "the two of us think alike. Please fulfill our wish."

3rd Prince is speechless.

Dong Yue and Feng Xi bow to him.  He returns the bow.  Hand in hand, Dong Yue and Feng Xi exit the torture room.  3rd Prince bows to them one more time as they leave.

 

Dong Yue and Feng Xi are hauled through the market on a prison cart. They look at each other and smile.  Crowds of people are on both sides of the road.

"On our first meeting," says Feng Xi, "you told me that in one year, I would be made an official.  In the end, I would die as a traitor.  Now that I think about it, that one year is almost here.  It's just that I never would've expected you to be correct.  In the end, I was still a traitor."

"I wanted to change my fate many times," admits Dong Yue.  "Every time, I thought I was about to succeed.  In the end, the result was always the same."

"Then do you ever regret it?" asks Feng Xi.

"In the past, every time I chose to return, it was because I felt remorseful and wanted to amend my wrongs.  This time, if this is the end, I will have no regrets. Being able to live and die with you is the best fate I could ever anticipate."

They smile at each other.  They tenderly kiss.

The two are lead to the executioner.  Lu Chuan watches from a distance as they are forced to kneel.  Their heads are placed on the chopping block, and the executioners swing their swords.  Lu Chuan can't bear to watch.

 

3rd Prince is now the Emperor, and he is wearing his red robes.  He is surrounded by his entourage as he walks to the palace.

"The late Emperor died!" an announcer calls out.  "He returned to the elements!  According to the Imperial Decree, Crown Prince Pang Yu, inherits the throne left by the Emperor and respectfully accepts the last words of the deceased Emperor.  As the son of the Emperor, solemnly inform the kingdom of the post of the Emperor immediately."

"Long live the Emperor!" shouts the masses.

 

Lu Chuan enters the Wind Pavilion.  "Your Majesty," he bows.  Dong Yue and Feng Xi come following in.

"You set up so many chess games in the past to manipulate me," says 3rd Prince.  "This time I am paying you back with interest."

"His Highness wanted me to supervise the execution," explains Lu Chuan.  "From the executioners to the executioner guards, they were all our men. The position of the execution was also far from the crowd.  Hence, we could secretly exchange the bodies."

"Then who were the ones who died for us?" asks Dong Yue.

"Of course, it's the two who deserved a death penalty," says 3rd Prince.  "When I came out from the Prison that night, Lu Chuan came to find me.  Zi Yuan and Dao Le saw Taoist Heku secretly taking his two followers out of the palace."

"I see!" says Dong Yue.  "This method of exchanging the real for the falsified bodies, I find it rather familiar." She elbows Feng Xi. "What do you think?"

Feng Xi laughs.  "Yes.  Like older brother, like younger brother.  Isn't that so, Xinyao?"

3rd Prince smiles.

"I should say 'Your Majesty' now," Feng Xi smiles.

"Long live your majesty," Dong Yue and Feng Xi bow.

3rd Prince stops them.  "I can accept other people's salutations, but not yours."

"You are the Emperor," says Dong Yue, "so it's perfectly justifiable.  How can you say this?"

"You helped me to obtain the throne.  You still have your lives, but from now on, this world will no longer have Feng Xi and Dong Yue.  You were condemned as traitors and recorded in the book of history."

"From now on," says Dong Yue, "we're faceless and nameless.  This is good, too.  We can covertly deal with Lu Yuantong."

"Faceless and nameless," says 3rd Prince, "but there's love and justice."

"Oh, right.  Where's Little Wen Xin?" asks Dong Yue. "Before I leave, I would like to talk to her."

"She is waiting for you at the wing in the back courtyard," says 3rd Prince.

Dong Yue bows.

"Let's go, I'll take you there," says Lu Chuan.

Wen Xin is waiting on the arched wooden bridge.

"Wen Xin?" says Dong Yue.

"Sister Dong Yue!" exclaims Wen Xin.  They hug.  "It's great! You're not dead!"

"I'm invulnerable.  Would I die that easily?" asks Dong Yue.

"Older sister Dong Yue, do you know? Older Brother Xinyao is the Emperor?"

Dong Yue nods.  "I know."

"Now that he is the Emperor, does this mean no one will dare go against me?"

"Yes.  He will protect you in the future.  You have nothing to fear."

"No, sister.  I know martial arts now.  I want to be like you, protecting the one I love."

"What's so great about being like me?  You should live your own life," says Dong Yue.

"Sister, are you leaving me?" asks Wen Xin.

"I still have unfinished business to do."

"Will you go to war?" Wen Xin and Dong Yue hold hands.  "Then will you come back?"

Dong Yue isn't sure how to answer the question.  "Perhaps.  I don't know, either."

"I believe you will."

Dong Yue laughs.  "Only you know."

"Sister, after I met you, a lot of things happened.  But you always managed to overcome the crisis safely.  This time, it's also not an exception."

"Regardless whether I can return or not, I hope you can continue living happily.  You'll meet a lot of people in the future, and do a lot of things.  You will make a lot of good and bad decisions.  But I do hope that you can live your life without regrets." Dong Yue hugs Wen Xin tightly.

 

Feng Xi and 3rd Prince are sitting at the table, having some wine.

"What plans do you have next?" asks 3rd Prince.

Feng Xi slowly pours himself some wine.  "I already told Zi Yuan and Dao Le to set off to gather various power in the land.  Dong Yue and I will set off tonight, too, and reunite with them at Zhuming Post.  We will follow through with our and communicate through letters."

3rd Prince pauses. "Older brother, I want to ask you a question."

"You want to ask why I didn't want the throne?" predicts Feng Xi.

3rd Prince nods.  "Based on your capability, you had many opportunities to usurp the throne.  Why didn't you fight for it?"

Feng Xi smiles.

"On the other hand," 3rd Prince continues, "eventually, you risked your life to put me on the throne."

Feng Xi takes a deep breath.  "I never wanted the throne.  Besides, everyone thought I love power and am a treacherous minister. If I had become the emperor, then I wouldn't have been able to gain the hearts of the commoners.  As for you, your heart lies with the commoners, and you recruit people of wisdom and valor.  You will definitely think for the people."

"Do you think I can be a wise Emperor?"

"To you, a wise Emperor does not ask for glory, but for responsibility. As long as the kingdom is willing to follow you and trust you, the country will have a future."

"In your eyes, what kind of person am I?" asks 3rd Prince.

"In my eyes, you're always my younger brother."

"In fact, when I was young, I looked very honest and rarely caused troubles.  But no matter what chaos I created, you always took responsibility for me," says 3rd Prince.  "I didn't expect that even now, I still rely on you to take care of me."

Feng Xi grins. "In any case, I'm used to being a villain.  So what if I am one more time for you?"

They bump fists.  "Older brother, promise me you'll come back alive."

Feng Xi is trying not to cry. "Regardless of whether I die or live, this will be our last time seeing each other.  If, by luck, I can stay alive, I still have something more important to do."

"Then you better protect her well."

Feng Xi laughs. "You won't need to bother with that."

They bow to each other before drinking their wine.

 

Feng Xi and 3rd Prince meet up with Dong Yue and Lu Chuan in the courtyard.  Feng Xi descends the stone staircase to meet Dong Yue and Lu Chuan.

"Let's go," says Feng Xi.

"Hold on," says Dong Yue.  "Lu Chuan has something to say to you."

"Lord Feng," says Lu Chuan, "this time as we separate, who knows when we'll be able to see each other again?  Now that we are parting, please inscribe on my book."

Feng Xi and Dong Yue smile.

Feng Xi takes the book. "Turn around."

Lu Chuan turns around.  Using Lu Chuan's back as a hard surface, Feng Xi finds an empty page, and begins to write.  Dong Yue looks at him with adoration.  When Feng Xi finishes writing, Lu Chuan turns back around.

"Thank you, My Lord," Lu Chuan beams.

"Let's go," Feng Xi says to Dong Yue. They bow to the Emperor one last time.  Feng Xi takes her hand, and they exit the courtyard.

Lu Chuan opens up his book.  It reads: Feng Xi's best friend is the owner of Wang Chuan house. Lu Chuan smiles excitedly.

Feng Xi and Dong Yue make it back to their private residence.  Feng Xi is under the Holly Tree, playing "What Night is Tonight?" on Dong Yue's white jade flute.

Dong Yue quietly approaches him.  He can see her reflection in the pond.  She stands behind him and puts her arms around his waist, and her chin on his shoulder.  He continues to play while she embraces him warmly.

After he finishes the melody, he turns around. "Are you feeling better?" he asks.

"So weird!  I really am feeling better." Says Dong Yue.

"Now, not only have I finished this song, I am also able to see my past, and even the future."

"What do you mean?" Dong Yue asks nervously.

"When I fainted that day, I met a person."

"Who?" asks Dong Yue.

"Er Yu.  He is also me."

"You...did you know?"

"Er Yu is Xi, I already knew earlier.  I only realized today, why I, only when I am with you, can I then finish writing this song."  He remembers his mother playing the flute in Wen Wei Hall, while he and 3rd Prince admired the melody.  "Because the Ming Family encountered serious unexpected changes, my heart was unable to bear it.  It was related to the beautiful memories of my mother and me, and also, to the melody of 'What Night is Tonight?' which were forgotten."

Dong Yue is a little flustered. "The flute recognizes its owner," she says.  "So, when I met you the first time, it could sing by itself."

"That time, as a joke, I had you call me Er Yu," says Feng Xi.  "I can't believe I'm actually Er Yu."

Dong Yue moves closer to him.  "It doesn't matter if you're Er Yu or Feng Xi, you're the one whom I love the most."

"The life my mother lived, she never found anyone whose nature was compatible with hers.  To her, 'What Night is Tonight?' is just a beautiful expectation.  Yet, how fortunate am I to have met you?"

"When Ding Yuan's upheaval is settled," says Dong Yue, "we can fulfill your mother's wish.  We will hide in the mountains and grow old together.  Isn't that good?"

"We didn't even marry yet," says Feng Xi, "why do we need to discuss about spending our last years?"

Dong Yue is embarassed.  She begins to turn away so he can't see her cry.

Feng Xi smiles and touches her face.  "We are meeting Great Yin's army tomorrow.  Tonight is our last moment.  I don't want to wait anymore.  I also don't want any mishaps to happen.  I just want to marry you.  Dong Yue, I'm no longer the Right Prime Minister.  I have no way to give you the best possible wedding.  I can only wed you here with the heavens and the earth as my witness.  Are you willing?"

Dong Yue pauses, and then smiles. She lovingly touches his face.  "I don't need you to be the Right Prime Minister.  I just want you to be mine.  You're mine now.  You'll be mine every moment of your life from now, even if it's only for one day."

"I will give it to you," says Feng Xi.  "I will give you my whole life."

Together, they bow facing the pond, then they face the Holly Tree and bow.  They conclude by facing, and bowing to each other.  Dong Yue is crying tears of joy.  They embrace, and Dong Yue smiles.  Feng Xi holds her tightly.

 

They are in the bedroom, ready to consummate the marriage. They are kneeling on the bed, facing each other.  She unties his under jacket.  She pulls his under jacket back, and looks at the Holly Flower tattoo.  She lovingly touches it.

He unties her under jacket, and they close the transparent grey curtains.  They tenderly kiss.

 

The next day, Feng Xi sets breakfast on the table. "I'm finally done preparing breakfast for you," he says as Dong Yue enters the room.  "But you slept till noon.  You turned the breakfast into lunch."  He hands her some porridge.  "Enjoy it then, Dear Wife."

Dong Yue smiles.  "Thanks, Dear Husband."

Feng Xi smiles.  Dong Yue hands him some porridge.

"My Dear Wife, please," he feeds her some vegetables with his chopsticks.

Dao Le and Zi Yuan walk in.  Zi Yuan giggles.

"Sister Dong Yue, did you make all of this?" asks Dao Le.

"I just woke up," says Dong Yue.  

"Uncle, did you learn to cook?" Dao Le laughs. "Sister Dong Yue is so lucky."

Zi Yuan squeezes his arm, and says through clenched teeth, "Why are you calling her Sister Dong Yue?  You're supposed to call her Madam."

"Right! Right!" says Dao Le.  "My brain is like a pig's.  Please forgive me, Madam."

"Dao Le, we already changed our titles for each other," says Feng Xi.  "When will you and Zi Yuan do that?"

Dao Le is a bit flustered.  He hadn't thought that far ahead.

 

Feng Xi is holding the white jade flute.  He bites his index finger until it bleeds.  He lets his blood drip on the red veins of the flute.

Dong Yue is secretly watching him.

"You can only get rid of your own internal issues by yourself," he recalls Er Yu saying. "You are the one who can exonerate the Ming Family.  The person who can save Dong Yue's life is also you."

If Dong Yue had barged into my life, he thinks, it would've ended long ago.  If we are fated to be unable to grow old together, then let this flute protect you in my place.

Dong Yue finally enters the room.  "Before the great battle, you still have the mood to play the flute here."

"Before the great battle, I fear that if I don't play it now, I will never get the chance again."

"Nonsense!" says Dong Yue. "As punishment, before you get back to the capitol, you're not allowed to touch this flute."

"Do you think I won't be able to get it if you hold it close to you?"  He tries to grab it, and she hides the flute behind her back.

"If you want to have it back, then raise your spirits.  Come back from the battlefield alive."

"Do you think I'm afraid of the battlefield?"

"I know my husband never feared anything."

"You said it before.  To travel through time and space, to go against the heavens to change fate, it all has a cost."

"It's unreal to talk about ghosts and spirits," says Dong Yue.  "What kind of conclusion would there be?  What's more, isn't my body much better?"

"You also once prophesized I would die at Zhuming Post.  In the next few days, the prophecy's date will arrive."

"That's why I must go against the heavens to change fate," says Dong Yue.  "Not only do I want to change heaven's destiny, I also want to change yours."

 

"Twisted Fate of Love" can be watched on Viki or Youtube. Dialogue adapted from English Subtitle translations provided by "Twisted Love Team at Viki.com"

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