American Perspectives: Blood on the Flute ("Twisted Fate of Love" Ep. 43)

 

In order to protect Dong Yue from dying, Feng Xi puts his blood on Dong Yue's white jade flute.

Dong Yue sees him doing this, and wishes that he wouldn't.  Just as he is willing to give up his life for her's, she's willing to do the same for him.

"I've already thought of ending the script for 'Xi Yue,'" Dong Yue tells him.  "Young Master Xi will return safe and sound from the battle and live out the rest of his life with Miss Yue."

Feng Xi smiles and laughs.  He's looking very radiant in his black hanfu.  "Isn't this ending too common?"

"So, what?  I like it, and that's good enough."

"You said your husband is afraid of nothing," he gently touches her face.  "However, I have many things to be afraid of.  When I was young, I was afraid of being alone and helpless.  Later on, I was afraid that I wouldn't succeed in getting revenge.  And much later on, I was afraid of losing you.  But now, I'm not afraid." He hugs her tightly.

"You weren't my husband in the past.  Now, you are."

 

"Even with the armies of Great Yin and Mount Hao," says Dao Le, "if we want to resist Lu Yuantong, we're only slightly evenly matched."

Dao Le, Zi Yuan, Yuanshan, Dong Yue, Feng Xi, and Miss Murong have met up to discuss battle plans.

"If we confront them directly," Dao Le continues, "we can't win."

Dong Yue nods her head in agreement.  "Dao Le is right; so, we need to avoid Zhuming Post and engage in a head to head confrontation with Lu Yuantong.  From Lu Yuantong's camp to the capitol, this is the only natural barrier.  We can only set an ambush here to lure him from his nest."  She points to a spot on the map.

"However," Zi Yuan interjects, "the quickest way for Lu Yuantong to reach the capitol is via the Zhuming Post.  How do we make him take the longer road?"

"Based on what Madam Feng said," says Miss Murong, "she must have something priceless."

"Before we left," explains Dong Yue, "His Highness prepared some bait for our army."

"Are you thinking of ambusing Lu Yuantong with Lu Zhengming?" asks Dao Le.

"That's right," Dong Yue confirms.

"Uncle, why aren't you saying anything?" asks Dao Le. "Is there a problem with her strategy?"

"I think that the preparation is already very good," says Feng Xi. "Man proposes, God disposes.  Whatever will come, will come."

Miss Murong smiles.  Dong Yue smiles at Feng Xi, confident with her decision.

 

The Feng Manor archers are running through the forest.  Dong Yue, Feng Xi, Dao Le, and Zi Yuan aren't far behind.

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

"We dispatched our scout a long time ago," says Feng Xi.  "If Lu Yuantong fell into the trap, there should've been news earlier."

"Lu Zhengming is his only successor," says Dong Yue.  "He wouldn't just disregard his son's life, would he?"

"Did you forget about the Late Emperor?" asks Feng Xi.  "In order to hold onto his throne, he even abandoned his wife and son.  If he wants to do great things, why wouldn't he risk the life of his family?"

The four scan the area below, looking for some sort of sign that Lu Yuantong is coming.

"The scout is back!" Dao Le observes.  The scout is galloping on the path below, at top speed, looking for the Feng army.

Feng Xi, Dong Yue, Zi Yuan, and Dao Le go out on the path to meet him.

"Reporting!" the scout bows.  "Lu Yuantong was leading his army here.  However, he suddenly turned around and set of for the Zhuming Post when he saw the hostage."

Feng Xi frowns, trying to figure out Lu Yuantong's motives. "This sly fox, Lu Yuantong. Indeed, he can't be attacked that easily."

 

Feng Xi and Dong Yue share a horse as they ride together into Zhuming Post.

"We're back to where we first met again," says Feng Xi.  "Just like you said, back to the starting point again."

"This won't be our ending," says Dong Yue.  "This will only be Lu Yuantong's dead end."

Lu Yuantong emerges from the fort.  Feng Xi and Dong Yue are waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

Lu Yuantong laughs.  "I just knew that the beheading wouldn't take the Prime Minister's life.  Oh, that's not right.  You're not the Prime Minister anymore."

"You're also no longer the Duke of Dingyuan," Feng Xi points out.

"However, we're still rivals, aren't we?  Come! Please come inside."

Feng Xi and Dong Yue exchange glances.  They reluctantly follow Lu Yuantong inside.

"Do you still remember the promise I made you in the beginning?" asks Lu Yuantong.

"You would sit on the country and change your name to Emperor," Feng Xi responds.  "I would be a commander."

"The promise from back then is still in effect," says Lu Yuantong.

"It looks like Duke Lu, you see rank and the country as something already in your hand," says Feng Xi.

Lu Yuantong chuckles.  "Talking about conspiracies and officialdom, you're an expert among the people.  However, when it comes to meeting on the battlefield, you're a far ways behind me."

"While you've been talking crap with me," says Feng Xi, "the Great Yin Army has already surrounded the Zhuming Post."

The Yin Army is outside, surrounding the fort, armed and in position.

"Have you considered that before capturing the ringleader and his followers, I would have you die first?" asks Lu Yuantong.

Zang Fei draws his sword, Dong Yue draws her sword in response, ready to defend.

"Dare you?" Dong Yue asks sharply.

"You won't kill me," Feng Xi says confidently.

Lu Yuantong tilts his head.  "How are you so sure?" he sneers.

"You won't let go of a chance to beat me on the battlefield," Feng Xi sneers back.

"That makes sense." Lu Yuantong gestures Zang Fei to lower his sword.  "Your wife really is a heroine among women, however, has she ever thought about her husband?  If you kill me, you and Feng Xi will be accountable for regicide and won't be remembered for your achievements.  Even at this critical juncture, you'll still eventually be buried in oblivion.  Did you ever consider seizing a region by force, opposing the central government, and living in love as the Emperor's couple on earth?

"That's right," says Dong Yue.  "We're in love, and we'll live happily together.  However, you won't have the opportunity to witness it."

"We're killing you," says Feng Xi, "not for leaving our names in history."

"Forget it!" Lu Yuantong laughs.  "I, Lu Yuantong, have never surrendered in my life." He paces back and forth.  "But you, Feng Xi, you have given me some pleasure in this."

"My killing you isn't for pleasure," says Feng Xi.  "When you harmed the Ming Family back then, this crime has become unpardonable.  I had many chances to kill you.  However, the reason for keeping you alive until now is to make use of you to exonerate the Ming Family.  As for what I'm doing today, even if I die nameless, and my corpse is wrapped in horse hide, I wouldn't bring down the country with my enemy.  At the battle tomorrow, it's either you or I, will die."

"Fine," says Lu Yuantong.  "I won't pursue the case for those who are destined to die.  If tomorrow is the last battle, I'm happy you're my rival.  See you tomorrow on the battlefield."

Lu Yuantong and Zang Fei exit the room.

Dong Yue and Feng Xi hold hands.  "The battle at Zhuming Fort tomorrow," says Dong Yue, "indeed can't be avoided."

"Even if tomorrow is the last day of my life," says Feng Xi, "with you here, I'm already very satisfied."

 

Dong Yue and Feng Xi are gazing at the stars.  "I heard that when a star falls," says Feng Xi, "it represents someone passing away.  The great battle is imminent, and this suits the occasion."

"You're only watching the falling stars," says Dong Yue, "but you don't see the North Star.  The North Store controls luck, as well as life and death. When you wish upon it, it's very effective."

"Is that so?" asks Feng Xi.

Dong Yue nods.

"As long as you're here," says Feng Xi, "I have no other wishes.  What about you?"

"I do!"

"What is it, let me guess."

Dong Yue smiles and chuckles.  "You don't need to guess and you don't need to be in a rush to know, either.  When the big battle is over, and you've safely returned to camp, I'll tell you."  She rests her head on his shoulder.

 

The carnage on the battlefield is intense.  Together, Dong Yue and Feng Xi fight against Lu Yuantong.

Feng Xi sees that Yuanshan has been brutally stabbed, and he rushes to him.

Lu Yuantong takes advantage of the opportunity to try and attack Feng Xi from behind.  Dong Yue blocks him.  While they are battling Lu Yuantong, Zang Fei kills Yuanshan.

Zi Yuan helps a severely injured Miss Murong get up.

Dao Le is livid when he sees that Yuanshan is dead.  He slowly picks up his sword from the ground.  With Zi Yuan on one side, and Miss Murong on the other, they face Lu Yuantong.

"Duke Lu, we've had extremely heavy casualties, so we won't be able to hold on for long," says one of Lu Yuantong's men.  "Duke Lu, general, you two retreat first."

Dong Yue and Feng Xi are standing on the other side of the path.

"Duke Lu, we'll cover you," says Zang Fei.  "Please retreat to Liyun."

"I've fought battles for 10 years," Lu Yuantong says proudly.  "I have won before and lost before, but I have never fled."

"Lu Yuantong!" shouts Dong Yue.  "The overall situation has been decided.  Stop struggling!"

"If you surrender," adds Feng Xi, "I'll let you die a decent death."

Lu Yuantong laughs.  "Say that if you can kill me first!"

The attack commences once again with Dong Yue and Feng Xi fighting Lu Yuantong.

Feng Xi and Dong Yue are both kicked to the ground.

Dao Le is fighting Zang Fei.  It is an intense fight.  As Zang Fei has Dao Le pinned, Miss Murong and Zi Yuan intervene.

Lu Yuantong, Dong Yue, and Feng Xi rise.

"Did you guys think killing me today would change the major happenings of the world?" asks Lu Yuantong.  "No!  Let me tell you.  Someone will rebel due to the decadence in public morality, to encourage their selfish, wild desires, and ambitions.  Because the official and military systems are not stringent, it has allowed treacherous villains the opportunities to corrupt the laws  of the Imperial Court.  It's all because of a dim witted Emperor who didn't attempt to make progress in power."

"If there's decadence," says Feng Xi, "then make changes to the public morality.  If the bureaucratic system isn't stringent, then rectify it!  Rebellion and uprising are only your selfish desires."

"Do you, Feng Xi, have no selfish desires?" asks Lu Yuantong.  "Let me tell you again!  Since ancient times, everyone has selfish desires."

"Of course I have selfish desires," says Feng Xi.  "However, it's not for the throne.

"Everyone has their fate," says Lu Yuantong.  "Kingdoms have their fate.  Even if it's not me, someone else will want to seize the country, too."

"There's no fate at all!" shouts Dong Yue.  "Countless people told me that fate can't be changed, but Feng Xi and I will change the fate we should have had.  Everything is done by humans."

"Change the fate that you should have had?" asks Lu Yuantong.  He laughs. 

"Cut the crap!" says Feng Xi.  "Let's end this!"

They charge at each other.  Dong Yue gets sliced across the torso, Feng Xi gets a superficial stab in the stomach.  They keep fighting.

Dao Le stabs Zang Fe in the heart, finally killing him, for good.

Lu Yuantong is standing over Dong Yue and Feng Xi.  Dong Yue is able to stab him.  She is able to get up, and she pushes him, impaling him on her sword.

Dong Yue, Feng Xi, Dao Le, Zi Yuan, and Miss Murong walk through the carnage.  Dong Yue looks down at her left hand, and notices it's fading again.  She hopes no one else saw that.

 

Dao Le and Feng Xi are in Feng Xi's room talking about their next steps.

Zi Yuan anxiously enters, interrupting their conversation.  "Something bad has happened!"

The two men look at her strangely.

"Sister Dong Yue has left!"

Feng Xi goes to her room, just to be sure, and she isn't there.  He sees her white jade flute on the floor, broken into 3 pieces.  He carefully picks up the piece with a tassel at the end.

"When I went looking for her this morning," says Zi Yuan, "she was already gone.  I'm guessing she left last night.  She even left a letter here."

A letter is laying on the table, next to the tea set.  Feng Xi opens it up.  "Feng Xi, forgive me for not saying goodbye.  For the past few days, I know you've been using your life to maintain the power of the flute in order to protect my life.  However, twice already I've witnessed you dying in front of me.  How could I let you lose your life for me again?  Feng Xi, I regret it so much.  Why didn't I understand you sooner?  From the beginning, until the end, what I have wanted, was only you.  We've experienced so many trials and hardships together; however, the ending had already been predestined.  Now, I want to devote my entire life to you, but our lives together are only for so long.  My life is coming to an end.  Fate won't allow us to grow old together.  But so what?  You gave me the courage to defy fate, time and time again.  It's the same this time, too.  I'm going to find a way to let us be together again.  Feng Xi, I'm leaving, just pretemd this time, you make me angry again.  Just like when you coaxed me, I came back for a short period.  Or perhaps, I was careless and forgot you, so we had to go back to when we first met again.  I will always be your Miss Yue.  You will always be my young Master Xi." 

Feng Xi looks at the letter sadly, on the verge of tears.  He, Dao Le, and Zi Yuan decide to go galloping through the forest, looking for Dong Yue.

 

Feng Xi is walking alone through a thicket of trees, continuing to search for his beloved, while everyone else has moved on, and the Ming Family has been exonerated.

He sees a Holly Tree on the path, and he wonders if Dong Yue is nearby.  He doesn't want to get his hopes up, so he passes it after admiring it for a few minutes.  He strolls along the riverbank, wondering if he'd find her there.

He strolls through town, and is disappointed to find nothing.  He goes to the dock late at night where they had their first major fight, and she came back to life.

He slowly walks through a bamboo forest, and comes upon an archway. On the other side of the archway is a Holly Tree, and a woman with her back turned.  He is exhausted and doesn't know what to make of it.  He realizes it's his beloved Dong Yue, and he stands in the archway, waiting for her to turn around.

 

This concludes the story form adaptation for "Twisted Fate of Love." Thank you for reading!  Next up: "Love and Redemption."

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

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