American Perspectives: Feng Xi Severs his Relationship with His Father ("Twisted Fate of Love" Ep. 41)

 

Feng Xi is walking around his private residence when he sees Lu Chuan.

Lu Chuan politely bows.  "Minister."

"Come with me," says Feng Xi.

They enter the Ming Shrine.

"Consort Mother, Uncle," says Feng Xi, "Ancestors, tomorrow is the day the Ming Family's injustice will be cleared.  This day, I've been waiting for it for more than 20 years."

"Minister, you brought me here...is there something you want me to do?" asks Lu Chuan.

"Sometimes I don't know," admits Feng Xi, "between you and Dao Le, who listens to me more.  Dao Le has followed me for many years.  Loyal and devoted, but when it comes to not asking questions, you are...still better at it than him."

Lu Chuan gasps and bows. "Minister, you praise me too much.  I'm flattered."

"Besides, Dao Le is a martial artist, while you are an official at the Emperor's History Bureau. When it comes to taking care of things in court, it is still easier for you to do."

Lu Chuan's eyes widen. "Minister, is there something you want me to do?"

"I want to discuss with you about the staff at the ceremony," says Feng Xi. "And the arrangement of the guests."

"Guests?" asks Lu Chuan.

Yuanshan slowly enters the shrine room.

"He used to work for the Ming Family," Feng Xi explains.  "When the fire broke out in Wen Wei Hall, he's the one who saved me."

"Since he's someone loyal to the Ming Family," says Lu Chuan, "then he's qualified to attend as a guest and to witness the Ming Family's injustice being cleared."

"Uncle Yuan's identity at the ceremony," says Feng Xi, "shouldn't be as a guest, but as a servant.  Someone to serve the alcohol, in case His Majesty plans to poison us."

"Minister, why do we have to be so alert?" asks Lu Chuan.

"Lu Chuan, tell me honestly.  In the letter, is Fang Yuan the only criminal?"

Lu Chuan is visibly uncomfortable as Dong Yue doesn't want Feng Xi to know that the Emperor was also involved in the Ming Family injustice.  Lu Chuan is feeling very cornered.

"Minister, what are you suspicious of?"

"Since someone wrote the letter, someone had to receive it.  The people in contact with Fang Yuan must have been important.  Fang Yuan was killed by the Eagles, and after he was dead, the assassins searched all his assets in the capitol for the criminal evidence.  It can be seen that the person behind all of this is the culprit.  That person wanted to destroy all the evidence."

"I can't guess what your intentions are," says Lu Chuan, "but the letters were found by Dong Yue.  How could she deceive you?"

"To deceive the person you love, out of love, this kind of thing I've done many times.  If it's just the jade seal and familial affection, that could make His Majesty confess, then Dong Yue wouldn't need to make a move.  The Crown Prince could've done it alone.  How could he be put under house arrest, then?"

Lu Chuan pulls a letter out of the top left chest panel of his hanfu.  "This is a letter written by forging the Left Prime Minister's handwriting," says Lu Chuan.  "Just to be on the safe side, I made an extra copy." He hands it to Feng Xi.

Feng Xi hesitates before taking it.

 

Dong Yue and Feng Xi kneel to the Emperor as he arrives in Wen Wei Hall.

"You may rise," says the Emperor.  He touches Feng Xi's arms affectionately. "Son, quickly get up."

Feng Xi is overwhelmed by the affection, but he keeps his composure.  "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"You should be calling me Royal Father," says the Emperor.  "Are you still unwilling to forgive me?  That year, I was deceived by Fang Yuan's letter and made a big mistake."

"I'm your minister, so I dare not, as the ceremony has not yet happened," replies Feng Xi.  "Besides, Your Majesty, until a few days ago, didn't you want to get rid of me, the last remnant of the Ming Family?"

Emperor pauses.  Feng Xi is not in the wrong to feel extremely cautious.  These kinds of feelings don't just magically disappear.  "Blame it all on me," says Emperor.  "I didn't know you were still alive.  So, inevitably mistakes were made that are hard to reverse.  Now, as father and son, we have reunited according to Heaven's will.  How can I go against the heavens?"

Feng Xi is very skeptical.

"Look," says Emperor. "As per your request, I've set up a family banquet in Wen Wei Hall.  Let us, father and son, catch up and then, let's go to the conferring ceremony together, all right?"

"Thank you," Feng Xi says hesitantly.  He bows politely.  "Royal Father."

The Emperor beams and touches Feng Xi's hands.  "Then, let's take a seat."

Dong Yue smiles.

They sit down at a nicely set, small table filled with a couple of main dishes, and many side dishes.

"Today is a day filled with abundant joy," says Emperor.  "We, father and son, have been reunited." He asks the servants to generously fill the cups with wine.

"Royal Father, you especially held the banquet in Wen Wei Hall, it shows your sincerity." Feng Xi is beginning to relax. "Here's a toast to you."

Emperor chuckles.

"I've always used the identity of Feng family's third son," says Feng Xi, "in front of Royal Father. Now I can finally be by your side, loyally, and filially without any regrets."

"Miss Dong Yue," says Emperor, "this cup of wine I toast you with."

"To me?" asks Dong Yue.

"Our reunion today," says the Emperor, "is all thanks to your contribution.  As the saying goes, 'women are no different than men.'  I hope you'll give birth to royal children soon.  That would also be a great achievement."

Dong Yue looks uncomfortable.

Emperor raises his cup.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," says Dong Yue.  "Long live Your Majesty."

"All right," says the Emperor.  "My son and daughter in law.  I am comforted." He chuckles.

"Royal Father," says Feng Xi.  "I would like to toast an old friend with this cup."

"Then I will also toast this old friend," says Emperor.

"My uncle is Ming Qian, General Ming. He guarded the border loyally and passionately, but was charged with collaborating with the enemy and being a traitor.  Great Yin was the one who let him down.  He didn't let Great Yin down."

The atmosphere becomes cold.

"What you mean," says Emperor, "isn't that Great Yin has let him down, but that I let him down, isn't it?"

Dong Yue is getting anxious.  "Your Majesty, His Highness was just recalling his past.  He means no offense to you."

Feng Xi persists. "How you treated him, Your Majesty should know it best in your heart.  I just want to know whether Your Majesty will keep your promise and clear Uncle's family of their grievances."

"What if I said no?" asks Emperor.  "Would you kill your father?"

"You--" Feng Xi rises and points his finger at the Emperor.

"Feng Xi, don't..." Dong Yue interjects.  She is suddenly very dizzy, and immediately has to sit right back down.

"There's a problem with the wine," Feng Xi is livid, but not surprised.  

"That's right," says Emperor.

"You talked about vindicating the Ming Family, but you were actually just stalling for time."

Emperor smirks.  "You're my biological son, yet you let this woman threaten me with Fang Yuan's criminal evidence," Dong Yue is passed out in the chair, "as well as collude with Lu Yuantong to threaten me.  In your heart, do you still recognize me as your Royal Father?"

Feng Xi is gasping for breath. "I already knew that you wouldn't really have any regrets." He falls into his chair, but remains awake.

"I treated the Ming Family with great trust," says Emperor, "favored them, but Ming Qian prided himself on his accomplishments, and overstepped his authority.  I tolerated this again and again, and in exchange, he made one offense after another.  It's not that I have wronged Ming Qian.  It's the other way around!  Yulin army? Take them and detain them!"

3rd Prince enters Wen Wei Hall.  "Royal Father, please take back your order." He bows quickly, out of breath.

Feng Xi rises, livid as hell. Emperor is astounded he isn't unconscious. "3rd Younger brother, you've waited for a long time."

"Commander Wang let Qing Xi in the palace," says 3rd Prince.  "Did you arrange this?"

"That's right," says Feng Xi.

Emperor is appalled.

"This is the antidote," Feng Xi says to 3rd Prince.  "Have Dong Yue consume it.  She'll wake in a moment." Feng Xi hands him a green jade jar.

"So you're the one who switched out the drugs?" asks Emperor.

"It wasn't me," says Feng Xi, "but an old savior.  I wonder whether you'd recognize him."

Lu Chuan escorts Yuanshan in.

"Who are you?" asks Emperor.

"My face was ruined, thus, other than Young Master, I fear no one else would recognize me," says Yuanshan.

"However, that appearance made it more convenient for me to mobilize the help from the kitchen without any problems," Lu Chuan adds.

"So you were already on guard," Emperor growls.  He has a coughing fit.

Lu Chuan takes a letter out of his hanfu sleeve, and hands it to Feng Xi.

Feng Xi approaches Emperor and shows him the letter.  "After reading this, if one weren't on guard...they'd be stupid as a dog!" he throws the letter at the Emperor.

"Second Older Brother, so you already knew?" asks 3rd Prince.

"That's right!" confirms Feng Xi.  "He's the culprit who framed my Ming family.  It was he who wrote the secret letter to collude with the enemy.  Didn't you also know this earlier?"

"I kept hiding this from you," 3rd Prince admits, "hoping that this matter could still be turned around."

Feng Xi furiously faces 3rd Prince. "This person concealed his hidden crimes and refused to repent.  Don't tell me you still believe he would exonerate the Ming Family and cares about your father and son relationship?"

"Then what do you plan to do?" 3rd Prince asks nervously.

Feng Xi looks at Emperor.  "I want him to pay for his crimes."

He drags Emperor by the collar to the Ming Family Shrine, set up in the side room of Wen Wei Hall.  He forces Emperor to kneel.  Emperor looks at the marked tablets in shock, and there are many.

Feng Xi kneels and kowtows to the shrine.  "Your Majesty, do you recognize all these people?"

Emperor says nothing. 

"Uncle!" shouts Feng Xi.  "Consort Mother!  He's here today to pay it back."

Emperor watches Feng Xi fearfully as he stands up and walks to the shrine.  Feng Xi picks up a sword from the altar, and slowly unsheathes it.

"You," says Emperor.  "What are you doing?"

 

Dong Yue has woken from her drug induced slumber in Wen Wei Hall.  Lu Chuan immediately rushes to her. "Feng Xi?" she asks. "Where's Feng Xi?"

3rd Prince approaches her.  "Dong Yue."

"Your Highness, you were able to get out safely.  Where's Feng Xi?"

"Not a hair of Second Older Brother has been harmed." Replies 3rd Prince. "At present, he's with Royal Father, alone in the side room."

"Is he really alright?" asks Dong Yue.

"The minister saw through our play," replies Lu Chuan.  "However, he knew we were well intended, so he went along with it."

In spite of Lu Chuan and Yuanshan encouraging Feng Xi to ignore it, in hopes that it will go away, Feng Xi couldn't.  He couldn't ignore his father's genocide against his family.

"Together, with the Prime Minister and His Highness," Lu Chuan continues, "there are fifty four Ming Family Memorial tablets  I smuggled out.  Those are the guests the Prime Minister invited."

"Dong Yue," says 3rd Prince, "Second Older Brother and Royal Father have been in there for a long time.  At present, the person who can stop him is only you."

"The Ming Family's blood feud," says Dong Yue, "has twisted around Feng Xi for half his life.  None of us can make this decision on his behalf.  No one can resolve it for him, either.  The only thing I can do is just believe in him."

 

Feng Xi is standing over the Emperor in the makeshift shrine room. "I want you to repent," Feng Xi growls. "Repent until I'm satisfied."

"Ming Qian, I still remember," says the Emperor, "the friendship we had when we were young.  I killed you out of reluctance, but I also feel sad and regretful.  Beloved Imperial Consort Ming, all these years, each time I wake up from a dream in the middle of the night, I think about you.  It's my fault for being obsessed with gaining power and killing the innocent."

Feng Xi draws his sword, and slices off Emperor's crown and hair pin.  The Emperor is sprawled on the floor.  He fearfully looks up at Feng Xi.

"If you meet them in the afterlife," says Feng Xi, "would you still say these empty words to them?"

"When people die, it's the end," says Emperor.  "I've never believed in retribution, neither have I believed in the afterlife."

Feng Xi is in tears.  As usual, Emperor is avoiding accountability.  "It's been so many years since you killed them, why do you still resent them so much?"

Emperor looks up from the floor.  "Why?  Let me tell you why!  It's because I'm jealous.  Ming Qian, he was victorious in every battle.  The glory of the Ming Family surpassed my own dignity.  I was walking on this extremely high and cold path, alone and lonely.  In order to protect the country left behind by the ancestors, I abandoned the friendship, and the love of siblings and wife.  Do you understand my pain? Do you?"

Feng Xi knows his father is full of shit.  "You resented my uncle's merits, ignored the Imperial power, and made things difficult for him before he set off.  But do you know? Before he returned to the Imperial Court, he already knew that he would only have a narrow chance to escape.

"Is this true?" asks Emperor.

"That's just who my uncle was," says Feng Xi.  "Do you still have doubts?"

Emperor looks remorseful.

"He knew that he had bad luck," Feng Xi continues, "but he still had a glimmer of hope in you.  My consort mother thought the same, as well.  But you, was that how you responded to the glimmer of hope?"

Emperor begins to cry.

Feng Xi kneels down.  "This Imperial Jade Seal is the evidence of my identity as a prince." He studies the seal carefully. "It's also a trace of my mother's love for you."

Emperor reaches for the seal.

"However, looking at this now," Feng Xi says, "I can only see your hypocritical feelings and your indifference and ruthlessness.  You're the enemy who killed my mother, but you're also my father.  You're the ruler of the people.  If I kill you, I'll plunge the people into fire and water." Feng Xi cuts his hand with his sword.

"Son, what are you doing?" asks Emperor.

"Today, I return my blood to you." He hands the seal over to Emperor.  "You and I...will sever our relationship.  We are no longer father and son."

Emperor gasps.

"This disregard for our feelings and identities," continues Feng Xi, "I'm returning them to you."  He drops the seal on the floor with a loud clatter.  He stands up.

"Son! Son!" Calls the Emperor. "Xi'er!" He calls as Feng Xi walks out, and into the dining room.

"Young Master, are you alright?" asks Yuanshan.

Emperor can be heard sobbing.  3rd Prince and Emperor's attending servant rush in to comfort him.

"It's over," Feng Xi says with relief. "Uncle Yuan, your identity is special, you can't remain long in the palace.  Find Commander Wang to get you out of the palace."

As Yuanshan exits, Dong Yue approaches Feng Xi.

He puts his hands on her arms and takes a deep breath. "Thank you," says Feng Xi.  "If you weren't by my side, I wouldn't have been able to let go of the grievances in my heart, and also the hatred in my heart."

"You've gotten your wish for revenge.  Let's leave." Says Dong Yue.

Feng Xi nods.  "Alright.  Let's set off to start our new lives."

"Your Majesty!  Summon the Imperial Physician now!" they hear the servant shouting.

"Royal Father!" Yells 3rd Prince.

"Your Majesty!" shouts the servant.

"Royal father!" yells 3rd Prince.

 

Emperor is laying on his bed, and 3rd Prince is devastated.

"Based on his condition," says Dong Yue, "he's probably overdosed on the elixirs.  From the observation of his face, the posion has probably reached the region between his heart and diaphragm."

"It looks like the poisoned wine at the banquet wasn't just for us," says Feng Xi.

3rd Prince slowly stands up. "What did you say?"

Feng Xi turns around to face 3rd Prince. "Eunuch Gao poured the wine for Dong Yue and I.  As for himself, he drank the wine poured by the Taoist."

"Royal Father was in seclusion for many days because he invited this Taoist Heku from Zhongnan Mountain.  I've always felt that his identity was suspicious," says 3rd Prince.

"This Taoist Heku is likely Lu Yuantong's spy he planted next to His Majesty.  He'll probably take advantage of His Majesty's demise.  Our priority now is to block news of this.  Also, Xinyao (3rd Prince), you can't remain here."

"Why?" asks 3rd Prince.

"You are the biggest beneficiary of His Majesty's death.  You're also the biggest suspect.  You need to leave, or else there will be evidence."

"No, I can't leave," says 3rd Prince.  "Once I leave, the crime of killing His Majesty will fall on you."

They are interrupted by the Taoist, Physician, and their entourages busting through the doors.

"His Majesty has died!" gasps the Physician after completing the examination.

The Physician, Taoist, and entourage all drop to their knees.  

"How could this happen?" asks the Taoist.  "His Majesty's health was fine earlier."

"His body was purple, and he bled from his eyes, nose, and mouth," says the Physician.  "Those are symptoms of poisoning!"

"Imperial Physician," says the Taoist. "Are you saying His Majesty was poisoned?"

"Don't jump to conclusions!" says Lu Chuan. "He could've accidentally mistaken it as medicine."

The Taoist stands up.  "Everyone, I believe you saw that His Majesty was fine before he entered  the Wen Wei Hall.  This clearly shows I was framed during that time."

"Impudence!" shouts 3rd Prince.  He deliberately walks over to the Taoist.  "An insignificant Taoist would dare make comments here to mislead the public with rumors?"

"You..." says the Taoist.

"His Majesty has died," continues 3rd Prince.  "As officials, all you know is how to spread rumors!  Don't you think this is all in vain? Come with me and deliver Royal Father's corpse to his bedchamber."

"Your Highness Crown Prince," the Taoist interjects, "if you remove HIs Majesty's corpse at this moment, and dismiss this in haste, I fear it will provoke criticism, saying that you have a guilty conscience."

"I'll naturally find out who the traitor is," replies 3rd Prince.  "It's not for you to speak here!"

"You don't need to investigate," says Feng Xi.  "I'm the one who killed His Majesty."

Everyone looks at him incredulously.

"What nonsense are you spouting?" asks 3rd Prince.

Feng Xi laughs. "He's my Royal Father, but he killed my mother and ruined the Ming Family.  We can't co-exist under the same sky!"

"Feng Xi!" Yells 3rd Prince.  "Do you know what the consequences of this are?"

Feng Xi looks up at him.

"Second Prince," says the Taoist, "are you saying that you killed His Majesty? However, it's impossible for Crown Prince and Dong Yue to be unaware of this."

"Of course not," says Dong Yue.  "If you want to kill His Majesty, there must be a spy planted in the palace.  And I...am that planted spy.  I was the one who put poison in his wine goblet when he wasn't looking."

"Then the Crown Prince, he--" says the Taoist.

"Feng Xi and I wanted to succeed quietly and leave later.  Who knew that the Crown Prince would discover our plan and try to stop us.  That's how you all caught us red handed," says Dong Yue.

Feng Xi smiles at her softly.

"Your Highness," says an official, "you're the Crown Prince.  Since the two of them have confessed their guilt, you should decide how to deal with them."

"Throw the two of them in jail," says 3rd Prince. "I'll personally interrogate them."

The two are taken away.

3rd Prince is stunned.

The Taoist has his assistant relay a message to Lu Yuantong.

Dong Yue and Feng Xi are sitting against the walls of their neighboring cells, and their backs would be touching if they were in the same cell.

"Dong Yue," says Feng Xi.  "You're still so stubborn.  You took the blame with me.  It won't do anything except cause another death."

"At the time, besides His Majesty, only the three of us were present.  If the Crown Prince and I aren't accomplices, then you wouldn't have been able to assassinate His Majesty.  On the contrary, it raises suspicion."

"Dong Yue, initially, I was worried about your Lotus created body.  I feared I would slowly age while you'd still be like this forever, but now, I really hope that you can unleash your spiritual power."

"The once young and dangerous Minister Feng, you're now talking about using some weird powers?"

"Take the two of them to the torture room!" shouts a guard.  "His Highness Crown Prince wants to question them!"

 

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

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