American Perspectives: The Dance Performance ("Twisted Fate of Love" Ep. 2)

Feng Xi occupies a position of authority with the Emperor due to his sister being a highly favored concubine. However, his motives for helping the Emperor are not necessarily sincere, and Dong Yue is extremely aware of this.

Dong Yue is wandering around the outdoor market, disguised as a man, contemplating her next move.  When she comes upon a merchant selling books containing the latest gossip in the capitol.  Feng Xi and his adopted nephew, Dao Le are watching her from a balcony, at his other home, contemplating her next move.  Politics in Ancient China is a very calculated game where one cannot afford to just go with the flow.  Dong Yue attempts to use Feng Xi's ID Badge to pay for the book. The merchant refuses because he can get executed if Feng Xi sees any unflattering information about himself in the book.

Dao Le, observing from above, does not know that Dong Yue is a woman.  So he asks Feng Xi, "Why do you care about a man?"  Feng Xi immediately corrects him, "Nerd, it's a girl."

Dao Le is incredulous.  Feng Xi informs him that her origin is unknown, and that she's in the capitol to assassinate Lu Yuantong.  Dao Le wants to know why he is letting her wander around without taking any action.  He replies that he's thinking about how he can subdue her, which can only be accomplished if he takes the time to carefully observe her.  (After all, he already knows she can't die).

Dong Yue realizes Dingyuan Duke/Lu Yuantong has arrived at Feng Xi's city home.  She looks up and sees Feng Xi walking inside from the balcony.  She's dealing with two men whom she presently cannot stand.  She tries to follow Lu Yuantong, but the guards won't let her through.  So, she shows them Feng Xi's jade badge, and claims to be his master retainer.  She is immediately allowed entry.

Lu Yuantong and Feng Xi are meeting up.  Feng Xi reveals Lu Yuantong is on the verge of having his power reduced.  He offers to get rid of Duke An, a high ranking minister who is currently the person behind Lu Yuantong's power reduction.  Lu Yuantong isn't buying it.  He knows Feng Xi wants to get rid of Duke An so he can become a high ranking minister.  Feng Xi argues that if he becomes a minister, it will give Lu Yuantong an extreme advantage in the royal courts.

A woman in the hallway by the name of Qingzhu is ordered by the lead servant to dance for Lu Yuantong.  Dong Yue  happens to be listening in, and she sees this as the perfect opportunity to make her next move.

Feng Xi and Lu Yuantong are sitting down, ready to eat, ready to drink, and ready to be entertained.  A beautiful woman in a red Hanfu and transparent mask gracefully descends from the rafters.  She is wearing beautiful ornamentation in her hair, and when she turns, it's not Qingzhu.  It's Dong Yue.

She looks at Feng Xi who looks hilariously confused, or like he's been had, and due to his arrogance, he was not anticipating this as her next maneuver.  She says flattering things to Lu Yuantong who only wants to know why her face is covered.  She claims she keeps it covered until she meets the man she loves, and then she'll remove it.  Feng Xi tells her to dance, and he'll play the zither.  She pauses, and then sweetly consents (though she wants to kill him, too).  He approaches her, lightly touches her mask, and then sits down to play this gorgeous black zither with flowers painted on.  

She runs her finger down her prop sword before she begins to dance.  She dances gracefully with her sword, her hanfu accentuating her movement.  She spins multiple times, positioning her sword upward, bringing it downward, and making eye contact with Lu Yuantong.  She smiles at him with traces of malice, and dances some more.

Feng Xi is keeping a close eye on her while playing the zither.  He speeds up the music, while grinning wickedly.  She spins faster, the guards suspect her.  Feng Xi increases the speed while watching her even more closely.  He breaks a zither string in the process.  He smirks.  She smiles, and bows, indicating the dance has been completed.  It is a perfect opportunity to assassinate Lu Yuantong.  Feng Xi knows what she's up to.  He gets behind her, touches her wrists, and she drops her prop sword.  He proceeds to pick her up and says he doesn't care if he isn't the man she loves, he is going to have her.  He has the guards take her to his room.  She is tied up and locked in Feng Xi's room.  The reason: he knows she's going to assassinate Lu Yuantong, and it's the only way to stop her.

It is revealed to Lu Yuantong and Feng Xi that Qingzhu, the actual dancer, was knocked out in her room, and stripped of her dance clothing. Obviously, Feng Xi is not surprised.  Lu Yuantong doesn't give a shit, and he proceeds to leave.  Lu Yuantong's guard inquires about the identity of the dancer.  Feng Xi suggests that she is an assassin.  They go to Feng Xi's room, but she was able to bust out of her ties and escape.  Feng Xi lightly smiles.  He is aware of and impressed with Dong Yue's intelligence.  The guards conduct a search of the manor.  Feng Xi is questioned, and he feigns stupidity.

When the guards leave, and Dao Le enters, Feng Xi whispers to him to not let the guards find her.

Feng Xi steps out on the balcony.  He knows his home is surrounded, he wonders where Dong Yue could possibly be.  He hears her white jade flute playing in the distance.  He turns toward the sound and follows it.  She is hiding in Qingzhu's room, behind a screen.  He puts sedative incense in the burner.  Dong Yue bursts out with her sword, ready to attack Feng Xi. He dodges just in time.  They continue to fight, she almost strikes him again, but misses.  The sedative has taken affect.  She is unsteady, and she falls on Feng Xi, accidentally kissing him.  She is disgusted and horrified.

Feng Xi claims to be helping her.  She doesn't believe it.  She says she will kill him, but she doesn't have her sword in hand, and she passes out.

The guards can be heard down below, sill looking for her. Dao Le carries her to the cart where Feng Xi accompanies her.  They attempt to make an escape, and he holds her steady so she doesn't get knocked around.  Dong Yue wakes up, and is totally disgusted.  She asks him to kill her, or let her go.  He wants to know why she is so determined to kill Lu Yuantong.  She claims it is because Lu Yuantong will bring intense destruction to the people.  Their wagon gets closer to the guards.  Dao Le warns Feng Xi, who pulls Dong Yue closer to him.  She bites his hand.  He informs her that Lu Yuantong want to kill her more.  The guards insist on searching the carriage.  Feng Xi lets them pull back the curtain, and Dong Yue's bare legis seen poking out from under Feng Xi's hanfu.  Feng Xi says it's his concubine coming to visit.  He asks the guard if he wants to peek at her whole body. The guard is embarrassed, and snaps the curtain back.  Feng Xi, Dao Le, and Dong Yue proceed to leave.  Dong Yue is furious, and holds a hairpin to Feng Xi's neck.  He reminds her that he saved her.  He asks her to stay with him, and that Lu Yuantong will eventually be assassinated.  She doesn't believe it.  She does not want to be associated with someone as treacherous as Feng Xi.  She exits the carriage and Feng Xi calls for her.  He wraps his cloak around her.  She lets him know she didn't kill him because he saved her, but she will kill him if he tries to stop her next time.  She makes it known that she does not want to see him again.