American Perspectives: The Stabbings ("Twisted Fate of Love" Ep. 22)

 

An ally of Lu Yuantong's, Yin Shi, was set up to be assassinated by Feng Xi due to his involvement in the death of Feng Xi's mother.  Dong Yue initially does not know this, and she feels burned out by his scheming.  She has time travelled 8 years into the past to this point to help him, and nothing has seemingly changed.  She has, however, gotten perspective on Feng Xi's actions, but his behavior and scheming day in and day out is exhausting.

The way Yin Shi was killed, however, was not the conventional assassination.  He was killed by being placed in the Left Prime Minister's yard, therefore presumed to be an intruder, and killed by the guards.  Left Prime Minister had assumed he was one of the many assassins that had been traipsing around on his property after he had been sentenced to house arrest.

Dong Yue knows this is part of Feng Xi's attempt to unseat Left Prime Minister.  Dong Yue also knows at this point, Feng Xi's days are numbered.

Feng Xi is sitting sadly at his mother's shrine.  "Consort Mother, I disposed of Yin Shi today, and took revenge for you.  Before he died, I terrified him by threatening his family.  An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!  It's to let you rest in peace in heaven."

He remembers the day Yin Shi came to his mother, Imperial Consort Ming's quarters.  Feng Xi is actually Pang Xi, the 2nd Child of the Emperor, 3rd Prince's older brother, but because he was so young when his mother was killed, the Emperor didn't recognize him when he returned to the palace as Feng Xi.  The day of his mother's death was a frightening day, as Yin Shi had eliminated her family.  Her family had been framed by Yin Shi, and he had plans to kill her and the young Feng Xi, as well.

Dong Yue is feeling frustrated.  She is pacing outside, in the middle of the night, holding her white jade flute.  She is thinking about her immortal lover, Er Yu who had sent her 8 years back in time to prevent these events by any means necessary.  "Er Yu," she says to herself, "the matter has come to this.  If I want to stop the war, I fear I can only take on the gamble to assassinate Lu Yuantong at his camp in Liyun."

She has a break in concentration when she sees Dao Le walking in front of a cart carrying a coffin.  She has her suspicions, and she desperately doesn't want them to be true.  She didn't sign up for this, she doesn't have the energy to go through the stress of seeing in front of her that the situation is one thing, and finding out later there's a lot more to it.  The poor woman is burnt out!  To be fair, Feng Xi promised he wouldn't do this anymore.  She's getting closer to her breaking point.

She follows after them to see what the hell is going on.  She hides behind a tree, and watches Dao Le supervise several men digging a grave.

She sees the gravestone, and it says: "Tomb of Yang Qin's wife, Yang Liu." She doesn't want to know, but she can't deny what's right in front of her.  To conduct the investigation to confirm Consort Feng had been pregnant when she died, Feng Xi simply used another body.  Dong Yue has strong suspicions that he killed Yang Liu strictly for that purpose.  That's it.  She's done.

The following morning, Dong Yue shows up at the Imperial Physician's office.  She requests to see treatment records involving Feng Xi for the last month.  Suspicion alone won't win the battle with Feng Xi.  She must have cold, hard, facts.

The Physician looks through a blue book.  He confirms Feng Xi had seen him on the 8th day of the last month.  "Prime Minister Feng brought a woman by the name Yang Liu for medical consultation."

"What's her illness?" asks Dong Yue.

"The record states that she was in her second month of pregnancy.  There are no other records."

Dong Yue wants so badly to be wrong, but the truth is staring her in the face.  She's feeling flustered and overwhelmed.

Feng Xi and Dao Le are at Consort Feng's shrine, outside, in the woods.  They have set out food and candles, ready to pay their respects.  Dao Le hands three sticks of incense to Feng Xi.  Feng Xi kneels and places it in a bowl in front of her gravestone.  He rises, and walks backwards. He and Dao Le kneel again, and touch their foreheads to the ground.  Dong Yue is watching them from behind a tree, not sure if she should interrupt, or just pretend she didn't see anything.

"No one will investigate this again," says Dao Le.

"It's such a pity.  She wasn't buried in the Imperial Mausoleum," says Feng Xi.

"Minister Feng is highly skilled and bold," Dong Yue interjects.  "He even used the corpse of Yang Qing's wife to replace Imperial Noble Consort, and even performed such a great grieving scene in front of his majesty.  You are really amazing." Breaking point reached, and in action.

Dao Le is stunned.  He looks at Feng Xi.

"Older sister," Feng Xi says to Consort Feng's grave, "Your feelings for Feng Xi, I do understand it.  If there's a next life, I will definitely return the favor."

Dong Yue scoffs.  "If Imperial Noble Consort in Heaven knew that in order to avenge her, you cruelly took away two lives, how would she feel?"

Dao Le intervenes. "Older sister Dong Yue, it's not what you think."

Dong Yue is too livid to listen to any justifications at this point.  She is standing behind Feng Xi, and she draws her sword, pointing it at the back of his neck.  "It doesn't matter how much you lie to me or hurt me.  I can accept all of it.  However, how could you bear to hurt a pregnant mother and her unborn child?"

Tears roll down Feng Xi's face.  He's not in an ideal position, either.  He has complex trauma that he's been scheming his way through because he thinks there's no other way.

Dao Le cannot stand this uninformed defamation of his uncle. "Sister Dong Yue, Yang Qin's wife was actually--"

"Stop talking!" Dong Yue interrupts.  She is burnt out on convoluted justifications.  "From now on, I will not trust a single word you two say.  Imperial Noble Consort only died recently, but you used her in your schemes.  She wasn't even able to be buried in the Imperial Mausoleum.  Feng Xi, you are absolutely ridiculous!"

Dong Yue cannot see Feng Xi crying.  Dao Le is furious. "Do you think Uncle doesn't feel anguished?" Feng Xi stops him.

With all the dignity Feng Xi can muster at this moment of vulnerability, he stands up slowly, and turns toward Dong Yue.  Both look pained.

"Yang Liu's death," says Feng Xi, "truly was an accident.  At the time, she carried a disease from her pregnancy.  The physicians were unable to do anything. That's the reason why I used this method of borrowing her body in order to reverse my sister's case."

Dong Yue presses her sword into Feng Xi's heart, but doesn't apply full pressure.  She can't.

"Sister Dong Yue, calm yourself!" says Dao Le.

"Stay back!" says Feng Xi.

"I cannot believe I actually thought you would have a change of heart," says Dong Yue.  "I actually believed you truly wanted to live together with me peacefully.  Feng Xi, from the country to your loved one's lives, and your lover's trust, didn't you take advantage of all of them in order to incorporate them into your schemes?  Is there anything in this universe that can escape you?"

Feng Xi looks at her.  "It's you."

Dong Yue laughs bitterly.  She calls him out on his scheming, and points out that she was just a pawn.  "How could I deserve you?" She pulls out her jade ID pendant that he had given her in Episode 1.  "Why would Lord Feng waste so much effort on me?"

"I just wanted to make you happy."

"I could trust you one more time today.  Tell the truth!  In this period of time, what were you planning?"

He shakes his head at her, in tears.  "I cannot say, however, I beg you to trust me one last time." He grabs her sword blade, cutting his hand, moving closer into it, to apply pressure to his heart. "I do not object to dying in your hands." They are both crying.  "However, if you cannot bear to kill me, I still want you to trust me."

Her sword shakes.  She pulls it back, throws her pendant in the air, and slices it into two pieces with her sword.  Feng Xi is stunned.

"From today onward," says Dong Yue, "everything between us is cut to pieces." She stabs her sword into the ground.

Feng Xi is horrified.  In tears, she turns away, and leaves.

Feng Xi is gripping his heart, watching her run away.  His knees buckle, and he falls to the ground. He looks at the destroyed jade pendant.  He tells Dao Le to go after her, to make sure she doesn't do anything stupid out of anger.

Dao Le is angry.  After essentially kicking Feng Xi while he's down, why the hell does he still care about Dong Yue?

Feng Xi doesn't answer.  "Go quickly!" he whispers urgently.

With a sigh of frustration, Dao Le complies.

 

Third Prince is pacing anxiously at the Royal Wind Pavilion.  Qingxiao, his personal guard, approaches him.  At his request, she was searching for Dong Yue.  "We didn't find her.  Your highness, someone from Zhuming post reported seeing Dong Yue riding toward the direction of Liyun."

"That's Lu Yuantong's territory," 3rd Prince responds.  "Could she be..." He begins to walk quickly toward the gate.  "Deploy whatever soldiers and horses you can assemble to set off for Liyun."

 

Dong Yue is angry, dressed in her war gear, galloping into Liyun.  She is ready to take out Lu Yuantong. "I must take action before Feng Xi notifies him.  Everything will be solved once I kill Lu Yuantong."

She enters the camp disguised as one of Lu Yuantong's private soldiers.  She scopes out the place, looking for an opportunity.  She sees chests of illegally obtained military weapons on the encampment.

Dong Yue opens up a chest, finds it full of explosives, and decides to destroy it.  As she is getting ready to do so, she hears her jade flute, and stops.  She wonders if Feng Xi is near.  She peeks around the corner, and sees him entering the gate.  He walks into Lu Yuantong's home, and offers a greeting.

Lu Yuantong wants to know why he's there.  He says it's because they haven't seen each other in a few days.

Lu Yuantong laughs.  "Be direct!"

"Fine.  Since you detest diverting attention, I will get to the point.  I'm here to rely on your help."

"What did you say? Are you here to rely on my help?  You are the dignified Right Prime Minister.  Would I dare to make friends with anyone else of a higher position?"

Feng Xi smiles.  "Emperor Ling abandoned state affairs, ruined the Imperial Court, and abolished military discipline; whereas you are strict with the army and have millions of soldiers under your command...what is it? Are you content to be the Duke who merely has sovereignty here?"

Lu Yuantong chuckles.  "Are you really happy to ruin your reputation by becoming a traitor to your country?"

Feng Xi smirks. "I know you still have some doubts.  Hence, I prepared a big gift to express my sincerity."

One of his men hands Lu Yuantong a box.  Lu Yuantong looks at it warily, then looks at Feng Xi.

Dong Yue is once again attempting to destroy the explosives by setting them on fire.  As the fuse is lit, she looks at her jade flute sadly.  She looks at the jade pendant she destroyed and repaired.  She begins to cry.  She quickly puts out the fire on the fuse.

Zang Fei is standing right behind her, and he draws his sword, holding it to her throat.

Feng Xi is showing Lu Yuantong a detailed map of the capitol.  Their meeting is interrupted as a guard rushes in, reporting that Zang Fei caught a female assassin.  Feng Xi does his best to play it cool.

Dong Yue is tied up, and waiting below the deck as Lu Yuantong exits his quarters.  Feng Xi is right beside him.  Zang Fei points out it's the same woman who Feng Xi let escape.  Yuantong and Feng Xi approach her.  Yuantong gets a good look at her.  "This girl is not bad looking.  It's a pity she followed the wrong master."

"What master?  I always acted on my own!" Retorts Dong Yue.  

"Deep affection, and strong loyalty, I'm moved."  Replies Lu Yuantong.  "Feng Xi, where did you find this girl who's so infatuated with you?"

"Lu Yuantong, I acted on my own.  I admit that you captured me, but don't implicate those who have nothing to do with me, just to spread rumors," says Dong Yue.

"Nothing to do with you? Today I'm going to find out if there are any connections between the two of you." He summons one of his guards and takes his sword.  "Feng Xi, hack her now, and I will accept your reliance on me for help.  If you can't bear to do it, don't blame me for being merciless.  I will kill the both of you, lovers.  What do you think?"

Feng Xi grabs the sword.

"I will watch you!" says Yuantong.

Feng Xi approaches her with the sword.  "Dong Yue, ever since I met you, you keep blocking my path and ruining my plan.  I wanted to kill Left Prime Minister, you insisted on protecting him.  I wanted to protect Duke Lu.  You insisted on killing him.  I keep saving you.  Why do you keep harming me?  I treated you so well, so why didn't you even consider me?"  He kneels to her tearfully, blade to her throat.  He sees the jade ID pendant in her belt.  He looks in her eyes.  "However, I know it's good enough you have me in your heart," he whispers.  He smiles softly before quickly slicing away the ropes that bound her.  He immediately grabs her.  The guards draw their swords.

A battle erupts, and the spies that were planted by Feng Xi's ally, Lady Murong, begin to attack the private soldiers.

Lady Murong joins Feng Xi and Dong Yue, and she tells them to leave.  She and her men will take care of it.

"I'm sorry," Dong Yue says to Feng Xi. "I didn't know you plotted to go against Lu Yuantong."

"Let's survive, leave this place, and talk later," responds Feng Xi.

They are locked into the encampment, as the gates have been locked, and they are surrounded by Lu Yuantong's men.  Arrows are flying everywhere, and it's a fight to the death.  Zang Fei is after Feng Xi, relentlessly attempting to attack, while Feng Xi successfully blocks.  He punches Zang Fei in the stomach, and sends him flying.

Dong Yue is pinned to the ground, but she rolls away.  She gets up and continues to fight.

Feng Xi back flips, but falls on his back.  Dong Yue kicks away the swords that continue to attempt to jab at her.  She flies forward, but is stabbed in the heart by Zang Fei.

Feng Xi is backed into a tent wall.  He sees his beloved getting stabbed.  He kicks his attackers away, and quickly moves to her.  He pushes Zang Fei away.  Lady Murong takes over, but Zang Fei attacks her.  He knocks the sword out of her hand and stabs her.  She falls to the ground.  Feng Xi continues to fight.  He is attacked from behind, but he doesn't stop.

Dong Yue continues to fight, in spite of her fatal wound, and Feng Xi rushes to help her.  Lu Yuantong shoots him with a bow and arrow.  Feng Xi falls to the ground.  Dong Yue is also shot. They both fall, but they aren't dead.

Dong Yue tells Feng Xi she shouldn't have suspected him.  He runs forward to attack the Duke, and Dong Yue follows.  But she is paralyzed and can't move.  Feng Xi gets stabbed multiple times.

"I failed!" Dong Yue thinks.  "I failed to stop the war from happening.  I caused the people around me to suffer misfortunes instead.  Forever goodbye, Feng Xi."

Feng Xi is kicked, and falls to the ground, ending his life.

 

Dong Yue is reunited with Er Yu in the Immortal Realm.  He is in a black hooded cloak, his face unseen.  Dong Yue is standing on a Lily Pad in the middle of the lake, Er Yu is behind her on a rock.  She turns around and sees him.  She moves closer.  "Er Yu?"  He touches her face.  "Er Yu, can I have another chance to start over again?"

"If you do, will you be able to change the ending?"

"I'm not afraid to die.  I'm feeling very regretful."

"No matter the price, are you willing to start over again?" Asks Er Yu.

Dong Yue nods.

Er Yu takes a deep breath.  "I understand now.  Close your eyes and think of the place you want to return to."

Dong Yue closes her eyes.  "I want to go back to before Liyun, when I didn't want to assassinate Lu Yuantong, and when I still trusted Feng Xi.  All these, perhaps, I can change."

Er Yu plays the jade flute.  "Whenever I use the jade flute to transcend time, the blood lines on it spread." Red lines begin to form on the flute. "Its spiritual power will gradually weaken. Your lotus body will be affected, too."

"I'm Wen Xin and also Dong Yue.  This is the first time in my life when I met Feng Xi and fell in love with him.  However, because I didn't trust Feng Xi, I failed to stop the war from happening.  Er Yu gave me the chance to start over again.  This time, I must make the right choice."

She is transported back to the forest, in her war gear.  She stops in front of the Liyun encampment sign.  Instead of going forward, she turns around and heads back to the capitol.

Feng Xi's spy reports this back, and he is relieved at Dong Yue's change of heart.

3rd Prince and his entourage are in the forest, and they encounter Lu Yuantong's men transporting the hidden (illegal) military weapons.  While Feng Xi and Dong Yue's lives have been restored, they now have to contend with the illegal weapons issue.