Decreed by Fate Episode 3 Recap
> Decreed by Fate Recap
Liu Zhan, the director of Yinshu Pavilion, grew suspicious when Lu Tingxiao, the supposed director of Boqing Hall, remained absent for an extended period. Believing Wenren Jing was operating under false pretenses, Liu Zhan arrived at Boqing Hall with his associates, demanding that the establishment "roll out of Pingyang." Just as the situation grew tense, a man suddenly appeared, presenting himself as Lu Tingxiao and brandishing a golden folding fan bestowed by His Majesty.
Wenren Jing’s assistant, witnessing the man's striking appearance, described him as "so pretty that no one can compare," while Wenren Jing internally worried that she, a "Li Gui," had just encountered the true "Li Kui." The man, now seated as the director, assured Liu Zhan and other matchmakers that he had clarified Wenren Jing's early arrival in Pingyang and would speak favorably for them in the next evaluation.
Satisfied for the moment, Liu Zhan's group departed, though Liu Zhan muttered that Boqing Hall's freedom would be short-lived once the new chairman of the Matchmaker Society arrived. After Liu Zhan and his entourage left, Wenren Jing and her assistant debated the true identity of the man claiming to be Lu Tingxiao.
Her assistant found it hard to believe a top-class matchmaker would be so young and recounted seeing him in Jiaofang, a performance venue in the capital, suggesting he might be a musician or a patron. Wenren Jing considered the possibility that he was the real Lu Tingxiao, which would spell trouble for her, or that he was an imposter with a deeper, more sinister agenda.
Desperate, she briefly considered "sacrificing her beauty" to glean information, but her assistant quickly dismissed the idea. They attempted to flee, but Lu Tingxiao stopped them. Wenren Jing then tried to trick him with poisoned tea and desserts, only for him to effortlessly reveal her ploy, critiquing her "inexperienced" approach and lack of knowledge about holding one's breath. Wenren Jing, now tied up, demanded answers about his true identity and intentions. Lu Tingxiao proposed they each ask three questions.
Wenren Jing's first question was direct: "Are you Lu Tingxiao?" He initially denied it, but his racing pulse—which she was monitoring—gave him away, prompting him to retort that she wouldn't believe him if he said yes. It was then his turn to ask why she was impersonating him in Pingyang.
Wenren Jing confessed that she needed to become a top-class matchmaker to handle her own divorce case, which an official named Lord Song deemed too difficult for anyone else to manage. She admitted to using Lu Tingxiao's name because of his widespread fame and elusive nature. For her second question, Wenren Jing asked why he had helped her. He explained that Lord Song had reported the "mess" she caused, compelling him to intervene.
Lu Tingxiao then asked why she only accepted divorce cases. Wenren Jing revealed she had married a "heartless man who has two faces" and wished to save other women from similar fates. Finally, she asked if his personal agenda was unrelated to her, which he confirmed, though he would not elaborate on his purpose. With their questions answered, Wenren Jing declared that they should "stay out of each other's business."
However, Lu Tingxiao rejected this, asserting that she had nearly ruined his reputation and demanded her full obedience, threatening to expose her if she refused. He subtly hinted at his powerful connections in the imperial court, stating that his young age as a top-class matchmaker was proof. Wenren Jing, though indignant, had no choice but to comply, knowing she needed to tolerate the situation until she became a top-class matchmaker herself.
He then humorously grilled her about why she was seen in Jiaofang, a place "full of male musicians," implying he had seen her there disguised as a man. Exhausted, he announced he was going to sleep, then proceeded to claim her master bedroom as his own and ordered her out. Meanwhile, Yin Sishen's cousin, Yu Wanyi, who had eloped with her lover Bai Jia shortly after Yin Sishen's wedding, found herself in dire circumstances.
Bai Jia sold her to Baihua Brothel to settle his gambling debts. He cruelly forced her to drink a potion that would cause her immense pain and eventual death if she ever saw or thought of her lover again. Later, during a guard change, Yu Wanyi managed to escape the brothel. She stumbled upon a philanthropist named Mr. Hong, pleading for rescue.
Mr. Hong, acknowledging his "prestige in Pingyang," offered to redeem her and settled a hefty sum with the brothel’s proprietor, promising to send the money to his mansion. Yu Wanyi, grateful and having nowhere else to go, accepted his offer to stay at his mansion, unaware that she had merely exchanged one dangerous situation for another. Back at Boqing Hall, Wenren Jing's assistants lamented their financial woes.
Despite taking on many divorce cases, Wenren Jing's destructive methods had led to losses—such as breaking antique jewelry during the Zhou family's divorce—and the hall's expenses left them with little money. Wenren Jing, still wary of Lu Tingxiao, used her father's lie-detecting method to test him. Although he seemed truthful, she remained suspicious and resolved to watch him all night. The next day, Wenren Jing grumbled while cleaning Lu Tingxiao's room, complaining about being played and ordered around by him.
Lu Tingxiao, unfazed, returned and again asserted his ownership of the room, ordering her out so he could nap, which led to another playful struggle. Later, Mrs. Ma, now calling herself Yuanyuan, arrived at Boqing Hall to pay her reward for the divorce. She praised Lu Tingxiao, admiring his talent and appearance. Lu Tingxiao, leveraging her gratitude, suggested that Boqing Hall could help her find a new husband.
Wenren Jing's assistant excitedly pointed out that this opportunity could bring Wenren Jing closer to becoming a top-class matchmaker, but Wenren Jing initially refused, declaring she wouldn't "eat the food handed out in contempt" from Lu Tingxiao. However, driven by necessity, she later approached Lu Tingxiao, offering to "make him happy" in exchange for handling the new matchmaking cases from Yuanyuan’s relatives, which he eventually allowed.
Meanwhile, news that the new chairman of the Matchmaker Society would arrive the following noon spread, with Liu Zhan's allies hoping to "take the opportunity" and keep Boqing Hall in the dark. Despite Wenren Jing’s efforts, she continued to be under Lu Tingxiao’s thumb and was ultimately forced out of her own room once more.
