Decreed by Fate Episode 4 Recap
> Decreed by Fate Recap
Lu Tingxiao kept Wenren Jing busy with various chores, even dictating how she should close doors or water plants. Despite her resistance, he insisted that all her earnings from Boqing Hall must be handed over to him. Wenren Jing was frustrated, but felt helpless, determined to endure until she could achieve the title of a top-grade matchmaker.
Meanwhile, at Jufu Restaurant, Liu Zhan, plotting to ensure Boqing Hall missed the welcome banquet for the new Matchmaker Society chairman, sent a messenger to feign a lucrative business opportunity for Councilor Liu at Wuli Hill outside the city. The messenger told Wenren Jing, who, posing as the director, enthusiastically accepted, seeing a chance to keep the fee for herself. She later confided in Wenren Ling about the "new order" and her plan to hide the money from Lu Tingxiao.
During their conversation, Wenren Ling mentioned Lu Tingxiao always had his eyes on Wenren Jing, making it difficult for her. Liu Zhan boasted to other matchmakers that the "tumor" from Boqing Hall wouldn't make it to the welcome party, having arranged for her to go to Mystery Forest.
When others exclaimed that Mystery Forest was a dangerous, "human-eating" place where people go crazy and might die, Liu Zhan feigned surprise, claiming he only heard it was a remote and hard-to-find forest. This was all part of his scheme. Wenren Jing set off for Wuli Hill, but as she entered Mystery Forest, she inhaled too much miasma, causing her to hallucinate, seeing visions of her father and calling out for "Rong."
She collapsed, only to awaken later and find Lu Tingxiao had saved her. She thanked him, offering water as wine. They took shelter, with Wenren Jing lamenting the fog and lack of stars, making it impossible to navigate. Lu Tingxiao, to her surprise, mumbled that he hated stars. The two then established a clear boundary on the ground for sleeping, each fearing the other might take advantage.
As night fell and Wenren Jing remained absent, Wenren Ling grew worried and attempted to force her way out of the city gates despite the guards' warnings that trespassers would be killed. Liu Zhan, unexpectedly, intervened, pulling Wenren Ling away from the guards and pretending she had "something wrong with her brain" to save her. Wenren Ling confronted him for following her, but Liu Zhan dismissed it, stating that despite their rivalry, he wouldn't let her "die in vain."
Wenren Ling explained that her sister had gone out on an order and hadn't returned. Liu Zhan, however, cynically remarked that "that cunning tumor" would probably be fine. Later that night, Hong Zhong and his men burst into Liu Zhan’s residence, Yinshu Pavilion, violently assaulting his servant.
Liu Zhan initially hid, but when his servant bravely declared his loyalty and willingness to die for his young master, Liu Zhan stepped out, boldly identifying himself and mockingly inviting Hong Zhong to destroy his family. Just then, Wenren Ling arrived, recognizing Liu Zhan and declaring she was repaying his earlier kindness by stepping in to help. However, she was quickly overwhelmed by Hong Zhong’s men.
In a critical moment, Fang Xianxun appeared and swiftly drove away Hong Zhong and his thugs. Hong Zhong returned home, nursing his injuries and complaining to his father, Hong Yuanshan. Instead of sympathy, he was harshly reprimanded for his idle and unproductive behavior, which was ruining their family’s reputation and even implicating Mr. Wang Yizhi. Hong Yuanshan threatened to disinherit him if he didn’t settle down and marry.
Under pressure, Hong Zhong quickly promised to marry, claiming he had already fallen for Qu Liuyun, a gentle and virtuous girl from a humble family in the southern city. He even offered to marry her the very next day. While Hong Yuanshan agreed to send matchmakers to get Qu Liuyun's horoscope, he later secretly instructed a servant to call for Wanyi.
