Fated Hearts Episode 12 Recap
> Fated Hearts Recap
Prime Minister Zhuang argued vehemently that Feng Suige's unauthorized letter to the Jinxiu Emperor was rash and harmful to royal dignity, demanding a strict investigation. The Susha Emperor, while agreeing that Feng Suige had been too bold in not consulting him, conceded that the act was for the good of the kingdom and he could hardly rebuke him. Soon after, Mr. Ma delivered a reply from the Jinxiu Emperor.
The letter confirmed the Jinxiu Emperor's blessing for the Prince of Zhennan to marry into the Susha royal family, praising Prince Xia Jingshi's noble status and impeccable character, and hoping for lasting peace between the two nations. It included Jinxiu's royal genealogy records and the prince's birth date as engagement gifts. Officials, understanding the gravity of the message, congratulated the Susha Emperor on gaining a son-in-law.
The news of Zhennan's Prince Xia Jingshi marrying into the Susha royal family spread rapidly, reaching even the common folk. Xia Jingshi realized this was Feng Suige's deliberate "open trap." He told his subordinates that since the Jinxiu Emperor had agreed, leaving now would make him a criminal in the eyes of both nations, especially given the Jinxiu Emperor's likely desire to regain control of Pingling City.
Seeing no immediate escape, Xia Jingshi resolved to endure the humiliation and seek repayment later. He also deduced that Feng Suige would likely put Fu Yixiao under house arrest to prevent them from taking her if he tried to escape. He ordered Ning Fei and Xiao Weiran to go to Zhengnian Hall to stay with Fu Yixiao, while he, unable to leave for fear of further criticism, planned to meet with a Susha spy.
Meanwhile, Feng Suige, having learned of Jinxiu's messenger's arrival and Xia Jingshi's swift return to his inn, deduced that Xia Jingshi would seek help to escape Susha and would meet his confederate personally. He had Yun Fang deploy men to monitor the inn.
Just as Lu Ke and Gu Yu were discussing the identity of Xia Jingshi's secret contact, pondering if it was Prime Minister Zhuang or someone else from the Battle of Pingling, news arrived of trouble at Zhengnian Hall. Feng Suige immediately left with Gu Yu for Zhengnian Hall, ordering Lu Ke to continue watching Xia Jingshi at the teahouse and Yun Fang to surround the entire establishment.
At Zhengnian Hall, a masked assailant used sleeping gas during an attempt to assassinate Fu Yixiao. Fu Yixiao quickly instructed Xueying to protect the children before she, Ning Fei, and Xiao Weiran gave chase. As Ning Fei split off to pursue the masked figure, Fu Yixiao and Xiao Weiran chased from another direction. During the pursuit, Xiao Weiran suddenly stabbed Fu Yixiao, betraying her.
Shocked and heartbroken, Fu Yixiao questioned why her "brother who faced life and death together" would do this. Xiao Weiran claimed he had "no choice" and acted "for Jinxiu," telling her that their lives no longer belonged to themselves and that he would join her in the afterlife after completing his mission. Fortunately, Fu Yixiao was protected by soft armor given to her by Feng Suige, which he had called his "mercy as a prince," preventing a fatal wound.
She then confronted Xiao Weiran, revealing her awareness that Xia Jingshi had previously shot her with an arrow, an act she realized must have been because she overheard a secret in his tent. She pressed him about the "merchant" and their plans, but he only reiterated that everything was "for Jinxiu" and refused to elaborate.
Despite the intense struggle where both sustained injuries, Fu Yixiao, remembering their sworn brotherhood, spared Xiao Weiran's life by deliberately missing a fatal blow to his throat. As Xiao Weiran attempted to flee, Feng Suige appeared, remarking on how Fu Yixiao had allowed him to leave, but he would not. He declared that Xiao Weiran's attempt to harm his family was an opportunity he wouldn't miss to strike at Xia Jingshi, giving Xiao Weiran the choice to surrender or fight.
Xiao Weiran surrendered. Meanwhile, Lu Ke lost track of Xia Jingshi at the teahouse. Yun Fang speculated that someone within Susha must have helped Xia Jingshi, as a Jinxiu prince wouldn't know the back exits of Susha's teahouses. Feng Suige dismissed a search, believing Xia Jingshi would already be back at the inn. However, he deemed Xiao Weiran's attempted assassination of Fu Yixiao a significant revelation, ordering Yun Fang to interrogate Xiao Weiran and deliver a message.
In another teahouse, Xia Jingshi met with a masked Susha spy. The masked figure observed Xia Jingshi's caution, which he attributed to fear of Feng Suige. Xia Jingshi expressed his need to return to Jinxiu, but the masked man assured him he would help him escape Yujing after the wedding.
When the masked man inquired about Fu Yixiao, Xia Jingshi stated she was no threat due to her amnesia and reiterated that he would never kill her a second time, resolving to bring her back to Jinxiu. The masked man then informed Xia Jingshi that Xiao Weiran had failed in his assassination attempt and was now in Feng Suige's hands, cautioning Xia Jingshi to remain calm and not jeopardize their plans for Xiao Weiran.
Overwhelmed by her brother's betrayal, Fu Yixiao confronted Feng Suige, demanding to know where Xiao Weiran was and why he had been captured. Feng Suige explained that Xiao Weiran was imprisoned for attempting to kill her. Fu Yixiao, despite her amnesia, expressed her profound grief and confusion, reminiscing about their shared past and asking Feng Suige if he understood the pain of being betrayed by a sworn brother.
Feng Suige, in his own way, offered comfort, telling her that the betrayal was not her fault, and that she was luckier than most to have forgotten those who hurt her. He promised that he would never let anyone hurt her again. Fu Yixiao found his method of comforting her "truly terrible." At his imprisonment, Xiao Weiran was confronted by Yun Fang.
Yun Fang mocked the "Three Heroes of Jinxiu" for harming their own and accused Xiao Weiran of being involved in Jinxiu secret guards infiltrating Susha, burning a merchant ship, and attempting to assassinate Feng Suige. He implied that an insider in Yujing must have supplied the oil. Xiao Weiran denied knowing anything, asserting that only the Prince could punish him, and warned that his imprisonment could jeopardize the alliance.
Yun Fang countered that Xiao Weiran's life or death would not affect the bigger picture and revealed Feng Suige's decision to keep him under "imprisonment without trial, confinement without execution," which left Xiao Weiran perplexed. Later, Yun Fang reported to Feng Suige that Xiao Weiran's reaction when questioned about the merchant ship confirmed his involvement, reinforcing that only Xia Jingshi or Xiao Weiran could mobilize Jinxiu's secret guards.
Feng Suige dismissed Yun Fang's concerns about Xia Jingshi making a fuss, noting that it would hinder the marriage alliance, which Xia Jingshi would avoid. He also implied that they didn't need Xiao Weiran's confession, as someone else might be able to extract information. Ning Fei, disbelieving Feng Suige's accusations against Xiao Weiran, confronted him. Feng Suige displayed a waist token found on an assassin from the cliff where Fu Yixiao had fallen, revealing she was attacked, not merely fell.
He further explained that her shoulder injury was from an arrow shot by someone she trusted, and that Jinxiu's secret guards had relentlessly pursued her, even using children to draw her out. He suggested that only Xia Jingshi or Xiao Weiran could mobilize these guards. Shaken, Ning Fei went to find Fu Yixiao for clarification.
He expressed relief she was safe and again warned her against Feng Suige's attempts to sow discord, urging her to leave with him to speak to the Prince. However, Fu Yixiao's silent, sorrowful demeanor and her tacit refusal to leave or defend her former brother spoke volumes, leading Ning Fei to a painful realization that Feng Suige's words might be true. He vowed to get to the bottom of it by questioning the Prince directly.
In the palace, a Jinxiu official, Xue Yan, presented the betrothal gifts to the Susha Emperor. The Susha Emperor accepted them gracefully, expressing his commitment to improving bilateral relations and fostering a brotherly bond between Susha and Jinxiu. The Ministry of Rites then set the wedding date for 10 days hence, making it official. Feng Xiyang confronted Feng Suige, expressing her deep disappointment.
She had initially been overjoyed by his agreement to her marriage, believing he cared for her, but now realized it was all a scheme to trap Xia Jingshi as a son-in-law. She lamented that her beloved, who was to accompany her through life, was now "trapped in a cage" because of her, demanding his freedom and their return to Jinxiu together. She accused Feng Suige of utilizing her wedding for his machinations, feeling betrayed by her own brother.
Meanwhile, Xia Jingshi was escorted to a royal villa for confinement before the wedding, surrounded by Imperial Guards for his "safety." A Susha messenger relayed Prime Minister Zhuang's advice to Xia Jingshi: not to be troubled, to prioritize the wedding, as "everything might change" after it. Xia Jingshi silently recalled the masked spy's earlier warning to "stay calm and don't act rashly."
Feng Suige learned from Yun Fang that the assassin's identity had been confirmed as Xun Xiang, the North Pass Deputy General, who had already fled Yujing City. Yun Fang questioned Xun Xiang's motive for targeting Fu Yixiao. Feng Suige explained that Xun Xiang was acting under orders, as the Xun family had previously received favors from Empress Zhuang.
This led Feng Suige to suspect the Zhuang family's involvement, specifically that Prime Minister Zhuang had instructed Empress Zhuang to order the assassination. At the same time, Empress Zhuang discussed her actions with her father, Prime Minister Zhuang, confirming that she had indeed attempted to eliminate Fu Yixiao, viewing her as a potential threat due to her close relationship with Xia Jingshi.
Despite her reassurances that Xun Xiang's low rank would prevent any connection to her father, Prime Minister Zhuang sternly warned her that her actions inevitably implicated him and ordered her to cease any further rash moves. Feng Suige instructed Yun Fang to capture Xun Xiang alive.
