Fated Hearts Episode 15 Recap
> Fated Hearts Recap
Feng Suige confronted Xun Xiang in front of Zhuang Jingyuan, forcefully throwing Xun Xiang against a wall. He declared that he would kill anyone who dared to harbor ill intentions towards Fu Yixiao from that day forward. Meanwhile, Junior Marquis Murong Yao returned to Yujing City with his father, Elder Marquis Murong Zhong.
Murong Yao sought out Feng Suige for drinks, but Feng Suige, having pressing matters, declined the invitation, promising to visit the Elder Marquis personally when he had time. Unaware of the full story, Yun Fang questioned Lu Ke about why Feng Suige was stripped of his secondary officiant position. Lu Ke explained that Feng Suige had angered His Majesty by mentioning the late Empress's death in court.
Yun Fang grew indignant, lamenting that Feng Suige, who had shed blood for Susha, was now unappreciated. He believed Feng Suige’s actions were a direct challenge to Prime Minister Zhuang and Empress Zhuang, meant to warn them and everyone else that anyone attempting to harm Fu Yixiao would face the same fate as Xun Xiang. Lu Ke cautioned Yun Fang to be more discreet outside.
Fu Yixiao overheard their conversation and realized that Feng Suige had risked royal displeasure to protect her. In a separate chamber, Zhuang Shen and Empress Zhuang discussed Feng Suige’s demotion. Zhuang Shen revealed he had already arranged for the news to spread widely outside the palace, ensuring everyone in Yujing City knew that Feng Suige had lost the Emperor's favor. Empress Zhuang felt confident in their position, though Zhuang Shen warned her not to underestimate Feng Suige.
Soon after, Feng Chengyang arrived, agitated, questioning his mother Empress Zhuang and Zhuang Shen about replacing Feng Suige as secondary officiant for the ancestral ceremony. He worried about how this would affect his elder brother's standing among court officials and the populace. When Feng Chengyang proposed asking His Majesty to reverse the decision, Empress Zhuang coldly threatened to disown him if he dared.
Zhuang Shen echoed the warning, urging Feng Chengyang to comply with His Majesty’s decree and his mother’s wishes. In a poignant flashback, a young Feng Suige pleaded with his father for his mother's innocence, only to be ignored. Later, Feng Pingcheng decreed that no one should ever mention the late Empress. Empress Zhuang then attempted to force Feng Suige to acknowledge her as his mother, but he refused and was subsequently beaten.
Now, as an adult, Feng Suige sat alone in his mother's ancestral hall, reflecting on Feng Pingcheng's long-standing coldness towards him and deeming him unworthy as a father and husband. After some time, he emerged to find Fu Yixiao waiting patiently outside. She feigned having new information about Meng Junran to lure Feng Suige onto a boat for a change of scenery.
On the boat, Fu Yixiao shared her practice of drifting on Zi'an Lake in Pingling City to let go of worries. Feng Suige then recounted the tragic tale of his mother, who 15 years ago was framed as a Jinxiu spy by Zhuang Shen and his daughter. Despite fabricated confessions from captured spies and false testimony from her personal maid, Feng Suige remained convinced of his mother's innocence, though all evidence had been meticulously destroyed.
Fu Yixiao, realizing that Zhuang Shen and Empress Zhuang were attempting to eliminate Feng Suige as well, offered to seek revenge, but Feng Suige refused, stating that their deaths now would prevent his mother's name from ever being cleared. He then revealed that at 14, he had secretly left the palace and joined the army under a false identity, leading many to believe he was dead.
Fu Yixiao, deeply moved, promised to protect him as long as she resided in his household, a sentiment Feng Suige had never heard before and found deeply touching. Later, Fu Yixiao commented on the bland food in Feng Suige's residence, suggesting he save money by not buying flowers for the house, to which he explained his military funds were tight, forcing him to cut personal expenses.
A servant reported that Feng Chengyang had indeed defended Feng Suige in court and reluctantly accepted the role of secondary officiant. Feng Suige pondered how Feng Chengyang would react when he eventually learned the truth about their family's deep-seated grievances. Fu Yixiao urged him not to dwell on it, emphasizing the importance of a clear conscience.
She then "recalled" more details about Meng Junran, specifically that he had transported silver for Xia Jingshi before her fall, mentioning the Rongtong Escort Agency in Yujing City. Feng Suige immediately ordered Lu Ke to investigate the agency to uncover who was sending goods to Xia Jingshi. Meanwhile, Xia Jingshi, Prince of Jinxiu, received an imperial decree from the Emperor of Jinxiu.
He confessed to his attendant that he was intentionally taking only half an antidote each month to accumulate a supply, enduring immense pain, as part of his strategy for future maneuvers. He strictly forbade his attendant from giving him the other half, even if he suffered unbearably. Later, as he writhed in pain from the poison, he dropped the antidote. Princess Feng Xiyang, who had been observing him, retrieved the pill and offered it to him.
She quietly pledged to keep his secret, hinting at her understanding of his ambitions. Murong Yao was seen discussing military documents with his father, Murong Zhong. Murong Yao expressed his frustration with Feng Pingcheng for sending his father to the harsh northwest despite Murong Zhong’s vital role in conquering Susha and his resulting ill health. He urged his father to retire.
Murong Zhong, however, emphasized the duty of a subject to serve until death, choosing to remain in the northwest to alleviate the Emperor's burdens even though Feng Pingcheng had offered to transfer him back to the capital. Murong Zhong then informed Murong Yao that Feng Pingcheng intended to "train" him by appointing him as Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guards, tasked with overseeing Yujing’s security during Princess Xiyang’s upcoming wedding. Murong Yao was clearly unhappy with this unexpected assignment.
As Princess Xiyang's wedding approached, citizens flocked to the river to release lotus lanterns and pray for good fortune. Fu Yixiao and Feng Suige observed the scene. Feng Suige picked up a lantern bearing the wish: "May the person by my side grow old with me, living a peaceful and joyful life." He only shared the "peace and joy" part with Fu Yixiao.
Not knowing the full inscription, Fu Yixiao said her wish was the same and sincerely wished him peace and happiness. Feng Suige, equally, wished her the same. Fu Yixiao urged Feng Suige not to retreat to the ancestral hall alone when he felt troubled, reminding him she was there for him.
Back at Feng Suige’s residence, Lu Ke reported that, based on the clues from the Rongtong Escort Agency, the woman who commissioned the transport of goods to Pingling City was a generous client who wished to remain anonymous. He presented a portrait drawn from the owner's description, noting the vagueness due to the time elapsed. Feng Suige concluded the woman must be connected to Meng Junran and ordered an extensive search for anyone resembling the portrait.
Just then, Murong Yao arrived. He playfully chided Feng Suige for missing him and then shared his unexpected appointment as Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guards. Despite his preference for leisure, Murong Yao explained he accepted the role to support Feng Suige, who lacked strong allies at court. Fu Yixiao made a sarcastic remark about their closeness, suggesting they marry, and implicitly showed her jealousy. Murong Yao then spotted the portrait, and Fu Yixiao quickly tried to conceal it.
Feng Suige claimed he had painted it himself, and Fu Yixiao playfully affirmed that her "husband" painted it beautifully. Annoyed by their banter, Murong Yao abruptly left. Feng Suige explained to Fu Yixiao that Murong Yao’s extensive network of contacts in Yujing would be invaluable to their investigation. Fu Yixiao admitted she kept the portrait from Murong Yao due to confidentiality, but also confessed to feeling an inexplicable discomfort around him, again implying a hint of jealousy.
Feng Suige, reassuring her, explained that his bond with Murong Yao was forged in a life-or-death situation when Murong Yao and his father saved him from assassins during a border inspection in his youth. Later, Murong Yao, in his new role as Commander-in-Chief, ordered his guards to closely monitor Xia Jingshi, especially his movements outside the compound, to ensure his safety. However, a guard soon reported that Xia Jingshi had disappeared.
Meanwhile, Feng Chengyang approached Feng Suige, apologizing for taking his place as secondary officiant. Feng Suige reassured his younger brother, expressing his happiness that Feng Chengyang had matured and even risked angering His Majesty by speaking up for him. Feng Suige also commented on how much Feng Chengyang had grown. Yun Qing then arrived, reporting that Xia Jingshi had slipped away through a back door during a guard change.
Feng Suige understood that Xia Jingshi’s escape was premeditated and likely involved outside assistance, rather than Yun Qing’s incompetence. He wondered why Xia Jingshi would take such a risk so close to the wedding and who he might have met. Unbeknownst to them, Xia Jingshi met with Wu Ying, a former member of the death camp. He commended her for her successful infiltration and remaining undetected in Susha.
He instructed her that after the wedding, when he departed Yujing, she was to lead their operatives and cooperate with Susha. He gave her a token and told her to meet at an alley behind the local dance house. Wu Ying questioned why they should serve the Susha people but quickly apologized. Concurrently, Lu Ke reported that the woman in the portrait was confirmed to be Ruyan, the head courtesan of a local dance house.
Feng Suige immediately decided to go investigate Ruyan himself. At the palace, Feng Xiyang attended to Feng Pingcheng, urging him to drink a medicine. She inquired about his health, questioning if he was ill and if Empress Zhuang knew, as the Imperial Hospital had not mentioned anything. Feng Pingcheng dismissed it as merely a calming medicine. He comforted Feng Xiyang about her impending marriage, assuring her that he and the entire Susha kingdom would always be her steadfast support.
As Feng Xiyang massaged his shoulders, a eunuch entered, reporting that a token had been retrieved and asking for instructions on its return. Feng Pingcheng instructed him to put it back. As the eunuch left, Feng Xiyang's gaze lingered on the token he carried.
