Fated Hearts Episode 20 Recap
> Fated Hearts Recap
Fu Yixiao released Ruyan, providing her with a bag of money for travel and urging her to leave Yujing City to start a new life. Fu Yixiao revealed that Meng Junran was Murong Yao. She confronted Ruyan, pointing out that Murong Yao had sent assassins to kill her without even verifying her betrayal, indicating her insignificance to him. Fu Yixiao advised Ruyan not to contemplate suicide, as it would change nothing, and in Murong Yao’s heart, she was already dead.
She warned Ruyan of continued danger outside and told her not to return to the dance house or seek Murong Yao again, urging her to leave Yujing City and build a new life for herself. Despite Fu Yixiao’s warnings, a distraught Ruyan couldn't believe Murong Yao would betray her. She wandered to the Murong Marquis mansion, only to witness Murong Yao surrounded by other women, seemingly unconcerned about her fate.
Fu Yixiao, who had been secretly following Ruyan, intervened as Ruyan attempted to take her own life. Fu Yixiao explained that she had known Meng Junran's true identity was Murong Yao when she tracked the carriage to his mansion, but she had hoped Ruyan would verbally confirm it, signifying that she had let him go. Ruyan lamented Murong Yao’s cruelty, questioning why someone she would die for could be so heartless.
She explained that Murong Yao had rescued her from a life of hardship and abuse at the dance house, elevating her to its owner, and had never looked down on her background. Fu Yixiao then told Ruyan that her debt to Murong Yao was cleared the moment he sent assassins to kill her. From now on, Fu Yixiao urged Ruyan to live for herself. Meanwhile, Song Cheng located Wu Ying’s whereabouts.
Feng Suige led his men to surround a thatched hut where Wu Ying was found. Wu Ying attempted to commit suicide to avoid capture but was stopped by Feng Suige. She defiantly told him his doomsday was approaching and was then taken back to Wutong Courtyard for interrogation.
During the interrogation, Feng Suige pressed Wu Ying on the attack on Minister Hou Jing, explaining that Hou Jing was his trusted ally and his assassination would leave Feng Suige isolated in court, allowing her master to appoint a new Minister of War. Wu Ying maintained that Susha’s court affairs were irrelevant to her.
Separately, Yun Fang reported that another death camp member, while muttering like a madman, confessed that the orders came from Meng Junran, and that their "Eminence" (Xia Jingshi) had instructed them to obey Meng Junran before leaving Yujing. Yun Fang realized the confession was a ruse as the man then fatally smashed his head against a wall. He observed that the death camp members were inhuman and mentally unstable.
Feng Suige continued to interrogate Wu Ying, offering to spare her life if she revealed Meng Junran's identity. Wu Ying scoffed, explaining that death camp members never betray, and for them, death is a luxury; only suicide to prove loyalty when captured brings release. She claimed not to know Meng Junran's identity, stating they merely followed orders.
Then, she maliciously recounted Fu Yixiao’s traumatic childhood in the death camp: being lured by a flatbread, trained brutally, forced to apologize while bloodied and kneeling, enduring drowning exercises for breath control, and being locked in a cellar for six months without sun, even being grateful for rats to eat in the total silence. She then asked Feng Suige if he knew who she was talking about.
Enraged but rational, Feng Suige told Wu Ying that provoking him would not grant her an easy death, thwarting her attempt to bite her tongue off, and vowing to make her regret ever being born. Fu Yixiao was troubled by the revelation of Meng Junran's true identity.
She knew she had to tell Feng Suige, but she agonizingly pondered how much more pain Feng Suige, who had already endured numerous betrayals from those close to him (a childhood companion, an old nursemaid, a study companion, and a sword tutor), would suffer upon learning that his long-time friend had also betrayed him. Meanwhile, Xia Jingshi and Feng Xiyang returned to Shengjing City.
An eunuch informed them that the inner palace garden was off-limits to outside officials and that they would first meet the Empress Dowager. Feng Xiyang offered to accompany Xia Jingshi to explain their unauthorized return. Empress Dowager Jing reprimanded Xia Jingshi for defying the Emperor’s order to remain in Susha as a son-in-law and bringing Feng Xiyang back, risking war. Xia Jingshi defended his actions, stating his return was for Jinxiu’s stability and not out of selfish intent.
Feng Xiyang also spoke up, affirming that Xia Jingshi's loyalty to the country was why she had willingly angered her own family to help him return. The Empress Dowager sarcastically dismissed Feng Xiyang’s words as "righteousness" before dismissing her to speak with Xia Jingshi alone. The Empress Dowager then chastised Xia Jingshi for his past manipulative actions, acknowledging his successes at the border while subtly asserting her knowledge of his movements in Pingling.
She reminded him of his imperial lineage and the Emperor’s carefree nature, subtly hinting at his future importance to the empire, and warning him not to disappoint her. Separately, Feng Xiyang recalled her father's words, promising her his unwavering support and that the entire Susha nation would be her backing as long as she was happy. Suddenly, Emperor Xia Jingyan, upon hearing of Xia Jingshi's return, burst in with a drawn sword, attacking him.
Feng Xiyang rushed in and pushed Xia Jingyan away. Xia Jingyan, enraged, declared his intent to kill Xia Jingshi, referring to him as a "lowborn." The Empress Dowager intervened, scolding Xia Jingyan for his undignified behavior. Xia Jingyan, however, asserted his authority, assigning Xia Jingshi and Feng Xiyang to Rongyang Palace, a desolate place historically used for eunuchs to recover before death, clearly intending to humiliate Xia Jingshi.
Feng Xiyang was dismayed by the dilapidated state of their assigned residence, but Xia Jingshi reassured her, stating that military conditions were far worse. As Minister Hou Jing lay in a coma, the Ministry of War became leaderless. Ministers proposed various successors—Liu Qin, the Vice Minister of War; Zhao Zhongxian, an official from the Ministry of War; and Minister Li Rongshi from the Ministry of Works—all of whom were loyal to Prime Minister Zhuang Shen.
However, Zhuang Shen was not eager to appoint any of them immediately. Meanwhile, a conversation between Empress Dowager Jing and Emperor Xia Jingyan revealed Xia Jingyan's impulsive desire to kill Xia Jingshi, which the Empress Dowager dismissed, reminding him of Xia Jingshi's military power and necessity for stability. Xia Jingyan expressed his resentment, feeling mocked as a "capital-bound emperor," and called Xia Jingshi a "wolf cub" who would eventually betray them.
The Empress Dowager, however, confidently stated that she had ways to control Xia Jingshi and ensure his loyalty to them both. Unbeknownst to Emperor Xia Jingyan, Bai Shouzhuo, his head eunuch, had been secretly recruited by Xia Jingshi years ago. Bai Shouzhuo welcomed Xia Jingshi to Rongyang Palace, expressing his long anticipation. Xia Jingshi, acknowledging Bai Shouzhuo’s indispensable help, warned him to be extremely cautious of Xia Jingyan.
Bai Shouzhuo then presented Xia Jingshi with Xia Jingyan's daily chronicles, ensuring that the Emperor would have no secrets from Xia Jingshi. Fu Yixiao, observing the strict security around Murong Yao's residence, found it difficult to act rashly and inform Feng Suige of Meng Junran's true identity. At the same time, Murong Yao, unaware that his cover was blown, was complaining to Feng Suige about the arduous task of commanding the Imperial Guards.
He managed to convince Feng Suige to temporarily take over the command. A general then reported a potential clash between the Imperial Guards and Jinwu Guards because Prime Minister Zhuang Shen intended to arrest Ling Feng, but Eunuch Ma refused to allow it. Feng Suige rushed to Zichen Palace, drawing his sword on Zhuang Shen. Zhuang Shen, unfazed, stated he was merely questioning Ling Feng, whom Feng Suige declared his responsibility.
An official explained that Ling Feng’s secrecy about the Emperor’s condition, coupled with the unusual prescriptions for mental exhaustion, raised suspicions about the Emperor’s prolonged coma. Feng Suige challenged Zhuang Shen's implications. In a fit of anger, Ling Feng publicly declared that Emperor Feng Pingcheng suffered from an incurable terminal illness, and that he had been merely prolonging the Emperor’s life for years.
Eunuch Ma tried to stop Ling Feng from speaking, but Ling Feng, feeling wronged and unappreciated, insisted on revealing the truth and declared he was done. Zhuang Shen immediately threatened to exterminate the families of anyone who leaked this information. Feng Suige, disbelieving, confronted Ling Feng. He pressed him, asking if he was merely trying to scare them.
Ling Feng somberly confirmed the Emperor's terminal condition, revealing that Feng Pingcheng had been diagnosed with the illness fifteen years ago and had been living on the brink of death ever since. Feng Suige questioned why his father never told him. Ling Feng explained that Feng Suige was too young and still resented his father for his mother's death at the time. He also admitted to revealing the truth to Zhuang Shen and others for Feng Suige's protection.
Feng Suige asked if there was any cure. Ling Feng confessed that he had traveled extensively to find a cure, fulfilling a promise he made to Feng Suige's mother to save the Emperor, but human ability had its limits, and he could only prolong his life. Feng Suige then asked if the Storm Alliance, the place that had saved Ning Fei, could cure the Emperor.
Ling Feng revealed that the Storm Alliance was founded by Feng Suige’s mother and deeply hated Feng Pingcheng due to her death and would never save him. Moreover, Feng Pingcheng suffered from qi depletion illness, which was incurable even if they were willing to help. Feng Suige desperately pleaded with Ling Feng to continue treating his father, promising to handle any detractors and fulfill his promise to his mother.
