Fated Hearts Episode 21 Recap
> Fated Hearts Recap
Xia Jingshi and Feng Xiyang were confined to Rongyang Palace. Guards prevented Xia Jingshi's military advisor, Xiao Weiran, from leaving, stating that the palace grounds were off-limits to outsiders. Xia Jingshi had anticipated this. He gave Xiao Weiran a list of names to memorize for future use. Inside, Feng Xiyang, unexpectedly resilient, took charge, organizing servants to clean and refurbish their living quarters. She told Xia Jingshi that no hardship frightened her as long as she was by his side.
Feeling indebted, Xia Jingshi offered to grant her a wish. Feng Xiyang expressed her desire for a deeply loving marriage with him, which Xia Jingshi regretfully admitted he could not fulfill. She then suggested he could simply owe her the favor. Emperor Xia Jingyan was informed that the Prince of Zhennan and his party had been settled in Rongyang Palace, though the Princess of Zhennan did not seem pleased.
Xia Jingyan then instructed his eunuch, Bai Shouzhuo, to arrange a welcome banquet for Xia Jingshi that very night, explicitly requesting that the Princess of Zhennan also be present. Zhuang Shen's aide asked if the rumors of Emperor Feng Pingcheng's terminal illness were true. Zhuang Shen confirmed them, noting that such a serious matter could not be false, and acknowledged that fortune was on their side.
Empress Zhuang Jingyuan was distraught after learning of Feng Pingcheng's illness, lamenting that he had never confided in her, despite her being his wife. Her maternal grandfather, Zhuang Shen, pointed out that Feng Pingcheng's decision to conceal his illness for fifteen years and his failure to name an heir indicated that he did not trust the Empress or intend for their son, Feng Chengyang, to succeed him.
He vowed to ensure Chengyang would take the throne and urged the Empress to remain strong and not succumb to grief. In a past flashback, Lady Zhuang Jingyuan, recently promoted to fourth-rank Consort Yuan, expressed her eagerness to bear a prince for the Emperor after the Queen had given birth to a princess. Returning to the present, Feng Chengyang found his mother, the Empress, sitting in silent despair, having skipped dinner.
He tried to comfort her, urging her to prioritize her health and not to grieve excessively. Feng Chengyang told Feng Suige that he knew about their father's illness, asking if even Lord Ling was powerless to help. He worried that their father might never wake up, but Feng Suige reassured him that the Emperor would certainly recover.
Chengyang expressed a wish for both brothers to persuade their father to rest more and hoped their relationship could mend, especially now that Feng Xiyang had left Susha, leaving only the two of them with their father. Feng Suige noted Chengyang's newfound maturity. Zhuang Shen summoned Zhuang Ming, who enthusiastically expressed joy at Feng Pingcheng's terminal illness, believing it was a blessing from their deceased "Brother Jingheng."
Zhuang Shen violently reprimanded Zhuang Ming for his foolishness, revealing his deep-seated hatred for Feng Pingcheng, whom he blamed for his son Jingheng's death. He confessed his oath to inflict a hundredfold suffering on Feng Pingcheng, specifically by forcing him to watch Feng Suige die in agony and beg for mercy. Zhuang Shen commanded Zhuang Ming to find a way to revive Feng Pingcheng, even with poison, to ensure he was fully conscious to witness Feng Suige's demise.
Murong Yao reported to Zhuang Shen that Fu Yixiao had discovered his true identity, though Feng Suige remained unaware. Murong Yao admitted he had threatened Fu Yixiao, stating that if she revealed the truth to Feng Suige, he would kill the Emperor. Zhuang Shen, however, sternly forbade any premature action against Feng Pingcheng, emphasizing that his death without a named heir would lead to Feng Suige's immediate succession.
He dismissed Murong Yao's suggestion to kill Feng Pingcheng and install Feng Chengyang, reminding him to drop his "profligate heir" facade when speaking to him. Murong Yao retorted, praising Zhuang Shen's cunning ability to pose as a loyal official. As Murong Yao left, he warned Zhuang Shen that Fu Yixiao might still expose him to Feng Suige. Ruyan confided in Fu Yixiao about Murong Yao's true nature.
She described him as highly intelligent and ambitious, maintaining a playboy image as a deception. His four female companions – Chunhan, Xiachen, Qiuxi, and Dongxiao – were his most trusted operatives, with Chunhan and Qiuxi being the assassins who had attacked Ruyan. Ruyan recounted how Murong Yao had subtly tested her early on to see if she knew Meng Junran's identity.
She stated that Murong Yao primarily cared about his father, Marquis Murong, being a filial son who feared upsetting him. Ruyan, hardened by betrayal, declared her resolve for vengeance against Murong Yao, promising to fight him to the bitter end. Fu Yixiao cautioned her, highlighting Murong Yao's ruthless methods and numerous guards, and offered support at Zhengnian Hall. Murong Yao was preparing for his father's upcoming birthday, hinting at a grand surprise gift.
Zhuang Shen sent for Marquis Murong Zhong, who questioned the secretive summons. Zhuang Shen informed him of Feng Pingcheng's terminal illness, which Marquis Murong was unaware of, using it to imply the Emperor's lack of trust. They exchanged veiled accusations about secretly installing loyalists in various court positions. Zhuang Shen then directly asked for Marquis Murong's opinion on the imperial succession.
Marquis Murong firmly advocated for the "eldest legitimate son" and explicitly rejected Feng Chengyang as a successor, declaring he would oppose it as long as he lived. On his way home from Zhuang Shen's, Marquis Murong disappeared from his carriage. The carriage driver recalled a cow briefly blocking the road, but admitted he did not check on Marquis Murong's presence in the carriage afterward.
Murong Yao, enraged, ordered a city-wide search, vowing to brutally avenge his father as he deduced Fu Yixiao was responsible. Fu Yixiao confronted the captive Marquis Murong, who remained defiant. She praised his bravery but then directly accused Murong Yao of plotting treason, conspiring with Jinxiu to harm Feng Suige, maintaining a facade as a dissolute noble, keeping four female assassins, and accepting the post as commander of the Imperial Guards despite his feigned disinterest in officialdom.
She challenged Marquis Murong's understanding of his own son, then recounted Murong Yao's threat to kill Feng Pingcheng if his secrets were exposed to Feng Suige. While she stated Feng Pingcheng's ultimate fate was not her concern, she would not allow Feng Suige to be harmed. She asserted that by holding Marquis Murong, she could control Murong Yao's actions, and apologized for his capture.
At the welcome banquet, Emperor Xia Jingyan publicly humiliated Xia Jingshi, stepping on his shoulder with his bare foot and reminding him of his near-death experience from the previous day. He mocked Xia Jingshi, calling him Susha's "live-in son-in-law." Feng Xiyang courageously defended Xia Jingshi, taking full responsibility for their unauthorized return and deeming Xia Jingyan's actions excessive. Xia Jingyan then ordered a palace maid to serve Xia Jingshi wine.
When the maid faltered, Xia Jingyan brutally ordered her beaten to death. Seeing another maid tremble in fear, Feng Xiyang stepped forward to serve Xia Jingshi herself. After the banquet, Xia Jingshi feigned drunkenness to dismiss Feng Xiyang. He discreetly instructed Xiao Weiran about Vice Minister of Revenue Wang Encheng, whose name was noted in the "Daily Records" for being involved in affairs with officials' wives, telling Xiao Weiran to find a way to approach him.
Observing the reduced number of guards at the palace entrance, Xiao Weiran believed Xia Jingyan now trusted Xia Jingshi, but Xia Jingshi warned him that it was merely a test and that they must remain vigilant.
