Fated Hearts Episode 22 Recap
> Fated Hearts Recap
Empress Zhuang Jingyuan had made zongzi and brought them to Feng Pingcheng. After dismissing Mr. Ma, who confirmed that the two princes had been with His Majesty but had returned to rest, and stating she would stay the night, Zhuang Jingyuan insisted on being alone with the unconscious Feng Pingcheng, bluntly telling Mr. Ma to “Get out!” Alone, Zhuang Jingyuan spoke her heart to Feng Pingcheng. She revealed her anguish, confronting him about his fifteen-year secret illness.
She questioned why he never told her, suggesting he must have had his reasons, as he always believed his decisions were the most logical, never considering her feelings in their many years of marriage. Zhuang Jingyuan produced the zongzi she had made, a dish she hadn’t eaten in fifteen years. She reminded him that exactly fifteen years ago, on the fifth day of the fifth month, Feng Suige’s birth mother died in front of him.
Since then, he had refused to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival or eat zongzi, despite claiming to hate the woman and erasing all traces of her. Zhuang Jingyuan now understood that his actions were merely an act, and he loved Feng Suige’s mother so deeply that he spent fifteen years pretending. She realized that he had kept his terminal illness from her because he simply did not care for her.
Declaring that from this day forward she would no longer care for his preferences, only her own, she violently forced the zongzi into his mouth. Overwhelmed with grief, she collapsed onto him, screaming his name, begging him to wake up. Guards rushed in, pulled her away, and carried her out as she struggled, insisting she could walk on her own. Mr. Ma watched on, distraught, wondering what to do.
Feng Chengyang watched his mother’s heartbreaking outburst and tried to comfort her, assuring her that his Imperial Brother believed their father would wake up, and urging her to take care of herself. However, Zhuang Jingyuan bitterly retorted that Feng Pingcheng would not be upset because his heart and eyes held no place for her or Feng Chengyang, only for Feng Suige’s mother.
She warned Feng Chengyang that Feng Suige was his greatest enemy and that he should stay away from him. She gravely explained that if Feng Pingcheng did not recover, Feng Suige would ascend the throne and kill both Feng Chengyang and her. Zhuang Jingyuan criticized Feng Pingcheng for not naming an heir, despite knowing the potential consequences, because he hated her too much.
When Feng Chengyang tried to defend his father and brother, Zhuang Jingyuan grew angry, asking if he was taking their side too. She reiterated that their lives depended on him, imploring him to take the throne and kill Feng Suige as the only way for them to survive. Later, Prime Minister Zhuang Shen summoned Mr. Ma.
He directly asked Mr. Ma, as Feng Pingcheng’s most trusted aide, if the Emperor had already drafted an edict of succession, considering his foresight and terminal illness. Mr. Ma feigned ignorance, claiming to be a mere head eunuch unaware of such matters. Zhuang Shen, seeing through his act, smiled and subtly threatened him, warning against producing any imperial edict after a decision about the succession was made, as it would be impossible to deal with the chaos that would ensue.
Empress Dowager Jinxiu reprimanded Xia Jingyan for his absurd behavior, having learned he had killed yet another dancing girl. She warned him against flirting with officials’ wives and particularly forbade him from pursuing Princess Feng Xiyang. She had seen an official’s wife leaving his chambers dressed in attire styled for the Princess Consort of Zhennan, revealing his intentions. The Empress Dowager also insisted he send Xia Jingshi out of Shengjing immediately to prevent political instability and infighting.
Xia Jingyan, however, was unfazed by her scolding. His curiosity about Feng Xiyang was only piqued further, seeing no issue with a king taking his brother's wife. He also explained his strategy for keeping Xia Jingshi in Shengjing was to force his brother to reveal his hidden alliances in the capital. Zhuang Shen found Feng Chengyang, who explained that his mother had fallen ill after staying up all night with Feng Pingcheng.
Zhuang Shen pressed Feng Chengyang, asking if he was ready to become the ruler of the realm, stressing that Feng Chengyang, his mother, and the entire Zhuang family shared a common fate. Feng Chengyang, initially hesitant and tearful, agreed to follow his maternal grandfather's instructions, eventually declaring with newfound resolve, “I want to be emperor.” Meanwhile, Fu Yixiao sent a note, attached to an arrow, to Murong Yao’s residence. The note briefly stated, "Elder Marquis eats well and sleeps soundly.
Don't worry. No need to thank me. Yixiao." Murong Yao, realizing Fu Yixiao was behind his father’s disappearance, angrily ordered his men to withdraw all surveillance from Feng Suige’s residence, as keeping watch was useless with his father in Fu Yixiao’s hands. Soon after, Fu Yixiao found Lu Ke near the First Prince’s Residence. She gave him a clay wolf figurine and a message for Feng Suige: meet her alone at 3 p. m.
that day, as she had something very important to tell him. Feng Suige received the message and met Fu Yixiao. She led him to a secluded spot and embraced him. She first revealed that she had captured Wu Ying and would make her pay a thousandfold for his past suffering. Then, Fu Yixiao used one of his promised favors, asking him to remain calm for the news she was about to share. She revealed that Meng Junran was Murong Yao.
Feng Suige was stunned, but Fu Yixiao explained her difficult decision to tell him, emphasizing his right to know the truth despite the risk that he might doubt her. Feng Suige, though visibly in pain, calmly stated he was fine and would confront Murong Yao directly, assuring Fu Yixiao he would remain calm as promised. Feng Suige immediately went to Murong Yao's residence. Murong Yao, expecting him, confirmed he was indeed Meng Junran.
Feng Suige initially thought Zhuang Shen might be coercing him, but Murong Yao insisted he acted willingly, out of jealousy and resentment. He explained that he hated seeing Feng Suige thrive and felt unsuited to be his rival. Murong Yao confessed to colluding with Xia Jingshi and Zhuang Shen, intending to take Feng Suige’s life. He claimed Feng Suige forced his hand by getting in his way.
Murong Yao recounted a childhood incident from ten years prior, when they were on a border inspection with their fathers and were ambushed by assassins after sneaking off to play. He recalled his father, Murong Zhong, fighting desperately to save Feng Suige, prioritizing the prince’s life over his own, as the Murong family would face execution if anything happened to Feng Suige.
Murong Yao described the terror, the pain of being wounded which resulted in a partially severed foot, and the agonizing wait for a rescue that never came. He spoke of the long, painful journey back to the border camp with his severely injured father, who now suffers chronic pain.
Upon their return, Feng Pingcheng issued a verbal decree, exiling the Murong family to guard the northern border indefinitely, citing their responsibility for the ambush while also exempting them from further punishment due to Murong Zhong’s service in protecting the prince. Murong Yao bitterly questioned why their lives were deemed less valuable, why they were expected to sacrifice for the Feng family, and why Feng Suige never sent help or pleaded on their behalf.
Feng Suige tried to explain he was told they were safe and only saw Murong Yao again two years later, but Murong Yao cut him off, accusing the Feng family of never considering others' feelings. He declared his hatred for Feng Suige's pity, asserting his desire to claim what he believed the Murong family rightfully deserved. Murong Yao offered to let Feng Suige kill him.
When Feng Suige hesitated, Murong Yao put on the Meng Junran mask and repeated his challenge. Feng Suige, with a pained expression, drew his sword and cleaved Murong Yao's mask in two. He declared their bond severed and that they were no longer brothers.
