Fated Hearts Episode 23 Recap
> Fated Hearts Recap
Murong Yao, hoping to leverage his relationship with Feng Suige, asked him to convince Fu Yixiao to release his father, Murong Zhong. Fu Yixiao appeared in the loft, drawing her bow and aiming it directly at Murong Yao. Murong Yao pleaded his father's innocence, insisting the matter was between him and Fu Yixiao and not to involve Murong Zhong.
Fu Yixiao reminded Murong Yao that Elder Marquis Murong was in her hands and his release was entirely up to her, stating that he should be negotiating with her directly. She then recalled how he had, under the guise of Meng Junran, ordered Xia Jingshi to kill her, leaving him indebted to her with a life and their grievances unsettled. Murong Yao asked Fu Yixiao to state her conditions for release.
Fu Yixiao suggested he find a cliff and jump off it as she did, then taunted him for not daring, calling him a hypocrite even more so than Xia Jingshi, and accusing him of merely pretending to be filial to use Feng Suige to save his father. Murong Yao then tried to remind Feng Suige that his father had once saved Feng Suige's life, urging him to tell Fu Yixiao to let him go.
Fu Yixiao retorted that the matter was between her and Murong Yao, and if he wanted to save his father, he needed to provide her with a proper explanation. Murong Yao then ordered his guards to stop them, threatening that neither Fu Yixiao nor Feng Suige would leave if his father did not return safely. Feng Suige warned Murong Yao that Elder Marquis Murong’s life was in his hands, and he should not act recklessly.
Fu Yixiao responded by saying Murong Yao clearly did not understand her capabilities and warned him not to challenge her bottom line. She further stated that if she and Feng Suige did not leave safely, his father would also suffer a fate worse than death. She advised him to consider the consequences and not test her patience any further. Following this tense confrontation, Fu Yixiao and Feng Suige left safely, leaving Murong Yao seething with resentment.
Bai Shouzhuo, under the pretense of delivering sour plum soup from the Empress Dowager to Xia Jingshi, secretly passed him a note. The note read: "The guards have withdrawn. Seize the opportunity." Later, Xia Jingshi was informed that the guards at the gate had indeed been withdrawn, to which he responded, "Good," and decided to go for a walk, also instructing a servant to take Princess Feng Xiyang out for fresh air.
Meanwhile, Princess Feng Xiyang visited Xia Jingshi, attempting to become his true wife by shedding her clothes in his chambers. Xia Jingshi reminded her that he had once told her she could never replace the woman he truly loved. Feng Xiyang recalled his promise to grant her one wish. Xia Jingshi acknowledged this but stated he could never offer her the deep affection and perfect harmony of a true husband and wife.
She implored him, "What if it's just for one night?" arguing that in Jinxiu, they were now just an ordinary couple. Xia Jingshi advised her to choose another wish. Feng Xiyang insisted it was her only dream, that he had been her sole aspiration since their first meeting. She identified herself as Princess Susha, who, despite a life of luxury, was trapped by her obsession.
She begged him to fulfill her dream for just one night, so she could accept her fate and let go. However, Xia Jingshi remained unmoved, stating he was powerless against her obsession, and decisively left her chambers, ignoring her tears. Fu Yixiao and Feng Suige returned to the mansion.
Feng Suige was deeply distraught by Murong Yao’s betrayal, which triggered a flashback to the incident that started their rift: after being rescued from the desert, he had been unconscious for days, and by the time he awoke, Murong Yao and his father had already been posted to the northern border, leaving no time for an explanation. In the present, a servant expressed concern over Feng Suige's mood, noting he radiated murderous intent.
Fu Yixiao advised that he would speak when ready. Later, Feng Suige inquired why Fu Yixiao had her name, particularly her surname, given she had never known her parents. Fu Yixiao playfully chided him for focusing on such trivial matters, and when he asked why she bothered answering, she replied it was because he was the one who asked. She explained that she chose her name to remind herself to meet all sorrows with a smile and forget them.
Feng Suige wished he could forget his troubles too but admitted he was constantly plagued by them. Fu Yixiao then offered to teach him archery, explaining it was a way for her to focus and clear her mind. Feng Suige initially scoffed, but Fu Yixiao countered by highlighting her reputation as Jinxiu's foremost archer, and he eagerly accepted her offer. She taught him the principle, "Where the arrow points, the heart follows."
Feng Suige, looking at her, declared that his heart had only one target, then leaned in and kissed her. Separately, Fu Yixiao was discussing her sister Ning Fei with an attendant. The attendant mentioned that Ning Fei had been sent to a place called the Storm Alliance, where skilled individuals could surely revive her. Fu Yixiao affirmed her plan to personally visit the Storm Alliance after settling Fang and others at Zhengnian Villa.
The attendant, however, expressed concern, noting that Fu Yixiao's father had instructed them to keep her from wandering off. Fu Yixiao dismissed this, telling the attendant to stay put. Murong Yao, in a conversation with Zhuang Shen, expressed his concern for the Emperor's well-being, fearing that any mishap would lead to Fu Yixiao and Feng Suige retaliating against his father. He urged Zhuang Shen to halt his plans immediately.
Zhuang Shen, however, stated that the "arrow had left the bow" and he could not stop. He also rationalized that Feng Suige would likely not harm Murong Yao's father, who had saved his life and was unaware of their plot. Murong Yao accused Zhuang Shen of asking him to gamble with his father's life, implying a parallel to Zhuang Shen's quest for revenge for his own son. Zhuang Shen argued that achieving great things required decisive action.
Murong Yao, unwavering, insisted that his father's life was equally precious and demanded that they cease their current operations until he could rescue his father, promising not to interfere with Zhuang Shen's plans afterward. Zhuang Shen dismissed this as childish, stating it was not a negotiation. The dowry sent by the old Emperor of Susha for Princess Feng Xiyang arrived, accompanied by one of her maids.
Xia Jingyan, the Emperor, found it amusing that the Susha Emperor would still send a dowry for his eloped daughter. When informed that the items and maid were awaiting imperial instruction, Xia Jingyan ordered everything sent to his personal residence. He further instructed Bai Shouzhuo to find suitable accommodation for the maid, stressing that the matter should be kept strictly confidential.
Later, in the palace gardens, Xia Jingyan approached Feng Xiyang as she arranged flowers, commenting that she must be preparing them for the Prince of Zhennan. He remarked on his brother's stubborn character, claiming to know him best. Feng Xiyang, feeling unwell, excused herself. Xia Jingyan mused that it was a waste for such beautiful flowers to go to his "romantically clueless brother."
Feng Xiyang retorted that if the Prince appreciated them, it was no waste, but Xia Jingyan implied he would cherish her better. In response, Feng Xiyang slapped his hand away, telling him to show some self-respect. Xia Jingyan was taken aback but intrigued, noting it was the first time anyone had dared to treat him that way. Zhuang Shen, having prepared a potent medicine, entered the Emperor's chambers.
He first used hot water to test the comatose Feng Pingcheng to confirm his unconscious state, then revealed his true malicious intent. He spoke openly, recalling Feng Pingcheng's past refusal to spare his son, Zhuang Jingheng, who was accused of privately raising troops and plotting rebellion. In a flashback, Feng Pingcheng had acknowledged Zhuang Shen's integrity but shown him stacks of impeachment memorials against Jingheng for treason.
Feng Pingcheng stated he had already spared the Zhuang family out of consideration for Zhuang Shen's loyal service, eventually allowing a proper burial but denying Jingheng a place in the ancestral temple. Back in the present, Zhuang Shen expressed his bitter remembrance of this for thirteen long years. He believed Feng Pingcheng harbored resentment towards him for the late Empress's death and made Jingheng suffer for it.
Zhuang Shen revealed that he could have killed Feng Pingcheng at any point but chose not to, desiring Feng Pingcheng to witness his own son, Feng Suige, die. He confirmed the pill would awaken Feng Pingcheng for five days, allowing him to be lucid enough to watch his son die. With a final, contemptuous remark, Zhuang Shen departed. Moments later, Feng Pingcheng opened his eyes, having clearly heard every word.
Feng Suige summoned the Qiongqi Unit of the Feng Battalion, including their commander, Dog. Feng Suige explained they would enter the palace as his personal household guards, without military insignia or armor, to protect the Emperor until he awakened. He clarified that this subtle approach was necessary to avoid being framed for rebellion. This strategy, he emphasized, was designed to "achieve great effect with little force." Fu Yixiao was introduced as Jinxiu's finest archer and now one of their own.
Dog initially expressed pride and wished to challenge her later. Feng Suige, however, sternly ordered him to keep quiet, declaring that from that moment, Fu Yixiao's words would represent his own will. Dog immediately changed his demeanor, expressing honor at fighting alongside the famous Fu Yixiao and disparaging the Imperial Guards as weak. Feng Suige then ordered his men to eat, change, and prepare for deployment.
