Fated Hearts Episode 28 Recap
> Fated Hearts Recap
In the Imperial Study, Feng Suige turned to see Murong Yao, his former good brother, holding the weapon that had pierced him. Murong Yao, reeling from what he had done, murmured in disbelief that Feng Suige was dead. As Feng Suige fell, Murong Zhong seized the moment to deliver another blow, splattering Feng Suige’s blood on his face. Thus, Feng Suige and his father, Feng Pingcheng, were both killed.
Murong Yao was distraught, realizing that his initial plan had led to his loyal father being implicated as a traitor. Murong Zhong, however, was resolute. He told his son that he would accuse Feng Suige of patricide and regicide, and portray Murong Yao as the hero who eliminated the traitor. Murong Zhong reminded Murong Yao that any suspicion about Feng Suige’s death could trigger a mutiny in the Feng Battalion, so they must dispose of the body properly.
Murong Yao, still in shock, assured his father that the escape route from the palace was secured by his men and he would bury Feng Suige in a secluded spot. Concurrently, Murong Zhong met with Empress Dowager Zhuang Jingyuan. She confirmed she had arranged a carriage for Murong Yao to transport Feng Suige’s body out of the palace, and her token would ensure unobstructed passage.
Murong Zhong reassured her that Murong Yao would change clothes immediately upon leaving the palace to avoid implicating her. Empress Dowager Zhuang Jingyuan declared that Feng Suige would be branded a usurper and regicide who attempted to flee, while Murong Yao would be hailed for avenging the late Emperor. Murong Zhong reminded her of his past loyalty in supporting Feng Pingcheng and his current efforts in securing the throne for Feng Chengyang, requesting due credit for Murong Yao.
Empress Dowager Zhuang Jingyuan promised that upon Feng Chengyang’s ascension, Murong Yao would be a founding subject, destined for a high position, and that the Zhuang and Murong families would be intertwined moving forward. Meanwhile, at Zhengnian Hall, Fu Yixiao, after learning that Feng Suige had gone to the palace due to Feng Pingcheng’s relapse, felt an inexplicable unease.
Unbeknownst to her, Murong Yao, after grieving over Feng Suige’s body and reminiscing about their past, had buried him in a secluded bamboo grove. Ruyan, who had been following Murong Yao, discovered Feng Suige’s body there. She immediately left a pearl hairpin as a marker and rushed back to inform Fu Yixiao, giving her precise instructions on how to find the location. Upon receiving Ruyan’s frantic message, Fu Yixiao hastened to the bamboo grove.
She dug up Feng Suige and swiftly brought him back to Lingfeng for treatment. Lingfeng assessed Feng Suige, noting that his external wounds were not fatal, but his pupils were dilated, and his pulse was weak. He was unconscious due to an obstructed airway, but his strong will and survival instinct had kept him barely alive. Lingfeng credited Fu Yixiao for her timely rescue, which helped preserve his last faint breath.
However, Feng Suige’s heart was failing, and Lingfeng could not guarantee his survival. Murong Zhong soon learned that the First Prince’s Residence was empty and Feng Suige’s confidantes had gathered at Zhengnian Hall. Murong Jie, the General of the Jinwu Guard, reported this, expressing his reluctance to attack a public place like Zhengnian Hall for fear of exposing the palace coup.
Murong Zhong confirmed that the news of Feng Suige’s death had not yet spread, and after ensuring Murong Yao had not been discovered while burying the body, he decided they could no longer hesitate. He commanded Murong Jie to take the Imperial Guards to seal off Zhengnian Hall and kill all of Feng Suige’s people without exception. At Zhengnian Hall, Fu Yixiao anxiously questioned Lingfeng about Feng Suige’s condition.
Lingfeng explained that while Feng Suige’s heart pulse had been restored, his yin and yang energies were in chaos, and his life hung by a thread. He proposed a risky plan: using potent medicine to stimulate Feng Suige’s heart, which would buy him five days. To truly save him, they needed to reach the Storm Alliance, the same place where Ning Fei had been saved.
Fu Yixiao vowed that even if it cost her life, she would ensure Feng Suige reached the Storm Alliance. As they prepared to depart, Empress Dowager Zhuang Jingyuan was falsely accusing Feng Suige to Feng Chengyang, claiming his elder brother had murdered their grandfather, Zhuang Shen, and their father, Emperor Feng Pingcheng, all for the throne. Feng Chengyang was deeply distraught, asserting he never desired the throne and would never have contended with his brother.
Empress Dowager Zhuang Jingyuan manipulated his emotions, claiming Feng Suige never saw him as a true brother and urging Feng Chengyang to become a wise ruler to hold Susha together. On their journey to the Storm Alliance, they were pursued by Murong Jie and his Imperial Guards. A scout reported the pursuers were closing in.
Gu Yu, a leader of the Qiongqi Unit, ordered his men to turn back and delay the Imperial Guards, instructing Lu Ke to protect Feng Suige in the carriage and flee. The Qiongqi Unit bravely held their ground, but Murong Jie’s forces were overwhelming. Sadly, Shen Gou and Gu Yu were both killed in the fierce fighting, but their sacrifice bought precious time for the carriage to escape. Murong Jie's men eventually lost their trail near the Susha border.
Meanwhile, Xia Jingshi approached Feng Xiyang, offering to help her return to Susha, knowing her concern for her father. Feng Xiyang scorned his offer, highlighting his inaction when she was forcibly taken from Susha. Xia Jingshi explained he would even beg Xia Jingyan to release her. Feng Xiyang accused him of hypocrisy, claiming he only sought to clear his conscience now that she was no longer useful to him.
Xia Jingshi then presented her with a letter of divorce, stating their relationship was a misfortune. Feng Xiyang furiously tore up the letter, declaring him disgusting. She asserted that he, a mere Susha son-in-law, had no right to divorce her; instead, she, Feng Xiyang, was divorcing him, severing all ties and their marital bond forever. Xia Jingshi accepted her words, stating that from then on, his actions would be none of her concern.
As he turned to leave, Feng Xiyang warned him that while she cared not what else he did, if he dared to harm her brother, she would personally kill him. Back in the palace, Murong Yao informed Murong Zhong that Feng Suige’s body was gone. Murong Jie reported his failure to apprehend Feng Suige’s subordinates, who had fought desperately to protect a carriage that escaped toward the Susha border.
Murong Zhong deduced that Feng Suige must have been in that carriage. He concluded that even if Feng Suige was still alive, he must be gravely wounded and no longer a threat. With Feng Chengyang soon to ascend the throne, the situation would be irreversible.
He reiterated to Murong Yao the importance of publicly maintaining that Feng Suige was dead and that Murong Yao himself had killed him, to secure the Murong family’s position of power and neutralize any future variables. In Jinxiu, Emperor Xia Jingyan received urgent news of the turmoil in Susha: Zhuang Shen's death, Feng Suige's alleged regicide and usurpation, Feng Pingcheng's death, and Feng Suige's subsequent execution. Xia Jingyan rejoiced, seeing it as a divine opportunity to eliminate Xia Jingshi.
However, Empress Dowager Jing arrived, tempering his excitement. While acknowledging the chaos in Susha would prevent them from waging war against Jinxiu for years, she strictly forbade Xia Jingyan from harming Xia Jingshi. She chastised him for his foolishness, reminding him that Xia Jingshi’s true value lay in the Zhennan Army under his command, not merely in his role against Susha.
As public notices were posted throughout Susha, condemning Feng Suige as a regicidal traitor, stripping him of all titles, confiscating his assets, and exiling his household for thirty years, Lingfeng, Fu Yixiao, and their companions continued their arduous journey to the Storm Alliance. Lingfeng warned them that the Alliance had no national allegiances and was governed by four elders representing Fishing, Woodcutting, Farming, and Studying, who made all decisions collectively. He urged them to be extremely cautious and avoid provoking anyone, for if they angered the elders, Feng Suige’s life could not be saved.
