Fated Hearts Episode 35 Recap
> Fated Hearts Recap
The scout bells outside the hut signaled the arrival of the Imperial Guards. With their numbers significantly smaller than the approaching enemy, Feng Suige decided against a direct confrontation, retreating with Lao Song through the back door. Murong Yao's Imperial Guards found no one inside, but Murong Jie intercepted Feng Suige and his companions in the back mountains, leading to a clash. Seeing a soldier attempting to report their whereabouts, Fu Yixiao swiftly shot him down with an arrow.
Lu Ke, fueled by deep hatred for Murong Jie, struck him down with multiple blows, avenging Gu Yu, Hound, and all their fallen brothers. With Murong Jie dead, Feng Suige and his group wasted no time and quickly departed. Murong Yao soon arrived at the scene, his face grim upon seeing Murong Jie's corpse. He immediately ordered his troops to continue the pursuit.
Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Jing learned that Feng Suige was still alive and confronted Murong Zhong, the two exchanging threats. Murong Zhong acknowledged that while their families, the Zhuang and Murong, only seemed to be in harmony, they were truly bound together by shared fate. He was confident he could handle Feng Suige's return to the Feng Battalion, but he demanded Empress Dowager Jing take care of matters within the palace.
Murong Zhong then informed a shocked Empress Dowager Jing that Feng Chengyang had secretly left the palace the previous night to meet Feng Suige. Feng Chengyang had promised Feng Suige he would help reclaim command of the Imperial Guards from Murong Yao.
However, before any imperial edict could be drafted, Empress Dowager Jing arrived, ordering Feng Chengyang to reflect on his mistakes within the palace and forbidding him from interfering in court affairs, stating she would handle state matters in his stead. Despite his confinement, Feng Chengyang attempted to draft the promised edict to abdicate and leave with his mother, but the eunuchs, loyal to the Empress Dowager, refused to obey his command.
Murong Zhong then decided to go to the Feng Battalion himself, believing that with his son, Murong Yao, controlling the Imperial Guards in the capital, Feng Suige would not be able to cause any trouble. Emperor Xia Jingyan, in a sudden whim, decided to draft an edict proclaiming himself Grand Marshal of all forces, intending to reclaim military power and attack Susha to avenge Feng Xiyang by eliminating the Murong father and son.
Feng Xiyang warned him that his plan was far too simplistic, but he refused to listen to her concerns. He declared his intention to take back all military authority, including the Zhennan Army from Xia Jingshi, and then personally lead troops to Susha, deploying forces at the border to force the Murong father and son to show themselves.
He intended to write a secret letter to Feng Xiyang's brother, the Emperor of Susha, believing he also wanted to get rid of the Murong family and they could achieve their goals together. Xia Jingyan was excited at the prospect of seeing if Xia Jingshi dared to defy his imperial order. Feng Xiyang, however, doubted Xia Jingshi would ever give up his command, even in death. Feng Suige returned to the Feng Battalion, where his loyal brothers welcomed him.
Despite the battalion having been formally absorbed by the Murong family, the soldiers' hearts remained true to Feng Suige. Old Cao, the cook, was the first to kneel and declare his unwavering loyalty, despite a broken leg he sustained from refusing to submit to Murong Yao. He lamented that his comrade Hong Shan had died waiting for Feng Suige. The rest of the Feng Battalion soldiers promptly followed suit, kneeling without hesitation and pledging their continued allegiance.
Feng Suige spoke from his heart to his brothers, expressing his gratitude and regret for their suffering. He then introduced Fu Yixiao to them, proclaiming her a new member of their Feng Battalion family, vowing to stand by her through thick and thin, never abandoning each other. The soldiers enthusiastically cheered her name. Feng Suige then instructed his men to prepare their defenses, as Murong Zhong would soon arrive.
During a moment when Xia Jingshi was suffering from a poison relapse, Empress Dowager Jing arrived. Were it not for Xiao Weiran's quick thinking and fabricated excuse, the Empress Dowager would have discovered that Xia Jingshi had not been taking his antidote on time. To ensure his safety, the Empress Dowager arranged a separate residence for Xia Jingshi outside the palace, ordering him to prepare for the upcoming Qianqiu Festival there.
She cited Emperor Xia Jingyan's unpredictable temper, fearing he might genuinely harm Xia Jingshi next time, and stated that even she found it difficult to protect him within the palace. Xia Jingshi had previously stated that the antidotes should not be used before the grand plan began, but now that the plan was imminent, he unhesitatingly swallowed the accumulated antidotes he had saved.
Murong Zhong, accompanied by a few soldiers, arrived at the Feng Battalion, only to find the gates suddenly sealed, trapping him like a turtle in a jar. Before his death, Murong Zhong poured out years of resentment. He revealed that Feng Suige's refusal to help him save Murong Yao, combined with Feng Pingcheng's unwillingness to show mercy, were key reasons for his regicide and usurpation.
However, he was unaware that Feng Pingcheng had initially intended to spare Murong Yao's life, keeping him as a subject to be pardoned during Feng Suige's ascension to the throne, but he was murdered before he could reveal his plan. Murong Zhong attempted his old trick of begging for his son's life, but Fu Yixiao shot him with an arrow.
As he lay dying, Feng Suige told him that Emperor Feng Pingcheng never intended to kill the Murong father and son. With his last breath, Murong Zhong gasped that it was Empress Zhuang who had killed Feng Pingcheng that day. After Murong Zhong died, Feng Suige declared Murong family's crimes of disrupting the kingdom and committing treason, rallying his soldiers to march into Yujing City to avenge Emperor Feng Pingcheng.
Back in the palace, Emperor Xia Jingyan was infuriated upon discovering Xia Jingshi had been released from confinement. He took his anger out on the guards until Empress Dowager Jing appeared and calmly admitted it was she who had let him go. Xia Jingyan angrily accused her of causing the current chaotic situation, asserting that she had always seen Xia Jingshi, not him, as the true pillar of the kingdom.
He confessed that her constant dismissal had made him feel useless, leading to his debauchery. He defended Feng Xiyang, explaining that she gave him something he had never received before: a feeling of being needed, especially when she was at her most desperate. After his outburst, Empress Dowager Jing dismissed all the attendants, wanting to speak with Xia Jingyan alone.
