Fated Hearts Episode 36 Recap
> Fated Hearts Recap
Xia Jingyan angrily confronted Empress Dowager Jing, blaming her for the current state of affairs and accusing her of being deceived about Xia Jingshi. He warned that Xia Jingshi, despite appearing subservient, was a dangerous "wolf cub" and releasing him was a grave mistake. Empress Dowager Jing dismissed his concerns, instead agreeing to his demand: after the upcoming Qianqiu Festival, she would no longer interfere with his actions, including his intent to reclaim military power.
Xia Jingyan, hearing her promise, agreed to the deal. Meanwhile, Xia Jingshi's subordinate confirmed that their troops had covertly departed Pingling City and were en route to the capital. Xia Jingshi instructed him to maintain extreme secrecy during their journey and eliminate anyone who discovered their movements. Later, an official reported to Xia Jingyan that the Ministry of Rites had received a letter from Susha addressed to Princess Feng Xiyang. Xia Jingyan immediately demanded to see it.
He then found Feng Xiyang in the Flower Hall, diligently crushing Chinese roses to make a poultice for an injury he had sustained. Her maid wondered why Feng Xiyang was going to such trouble for the Emperor when the palace had plenty of medicine. Feng Xiyang explained that she needed Xia Jingyan's help and was attempting to appease his unpredictable nature, fearing he might renege on his promises.
Xia Jingyan teased her, asking if she cared for him, but Feng Xiyang retorted that she would offer aid to any injured creature. He then presented her with the letter, explaining it might be from her brother, Feng Suige. Xia Jingyan dismissed it as a potential forgery intended to mock her. However, as Feng Xiyang read the message – "I'm still alive. All is well. Don't worry. Ge" – she instantly recognized Feng Suige's handwriting.
Overcome with tears of relief, she declared her unwavering belief that her brother was alive. Empress Dowager Jing, feeling a sudden unease, was interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Feng Chengyang, who she had confined for reflection. Disregarding her commands to return, Feng Chengyang asserted his imperial authority and demanded the Imperial Seal, having been informed by the Keeper of the Imperial Seal that it was in her possession.
When she refused and ordered her Jinwu Guards to escort him away, Feng Chengyang challenged the guards, reminding them that their sworn duty was to obey the Emperor alone, threatening to dismiss them if they failed to comply. The guards submitted to his command. After dismissing them to speak with Empress Dowager Jing privately, Feng Chengyang declared his weariness of being a puppet emperor.
He revealed that his final act as ruler would be to reclaim military power and remove any obstacles for Feng Suige, allowing his brother to deal with Murong Zhong and his son without hindrance. He threatened to publicly strip them of their command if she didn't cooperate. Subsequently, Feng Chengyang issued an imperial decree, immediately revoking Murong Yao's command over the Imperial Guards and ordering all guards to obey only him, with the penalty of execution for disobedience.
Upon receiving the decree, Murong Yao hastily rode to the palace to confront Empress Dowager Jing. She tried to reassure him that his removal from command was temporary and would be reinstated once Murong Zhong secured the Feng Battalion and killed Feng Suige. Murong Yao, however, was troubled by the sudden change, questioning if she had lost control of the Emperor. Empress Dowager Jing angrily dismissed his insolence, blaming his family's failure to eliminate Feng Suige for the current crisis.
She reaffirmed her promise to handle the Emperor. Murong Yao then rushed back to his residence, where he found his household guards all dead and the estate surrounded by Feng Suige's forces. He fought his way inside to discover a scene of brutal carnage, culminating in the sight of his father, Murong Zhong, lying dead in the main hall.
Overwhelmed by grief and self-reproach, Murong Yao knelt beside his father's body, lamenting his past choices and acknowledging his failure as a son. Feng Suige then emerged, observing Murong Yao's despair. He reminded Murong Yao that this grim scene mirrored his own near-death experience. Murong Yao, consumed by hatred, demanded to know why Feng Suige couldn't have spared his father.
Feng Suige retorted by recalling Murong Yao's own merciless betrayal – his conspiracy with Zhuang Shen, the deaths of countless Susha soldiers, and his act of personally burying Feng Suige, despite their bond of brotherhood. Murong Yao expressed regret for not having ensured Feng Suige's death then. Feng Suige declared he would show no mercy, vowing to kill Murong Yao to avenge his own father. They engaged in a fierce battle, which ended with Feng Suige killing Murong Yao.
In his final moments, Murong Yao's thoughts were filled with regret, recalling his father's unconditional love and sacrifice, and recognizing the tragic consequences of his own ambitions and betrayal. Having avenged his fallen comrades, Feng Suige returned to the First Prince's Residence, where Feng Chengyang awaited him. Feng Suige announced his intention to depart for Jinxiu at dawn the next day to bring back their sister, Feng Xiyang, expressing concern for her welfare in a foreign land.
Feng Chengyang reminded Feng Suige of his promise to spare Empress Dowager Jing. He then revealed his own decision: he would take Empress Dowager Jing to guard their father's mausoleum as an act of atonement. Feng Chengyang then confronted Empress Dowager Jing directly. She was under house arrest, and he informed her of Murong Zhong and his son's demise, signaling the eradication of the Murong family.
When she expressed fear, Feng Chengyang confirmed he knew the truth about their father's death, having learned it from Murong Zhong's last confession to Feng Suige. Empress Dowager Jing vehemently denied her involvement, accusing Feng Suige of lies and insisting all her actions were for Feng Chengyang's benefit. He, however, rejected her excuses, stating that her ambition for a son to be emperor drove her, regardless of who that son was.
Feng Chengyang declared he would return the throne to Feng Suige so their father could rest in peace and vowed to accompany Empress Dowager Jing to the mausoleum as his own penance. Distraught, Empress Dowager Jing refused to accept her fate, pleading with him to reconsider. Back at his camp, Feng Suige's loyal subordinates urged him to reclaim the throne. He declined, explaining that his priority was the peace and protection of Susha and its people, not imperial power.
He reiterated his plan to depart for Jinxiu to retrieve Feng Xiyang and asked his men to protect Susha in his absence. He then entrusted Yun Qing with a critical task: to investigate the truth behind the Storm Alliance's past annihilation, starting with exiled members of the Zhuang family, as he suspected Zhuang Shen's involvement. He also gave Yun Qing a letter to deliver to Ning Fei at Zhengnian Villa.
Meanwhile, Feng Xiyang confronted Xia Jingyan, demanding to be allowed to return to Susha to find her brother. Xia Jingyan refused, asserting his control over her and reminding her of past actions that alienated her brother. During their heated argument, Feng Xiyang suddenly fainted. An imperial physician was summoned and delivered the surprising diagnosis: she was pregnant. Xia Jingyan was overjoyed, immediately claiming the child as his own and offering to make Feng Xiyang his Empress.
However, Feng Xiyang vehemently rejected his proposal, declaring she would rather die. In Shengjing City, Xia Jingshi received news of Feng Xiyang's pregnancy with Xia Jingyan's child. He voiced a bitter regret that she hadn't listened to him and returned to Susha, stating she was now to blame for her own misfortune. His subordinate then detailed their plan: during the Qianqiu Festival, Xia Jingyan would visit his ancestral home at midnight with Feng Xiyang.
Empress Dowager Jing would ensure the Imperial Guards were diverted, creating an opportunity for Xia Jingshi to ensure both Xia Jingyan and Feng Xiyang's demise. Feng Suige and his companions arrived in Shengjing City, Jinxiu, noting the city's festive atmosphere due to the upcoming Qianqiu Festival, Emperor Xia Jingyan's birthday. Feng Suige instructed Yun Fang to inquire about his meeting with Xia Jingyan at the Ministry of Rites, and they settled into Yunlai Inn.
Feng Suige had sent a message to Xia Jingyan requesting a meeting, but Xia Jingyan dismissed the request, ordering his officials to fabricate an excuse to refuse and strictly ensure Feng Xiyang remained unaware of Feng Suige's presence. At Yunlai Inn, Feng Suige reunited with Yu Qi, a Feng Battalion secret agent. Yu Qi reported that Princess Xiyang had divorced Xia Jingshi, surprisingly initiating the divorce herself, with rumors linking Emperor Xia Jingyan to the reasons.
Yun Fang returned, confirming that Jinxiu officials were delaying their meeting with Xia Jingyan until after the Qianqiu Festival. Feng Suige grew deeply concerned, suspecting Xia Jingyan was purposefully preventing him from seeing Feng Xiyang, possibly using her as leverage. His companions advised prioritizing obtaining information about Feng Xiyang's situation in the palace. To facilitate this, Fu Yixiao, leveraging her past connections in Jinxiu, sought out Peiniang, a former palace attendant now running a rouge shop in Shengjing.
They recognized each other, and Fu Yixiao explained her need for information on the Princess of Susha. Peiniang, adhering to her principle of requiring an exchange for information, agreed to help pass a message to Princess Xiyang. After receiving Fu Yixiao's relayed message, Feng Xiyang confronted Xia Jingyan again, furious that he had concealed Feng Suige's arrival in Shengjing. She insisted on reuniting with her brother, reiterating that her relationship with Xia Jingyan was merely a transactional one.
When Xia Jingyan refused to allow her to leave, Feng Xiyang, in a desperate act, threatened to take her own life and that of her unborn child if he continued to prevent her departure.
