Wonderful Fate Episode 15 Recap
> Wonderful Fate Recap
Chef Xue, nearing his execution, tearfully confessed his feelings to Lan'er while preparing a final dish for her, named "A Colorful Rainbow." He explained it was his last culinary creation for her, named because he found her as beautiful as a rainbow, and assured her the Imperial Kitchen staff would continue to provide her with delicacies while she remained in the palace. Lan'er was deeply moved by his confession.
Meanwhile, Hong Yi overheard Ruan Qing cruelly ordering the executioner to use a blunt blade on Chef Xue to prolong his suffering. Distraught, Hong Yi stepped forward, offering to carry out the execution himself, making an exception to his usual rule of not drawing his sword unless the palace was in danger.
Chef Xue, in his final moments, requested that Hong Yi care for Lan'er and asked that one of their future children be given the Xue surname, a plea Hong Yi tearfully accepted. As Chef Xue was executed, Lan'er and the Imperial Kitchen staff, recalling his kindness and Lan'er's earlier offer to consider him a brother, broke down in grief.
News arrived that the State Preceptor had colluded with an enemy state and was marching on the capital with an army of 100,000. The Empress Dowager pressured Yun Yi to execute Li Fuzhu as a scapegoat to quell public unrest and secure his throne, a demand echoed by Ruan Qing. Yun Yi found himself in a difficult position, caught between their demands and his conscience, and refused to hand over Li Fuzhu.
Ruan Qing, whose father's forces had taken over the Imperial Guards, further threatened Yun Yi, implying he would be held responsible for the nation's calamity if Li Fuzhu was not found. She maintained that the State Preceptor's domestic guards were merely protecting him from a resentful populace and advised him to sacrifice Li Fuzhu for his own safety. Li Fuzhu, seeing Yun Yi's distress, offered to show him her world.
She confessed that she was not a heavenly lady but a person from thousands of years in the future, where there was no war or suffering, and people lived freely. She told him about a kind yet annoying monitor in her class who resembled him and became her good friend. She encouraged him to close his eyes and imagine her world, urging him not to abandon his dream of a peaceful era, which she believed would eventually come true.
Yun Yi expressed his sorrow for being unable to save Chef Xue and, more acutely, his inability to protect Li Fuzhu. He explained that as crown prince, he was obligated to bear the country's fate, for better or worse, and could not flee, believing some responsibilities must be shouldered. Li Fuzhu, knowing Yun Yi's historical fate, warned him that Ruan Qing would kill him.
Yun Yi, however, assured her he had a plan and, having never protected anyone before, vowed to protect her with his life. Li Fuzhu then gave him her lucky pendant, hoping it would bring him good fortune. Yun Yi, having devised an escape plan, informed Li Fuzhu and Yun Li that the palace was sealed, including Yun Li's secret escape route.
He instructed the Imperial Kitchen staff to escort them out of the palace at midnight and entrusted Li Fuzhu's safety to Yun Li once they were outside, while he himself would remain in the palace to bear responsibility. Meanwhile, the State Preceptor's forces, now in control of the Imperial Guards, searched the palace for Li Fuzhu but found no trace of her. Ruan Qing issued a strict order that no one could leave the palace without the State Preceptor's token.
Following Yun Yi's plan, Yun Li approached Ruan Qing, feigning loyalty and informing her that the Imperial Kitchen staff would escort Li Fuzhu out using the swill carts. Ruan Qing immediately dispatched her guards to intercept the swill carts at the palace gate. A fierce battle erupted between the Imperial Kitchen staff and Ruan Qing's guards, with the chefs fighting to avenge Chef Xue. During the diversion, Yun Li and Li Fuzhu managed to slip away in the chaos.
Witnessing the Imperial Kitchen staff sacrificing their lives for her, Li Fuzhu was overcome with guilt. Yun Li clarified that Yun Yi's plan was a feint, and the chefs had willingly accepted their fate, eager to avenge Chef Xue and uphold their loyalty. Li Fuzhu reflected on her and Yun Li's shared tendency to avoid responsibility.
She contrasted this with Yun Yi, who, despite being able to flee like many emperors in history, chose to bear the burden so others wouldn't suffer for his inaction. Deeply affected by the chefs' sacrifice, Li Fuzhu realized that her previous inclination to retreat had led to their deaths. She declared that while "flinching is instinct, taking responsibility is true ability," and resolved not to retreat this time.
Li Fuzhu suggested they head south, recalling Yun Li's words about its beautiful scenery, but then reminded him of Yun Yi's predicted death at Ruan Qing's hands. They decided to face the challenges ahead together.
