Introduction
With the emperor’s death and Feng Suige’s absence, as we read in Fated Hearts: Drama Recap Episodes 19 to 28, the Susha Kingdom was basically without a leader. It was a good opportunity for the neighboring country and the enemy, the Jinxiu Kingdom, to launch a massive attack. All hell will break loose in the few last episodes!
If you’re curious about the featured image, well, I screenshotted from the final episode. What was it about? You can peek into the last sentence of Episode 38 in this final part of the recap article series for Fated Hearts ( 一笑随歌 )!
Recap Episodes 29 to 38
Episode 29
Xia Jingyan told Feng Xiyang that her father and elder brother were dead, but she did not believe him. It was not until he showed her the intelligence report. Xiyang was hysterical, ran, and screamed all the way, and fell on the ground several times. Jingyan was excited because there was one more person in the world who hated Jingshi. When he joked about her father and elder brother, she bit his finger hard. Hahaha… this ‘couple’ was hilariously unhinged.
Meanwhile, Jingshi didn’t believe Suige killed his father. He quickly deduced that Murong Zhong and his son were the murderers. He planned to meet his spies he had placed in the Jinxiu ministers.
At the Storm League, Ning Fei was ecstatic seeing Yixiao and blurted out Suige’s name. Hearing his name, Elder Zhang Dongshi wanted to kill Suige. The Storm Alliance always thought that the emperor killed Wei Qingyu, and the imperial guards also attacked the place. Moreover, the elders’ children were killed, so they hated the Feng family. Yixiao tried to persuade them, explaining that Wei Qingyu was killed by PM Zhuang, not the emperor. The elders didn’t budge; only Elder Zhou Hao was kind enough and secretly left them the Sifang Pill, which allowed Suige to hold on for a few more days.
While the elders were discussing and arguing with Ling Feng, Yixiao came in and told them that Wei Qingyu founded this Alliance as a shelter for those who were displaced and could not see hope. But now, the Storm Alliance has gone against the original intention of Wei Qingyu to create it and has become full of hatred. She reminded Elder Lei Lie to Wei Qingyu back then and he was moved.
Out of courtesy, Jingshi offered to help Xiyang, but she refused. Even though the empress dowager advised her to soften her heart to Jingshi, she still refused. She asked for help from Jingyan with a dagger. Although she was asking for help, Xiyang did not have the attitude of asking for help, which made Jingyan excited (while licking the blood dripping from his neck). Xiyang promised that as long as he helped her find out who killed her father and brother, she would agree to any conditions. Oh no, this was a risky promise given to a crazy man!
Episode 30
The elders, but one (Zhang Dong Shi), started to take care of Suige. He finally woke up, but he was blind. He had been in a coma for too long, and the blood stasis in his head had not dissipated. Zhou Hao reluctantly told Yixiao that there was one person who could remove the blood clots in his brain, but she used poison. She could indeed save people, but they forgot their previous memories and were in a daze all day long. This was also the reason why Ling Feng did not dare to contact the physician, Aunt An.
However, Ling Feng could not resist Yixiao’s plea, so he went to find Aunt An and asked her to check Suige’s condition. Suige refused because some of his memories might also disappear with it, but he finally agreed because of Yixiao’s persuasion.
After the death of her father and brother, Xiyang went completely crazy. Because Jingyan still didn’t want to tell her who the killer was, she forcefully kissed him and had sex with him. She used her body to seal the deal.
Aunt An applied acupuncture to the top of Suige’s head. After he woke up, he treated Yixiao as his mortal enemy and grabbed her neck tightly. Ling Feng and Lu Ke almost couldn’t hold him down, and Suige passed out.
Episode 31
Although Lu Ke and Ling Feng told Suige all the truth, about Yixiao, but Suige was obsessed with his own ideas and would not listen to anyone. He only believed in his own memory. The arrow wound on his chest was proof that Yixiao had shot him. Aunt An persuaded Yixiao to leave Suige. It might take months or years for him to regain his memories. However, Suige made up her mind not to leave her beloved.
The Jinxiu Kingdom sent their troops to Susha, to take advantage of the internal turmoil and unrest in Susha, and the Battalion of Feng was without leader. The empress dowager had her own plans since Jingyan didn’t want to listen to her, so she wanted to win over Jingshi to stabilize the situation of Jinxiu with the ministers being hateful to Jingyan. The emperor was furious with his mother’s change of alliance, but his mood improved every time she saw Xiyang. Her words woke him up: Jingshi had been living in seclusion place, how did he contact the minister to provoke unrest?
Meanwhile, in Susha, the new emperor Feng Chengyang looked naive, but he actually had his own thoughts. He didn’t believe his brother killed his father. To find out the truth, he first wooed Minister Shen to find out the truth
In the Storm Alliance, Yixiao took a drastic measure. When Suige pointed his sword at her, she went up to meet him. He hesitated because his gut actually told him not to kill her. As Yixiao got closer and closer, the sword went deeper and deeper into her body, and the blood that flowed out gradually seeped out.
Episode 32
In Jinxiu, Xiyang felt that everything that happened and the tragic deaths of his father and brother all stemmed from Jingshi. To take revenge, she told Jingyan how to find the Jingshi’s spy. Guards surrounded Jingshi’s place so nobody could go in and out. Eunuch Bai wanted to hide the message in the meals for Jingshi, but was caught by Jingyan and Xiyang. Eunuch Bai didn’t admit that he was Jingyan’s spy. Jingyan asked Jingshi to kill Eunuch Bai with his own hands to prove that the eunuch was not his spy. Eunuch Bai committed suicide. Next, Xiyang requested Jingyan to kill Murong Zhong and Murong Yao on her behalf.
Yixiao’s actions finally made Suige recall the bits and pieces of his time with her. After recovering his memory, Suige planned to leave the Storm Alliance with Yixiao. However, the rule of the Alliance for saving people that those who were saved by the Alliance could not leave for life. It seemed the rule was made because they were worried that the ones who left would reveal the Alliance’s secret location.
Minister Shen secretly investigated as ordered by Feng Chengyang and found that all the imperial guards had been transferred away on the day his father was killed. The only people who could mobilize the imperial guards were the Murong father and son and the empress dowager. Realizing that his mother might kill his father, or colluded with the Murongs, Feng Chengyang was lost.
Episode 33
The internal strife within the Storm Alliance was unnecessary, imo, so I would skip recapping it. By the end, they let Suige and others leave, embarking on a journey of revenge. Ling Feng left with Aunt An to travel the world. His daughter Xueying went back with Ning Fei to Zheng Nian Villa to rebuild the place.
Ode to the crazy couple
The Jinxiu’s empress dowager was afraid and hateful towards Xiyang because she had helped Jingyan find out Jingshi’s spy. She planned to kill Xiyang. The latter knew that her former mother-in-law wanted to kill her, so she made a bet with Jingyan. Sure enough, someone tried to kill her, so Jingyan killed the person with his own hands.
The Empress Dowager of Susha grew fearful of the Murong’s power, especially after Murong Zhong selected ministers who supported him. He realized she had begun to alienate the Murongs, so he threatened her with the fact that Suige might not be dead. Zhuang Jingyuan asked Feng Chengyang to get married quickly, but the young emperor refused. When he asked about the death of his father, his mother became furious and said that from now on, all his affairs would be decided by her and she would no longer discuss them with him.
Episode 34
Feng Suige met with the remaining subordinates and was shocked to learn that his brothers-in-arms, including Gu Yu and Shen Gou (the leader of the Qiongqi Unit), were dead. Murong Yao had already taken control of the Feng Battalion; those who were unwilling to submit were killed. Song Cheng said that besides him investigating the emperor’s death, there was Minister Shen who also did that. Suige guessed that his little bro must’ve sent the minister to find out the truth. After conveying the message to Chengyang through the minister, Suige reunited with his brother. It was a tearful one. Chengyang was willing to return the throne to Suige and leave the palace. He only hoped that Suige would not kill his mother. Suige agreed to this request.
I wouldn’t recap what happened in Jinxiu, but the summary was that the empress dowager worked together with Jingshi to bring down Jingyuan. Meanwhile, the latter was smitten by Xiyang and offered to build a new palace etc. He asked her to marry him (she had already divorced Jingshi), but she refused.
Episode 35
Chengyang apparently was followed by the Murongs and the imperial guards. Suige and the others escaped because they were outnumbered. At least, Lu Ke killed Murong Jie to avenge his fallen brothers. After learning that Suige was not dead, Murong Zhong and Zhuang Jingyuan argued, and the two threatened each other. Murong Zhong knew that Suige would definitely go to his Feng Battalion. Before he left, he told Zhuang Jingyuan that her son had secretly left the palace last night to meet Suige.
Chengyang agreed to help Suige take back the post of commander of the Imperial Guards from Murong Yao, but before he drafted the imperial edict, his mother came and grounded him. Murong Zhong went to the Feng Battalion to take charge. Although the Battalion had been incorporated into the Murong family, the hearts of the soldiers of the Battalion were always loyal to Suige. They knelt and announced their loyalty to Suige without hesitation.
Murong Zhong was captured inside the Feng Battalion camp and was shot to death by Yixiao. Before he died, he said his resentment for many years. Suige refused to help him save his son, and the late emperor refused to show mercy. Suige said that his father did not intend to kill Yao, but to let Suige pardon the Murongs when he ascended the throne. Murong Zhong told Suige that it was Zhuang Jingyuan who killed the emperor that day.
Episode 36
Suige sent a letter to his sister, informing her that he was not dead. She was in tears reading it, since she recognized his handwriting. Meanwhile, their little brother, Chengyang, looked naive and kind, but he could also be ruthless. He went straight to his mother’s room and forced her to hand over the imperial seal. Although he didn’t succeed, he publicly announced that he would take back the power of the Murongs to command the Imperial Army. Those who disobeyed would be killed. Chengyang did this to help Suige clear all obstacles.
After receiving the imperial order, Murong Yao went straight to the palace to see Zhuang Jingyuan. She comforted him, saying that she would deal with her son after his father stabilized the Feng Battalion and killed Suige. Murong Yao returned home and found that all the soldiers in the mansion were dead. Suige’s men had surrounded the entire Murong Mansion. He pushed the door open and saw the corpse of his father in the hall. Suige appeared behind him. They started fighting, but Yao was not Suige’s opponent. Before his death, Yao regretted that he had colluded with PM Zhuang, forcing his father from a loyal minister to a traitor, which led to the tragedy of his family today.
Suige screamed after killing his brother-turned-enemy Murong Yao
Suige returned to his mansion with a tormented heart after killing his former brother. Chengyang was already waiting. Suige confirmed again not to kill Zhuang Jingyuan. His next plan was to go to Jinxiu and bring back their sister. Chengyang told his mother that the Murongs were dead. Not only that, he also knew the truth about his father’s death. Zhuang Jingyuan collapsed, while mumbling that she didn’t kill his father.
When she learned that her brother was still alive, Xiyang wanted to return to Susha. But at this critical moment, she fainted and was diagnosed with pregnancy by the imperial physician. Jingyan said excitedly that he would make her the empress, but Xiyang would rather die than be his empress. Suige sent a letter to the emperor of Jinxiu Kingdom. Jingyan was afraid to meet him and told his subordinate not to tell Xiyang.
Before going to the Jinxiu Kingdom, Suige consulted with a spy. The spy told him that Xiyang had divorced Jingshi, although he didn’t know the reason. Another spy passed a message to Xiyang that her brother was coming. She ran to question Jingyan and threatened him that if he didn’t let her leave she would commit suicide with the child in her womb.
Episode 37
I couldn’t believe that I actually cried in this episode!
Xiyang threatened to kill herself so Jingyan was forced to agree to one last deal with her. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, Xiyang would accompany him to celebrate his birthday, and Jingyan would let her leave. Xiyang agreed, but before that, she wanted to see Suige.
When he learned what had happened to Xiyang, Suige wished he could cut Jingshi into a thousand pieces. Xiyang was in tears and repented of what she had done before. Suige was shocked to hear that his sister had given herself to Jingyan and was pregnant with his child. However, no matter what grievances she suffered, Suige would help her take revenge on both men, but Xiyang did not want her brother to take risks for her again.
Yixiao and Ning Fei accompanied Suige to Jinxiu, but they gave private for him and his sister. They saw someone looked like Xiao Weiran, so they followed him separately. Weiran was very alert and appeared behind Ning Fei, putting a knife to his neck. Yixiao also appeared behind Weiran to release Ning Fei. Weiran reminded them to leave asap as this place was not safe.
Yixiao immediately went back to remind Suige that Jingshi was staying in this place and must be planning something. Realizing that Jingshi might attack Jingyan, Xiyang was in danger. She had returned to Jingyan as promised to celebrate his birthday. They immediately rushed to the place on horseback.
Xiyang told Jingyan that after returning to Susha, she would raise the child well, but she would never let the child know who her father was. She didn’t even allow Jingyan to know when the child would be due. Just as the two were talking, Jingshi led his men in. Jingyan didn’t know, his guards had been ordered to be transferred by the Empress Dowager’s people. No one protected him. Jingyan’s first reaction was to protect Xiyang. Realizing that Jingshi was coming for him, he asked Jingshi to let Xiyang go. Jingshi refused. Jingyan was tortured and stabbed several times. Before he died, he wanted to see Xiyang’s smile. Xiyang, with tears in her eyes, smiled at him. Jingshi hated Jingyan so much that he hated Xiyang as well. Seeing that Jingshi wanted to kill Xiyang, he put down his arrogance and begged Jingshi to let Xiyang go. Jingshi didn’t let Xiyang go; instead, he stabbed her stomach and killed Jingyan with another sword.
Suige arrived to find Feng Xiyang barely alive, and Jingshi had left. Yixiao went to find Jingshi, while Suige took his sister back to the inn to find a doctor to treat her injuries. Jingshi ordered his men to move Jingyan’s body away and went back to report to the Empress Dowager that he had killed Jingyan.
Episode 38
Empress Jing was shocked seeing Jingyan’s body, she thought it was Xiyang’s as she wanted. While searching for Jingshi, Yixiao and Ning Fei saw the whistling arrow flame fired by the Jinxiu Imperial Army. They knew the Imperial Army would only fire it in times of extreme danger. Yixiao realized that Jingshi was causing trouble there and rushed over.
Jingshi fed poison into Empress Dowager’s mouth. She crawled on the ground, vomiting blood. Yixiao rushed over and shot an arrow at Jingshi, but was blocked by his men. When he saw Yixiao come, he was overjoyed and invited Yixiao to witness the most important moment of his life like a madman. Jingshi claimed that the throne was taken by the empress and Jing Yan. She even poisoned him and made him beg her for the antidote every month like a dog. Yixiao pointed out that it was okay to take revenge, but he was wrong to become a prisoner of obsession, which caused many innocent people to die. Yixiao shot another arrow at him, but Weiran quickly took Jingshi away.
Suige’s men found out that Jingshi would be at the royal family’s ancestral residence tomorrow. Suige entered the ancestral residence and was surrounded by Jingshi’s men. Yixiao and Ning Fei killed Xiao Weiran outside. In the ancestral residence, Suige fought ten enemies alone, and also had to guard against the bows and arrows shot by Jingshi. The name of the Killing God of Susha was not for nothing. Jingshi’s men were all killed, and he personally fought against Suige. The two fought evenly. Yixiao rushed in and shot down Jingshi’s bow and arrow. Suige killed Jingshi with a sword. Before his death, Jingshi regretted the arrow he shot at Yixiao in the beginning.
Because her stomach was cut, Xiyang could not have any more children, but she survived. Suige sent her to Zheng Nian Villa, while he and the rest returned to Susha. Feng Suige ordered someone to tell Zhuang Jingyuan to pack her things and go to guard her husband’s tomb in the imperial mausoleum. However, she refused to guard her husband and committed suicide.
Yixiao and Suige joined hands to quell the war between the two countries and were praised by the world. Susha and Jinxiu had ten years peace treaty, not sure who inherited the Jinxiu throne. After the three years of mourning were over, Suige would decide on the ownership of the throne, during which time Xiyang would temporarily take charge of the administration. If Xiyang liked it and did well, he would let her be the female emperor of Susha. Their brother Cheng Yang went to live in seclusion in the temple. As for Yixiao, Suige still owed her a grand wedding, which he would give her after the mourning period was over. Suige also gave Yixiao a unique Zhuixia Bow. His wife was the greatest archer in the world, off course, she should have the finest bow.
THE END
Conclusion
Fated Hearts is truly a wonderful drama. The palace politics, with a power struggle, turn out to be gritty and intriguing. If not because of some draggy subplots and annoying characters, I would rate this drama perfectly 10/10.
Key messages within the series:
For the romance, trust is paramount. We see it again and again between Suige and Yixiang, despite they started as enemies. They trust each other and communicate openly. Trust is the key to overcoming external forces that seek to divide them.
For the palace politics: the drama sends a message about the corrupting nature of power, which is present in both kingdoms. Imperial authority should be used wisely as a tool for protecting people and delivering justice.
For the many antagonists, insatiable ambition and desperate desire for power lead to ruthless and self-destructive paths, emphasizing the cost of unchecked desires.
And finally, a message for all of us: fate versus free will. While the characters’ paths are initially entangled by fate, their choices ultimately determine their destiny. For example, although Suige and Yixiao’s first encounter seemed fated, Yixiao had a few options to leave Suige in some situations. Yixiao’s choices shows her independence and the ability to defy a preordained path.
