Original subtitles

[Fated Hearts]

[Episode 21]

Your Majesty, here, have one.

Come on, Your Majesty,

try this.

Have some wine too.

Have another one.

I missed it again.

Your Majesty,

I've sent the Prince of Zhennan and his party

to the Rongyang Palace.

So?

Did they like it?

Here.

Bai Shouzhuo,

I like your honesty.

You don't butter me up

or lie to me.

The prince didn't show much reaction.

But the Princess of Zhennan

didn't seem very pleased.

The Princess of Zhennan…

Also,

the wife of Vice Revenue Minister Huang

is coming to the palace tomorrow to visit her sister.

Bai Shouzhuo,

earlier today,

I saw the dress that princess from Susha was wearing—

absolutely stunning.

Get one just like it

and send it to Mrs. Huang.

Yes.

Also…

Go tell the Prince of Zhennan

that since he's back,

I'll hold a banquet

to welcome him.

Let's…

set it for tonight.

Don't forget

to tell him to bring the Princess of Zhennan.

Yes.

Go now.

Do you think what Ling Feng said

is true?

Is Feng Pingcheng really dying?

A matter this serious

wouldn't be fake.

If the Emperor could die at any moment,

then fortune is on our side.

But Prime Minister,

you don't seem pleased.

What are you here for?

Be careful. Feng Suige might catch on.

Fu Yixiao has figured out

who I really am.

But Feng Suige still doesn't know.

I haven't given Fu Yixiao

any chance to approach him.

Later,

I'll find a way to keep Feng Suige

in the palace.

You think Fu Yixiao will just do as you say?

She cares a lot about Feng Suige,

so she won't risk

calling my bluff.

I've warned her—

if Feng Suige learns the truth,

I'll kill the Emperor.

Let me remind you:

without my orders,

you must not kill Feng Pingcheng.

The heir to the throne hasn't been decided.

If Feng Pingcheng dies now,

Feng Suige will be next

in the line of succession.

You must not act on your own.

We've already removed Hou Jing

from the Ministry of War.

You now control the central court and all six ministries.

If you kill Feng Pingcheng

and make Feng Chengyang take the throne,

who could stop you?

Now is the best time

to kill Feng Pingcheng!

I'll say it again—

without my order,

you must not kill the Emperor.

I was just joking.

I wouldn't dare act recklessly.

Regicide is a serious crime.

Of course I'll listen to your instructions.

You can put on an act

for others,

but spare me that spoiled

young marquis attitude.

You can't hide

your true intentions from me.

I'm really making a fool of myself.

I'm nothing compared to you—

a wily old fox

who manages

to pass as a loyal, upright statesman

and make the whole world believe it.

That's something

I need to learn from you.

All right.

I'm leaving.

I just hope that once it's all over,

you and I can sit down and celebrate together.

But do you think by then,

we'll really be able to sit down

and enjoy a drink?

Let me warn you:

the truth will eventually come out.

I can keep Feng Suige in the dark for now,

but not forever.

If Fu Yixiao tells him the truth,

everything will come to light.

Prime Minister,

think about the consequences.

Murong Yao

looks like a harmless noble heir,

naive and easy to read,

but in truth,

he's anything but.

[Wutong Mansion]

Actually, he's calculating and meticulous.

His eyes and ears are all over

Feng Suige's residence.

The four ladies

who are always with him

should all be his trusted operatives.

Yes.

Chunhan, Xiachen,

Qiuxi, and Dongxiao—

the four of them are

Murong Yao's most trusted subordinates.

The two assassins who came after me that day

were Chunhan and Qiuxi.

So,

his frequent visits to pleasure houses

and daily debauchery

are all

deliberate acts

to fool everyone.

Yes.

He's always surrounded

by beautiful girls.

But that's just his disguise.

He's very ambitious,

and he's never

let any woman distract him.

Miss, your beauty is unmatched

and captivating.

May I ask your name?

I feel like we've met before.

It must be that night!

You're the very girl

I saw in my dreams.

When he first saw me in Yujing,

he was testing me

to see if I recognized

Meng Junran's identity.

Who does he care about the most?

Feng Suige.

He's just pretending.

And…

and Elder Marquis Murong.

Elder Marquis Murong?

Murong Yao is a filial son.

He obeys the Elder Marquis completely

and hates to upset him.

You advised me to leave Yujing before.

But I don't want to give up so easily.

If he can be so cruel,

I'll fight him

to the bitter end.

You're no match for him.

His methods are ruthless,

and he has so many guards.

I don't want you

to get hurt again.

Don't worry.

I won't act impulsively.

I'll observe patiently

and wait for the right moment.

Then I'll make him

pay the price.

Be very careful.

If you need anything,

come find me at Zhengnian Hall.

If I'm not there, leave a note.

I'll see it.

Thank you,

Miss Yixiao.

I didn't know.

He never told me

about his illness.

Chengyang,

go to your father now.

Go stay with him.

Mother,

what about you?

You go first.

I still have a few things to discuss

with your grandfather.

All right.

Mother.

Alright.

Go now.

Okay.

He never told me about it.

I didn't know.

I knew nothing at all.

I'm the Empress of Susha,

his wife.

Yet he kept hiding it from me.

What matters most now is

who will take the throne

after His Majesty dies.

After…

after His Majesty dies?

By right,

you are the Empress,

and Chengyang is your son.

But His Majesty still hasn't

named an heir to this day.

I used to think

he just couldn't decide.

But he's been terminally ill

for 15 years.

How could he not make arrangements for after his death?

There's only one reason

he kept it from you—

the heir he chose

isn't your son.

I didn't know.

He never told me anything.

That's because he doesn't trust you.

Remember this—

I'll make sure Chengyang

takes the throne.

Things won't be peaceful for a while.

Keep your eyes on Chengyang and stay sharp.

Now's not the time

to grieve.

[Rongyang Palace]

[Rongyang Palace]

What?

Are we under house arrest here?

Can't I go out for a walk?

Palace grounds are off-limits.

No outsiders allowed.

Please go back.

No outsiders allowed?

Not even the Prince of Zhennan?

We've been ordered

to prevent anyone from trespassing

on the palace grounds.

[Rongyang Palace]

This path marks the boundary.

Please do not cross it.

Got it.

[Rongyang Palace]

Your Highness.

There are guards at the gate.

They say the palace grounds are off-limits.

Looks like

we're under house arrest here.

They're watching us so closely.

We can't do anything.

I figured as much.

Someone just came to say

the Emperor is hosting a welcome banquet.

Let's see if an opportunity comes up then.

Xia Jingyan is very hostile toward you.

In my view, this welcome banquet

is a trap.

He wouldn't dare kill me.

He did everything he did

in the Empress Dowager's palace today

just to make

the whole world know

he's not afraid of me.

To make it clear

that my life is in his hands.

I'm afraid by now,

every official in court knows

he threatened me with a knife.

How childish.

Even if he won't kill you,

he'll certainly

humiliate you.

Now that we're in Shengjing,

this kind of thing

is bound to happen.

Mother has let you live until now

only out of respect

for Father!

Last night, Father

passed into the afterlife.

You won't live much longer either.

How satisfying!

Why are you just standing there?

Hurry and pull him up.

Take this.

I've circled some names.

Memorize them.

You might need them one day.

[Dai Jin] [Wang Encheng]

Understood.

Where's Her Highness?

Bai Shouzhuo

just sent some servants

to help her settle in.

She's a princess

but is forced

to live in a place as rundown as Rongyang Palace.

It's hard on her.

It truly is.

The floor needs to be cleaner.

Yes.

Move all these away,

and this.

Potted plants…

Put them over there.

-Yes. -Yes.

Put them on that table.

The plants in the courtyard

need to be tended to daily.

-Yes. -Yes.

Thank you.

Your Highness is back.

I asked them

to wash all those

old curtains.

The old furniture

can't be replaced right away,

so I had it cleaned thoroughly.

With everything in order,

I hope it helps

lift your spirits a little.

I never expected

Your Highness would adapt so quickly.

You thought I was spoiled

and would complain

when I saw how old and shabby

the Rongyang Palace is?

Your Highness thought the same?

As long as I'm by your side,

no hardship scares me.

Do you have any wishes?

If it's something I can help with,

I'll fulfill it for you.

Military Advisor Xiao,

would you give us a moment?

Everyone, come out with me.

-Yes. -Yes.

You just said you'd fulfill my wishes for me.

What does that mean?

You're clever, Your Highness.

I believe you already know.

I helped you escape Yujing.

You don't want to be indebted to me,

so you want to help me

fulfill a wish.

If one isn't enough,

you can have three.

Just one is enough.

My wish is

for us to be deeply in love

and stay together forever.

I'm sorry,

but I cannot do that.

♪ Flying alone ♪

♪ With no need for direction ♪

♪ Flying up to the clouds ♪

In that case,

♪ Yet the sun is hiding ♪

you'll just owe me a favor.

I'll tell you when I think of something.

♪ Roaming freely ♪

♪ Unafraid of wind or frost ♪

♪ Don't cry, don't cry ♪

♪ I'll remember the way home ♪

♪ Don't cry, don't cry ♪

Brother,

I've learned about

Father's illness.

Even Lord Ling, with all his skills,

can't do anything?

Will Father

never wake up again?

Don't worry.

His Majesty will certainly wake up.

Really?

Suige,

when Father wakes up,

we should persuade him

not to

work so hard anymore.

I know,

you don't say it out loud,

but deep down,

you care about Father.

Then why is it

that every time you two meet,

you end up arguing?

There are things you don't understand.

And I hope

you never will.

Maybe I don't understand,

but I just

wish you and Father

could get along.

Now that Xiyang

has left Susha,

Father only has

the two of us by his side.

You've grown up.

Much more sensible now.

Uncle!

Uncle!

Uncle.

Uncle.

I'm back.

Forgive me, Uncle.

No loud voices inside the ancestral hall.

Uncle,

as soon as I received your message,

I rushed back as fast as I could.

Just now,

I was so happy to see you

and forgot myself a little.

Please forgive me.

Are you very happy?

In your letter, you said

that old man Feng Pingcheng

is terminally ill.

Of course I'm happy!

Heaven is smiling on us.

No.

It's Brother Jingheng blessing you from above.

He's helping you from above!

Stupid pig!

Stupid pig!

Stupid!

-Stupid! -Uncle.

Stupid!

Uncle, sorry.

Stupid!

Forgive me.

Stupid!

Uncle,

at least tell me

what I did wrong.

Listen,

Feng Pingcheng has to die,

but he must die by my hand!

I can't wait to tear him to pieces!

I will not allow him

to die of illness!

I won't allow it!

All these years of grieving my son's death—

I have sworn

to make him pay a hundredfold,

a thousandfold!

I want him

to watch Feng Suige

die miserably before his eyes.

I want him to kneel at my feet

begging me to spare Feng Suige's life!

All these years,

I've been imagining the day

when Feng Pingcheng, old and grey,

buries his young son.

I want...

I want to see him living

in hell with my own eyes.

How could I let him die from illness?

I summoned you back

because I have a task for you.

I await your command, Uncle.

He's been unconscious for five days.

I can't let him die just like this.

You must find a way at any cost

to wake him up.

Even if it means poison,

you must wake him up!

I want him

to be fully conscious

when he sees Feng Suige

suffer and die!

Understood.

[Memorial Tablet of My Late Aunt Wang]

[Ancestral Virtue and Familial Merit]

Father.

Why are you back?

Your birthday is in two days.

Of course I had to come back

to celebrate it with you.

I came back secretly

just to surprise you.

You're busy with military affairs out there,

serving the country.

That already makes me very proud.

You didn't need to go through

all this trouble to come back.

I'm old now

and don't care about birthdays anymore.

You're not old at all.

You're still strong and vigorous.

Your best days are

yet to come.

By the way,

I've prepared a special gift

for your birthday

this time.

You coming home

already makes me happy.

No need to fuss

over gifts.

A gift is necessary.

It's a surprise.

I won't tell you yet.

I'll go check

how the preparations are going.

Prime Minister,

Elder Marquis Murong is here.

So secretive.

If there's something,

you can just send me a message.

Why force an old cripple like me

to come here in person?

If it weren't something huge,

I wouldn't have

disturbed you.

His Majesty is terminally ill.

Are you aware of this?

What did you say?

So even you didn't know.

His Majesty kept everyone in the dark.

I wonder

who he actually trusts.

Terminally ill?

His Majesty has been unconscious for so long

because he's...

I just found out today,

so I invited you over immediately

to discuss it.

You called me here tonight

surely not just

to tell me about

His Majesty's condition, right?

Back then, we fought for this kingdom

with all our old friends.

We weathered the storms

and rode across battlefields.

Now, among those still alive,

aside from His Majesty,

there are only the two of us left.

Some things

can't be left unspoken forever.

I've heard

that while His Majesty lay ill,

you filled all the key posts

with people

from the Zhuang family.

You know the proposed candidate

for Minister of War—

Liu Qin, Vice Minister of War.

He's not a Zhuang.

But in the end,

he's still your man.

Are you saying

you haven't placed

your own people in the court?

Li Liang at the Court of Judicial Review,

Liu Jin at the Censorate—

aren't they your longtime associates?

And your nephew,

Murong Jie,

holds a key post in the Jinwu Guards.

You've placed quite a few people yourself.

Zhuang Shen,

you called me here today

for the matter

of naming an heir, right?

Yes.

I just want to hear your opinion.

To hear my opinion?

My opinion doesn't matter at all!

Stop beating around the bush.

Even if

His Majesty and the First Prince

fall out

completely,

I'll still advise this:

the heir should be

the eldest legitimate son!

So,

your preferred heir is

the First Prince?

He fought on battlefields for years,

winning one battle after another.

The people of Susha

are all well aware of this.

Who can inherit the throne

depends not on military achievements

but on virtue.

Enough!

You just want your grandson

Feng Chengyang on the throne.

Listen,

unless you can control the whole court,

as long as

I still draw breath,

I'll never agree!

[Zhuang Residence]

Give me a hand.

[Zhuang Residence]

This is the medicine

your father needs to take tonight.

I suggest

you have an imperial physician examine it

so no one will gossip

and accuse me of harming your emperor.

You persuaded Lord Ling

to come back during the day.

Although he's agreed

to continue treating His Majesty,

he's still angry.

Who do you mean?

Me?

I'm still angry?

You think I'd stoop to their level?

Ma Qiming,

I think you're the one who's angry.

You resent me

for revealing Feng Pingcheng's illness.

I know what you're thinking!

I wouldn't dare.

I remember

everything you've done

for His Majesty

all these years.

I'm grateful to you

for saving His Majesty's life.

Eunuch Ma.

Yes.

From now on, if anyone in the palace

dares to speak ill

of Lord Ling again,

just give them 30 strokes of the cane.

If any trouble is caused because of it,

I'll take responsibility.

Yes.

I understand.

Lord Ling.

How is he doing now?

In a day or two at least,

or ten days at most,

he will wake up.

As for how well he'll recover,

that depends on his fate.

Great!

Isn't this my brother,

the Prince of Zhennan?

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Yesterday,

you nearly died by my blade,

and today you still dare to attend the banquet.

You truly don't fear death.

Your Majesty, please don't go too far.

Even if the Prince of Zhennan has displeased you,

he's here at your invitation.

Humiliating him like this

is a step too far!

Brother,

your wife is defending you so fiercely.

Are you moved?

You may rise.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Come.

Brother,

let me introduce you to everyone.

Wang Encheng, Vice Minister of Revenue.

Lu Wang, Minister of Rites.

Shan Huaiqing, Minister of Imperial Stables.

They're all pillars of the court.

Brother,

you should get to know them well.

Be seated.

You may not know this yet.

My brother now

holds a new role in addition to being

the Prince of Zhennan.

He's also the live-in son-in-law of Susha.

For lasting peace between our two nations,

Your Majesty agreed to the Prince of Zhennan staying in Susha.

But the prince has returned on his own.

Doesn't this make Your Majesty

appear to go back on your word?

Leaving Susha

was entirely my decision.

It had nothing to do with His Highness.

If Your Majesty wishes

to punish someone, punish me.

The princess eloped with the prince.

Such a bold act

is truly admirable.

We are deeply impressed.

Enough.

We'll just enjoy ourselves tonight.

Stop talking about that.

I'm in such a great mood today.

Brother,

you must

have a good drink with me tonight.

Go.

Serve His Highness properly.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Please.

You can't even serve wine properly.

Why should I keep you around?

Guards!

Your Majesty, spare me!

Drag her out and beat her to death.

Your Majesty, spare me!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

See?

Someone died because of you again.

Go.

Pour wine for His Highness.

Yes.

Your Majesty.

Please let me

serve His Highness.

Lady Zhuang Jingyuan,

virtuous, gentle,

and graceful,

has pleased me greatly.

She is hereby promoted to fourth-rank Consort Yuan.

End of the decree.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Congratulations, Consort Yuan.

Come to me.

Your Majesty.

Congratulations, Your Majesty.

Her Majesty has given birth to a princess.

Congratulations, Your Majesty.

Wonderful.

Congratulations, Your Majesty.

Now, Your Majesty

has both a son and a daughter.

Yeah, indeed.

Your Majesty.

One day,

I shall also bear

a prince for you, if you wish.

Of course.

Let's go see the Empress.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Her Majesty hasn't eaten her dinner.

She's been sitting there

for several hours

without saying a word.

What are you doing here?

It's so late.

Why are you still up?

Mother,

please take care of yourself.

Don't grieve too much.

[Murong Residence]

Elder Marquis, we're home.

Elder Marquis?

Elder Marquis.

Elder Marquis is missing!

What should we do now?

What happened?

How did my father go missing

after one trip out?

I…

I truly know nothing.

It took us over an hour to get back

from Prime Minister Zhuang's mansion.

I checked the carriage when we arrived,

and the Elder Marquis was

already gone.

Think carefully.

Did anything unusual happen on the way?

Aside from a cow blocking the road…

I got down and led it away.

Nothing else happened.

After moving the cow,

did you check whether my father

was still in the carriage?

No.

I didn't hear a sound,

so I thought

he had fallen asleep.

Where did you see the cow?

Past Yudai Bridge,

at the third intersection.

Right,

there's a crooked tree by the road.

Search every house

in that area.

Even if we have to turn the Yujing City

upside down,

we must find him!

Yes.

Fu Yixiao,

I know it was you.

When I catch you,

I'll skin you alive

and cut you into pieces!

Who are you?

How dare you

abduct me

right under the Emperor's nose?

No wonder you're

a battle-hardened marquis.

Even in danger,

you stay calm

and unafraid.

So you know who I am.

It seems you're my enemy,

but I don't recognize you.

I spent decades guarding the borders,

fighting countless wars.

I've made more enemies than I can count.

Which side are you on?

What grudge do you have against me?

Go on, say it.

I'm all ears.

Years stationed in the freezing north

left your legs in bad shape.

And even so,

His Majesty still wouldn't let you come home

to enjoy your retirement.

Is that why the Murong family

hates His Majesty?

That's all?

I don't even know what you're talking about.

My loyalty to His Majesty

is as clear as day.

I have never hated His Majesty.

Then why is your son, Murong Yao,

plotting mutiny?

It seems you don't believe me.

I joined the army as a boy

and spent decades on the battlefield.

You have no idea

how many people

have tried to frame me for treason

before His Majesty.

If you're going to slander me,

at least come up with something new.

Yao is plotting mutiny?

Sure, he's always been a handful,

but I've never thought of him

as ambitious.

I actually wish he were different

so he wouldn't

spend every day in debauchery

and waste his life.

You think I haven't tried to pull strings

for him in the army and the court?

He just refused.

He won't even take an official post,

but you're saying he's plotting mutiny?

This is the biggest joke

I've heard all year!

Murong Yao conspired with Jinxiu

to assassinate the First Prince.

Do you know what?

Now I know who you are.

You're that female general from Jinxiu—

one of Suige's people.

A Jinxiu general is accusing Yao

of colluding with Jinxiu?

A dissolute playboy

from a noble family

who goes around

with four pretty assassins—

who does he want to kill?

Do you really know

your own son?

Do you know

who he associates with

and who he keeps around him?

You were always away at the border.

Do you really know what he's been doing

here in Yujing?

You call yourself the most loyal official in the court,

but are you sure your son is

as loyal as you?

If he really was

some playboy

without ambitions like you said,

why did he take the job

with the Imperial Guards?

That was arranged by His Majesty.

You just said yourself

that all his life,

he's never followed orders.

He…

My son…

I just feel sorry for you.

Back then, you fought

alongside His Majesty

and ended up with all these injuries.

His Majesty knows this full well,

so why did he still send you to that cold,

barren place in the northwest?

Murong Yao and Feng Suige

are the closest of friends.

But he threatened me,

saying to my face

that if I ever told Feng Suige

his secret,

he'd find a way

to kill Feng Pingcheng,

who's lying in bed in the palace now.

I don't care if Feng Pingcheng lives or dies.

But I won't allow anyone

to hurt Feng Suige.

Impossible!

Yao would never say something like that.

He and Suige

grew up together like brothers!

He would never commit treason!

No matter what method Murong Yao has

to threaten Feng Pingcheng,

as long as I have control over you,

I'm confident

he won't dare make a move.

Elder Marquis,

I apologize.

Are you feeling unwell?

-Are you alright? -Your Highness.

Why did you drink so much?

Could you please go get a towel, Your Highness?

Wait for me here.

Did you see Wang Encheng

just now?

Yes.

You marked his name

in the Daily Chronicle.

And he looks the part too.

I've long heard about Xia Jingyan's peculiarities.

I just never thought

that what the Daily Chronicle mentioned

about his affairs with officials' wives

was actually true.

That Wang Encheng—

see if you can find a way

to get close to him.

Yes.

By the way,

when we went in just now,

was anyone standing guard?

Just two eunuchs stayed in there.

Looks like Xia Jingyan

truly believes you've submitted.

You don't understand him.

Removing the guards was just his way to test me.