Episode Summary
In "Destiny of Love" Episode 22, as Fu Chengjin and Qiao Manman prepare for their wedding, an envoy from the Emperor arrives, unsuccessfully pleading for Fu Chengjin to return to court. Meanwhile, Fu Yunnuo consolidates his power by isolating the Emperor, appointing officials without consent, and ignoring a devastating locust plague. In contrast, Fu Chengjin earns praise for his compassionate leadership in aiding refugees. Enraged by his brother's growing reputation and the discovery that Qiao Manman is alive, Fu Yunnuo orders his guards to massacre everyone in Fu Chengjin's village, sparing only Qiao Manman.
Spoiler Alert
Destiny of Love, Episode 22: Recap & Spoilers
As wedding preparations get underway, Fu Chengjin’s quiet life with Qiao Manman is threatened by the ever-watchful eyes of the capital and the escalating ambition of his brother, Fu Yunnuo.
In the days leading up to their wedding, Fu Chengjin is consumed with creating the perfect ceremony for Qiao Manman. He busies himself with arranging for red silk draperies, lanterns, and candles to fill their home, wanting to give her the wedding of her dreams. Qiao Manman, concerned for his well-being, worries he is overexerting himself, but Fu Chengjin is determined to make everything perfect.
Their peaceful preparations are interrupted by a secret visitor from the palace: a eunuch sent by the Emperor. Over tea, the eunuch delivers a royal summons, urging Fu Chengjin to return to the capital and assist with matters of the court. Fu Chengjin calmly declines, stating that he is now a commoner. He adds that while his brother, Fu Yunnuo, can be impulsive, with patient guidance, he is capable of managing the affairs of the state.
Unbeknownst to them, Fu Yunnuo has spies monitoring both Fu Chengjin and the Emperor. When one of Fu Yunnuo's men learns that Qiao Manman is alive and that Fu Chengjin is planning a wedding, he fears the news will distract his master. Recalling how Fu Yunnuo's past romantic feelings led to indecisiveness, the subordinate takes matters into his own hands. To prevent Fu Yunnuo from losing focus on his quest for power, he silences the informant permanently by killing him.
Meanwhile, Fu Yunnuo grows bolder in his machinations. Furious that the Emperor is still in contact with Fu Chengjin, he issues a secret decree: any palace messengers attempting to reach Fu Chengjin are to be killed on sight. With this order, he effectively severs all communication between the Emperor and his favored son. At court, the Emperor is inundated with memorials from his officials, all transparently orchestrated by Fu Yunnuo to pressure him into naming a crown prince.
The Emperor summons Fu Yunnuo, confronting him about secretly consolidating power and rallying the court officials. Fu Yunnuo deflects, once again proposing his own candidate for the position of General of the Northwest. When the Emperor dismisses the candidate as impractical, Fu Yunnuo brazenly reveals that the man has already been appointed and is actively suppressing bandits—a decision made without imperial consent. The Emperor is enraged by this flagrant usurpation of his authority, but Fu Yunnuo coolly suggests it is time for his father to retire and enjoy his remaining years, ordering the eunuchs to "take good care" of him in a thinly veiled threat.
Fu Yunnuo's arrogance grows unchecked. As a locust plague devastates the capital region, he shows no concern for the suffering of the people. Instead of organizing disaster relief, he is found calmly playing the zither. He instructs his men to conceal the severity of the crisis from the Emperor and to use force against any desperate refugees who cause trouble.
In stark contrast, Fu Chengjin takes decisive action when a wave of refugees arrives in his village. After consulting with the village elder, he levies a tax of fifty buckets of grain from each wealthy household. He uses the grain to make steamed buns, which are then broken into porridge to feed the starving refugees, buying precious time for a larger relief effort.
Fu Chengjin's compassionate and decisive leadership earns him widespread praise among former court officials, who note that his actions are far more befitting of a ruler than Fu Yunnuo's neglect and self-indulgence. When news of this reaches Fu Yunnuo, he is consumed by jealousy. Believing Fu Chengjin has squandered the freedom he was given, and now armed with the knowledge that Qiao Manman is alive, Fu Yunnuo decides to eliminate his brother once and for all. He dispatches his guard, Gui Hu, to the secluded village with a chilling order: spare Qiao Manman, but kill everyone else.
Amidst the looming danger, a small mishap occurs in the wedding preparations when Fu Chengjin accidentally tears the red bridal veil Qiao Manman has been working on. Her loyal attendant, Yue Tao, reassures her and promises to repair it. As their masters have grown closer, so have Yue Tao and Fu Chengjin’s personal guard, Jiu Feng. The two have also fallen in love and plan to spend their lives together.
