Gone with the Rain Episode 14 Recap
> Gone with the Rain Recap
The students of Ding 1 Class at Qingzhou School for Women were known for their interest in clothes and jewelry rather than academics. This sparked whispers among the Ding 2 Class students, who speculated that the Ding 1 students hadn't been admitted through proper examinations, and many had mysterious backgrounds. Mo Xi, overhearing these discussions, grew suspicious, especially wondering about Chen Wende's true purpose at the academy, sensing something significant was about to unfold.
Under the pretense of relaying a poetry assignment from Bai Fengyao, Mo Xi approached the Ding 1 students. She confronted Wu Yin directly, asking if he was involved in Feng Ming's death. Wu Yin offered no explanation. Mo Xi then remarked on his handsome appearance, suggesting he could easily pass as a girl. This angered Wu Yin, who grabbed Mo Xi and demanded she keep his secret, warning her this would be the last time.
He quickly fled upon hearing someone approach. Shortly after, Chen Wende appeared, teasing Mo Xi about her knack for getting into trouble. Mo Xi, dismissing his flirtatious suggestion that he was there for her, pressed him about what secret at the Qingzhou School for Women truly attracted him. Chen Wende advised her to leave the academy as soon as possible, stating that everyone there was extraordinary.
Convinced that too many people with unknown backgrounds posed a danger, Mo Xi decided to pack her belongings, urging Bai Fengyao to leave. She informed Fengyao that many students in Ding 1 Class, including Wu Yin and the archery teacher, were admitted without proper examinations. Shen Shumo then joined them, confirming that the entire Qingzhou School for Women had irregularities with its entrance process.
She showed Fengyao exam papers from Ding 3 Class where students failed to recite basic classics, which was highly unusual for such a prestigious institution. Shen Shumo explained that Sun Jingyun had discovered the principal, Feng Yan, was taking bribes to secretly admit wealthy, but mediocre students. After confronting Feng Yan, Jingyun disappeared.
Shen Shumo also revealed that a letter allegedly left by Jingyun had her handwriting but a distinctly different writing style, leading her to believe Jingyun was missing and possibly harmed by the principal, Feng Yan, whose quiet room contained Jingyun's belongings. Mo Xi, now certain Feng Yan was responsible for Sun Jingyun's disappearance, insisted they leave immediately. However, Fengyao, ever the dedicated teacher, wished to complete her final lesson on the "Book of Songs" the next day before departing.
Later, Wu Yin intercepted Mo Xi, demanding she hand over the items left by Sun Jingyun, which Mo Xi claimed to know nothing about. Chen Wende intervened, causing Wu Yin to retreat. Realizing that Wu Yin and others mistakenly believed the sisters possessed Sun Jingyun's important item, Chen Wende concluded that Bai Fengyao was now in grave danger.
Due to a twisted ankle, Mo Xi asked Chen Wende to carry her to find Fengyao, which he did, albeit with some awkwardness. Upon arriving at the classroom, Mo Xi discovered Fengyao had been summoned by the principal. A student named Xiangnan recounted that Fengyao had left, and everyone in the classroom had inexplicably fallen asleep due to a "hypnotic fragrance." It became clear Fengyao had been abducted.
Mo Xi turned to Chen Wende for help, but he insisted on obtaining Sun Jingyun's item first. Mo Xi then questioned Shen Shumo about the item. Shen Shumo vaguely recalled Jingyun mentioning she had discovered the genuine artwork of the Empress Dowager's treasured scroll. Chen Wende, however, believed the item was far more significant than just a scroll. At that moment, a messenger delivered a letter from Feng Yan, demanding the exchange of Sun Jingyun's treasure for Fengyao's safe return.
Chen Wende led Mo Xi and Shen Shumo to Mo Xi's room to search for the item. Mo Xi mentioned that a black-clad individual had previously infiltrated and ransacked her room, implying that person, likely someone familiar with the academy, had not found what they were looking for. Mo Xi then devised a plan and led them to Feng Mansion.
Mo Xi was struck by the mansion's immense size, prompting Shen Shumo to explain that Feng Yan had used the Qingzhou School for Women as her personal property, accepting bribes for admissions and even falsifying student achievements, all to acquire wealth and establish her family's prominence in Qingzhou. Shen Shumo revealed she had found ghostwritten poems in Feng Yan's quiet room, excellent works that were actually produced by talented, yet rejected, poor students.
She expressed her belief that Feng Yan was behind Jingyun's disappearance. Inside Feng Mansion, they discovered Bai Fengyao chained and under Feng Yan's control. Mo Xi initially attempted to use a counterfeit item to deceive Feng Yan into releasing Fengyao, but then threatened Feng Yan, warning her not to harm Fengyao. Feng Yan demanded the genuine item, then revealed to a shocked Shen Shumo that Sun Jingyun had "brought it upon herself."
She confessed to having killed Jingyun because Jingyun had sought justice for the poor girls who were unfairly rejected from the academy due to Feng Yan's corrupt practices. Feng Yan further admitted to using talented but rejected students to ghostwrite assignments for the wealthy, mediocre ones, thereby maintaining the academy's facade of excellence. Meanwhile, Wu Yin, now in male attire, was seen commanding soldiers to thoroughly search and interrogate teachers and students at the academy as Marquis Mingde's visit loomed.
Back at Feng Mansion, Chen Wende revealed his true identity as an assassin to Feng Yan, explaining he came to assassinate Marquis Mingde. He offered Feng Yan a deal: he would abandon his mission to assassinate Marquis Mingde if she released Bai Fengyao and allowed him to take both sisters away from the academy. Feng Yan, however, refused to release Fengyao so easily.
Chen Wende then exposed Feng Yan's larger scheme, connecting the admission of many "seductive women" in Ding 1 Class to the impending arrival of Marquis Mingde, Zhong Yuqi, in Qingzhou. Feng Yan confirmed that Zhong Yuqi was coming to the Qingzhou School for Women to search for Empress Dowager's artifact, and she intended to use this opportunity to her advantage.
She elaborated that the attractive young women were being groomed for the emperor's harem, a strategy for the families involved to secure influential positions and benefits, and thereby strengthen Zhong Yuqi's faction within the palace. Feng Yan then recounted how Sun Jingyun, after discovering her bribery scheme, had boasted of possessing an item that, if presented to Marquis Mingde and then the emperor, could bring immense glory and change her own and her family's destiny.
Shen Shumo passionately countered Feng Yan's portrayal of Jingyun as a petty opportunist. She explained that Jingyun came from a noble family, whose father was framed and exiled. Jingyun sought the Empress Dowager's item not for personal gain but to secure a pardon and reunite her family. Feng Yan, however, remained unmoved, stating her own family also needed to revive its reputation.
She admitted she had tried to collaborate with Jingyun to present the treasure, but Jingyun refused, not even allowing her to see it. This refusal, Feng Yan claimed, forced her to take "drastic measures." Chen Wende interjected, revealing he knew Feng Yan had used her skills in commissioning ghostwriters to forge a letter in Sun Jingyun's hand to cover her disappearance. Feng Yan finally admitted to killing Sun Jingyun.
When Mo Xi finally handed over the item in exchange for Fengyao, Feng Yan, true to her treacherous nature, immediately activated a hidden mechanism, plunging Mo Xi, Chen Wende, and Shen Shumo into a watery trap.
