Gone with the Rain Episode 17 Recap
> Gone with the Rain Recap
Chen Wende casually ate the noodles Bai Fengyao had prepared for Mo Xi, declaring that he treats everyone like family and there were enough noodles for two. Mo Xi, annoyed, internally thought she hadn't planned to share and tried to quickly finish her meal. Chen Wende found her ravenous eating amusing, to which Mo Xi retorted with a sarcastic remark.
He then teased her, suggesting he'd claim her as his wife if constables came, implying she'd become a fugitive with him, which alarmed Mo Xi. Wu Yin reported to Principal Feng about the day's two assassins; one was dead without evidence, and the other had escaped. She mentioned that the Zhao family patriarch had recommended a Mr. Wen, and her men were investigating the capital. Wu Yin then pressed Principal Feng about Zhang Xiangnan, a student Principal Feng had admitted.
Principal Feng defended Zhang Xiangnan, stating she enrolled less than six months ago and her father, Zhang He, was a retired third-rank imperial general, so there should be no suspicion. However, Wu Yin pointed out that the Qingzhou School for Women did not accept mid-term students, prompting Principal Feng to admit she had taken 100 gold bars for Zhang Xiangnan's admission, but claimed to know nothing else.
Wu Yin then revealed that Zhang Xiangnan's father had confessed her true identity: her real surname was Sun, and she was the sister of Sun Jingyun, who had previously left the school. Their father, a former Deputy Imperial Secretary, had been framed and convicted by the Marquis for impeaching him, leading to the family's exile. Flashbacks showed the sisters' suffering before they were secretly rescued and adopted by Zhang He.
Sun Jingyun later became a tutor at the Qingzhou School for Women, where she learned the Marquis would visit in search of the Empress Dowager's letter, inspiring her plot for revenge. Zhang He then bribed Principal Feng to get Zhang Xiangnan into the school, and together, the three of them planned the Marquis's assassination. Wu Yin confronted Principal Feng, accusing her of being an unwitting accomplice and deserving the death penalty, but offered leniency for a full confession.
Principal Feng confessed that Sun Jingyun had discovered her taking bribes and initially threatened to expose her. However, after Principal Feng mentioned the Marquis's impending visit, Sun Jingyun offered to cooperate, claiming to have found Empress Dowager's calligraphy and asking Principal Feng to leak this information to the Marquis. Principal Feng admitted she hadn't realized Sun Jingyun's true intentions at the time. She had tried multiple times to get the calligraphy from Sun Jingyun, who always refused.
Sun Jingyun's behavior grew strange, and Principal Feng heard engraving sounds from her room at night. One day, while Sun Jingyun was lecturing, Principal Feng snuck into her room and found the calligraphy and engraving tools. Sun Jingyun unexpectedly returned, leading to an argument during which they accidentally tore the calligraphy. Enraged and panicked, Principal Feng knocked Sun Jingyun unconscious and imprisoned her, hoping to extract information about other hidden treasures.
She then forged a letter, claiming Sun Jingyun had left to marry. Principal Feng further explained that due to recent mysterious events at the school, she believed Bai Fengyao might possess the Empress Dowager's treasured scroll. She had kidnapped Bai Fengyao, hoping to leverage her against her sister for the treasure. Her sister came with Mr. Wen and Miss Shen, and Principal Feng questioned them about the treasure to no avail.
Later, fearing the Marquis might discover her actions, she had trapped Mo Xi, Shen Shumo, Bai Fengyao, and Sun Jingyun in a water cell, but only Mo Xi, Shen Shumo, and Bai Fengyao survived. Principal Feng claimed she didn't know Sun Jingyun's current fate. Wu Yin, recalling previous information from threatening Feng Ming, suspected Mo Xi and her sister unknowingly possessed the mine map.
Observing Chen Wende's close relationship with Bai Fengyao, Wu Yin decided not to inform the Secretary General yet, instead ordering her men to discreetly monitor Mo Xi and Bai Fengyao and intervene if anyone attempted to take anything from them. Chen Wende informed Mo Xi he would stay in her room for a few days until the search outside eased.
Mo Xi challenged his claim of being a "traitor," to which Chen Wende clarified he was not a "great hero" either and couldn't simply walk out. He warned her that if she reported him, she would become his accomplice. Mo Xi grumbled about him taking her bed, reminding him not to touch Bai Fengyao's belongings. She then questioned why he, a general, was alone on such a dangerous mission.
Chen Wende explained that the mine map was a confidential matter that only he could handle. He revealed it led to an iron mine that could be used to manufacture large quantities of elite soldiers and sharp weapons. He wanted to prevent the mine map from falling into unscrupulous hands, intending to wait for the right moment to inform the Emperor of the truth.
Mo Xi called him a jinx, recounting how his presence had led to trouble, including his framing as a traitor in Jingzhou. Chen Wende confirmed he was framed while trying to protect the emperor and shared that Wan Jiagui, the leader of the Longxiang Army, had obtained a firearms blueprint and used it to invade Jingzhou.
He stressed his resolve to prevent the mine map from falling into unscrupulous hands, intending to wait for the right moment to inform the Emperor of the truth. Meanwhile, consumed by resentment, Principal Feng, believing Bai Fengyao and her friends had thwarted her plans to revitalize her family, attempted to sneak into the teachers' dormitories to kill them. She was discovered by Madam Zhou, who, seizing the opportunity, killed Principal Feng.
Chen Wende heard the commotion and left Mo Xi's room to investigate. Madam Zhou then blew a sleeping incense into Shen Shumo's room, where Bai Fengyao and Mo Xi were. Bai Fengyao and Mo Xi began to feel dizzy. Chen Wende discovered Principal Feng's body, realizing she had just been killed, and instructed his men to inform his master, deducing that another party was also after the mine map. Madam Zhou then appeared, holding Bai Fengyao hostage.
She demanded the small round pot Mo Xi received upon her arrival, revealing that it was the mine map. Mo Xi retrieved the pot, realizing the engraved map and text on its bottom were what Feng Ming had seen when she accidentally hit him with it, confirming it was Empress Dowager Zhong's mine map. Chen Wende attempted to rescue Bai Fengyao but was intercepted by Wu Yin.
Madam Zhou explained her motive: Sun Jingyun had engraved the map on the pot to ensure no one could find it, but Madam Zhou believed the Empress Dowager's son had the right to it. She recounted how Empress Dowager Zhong had saved her from a plague that had killed her entire family, and she wished to repay this kindness. She had been unaware of the map until she overheard Feng Ming, Principal Feng's younger brother, discussing it.
Feng Ming, after being accidentally hit by Mo Xi, discovered the map on the pot and planned to offer it to the Marquis for a reward. He had spoken disrespectfully of Empress Dowager Zhong, calling her "not powerful" and abandoned during the War of Yanyun. Enraged by his insults, Madam Zhou killed Feng Ming, believing he deserved his fate. Chen Wende engaged Wu Yin in a fight.
The Marquis's Secretary General arrived at the school, having received a letter from Madam Zhou claiming she had found the mine map and requesting a meeting. As the fight continued, Madam Zhou held Bai Fengyao hostage, threatening to kill her. Mo Xi quickly informed everyone that the mine map was on the pot Madam Zhou was holding. Madam Zhou intended to hand the pot to the Marquis's Secretary General, believing it would then reach the Marquis or the Emperor.
Seizing the moment of the Secretary General's arrival as a distraction, Chen Wende fatally stabbed Madam Zhou, rescued Bai Fengyao, handed her to Mo Xi, grabbed the round pot, and swiftly escaped the Qingzhou School for Women. Wu Yin immediately ordered his men to pursue Chen Wende. Worried that Wu Yin had heard Chen Wende's name and would report him to the Marquis, Mo Xi tried to flee the school with Bai Fengyao.
However, they discovered the Marquis had already departed. Realizing that Wu Yin likely hadn't reported Chen Wende, they decided to remain at the school. Later, Shen Shumo inscribed a poem left by Sun Jingyun for her sister, Xiangnan, on a wall in Bai Fengyao's room, explaining it was meant as a clue for the mine map. Bai Fengyao and Mo Xi reaffirmed their strong friendship, vowing to always keep their promises to each other.
Wu Yin, witnessing their bond, expressed envy for their friendship. Shen Shumo then asked if Wu Yin had any friends, to which Mo Xi warmly stated that she was Wu Yin's friend, deeply touching Wu Yin.
