Gone with the Rain Episode 31 Recap
> Gone with the Rain Recap
Mo Xi confronted Chen Wende, asking if he had been drinking again. She listed the detrimental effects of alcohol, warning him of potential headaches, facial distortion, or even bleeding from the seven orifices, and urged him to take care of his health if he truly wished to achieve his goals. Chen Wende, touched by her concern, promised to look after himself better. He teasingly remarked on her rare gentle tone, accustomed to her fierceness and threats.
Mo Xi retorted, calling him a "paper tiger." Wan Jiagui, backed by Zhong Yuqi, had amassed a force of 100,000 soldiers and launched an attack on Qingzhou City. From the city walls, Mo Xi observed the approaching army, commenting on their vast numbers. Chen Wende, however, scoffed at the threat, asserting that while Wan Jiagui’s entire force numbered 100,000, the troops currently visible were merely a vanguard of 10,000.
He then accused Mo Xi of secretly hoping for his defeat so she could reunite with her former lover. Mo Xi questioned his jealousy, to which Chen Wende vehemently denied it, claiming he was simply stating that Wan Jiagui's large but disparate army would be no match for his unified forces. Mo Xi reminded him that Wan Jiagui had previously driven him out of Jingzhou City and expressed her concern.
Despite her limited understanding of military strategy, she sensed that this battle was far more perilous than the last, and losing Qingzhou could have dire consequences for him. Internally, she wondered why she felt such concern for Chen Wende. Chen Wende then instructed Mo Xi to fulfill her duties as a general's wife. Mo Xi, assuming he intended something untoward, furiously told him to seek brothels instead of bothering her.
Chen Wende clarified that he merely wanted her to make socks for his soldiers. He asserted that wearing socks sewn by the general's wife would fill the men with warmth and unite them in battle. Mo Xi, shocked, accused him of being crazy, protesting that there were over 40,000 soldiers, and making socks for all of them was an impossible task. Chen Wende dismissed her complaints, insisting it was her duty.
Later, while Mo Xi was toiling over the needlework, Chen Wende mocked her poor sewing skills. She tried to escape to a side room for the night, but Chen Wende stopped her, suggesting she could continue the work another day and enlist the maids to help, thereby dividing the massive task into smaller portions. The next day, Wan Jiagui's forces launched their first attack on Qingzhou City but were repelled.
Later that night, while patrolling his camp, Wan Jiagui was dismayed to find his soldiers openly gambling and drinking, despite the recent defeat. A subordinate also reported that leaders of the reinforcement troops were causing trouble and harassing local women in the city. Seeing Wan Jiagui's exhaustion from the day's events, Fengyao brought him chicken broth, urging him to take care of himself.
She then shared her insights on military strategy, suggesting that to successfully rescue Mo Xi, he must unify his diverse army and enforce strict discipline, even if it meant executing rule-breakers. She warned that such drastic measures could alienate the powerful factions behind the various reinforcement troops and jeopardize his future career.
Wan Jiagui acknowledged her talent and insight but declared that in the face of the enemy, he could not afford hesitation, and would implement the necessary changes, even if it carried risks to his reputation. Fengyao observed that he was gambling with his career, predicting that even a victory might tarnish his future standing. Chen Wende, elated by his army's initial victory, decided to tour the encampment with Mo Xi, bringing the socks she had reluctantly sewn.
He instructed his soldiers to line up, announcing that the "Madam" had personally made these socks as a reward. The soldiers were deeply moved, expressing gratitude and admiration for Mo Xi's "exceptional needlework," which supposedly featured lotus embroideries symbolizing blessings for safe return and victory. They pledged their loyalty and commitment to fight bravely for their general and his wife.
Mo Xi, however, confronted Chen Wende, accusing him of lying to the soldiers by claiming she had made all the socks herself, which was not her intention. Chen Wende justified his actions by explaining that the socks were a crucial morale booster for soldiers facing a fierce battle.
He then ordered her to continue making more socks with the maids, revealing to Xiao Wu that his true intention was to keep Mo Xi busy and prevent her from dwelling on thoughts of escape or her former lover. Xiao Wu warned him that such harsh treatment would only make her angrier, but Chen Wende seemed unfazed. Wan Jiagui moved to consolidate his army, executing over ten soldiers who violated military discipline to establish his authority.
Wu Yin warned him that this drastic measure would offend various powerful factions, potentially hindering his future career in court. However, Wan Jiagui was resolute, prioritizing the eradication of traitors over his personal prospects. Wu Yin further reminded him that the war had been stalemated for some time, and his time was running out. Amidst these mounting concerns about the war's stalemate and dwindling supplies, Wu Yin paid an uninvited visit to Wan Jiagui.
She proposed that he allow her to direct 10,000 men within a few days for a secret operation. Wan Jiagui, however, refused to cooperate unless she revealed her plans, which she claimed were classified to the Wu family. He asserted his authority, threatening to behead her for insubordination if she continued to conceal information.
He made it clear that the troops were assembled to capture a traitor, not to be used for the Wu family's conspiracies, and vowed to punish her severely if he attempted anything harmful to the court or the people. Wu Yin, undeterred, simply told him to anticipate future events and then left. Wan Jiagui, suspicious, ordered his men to monitor Wu Yin.
Wu Yin then discussed with her subordinate, Wang Yi, that since Wan Jiagui refused to cooperate, they would have to find a way to have him removed from his position to secure the iron ore mine for the marquis. Chen Wende personally led his troops onto the battlefield. Wan Jiagui, seeing this, also joined the fray, and the two generals engaged in a fierce duel. After several rounds, neither gained a clear advantage.
However, observing the heavy casualties among his own men, Wan Jiagui decided to order a retreat. As he withdrew, he fired an arrow, striking and injuring Chen Wende. Later that night, Mo Xi awoke to find Chen Wende lying beside her, injured. She noticed his arm had been hit by an arrow and immediately questioned his recklessness, scolding him for personally engaging in battle as the chief general and risking his life.
Chen Wende, however, retorted that the arrow came from her "loved one," suggesting she might be happy about his injury and asking if she would return to Wan Jiagui if he were defeated. Mo Xi dismissed his jealousy, clarifying that she never wished him harm. She pointed out that while Wan Jiagui might only face demotion for losing, Chen Wende would lose his life.
Chen Wende, though, focused on his victory, asserting that despite his injury, his army had thoroughly defeated Wan Jiagui, and Zhong Yuqi would not easily spare him. Mo Xi, unsettled by their exchange, wondered why she felt upset after their arguments. Mo Xi noticed Chen Wende had been giving her the cold shoulder and wondered what she had done to offend him.
Xiao Wu approached her, explaining that Chen Wende's moodiness stemmed from his deep affection for her, which he felt was unreciprocated. Xiao Wu gently suggested that Chen Wende might be bothered by her true feelings, hinting that he cared about whom she genuinely loved. Though Xiao Wu quickly dismissed his own words as nonsense, Mo Xi was left pondering if Chen Wende's jealousy truly indicated deep feelings for her. Later, Chen Wende visited the armory where weapons were forged.
He was informed that many craftsmen, some of whom were his former comrades, had fallen ill over the past three days. Their symptoms included pallor, weakness, intermittent seizures, and fever, but it did not appear to be a common cold. The number of afflicted had grown from five to over thirty, with new cases appearing recently. Recognizing the severity of the situation, Chen Wende immediately dispatched Chen Li to summon all physicians from the city to treat them. Meanwhile, Mo Xi, still thinking of Wan Jiagui, surmised that since Chen Wende hadn't boasted about severely injuring him, Wan Jiagui must be safe.
