Gone with the Rain Episode 8 Recap
> Gone with the Rain Recap
Bai Wentai, emaciated and suffering in prison, was visited by his wife, his son Bai Pengkun, and his daughter, Bai Fengyao. He pleaded with Fengyao to accept the arranged marriage to the Wu family's foolish son, hoping it would secure his release. Witnessing her family's desperation and their readiness to sacrifice her, Fengyao felt a profound disappointment in her relatives, ultimately agreeing to the marriage.
Meanwhile, Mo Xi confessed to Chen Wende that her initial goal was to exact revenge on the Bai family, which led her to interfere with Fengyao's previous engagement to Wan Jiagui. Now, seeing Fengyao forced into a miserable marriage, Mo Xi felt immense guilt and wanted to atone for her actions. She knew Chen Wende and Prime Minister Wu were sworn enemies and cunningly persuaded him to help Fengyao escape the marriage.
Chen Wende agreed, even suggesting he had found a suitable match for Fengyao. Upon returning home, Mo Xi found Fengyao waiting in the courtyard, having brought her food. Fengyao confirmed she had agreed to the Wu family marriage. Mo Xi urged her to delay the wedding for a few more days, assuring her that a turning point would come. Indeed, following Fengyao's agreement, Prime Minister Wu released Bai Wentai from prison and sent five boxes of betrothal gifts.
Capitalizing on her parents' joy, Fengyao proposed consulting the Imperial Divination Office's erudite to select an auspicious wedding date, a clever tactic to postpone the marriage and ensure the Bai family was not looked down upon by the arrogant Wu family. As Mo Xi and Fengyao waited for the situation to change, officers from the Longxiang Army arrived, requesting to see Fengyao.
They announced that Left General Wan Jiagui and his troops had been ambushed and killed by bandits while passing through Guanzhong. The Provincial Governor of Guanzhong, while handling the aftermath, discovered Wan Jiagui's last letter, which explicitly stated his deep admiration for Fengyao. He had reluctantly canceled their betrothal to avoid delaying her happiness due to his dangerous military duties, and he requested the Longxiang Army to look after her as his widow.
Seizing this unexpected opportunity, Fengyao declared her willingness to mourn Wan Jiagui for three years and asked General Chu Wei, the commander of the Longxiang Army, to intercede with Prime Minister Wu to cancel her current engagement. Her mother was astonished by Fengyao's bold move but Fengyao reasoned that General Chu's upright character and influence with the Emperor would make Prime Minister Wu cautious.
However, Prime Minister Wu privately summoned Bai Wentai, revealing that General Chu had already mentioned Fengyao's previous betrothal. Prime Minister Wu, feigning surprise, brought Wan Jiagui’s parents to verify the authenticity of the last letter. Wan’s father immediately stated that the letter was not written by his son, citing their family's disbelief in superstitious talk about "fate in the next life." With the letter discredited as fake, Prime Minister Wu refused to abandon the marriage with the Bai family.
Determined to help Fengyao, Mo Xi visited Wan Jiagui's parents. She asserted that Wan Jiagui truly held deep feelings for Bai Fengyao, explaining that Fengyao had given him a unique jade plaque from the Bai family, which Wan Jiagui cherished and carried at all times. The Wan parents remembered seeing such a plaque on their son and were convinced that he indeed favored Fengyao. They agreed to attest to the court that Fengyao was Wan Jiagui's intended widow.
Mo Xi, however, cautioned them against revealing the details of the jade plaque, as private exchanges between unmarried individuals could harm Fengyao's reputation, especially in her current state of grief. Based on the Wan parents' testimony, the Emperor issued a decree, bestowing upon Fengyao the title of a Madam of the Court. The decree allowed her to mourn Wan Jiagui for three years, after which she would be free to marry again.
To prevent any future interference from Prime Minister Wu, Fengyao publicly declared herself a permanent member of the Wan family and vowed to remain a faithful widow for Wan Jiagui for the rest of her life. Her mother was furious at this decision, unable to accept her daughter sacrificing her future, but Fengyao stood firm, asserting her ability to live independently. While Mo Xi maintained a composed facade, her heart was filled with a bitter sadness.
The Emperor, deeply impressed by Fengyao's strong moral character, rewarded the Bai family. Bai Wentai was granted a vacant position in the Ministry of Revenue, and Bai Pengkun received a coveted spot in the Directorate of Education. Before departing from Jingzhou, Chen Wende paid a final visit to Mo Xi. Even his attendant, Xiao Wu, noticed the depth of Chen Wende's feelings for her.
Chen Wende reflected on how his plan to use the fake letter to cause friction between Prime Minister Wu and Commander Chu had nearly failed when Prime Minister Wu discovered the forgery. However, Mo Xi's clever use of the jade plaque not only cemented Fengyao's status but also revealed an unexpected layer to Wan Jiagui's character. He knew his pursuit against Prime Minister Wu would continue, but for now, Jingzhou was not where he could achieve his goals.
