Qingchuan's Veil of Vengean Recap, Plot, Synopsis

Qingchuan's Veil of Vengean Synopsis

In the tenth year of the Zhanghe era, Xia Qiguang is sent by his father, the Prince of Jing, to become the disciple of Mo Wang by chance. The young nobleman scorns this so-called "The World's Greatest Master," but greatly admires the female general Mo Qingchuan, who defends the nation. Unbeknownst to him, the very person before him—Mo Wang—is Qingchuan herself. As master and disciple save and protect each other, they rebuild the Mo Army and embark on a journey to restore honor to the legendary legion of heroes.

Qingchuan's Veil of Vengean Recap

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In the interrogation room, Mo Qingchuan was beaten all over, covered in wounds, yet mocked the torturers, saying their efforts were merely tickling her. That year was the second year of the Xia calendar. Blood dripped from Mo Qingchuan’s legs onto the ground, and from it sprouted green plants. Even the torturers were moved, urging her to surrender, promising that the Chu kingdom would reward her richly.

But Mo Qingchuan firmly refused to give up an inch of land, declaring the Mo Army would never retreat. Four years later, at the beginning of spring, the weather remained bitterly cold with heavy snow falling. The northern blizzards had taken many lives, and people lamented how life only got worse by the day.

Yet inside the courtyard of Prince Jing’s residence, Prince Jing was ruthlessly whipping the Young Lord Xia Qiguang, ordering him to go to the Cao residence and apologize. But Xia Qiguang, though beaten, steadfastly refused. The steward tried to persuade him, saying that Cao Ling’an relied on the Empress Dowager’s support to seize good farmland and oppress women, and Xia Qiguang had already done more than enough—there was no need to apologize.

Helpless, Prince Jing could only sit down and try reasoning with Xia Qiguang, hoping he would understand the situation. But Xia Qiguang was already fully aware. Prince Jing had been relegated to the position of a powerless noble because years ago, Empress Dowager Cao helped Emperor Zhang Ping secure the throne and stabilize the court by purging the Xia clan’s power. To protect himself, Prince Jing voluntarily requested a fief. Xia Qiguang was left in the capital, essentially a hostage.

Yet Xia Qiguang believed that even with all his father’s compromises, peace in court could never be achieved. Prince Jing had received his orders—he was to leave for his fief the day after tomorrow. Concerned that Xia Qiguang wouldn't be safe, he had requested a teacher for him. As soon as he said this, Jiang Kui arrived to inform Xia Qiguang to greet his new mentor.

Jiang Kui, once rumored to be a bloodthirsty killer in the martial world, now appeared to be a sweet young girl claiming to have turned over a new leaf. Watching her leave, Prince Jing was overwhelmed with emotion. The person he had long awaited had finally returned—this person was once Prince Jing’s military advisor. Jiang Kui waited in the courtyard. Xia Qiguang followed the address she gave and arrived to find Ms. Mo.

Jiang Kui reminded Xia Qiguang that his teacher was resting and asked him to wait, but Xia Qiguang was visibly dissatisfied. The two suddenly began to spar in the courtyard. At first, Jiang Kui was no match for him and was about to lose her temper when Ms. Mo—Mo Wang—emerged from within. Xia Qiguang was briefly stunned by Mo Wang’s beauty, but he directly stated his doubts about becoming her disciple.

He said he loved martial arts and was only there because of his father’s insistence, so he wanted to know whether Mo Wang was highly skilled. Upon hearing she was not, Xia Qiguang immediately refused to become her disciple, stating he only admired those with superior martial prowess. His lifelong wish was to become a great general like Mo Qingchuan and one day reclaim Qingchuan Town.

However, Mo Wang considered Mo Qingchuan a traitor who betrayed her country for personal gain. Xia Qiguang’s eyes filled with anger—he was certain Mo Qingchuan wasn’t a traitor. Twelve years ago, he had witnessed Mo Qingchuan head into battle when she was just fifteen. She had taken an enemy general’s head amid ten thousand troops, earned numerous military merits afterward, and her defense of the borders deterred the enemy from further attacks. But at this point, Xia Qiguang stopped speaking.

Mo Wang picked up where he left off: In the seventh year of Zhang Ping’s reign, the war between Chu and Xia broke out. Mo Junshan died of illness, and command of the Mo Army passed to his brother Mo Junyu. Mo Qingchuan was besieged at the Chuanhe Inn, trapped like a cornered beast. The enemy general Feng Shiye offered her great rewards to surrender, and Mo Qingchuan cast aside her sword and surrendered.

Xia Qiguang completely rejected this version of events. He believed someone who held life and death so lightly would never betray their country. Even if the entire world thought she was a traitor, he would never believe it. Mo Wang suddenly stared Xia Qiguang down, asking him: What if Mo Qingchuan really did betray the town? This only increased Xia Qiguang’s resentment toward her, and he turned to leave, no longer willing to become her disciple.

But Jiang Kui blocked his way, pressing his head down—this was now considered an official apprenticeship, because Mo Wang had promised Prince Jing she would take Xia Qiguang as her student. As Xia Qiguang left, he turned back to look at where Mo Wang lived, recalling her question: What if Mo Qingchuan truly betrayed them? At that moment, he felt that even if she did, she must have had no other choice.

That night, Mo Wang dozed at the table, but her mind returned to the scene of Mo Qingchuan being surrounded years ago. She woke up in fright. Jiang Kui, beside her, noticed she had the same nightmare again. Soon after, Mo Wang received a note: “There is no tomorrow in the capital.” She immediately realized something had happened to Prince Jing and rushed off with Jiang Kui. In the outskirts, Prince Jing was bidding farewell to Xia Qiguang.

They wouldn’t meet again for another three years. Just as they were parting reluctantly, a group of assassins launched a surprise attack. Xia Qiguang told the steward to protect Prince Jing and went to face the attackers himself. But to his shock, the steward suddenly turned on them and killed Prince Jing. Xia Qiguang rushed over to save him but was also injured by the steward. Nevertheless, he managed to kill the traitorous steward.

More enemies swarmed in, but Mo Qingchuan and Jiang Kui arrived just in time to rescue Xia Qiguang and capture one of the assassins alive. Xia Qiguang begged Mo Wang to save his father, but fainted from exhaustion. Mo Wang interrogated the captive and found he had been poisoned. She fed him a stronger poison, forcing him to reveal the entire plan.

The assassins belonged to the Suoque Sect and had been ordered to kill Prince Jing, destroy the body, and make it look like a vendetta from the martial world. After learning everything, Mo Wang fired a signal flare to report success and then let the captive go. She then instructed Jiang Kui to leave a message for the imperial court, so the court would know who was behind it all. Jiang Kui carved the words “The Suoque Sect was here” into a tree. Mo Wang then ordered Silver Cicada, Chen Yi, to set the scene ablaze.

When Xia Qiguang was a child, Shen Zhaorong lived in the capital with him, separated from her husband, and promised to take good care of Xia Qiguang. Prince Jing left reluctantly. Xia Qiguang saw this scene again in his dream and woke up in shock. Seeing the bandaged wound on his wrist, he recalled that the butler had cut his wrist the night before. Jiang Kui was thrilled to see Xia Qiguang coming out of his room.

She had been taking care of him for over ten days, and now that he was awake, she no longer had to. She excitedly handed the medicine pot to Xia Qiguang and was about to leave, but was stopped by Mo Wang, who had just returned. Xia Qiguang remembered that this was the master his father had begged for him, and the thought of his father’s tragic death made him ask to see Prince Jing.

But Mo Wang coldly told him that she had already burned Prince Jing's body, which was just an empty shell. Furious that he didn’t get to see his father one last time, Xia Qiguang argued, but Mo Wang coldly reminded him that the farewell outside the city was his final goodbye, and he should remember that moment.

She also told him that he had to choose: either to become someone like his father who endured the darkness or to walk away entirely. But once he chose, there should be no regrets. Xia Qiguang bitterly declared that he would avenge his father. Mo Wang then told him that the people of the Suoque Sect had been ambushed under orders. Behind it all was the imperial court. The Suoque Sect was composed of death row convicts.

She deliberately set a fire, destroying all evidence, including the fact that Xia Qiguang was still alive. Now, to the outside world, Xia Qiguang was a dead man. Xia Qiguang thanked her for her help, but Mo Wang reminded him that if he had actually attacked her earlier, it would have been a betrayal of master and ancestors. However, considering his grief over his father’s death, she would go easy and punish him with kneeling for an hour.

Jiang Kui was secretly delighted—Mo Wang was like a demon king. But before she could gloat, she too was punished and sent to watch over the medicine. Although punished, Xia Qiguang seemed to see his father again and remembered what he had said before.

In his father’s eyes, although Mo Wang was a mix of eccentric genius, lunatic, and death warrior, the rise of the Cicada Agency was thanks to her, and if it ever perished, it would also be because of her. No matter what, she was the one most worthy of trust. Mo Wang stood alone in a bamboo grove with her hands behind her back, waiting for Qi Yun, the deputy general of the Mo Army's vanguard unit, to arrive.

Unable to contain his eagerness, Qi Yun tried to spar with her, only to find that she had lost all her inner strength. Mo Wang explained that her internal power had been abolished. Enraged, Qi Yun knelt and paid respects to her—it turned out that Mo Wang was none other than Mo Qingchuan from years ago. The Mo Army had been disbanded for four years.

Mo Wang insisted that from now on, no one was to call her Mo Qingchuan—only Mo Wang. She appointed Qi Yun as the new manager of the capital's storefront, reminding him that in business, he must be amiable and not scare off customers with his soldierly demeanor. Qi Yun would go undercover at the Cicada Agency, gathering intelligence.

Meanwhile, they deliberately leaked information—now everyone knew that the leader of the Cicada Agency was not Prince Jing, but a mysterious woman named Mo Wang, the most brilliant master in the world. Once the Young Lord returned to the capital, his orphan status would stir public sympathy. The imperial court had also discovered the Suoque Sect and would soon make arrests. What Mo Wang worried about now was her mother.

Luckily, she would be returning to the capital soon, and Mo Wang intended to personally visit Mo Junyu, the Grand Commandant. At the same time, Cao Ling’an and Mo Junyu were discussing the assassination of Prince Jing. They knew that the person who had deliberately left clues about the Suoque Sect wanted them to wipe it out—but they had no choice but to follow through.

Mo Wang removed the bandages from Xia Qiguang’s wrist and saw the injury was serious—it would take a while to heal. She told Jiang Kui to train with him in one-handed combat. When Xia Qiguang sparred with Jiang Kui, he quickly picked up her moves, surprising Mo Wang with his talent, though she did not show it. She then handed him a book for self-training. Xia Qiguang trained every day, but progress was slow.

From Jiang Kui, he learned that Mo Wang got up early every day to exercise—she was a total devil, and not worth learning from. But Mo Wang trained even harder. One day when she returned, she said she was going to the Suoque Sect. Xia Qiguang, practicing nearby, immediately asked to go with her, and Mo Wang agreed. On a slope not far from the Suoque Sect, several people were watching, curious to see who the court would send.

They were surprised to see it was a major general of the Black Armor Army, prompting Mo Wang to sarcastically remark that the Xia dynasty was rotten to the core. They entered the main hall and intercepted Cao Ling’an, who had just finished killing someone. Cao Ling’an asked Xia Qiguang to come back with him and plead with the Empress Dowager. Xia Qiguang demanded to know why he killed Prince Jing, but Cao Ling’an flatly denied it.

Mo Wang told Xia Qiguang to fight him using his other hand—good practice. With Mo Wang’s guidance, Xia Qiguang easily defeated Cao Ling’an. Mo Wang interrogated Cao Ling’an about who was behind the manipulation of the Suoque Sect, but he refused to speak. In a rage, she killed him. She then said she was heading to the capital and asked Xia Qiguang if he would go with her.

Remembering his father's words—that Mo Wang was the most trustworthy—Xia Qiguang sincerely knelt and acknowledged her as his master. Jiang Kui was overjoyed—she finally had a junior disciple. Mo Wang said she wanted Xia Qiguang to become a major general in the Black Armor Army. Xia Qiguang replied that the army was too dirty. But Mo Wang said a military unit was only as good as its leadership. Seeing the determination in her eyes, Xia Qiguang understood and immediately agreed. Soon, the group arrived in the capital. Last time, when they returned, Mo Wang was still Mo Qingchuan and was welcomed with fanfare. But now, everything had changed.

On the battlefield, Chen Siqi was nearly killed, but was saved in time by Mo Qingchuan. At that moment, Chen Siqi was deeply grateful to her. Today marked the day of Chen Siqi's promotion, and guests came in an endless stream to offer their congratulations, with gifts piling up in the room. Mo Qingchuan quietly watched everything from the shadows.

Chen Siqi seemed very satisfied with his current life—feeling he could finally live up to the spirits of his deceased parents, give his younger sister a good life, and bring honor to his family name. Mo Qingchuan did not disturb Chen Siqi and his sister, choosing instead to leave silently. The next day, she stood on the attic with Jiang Kui, helping her identify former members of the Mo Army.

It was the day of Prince Jing’s funeral, and officials from the court had gathered to pay their respects. Chen Siqi had once served as the deputy commander of the vanguard battalion in the Mo Army—he was cheerful and skilled in martial arts, and possibly one of the targets to be eliminated. He now held the position of Guard Commander, ranked fourth-grade.

Zhou Zheng, currently serving as the Mo Army's chief secretary, was known for his integrity and now held the third-grade rank of Left Supervisor in the Court of Judicial Review. He was under investigation. Mo Junyu arrived with Cao Yuyan, the beloved niece of Empress Dowager Cao and the woman he loved most. Yet, Mo Junyu was also marked for death. After the Empress Dowager and the Emperor arrived, Xia Qiguang publicly told the Empress Dowager about Prince Jing’s assassination.

Members of the Cicada Agency brought Cao Ling’an, already caged, and handed over the Golden Cicada to Xia Qiguang. Xia Qiguang enumerated Cao Ling’an’s crimes: protecting death-row prisoners to establish the Suoque Sect, colluding to eliminate political enemies, and even poisoning members of the sect—a crime that could be proven. Cao Ling’an was now unable to speak. He and Chen Siqi had used poison to control death-row prisoners, turning them into their tools. Poison was found at the scene.

Chen Siqi rushed forward in panic, pulling the cloth from Cao Ling’an’s mouth, begging him to speak and not implicate him. But Cao Ling’an still couldn’t speak, and even Xia Qiguang didn’t understand why. Xia Qiguang pleaded with the Empress Dowager to have Zhou Zheng thoroughly investigate the matter. With everyone watching, the Empress Dowager had no choice but to agree. Chen Siqi was also taken into custody. Chen Siqi’s jade pendant fell to the ground.

He shouted loudly, demanding to retrieve it, but Zhou Zheng picked it up and held it in his hand. Seeing this, Mo Wang remembered that during her secret investigation, Zhou Zheng’s name had appeared in a memorial impeaching the Mo Army. She then instructed Jiang Kui to go to Zhou Zheng’s house and see if there was anything interesting there. The Cicada Agency delivered their badge along with a priceless luminous pearl.

However, Xia Qiguang handed everything to the Empress Dowager, claiming it was Prince Jing’s final wish—to help resolve the northern snow disaster. The Golden Cicadas could be exchanged for silver notes and entitled one to all profits of the Cicada Agency. The Empress Dowager was very pleased and ordered Xia Qiguang to stay in the capital to observe mourning for three years. After that, he could return to his fief. Mo Wang watched everything coldly from an inconspicuous corner.

In her view, with Prince Jing dead, the connection between the Cicada Agency and the court was broken. Now only Xia Qiguang could carry on. Jiang Kui couldn’t understand why Mo Wang, at such a painful moment for Xia Qiguang, was only thinking of how he could be useful. But Mo Wang believed that instead of crying with Xia Qiguang, it was better to avenge Prince Jing with him. After all, this was the path Xia Qiguang had chosen.

The Empress Dowager investigated Mo Wang’s background extensively and discovered that no one had ever seen her true face. She was said to be hideous and always wore a mask. She had only descended from the mountain three years ago, taking in the nation's most infamous playboy Bai Liang, the second-ranked master of lightning strikes Qiu Yin, and the number one enchantress Jiang Kui as her disciples. She proclaimed herself the number one eccentric master in the world.

After taking over the Cicada Agency, she claimed to be the richest person in the world, a boast the Empress Dowager found laughable and self-aggrandizing. The Empress Dowager suspected that Cao Ling’an’s silence by poisoning had deeper reasons. Before arriving, Xia Qiguang had given the Suoque Sect’s account books to the Empress Dowager. They implicated many high-ranking officials. She had thought Xia Qiguang had powerful guidance behind him, but after reviewing the ledgers, they didn’t seem that extraordinary.

Still, Cao Ling’an had to be silenced—there was concern he might implicate others. Prince Jing had left a letter for Mo Wang, which Xia Qiguang handed to her. When Mo Wang went to offer incense to Prince Jing, Jiang Kui felt heartbroken. Three Golden Cicadas were handed over—money she had acquired through raids and robberies. Though corrupt officials had been robbed, none dared speak out.

The Cicada Agency now had roots deep in the court, all thanks to Prince Jing’s secret planning. Mo Wang gave more Golden Cicadas to Xia Qiguang, believing it all rightfully belonged to him and wishing to protect it with him. Xia Qiguang feared that although the Empress Dowager let him stay in the army, she might never truly entrust him with power.

But Mo Wang had her own plans: she arranged for Xia Qiguang to report to the barracks the next day to enlist. She suggested it’d be best if he could squeeze out a few tears; if not, he should loudly declare his determination to serve. If met with resistance, he should offer bribes to get in and let people say they were coerced by Xia Qiguang and had nothing to do with it.

That way, he could smoothly enter the military. Xia Qiguang didn’t expect Mo Wang to know the inner workings so well. Inside the military camp, no one really saw Xia Qiguang as a soldier because of Mo Wang’s status as the Young Lord. Yet Xia Qiguang was very proactive, waking early to wash everyone’s clothes and serve tea. When Commander Cao Huaitai heard of this, he deliberately summoned Xia Qiguang and, after dismissing everyone, began beating him severely.

Xia Qiguang, recalling Mo Wang’s words, thought of how his father had endured countless humiliations over the years and vowed to endure as well. No matter how hard Cao Huaitai beat him, he remained indifferent. Cao Huaitai’s subordinates feared he might truly injure Xia Qiguang and reminded him that Xia Qiguang had given the Empress Dowager three Golden Cicadas. Cao Huaitai finally relented but ordered him to clean the stables as punishment. While doing so, Xia Qiguang saw former members of the Mo Army doing the dirtiest, most exhausting tasks—and still being whipped.

Back then, after Chen Siqi was captured, the Chu State demanded that he lure out Mo Qingchuan. But Chen Siqi would rather die than comply. He was beaten black and blue, yet still refused to do it. However, his enemies threatened him with his sister, who was pregnant at the time. After thinking it over, Chen Siqi finally committed something against his conscience. Chen Siqi was imprisoned and burning with anxiety, hoping to be released soon.

When he saw Zhou Zheng approaching, he hurriedly begged for mercy. But Zhou Zheng believed Chen Siqi couldn’t be released for now. Although Cao Ling’an was already dead, Zhou Zheng held an account book that contained enough incriminating evidence to have Chen Siqi beheaded. Zhou Zheng also knew that Chen Siqi must have been set up, but couldn’t figure out who he had offended.

In fact, the account book had been left at Zhou Zheng’s door by Jiang Kui, who only left after seeing him take it. At Zhou Zheng’s residence, she didn’t find much silver, and it appeared very modest, making her think he was an honest official. But to Mo Wang, Zhou Zheng had grown up poor, and she only hoped he was truly worthy of the title “good official.”

As Zhou Zheng was enjoying his meal, he saw Mo Junyu returning with Cao Yuyan. His eyes instinctively went to Cao Yuyan, who gave a slight nod as a greeting. It was Mo Junyu who took the initiative to ask Zhou Zheng about Chen Siqi and questioned why the case hadn’t been closed. This made Zhou Zheng start to wonder whether Mo Junyu had some kind of leverage that Chen Siqi might be holding over him.

Qingchuan Town and Biluohua River had always been places Mo Wang liked, but since things in the capital hadn’t settled, they couldn’t return for now. Jiang Kui was feeling a bit bored and wished Xia Qiguang would come back to keep her company. Mo Wang believed they would be able to return soon. Empress Dowager Cao was reviewing memorials. As long as she approved something, the Emperor would too.

On the surface, she suggested that the Emperor take over governance, but in reality, he handed everything back to her, which made her quite pleased. When Cao Huaitai submitted a memorial proposing punishment for Xia Qiguang, the Empress Dowager believed he was holding a grudge because Prince Jing had once flogged him with a military staff and now wanted revenge through Xia Qiguang. As a result, instead of punishing him, she had Mo Junyu arrange a civil post for him.

Xia Qiguang returned to visit Mo Wang. As soon as he entered the courtyard and saw Mo Wang’s graceful figure, he was momentarily dazed. But regaining his focus, he handed her his official appointment document. Mo Wang noticed the blood at the corner of Xia Qiguang’s mouth and angrily asked who had hit him. Xia Qiguang didn’t say and instead claimed that suffering a little grievance was nothing.

He planned to assume his military post the next day and wanted Mo Wang to accompany him as a witness to this moment in his life. It was also the day of the martial arts tournament. Mo Wang refused, saying the Cicada Agency had matters to attend to. But once Xia Qiguang mentioned he had seen former Mo Army members being abused, Mo Wang immediately canceled all her plans and agreed to go personally.

Jiang Kui also insisted on going, and Mo Wang agreed. At the martial arts tournament, under Cao Huaitai’s instruction, someone volunteered to spar with Xia Qiguang. On Mo Wang’s signal, Xia Qiguang agreed. His opponent demanded that the duel be to the death, and the two fought fiercely. Xia Qiguang easily defeated his opponent. Jiang Kui was overjoyed, and even Mo Wang smiled with satisfaction.

But someone noticed that Xia Qiguang’s martial arts bore the hallmarks of the Mo family’s techniques. Cao Huaitai believed the Mo family was nearly extinct, and it was impossible anyone had taught him—unless it was Mo Qingchuan, who was far away in Chu. But even that seemed unlikely. Cao Huaitai asked directly where Xia Qiguang had learned Mo-style swordsmanship. Xia Qiguang froze, unaware that what he had learned was the Mo style. After repeated questioning, he still didn’t answer.

Mo Wang stepped forward and claimed she had taught him. She explained that the technique required excellent natural aptitude and then revealed her identity as Mo Wang. Cao Huaitai pressed her on where she had obtained the technique. Mo Wang said she had learned it from Mo Junshan. However, this explanation didn’t match what Xia Qiguang had said before, and he now wondered why his master had lied to him. Cao Huaitai suspected the person before him was Mo Qingchuan.

Xia Qiguang began to doubt too and instinctively moved to stand in front of Mo Qingchuan, ready to protect her. Cao Huaitai ordered Mo Qingchuan’s former subordinates to be brought forward for identification. Mo Wang unveiled herself in front of everyone, allowing them to verify her identity, but no one could confirm it. Cao Huaitai knew that Mo Qingchuan was extremely protective of her own, so he stabbed one of her former subordinates in the hand.

Mo Wang clenched her fists tightly behind her back but remained silent. Cao Huaitai, infuriated, ordered them to leave. Before leaving, the men shouted in unison, “If the General calls, we will answer without hesitation!” On the surface, this was directed at Cao Huaitai, but in reality, it was meant for Mo Wang. Mo Wang demanded that Cao Huaitai apologize for mistaking her for Mo Qingchuan. Cao Huaitai refused.

Suddenly, Mo Wang snatched the dagger from his hand and slashed his cheek. She said this was both a token of apology and an act of vengeance on behalf of her brothers. Cao Huaitai dared not speak out, fearing that the Empress Dowager would find out. After all, it was his fault to begin with, and if he harmed Mo Wang, he would be cutting off the Empress Dowager’s financial lifeline. Mo Wang turned away coldly, stabbing the dagger into the floor as she left.

Back then, after Chen Siqi met with Mo Qingchuan, he informed her that Qingchuan Town was finished. Mo Qingchuan couldn’t understand—it wasn’t possible for them to fall so quickly, even if her father had died. Chen Siqi didn’t explain further. At that moment, pursuers arrived outside, and Mo Qingchuan assumed they were coming for her. On her return journey, she was ambushed. Not wanting to implicate Chen Siqi, she urged him to leave quickly.

Chen Siqi has now been released, but people from the Cicada Agency are secretly monitoring his every move. Mo Wang knew about Mo Qingchuan’s situation but didn’t want to tell Xia Qiguang, because she saw that Xia Qiguang believed in Mo Qingchuan. His eyes lit up whenever he mentioned her. Yet Mo Wang, cloaked in darkness under another name, didn’t want to snuff out that light.

But Jiang Kui suddenly asked—what if Xia Qiguang trusted Mo Wang the same way he trusted Mo Qingchuan? Before Mo Wang could respond, Xia Qiguang arrived. Xia Qiguang probed Mo Wang, asking if she was Mo Qingchuan, but Mo Wang denied it. As for why she knew the Mo family's blade techniques, she explained that she used to be a Mo family shadow guard named Shuicao. She also asked Xia Qiguang why he was always targeted by Cao Huaitai.

Years ago, Cao Huaitai’s son, Cao Lingxiu, bullied their fellow students. Xia Qiguang couldn’t bear it and taught him a lesson. Cao Huaitai came seeking revenge and accidentally injured Xia Qiguang’s mother, leading to her death. But Cao Huaitai was only imprisoned briefly before being released. Jiang Kui was furious about this. Mo Wang comforted Xia Qiguang, saying his mother was the truly brave one, while Cao Huaitai was just a coward wrapped in a cloak of brutality.

Early in the morning, Xia Qiguang came to escort Mo Wang to the Cicada Agency. Qi Yun had learned that a letter had been sent to Mo Junyu at Zhao Prison, and that Chen Siqi would be released today. Mo Wang seemed to have anticipated all of this but hadn’t expected how deeply things would be entangled. Qi Yun informed Mo Wang that Feng Shiye from Chu would soon arrive in the capital for negotiations.

Mo Wang instructed Jinchan Zhou to gather intelligence on the enemy’s troop deployment. In Xia Qiguang’s study, he found a token from the Mo Army’s vanguard battalion and indeed saw the name Shuicao. Still unwilling to believe it, he went to ask a former subordinate of Mo Qingchuan, who found it odd that Xia Qiguang would ask such a question—after all, Shuicao had once stood right beside him.

Xia Qiguang stopped questioning and accepted that Shuicao was Mo Wang, though he was somewhat disappointed. In fact, Jiang Kui had already warned Mo Wang ahead of time to be prepared in case Xia Qiguang came asking. When Xia Qiguang returned, he no longer treated Mo Wang with the same respect and bluntly called her Shuicao. Mo Wang didn’t mind and didn’t want to explain much either.

She simply said she believed Mo Qingchuan was a traitor and didn’t want to admit she had once been her shadow guard. Xia Qiguang, angry, turned and left. Even though he heard Mo Wang coughing behind him and felt a pang of emotion, he still didn’t turn back. Mo Wang then went out with an umbrella to settle accounts with Chen Siqi. The next day, Chen Siqi discovered his sister was missing.

He received a ransom note demanding money for her return. He ordered his men to exchange money but intended to kill whoever had taken her. After raising the funds, he received another note telling him to go alone to an abandoned temple west of the city. When Chen Siqi arrived, only Jiang Kui was waiting inside. Jiang Kui warned him for bringing so many men, but Chen Siqi didn’t take her seriously.

Mo Qingchuan stepped out of the room and questioned Chen Siqi about his betrayal. Terrified, Chen Siqi knelt and explained he had betrayed them to save his sister. Mo Qingchuan said that if it were only about his sister, she wouldn’t blame him. But Chen Siqi had quickly risen to the rank of captain because he had tasted the sweetness of power, and that had turned him into a parasite.

Chen Siqi stood and retorted that Mo Qingchuan had also sacrificed many lives in war. Mo Qingchuan asked if he regretted his betrayal. Chen Siqi said he did not. Mo Qingchuan told Chen Siqi to write a confession, hand over the silver, and he could see his sister one last time before returning to face death. If he did this, she would spare his sister’s life. Knowing Mo Qingchuan’s capabilities and realizing he couldn’t escape, Chen Siqi signed the confession.

But he accidentally discovered that Mo Qingchuan hadn’t actually attacked him, which meant her martial arts were probably crippled, and she was bluffing. He planned to kill her and take back the confession. After seeing his sister one last time, Chen Siqi urged her to flee. Once she was gone, he blew a whistle to summon his men to surround Mo Qingchuan—but no one came. Mo Qingchuan hadn’t expected Chen Siqi to try to kill her.

Jiang Kui swiftly captured him with one move. Chen Siqi fell to his knees, begging for mercy. Mo Qingchuan slit his throat with a single stroke, expelling him from the Mo Army.

Years ago, Mo Junyu’s son was captured, and the captors used the child to threaten him into opening the city gates—one person in exchange for an entire city. Meanwhile, Chen Siqi disappeared. Mo Junyu recalled their meeting in prison: Chen Siqi had fallen into despair and begged Mo Junyu to help him. Mo Junyu had no intention of helping at first, but what Chen Siqi held in his hands left Mo Junyu deeply uneasy.

That was the only reason he came to see him. Mo Junyu also reminded Chen Siqi that Zhou Zheng was in charge of reviewing the case, so it was up to him to determine life or death. But Chen Siqi believed Zhou Zheng was playing both sides and the outcome was still uncertain. Because of the evidence, Mo Junyu was left with no choice but to release Chen Siqi.

Now, both Chen Siqi and his sister have gone missing, which left Mo Junyu increasingly uneasy. He sent people out to search for them. Xia Qiguang applied to have four former Mo Army members—Zheng Wuyou, Li Mao, Wang Guohua, and Yang Yi—transferred into the Fleetwind Battalion. General Zhang, who was in charge, came to Xia Qiguang to advise him against doing so.

These men were all on bad terms with Cao Huaitai, and transferring them all at once would raise suspicion. But Xia Qiguang insisted they were qualified and reminded General Zhang that his own position had been granted by the Empress Dowager herself. He was willing to take full responsibility, so General Zhang agreed to report it. Qi Yun came to report to Mo Wang that it was Mo Qinglian’s death anniversary.

Cao Yuyan never visited the memorial, but every month she would go to a certain mountain stronghold, which was six hours from the capital. In two days, she would depart again. A few days earlier, Mo Wang had mobilized the Silver Cicada and obtained a calligraphy painting by Zhou Jiusi. Mo Wang didn’t mind and told Qi Yun not to follow up further—she believed Xia Qiguang would know how to handle it properly. Today was the Empress Dowager’s family banquet.

Cao Yuyan had specially brought a gift that delighted the Empress Dowager, who reminded Mo Junyu to treat her well. In the eyes of outsiders, Cao Yuyan was Mo Junyu’s beloved. Just then, Xia Qiguang presented the painting by Zhou Jiusi, which the Empress Dowager adored even more—it was not something that could be bought with money. She brought out a prized green plum wine from Chu as a reward for everyone.

When Cao Huaitai asked for more, the Empress Dowager refused. Xia Qiguang was deep in thought. He realized the green plum wine was produced in Qingchuan Town but had been delivered by people from Chu—clearly unusual. Yet no one in the royal family noticed anything. The Empress Dowager saw that Xia Qiguang was distracted and questioned him. He quickly explained it was simply his first time tasting such wine and he was a bit dazed.

Feeling affection for him, she rewarded him with two more flasks to take home. On his way out, Xia Qiguang ran into Cao Huaitai, who mocked him for not even getting more wine. Enraged, Cao Huaitai shoved Xia Qiguang to the ground, breaking the flask and injuring his hand. This scene was witnessed by the Empress Dowager. She believed Cao Huaitai had gone too far.

Not only did she reward Xia Qiguang with two new flasks, but she also reminded Cao Huaitai that the ruling house still bore the surname Xia. When Mo Junyu took the drunken Cao Huaitai back, he began speaking recklessly, saying that Xia Qiguang knew the Mo family blade techniques and had learned them from Mo Wang. Mo Junyu suspected this meant Mo Qingchuan, but Cao Huaitai denied it—he had already had someone look into it.

Mo Junyu asked the house steward if he had ever heard of Mo Wang, but the steward knew nothing. Sensing Mo Junyu’s concern, Cao Yuyan reassured him: if Mo Qingchuan returned, they could just kill her. No need to worry. But Mo Junyu responded that the name "Mo Qingchuan" symbolized honor. She had bought Xia seven years of peace and secured its mineral resources. He both envied and feared her.

He truly hoped Mo Qingchuan had died in Chu’s prison and would never return. That night, Xia Qiguang dreamed of a girl on horseback in the forest—the same image he remembered from his first meeting with Mo Qingchuan. He wanted to offer her the green plum wine, believing she would return. But the girl said nothing, only reached out her hand. Yet he did not offer the wine, lost instead in sorrow over Mo Wang.

Then Mo Wang appeared again, and he wanted to give the wine to her. But Mo Wang reminded him she was not Mo Qingchuan—she was just Shuicao. Xia Qiguang hastily explained that in his heart, his master was like the moon—irreplaceable. Mo Wang suddenly asked him if she was more important than Mo Qingchuan. Xia Qiguang, startled by her sharp gaze, dropped the wine. He awoke, confused about why he had such a dream.

While Mo Wang and Jiang Kui were walking in the forest, two men tried to kidnap Mo Wang, claiming they had money deposited at the Cicada Agency and feared they couldn’t withdraw it before the term expired. They wanted to hold the agency head for ransom. Jiang Kui quickly knocked them out. Mo Wang didn’t hurt them and even told them how they could retrieve the money. Excited, the two left.

When Mo Wang and Jiang Kui returned, they found two flasks of green plum wine hanging at the door—they knew it was from Xia Qiguang. Mo Wang said they should go pick him up today. Just as Xia Qiguang stepped out of the military camp, he saw Jiang Kui and Mo Wang waiting for him. Mo Wang held an umbrella for him and asked if he was avoiding her, if he resented her. Xia Qiguang denied both.

Mo Wang then offered to go home together, and Xia Qiguang immediately agreed. Jiang Kui also noticed that Xia Qiguang hadn’t taken a carriage today—clearly, the carriage he used before was just for her and Mo Wang. Hearing this, Mo Wang felt a pang of emotion. Mo Junyu’s investigation into Mo Wang hadn’t yielded much, but he acknowledged that anyone who could find a luminous pearl and knew Mo family blade techniques must be quite capable.

He decided to ask her to help find a birthday gift for the Empress Dowager. He sent an invitation, hoping she would visit his residence, but Mo Wang refused. This made Mo Junyu feel a strange, familiar frustration. He eventually dismissed her as a fame-seeking merchant and didn’t pursue it further. Cao Yuyan went to Yunwu Stronghold wearing a mask to deliver food to a prisoner. Over the years, she had never spoken a word, leaving the prisoner baffled.

One day, he suddenly reached out and shook her wildly, trying to get her to speak. At that moment, Mo Qingchuan appeared and knocked Cao Yuyan out. The prisoner, seeing her, called her "Sister Mo Qingchuan," thinking she had come to rescue him—he was none other than Mo Junyu’s son.

The prisoner that Cao Yuyan visited each time was her son, Mo Qinglian. Mo Qinglian had been locked up for five years and still saw no hope of release. He believed he was imprisoned in Chu, unaware that he was actually in Xia. Every time Cao Yuyan visited, she would bring his favorite treat—silver thread pastries. Since the pastries were from Xia, Mo Qinglian guessed they must have been sent by his parents.

Cao Yuyan, each time she heard her son’s cries, felt deep sorrow. On this visit, she again brought him silver thread pastries. Dressed in black and wearing a mask, and always silent, Mo Qinglian had given her the nickname "Little Black." He told Little Black the story behind the pastries: when he was young and had made a mistake, his father punished him. He ran off to find his mother but couldn’t, and grew so hungry he nearly collapsed.

By chance, he ate a silver thread pastry and thought it was the most delicious thing in the world. From then on, whenever he wanted silver thread pastries, his mother would buy them for him. Hearing this, Cao Yuyan was heartbroken. Mo Qinglian asked Little Black to deliver a letter to his mother, convinced she would come to save him—but Cao Yuyan could neither agree nor speak. Hearing his pleas for death, she left with a heart torn to pieces.

Later, she brought lotus seeds to give him hope that one day, they would bloom. This time, when Cao Yuyan came again, Mo Qingchuan followed her and knocked her out. Mo Qinglian recognized Mo Qingchuan and begged her to take him away. Mo Qingchuan showed him Cao Yuyan’s face, and though he was shocked to realize he was in Xia, he didn’t blame his mother. He was simply stunned.

Mo Qingchuan explained some things and promised that once everything was ready, she would take him away. After Mo Qingchuan left, Cao Yuyan regained consciousness. Mo Qinglian said nothing about having seen Mo Qingchuan and didn’t expose his mother’s identity. When Mo Qingchuan returned, Xia Qiguang had been waiting for her in the courtyard. Upon hearing she had gone to meet an old acquaintance, he tried to subtly ask if it was a man or a woman.

He even brought up the green plum wine, wondering if she planned to share it with that person. When Mo Qingchuan said she’d take it next time, Xia Qiguang felt momentarily jealous and upset—he thought that only she should drink his wine, but she was willing to share it with others. After thinking it through, he decided not to stay angry with her. Mo Junyu secretly approached the courtyard and caught sight of Mo Qingchuan’s face.

He was shocked that she had indeed returned. Knowing she chose to remain hidden, he planned to kill her before she could reveal herself. On Jiang Kui’s birthday, he sent assassins to attack. Jiang Kui was injured in the assault. Mo Qingchuan sealed two of her own acupoints to concentrate her strength and used all three forms of Dawn Break to kill the five assassins.

This entire scene was witnessed by Xia Qiguang, who had come to celebrate Jiang Kui’s birthday—he now confirmed that his master was Mo Qingchuan. Realizing Mo Qingchuan couldn’t stay in the courtyard, Xia Qiguang brought her straight to Prince Jing’s residence. To protect her, he summoned the Cicada Agency to stand guard. He also entered the palace to meet the Empress Dowager. When Xia Qiguang returned, Mo Qingchuan’s friend Fang Du arrived.

It had been Mo Qingchuan who had sent a messenger pigeon asking Fang Du to come and treat Xia Qiguang’s wrist, which ultimately saved her in time. Fang Du told Xia Qiguang that Mo Qingchuan’s cultivation technique was extremely domineering but damaging to the body. Despite this, she still practiced it to protect her family. Fang Du urged Xia Qiguang to take good care of her to prevent her from succumbing to inner demons. While Fang Du went out to prepare medicine, Xia Qiguang quietly watched Mo Qingchuan, seeing both Mo Wang and Mo Qingchuan as one and the same.

When Xia Qiguang was a child, he once saw Mo Qingchuan in the street with his mother, returning with the bodies of three Mo Army members who had died in service. The townspeople lined both sides of the road. That was the first time Xia Qiguang laid eyes on Mo Qingchuan. To him, the Mo Army was like the sky itself, and Mo Qingchuan was the blazing sun within it.

His mother told him that one day, she would protect everyone, just like that. Mo Junyu fabricated a charge against the Cicada Agency and wanted to arrest Mo Wang for interrogation. Lord Li led men to Prince Jing’s residence to seize Mo Wang, but Xia Qiguang stopped them at the gate. Given the residence's royal status, Lord Li dared not enter without permission.

Mo Junyu arrived, claiming he had seen Mo Wang enter and insisted on going in, but the Imperial Guards, dispatched by the Empress Dowager to guard the residence, left him with no choice but to leave. The night before, Xia Qiguang had visited the Empress Dowager, intentionally injuring his own arm and claiming he had been attacked, asking her to dispatch the Imperial Guards for protection. Believing their duty was to protect royal members, the Empress Dowager agreed at once.

Fearing that Mo Junyu might really lead the Black Armored Army to storm the residence, Xia Qiguang had already discussed countermeasures with Qi Yun. Qi Yun promised to lead the Cicada Agency to defend Mo Qingchuan with all their might and would even escort her away if it came to that. At that moment, Fang Du delivered some medicine and instructed Xia Qiguang and Jiang Kui to prepare it.

The concoction included bizarre insects, and Jiang Kui found it hard to stomach. She joked that if she fell ill next time, Fang Du should make a tastier remedy. Fang Du agreed and, as she left, called Jiang Kui “Okra,” silently thinking how adorable her disciple was. Xia Qiguang curiously asked Jiang Kui how she had met Mo Qingchuan.

He learned that when she was a child, she had encountered the Xingyue Sect of the Hidden Mist Forest, which in truth consisted of only its master, Hong Yan. Hong Yan found Jiang Kui gifted and brought her back to train in martial arts. But when Jiang Kui returned home, she discovered her entire family had been slaughtered by Chu people. Seeking revenge, she killed Chu soldiers in the street and was arrested.

In prison, she met Mo Qingchuan, who was in the neighboring cell. She witnessed how those people whipped Mo Qingchuan. Since Jiang Kui had to recite the martial arts scriptures Hong Yan taught her daily in case she was tested, one day Mo Qingchuan finally spoke, pointing out an error in her recitation—the ending from the previous day was the same, but different from the first day. Jiang Kui was surprised at her memory.

Eventually, the two became friends, and Mo Qingchuan shared many things with her. Mo Qingchuan was later rescued by a man, but before leaving, promised to come back and take Jiang Kui away. She kept that promise. Jiang Kui genuinely wanted to follow Mo Qingchuan because she had always treated her well. That night, Xia Qiguang stayed by Mo Qingchuan’s side.

When Mo Qingchuan woke, she seemed to be dreaming, mumbling strange things and regressing to her youth, asking her brother for candy and to teach her Dawn Break. Suddenly, she struck Xia Qiguang with a palm strike. Before he could understand what had happened, Jiang Kui rushed in and pulled him out, warning him not to enter—when her master fought, she was terrifying, and even ten of them together couldn’t take her. Whenever it happened, Jiang Kui always hid.

When the room finally quieted, Xia Qiguang went in. Mo Qingchuan curled up in a corner, confused as to why everyone feared and avoided her. Xia Qiguang promised he would never betray her and would always stay by her side. The next morning, Mo Qingchuan regained full consciousness and drank the medicine Fang Du had prepared.

Watching her drink with a blank expression, Jiang Kui became curious and asked for a taste—only to run out and vomit, baffled at how her master could drink something so vile without a flinch. Mo Qingchuan asked Xia Qiguang if he had noticed anything strange during his visit to the side courtyard.

Xia Qiguang had seen her kill someone but, afraid to reveal that he knew her identity, lied and said she had fainted when he arrived, and nothing else seemed unusual. Mo Qingchuan then brought up celebrating Jiang Kui’s birthday properly. Since Jiang Kui liked watermelon, she would buy one for her. Xia Qiguang agreed to everything. Fang Du, seeing things were settled, prepared to return to the deep mountains to cultivate.

She told Xia Qiguang not to inform Mo Qingchuan and didn’t say goodbye in person. She left the medicine with Xia Qiguang so he could take care of Mo Qingchuan and also gave him a remedy for his wrist. Watching Fang Du’s departing figure, Mo Qingchuan shook her head helplessly. Fang Du was still the same—always leaving without a word. She recalled how, when she had fainted, she woke to Xia Qiguang holding her hand and calling her name.

From that, she understood that Xia Qiguang already knew her true identity. The next day, Mo Qingchuan prepared to return to the Cicada Agency, but Xia Qiguang was worried and gave her a hidden dart launcher. He urged her not to use her inner power unless absolutely necessary and feared Mo Junyu would try something. Mo Qingchuan, however, believed that instead of hiding, it was better to face him head-on. As soon as Mo Qingchuan arrived at the Cicada Agency, she saw Mo Junyu standing nearby. He approached and invited her to his home for a meal. Mo Qingchuan agreed.

Back when Chu and Xia were at war, Mo Junyu, who served as the commanding general, failed in his strategy and led the Xia forces to defeat. His own son was even captured as a prisoner of war. Mo Huaizhou and Mo Huaizhang, his brothers, were dissatisfied with Mo Junyu's failure and mocked him. Everyone wanted to hear Mo Qingchuan’s opinion.

Mo Qingchuan proposed that she lead the cavalry to flank the Chu forces from behind, while her uncles launched a frontal assault to create a diversion. Mo Huaizhang feared that even a slight misstep would result in Mo Qingchuan never returning. But Mo Qingchuan was prepared to die. Her decision deeply unsettled Mo Junyu. Though he agreed on the surface, in truth, he didn’t want Mo Qingchuan to return.

Mo Qingchuan came to Mo Junyu’s residence as agreed, even bringing her mother along. She intended to take her blind mother and leave, but Mo Junyu stopped her. He sarcastically accused her of betrayal, saying that it was only by sacrificing his own son’s reputation that the Mo family’s honor had been preserved. Mo Junyu told Mo Qingchuan to leave and never return, pretending that nothing had ever happened.

Mo Qingchuan countered by asking if Mo Junyu could really sleep peacefully at night. She knew that he wanted to use her mother as leverage to force her to leave, but Mo Junyu didn’t dare to truly harm her mother. Mo Qingchuan warned him that if he dared to stop her, she would kill him. Yet none of Mo Junyu’s subordinates dared draw their swords against her—because she was Mo Qingchuan. Mo Junyu could only watch as she left.

Mo Qingchuan recalled what Chen Siqi had said before his death—that Mo Junyu had poisoned Mo Junshan. In that moment, she wished nothing more than to kill Mo Junyu. Mo Junyu saw the murderous intent in her eyes and was so terrified he froze, only begging to let bygones be bygones. Mo Qingchuan ignored him and left with her mother. News spread that the Empress Dowager’s birthday tribute had been intercepted by Cloudmist Stronghold.

Enraged, the Empress Dowager ordered its annihilation. When the news reached Mo Junyu, he instantly knew it was Mo Qingchuan’s doing. At that moment, Mo Qingchuan escorted her mother to the outskirts of the city and handed her over to trusted subordinates to ensure her safety. In her heart, she swore to strip Mo Junyu of his skin before the eyes of the world. The Empress Dowager sent Xia Qiguang to eliminate the bandits, something Mo Junyu hadn’t anticipated.

But Cao Huaitai deliberately made things difficult for Xia Qiguang, assigning him only ten men to take down Cloudmist Stronghold—hoping Xia would die there, and he could claim all the credit. Xia Qiguang brought along veterans of the Mo Army, including Shi Tou. In the forest, Mo Qingchuan arrived on horseback, and all the men knelt to greet her. Mo Qingchuan instructed them that whether she was present or not, they must protect Xia Qiguang.

It was then that Shi Tou and the others learned the mission to Cloudmist Stronghold wasn’t to recover the Empress Dowager’s tribute but to rescue someone. The map given to Xia Qiguang was deliberately wrong—the goal was to wipe them out. There were 2,000 elite soldiers on the mountain. Mo Qingchuan had known this all along and had prepared a detailed plan. Mo Junyu had already begun to suspect that Mo Qingchuan might know Mo Qinglian was being hidden there.

Rather than rushing into battle, Mo Qingchuan set up camp. Mo Junyu, aware of Mo Qingchuan’s tactical prowess, began to grow fearful but still believed he had strength in numbers. Mo Qingchuan did not attack but instead gave the order to retreat. This made Mo Junyu uneasy—he worried she would seize the opportunity of the heavy fog to mobilize reinforcements. He thus ordered his men to escort Mo Qinglian away through the back mountain.

Mo Qingchuan stared at a leaf in her hand, waiting for the right moment. Once the time was right, she ordered her troops to begin the assault. At the same time, Mo Junyu commanded his men to find out exactly how many forces Mo Qingchuan had brought. Xia Qiguang led his men while running and blowing a whistle to draw attention. Because of the thick fog, no one could distinguish friend from foe. Arrows rained down from the mountain.

The torchlight lit up the slopes. From her position halfway up the mountain, Mo Qingchuan had a clear view. She drew her bow, fired multiple arrows at once, and precisely targeted the source of the torches on the mountaintop.

Mo Qingchuan fired her arrow by discerning sound and position, which reminded her of the past in the military camp—she always outperformed Mo Junyu in archery. Even back then, Mo Junyu had begun to envy Mo Qingchuan and constantly wanted to defeat her just once. This time, upon hearing that reinforcements had arrived but were shot down by his forces, Mo Junyu was elated, thinking he could finally win.

However, the tides of war shift rapidly, and before long, Mo Qingchuan had already led her troops to the battlefield. His subordinates urged Mo Junyu to flee, uncertain how many enemies had arrived. Mo Junyu could hardly believe it. Watching his men flee one by one, he had no choice but to rush down the mountain—only to be blocked by Mo Qingchuan at the mountain pass. Mo Qingchuan mocked Mo Junyu as nothing more than a useless commander.

With only twenty soldiers, she had defeated his elite force of two thousand. Mo Junyu nearly went mad, never expecting Mo Qingchuan to humiliate him in such a way. Mo Qingchuan told him to listen closely to the sounds outside—all the cries were from the Mo Army soldiers he had led to ruin. Mo Junyu was terrified and at a loss, but Mo Qingchuan did not kill him. Instead, she ordered him to leave.

Mo Qingchuan then led her troops to the prison and rescued Mo Qinglian. This was actually a plan she had shared with Mo Qinglian during a prior visit—warning him to be ready to be transferred at any moment and giving him a weapon. When the transfer came, Mo Qinglian used the weapon to kill those moving him and returned to the cell to wait for Mo Qingchuan’s arrival.

With dignity and composure, Mo Qingchuan rode through the streets with Mo Qinglian at her side. The townspeople buzzed with speculation as they watched Mo Qinglian return to his home. Seeing this, Zhou Zheng realized that Mo Qingchuan must have returned as well. When Zhou Zheng got home, he saw Mo Qingchuan calmly seated inside. He wasn’t surprised—instead, he simply sat down to continue eating the food he had just bought.

Mo Qingchuan directly asked why Zhou Zheng had helped conceal the truth. Zhou Zheng remained silent. Mo Qingchuan guessed it was for the sake of Cao Yuyan. To go to such lengths for a woman—yet whether that woman even loved him was uncertain. Zhou Zheng knew Mo Junyu was not a worthy match, but since Cao Yuyan was willing to endure everything with him, he could only devote himself to ensuring her lifetime of peace and joy.

Mo Qingchuan didn’t kill Zhou Zheng, but hoped he would live up to his own name. Zhou Zheng told her that she might not be able to touch Mo Junyu—behind him stood the Empress Dowager. Mo Junyu could be her blade, but Mo Qingchuan never could. When the Empress Dowager saw Xia Qiguang return victorious, she was furious that he had only taken ten men to suppress the bandits. If such news spread, it would bring disgrace to the court.

Cao Huaitai pushed all the blame onto the high-ranking officer who had accompanied Xia Qiguang. The officer had no choice but to bear the fault, but Xia Qiguang spoke in his defense. The Empress Dowager saw through it—it was clearly Cao Huaitai’s doing—and thus didn’t punish anyone. She instead praised Xia Qiguang for his loyalty, courage, and compassion.

Xia Qiguang told her that while eliminating Cloudmist Stronghold, he encountered someone who looked very much like Mo Qinglian—but the person had been taken away by Mo Wang. When Xia Qiguang returned, Mo Qingchuan was already waiting in the courtyard. She told him directly that she was Mo Qingchuan. Mo Qinglian’s return also meant her own return. She also confronted Xia Qiguang, asking why he had pretended not to know when he clearly did.

Xia Qiguang explained that ever since his master had once asked him what he would do if Mo Qingchuan returned and admitted to betraying them, he had been waiting for her to reveal her identity. He wanted to tell her, even if she personally confessed to being a traitor, he would still believe that it wasn’t her fault. His heart would always belong to her, unchanging.

Mo Qingchuan held back the tears in her eyes, turned her head, smiled at Xia Qiguang, and took the initiative to teach him Dawn Break Form III. Early the next morning, Zhou Zheng sat at the doorway, watching as a corpse was carried out of Mo Junyu’s house. Mo Junyu stepped out of the room and, seeing Zhou Zheng, actually revealed a faint smile.

Back then, while defending Liya Town, Mo Qinglian was captured by the Chu forces, who demanded the surrender of a city in exchange for his life. Later, Mo Qinglian’s body was returned—completely unrecognizable. Grief-stricken, Mo Junyu publicly burned the corpse to boost morale and successfully defended Liya Town. Now, with Mo Qinglian suddenly returned alive, the Empress Dowager had to be given an explanation.

If Mo Qinglian had survived, it meant the events of that year were false—possibly even that Mo Junyu had colluded with the enemy and committed treason. So, Mo Junyu was the first to rush to the Empress Dowager, claiming Mo Qinglian had not returned and that everyone had simply mistaken someone else for him.

But Empress Dowager Cao did not believe him and reminded him that if Mo Qinglian’s return was indeed true, his crimes would be undeniable and would implicate both the Cao family and herself. She made it clear she would not spare Mo Junyu, and demanded that he confirm again whether the man who returned was truly Mo Qinglian.

In truth, Mo Qinglian had gone straight home to confront his father and mother, asking them why he was still alive and whether he had been kept imprisoned by them. He suspected his father had traded the city for fame and fortune. Though Mo Junyu explained his helplessness at the time, he still ordered that Mo Qinglian be kept under guard and claimed publicly that they had mistaken someone else for him.

Cao Yuyan, knowing full well it was her son, tried to stop this, but Mo Junyu warned her that if Mo Qinglian were seen in public, they would all be doomed. He promised he would have Mo Qinglian quietly moved after some time. With this in mind, Mo Junyu knelt before the Empress Dowager and repeatedly insisted that the man who returned was not Mo Qinglian. The Empress Dowager said no more.

Meanwhile, Zhou Zheng discovered that Cao Yuyan hadn’t left the house. He climbed over the wall to find her and warned that Mo Junyu might kill Mo Qinglian to protect himself. Cao Yuyan begged Zhou Zheng to take her away. Just as they were trying to escape the courtyard, a patrolling general blocked their way. Fortunately, Mo Qingchuan had sent Jiang Kui in advance, who knocked the general unconscious and rescued Cao Yuyan.

Zhou Zheng, however, was too large to be carried, and had to find a hiding place himself. When Mo Junyu returned and found Cao Yuyan gone, he clenched his fists, already understanding what had happened. Cao Yuyan had gone to find Cao Huaitai, and they were headed to the Falling Blossoms Villa. Inside a caged cart, Mo Qinglian noticed someone outside the cage and guessed that his father had come to take his life.

Heartbroken, he couldn't believe his father had betrayed the country. Even so, he still clung to the hope that his father wouldn't kill him, despite the shameful truth that perhaps his father had acted to let him live. As Mo Qinglian spoke, Mo Junyu’s eyes welled with tears—but he still thrust his sword forward. Mo Qinglian pulled away the cloth covering the cage, saw Mo Junyu’s face, and was filled with sorrow and shame.

At that moment, Cao Yuyan and Cao Huaitai arrived with their troops. Cao Yuyan demanded that Cao Huaitai arrest Mo Junyu. Rain poured down outside. Mo Qingchuan, watching the storm, remarked on its refreshing coolness—that the floating clouds would one day become nourishing rain to bless the earth. Thunder roared in the heavens. In the palace, the Empress Dowager awoke in fright from a nightmare.

From her attendant Su Qi, she learned of Mo Junyu’s attempted murder of Mo Qinglian, and her heart trembled—fearful now of Mo Qingchuan’s return. Mo Qingchuan, catching the falling raindrops, recited the names of those who had once betrayed and harmed the Mo Army: Chen Siqi, Zhou Zheng, Mo Junyu, and the Empress Dowager Cao. Cao Yuyan visited Mo Junyu in prison. She knew he had never truly loved her, even detested her.

The reason he married her was because of the power of the Cao family. Saddened, she believed this was why he treated Mo Qinglian so cruelly. Mo Junyu, however, denied her words. He claimed he did love her and that all his striving was only so that she would not be seen as lesser than others. He then begged her to plead with Zhou Zheng—if Zhou Zheng did not speak out against him, he still had a chance.

He promised that after this ordeal, he would treat Cao Yuyan and her son well. Moved, Cao Yuyan left the prison and ran into the Empress Dowager, who praised Mo Junyu’s devotion and reliability—aside from that one matter. She hoped Cao Yuyan would understand that the honor and disgrace of the entire Cao clan were bound together. Even if she suffered grievances, she must endure them. Cao Yuyan seemed to understand the true meaning behind her words.

When Cao Yuyan returned, Zhou Zheng was already squatting by the gate waiting for her. She told her maid to go ahead and thanked Zhou Zheng for his help today. Looking up at the sign reading “Grand Commandant’s Office,” her eyes filled with tears. Zhou Zheng nervously pulled out a handkerchief to offer her, but then remembered Mo Qingchuan’s warning and drew his hand back. Cao Yuyan pleaded with Zhou Zheng for one thing.

He asked no questions and nodded in agreement. The Empress Dowager had expected Cao Yuyan to go to Mo Junyu. Mo Junyu explained his plan to her, worried that everything would be over once Mo Qingchuan returned. The Empress Dowager promised not to forget his loyalty.

At the public trial the next day, Mo Junyu continued to argue that he had no knowledge of Mo Qinglian’s fate, didn’t know when he was taken by the enemy, and had only attacked him to teach his son a lesson—not to kill him. When Mo Qinglian was brought to court, Mo Junyu warned him not to speak of debts between father and son, and not to accuse him in public.

But Cao Yuyan stepped forward, saying she and Mo Junyu were no longer truly husband and wife and requested a divorce. She urged Mo Qinglian to tell the truth without holding back. Mo Qinglian then revealed that the burning of his body at Liya Town had been staged by Mo Junyu. In truth, he had been imprisoned in the Cloudmist Stronghold for five years.

Cao Yuyan confirmed his statement and confronted Mo Junyu, mocking him as a pathetic parasite who only survived by relying on them. Zhou Zheng watched her, eyes shining—this was the Cao Yuyan he knew. Zhou Zheng stepped forward, admitted his crimes, and accepted punishment. Remembering Cao Yuyan’s request from the night before, he testified about the truth behind the Battle of Qingchuan.

He explained that Mo Qingchuan had set a strategy to ambush the enemy, but the Chu army had somehow learned of their plan before Mo Qingchuan even left the city. This meant someone had leaked their battle formations. He had originally planned to report this to the court, but was persuaded by Mo Junyu to change his statement and falsely accuse Mo Qingchuan of treason, despite having no solid evidence. Mo Junyu, angry, accused Zhou Zheng of slander without proof.

He removed his eyepatch, revealing his wound, and claimed he had lost his eye defending Liya Town. He questioned how a mere scholar like Zhou Zheng had any right to accuse him. Zhou Zheng, however, pointed out a major inconsistency: when Mo Qinglian was captured and the Chu army demanded a city in exchange for him, they were in a strong position. Yet suddenly they withdrew and asked for peace.

This, he believed, was because Mo Qingchuan had launched a successful attack from behind enemy lines, forcing the Chu to retreat. Mo Qingchuan had risked everything for the nation—and in return, he was slandered. At that moment, Mo Qingchuan arrived outside the hall, requesting entry. The Empress Dowager summoned her in, and the entire court was stunned—no one had expected Mo Qingchuan to return alive. Mo Qingchuan knelt and bowed to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.

Then, fixing her eyes on Mo Junyu, she spoke: that battle had indeed been the most brutal she had ever fought. Though they won, they suffered devastating losses, with only a handful surviving. Mo Qingchuan had taken the pinky finger of the King of Chu, which bore the royal signet ring. She presented a written confession by Chen Siqi, proving her successful ambush—and exposing Mo Junyu’s treason.

Looking at Mo Junyu, she told him: it’s time to wake up from your dream. Mo Junyu fell to his knees and begged for mercy. The Empress Dowager, left with no choice, ordered that he be taken away.

Back then, when Mo Junyu came to report Mo Qingchuan’s alleged treason to the Empress Dowager, she told him that only if he truly believed it himself could he convince the world. The reason she chose Mo Junyu over Mo Qingchuan was because, while everyone said the waters of Qingchuan Town were as clear as a mirror, she hadn’t believed it—until she saw Mo Qingchuan’s eyes. Without a word, just one look into her eyes convinced her.

The Empress Dowager’s words implied that she chose Mo Junyu because he represented the filthiest branch of the Mo Army; she would never allow the clear stream of the Mo Army to flow into the capital. Years passed, and now that Mo Junyu had been captured, the Empress Dowager had no choice but to publicly praise Mo Qingchuan’s military achievements. She asked what reward Mo Qingchuan desired.

Mo Qingchuan simply asked for Mo Junyu’s life and for the Mo Army’s flag to be raised again. Seeing no other demands, the Empress Dowager granted her request and handed Mo Junyu’s life over to Mo Qingchuan. When Mo Qingchuan came out, she saw Xia Qiguang anxiously waiting outside. Xia Qiguang formally greeted General Qingchuan in his capacity as the Young Lord.

Mo Qingchuan gently patted Xia Qiguang’s head and brought him to see Mo Junyu—but had Mo Junyu hide outside the door and listen in. Mo Junyu lamented that he was nothing but a discarded pawn. Mo Qingchuan pressed him: had she ordered him to kill Prince Jing? Mo Junyu denied it, saying only that he had received a secret letter stating Prince Jing had discovered Mo Qinglian’s whereabouts, so Prince Jing had to die.

Mo Qingchuan seemed to have guessed who was behind it all. Mo Qingchuan offered Mo Junyu a chance—if he truly repented for his sins, she would spare his life. Mo Junyu, taking her words at face value, immediately knelt and confessed to colluding with the enemy, framing Mo Qingchuan, and causing the deaths of countless Mo Army soldiers.

But Mo Qingchuan didn't believe that was all—she drew her sword and blinded him with a single strike, accusing him of murdering Mo Junshan, the elder brother who had loved him deeply. Mo Junyu angrily accused Mo Qingchuan of going back on her word, refusing to let him go. Mo Qingchuan told him to run. But just as Mo Junyu stepped outside, Xia Qiguang stabbed through his leg.

Mo Junyu’s jade pendant fell to the ground; he panicked and tried to retrieve it, but Xia Qiguang mocked him, saying he was unworthy of such a pure object. In a sudden burst of madness, Mo Junyu shouted that if time could be reversed, he would still kill Mo Qingchuan—because her brilliance had always overshadowed him. In everyone’s eyes, there had only been Mo Qingchuan.

When he plotted to kill her and burned Mo Qinglian’s fake corpse, hearing the people cheer for him, it had all felt worth it. Hearing this, Xia Qiguang drove his sword through Mo Junyu’s heart—because Mo Junyu wasn’t worthy of dying by Mo Qingchuan’s hand. Xia Qiguang gently stroked Mo Qingchuan’s hair, comforting her: Mo Junyu was dead, and her nightmare was over. Mo Qingchuan wept.

After these events, the Empress Dowager issued an edict: Mo Qingchuan was to return to the capital; Cao Huaitai would become commander of the Black Armor Army; Xia Qiguang would inherit the title of Prince Jing; Zhou Zheng was sentenced to five years in prison for falsely accusing a loyal official; Mo Junyu was sentenced to death; but Mo Qinglian and Cao Yuyan were spared and allowed to leave the capital.

A few months later, the Empress Dowager discovered that the bowls she used had been taken by Cao Huaitai, and she was furious. At that moment, Mo Qingchuan, Xia Qiguang, and Cao Huaitai arrived. Mo Qingchuan requested to rebuild the Mo Army, but the Empress Dowager ordered it to be merged into the Black Armor Army and gave the position of vanguard general to Xia Qiguang instead.

Xia Qiguang felt that Mo Qingchuan was more deserving, but the Empress Dowager insisted, leaving him with no choice. The Mo Army’s banner was raised again, and everyone was excited for a skills competition—everyone except Xia Qiguang, who was weighed down by thoughts. He believed the position should’ve gone to Mo Qingchuan. But Mo Qingchuan said that no matter what position she held, she could still do what needed to be done and didn’t mind Xia Qiguang being above her.

When Mo Qingchuan and Xia Qiguang returned to Qingxin Lodge, Jiang Kui was already there, having prepared medicinal herbs for Xia Qiguang’s bath. Xia Qiguang, embarrassed, urged Jiang Kui to leave. Mo Qingchuan didn’t leave, saying they were just master and disciple. But in Xia Qiguang’s eyes, a master was still a woman. Mo Qingchuan didn’t know how to respond and allowed him to sit in the medicinal bath wearing underclothes.

When she noticed something was off with Xia Qiguang, she used her inner energy to assist him. Xia Qiguang realized his meridians had been cleared and was so overjoyed that he couldn’t help but stand up. Mo Qingchuan, embarrassed, left the room. At that moment, Xia Qiguang truly wished Mo Qingchuan were no longer just his master. When Chu launched another invasion, the court was divided—some urged war, others peace.

When the Empress Dowager asked Xia Qiguang for his opinion, he said he would obey her decision. The Empress Dowager was even more pleased and proposed peace talks. Only Mo Qingchuan objected, listing the disasters that had plagued Qingchuan Town, turning its once-peaceful land into a place of suffering. But Empress Dowager Cao believed that if their sacrifice could buy five years of peace, it was a form of honor.

The Empress Dowager reinstated Mo Qingchuan as the Marquis of Wu’an and hoped she would stop clinging to the past. This saddened Mo Qingchuan deeply. Jiang Kui informed her that Feng Shiye’s envoy would arrive in the capital in three days. Mo Qingchuan didn’t allow Jiang Kui to follow and left the courtyard alone.

Back then, Mo Qingchuan was captured and tortured in Chu, but she still firmly refused to yield even an inch of ground. Feng Shiye came in at that moment and told Mo Qingchuan that the Mo Army no longer existed—it was now called the Black Armor Army. He also said that if she wanted revenge, she could submit to him.

Mo Qingchuan went out alone to clear her mind, thinking about how she had once killed a thousand people by herself. Feng Shiye approached her and proposed a talk—about the injustice of the world and the downfall of heroes. He also told her that she hadn’t truly been defeated by Chu, but by her own people. He hoped Mo Qingchuan could survive and seek justice. Only then did Mo Qingchuan put down her long sword.

Xia Qiguang came with fireflies to find the troubled Mo Qingchuan, releasing the fireflies to guide her home. When they returned, they found an uninvited guest—Feng Shiye was already inside. Mo Qingchuan introduced Xia Qiguang to Feng Shiye, who noticed that Mo Qingchuan’s poison had been cured. He lamented the suffering he had caused her, including the poison on her body, which was his doing.

Mo Qingchuan hated Feng Shiye deeply, but Feng Shiye said that if time could rewind, he would do the same again—only no one else dared cross him. As he said this, the corners of Feng Shiye’s mouth twitched slightly, revealing deep inner pain. Hearing that Mo Qingchuan’s suffering was caused by Feng Shiye, Xia Qiguang leapt forward to stab Feng Shiye with his sword, but Mu Yun, Feng Shiye’s medic, stopped him.

Jiang Kui returned with candied hawthorn sticks and, seeing the tense scene, also wanted to join in. Feng Shiye called Mu Yun to stop them in time and, before leaving, reminded Mo Qingchuan not to forget the agreement they made three years ago. Mo Qingchuan said she had not forgotten and dared not forget. Feng Shiye ordered Mu Yun to secretly watch Mo Qingchuan.

Feng Shiye went to the court with an arrogant attitude, presenting peace terms that were more than double the previous demands, which no one could accept. He then proposed stationing Chu troops at the border to assist, a blatant threat. Minister Jia Mingzhang angrily opposed this, saying it was like inviting wolves inside. Feng Shiye offered to reduce the tribute by 30%, but insisted on marrying Mo Qingchuan. Mo Qingchuan stood there motionless.

The Empress Dowager was unsure how to decide on Mo Qingchuan’s marriage alliance. After all, Mo Qingchuan was no ordinary person. Agreeing would cause uproar at court, but the Empress Dowager’s heart was fixated on power. Since being named Empress, the path paved with golden chrysanthemums had become her path to power, and chrysanthemums her favorite flower. Feng Shiye’s followers thought he was too emotional, trading so much tribute just for Mo Qingchuan.

But recalling how Mo Qingchuan once led a raid that killed his main general and forced him to retreat, they felt both love and hatred for her. In their eyes, it was all worth it. Xia Qiguang came to ask Mo Qingchuan about her agreement with Feng Shiye—whether she would marry him. Mo Qingchuan couldn’t give a clear answer because many things weren’t up to her.

She believed the Empress Dowager would definitely use her to exchange for that 30% tribute. The pain Mo Qingchuan had endured over the years was unknown to others, and the hatred and suffering in her eyes could consume a person. Xia Qiguang wished he could do something to ease her pain. If she could tell him, he would do whatever it took. He believed there was justice in the court, but Mo Qingchuan cruelly sent him away.

The door to the room opened, and Feng Shiye came out. He confronted Mo Qingchuan about why she hadn’t agreed to the marriage alliance in the hall. Mo Qingchuan saw through Feng Shiye’s true intentions—it was not genuine peace, but something else. They still had their old agreement, but she had not yet completed her revenge. Feng Shiye believed Mo Qingchuan had already avenged Mo Junyu, Chen Siqi, and Zhou Zheng and should be done.

Mo Qingchuan said it wasn’t enough; some people hadn’t been exposed. Feng Shiye knew she meant the Empress Dowager and urged her to consider the bigger picture. Mo Qingchuan bluntly retorted, and they parted unhappily. Jiang Kui watched Feng Shiye’s departing back with strong dislike. Mo Qingchuan had already learned that Feng Shiye had been named heir apparent but deliberately kept it secret, surely for hidden reasons.

Also, Prince Jing had used Feng Shiye to pass messages to Mo Junyu, which was suspicious. Mo Qingchuan vowed to make all who had humiliated her pay—both the Empress Dowager and Feng Shiye. When she was trapped in Chu, Feng Shiye had freed her from prison, but because she never bowed her head, he was deeply troubled. One night, drunk, he forcibly took advantage of the physically weak Mo Qingchuan but afterwards couldn’t bear to look at her again.

Mo Qingchuan was violated by Feng Shiye and became pregnant with his child. She climbed and struggled on her own, then took an abortion medicine that caused a miscarriage. Feng Shiye was deeply grieved, wishing Mo Qingchuan had killed him instead of the child. But Mo Qingchuan, filled with hatred, told Feng Shiye to wait—sooner or later, that day would come. She knew those people did not want her to return.

She told Feng Shiye a story: a goddess fell into the river of the dead, eaten by thousands of ghosts, leaving only her white bones—but still, she wanted to return. Not because someone wished for her return, but because someone did not want her to return. The more so, the more she wanted to go back to Xia. Mo Qingchuan refused to marry Feng Shiye, which worried him.

His subordinate Li Feng thought it was unworthy—now that Mo Qingchuan held a high position in Xia, if she didn’t agree, even the Empress Dowager couldn’t force her. Li Feng couldn’t help but mock that although Mo Qingchuan had status in Xia, in Chu she was just a woman Feng Shiye played with. Feng Shiye angrily slapped Li Feng and warned him not to disrespect Mo Qingchuan. Li Feng, full of resentment, drank at a tavern.

Hearing people praising Mo Qingchuan from the Mo Army and the common folk, he provoked them but was reprimanded by Shi Tou. Because of Mo Qingchuan’s return, the people no longer feared the Chu. Angrily, Li Feng spread rumors that Mo Qingchuan was already Feng Shiye’s woman and was pregnant with his child. The streets and alleys buzzed with this gossip, overheard by Xia Qiguang.

He grabbed a passerby by the collar and interrogated him, learning about the Moonwatch Tower incident. Xia Qiguang immediately rushed to challenge Feng Shiye, demanding to know if he had forced Mo Qingchuan. Feng Shiye admitted it on the spot. Furious, Xia Qiguang swore to kill Feng Shiye. When Xia Qiguang unleashed the Dawn Break sword technique, Feng Shiye seemed to see Mo Qingchuan’s shadow but deliberately held back during the fight. Xia Qiguang wounded Feng Shiye.

Mo Qingchuan arrived then, scolding Xia Qiguang and blaming him for not being able to kill Feng Shiye. Just then, a leaf fell from a tree. Xia Qiguang caught it in his hand, preventing it from falling on his master’s head. He was willing to do anything for Mo Qingchuan, even kill this envoy. But Mo Qingchuan thought it wasn’t worth it.

Feng Shiye, jealous, wanted to draw his sword and kill Xia Qiguang, but Mo Qingchuan stood between them, reprimanding Xia Qiguang to leave. She then warned Feng Shiye not to touch Xia Qiguang, saying he had already conspired to kill Prince Jing and shouldn’t make any other moves. Feng Shiye praised Mo Qingchuan’s wisdom for seeing through his plot so easily.

He said that aside from Mo Qingchuan, who annoyed him but was worth keeping, no one else was worthy of his favor. Mo Qingchuan warned Feng Shiye to try if he dared. Mu Yun always followed Jiang Kui and found her interested in eating candied hawthorn sticks. Jiang Kui gave Mu Yun one, who found it very sweet.

Jiang Kui felt some pity for Mu Yun, knowing that Chu had drugged some of their medics from childhood with various herbs so they didn’t even know what sweetness was. She promised Mu Yun she’d always bring plenty of candied hawthorns. Mu Yun reported the day’s tailing to Feng Shiye. From her description, Feng Shiye knew she had followed the wrong person. Li Feng thought Mu Yun was skilled but not smart and insisted on tailing Mo Qingchuan himself.

Feng Shiye knew Mo Qingchuan was highly skilled, and if she wasn’t nimble, she couldn’t keep up. After seeing the candied hawthorn in Mu Yun’s hand, Feng Shiye warned her not to get close to the enemy, but Mu Yun asked who decided who the enemy was—was it Feng Shiye? Sensing Mu Yun was thinking for herself, Feng Shiye forcibly controlled her with the Soul Suppression Bell to obey orders. Mu Yun obediently stood aside and dropped the candy.

Feng Shiye then instructed Li Feng to do some tasks. The Empress Dowager reminded Xia Qiguang to keep an eye on Cao Huaitai, whom she never fully trusted. When Xia Qiguang left, Mo Qingchuan arrived. Xia Qiguang heard the Empress Dowager asking Mo Qingchuan to marry Feng Shiye for peace, but Mo Qingchuan refused. The Empress Dowager thought Mo Qingchuan was like herself, always having to think of the bigger picture.

Mo Qingchuan insisted that in the hearts of the people, she was first a general, then a woman, and she would rather die than marry. That night, when Mo Qingchuan went fishing, Xia Qiguang followed. Xia Qiguang said he had a way to stop Feng Shiye from marrying Mo Qingchuan. He wanted to plead with the Empress Dowager, offering the position of Prince Jing in exchange for the marriage. . . but he never said Mo Qingchuan’s name.

Hearing people gossiping that Mo Qingchuan’s purity was ruined and calling her a slut, Xia Qiguang wanted to argue but was stopped by Mo Qingchuan. She truthfully said she was indeed trapped in Chu, was indeed taken by Feng Shiye, and was indeed pregnant. To outsiders, chastity might matter, but to her, it was just a broken body. Xia Qiguang cherished Mo Qingchuan and wanted to help her.

He didn’t want anyone to shake her will and promised to help her reclaim what she lost. Mo Qingchuan was touched inside but didn’t show it. Jiang Kui felt uneasy for not going fishing with Mo Qingchuan and looked at the candied hawthorns she had bought, lamenting that Mu Yun hadn’t come.

When the Empress Dowager met Feng Shiye, she said Mo Qingchuan refused to marry, but if they gave two more parts of the tribute, there might still be a chance. Feng Shiye warned the Empress Dowager that if she grew greedier, this year’s golden chrysanthemums might bloom for the last time. Just then, someone reported that the Empress Dowager’s beloved golden chrysanthemums had been burned. She rushed out to find the chrysanthemums engulfed in flames.

She looked back at the people standing behind her, unsure who among them was Feng Shiye’s ally. Feng Shiye reminded the Empress Dowager that the marriage contract with Mo Qingchuan was only three days away. At this moment, the Empress Dowager saw Mo Qingchuan standing in the crowd.

Empress Dowager Cao heard the sounds of slaughter in her dream. Mo Qingchuan, covered in blood, knelt before her amid a field of corpses—it was the same battlefield from the Battle of Qingchuan years ago. Yet the Empress Dowager felt no guilt. Instead, she declared that the capital would not become another Qingchuan, nor would she fall into ruin alongside Mo Qingchuan. But when she looked into Mo Qingchuan’s eyes, she was so frightened that she woke from the dream.

She immediately ordered Su Qi to deliver a decree for peace negotiations and to have Mo Qingchuan enter a political marriage. Su Qi came to deliver the decree but was so terrified by Mo Qingchuan’s cold, piercing gaze that he dropped the edict and fled in haste. Meanwhile, Xia Qiguang privately sought an audience with the emperor to negotiate terms. Then he visited Mo Qingchuan.

Mo Qingchuan told Xia Qiguang that her agreement with Feng Shiye was that he would take revenge on her behalf, and in return, she would marry him. But now Feng Shiye had colluded with Empress Dowager Cao and used her as a pawn—so she intended to enter the palace and overturn the game. Xia Qiguang tried to stop her, begging her to wait a little longer.

He reminded her that if she went now, her name would be branded alongside Mo Junyu’s as a traitor. But no matter what he said, Mo Qingchuan left without looking back. Xia Qiguang blocked her path and told her that outside the door were soldiers of the Mo Army's vanguard camp. If she wanted to leave, arrows would rain down on her, and she would have to trample over his corpse to pass.

Unmoved, Mo Qingchuan drew her sword and stabbed at Xia Qiguang. Believing that Mo Qingchuan had sided with the Empress Dowager, Xia Qiguang told her to kill him and take the credit. Seeing that Mo Qingchuan was about to drive the sword into Xia Qiguang’s chest, Jiang Kui hurriedly stopped her. Without fear, Mo Qingchuan opened the doors. If she were to die at the hands of the Mo Army, it would be the best ending.

But when the doors opened, she found the Mo Army assembled outside under Wuyou’s leadership. Though their ancestors had died in battle, their descendants, upon hearing of Mo Qingchuan’s return, all willingly enlisted in the Mo Army. Tears welled in Mo Qingchuan’s eyes. She looked back at Xia Qiguang, still kneeling, and a faint smile appeared on her lips. Xia Qiguang had hit the mark with his arrow. Hearing this, Xia Qiguang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Drunk, Li Feng rampaged through the street and bumped into an elderly man. Not only did he refuse to apologize, but he also began to beat the old man. Shi Tou happened upon the scene and intervened, but was killed by Li Feng. The townspeople fled, shouting that someone had been murdered. Xia Qiguang and Wuyou arrived at the sound of the commotion and angrily beat Li Feng, intending to arrest him.

However, the patrolling soldiers, recognizing him as someone from Chu, didn’t dare act and tried to persuade Xia Qiguang to wait while one of them went to report the situation. When the Empress Dowager received the report, Cao Huaitai asked whether they should apprehend Li Feng. But as soon as the Empress Dowager glanced at him, Cao Huaitai understood that they couldn’t. Su Qi, standing by, revealed a slight smile.

Court minister He Zhixiang saw Li Feng flaunting himself in public after murdering someone and rushed to the emperor, demanding the Empress Dowager be deposed so the emperor could rule directly. But the Empress Dowager overheard this and had He Zhixiang beaten to death. The Prime Minister also wanted to oppose the peace negotiations, but Cao Huaitai questioned him in court—if war broke out, would they all be willing to die for their country?

Xia Qiguang arrived only to find He Zhixiang barely clinging to life. He lamented that as a scholar, he was powerless, and begged Xia Qiguang to save Xia. Heartbroken, Xia Qiguang could only watch as He Zhixiang died before his eyes. In the court, officials removed their hats in protest, but the Empress Dowager suppressed them with authority. She decreed the peace negotiation must proceed and could not be debated further.

Su Qi placed the treaty before the emperor, urging him to stamp it. Xia Qiguang burst into the court, trying to stop the signing. The Empress Dowager questioned whether he objected. Xia Qiguang looked at the emperor behind her and ultimately swallowed his protest, stating he had no objection. Before arriving, he had privately met with the emperor and devised a plan—one that would be enacted during the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet.

He had promised not to take her life, only to force her to abdicate. Jinchan Zhou came to a bamboo grove to meet Mo Qingchuan, reporting Chu’s military deployments. Mo Qingchuan’s expression grew darker. Now that the Empress Dowager had finalized the peace negotiations, Feng Shiye had lost his value. Knowing Mo Qingchuan wanted to kill the Empress Dowager, he revealed that Su Qi was his secret pawn beside the Empress Dowager and could help Mo Qingchuan kill her.

He also hoped that after everything ended, Mo Qingchuan would return to Qingchuan. He guessed that Mo Qingchuan’s alias, Mo Wang, was a way to remind herself of their promise. Faced with Feng Shiye’s tender expression, Mo Qingchuan said nothing but revealed a faint smile. Xia Qiguang waited at Mo Qingchuan’s residence, wanting to tell her that he had found a way to prevent her marriage to Feng Shiye.

But Mo Qingchuan had already been sent back by Feng Shiye and coldly drove Xia Qiguang away. Feng Shiye, curious, asked why she kept Xia Qiguang around. Mo Qingchuan confessed she only wanted to see the former Mo Qingchuan in his eyes. Feng Shiye was skeptical, but still said that as long as Mo Qingchuan had spoken it, he would believe it.

In the military camp, Wuyou was training soldiers. Xia Qiguang asked him how he could endure everything for so long. Wuyou frankly said he only wished to dedicate his broken body to serve the country with loyalty. Xia Qiguang told him the time had come to put them to use—and that this plan was to be kept secret from Mo Qingchuan. Wuyou expressed his support.

Jiang Kui uncovered a few corrupt officials and wanted to bring Xia Qiguang along, but he had no interest. Jiang Kui then passed along Mo Qingchuan’s invitation for him to come by the house that night. Xia Qiguang felt a wave of excitement. That night, drinking together, Mo Qingchuan asked Xia Qiguang what moment he most wished to return to. Xia Qiguang confessed it was twelve years ago, when Mo Qingchuan entered the city with her heroic bearing.

Mo Qingchuan admitted that though she was on horseback, she had noticed Xia Qiguang in the crowd—those bright, star-like eyes were unforgettable. She now saw Xia Qiguang as a youthful hero, forged by the times, and hoped he could defend the nation. But in Xia Qiguang’s heart, he didn’t care about being a hero—only about whether his master was happy.

Jiang Kui brought over some of Mo Qingchuan’s packed belongings, letting Xia Qiguang know they were preparing to marry and planned to travel for a few days—perhaps never returning. Xia Qiguang wanted to confess his love, but was interrupted by Mo Qingchuan. As they were leaving, Jiang Kui comforted Xia Qiguang, saying that at least her master was happy—she had pursued virtue and attained it. In truth, Jiang Kui and Mo Qingchuan had no intention of leaving.

They were preparing to assassinate the Empress Dowager, but didn’t want to drag Xia Qiguang into it or have him branded as a traitor. Su Qi helped the Empress Dowager select her accessories. The Empress Dowager asked Su Qi to place a chrysanthemum hairpin in her hair, feeling quite pleased. At that moment, Xia Qiguang and Cao Huaitai arrived. The Empress Dowager ordered Su Qi to be dismissed, having long suspected him to be Feng Shiye’s plant.

She hadn’t arrested him sooner because she wanted to see what Su Qi’s constant manipulation of those around her was truly aiming for—perhaps to uncover something unexpected. Following her instructions, Cao Huaitai had stationed guards throughout the palace. As Xia Qiguang left, he passed a street vendor selling boots. Thinking of Mo Qingchuan's upcoming departure, he bought a pair for her—no matter where she went, he just wanted her to be happy.

But when he arrived at Mo Qingchuan’s place, both she and Jiang Kui were gone. By chance, he discovered a reply Mo Qingchuan had written to the Empress Dowager, along with a memorial tablet she had prepared for him. Realizing she intended to die and had never planned to leave, he was shaken. Just then, Mo Qingchuan and Jiang Kui returned. Sensing something was wrong, Jiang Kui slipped away first. Xia Qiguang angrily accused Mo Qingchuan of deceiving him.

For the first time, he called her by name, eyes brimming with tears, declaring that he could accept not being her final destination, never calling her name again, even letting her go wherever she wished—but she had lied to him. Mo Qingchuan had told him she was going far away, but in the end, he was only left to wait for her corpse.

Xia Qiguang helplessly embraced her, kneeling before her, begging that whatever she planned to do, she just not die. Mo Qingchuan told Xia Qiguang that in two hours, she would be branded a traitor to Xia. She had named herself Mo Wang to remind herself never to forget her hatred. As dawn neared, she stopped paying attention to Xia Qiguang and instead went with Jiang Kui to the palace gates. Mo Qingchuan fired a signal flare, alerting Su Qi.

Seeing the signal, Su Qi arranged for the Empress Dowager to have breakfast early and then head to the Astronomical Observatory. Su Qi accompanied the Empress Dowager to the Astronomical Observatory, a place of peace. The Empress Dowager complimented Su Qi on his thoughtfulness. Su Qi had someone bring ginseng soup—the person who entered was actually Jiang Kui in disguise. She drew her sword and prepared to stab the Empress Dowager. Su Qi, terrified, curled up in the corner.

Just as Cao Huaitai’s men surrounded the area and were about to kill Jiang Kui, Xia Qiguang arrived with reinforcements, demanding that the Empress Dowager abdicate and return power to the emperor. The Empress Dowager did not expect Xia Qiguang to be involved. Xia Qiguang accused Cao Huaitai of pointing a sword at the emperor.

Cao Huaitai replied that he never saw the emperor as someone worth fearing—he was the Empress Dowager’s brother, and as long as he lived, he would not let anyone harm her. The Empress Dowager then questioned the emperor about what he truly wanted. Frightened, the emperor hid behind Xia Qiguang and timidly asked for the Tiger Seal.

The Empress Dowager scolded the emperor as a coward who dared to kill his mother, and even tried to sow discord—saying that in the future, people might support Xia Qiguang as emperor. But regardless, the history books would record that the emperor was one who killed his own mother.

The Empress Dowager’s words frightened the emperor so much that he dared not take a step forward. At that moment, Mo Qingchuan leapt into the scene. The Empress Dowager rebuked Mo Qingchuan for her rebellion and ingratitude, saying she had just issued a decree to restore Mo Qingchuan’s name, and yet Mo Qingchuan had come to rebel. Mo Qingchuan threw the decree into the furnace and thrust her sword at the Empress Dowager.

She also noticed Su Qi quickly slipping away. Mo Qingchuan was willing to bear the charge of treason. Xia Qiguang knelt down, begging to take the blame in her place and pleaded with the emperor to release Mo Qingchuan. He said that no matter what others saw her as or whom her sword was pointed at, in his heart, she would always be the master from Qingxin Cottage—Mo Wang.

He believed that the name Mo Wang didn’t mean to never forget hatred, but rather to never forget Qingchuan. But the emperor did not heed Xia Qiguang’s plea and insisted on assigning the charge to Mo Qingchuan. Mo Qingchuan signaled Wuyou and the others to kneel and pay respect to the emperor. Only then did the crowd kneel and acknowledge the new ruler.

In the prison, the emperor came personally to see Mo Qingchuan and bowed to her respectfully, thanking her for stepping into the game for the sake of Xia. The struggle between the emperor and the Empress Dowager had long existed. Left with no other choice, the emperor sought Mo Qingchuan’s help. Mo Qingchuan advised him to kill the Empress Dowager, as only then could he reclaim power. The emperor, however, did not want to bear the crime of matricide.

Mo Qingchuan offered him a strategy, ultimately choosing to shoulder all the guilt herself. Jinchan Zhou reported back on Chu’s military deployment, confirming they were using peace negotiations as a pretext to demand money—funds that would later become war provisions for attacking Xia. Mo Qingchuan believed that killing Feng Shiye would guarantee ten years of peace for Xia. She planned to follow Feng Shiye back to Qingchuan as part of the peace marriage, and kill him once they arrived.

She told none of this to Xia Qiguang, not wanting any changes to the plan. She always believed she was the one lighting the path for Xia Qiguang, but in truth, it was Xia Qiguang who lit the way for her. Mo Qingchuan had many identities, and sometimes even she was unsure who she really was. But only Xia Qiguang had ever said that no matter who she was, in his eyes, she had only one name—Mo Wang.

The emperor told Mo Qingchuan that Xia Qiguang was already waiting outside the cell and had been appointed head of the marriage envoy to personally escort her. Mo Qingchuan made three requests: to recall Mo Qinglian and reuse him, to reform the Mo Army, and to preserve the Cicada Agency. The emperor agreed. When Mo Qingchuan walked out of the prison, she stood still. Xia Qiguang, unable to control his emotions, ran straight to her and embraced her tightly.

Mo Qingchuan’s fingers moved slightly, but she never responded. Feng Shiye came to the emperor, demanding that Mo Qingchuan be sent as the peace bride or it would be considered a breach of contract. The emperor agreed to the marriage, but on the condition that she be taken from the prison and only become his consort upon arrival in Qingchuan—since Mo Qingchuan had killed the Empress Dowager.

Worried that any delay could lead to complications, Feng Shiye had no choice but to accept. Mu Yun prepared to leave and came specifically to say goodbye to Jiang Kui, taking the sugar-coated hawthorn and bidding farewell. As Jiang Kui tried to chase after her, she bumped into Mo Qinglian, who had returned to join the vanguard battalion. Meanwhile, Mo Qingchuan’s mother was helping her bathe. Though blind, she could still feel the scars on Mo Qingchuan’s body.

As she touched the wounds on Mo Qingchuan’s back, she wept sorrowfully. She spoke of Mo Qingchuan’s elder brothers—how in the blink of an eye, the children were all gone, though they were just boys. The mother blamed herself for not being able to protect her children. Mo Qingchuan comforted her, saying in her heart, her mother was the best mother in the world. Holding her daughter’s hand, the mother pleaded with her to return to see her again. Mo Qingchuan promised she would.

As they neared Qingchuan Town, Feng Shiye and his entourage stopped to rest. Xia Qiguang came to deliver something to Mo Qingchuan, who was still held in the prison carriage. He told her that he had petitioned for an imperial edict—Qingchuan would now be his fief, and he would remain there waiting for her. Mo Qingchuan gave no reply, but after Xia Qiguang left, she softly whispered with tears in her eyes, “Good.”

On the Winter Solstice, they arrived in Qingchuan Town. Feng Shiye and Mo Qingchuan held their wedding ceremony there. Everyone came to toast Feng Shiye, praising his prowess in marrying a general like Mo Qingchuan as his wife. Feng Shiye sought out Xia Qiguang, asking him to drink and bluntly questioning if he refused because he had fallen for Mo Qingchuan. Xia Qiguang admitted calmly that he indeed liked her.

Though it was a wedding for two, all the guests only congratulated Feng Shiye on winning a beauty, even changing Mo Qingchuan’s surname to call her “Lady Feng.” Yet Xia Qiguang remembered her real name, and the red wedding gown she wore, to him, was Mo Qingchuan’s battle armor. Returning to the bridal chamber, Feng Shiye was told by Mo Qingchuan that she wanted to admire the snow.

She took him to the lakeside—a place where her older brothers had trained her in childhood. It was also the burial ground she had chosen for Feng Shiye. Feng Shiye struck first and defeated Mo Qingchuan, reminding her not to forget the winds of the frontier. But what Mo Qingchuan could never forget were the sounds of children’s laughter, the clashing of arms, and endless hatred. Tonight, she vowed to take everyone home.

Just then, a signal flare lit up the sky from within the city. Feng Shiye, growing more arrogant, said that after years of battle with Mo Qingchuan, he had long prepared for this moment. Mo Qingchuan scoffed, swearing to kill him. Feng Shiye suppressed his feelings, saying that emotions had clouded his judgment, and today it would all end.

He claimed that her Dawn Break Form III could no longer harm him—but Mo Qingchuan told him he had never seen the western form of Dawn Break. As she spoke, Mo Qingchuan released two of her sealed pressure points, letting her dominant inner force surge through her body. With just one move, she ended Feng Shiye’s life. She asked if he now understood who she was. Feng Shiye called out, “General Mo,” before breathing his last.

Back in the city, as Feng Shiye’s subordinates clashed with Xia Qiguang and the others, Mo Qingchuan returned with Feng Shiye’s severed head. The soldiers scattered in panic. Mu Yun tossed aside her sword with ease, munching on her sugar-coated hawthorn as she walked away. Mo Qingchuan, exhausted beyond her limit, fainted. Everyone was alarmed. One year later, at the Qinglu Courtyard, Jiang Kui and Xia Qiguang were brewing wine with green plums.

Xia Qiguang prayed for Qingchuan to appear in his dreams, hoping his master would return. Jiang Kui also pleaded earnestly, believing that Fang Du would surely be able to bring her back to life with her skill. Just then, the wind chime at the door rang softly—Mo Qingchuan appeared, holding an umbrella. Xia Qiguang rushed to greet her.

Mo Qingchuan gently lifted the umbrella to shield him from the falling snow, but Xia Qiguang tossed the umbrella aside and embraced her tightly—a feeling of regaining what was once lost.