Qingchuan's Veil of Vengean Episode 11 Recap
> Qingchuan's Veil of Vengean Recap
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.
