Episode Summary
At Prince Jing's funeral, Xia Qiguang publicly accuses Cao Ling'an of murder and conspiracy, leading to the arrest of both Cao Ling'an and Chen Siqi. From the shadows, the strategist Mo Wang observes the proceedings, noting suspicious behavior from an official named Zhou Zheng. To secure his place in the capital, Xia Qiguang surrenders a fortune to the Empress Dowager and joins the army as per Mo Wang's plan. In the barracks, he is brutally beaten by Commander Cao Huaitai but endures the humiliation, only to discover that decorated veterans of the famed Mo Family Army are now being abused and forced into menial labor.
Spoiler Alert
Qingchuan's Veil of Vengeance: Episode 3 Recap
A funeral becomes a stage for justice, a young prince takes his first steps on a painful path, and the master strategist Mo Wang pulls the strings from the shadows. Here’s everything that happened in Episode 3.
A Funeral and a Public Accusation
The episode opens with the solemn funeral of Prince Jing, a gathering of the court's most powerful figures. From a high vantage point, Mo Qingchuan and her aide, Jiang Kui, identify former members of the decorated Mo Family Army who have since integrated into the court. Among them are Chen Siqi, once a vanguard deputy and now a fourth-rank Guard Commandant, and Zhou Zheng, the former army's chief of staff, now a third-rank official in the Commandant of Justice.
The air is thick with tension as the Empress Dowager and the Emperor arrive. Seizing the moment, Xia Qiguang steps forward and shatters the somber atmosphere. He publicly accuses Cao Ling'an of assassinating Prince Jing. As evidence, he presents Cao Ling'an, gagged and caged, and reveals the existence of the "Sparrow Lock Sect," a clandestine group Cao Ling'an formed using death row inmates to eliminate his rivals. Xia Qiguang, holding a golden cicada token representing the "Cicada" organization, claims Cao Ling'an poisoned his own assassins to cover his tracks.
When poison is discovered on the scene, the accusation becomes undeniable. Chen Siqi, desperate to prove his innocence, rushes forward to remove the gag from Cao Ling'an's mouth, but the man is unable to speak. The Empress Dowager, left with no choice, orders a full investigation by Zhou Zheng. Both Cao Ling'an and the protesting Chen Siqi are arrested and dragged away to prison.
The Web of Intrigue
As Chen Siqi is taken away, a jade pendant falls to the ground. He cries out for it, but it's Zhou Zheng who calmly picks it up and secures it. Witnessing this, Mo Wang recalls seeing Zhou Zheng's name on the documents that once impeached the Mo Family Army. She immediately dispatches Jiang Kui to search Zhou Zheng's residence for clues.
Meanwhile, Xia Qiguang plays his next card. He presents the Empress Dowager with the Cicada organization's tokens and a priceless luminous pearl, claiming it was Prince Jing's dying wish to use these assets for snow disaster relief in the north. The golden cicada tokens hold immense monetary value. Pleased by this gesture, the Empress Dowager grants Xia Qiguang's request to remain in the capital to mourn his father for three years, after which he must return to his fiefdom.
From a corner, Mo Wang observes coolly. She understands that with Prince Jing gone, the Cicada's connection to the palace is severed, and Xia Qiguang must now become its new link. When Jiang Kui questions her detached demeanor, Mo Wang states that this path of vengeance is one Xia Qiguang chose for himself. The Empress Dowager, however, is suspicious of Mo Wang—a masked figure known as the "world's greatest master" who took over the Cicada and became fabulously wealthy. She dismisses her as a mere fame-seeker and suspects that Cao Ling'an was deliberately poisoned into silence to protect more powerful figures.
A New Life in the Barracks
Xia Qiguang delivers a final letter from his father to Mo Wang. As she pays her respects, her aide Jiang Kui laments the fortune they gave away. In response, Mo Wang gives Xia Qiguang even more golden cicada tokens, reminding him that the Cicada organization was always his to command and that she will help him protect it.
Concerned that the Empress Dowager will let him stay in the army but never grant him real authority, Xia Qiguang turns to Mo Wang for a strategy. She instructs him to formally enlist the next day, advising him on how to act—whether through tears, bold declarations, or even bribery—to ensure his entry.
At the barracks, Xia Qiguang's noble status initially sets him apart. He tries to fit in by washing clothes and serving tea, but his efforts are met with contempt. The commander, Cao Huaitai, summons him to his tent, dismisses his men, and brutally beats the young prince. Remembering Mo Wang's words about his father's ability to endure the unendurable, Xia Qiguang withstands the assault without breaking. The beating only stops when an underling reminds Cao Huaitai that Xia Qiguang is the one who gifted the golden cicada to the Empress Dowager. As punishment, Cao Huaitai sends him to clean the stables. It is there, in the filth, that Xia Qiguang's journey truly begins, as he sees former, decorated soldiers of the Mo Family Army being whipped while forced to perform the most degrading labor.
Spoilers & Key Developments
- The Takedown: Xia Qiguang successfully orchestrates the public arrest of Cao Ling'an and his associate Chen Siqi during Prince Jing's funeral, kickstarting his revenge plot.
- A Key Clue: A jade pendant dropped by Chen Siqi is picked up by Zhou Zheng, a former Mo Family Army officer whose loyalty is now in question. Mo Wang targets him as the next piece in the puzzle.
- A Prince's Gambit: By surrendering a portion of the Cicada's wealth to the Empress Dowager, Xia Qiguang secures his position in the capital, a crucial step in Mo Wang's long-term plan.
- Brutal Hazing: To begin his ascent, Xia Qiguang joins the military but is immediately targeted by Commander Cao Huaitai, who beats him viciously.
- Fallen Heroes: Xia Qiguang discovers that celebrated veterans of the Mo Family Army are now living in disgrace, performing menial tasks and suffering abuse within the barracks, giving his quest for justice a new, personal focus.
