Dawn Amidst Hidden Clouds – Chang Huasen, Zhao Qing

Lou Mingye and his subordinate, Fang Tingge, stood on the upper floor of a shop, observing the outside scene. The shop’s attendant came up and served them tea, informing them that the Xile Sect was performing a ritual. He explained that every year, the Xile Sect selects a "Heavenly Maiden," and every member of the sect is personally chosen by their leader, Chen Rusong, including the "Heavenly Maiden.

" The attendant advised Fang Tingge to avoid provoking the Xile Sect, calling it somewhat sinister. Fang Tingge dismissed him, allowing him to leave after he delivered the information, and Lou Mingye paid him generously. Lou Mingye and Fang Tingge then went to the Xile Sect, where they saw Chen Rusong giving a girl a pill. This girl seemed to be the selected "Heavenly Maiden.

" Just as Fang Tingge was about to act, Lou Mingye stopped him, saying they should observe a bit longer. This girl was Lan Che, the person Lou Mingye and his group had been searching for. She was formerly known as Leng Qingyao but had since changed her name to Lan Che. After taking the pill, Lan Che’s entire body began to convulse as if her soul were about to depart.

Moments later, the statue of Buddha in front of her began to shed tears, and Lan Che fainted onto the ground. Chen Rusong ordered his men to place her in a coffin, telling the others that Lan Che had become the "Heavenly Maiden" and ascended to the heavens. Just then, Xiao Luo and Xiao Dao arrived, demanding that Chen Rusong return their lady, Lan Che, to them. Chen Rusong replied that Lan Che had already ascended as a Heavenly Maiden.

He gestured toward the coffin, but Huan Xi and Xiao Luo opened it, and Lan Che leaped out, standing atop the coffin. The other members of the Xile Sect were convinced she had indeed become the Heavenly Maiden and quickly knelt in reverence. Lan Che then told them that Chen Rusong had been using the Xile Sect to deceive them and take their money.

As Chen Rusong began to argue, Lan Che pretended to be a deity, commanding everyone to capture him and retrieve their money. Before anyone could act, a figure on the upper floor silently aimed a crossbow at Lan Che. Lou Mingye rushed forward to save her but ended up injured. Lan Che quickly fled while Fang Tingge hurriedly took the injured Lou Mingye away.

Lan Che saw Chen Rusong standing there, and she shouted at his back, demanding he return the people's money. Chen Rusong stood motionless and silent. When Lan Che approached and patted him, he turned to reveal blood streaming from his eyes, accusing her of causing his death before collapsing to the ground.

His men tried to take his body away, but Lan Che stopped them, insisting that since Chen Rusong claimed she killed him, the newly appointed Assistant Minister of the Dali Temple should investigate the truth. Xiao Luo questioned her sanity, but Lan Che argued that there was something suspicious about Chen Rusong's death and that they couldn't let it go unresolved. Lan Che then loudly declared her intent to report to the authorities, and Lou Mingye arrived to inspect the body.

When Lan Che told him not to touch anything, Lou Mingye revealed that he was the new Assistant Minister of the Dali Temple. He took Chen Rusong’s body into custody. When Chen Rusong’s wife arrived to take his body, Lou Mingye told her that no one could take it away until he completed his investigation. Chen Rusong's wife wept bitterly beside his body, and Lou Mingye ordered his men to escort her away.

Fang Tingge informed Lou Mingye that Assistant Minister Xu was questioning Lan Che, who insisted she hadn’t killed Chen Rusong and claimed he was only pretending to be dead. Assistant Minister Xu was skeptical, accusing Lan Che of deceit and claiming she was adept at manipulation. Lan Che said she didn’t want to talk to him and insisted on speaking with the new Assistant Minister.

Soon after, Lou Mingye arrived and asked Lan Che how she could prove she hadn’t killed Chen Rusong. Lan Che explained that Chen Rusong had used the Xile Sect to deceive young girls, and upon discovering this, he pretended to be dead to escape. She said she knew of an antidote for the fake death drug that Chen Rusong had taken.

Lan Che administered the antidote, and though Chen Rusong’s eyes opened wide briefly, they soon closed again—this time in actual death. Lou Mingye then noticed a blunt-force wound on his head. Realizing Chen Rusong was truly dead, Lan Che, too frightened to ask Lou Mingye for Granny Wang’s property deed, quickly left in a panic.

A young Lou Mingye was drinking medicine, but he found it too bitter and didn’t want to continue. Leng Qingyao tricked him into swallowing it. Lou Mingye’s father then asked him to go play with Leng Qingyao, as he had matters to discuss with her father. However, shortly afterward, Lou Mingye returned to find his father dead on the ground. He suspected that Leng Qingyao’s father might have been involved.

Fang Tingge reminded him that his reason for coming here was to find Leng Qingyao and uncover the truth from those years ago. He asked why they were now involved in the matter of Wu You San. Lou Mingye explained that what happened back then was also related to Wu You San, and it might not be a coincidence that Lan Che got caught up in this.

Lan Che led Xiao Dao, Xiao Luo, and others to cause a scene at Chen Rusong’s residence. In reality, Lan Che wanted to enter the Chen household to investigate, but Madame Chen wouldn’t allow her entry, so Lan Che gathered people at the entrance, demanding repayment from Madame Chen. When Lou Mingye arrived at the gate and saw the scene, he commented to Fang Tingge that Lan Che had quite the persistence.

Then he approached the gate, declaring it was a Dali Temple investigation and requesting they open the door. Naturally, Lan Che followed him inside. Lou Mingye instructed Fang Tingge to guard outside, where Xiao Dao and Xiao Luo also remained. They initiated a conversation with Fang Tingge, asking about the Chen residence. Fang Tingge wasn’t interested in talking, and Xiao Luo asked if Dali Temple agents were all so taciturn.

Fang Tingge replied that he knew what could be said and what couldn’t. Xiao Luo remarked that her lady, Lan Che, and Lou Mingye had already crossed paths twice in such a short time, believing it to be fate. Fang Tingge started to say, “If it weren’t for Lan Che being…,” but stopped, realizing it was something he shouldn’t reveal, so he immediately fell silent.

Inside, Lou Mingye and Lan Che met with Madame Chen and asked if she was aware of Chen Rusong’s shady activities. Madame Chen claimed ignorance, and Lan Che commented to Lou Mingye on how cleanly she was distancing herself from Chen Rusong. When a maid inquired when Chen Rusong’s body could be retrieved, Lan Che responded that this matter was now up to her to decide.

Lou Mingye and Lan Che asked if anyone knew about Chen Rusong’s connections, but everyone claimed ignorance. As Lou Mingye and Lan Che were about to leave, they noticed Madame Chen naturally accepting a handkerchief passed by the steward. Lan Che remarked that such an action could only come from close familiarity, joking that Chen Rusong’s head was a field of green (implying he was being cheated on).

Lan Che then asked Lou Mingye to return Granny Wang’s property deed that Chen Rusong had taken, but Lou Mingye teased her, saying she’d have to become his sidekick if she wanted it back. Lan Che refused, but upon returning to her pharmacy, she was punished by her master, who warned her to stay away from Lou Mingye. Just then, Granny Wang’s grandson, Xiao Guazi, arrived, calling for Lan Che, saying his grandmother was unwell again.

Lan Che rushed to see Granny Wang, only to find her using Wu You San once more. Seeing her like this, Lan Che became even more determined to retrieve the deed, even though her master had repeatedly warned her to avoid Lou Mingye. Nonetheless, she went to find him, agreeing to be his sidekick if he would give her the deed.

Lou Mingye instructed Assistant Minister Xu to search Chen Rusong’s belongings for the property deed, but it was nowhere to be found. Fang Tingge then informed Lou Mingye that there was trouble at Granny Wang’s house, prompting him to rush over. He found a group preparing to tear down her home, claiming they were doing so on the orders of Hu Zhi, the deed’s owner.

When they threatened to report to the Dali Temple if anyone tried to stop them, Lan Che realized they didn’t recognize Lou Mingye, which she thought would work in her favor. She pointed to Lou Mingye, stating that “this gentleman” was willing to pay ten times the price for the property. With that, Granny Wang’s property was saved.

Xiao Guazi asked Lou Mingye if he liked Lan Che, since his grandmother had told him people only spend money for someone they like. Lan Che returned with two skewers of candied hawthorns, handing one to Xiao Guazi. Lou Mingye thought the other was for him, but she gave it to Xiao Guazi as well. Lou Mingye then demanded that Lan Che repay him for the money he had just spent on the property.

Meanwhile, Madame Chen met with Hu Ming, Chen Rusong’s upper connection, to trade some account books, and Lou Mingye rushed to the scene.

Lan Che arrived at Yuyan Tower to find Hu Zhi, but the madam there told her it wasn’t a suitable place for a woman to be. Ignoring this, Lan Che started loudly calling for Hu Zhi, who eventually appeared. Hu Zhi, considering her a guest since she was already there, invited Lan Che into a room. However, after a few words, Hu Zhi suddenly pulled a knife from under the table.

Meanwhile, Lou Mingye had also discovered that Wu Ming was connected to Hu Zhi, so he headed to Yuyan Tower. On his way, he encountered Lan Che and told her not to worry about the property deed, as he was sure he could get it for her. Lou Mingye urged Lan Che to go back and not get involved further in this matter.

The madam at Yuyan Tower asked Hu Zhi why, since they knew Lan Che wasn’t the person they were looking for, he hadn’t killed her. Hu Zhi responded that although she might not be, the people behind her could still be involved. Back at the pharmacy, Lan Che thought it was better to rely on herself, so she decided to use the Lanyuan Gathering at Yuyan Tower as an opportunity to steal back the deed.

She shared her plan with Xiao Dao and Xiao Luo. Although they had never been to Yuyan Tower, they were willing to support her. Lou Mingye, meanwhile, also learned that Wu Ming would be attending this Lanyuan Gathering, knowing Wu Ming was linked to his father’s death; Lou Mingye was determined to find him. Disguised, Lan Che, Xiao Luo, and Xiao Dao arrived at Yuyan Tower.

Lan Che wore a fake mustache, and though the madam commented that she looked familiar, she didn’t recognize her. Lan Che saw that entry to the Lanyuan Gathering required a waist tag, so she signaled to Xiao Luo, who then stole a tag from a stout man and handed it to Lan Che. Just as she was about to go upstairs, she bumped into Li Mo.

Thinking that if she didn’t have urgent business, she’d make him answer for daring to take advantage of her, she brushed it off and continued. As she reached the second floor, the madam recognized her as someone new and was about to call someone to take her away, but Lou Mingye arrived just in time. Lan Che quickly claimed she was with Lou Mingye, though he initially denied it.

Lan Che shot Lou Mingye a look, implying that if he didn’t help her, she wouldn’t hesitate to escalate things. Lou Mingye had no choice but to confirm, and Hu Zhi, standing next to him, asked the madam to let her go and arranged seating for them. Soon, the Lanyuan Gathering began, with various items up for auction.

When the final item, a pearl from the Eastern Seas, was presented, Lou Mingye recognized the ebony box holding it as his father Lou Huaiyun’s personal belonging. He was determined to reclaim it, but Li Mo kept bidding against him, saying that no matter what Lou Mingye offered, he would double it. Lou Mingye had Lan Che tell Li Mo that he only wanted the box and would buy the pearls to give to him if he wished.

Li Mo finally stopped bidding, but soon after, someone informed Lou Mingye that Hu Zhi wanted to see him. Lan Che intended to follow, but the messenger said Hu Zhi had only requested Lou Mingye alone. Lou Mingye told her to wait there. Once he entered the room, Hu Zhi embraced him, brushing her hands against his face and lips. Lou Mingye remarked that he’d heard Hu Zhi was Yuyan Tower’s star performer.

He hadn’t finished his sentence when Hu Zhi interrupted, saying she knew her plain appearance couldn’t possibly please him. Worried about Lou Mingye’s safety, Lan Che used M-drug to knock out the guard and went to rescue him. Surprisingly, she accidentally saved Li Mo instead. Lou Mingye, meanwhile, recognized the man beside Hu Zhi as the true master of Yuyan Tower and the person he had been searching for—Wu Ming.

Wu Ming told him that Lou Huaiyun’s death had nothing to do with him, claiming Leng Quji was responsible. Lou Mingye retorted that Wu Ming and Leng Quji were both involved in the Wu You San trade and that he would uncover the truth. Wu Ming warned that Lou Mingye wouldn’t have the chance, and as he spoke, Lou Mingye slumped in his chair, feeling dizzy.

It turned out that Hu Zhi had poisoned him with M-drug when she touched him. Wu Ming suggested that continuing this investigation would only bring Lou Mingye pain and that it might be better if he just ended things for him.

Lan Che was about to leave with the dazed Li Mo when she noticed Lou Mingye was in danger. She quickly rushed in, accusing Wu Ming and his men of being cowards for ganging up on one person. Lou Mingye urged her to leave, but she refused. Li Mo, still dazed, mistook Lan Che for his wife and, seeing so many people ready to bully her, fought them off in his confused state.

Lou Mingye told Lan Che that Li Mo wouldn’t hold up for much longer, and handed her a silver needle, instructing her to insert it into his spine. Lan Che hesitated, fearing that a mistake could be disastrous for Lou Mingye. Lou Mingye recalled how Lan Che had once given him acupuncture as a child, expressing his trust in her as Leng Qingyao, though Lan Che, having lost her memory, had no recollection of this name and didn’t respond.

Seeing that Li Mo was close to collapsing, Lan Che quickly inserted the needle into Lou Mingye’s back. He instantly regained his strength and held his knife to Wu Ming’s throat. Just then, Fang Tingge arrived with reinforcements and took Wu Ming and his men away. However, Lou Mingye fainted again shortly afterward.

After a while, he regained consciousness, and he and Lan Che made their way to the entrance of Yuyan Tower, where Lan Che mentioned that Li Mo was still inside. Lou Mingye told her not to worry, saying Li Mo would naturally return once he woke up. Li Mo was the son of Yan Wang, who had arranged for him to work at the Dali Temple.

Huo Feng’s subordinate reported that Wu Ming had been captured by Lou Mingye, to which Huo Feng remarked that Lou Mingye was indeed his adopted son. Fang Tingge then asked Lou Mingye why Li Mo hadn’t reported in after so many days and offered to find an excuse to send him away, but Lou Mingye, knowing the friendship between Yan Wang and his own foster father, suggested that they simply help him out.

Lan Che woke up to find her master coming to see her. She told Xiao Luo that her master must be there to scold her, so she decided to pretend to be asleep. However, her master quickly saw through her ruse and told Lan Che that there was a handsome young man waiting outside to see her. Hearing that it was a handsome man, Xiao Luo suggested that Lan Che keep sleeping while she went to meet him herself.

Lan Che assumed Lou Mingye had come for her, but when she went outside, she saw Li Mo. He had brought many gifts, including gold, to apologize for calling her his “wife” and taking advantage of her at Yuyan Tower. Seeing so many valuable items, Lan Che thought that since Li Mo had taken such liberties, she shouldn’t let him off so easily, so she accepted everything.

Li Mo confessed he didn’t want to go to the Dali Temple and wished to roam the Jianghu with Lan Che. She led him to the back room and asked what skills he had to join their Wuhu Gang. Li Mo replied that his face alone should be enough.

Xiao Luo joked that he might have “Iron Head” skills, as he could be hit with a brick without getting hurt and pretended to grab a brick, but Li Mo quickly stopped her. Then Xiao Dao suggested he might have a “Thick-Skinned” skill, where even a small knife couldn’t scratch him, and reached for his knife, but Li Mo quickly clarified that wasn’t the case. He claimed his good looks could be useful as their front face.

Xiao Dao responded that they already had a “face” for the gang—Lan Che. Li Mo then offered his wealth, pulling out a gold ingot, which made Lan Che, Xiao Luo, and Xiao Dao’s eyes light up, and they immediately agreed. Lou Mingye arrived with the property deed to see Madam Wang, and Lan Che quickly followed. Madam Wang, under the influence of Wu You San, mistook Lou Mingye for her son and Lan Che for her daughter-in-law.

Li Mo, unwilling to let Lou Mingye take advantage of Lan Che, claimed he was Madam Wang’s son, only to get hit by her. Lan Che’s master quickly helped him dress his wound, when a customer entered the pharmacy carrying a hairpin. Lan Che felt it looked familiar, recalling that she had seen an identical one on Jiuxiang, the maidservant of Chen Rusong’s household, at the Dali Temple.

Following this lead, Lou Mingye and the others found Jiuxiang and questioned her about Chen Rusong’s death. Realizing she was caught, Jiuxiang admitted that she had gone with Chen’s wife to identify the body, knew that Chen was only pretending to be dead, and killed him for continually exploiting her for medicinal herbs. Lan Che, feeling sympathy for Jiuxiang, told Lou Mingye that she had one more request to make.

Lan Che asked her master to go treat Jiuxiang, and her master asked if Lou Mingye was really the one who sent him. Lan Che nodded, saying that since her master could create an antidote for Wu You San, he could certainly cure Jiuxiang. Lou Mingye went to the prison to meet Jiuxiang after hearing from Xu Shaoqing that Jiuxiang had something to tell him.

When she saw him, Jiuxiang asked if he truly didn’t recognize her, reminding him of Leng Quji, the physician who treated him in Liangzhou ten years ago. Lou Mingye thought for a moment and asked if Jiuxiang was Aci, Leng Quji’s young apprentice from back then. He questioned Aci about why Leng Quji would want to kill his father. Aci asked if he truly believed her master killed his father.

Lou Mingye replied that at the time of his father's death, Leng Quji was the only one present at the scene. Aci countered that if her master was indeed the killer, why would he be pursued and hunted, along with his entire family? Lou Mingye then asked why, if he wasn’t the murderer, he would flee. Aci responded that her master likely had become nothing more than bones by now, prompting Lou Mingye to ask if her master was dead.

Aci recounted how years ago, a group of men in black pursued her, Leng Quji, and Leng Qingyao. Leng Quji hid Aci and Leng Qingyao in a room, instructing Aci to take good care of Leng Qingyao. Then, Leng Quji went out alone to face the men in black. Concerned, Aci also went out, but was captured as soon as she stepped outside. Lan Che awoke from her sleep, having dreamed of the same scene.

She remembered that Jiuxiang was indeed the Aci who saved her long ago, so she got up quickly to visit Jiuxiang. When she arrived at the Dali Temple, she was informed that Jiuxiang had already passed away. As Jiuxiang’s body was carried out, Lan Che, ignoring the people trying to stop her, went to Jiuxiang’s side. She wept beside Jiuxiang, who lay under a white cloth, as rain began to pour. Lou Mingye appeared, holding an umbrella over her.

Watching Lan Che cry, Lou Mingye recalled Jiuxiang’s request to find Leng Qingyao, admitting that she had failed her master’s instructions and lost Qingyao. Looking at Lan Che, Lou Mingye silently thought that he had already found Leng Qingyao. Lan Che confessed to Lou Mingye that when she had previously claimed to be a native of Changjing, it was a lie. In truth, her master had found her at the foot of a mountain on the outskirts of the capital.

When he found her, she was covered in wounds and had no memory of her past. Her master speculated that she had likely fallen from the mountain, injuring her head, which explained her memory loss. Lou Mingye asked if she really couldn’t remember anything, and Lan Che admitted that she often dreamed of being chased by men in black and that an older sister had saved her.

However, it was only today that she finally recalled what this older sister looked like—it was Jiuxiang. Crying, Lan Che said that if she had remembered Jiuxiang sooner, she wouldn’t have been left all alone. Seeing her so heartbroken, Lou Mingye suggested that, since the rain was getting heavier, he should take her home.

On their way back, Lan Che admitted that she had never been curious about her origins before because, in her mind, her master, Xiao Dao, and Xiao Luo were her family. But now that she had finally found a clue, it had been cut off again. She said she was genuinely curious about what had happened all those years ago. Lou Mingye reassured her, saying that the time was not yet right.

Lan Che noticed his umbrella and complimented its unique design, unaware that this umbrella was the very one she had given him as a child. Lan Che then asked Lou Mingye if she could look at Jiuxiang’s case file, but he refused. Lan Che argued that if she could look at the case file, it might help her recall more memories.

Lou Mingye considered this could be a possibility but told Lan Che that if she wanted to see the file, she’d have to work as his servant. The thought of doing chores for Lou Mingye and possibly facing punishment if she failed frightened her, but her curiosity about Jiuxiang’s death drove her to accept the role of his servant. Lou Mingye was chatting with Yan Wang when Lan Che interrupted.

Fang Tingge pulled her aside, giving her advice on how to properly act as a servant. Later, Lou Mingye took Lan Che to a clothing store to pick out clothes. He seemed to see in her the young Lan Che he once knew.

Lan Che and Lou Mingye left the clothing shop, and Lan Che asked if, now that she had bought the clothes he required, he would let her see Jiuxiang's case file. Lou Mingye replied that it depended on her behavior. Lan Che then asked why he was carrying an umbrella when it wasn’t raining. Lou Mingye explained it was due to an illness he had as a child.

Lan Che quickly took the umbrella, saying that as his servant, it was her duty to hold it for him. But because of their height difference, holding the umbrella was awkward. Lou Mingye complained that she was walking too slowly, so Lan Che picked up her pace, only to walk too quickly. Lou Mingye then tried to take the umbrella from her. However, Lan Che refused, insisting she could handle it.

The two tugged at the umbrella, playfully squabbling in the street. Nearby, Li Mo, Xiao Dao, and Xiao Luo watched them, speculating about who would be tugging on an umbrella with a man in broad daylight. Xiao Dao said it looked like their boss, Lan Che, but Xiao Luo said their boss would never wear such flashy clothes. When Lan Che turned her head, they were shocked to see it really was her.

Fang Tingge remarked that Lou Mingye was different when he was around Lan Che; he was no longer the cold person he used to be. When they heard that Lan Che was serving as Lou Mingye’s servant, they objected, saying she was their leader and shouldn't be doing such things. Lan Che explained that she was only doing it to gain access to Jiuxiang's case file, something they couldn’t understand.

Li Mo offered to pull the case file for her, but Lan Che explained that Lou Mingye was aware of their connection, so he definitely wouldn’t give it to him. Li Mo, about to say that his father was Yan Wang and could obtain it, changed his words, saying instead that his father was Yan Wang's friend. Lan Che decided to sneak in to steal the file herself, but as she approached the entrance, the guards stopped her.

Just then, Lou Mingye arrived and told the guards to keep out all unauthorized people, especially Li Shaoqing. He then punished Lan Che by ordering her to organize the files. Fang Tingge reported to him that there seemed to be fewer workshops producing Wu You San under Wu Ming’s control. They planned to interrogate Wu Ming, but he was scheduled to be transferred to the Ministry of Punishments that day and was likely already on the road.

Lou Mingye decided to go to the Ministry, but along the way, Wu Ming was killed by an arrow. Upon learning of Wu Ming’s death, Lou Mingye became furious, recalling how Wu Ming had previously hinted that only the Tiger Guard Army could mobilize so effectively, leaving Lou Mingye to ponder who had the authority to deploy them.

Meanwhile, Lan Che and Li Mo were discussing their plan to capture Hu Zhi, hoping to use her to exchange for Jiuxiang’s case file. Just as they finished, Li Mo noticed Yan Wang’s soldiers and quickly hid. Yan Wang had come to the Dali Temple, not finding Li Mo there, so he had sent people to bring him back. Lan Che asked why Li Mo was afraid of Yan Wang’s soldiers.

Li Mo explained that his father had ordered Yan Wang to send people to retrieve him and asked Lan Che to help him hide. Once Yan Wang’s soldiers had left, Li Mo said he was going to buy some mung bean cakes. As soon as he left, Lan Che spotted Hu Zhi and followed her out of the city.

Lan Che suspected that Hu Zhi might be returning to her base, just as Lou Mingye and his team had traced her location. Fang Tingge led the group in a further search, while Lou Mingye waited nearby. He noticed a bracelet on the ground, recognizing it as Lan Che’s. Meanwhile, Lan Che regained consciousness, finding her hands bound. Hu Zhi taunted her, saying that if Lan Che wanted to find her, she didn’t need to do it so sneakily.

She revealed that both she and Jiuxiang had been sold here, yet their lives had turned out entirely differently. She added that she was fortunate to have Wu You San, which gave her some status. Lan Che noticed that Hu Zhi had a large amount of Wu You San in front of her. Hu Zhi then tried to kill Lan Che, and the two struggled, with Lan Che setting the place on fire.

The flames ignited the Wu You San, releasing a huge cloud of smoke. Lou Mingye, seeing the smoke, rushed over. Affected by the Wu You San, Lan Che became disoriented and mistook Lou Mingye for one of the men in black who had once hunted her. She attacked him with a knife, but Fang Tingge arrived in time to save them both. After they returned, Lan Che went to apologize to Lou Mingye. The effects of the Wu You San flared up again, and the two ended up sharing a passionate kiss.