Where the Mask Ends episode 12 recap: The Empress Dowager's test and a witness pushed off a cliff

In short

A Chou talks her way through the Empress Dowager's questioning, but Zhou Fu threatens her family to make her take her own life. Jun Dai tries to silence an old nanny who knows the truth about the swap.

What happens in episode 12

The Empress Dowager calls A Chou to the palace and fishes for a confession about the bride swap. A Chou never mentions it and keeps the conversation moving so fast the Dowager can hardly get a word in. Zhou Fu, listening outside, sees she won't talk, steps in to help and leads her away. The Dowager decides A Chou's temper is just like Zhou Fu's and drops her suspicion.

On the palace path, Zhou Fu smiles and threatens the lives of the woman who raised A Chou and of Hong Xian unless A Chou ends her own life. A Chou cries; she hadn't believed Zhou Fu would go this far for Jun Dai.

Lady Shou'an is less easily fooled than her daughter and quietly orders Huo Jue to look into A Chou's background without telling Jun Dai. Old Lady Wei, afraid Zhou Fu will sacrifice the whole Wei family to protect her own daughter, sends A Chou a jade chain as a sign she's on her side. Lu Zhuo comes home early, finds A Chou napping and just watches her.

Han Liao cuts the irrigation channels below Yaowang Mountain and the farmers' crops die. Lu Zhuo handles it himself with Qi Zhongkai, who comes back wounded. Both men agree not to take the dispute to the Emperor, so nobody can say A Chou can't manage her new fief.

Nanny Chang, frightened that Guo Yufeng will find out what she did years ago, runs away at night and is caught by Huo Jue's men. She says she knows a huge secret but will tell only Lady Shou'an. Jun Dai talks Huo Jue into letting her question the nanny alone, fakes being taken hostage and pushes her down the mountainside. The nanny survives just long enough to stare at Jun Dai in front of Lady Shou'an and mouth that she is a fake.

Why it matters

Lady Shou'an now has two reasons to doubt Jun Dai: her own eyes, and a dying witness.

Based on the episode synopsis, summarized in our own words: TVmao (电视猫) episode synopses, cited by Baidu Baike Baidu Baike: official synopsis, episode synopses, cast and 追剧日历