Where the Mask Ends episode 15 recap: The locket switch

In short

A court official confirms the tokens match the lost Wei daughter, but Wei Heng'e, Guo Yufeng and a turned Bi Tao frame A Chou in front of Consort Li.

What happens in episode 15

A Commandant of Justice official tells A Chou about the case of the Chengan Earl's second branch's baby daughter, lost sixteen years ago. The description matches her tokens. Nanny Chang's husband, Lü Lun, caught lurking outside, says the girl at the villa is a fake and Wei Heng'e paid the nanny and a guard to abandon the baby.

A Chou and Lu Zhuo work out the rest: Wei Heng'e is A Chou's father's twin, Jun Dai looks just like her, and she dotes on Jun Dai. Jun Dai is probably Wei Heng'e's own daughter.

With the Empress Dowager away at a hot spring, Consort Li moves against A Chou. Guo Yufeng gives a panicking Wei Heng'e a plan, and Jun Dai drugs Lady Shou'an's incense so she sleeps through it. Lu Zhuo takes 200 men to wipe out the Nanshan bandits; Consort Li arranges a surprise military review to keep him away, and he leaves Qi Zhongkai to handle the Emperor.

At the villa, Lü Lun is beaten until he claims A Chou paid him to lie. Bi Tao, under pressure, swaps the longevity locket, and from Bi Tao's guilty face A Chou understands she was planted long ago. Jun Dai shows Consort Li a scar on her head as proof, Guo Yufeng nudges her to decide, and the consort is about to order A Chou's death when Lady Shou'an's voice is heard at the door.

Why it matters

The proof was real, but it lost to people the consort already trusted.

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