Episode Summary
Li Fengchun is caught and, after a hostage situation, reveals he killed Liu San'niang believing she was unfaithful. A tragic misunderstanding is revealed: Lin Xiong married Liu San'niang to protect her and cover his own infertility, falsely claiming Suo'er was their child. Li Fengchun, heartbroken, struggles to accept his mistake. Meanwhile, personal conflicts arise between Jin Miaocui and others, leading to her decision to return to Mingke Brothel, despite Luo Shu's efforts. Qi Menglin misinterprets the situation, offering Luo Shu money.
Spoiler Alert
This episode of "Under the Moonlight" delivers a potent mix of betrayal, mistaken identity, and tragic consequences, all centered around the desperate actions of Li Fengchun.
The episode opens with Han Muzhi's successful sting operation at Lin Xiong's house, cornering Li Fengchun. Realizing he's caught, Li Fengchun, in a desperate move, takes Qi Menglin hostage. Qi Menglin, terrified, tries to use his influential father, Governor Qi, to intimidate Li Fengchun. Li Fengchun demands that Han Muzhi hand over Suo'er in exchange for Qi Menglin's release.
Luo Shu, knowing Li Fengchun is doomed, brings Suo'er to him for one last look. In a shocking twist, Li Fengchun releases Qi Menglin and instead seizes Luo Shu, threatening to kill Suo'er out of spite. Luo Shu urges him to look closely at Suo'er, forcing Li Fengchun to confront a stunning realization: Suo'er bears a striking resemblance to him. Unable to kill his own flesh and blood, Li Fengchun drops the knife and surrenders.
However, Li Fengchun refuses to admit guilt, claiming he was driven to violence by Liu San'niang's infidelity. He recounts his harrowing journey: after surviving a fall from a cliff (which left him with a broken leg), he crawled back from Binzhou to Linfen just to see his wife, Liu San'niang. He arrived home to discover she had remarried Lin Xiong, and that Lin Xiong was hosting a one-month celebration for Suo'er. Overhearing gossip, Li Fengchun learned that Liu San'niang and Lin Xiong had been involved long before, and that Suo'er was their child. This fueled his vow to kill both Lin Xiong and Liu San'niang.
Li Fengchun, disguised as a candy vendor, staked out Lin Xiong's house. Realizing he was no match for the physically imposing Lin Xiong, he broke in while Lin Xiong was at work, intending to kill Liu San'niang and Suo'er. Liu San'niang, awakened by the intrusion, immediately recognized Li Fengchun and wept. Before she could explain, Xu Luan knocked at the door. Mistaking him for Lin Xiong, Liu San'niang hid Li Fengchun.
Li Fengchun then witnessed Xu Luan harassing Liu San'niang. After she managed to get rid of Xu Luan, Li Fengchun, enraged, killed her. Lin Xiong returned home to find Liu San'niang dead, devastated. Li Fengchun, still defiant, accuses Liu San'niang of being promiscuous, claiming she was involved with both Lin Xiong and Xu Luan. Luo Shu clarifies that Li Fengchun misunderstood the situation and asks Lin Xiong to explain.
Lin Xiong reveals the truth: he learned from Doctor Wang that Liu San'niang's husband, Li Fengchun, was dead, and that she was pregnant. Lin Xiong, who was rendered infertile by a childhood injury, heard that Liu San'niang was suicidal and wanted to join Li Fengchun in death. She had even prepared a rope for hanging. Pitying her and wanting to cover up his own inability to have children, Lin Xiong married her. Fearing gossip, he lied, claiming Suo'er was the result of an affair with Liu San'niang – a lie that ultimately led to her death.
Li Fengchun is devastated by Lin Xiong's explanation but struggles to accept that he killed Liu San'niang. He believes they are all lying to him. Qi Menglin angrily confronts Li Fengchun, and Luo Shu is impressed by Qi Menglin's outburst. However, Qi Menglin dismisses Luo Shu, even mocking Luo Shu's previous disguise as a female ghost.
Lin Xiong takes Suo'er back to his hometown early in the morning, with Luo Shu and Qi Menglin seeing them off. Lin Xiong vows to raise Suo'er well. The tea stall owner and neighbors praise Liu San'niang but harshly criticize Lin Xiong. Qi Menglin, unable to tolerate their gossip, wants to confront them for contributing to Liu San'niang's death, but Luo Shu stops him. Luo Shu later visits the jail and finds Xu Luan repeatedly banging his head against the wall in remorse.
Meanwhile, Jin Miaocui and the matchmaker Guan have a fierce fight, broken up by Cai Baozi, who comforts Jin Miaocui with a bowl of noodles. Guan trips Jin Miaocui in retaliation, leading to another brawl.
Back at the residence, Luo Shu finds Jin Miaocui bruised from the fight. Jin Miaocui, who grew up in Mingke Brothel, complains about the humiliation. Luo Shu advises her to be patient until they can obtain her freedom papers and leave. Jin Miaocui, however, is desperate to escape.
Qi Menglin, impressed by Luo Shu's investigative skills but put off by their ambiguous gender presentation, seeks Luo Shu's guidance. Luo Shu locks Qi Menglin in the mortuary, where the stench and sight of corpses overwhelm him. Lianshu finds Qi Menglin, who then confronts Luo Shu.
Yu, the madam, discovers that Luo Shu and Jin Miaocui are living at the county office and arrives with others to take them back. Han Muzhi intervenes, but Yu demands to see their freedom papers, which Han Muzhi hasn't yet obtained. Yu claims she paid a high price for Luo Shu, and Han Muzhi offers to buy Luo Shu's freedom. Yu seizes the opportunity and demands an exorbitant price. Chen Meiqing arrives and threatens to accuse Yu of trespassing, forcing Yu to leave with a smaller sum of money.
Luo Shu thanks Han Muzhi for his help and offers to pay for Jin Miaocui's freedom. Jin Miaocui, however, is tired of the disrespect and suffering and decides to return to Mingke Brothel with Yu. Despite Luo Shu's pleas, Jin Miaocui is determined, returning a hairpin to Luo Shu before leaving. Luo Shu is left with mixed emotions.
Qi Menglin witnesses this and mistakenly believes Jin Miaocui is Luo Shu's woman, and that Luo Shu's lack of money forced Jin Miaocui to return to the brothel. He offers Luo Shu money to get her back. Luo Shu, frustrated, dismisses Qi Menglin as a clueless young master.
