Moonlit Order Episode 11 Recap
> Moonlit Order Recap
Xue Hexu and Xue Youshou shared a lively conversation. Xue Hexu showed Xue Youshou a shattered hairpin, lamenting its broken state but acknowledging its beauty. Xue Youshou asked if Xue Hexu remembered him, to which Xue Hexu explained that he had met Xue Youshou in his childhood but lost all his memories before the age of seven after accidentally falling into water.
Xue Hexu then described his family life, mentioning that he now manages the Xue family, his sister Nuannuan is kind, and his elder brother Dongyang and sister-in-law Liu Jiaoqian treat them well. He added that their Grandmother, though strict, has always been affectionate towards her grandchildren. Xue Youshou inquired if the family knew about his existence, and Xue Hexu reassured him that they would surely accept him.
Xue Youshou expressed a desire not to be an outsider and that the world was vast enough for him. He bid Xue Hexu farewell, asking not to meet again. However, Xue Hexu realized Xue Youshou had taken some items and demanded them back, receiving banknotes, a coin pouch, and the hairpin. Xue Hexu joked about the theft after a mere hug but told Xue Youshou to keep some of the money.
Xue Hexu then pledged to give Xue Youshou 500 liang annually, acknowledging them as brothers born on the same date, and urged Xue Youshou to manage his finances well and live righteously. Touched, Xue Youshou was happy to have a brother but admitted studying was difficult for him. Seeing Xue Youshou's persuasive nature, Xue Hexu encouraged him to study at a school to pass the imperial exams and bring honor to the family.
Xue Youshou thoughtfully repeated the phrase, and they agreed to the plan, with Xue Hexu promising to visit again. News spread that Xue Fugui had finally woken up. The Grandmother was very pleased with Feng Zuoren, referring to her as Ms. Wang, and quickly urged Xue Fugui to consummate their marriage. She emphasized the importance of having a child to continue the Xue family line. Xue Hexu attempted to suggest it was too hasty, but the Grandmother dismissed his concerns.
Feng Zuoren, however, saw this as an opportunity to investigate the former Crown Prince and did not object. The Grandmother then ordered everyone to leave, instructing Feng Zuoren to take good care of Xue Fugui. Liu Jiaoqian covertly stopped Dongyang from speaking, and Xue Hexu explained away Dongyang's emotional state, saying he was simply moved to see his father well again.
Later, when Xue Fugui tried to postpone the consummation, Feng Zuoren stopped him, offering her help if he truly didn't want to go through with it. Xue Fugui asked if she was the one unwilling, and Feng Zuoren confirmed her reluctance. She warned Xue Fugui to stop prying into her private matters, stating it would only bring him harm. While Xue Fugui and Xue Hexu were out, Feng Zuoren meticulously examined the Xue family's ledgers.
She discovered a discrepancy of 500 liang, with annual expenses beginning thirteen years ago, listed under various pretexts but consistently sent to the same southern bank. She noted that a name, Zhang Fu, appeared in the ledgers but not in the family register, leading her to suspect the Xue Mansion had dismissed some people thirteen years prior. She dispatched a subordinate to investigate this.
Feng Zuoren then attempted to question other family members and servants about the man in her portrait, but none recognized him. That evening, upon Xue Fugui and Xue Hexu's return, servants, acting on Grandmother's orders, abducted Xue Fugui, covering his head with a sack, and took him to Feng Zuoren's room for the consummation. Grandmother declared that it was an auspicious day for the consummation and ordered everyone, including every last servant, to remain in their rooms.
In the room, Feng Zuoren proposed to Xue Fugui that before consummating, they should have an honest conversation to build their marriage on complete transparency, to which Xue Fugui agreed. Meanwhile, Xue Hexu frantically searched for Feng Zuoren, calling out her name. Grandmother intercepted him, reiterating her order for everyone to stay in their rooms due to an important family event.
Despite Xue Hexu's attempt to lie about needing to see his father for accounts, Grandmother, realizing she was being defied, ordered servants to escort him back to his room. The next morning, Xue Hexu continued his search for Feng Zuoren, while Liu Jiaoqian worried that Xue Fugui and Feng Zuoren had consummated their marriage. The Grandmother confirmed her belief, stating they were "too occupied last night."
However, when Xue Fugui and Feng Zuoren appeared together, they clarified that no consummation had occurred. Feng Zuoren explained that due to Xue Fugui's advanced age, his stamina couldn't keep up. Xue Fugui affirmed this, stating they had simply drank and chatted merrily, but he had fallen asleep from the liquor before their conversation finished.
A flashback revealed that during their conversation, Feng Zuoren had presented Xue Fugui with a portrait of the former Crown Prince, asking if he recognized the man. Xue Fugui, seeing the portrait, feigned drunkenness and passed out, which only solidified Feng Zuoren's suspicion that he was hiding something. Everyone else, except Grandmother, was relieved they hadn't consummated.
Later, a subordinate reported to Feng Zuoren that elderly Xue family servants revealed Xue Fugui's illegitimate son, Xue Youshou, had been sent to the south thirteen years ago. Feng Zuoren concluded that Xue Youshou, sent away with substantial annual payments, was undoubtedly the former Crown Prince and ordered his immediate retrieval. Filled with anger at Xue Hexu for withholding information, Feng Zuoren confronted him with a knife, accusing him of lying despite his claims of wanting to be her family.
Xue Hexu denied knowing the Crown Prince, insisting his family had never met him and that the Xue family might have no connection to the prince. Feng Zuoren, however, no longer trusted him, calling him a liar and declaring that she would not believe him from that day forward. Feng Zuoren reported to the Emperor, confirming the likely whereabouts of the former Crown Prince and requesting permission to pursue him.
The Emperor warned her of severe consequences if she failed and provided her with a pre-approved, substantial sum of money for the mission, emphasizing efficiency and promising to resolve any troubles. He then added a chilling command: after eliminating the rebel, she was to massacre everyone in Lord Dingyuan's Mansion. Feng Zuoren attempted to intercede for the Xue family, arguing that Lord Dingyuan had expelled the rebel years ago and had no further connection, suggesting he had recognized his error.
She also pointed out that the Xue Mansion had no one capable of restoring its glory and would likely collapse on its own, sparing the Emperor from dirtying his hands with such matters. The Emperor, displeased with her attempt to make decisions for him, reiterated that if she refused to kill the Xue family and the rebel, he would dispatch others to do it. Feng Zuoren reluctantly obeyed his decree.
Later, Xue Fugui spoke to Feng Zuoren, acknowledging her unwilling marriage and his enduring love for his first wife. He proposed a divorce when the time was right for them to live separate, peaceful lives. Feng Zuoren agreed to speak plainly and immediately demanded to know where Xue Fugui was hiding Xue Youshou. Xue Fugui claimed ignorance of such a person.
Feng Zuoren warned him that the Emperor wanted Xue Youshou dead, and if the Xue family surrendered him, they might earn merit. Otherwise, if the Jing'an Bureau discovered he was harboring a criminal, everyone from Grandmother to Xue Nuannuan would face execution. She questioned if Xue Fugui would still insist on defying the Emperor. Suddenly, Xue Hexu burst into the room, mistakenly believing Xue Fugui and Feng Zuoren were about to consummate their marriage. He intervened, exclaiming that he and Feng Zuoren were truly in love and imploring his father to permit their relationship.
