Moonlit Order Episode 4 Recap
> Moonlit Order Recap
Gu Qianfu, with a look of urgency, abruptly stripped Xue Dongyang's clothes, meticulously searching his body for any trace of the former Crown Prince's birthmark, but found nothing. At that moment, Feng Zuoren and Xue Hexu arrived. Feng Zuoren, seeing the scene, questioned Gu Qianfu, asking if he had a strange habit of stripping people. Gu Qianfu, trying to prevent the secret of the birthmark from being revealed, quickly admitted to having a strange habit.
Angered, Xue Hexu called Gu Qianfu a "freak" and advanced on him, then helped Xue Dongyang get dressed and comforted him. Seemingly unfazed, Xue Dongyang excitedly presented a kite to Feng Zuoren, explaining that he had noticed her staring at a similar one earlier and had bought this for her. Feng Zuoren initially responded harshly, saying she didn't like it and telling him not to be so gruff.
However, she quickly regretted her words, apologized to Dongyang, and confirmed she liked the kite, suggesting they go fly it. Xue Hexu joined them, and as they flew the kite, Dongyang asked Feng Zuoren to take the lead. Feng Zuoren shared that one should fly a kite against the wind to make it soar high, yet the string remains in one's hands. As the kite flew high, Xue Dongyang was delighted.
Feng Zuoren then had a moment of melancholy, wishing she could go out freely, before handing the kite to Xue Hexu and Dongyang and quietly leaving, lost in sad memories of flying kites with a young boy in her childhood. Later that night, back at the Xue residence, Feng Zuoren pondered Gu Qianfu's recent unusual behavior of inspecting people's backs. She speculated that the former Crown Prince might have a special mark on his back.
To confirm this, she decided to use the pretense of bathing Xue Dongyang to check his back. Xue Dongyang, however, was stubborn and refused to take off his clothes, stating that Liu Jiaoqian had told him to protect himself and not show his body to strangers. Feng Zuoren insisted, reminding him she was his stepmother and there was nothing improper about it.
After a playful chase, Feng Zuoren feigned a fall, crying out in pain and asking Dongyang to help her up. As he rushed to her aid, Feng Zuoren seized the opportunity, swiftly pulling off his clothes. She discovered a crescent-shaped birthmark on his back, realizing that this was what Gu Qianfu was looking for, and wondered if Xue Dongyang could truly be the former Crown Prince. Just then, other members of the Xue family arrived, witnessing the scene.
Xue Hexu, skeptical, summarized Feng Zuoren's elaborate explanation, where she claimed a rogue who liked men had targeted Dongyang, and she happened to intervene just before they arrived. Feng Zuoren, surprised by Xue Hexu's sharp deduction, could only confirm his summary. Xue Hexu then pressed her for details about the rogue, suggesting they report it to the authorities. Before Feng Zuoren could respond, Gu Qianfu suddenly appeared, announcing he was from the Jing'an Bureau, there to capture a rogue.
This coincidentally supported Feng Zuoren's story, much to the surprise of the Xue family members who exclaimed about the "rogue." Gu Qianfu then grandiosely declared his duty to protect the people and insisted on personally verifying whether the young masters had been assaulted. He attempted to inspect Dongyang again, but Xue Hexu quickly stepped in, assuring him that they were perfectly fine.
Xue Hexu then dismissed Gu Qianfu, who left, wondering if Feng Zuoren now knew the identity of the former Crown Prince and resolving to keep Dongyang's birthmark a secret. Xue Hexu, too, instructed his men to keep a close watch on Feng Zuoren, suspecting her intentions towards Dongyang. Liu Jiaoqian, seeing Feng Zuoren's attentive behavior towards Xue Dongyang, grew increasingly jealous.
She went to Xue Grandmother, complaining that Feng Zuoren dressed provocatively to seduce Dongyang and even behaved intimately with Xue Hexu. However, Xue Grandmother defended Feng Zuoren, praising her dignified appearance and kindness, saying she was blessed to have both Feng Zuoren and Liu Jiaoqian. Frustrated by the grandmother's partiality, Liu Jiaoqian loudly lamented her situation, fearing Feng Zuoren would trick Dongyang into expelling her from the mansion, leaving her with nowhere to go.
Gu Qianfu, overhearing her complaints, approached her and offered his help. Liu Jiaoqian, initially suspicious and mistaking his concern for romantic interest, warned him against pursuing her, insisting on her unwavering devotion to Dongyang. Gu Qianfu clarified his motive, admitting he also disliked Feng Zuoren's supposed seduction of Dongyang. He offered Liu Jiaoqian a plan to make Feng Zuoren disappear from the Xue Mansion, stating that her kind heart would prevent her from thinking of such harsh measures.
Despite her initial reluctance to conspire against a family member, Liu Jiaoqian eventually succumbed to her jealousy and asked to hear his plan. That evening, Feng Zuoren received an invitation, sent by Liu Jiaoqian, to the Grand Tutor's Flower Banquet, which specifically requested each madam to bring a signature dish. Feng Zuoren, suspecting Grand Tutor Zhou's true intentions, attended the banquet with Xue Hexu.
At the Grand Tutor's mansion, Grand Tutor Zhou greeted them, making subtly condescending remarks about Feng Zuoren's youth and beauty, and questioning the legitimacy of her marriage to the unconscious Lord Xue. Feng Zuoren retorted sharply, asserting her place in the Xue family and questioning the motives behind the Jing'an Bureau's constant surveillance. Xue Hexu skillfully interjected, defending Feng Zuoren's loyalty and expressing gratitude for the perceived protection, while subtly implying it was unnecessary.
Soon after, the Elder Princess and Princess arrived, creating a grand entrance. The Elder Princess displayed a haughty demeanor, scolding a servant for a minor imperfection. Grand Tutor Zhou then announced the main event: the madams would present their signature dishes for the Elder Princess and Princess to enjoy. Feng Zuoren had prepared her dish, "Prosperity Supreme," but upon presentation, she discovered it had been swapped with an ordinary, unappetizing dish.
Her eyes immediately darted to Liu Jiaoqian, confirming her suspicion of sabotage. Liu Jiaoqian seized the moment, publicly condemning Feng Zuoren for her apparent disrespect towards the banquet and the royal guests, suggesting such an offense could warrant execution. Unfazed, Feng Zuoren dramatically drew a knife, declaring that her dish required live preparation. She then proceeded to display breathtaking knife skills, meticulously carving vegetables into an exquisite dish she named "Peony with Azure Skies," captivating the audience.
The Elder Princess, however, misidentified Feng Zuoren and Xue Hexu as a married couple, prompting the Princess to correct her mother's misunderstanding, stating Feng Zuoren was Xue Hexu's stepmother, but the Elder Princess remained confused. Mrs. Han, observing Feng Zuoren's success, approached her and presented her with a new rouge from Treasure Pavilion, claiming it was for beauty.
Feng Zuoren accepted the gift, but her keen senses, honed from her time as commander of the Xueyi Guard, immediately detected the presence of Disfigured Powder in the rouge. Mrs. Han secretly reveled in her malicious act, anticipating Feng Zuoren's face would be ruined. Feng Zuoren, however, discreetly passed the poisoned rouge to the Princess. Shortly after, the Princess applied the rouge, and her face began to show a reaction, causing widespread alarm among the attendees.
