Moonlit Reunion Episode 24 Recap
> Moonlit Reunion Recap
Wu Zishu summoned Elder Hui and ordered him to retrieve the primordial core of Sinister Fiend Infant. Wu Zishu noted that Elder Hui, a thousand-year-old demon, had regained his memory and original form, which was why Unaging Bone had come for him, implying a past connection to Sinister Fiend Infant. Elder Hui, in turn, questioned Wu Zishu's relationship with the Sinister Fiend Infant.
Wu Zishu asserted that Elder Hui, with his vast knowledge of past events, would be able to help him. When Elder Hui asked what he wanted him to do, Wu Zishu asserted his authority, reminding Elder Hui that he could revert him to his rodent form if he dared to disobey. Elder Hui pledged his obedience, agreeing to find the primordial core. That night, strange incidents began to plague Chang'an.
A scholar, possessed by a dream demon, tore off his clothes and shouted about transforming into a butterfly, a woman on the street danced wildly with fire, and an old man, mesmerized by a golden fish in the river, waded into the water. Inside the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, officials discussed these bizarre occurrences, attributing them to people releasing their suppressed thoughts and desires through dreams. One official noted that the widespread "sleepwalking" was too strange, as if a disease.
Most remained unconcerned, reminding Mei Zhuyu that his wedding was tomorrow. However, Mei Zhuyu recognized these events as the re-emergence of a demon. Wu Zhen, also noticing the strange events, went to the Beast Market to research a solution. A cat demon informed her that the demon appeared to be a new one and was not recorded in their archives.
Wu Zishu then appeared, asking why she hadn't come to him directly for help, to which she replied she didn't want to disturb him while he was busy with Hui Sect matters. Despite her coldness, Wu Zishu expressed his attachment, declaring that she could not cast him aside. In a fit of anger and frustration, he threw a rare book into the demon fire, stating it was useless if she didn't need it.
Wu Zhen reminded him that she was marrying and he should move on. She urged him to separate his duty from his personal feelings, reassuring him that she would continue to manage the Beast Market. He acknowledged their deep understanding from their eighteen years together. After Wu Zhen left, a lingering spirit mocked Wu Zishu, telling him that Wu Zhen was a woman he could never truly possess. Wu Zishu, however, dismissed the taunt.
Rushing back to the Duke’s manor before dawn, Wu Zhen was immediately whisked away by her father and maids for her wedding preparations, despite her sleepy protests. Meanwhile, Mei Si gathered a group, including maids and colleagues, to "put Mei Zhuyu in check" the moment he arrived. He declared his loyalty to Wu Zhen, emphasizing that she was more important than his cousin, Mei Zhuyu, and urged everyone to prevent Mei Zhuyu from "bullying" her.
When Mei Zhuyu finally arrived at the manor, the group confronted him with sticks. Mei Si challenged him for not "avoiding" the ceremonial beating, but Mei Zhuyu calmly urged them to proceed. His composed demeanor only further embarrassed Mei Si. It was then that Wu Zhen appeared, breathtaking in her wedding dress, silencing and captivating everyone present.
Upon arriving at their new home, it was time for the traditional flower adornment ceremony, where the bride's close friends would add flowers to her gown as a blessing. Mei Si mused aloud about Wu Zhen's lack of close female friends. Xie Yao, remembering that Wu Zhen had once saved her life, intended to step forward, but her maid cautioned her against risking her reputation by associating with the "Qinghe County Princess."
Just then, Liu Taizhen and Hu Zhu arrived, each holding a twin peony blossom. Liu Taizhen announced that their long-standing childhood feud was now a thing of the past, and she had come to offer her congratulations to Wu Zhen, especially since someone "dared to marry her." Hu Zhu added that the Ruyi Pavilion also wished to share in Wu Zhen’s joy. At the auspicious hour, the couple entered.
Mei Zhuyu led Wu Zhen across a saddle adorned with auspicious items, scattering grains to ward off evil. Inside the hall, they first bowed to heaven and earth, then paid respects to their elders. As they exchanged their final bows, their sleeves briefly intertwined, triggering a rush of memories for both. Wu Zhen reflected on how she came to love Mei Zhuyu, cherishing his understanding and acceptance of her true self, a stark contrast to how she was perceived elsewhere.
She found comfort in being simply "Wu Zhen" with him, unburdened by expectations. Mei Zhuyu, in turn, recalled his initial resolve to uncover past wrongs and slay demons, a solitary path until Wu Zhen entered his life. He recognized that she had brought a new warmth and desire for a shared future into his once-lonely existence, making any sacrifice for her entirely "worth it," even defying Changxi Palace rules.
He reiterated his commitment to protecting her, while still upholding his duties. With the sharing of the bridal cup and blessings from the guests, the ceremony was complete, celebrating their lifelong happiness. After the ceremony, Mei Si asked Liu Taizhen about the fate of human-demon marriages like Wu Zhen and Mei Zhuyu's. Liu Taizhen reflected on her own past, revealing that she had almost married a human.
After being betrayed and left to heal in the Beast Market by the former Snake Lord, she had sworn revenge. However, when she eventually returned, she found her former lover grown old, with a family. She realized that while she had been consumed by her emotional turmoil, he had moved on, leading a free and unburdened life. She concluded that human and demon lifespans were fundamentally different, destined for separate paths, and that such unions inevitably ended in tragedy.
She then questioned Mei Si, asking why he would waste his mere decades of good time on her. Mei Si, however, vowed he was not like her past lover, promising to love her and wish her well for as long as he lived, reassuring her that her worries were unfounded and that his feelings were his own to decide. He even playfully remarked that she would look even more beautiful than Wu Zhen in a wedding dress.
Mei Si, having generously taken on much of Mei Zhuyu's celebratory drinks, became heavily intoxicated and passed out in his room. In the bridal chamber, Wu Zhen expressed her boredom, feeling "cooped up," but was unconcerned about formalities. A mysterious blue light then entered Mei Si's body, and he began to hallucinate, seeing himself marrying Liu Taizhen.
Disoriented, Mei Si rushed out, embracing Liu Taizhen and insisting they were finally together after ten years of his admiration, trying to pull her away to consummate their marriage. Mei Zhuyu and Liu Taizhen immediately recognized that Mei Si was possessed by a demon. Acting swiftly, Liu Taizhen grabbed a wine pot and struck Mei Si on the back of his head, knocking him unconscious and expelling the demon from his body.
The demon, a blue light, then entered Wu Zhen's body. Under its influence, she climbed onto a high balcony, believing she had gained full demonic powers and could fly during the day. Mei Zhuyu, observing her strange behavior, swiftly caught her as she teetered precariously, preventing a fall. He secretly performed a spell to expel the demon, and Wu Zhen quickly regained consciousness.
Recalling the strange events, Wu Zhen, feigning confusion, tried to send her father away with a fabricated excuse to allow her to plan. That same night, she rushed back to the Beast Market to gather everyone and discuss a detailed plan to capture the demon. Meanwhile, Mei Si, now recovered, expressed disbelief that even the "head of demons" could be possessed. Wu Zhen, enraged that the "little demon" had dared to disrupt her wedding, vowed to retaliate.
Mei Zhuyu later explained to his recently arrived "Tenth Brother" that this "Dream Demon" was unusually powerful, appearing in broad daylight and manipulating victims' desires by entering their dreams. He planned to "lure it out" that very night in the untouched southeast quadrant of Chang'an, where he intended to return it to the Beast Market. Mei Zhuyu concluded by declaring his ultimate goal: to eradicate all such demons from Chang'an forever.
