The Moon Brightens for You Episode 10 Recap
> The Moon Brightens for You Recap
The Wulin community gathered, demanding Lu Ming's execution for his involvement with a Xi Yan assassin. Xiahou Ying was also present to oversee the proceedings. Lin Fang entrusted Gu Yue with deciding Lu Ming's fate. As Gu Yue hesitated, Fang Gu suddenly appeared, accusing Gu Yue of betraying their alliance and attempting to silence Lu Ming now that Xi Yan's influence was waning.
Gu Yue vehemently denied knowing Fang Gu or colluding with Xi Yan, challenging her to provide evidence of such treasonous acts and appealing to his decades of honorable conduct in Wulin. Undeterred, Fang Gu threatened to expose all of Gu Yue's misdeeds with the White Tiger Gang. Amidst the wavering opinions of the crowd, Lu Ming's wife, Lixu, stepped forward, confirming she had been kidnapped by Fang Gu and that Gu Yue was indeed Fang Gu's accomplice.
The situation escalated when Gu Yan arrived, condemning his father Gu Yue's actions. Gu Yan revealed he had rescued Lixu after she was almost freed by Lin Fang's people, and that his father had planned for Lu Ming to assassinate the Wulin Alliance Leader, thus making Lu Ming an enemy of the entire Wulin and forcing him into hiding with Fang Gu.
Gu Yan, who referred to Lin Fang as Wen Xuan, presented a golden flower left by Fang Gu at their home as proof. Enraged, Gu Yue accused Lin Fang of turning his own son against him, proclaiming, "the student has become the master."
Seizing the moment, Housemaster Ji quickly shifted allegiance, denouncing Gu Yue as "ambitious" and having "no morals," and revealed that Gu Yue had coerced him to assassinate the Wulin Alliance Leader at the martial arts competition to secure the directorship for Gu Yan. Gu Yue, cornered, declared, "Pretext is useless when conviction is already made," still refusing to confess. In a desperate move, Gu Yue seized Lixu as a hostage.
Lu Ming pleaded with Fang Gu to save Lixu, admitting his wrongs. Fang Gu confronted Lu Ming about his lack of affection for her, then sacrificed herself to save Lixu, dying at Gu Yue's hand. Lu Ming mourned her, revealing his enduring love. Lin Fang ordered Gu Yue to be imprisoned and interrogated about his foreign collusion and Wulin transgressions.
Meanwhile, Hua Yao sent two boxes of cakes to the Wen residence, one for Wen Rou and one for Wen You. She included a riddle, hoping to decipher Wen You's feelings: green cakes would signify indifference, while red would mean mutual affection. The maid instructed Wen Rou to give the red box to Wen You and keep the black one for herself, but Wen Rou, engrossed in a book, paid little heed.
Elsewhere, Zhan Qinghong and Wen You were engaged in a martial arts match. Thanks to Lin Fang's guidance, Zhan Qinghong skillfully used light sword techniques with a heavy sword, defeating Wen You. As per their bet, Wen You had to grant her a wish. Zhan Qinghong challenged him to procure the elusive cloud cake from the Temporary Palace banquet within an hour.
Wen You, unable to find the imperial delicacy in any ordinary establishment, went to Wen Rou to ask if she could bake it. Spotting the dessert boxes, Wen You mistakenly took the black box (intended for Wen Rou, which contained the red cakes but lacked Hua Yao's riddle) and presented its contents to Zhan Qinghong. They shared the red, peach-flavored cakes, which Zhan Qinghong found exquisite.
She initially suspected Wen You had stolen them from the palace, but he clarified they were a gift from Princess Hua Yao, emphasizing their platonic sibling relationship. Zhan Qinghong, despite her initial pique, eventually shared the cake with him. Unaware of the mix-up, Hua Yao later interpreted Wen You's enjoyment of the red cake as a sign of reciprocal feelings. Back at the Wulin alliance, Gu Yan, tormented by the situation, pleaded with Lin Fang to spare his father.
He then confronted Gu Yue in his cell, urging him to confess the truth about the death of Lin Fang’s father, but Gu Yue remained unrepentant and hostile. Ultimately, unable to bear watching his father die despite his unforgivable crimes, Gu Yan privately released him. He then appeared before Lin Fang, taking full responsibility for Gu Yue's escape and apologizing for the suffering Lin Fang had endured due to Gu Yue's past deceptions.
To atone for his father's sins and his own actions, Gu Yan then consumed poison. As he lay dying, he reminisced about their happy childhood, where he cherished Lin Fang as a "little brother" and wished for him to consider the Gu family his own, expressing sorrow that the family had instead become a source of agony. Lin Fang, devastated, called Gu Yan "brother" in return, affirming Gu Yan would always be his good brother.
Overcome with grief, Lin Fang collapsed, his blood spots visibly worsening. His aide quickly realized that these were symptoms of poisoning, not merely side effects from the Five-stone infusion detox. The aide suspected Gu Yue's involvement and resolved to research the poison. Lin Fang, however, instructed his aide to keep his condition secret, fearing it would alarm others, and maintained an outward appearance of health and composure.
Concerned for Lin Fang, Zhan Qinghong attempted to lift his spirits with unconventional methods, suggesting he smash a vase or cry into a pillow. When these failed, she offered him a spicy cake, believing it would induce tears and relieve his sorrow. Lin Fang declined, and Zhan Qinghong expressed her unwavering support as his protector, empathizing with his loss as she treasured her own martial brothers.
As Lin Fang, Zhan Qinghong, and Wen You prepared to depart for Cang Wu to apprehend Gu Yue, Xiahou Ying offered an elder's counsel, emphasizing Lin Fang's safety and hoping the mission would be the first step in rectifying the Wulin by resolving Cang Wu's long-standing issues with the corrupt House Green-dragon and House Yixuan, while also capturing Gu Yue. He encouraged Wen You and Zhan Qinghong to look after Lin Fang and continue honing their martial skills.
Wen Rou expressed concern for Wen You's departure, asking him to care for their parents and then inquired if Xiahou Ying would also be joining the expedition. Hua Yao arrived, disappointed that Wen You hadn't informed her of his trip, and asked if he enjoyed her cakes, specifically which color. Wen You responded that the red, peach-flavored one was good, which Hua Yao misinterpreted as a sign of his affection. Lin Fang acknowledged the treacherous path ahead in Cang Wu.
Meanwhile, Gu Yue had already arrived in Cang Wu and met with Housemaster Li of House Green-dragon and Housemaster Cao of House Yixuan, rivals who controlled the region. Gu Yue warned them that Lin Fang was on his way, intent on "slaughtering them like monkeys." He proposed an alliance, promising them control over Cang Wu and eventually the entire Wulin, in exchange for Lin Fang's death to avenge his son, Gu Yan. The housemasters, initially skeptical of Gu Yue's diminished status, showed interest in the potential gains and the power of Xi Yan that Gu Yue subtly hinted at.
