The Moon Brightens for You Episode 15 Recap
> The Moon Brightens for You Recap
Xiao Lan, dressed meticulously, traveled by boat with Zhan Qinghong to the Zhou family manor, intending to infiltrate their dance party and monitor Zhou Bo. Back at their inn, Huo Yang expressed concern for Xiao Lan, but Lin Fang assured him, believing both women were clever and would face no danger. Huo Yang subtly acknowledged Lin Fang’s affection for Xiao Lan, saying it was evident he held feelings for her, which Lin Fang admitted.
Lin Fang also expressed confidence that while their methods might be unconventional, they would surely succeed in meeting Zhou Bo. At the opulent party, Zhan Qinghong observed the many women vying for Zhou Bo’s attention, realizing he enjoyed the spectacle. She resolved that her Zhan Family was not to be trifled with. To clear a path for Xiao Lan, Zhan Qinghong swiftly used her light-body skill, gracefully displacing the surrounding dancers.
She then dramatically smashed a table in front of Zhou Bo, scattering everyone in fright. Xiao Lan seized the opportunity to approach, but Zhou Bo, despite her efforts, showed no interest in her. Instead, his attention was solely captivated by Zhan Qinghong. Zhou Bo told Zhan Qinghong he found her special and liked her.
When she suggested he behave to secure a meeting with Lin Fang, Zhou Bo confidently stated no one who came to him would ever dare kill him. Zhan Qinghong also tried to subtly show her jade ring to Zhou Bo, but he completely ignored it. Zhan Qinghong, desiring privacy, asked Xiao Lan to step outside. Zhou Bo then provocatively asked Zhan Qinghong to compare his looks to Lin Fang’s, knowing Lin Fang was famed as Jiangdong's most handsome.
Zhan Qinghong retorted that everyone knew Lin Fang was the most beautiful, so there was no need to ask. Ignoring the business at hand, Zhou Bo offered a better jade if Zhan Qinghong would declare him more handsome. He then brazenly proposed that a kiss from Zhan Qinghong would secure a meeting with Lin Fang. Zhan Qinghong branded him a "sleazy fellow," a label Zhou Bo readily embraced.
Finally, Zhou Bo informed Xiao Lan to relay a message to Lin Fang: he would meet, but only if Lin Fang presented Zhan Qinghong to him as a gift. Upon returning to the inn, Xiao Lan angrily reported Zhou Bo’s refusal to cooperate without Zhan Qinghong as a "gift." Zhan Qinghong confirmed the outrageous demand. Lin Fang, initially surprised, quickly accepted it was true. Zhan Qinghong, furious, declared she could kill Zhou Bo.
Xiao Lan, still smarting from Zhou Bo’s disinterest, complained that despite her elaborate preparations, Zhou Bo had not found her attractive. Huo Yang, with a hint of jealousy, scoffed that she "lacked charm." Xiao Lan, enraged, stormed off, prompting Lin Fang to instruct Huo Yang to apologize, which he promptly did by chasing after her. Once alone, Lin Fang asked Zhan Qinghong for the jade ring.
She reiterated that she had tried to display it prominently, but Zhou Bo had ignored it. She then pressed Lin Fang for the reason behind his strange instruction. Lin Fang revealed that Zhou Bo had given him the ring years ago at his father’s funeral, promising that when Lin Fang became the Wulin clan's director, he should bring the ring to Linzhou to meet him. Zhan Qinghong was astonished that they were old acquaintances.
Lin Fang confessed Zhou Bo had never explained why he wanted the meeting. He then posed a question to Zhan Qinghong: if someone failed to keep a promise, what could be the reasons? She offered two possibilities: either they forgot, or they were unable to fulfill it. Lin Fang then suggested that, following Zhou Bo’s condition, they should send Zhan Qinghong to him.
Zhan Qinghong vehemently refused, declaring she could not betray Wen You and suggested Lin Fang offer himself instead. Meanwhile, Princess Hua Yao and Wen Rou eagerly awaited the return of Wen You and Xiahou Ying outside the city. Hua Yao impatiently fretted over Wen You’s delayed arrival, while Wen Rou quietly wondered if he had lost weight.
When Wen You and Xiahou Ying finally arrived, Hua Yao, full of enthusiasm, rushed to greet Wen You, who responded with polite formality, stating he needed to report back to the court. As he prepared to leave, Wen Rou offered Xiahou Ying a blessing sachet, explaining it contained invigorating herbs to prevent heatstroke in the summer. Xiahou Ying politely declined, suggesting she address him as "Uncle" due to their seniority.
He then recited a short verse about different colored flowers and explicitly stated his preferred color was green, leaving Wen Rou puzzled. She wondered if he disliked blue and genuinely favored green, resolving to make him a new sachet in his preferred color. Hua Yao, upset by Wen You's distant demeanor, complained to Wen Rou, recalling their mutual understanding before his departure. Her grandfather, Wang Dun, arrived and, seeing her distress, inferred it was related to Wen You.
Hua Yao confessed her disappointment at Wen You’s coldness after their previous bond. Wang Dun, to appease her, revealed he had already requested the Emperor to grant a marriage between Hua Yao and Wen You. Hua Yao was overjoyed by the news. The next day, Lin Fang reiterated his stance, insisting that sending Zhan Qinghong to Zhou Bo was a matter of "righteousness for Wulin" to eliminate hidden dangers. Zhan Qinghong angrily retorted, accusing him of bullying a defenseless woman.
Just as her frustration peaked, Zhan Podi and Su Qianhong, her parents, along with her siblings, unexpectedly arrived in Linzhou. Her father immediately questioned Lin Fang’s treatment of his daughter. Lin Fang apologized, claiming he was joking, and Su Qianhong playfully diffused the tension. Zhan Podi, noting Lin Fang’s resemblance to his late father, Lin Xiaotian, and his position as Wulin clan's director, acknowledged his potential. He then instructed his other children to greet the director.
Lin Fang suggested they rest. Su Qianhong urged them to treat the inn, which belonged to Lin Fang, as their own home. Zhan Qinghong’s parents continued to use her childhood nickname "Meinu" (beauty slave), which she found embarrassing now that she was a protector. Her mother agreed to call her "Hong'er" instead. Her parents, despite initially claiming to be merely passing through, expressed heartfelt concern for her well-being and praised her growing maturity and heroic demeanor.
Lin Fang, sensing the unusual timing of the Zhan family’s arrival, instructed Shen Yanzhi to closely monitor both the Zhou and Zhan families. He believed Zhan Podi's sudden reappearance after ten years of reclusion was suspicious but affirmed he would not implicate Zhan Qinghong in her father's past affairs. Later, Zhan Podi tested Zhan Qinghong’s martial arts in the courtyard. Her skills had improved considerably, forcing him to use more effort than expected to fight her to a draw.
He praised her increased strength but questioned her use of a heavy sword. Zhan Qinghong explained that Xiahou Ying had taught her to apply light-sword techniques to a heavy sword to further refine her skills. Zhan Podi recognized Xiahou Ying, playfully teasing his wife about Xiahou Ying’s past affections for her, and then jokingly attributed Zhan Qinghong’s heavy sword technique to Xiahou Ying. Su Qianhong intervened, ushering them inside for tea.
While inside, Xiao Lan delivered a letter to Zhan Qinghong, explaining that "Wulin Insights," Lin Fang’s intelligence network, was remarkably efficient. Zhan Qinghong’s siblings tried to snatch the letter, teasing her about a love letter. She finally revealed it was from Wen You, confessing that they had exchanged commitment presents – her jade for his bracelet – and that he intended to propose marriage to her parents.
Su Qianhong and Zhan Podi, shocked, barraged her with questions about Wen You's age, family background, character, martial arts skills, and how he treated her, causing a blushing Zhan Qinghong to flee. Concurrently, Wen You returned home and reported to his father, Wen Qiao, about his successful mission in Cang Wu, crediting Lin Fang’s intelligence and leadership. Wen Qiao urged him to abandon Wulin affairs and return to public service.
Wen You argued that the Jiangdong Wulin was in turmoil, Lin Fang's position as director was not yet stable, and he believed he could benefit the people even while serving in Wulin. Wen Qiao explained that his intention in allowing Wen You to train in martial arts was for him to gain life experience before entering politics, but now it was time for him to accept his family responsibilities.
Wen You then nervously announced his desire to marry a girl he deeply loved, describing her as pure, kind, and sincere, someone he wanted to spend his life with. His mother, Wen Rou, seemed amenable, but Wen Qiao sternly demanded her name. Wen You revealed she was Zhan Qinghong, daughter of Zhan Podi of Zhan Family Villa, and a protector of the Wulin clan's director.
His parents were aghast, reminding him of his supposed affection for Princess Hua Yao and their shared childhood. Wen You vehemently denied any interest in Hua Yao, reaffirming his love for Qinghong. Wen Qiao erupted in fury, denouncing Zhan Qinghong as a "commoner from the martial world" and questioning how their gentry family could marry such a person, fearing it would ruin their reputation in Jun'an.
Wen You insisted on his mutual love with Qinghong and their exchange of commitment tokens. However, Wen Qiao harshly rebuked him for arranging a marriage without parental consent or a matchmaker, forbidding the union. Wen You, devastated, knelt in desperation. Later that night, Zhan Podi secretly visited Lin Fang. Lin Fang offered him tea from Yunding mountain, to which Zhan Podi noted the need to abandon formalities. Zhan Podi stated he had the former Wulin clan's director's final instructions.
He recounted Lin Xiaotian's death during a surprise attack by the Xi Yan army the night before the last great battle. Lin Xiaotian, severely wounded, instructed Zhan Podi to prioritize the overall situation and to protect the "Seven-star swordsmanship" and pass it to the next director, specifically asking to protect "Fang." Lin Fang silently noted the discrepancy with Gu Yue's prior account, which implied Gu Yue's responsibility for his father's death.
Zhan Podi claimed he did not know who attacked Lin Xiaotian, only finding him already severely injured. Lin Fang questioned why Zhan Podi had vanished for so many years with such a crucial item without investigation. Zhan Podi reiterated he was simply following orders to safeguard the swordsmanship, never expecting Lin Fang, Lin Xiaotian’s son, to become the new director. He asserted he would have told Lin Fang what he needed to know regardless.
Lin Fang deduced that Zhan Podi had possessed the Seven-star swordsmanship all along. Zhan Podi then handed the manual over to Lin Fang, fulfilling his late friend’s dying wish. He advised Lin Fang to seek out all those involved in the past events to piece together the truth behind his father’s murder. Lin Fang then asked Zhan Podi about Zhou Bo.
Zhan Podi recalled Zhou Bo as a guard under Lin Xiaotian during the war and inquired about Lin Fang’s interest, but Lin Fang dismissed the question, suggesting Zhan Podi rest. As Zhan Podi left, Lin Fang examined the Seven-star swordsmanship. Shen Yanzhi asked if this meant Zhan Podi was now cleared of suspicion, but Lin Fang remained cautious, questioning the authenticity of the manual.
An individual with peculiar, monkey-like movements, later revealed to be Feng Bufei, was seen eavesdropping outside and fled when detected by Zhan Podi’s keen senses. Feng Bufei immediately reported to Zhong Buming that Zhan Podi possessed the Seven-star swordsmanship. Zhong Buming, intrigued, ordered his "boss" to come to Linzhou and declared his intention to set a "trap to catch a turtle in a jar." The following morning, Lin Fang received an invitation from the Zhou family.
The invitation specifically requested the presence of both Lin Fang and "Headman Zhan" (Zhan Podi). Shen Yanzhi expressed suspicion, noting Zhou Bo’s previous refusal to meet and the sudden inclusion of Zhan Podi. She worried about an ulterior motive. Lin Fang, however, decided that they must accept the invitation, stating they could not disappoint Zhou Bo.
