The Moon Brightens for You Episode 24 Recap
> The Moon Brightens for You Recap
At a banquet, Zhan Qinghong was heartbroken upon learning that Wen You had married Princess Hua Yao and become the consort. Despite Lin Fang's plea to "be calm," she grabbed her sword and left the feast abruptly. Worried, Lin Fang ordered his carriage prepared and followed her. They rode non-stop back to the city, arriving at the House Consort late at night, only to witness Princess Hua Yao and Wen You embracing.
Princess Hua Yao was heard congratulating Wen You on his potential promotion to supreme justice, while Wen You seemed preoccupied. He soon noticed Zhan Qinghong's presence and followed her, repeatedly calling her name and attempting to embrace her. However, a deeply hurt Zhan Qinghong pushed him away, confronting him with her anguish.
She demanded to know where he was when her parents and brothers were murdered and she was at her lowest, when her letters to him went unanswered, and when she searched for him in Jun'an and drank herself into oblivion. She reminded him of his promise to be with her forever, questioning his current absence. Wen You could only offer a sorrowful "I am sorry."
In a final act of despair, Zhan Qinghong took their bracelet of affection and shattered it with her sword, signifying the end of their relationship. Days turned into weeks, and Lin Fang spent every spare moment on the city wall, gazing into the distance after completing his military duties. His subordinates reported no success in finding Zhan Qinghong, though horse footprints suggested she headed towards Jun'an.
Lin Fang, consumed by worry, considered riding out alone, but was reassured that "she will come back." His subordinates urged him to go inside, noting the cold and the camp gossip about him standing vigil all night. Lin Fang confessed that he had hidden the truth from Zhan Qinghong about Wen You's marriage because he feared she couldn't bear it and he needed time to process the news himself.
He regretted that once the opportunity to tell her passed, he felt compelled to keep hiding it. When asked what would happen if she never returned, Lin Fang steadfastly affirmed, "She will be back." Finally, on a day of heavy snowfall, Lin Fang spotted a dark speck in the white landscape that resolved into Zhan Qinghong, collapsed on her horse, which was carrying her back. He rushed forward, embraced her, and brought her back to the camp.
A medic informed Lin Fang that Zhan Qinghong was suffering from extreme fatigue and a slight fever, requiring only rest. Lin Fang insisted on caring for her himself, refusing assistance. As she lay unconscious, he tenderly vowed, "I hope this is the last time you're hurt. Your world, I will protect it. I will be here with you forever, I will care for you, and I will cherish you.
You won't be lonely again, you won't be depressed again, your future, I'm in it." Zhan Qinghong remained ill for an extended period, with Lin Fang diligently nursing her side. During her unconscious state, her students expressed deep concern and anger towards Wen You for his betrayal, threatening vengeance despite his status as consort. They debated various methods to cheer her up, eventually settling on a plan that involved dressing up and performing.
When Zhan Qinghong finally awoke after three or four days, Lin Fang was by her side. She immediately asked if he had seen Wen You, discerning that he had known about the marriage for some time. Lin Fang confirmed her suspicions, explaining that by the time he learned, the imperial edict for the marriage was already issued.
He admitted he had intended to arrange a meeting for them to clarify matters and regretted that she discovered the truth in such a painful manner, acknowledging his own oversight. Zhan Qinghong, though understanding that it wasn't his fault and that he worried about her, confessed, "But I am still so sad." Her subordinate later reported her as melancholic, reluctant to leave her room, and low on energy, pretending happiness in public but crying in private.
To lift her spirits, the soldiers, led by a few captains, decided to put on a surprise performance. They donned female attire and danced with great effort. Witnessing their sincere attempts to cheer her up, Zhan Qinghong was overwhelmed with emotion and burst into tears. Deeply touched, she expressed her gratitude, declaring, "I will get myself together," and resolved to resume her sword practice.
While recovering, she had vivid dreams of her past, recalling Wen You's vows of eternal love and the joyous times with her family and fellow disciples at the Zhan Family home, a poignant reminder of what she had lost. The next morning, Zhan Qinghong sought out Lin Fang. He greeted her, remarking that he was just about to look for her.
She directly asked about the "Everything is fine" letter she had received earlier, correctly deducing that he had written it. Lin Fang confirmed, explaining, "I didn't want you to be sad." Zhan Qinghong thanked him, to which he playfully responded, "Only a thank you?" He then sternly instructed her, urging her to remember his words: "You can't just leave your job. Your life is very important. A lot of people care about you."
Zhan Qinghong acknowledged his concerns with a smile. Unexpectedly, Lin Fang pulled her into a warm embrace and whispered, "I will marry you," into her ear. The time came for another confrontation with Du Zeng's rebel forces. Lin Fang and his officers discussed their grim situation; an informant reported that Du Zeng's army had converged with the Yan army in Xifeng town, amassing over 80,000 troops, vastly outnumbering Lin Fang's force of less than 20,000.
Despite the drastic difference in numbers and the lack of further reinforcements, Lin Fang remained resolute, stating that winning with fewer troops was not unheard of and their situation was "not hopeless." He proposed an offensive strategy: to "attack as a mean of defense" by going out of the city gates, aiming to "get the head first" by capturing Du Zeng, which he believed would cause the rebel army to "collapse naturally."
General Gao, while agreeing with the strategy, expressed concern for Zhan Qinghong's well-being. Lin Fang, sighing, replied that "some wounds can only heal slowly by themselves," and directed General Gao to dispatch the troops. Before the battle, Lin Fang urged Zhan Qinghong to "Believe me. Be careful." Du Zeng, full of confidence, declared his intention to "take Mian Yang!" As the battle began, Du Zeng's forces attacked both the east and west gates.
Zhan Qinghong, alongside Huo Yang and Gu Qingshan, led a special unit deep into enemy lines, aiming to deliver a fatal blow to Du Zeng. Lin Fang, overseeing the operation, reiterated that "everything is going according to plan" and emphasized the importance of retreating after assassinating Du Zeng, cautioning them "not to dwell." Du Zeng, observing Zhan Qinghong's daring advance, dismissed her as a "damn girl" coming to "die."
Overconfident, he disregarded his subordinates' warnings and rushed to the front lines to personally engage Zhan Qinghong, stating he would be "quick" and "give them a taste of me." He left a subordinate in charge of the central army. Zhan Qinghong instructed Huo Yang to send her to Du Zeng, while telling Gu Qingshan to stay and cover.
She faced Du Zeng in single combat, but the general mocked her, calling her a "kiddo" and claiming her "swordsmanship is not my competition."
As she struggled against Du Zeng's superior strength, Zhan Qinghong suddenly recalled the Seven-star swordsmanship techniques Lin Fang had made her memorize, including the full oral incantation: "Sword hits the sky, wildly ride the wolf, endless breaths in the universe, the heart knows the length, seven-star is hidden in the sun, with assistance of peace, you will be in the zone, fetch the lake with the icy moon."
Employing various moves like "Firing phoenix," "Jumping dragon," and "Bouncing tiger," she fought with renewed vigor. Hidden among Du Zeng's troops, Feng Bufei recognized her use of the Seven-star swordsmanship and immediately ordered his men to "Kill her." However, empowered by the rediscovered techniques, Zhan Qinghong successfully struck down Du Zeng. With their leader dead, the rebel army fell into disarray. As Zhan Qinghong's team prepared to retreat to the city wall, Luo Wu insisted she go first.
She refused, but as she was climbing, an enemy arrow struck her. She cried out and fell from the city wall, prompting an officer to order their archers to "Shoot all these people down."
