Under the Moonlight Episode 20 Recap, Plot

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Qi Menglin had been in a deep sleep for an entire day and night before finally waking up. Luo Shu had not left his side, providing him with attentive care. Luo Shu wanted to bring Qi Menglin a bowl of porridge, but he lied, claiming he wasn’t hungry and stopped her. He just wanted her to stay by his side. Cai Baozi returned to Linfen with the testimonies of Jin Lao Liu and Lao Song.

Luo Shu urged Qi Menglin to eat properly, suggesting that they could return to Linfen soon. Before leaving, Qi Menglin went to Yu Zhen's house and threw a bag of silver and a note over the wall, advising Yu Zhen to find a good man and live a better life. Yu Zhen, confused, read the note but didn't understand. Qi Menglin and Luo Shu took a boat back to Linfen.

Qi Menglin was still not fully recovered, but Luo Shu took great care of him, even buying him steamed buns. Qi Menglin felt warm inside and urged Luo Shu to forget about Han Muzhi, speaking badly about him. Luo Shu didn’t want to listen and sulked, refusing to speak to him. The boat soon arrived in Linfen, and Luo Shu disembarked alone, leaving. Lian Shu, hearing that Qi Menglin was ill, had been waiting at the dock for him.

Back at the county office, Cai Baozi eagerly told Luo Shu that Liu Wan had left Linfen. Cai Baozi asked about Qi Menglin’s condition and suggested that Luo Shu meet with Han Muzhi, who had finally obtained Luo Shu’s certificate of freedom. Luo Shu was now officially a free person, and she felt an unprecedented sense of relief and joy. Soon, Chen Meiqing arrived and explained everything.

Liu Wan insisted on not breaking off her engagement with Han Muzhi, even threatening him with Luo Shu's freedom document. Luo Shu now understood why Han Muzhi hadn’t defended her during the court session—because Liu Wan had used her freedom document to pressure him. Han Muzhi questioned Lü Wanchang and Lü Cong, even bringing Wu Zhuangyuan in for cross-examination.

Lü Cong confessed that Wu Zhuangyuan had approached him, offering to help Lü Wanchang escape the charges in exchange for a large sum of money. Wu Zhuangyuan had found two scapegoats in Hejin County, instructing Lü Cong to use a notice to falsely accuse them.

Wu Zhuangyuan denied the accusations, adamantly claiming he had never been to Hejin and even called his wife and neighbors to testify that he had been ill at home the previous month, placing all blame on Lü Wanchang and Lü Cong. Luo Shu stepped forward to testify against Wu Zhuangyuan, presenting the testimonies of Jin Lao Liu and the prison guards. Wu Zhuangyuan still denied the accusations. Then, Wei Dianli arrived to testify against him.

Han Muzhi and Chen Meiqing had invited Wei Dianli for drinks and, with emotional appeals and reason, convinced him to testify. Wei Dianli, filled with remorse, agreed to take the stand. He exposed Wu Zhuangyuan's crimes, leaving him speechless. The case of Ma Tianjin’s murder was successfully closed. Han Muzhi, however, was conflicted as he thought about Luo Shu leaving once the case was finished.

Luo Shu went to bid him farewell, returning the jade bracelet to him and thanking him for his efforts and sacrifices in helping her become free. She explained that they were destined to be apart, and that there was no future for them. Han Muzhi desperately tried to keep her, asking her to stay and work as a constable, but Luo Shu, unable to refuse his sincerity, reluctantly agreed.

Watching Luo Shu walk away with the bracelet, Han Muzhi knew that they could never be together, and his heart ached. Chen Meiqing noticed Han Muzhi's inner turmoil and advised him to let go of this relationship. Han Muzhi no longer hoped for a future with Luo Shu but just wanted her to be a little closer to him. Qi Menglin, now recovered from his illness, exercised daily.

He heard that villagers along the Fen River were at odds over water rights, and the constables of Linfen were rushing there. Fearing for Luo Shu’s safety, Qi Menglin immediately led troops to offer support. When they arrived at the scene, Qi Menglin ordered the ringleaders to be arrested. Upon learning that Luo Shu had gone to call for reinforcements, he immediately set out to find her.

From a distance, he saw people taking Luo Shu hostage and rushed to chase after them. The cart stopped at a large mansion, and the kidnappers carried Luo Shu inside. Qi Menglin quickly went to break down the door, but no one answered. He climbed over the wall and entered the courtyard. Liu Wan had never left Linfen.

She was staying at her cousin Xue Wenyin’s house and had sent people to kidnap Luo Shu, forcing her to leave the county office. Han Muzhi had promised that if Liu Wan gave Luo Shu her freedom certificate, he would allow her to leave, but he had gone back on his word.

Luo Shu was unaware of this and agreed to leave, explaining that she and Han Muzhi had already settled things and that she was staying at the county office simply because she enjoyed the life there. Liu Wan, seeing Luo Shu covered in dirt from mediating the villagers' water disputes, felt sorry for her, but Luo Shu believed her actions were meaningful. Xue Wenyin noticed a shadow moving quickly and screamed in fear.

Qi Menglin climbed over the wall and was immediately caught. He shouted to see Luo Shu. Zhou Xian arrived with his concubine Xiao Yue, and they took Qi Menglin back for questioning. Xiao Yue instructed the maid Shuang'er to check what had gone missing from the lady’s room.

Liu Wan, witnessing the scene, was worried that her cousin Xue Wenyin might be bullied by Xiao Yue, so she asked Luo Shu to lie, claiming that she had come to visit Luo Shu to catch up. Luo Shu agreed without hesitation. Shuang'er searched Xue Wenyin’s bed and found a man’s undergarment. Zhou Xian recognized it wasn’t his, and immediately concluded that Xue Wenyin and Qi Menglin were having an affair.

Xiao Yue fanned the flames, and Zhou Xian ordered that Qi Menglin be killed. Luo Shu immediately intervened, repeatedly explaining that Qi Menglin had come to find her, and only then did Zhou Xian let him go.

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