Under the Moonlight Episode 4 Recap, Plot

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Luo Shu and Qi Menglin conducted investigations and suspected that Lin Xiong murdered his wife, Liu Sanniang, and framed Xu Luan. They reported their findings to Han Muzhi, requesting him to reopen the case. Chen Meiqing strongly opposed this, and Qi Menglin suspected that Chen Meiqing had been involved in coercing Xu Luan into a confession under the previous magistrate’s rule.

However, Chen Meiqing clarified that he was unaware of the details of Xu Luan’s case and was merely concerned about Han Muzhi offending his superior, the former magistrate, who had since been promoted. Luo Shu suggested uncovering the truth, and Han Muzhi decided to summon Xu Luan and Lin Xiong for questioning. Han Muzhi reopened the investigation into Liu Sanniang’s murder. Many townspeople came to observe the trial.

Xu Luan repeatedly pleaded his innocence, stating that he and Lin Xiong were close friends. On the night of the incident, Xu Luan went to deliver water to Lin Xiong’s house. Liu Sanniang claimed they had run out of water, so Xu Luan carried a bucket into the house, only to discover the bucket was full. At that moment, Liu Sanniang tried to seduce him, and Xu Luan fled in terror.

Han Muzhi suspected an affair between Xu Luan and Liu Sanniang, questioning why else he would visit late at night and why Liu Sanniang would attempt to seduce him. Han Muzhi ordered Xu Luan to be flogged with twenty strokes and then sent back to the death cell. Terrified, Xu Luan begged for mercy and revealed everything. He admitted he had long been infatuated with Liu Sanniang’s beauty.

Upon learning from Lin Xiong that she would be alone at home that night, he intentionally went to deliver water late at night, intending to take advantage of her. However, Liu Sanniang fought back and forced him to leave. Tragically, she was murdered that very night. Xu Luan swore he had not killed her. Han Muzhi ordered Lin Xiong to be brought in.

Xu Luan begged Lin Xiong to testify for him, even mentioning that he had kept a secret for Lin Xiong for years. Lin Xiong, visibly shaken, only admitted that Xu Luan was his childhood friend. When Han Muzhi pressed Lin Xiong about whether he was aware of Xu Luan’s feelings for Liu Sanniang, Lin Xiong sneered dismissively. He stated he could not confirm Xu Luan as the murderer but also could not name another suspect.

Left with no choice, Han Muzhi temporarily adjourned the trial. Luo Shu suspected Lin Xiong because, when he reported the case, he showed fear but no grief, and there were no bloodstains on him. When Luo Shu and Qi Menglin questioned him, he appeared calm, but his expression turned disdainful when hearing rumors about an affair between Liu Sanniang and Xu Luan. Han Muzhi also noticed Lin Xiong’s odd demeanor toward Xu Luan and suspected they were hiding a secret.

Qi Menglin was convinced Xu Luan was wrongly accused and believed Lin Xiong was highly suspicious. Luo Shu secretly followed Lin Xiong, with Qi Menglin joining later. From a distance, they saw someone approach Lin Xiong at the city gate with news that his son, Suo’er, was gravely ill from a fever. Lin Xiong waited until his shift ended before taking Suo’er from Granny Zhang’s home.

Meanwhile, tea stall owners and neighbors gossiped that Xu Luan had bribed Han Muzhi to reopen the case and frame Lin Xiong. Luo Shu and Qi Menglin overheard everything. Luo Shu continued staking out Lin Xiong’s house late into the night. When Suo’er’s fever worsened, Lin Xiong, growing impatient, took him to see Doctor Wang. Qi Menglin followed Luo Shu as they trailed Lin Xiong to Doctor Wang’s home.

Wang, Lin Xiong’s uncle, performed acupuncture on Suo’er, but the child’s cries persisted. Luo Shu entered, comforting Suo’er until he stopped crying. Lin Xiong expressed his gratitude, and after Doctor Wang prescribed medicine, Lin Xiong left with Suo’er. Luo Shu inquired about Lin Xiong’s situation with Doctor Wang and casually mentioned that Suo’er did not resemble Lin Xiong. Doctor Wang quickly changed the subject.

Back at her residence, Jin Miaocui vented her frustrations to Luo Shu, longing to obtain her release document and leave the county office. Luo Shu advised her to be patient, assuring her that Han Muzhi was handling the matter. Luo Shu grew increasingly puzzled. Lin Xiong publicly claimed that Suo’er was the product of an affair between Liu Sanniang and another man during their marriage.

However, his cold demeanor toward the child made Luo Shu suspect that Suo’er was not his. She theorized that the secret Xu Luan had been keeping was this truth. Yet, she could not understand why Lin Xiong would protect Xu Luan. Qi Menglin remained convinced that Lin Xiong murdered Liu Sanniang and framed Xu Luan, leaving Han Muzhi uncertain about who to believe. One night, someone reported seeing Liu Sanniang’s ghost visiting Granny Zhang’s home to see Suo’er.

Frightened, Granny Zhang fell ill. Luo Shu and Cai Baozi investigated and learned that a long-haired ghost had climbed over the wall to visit Suo’er. Granny Zhang suspected it was Liu Sanniang. Luo Shu deduced the “ghost” might reappear, so Han Muzhi stationed guards around Granny Zhang’s home. That night, they caught the "ghost"—Qi Menglin—who had been investigating on his own. Qi Menglin noticed claw marks on the wall and demonstrated how someone could scale it.

Luo Shu discovered partial footprints, indicating the “ghost” was a one-legged person. She remembered that Liu Sanniang’s first husband, Li Fengchun, was lame, though he had supposedly fallen to his death. Luo Shu suspected Li Fengchun might still be alive and devised a plan to lure him out. Luo Shu and Qi Menglin hired a renowned exorcist to publicly perform a ritual to expel Liu Sanniang’s ghost from Lin Xiong’s home.

The exorcist exaggerated the ghost’s power, claiming it was too formidable to handle. Qi Menglin persuaded Lin Xiong to leave with Suo’er. That very night, the long-haired “ghost” returned to Lin Xiong’s home to take Suo’er. However, Han Muzhi had prepared a trap. Luo Shu, disguised as the ghost of Liu Sanniang, helped expose the culprit—Li Fengchun—who was apprehended on the spot.

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