In Under the Moonlight Episode 24, Luo Su revisits her childhood home with Qi Menglin and uncovers horrifying truths about the fire that killed her family thirteen years ago. The arsonists used restricted military rock lacquer, tying the deadly conspiracy directly to the former office of Qi Menglin's own father.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Series Title | Under the Moonlight (Feng Yue Jin Nang) |
| Episode Number | Episode 24 |
| Total Episodes | 36 |
| Key Investigation | The 13-year-old arson massacre targeting Luo Su's family |
| Decisive Evidence | Rock lacquer (petroleum crude oil), a strictly restricted military supply |
| Lead Cast | Hu Bingqing as Luo Su, Zhai Zilu as Qi Menglin, Zhang Xiaochen as Jin Shi |
Jin Shi's Arrival and Qi Menglin's Search for the Old House
The peaceful morning at the Qi residence shatters when Jin Shi, a prominent merchant from Taiyuan, recognizes Luo Su and addresses her by an unfamiliar name from her past.
"Yulan." — Jin Shi
Qi Menglin spots the interaction immediately. His guarded reaction turns into open jealousy and protective worry as he presses Luo Su about how a humble constable could possibly know an elite merchant.
"How do you even know a wealthy merchant from Taiyuan?" — Qi Menglin
Luo Su explains that she knew Jin Shi before entering the Mingyue brothel. Jin Shi repeatedly visited her whenever business brought him to Linfen, offering to buy out her bond to repay a past debt of gratitude after she saved him from a malicious frame-up. Luo Su turned down his wealth on the spot, determined to shape her own destiny.
"I will never entrust my fate to anyone again." — Luo Su
With the New Year approaching, Luo Su tries to locate her childhood home, but she was too young when disaster struck to remember the exact street. When Qi Menglin learns she only recalls a gold-lettered sign at an alley corner and a nearby steamed bun shop, he mobilizes his men and combs every district on foot.
"I will find it for Luo Su no matter what." — Qi Menglin
Against steep odds, Qi Menglin tracks down the exact alleyway. Leading her to the gate, he hands her the key to her long-buried past.
"You actually found it." — Luo Su
The Wooden Pillar and the Clue Behind the Unstoppable Blaze
Luo Su steps into the courtyard, now occupied by another family, and freezes beside a central wooden pillar. Running her trembling fingers over carved notches, she breaks down in tears.
"My father carved these." — Luo Su
The preserved measurement marks prove her memories were real and that she grew up surrounded by paternal warmth. However, the emotional reunion quickly turns grim when an old neighbor, Aunt Guo, approaches them with haunting details of that fateful night.
The Rain That Could Not Extinguish the Fire
Aunt Guo recalls that when the fire erupted, neighbors rushed out with water buckets while torrential rain poured from the sky. Yet the downpour did nothing to quell the inferno.
"Yet the fire only raged harder." — Aunt Guo
A fire intensifying under heavy rain points straight to petroleum-based accelerants. Luo Su suddenly recalls the sickening chemical odor that filled the air during the tragedy.
"There was a terrible stench of burning back then." — Luo Su
The Fuel Merchant's Warning on Rock Lacquer
Luo Su and Qi Menglin immediately investigate local fuel merchants in the market. In a private storehouse, they test burning samples until one distinctive pungent odor triggers Luo Su's recognition.
"This is the exact scent." — Luo Su
The substance is rock lacquer, crude petroleum oil. The merchant provides an alarming revelation that changes the scope of the case entirely.
"Rock lacquer is a restricted military supply." — Fuel Merchant
Burning down an entire house required at least two full barrels of rock lacquer. Because the military tightly controls this combustible weapon, private citizens could never purchase or transport such quantities. Luo Su's family was not trapped in an accidental fire; they were systematically eliminated using state-regulated weaponry.
Military Conspiracy and the Shadow Over Qi Menglin's Father
Aunt Guo provides another vital clue: after pulling the unconscious young girl from the ruins, she hid Luo Su inside her home. The next day, suspicious armed ruffians patrolled the alleyway.
"They asked around to see if anyone survived." — Aunt Guo
These thugs wanted confirmation that no one walked out alive. Fearing for the child's life, Aunt Guo and her husband sent Luo Su away to distant relatives. This confirms Luo Su's father held dangerous knowledge that someone in high office felt compelled to silence.
The Shanxi Military Post Connection
Luo Su attempts to comfort Qi Menglin, assuring him that his father, currently a high-ranking governor, had nothing to do with a crime committed thirteen years ago. Qi Menglin's expression pales as he recalls his family timeline.
"My father served as the Shanxi regional military commissioner back then." — Qi Menglin
As the regional military commissioner of Shanxi thirteen years ago, Qi Menglin's father directly supervised military logistics and restricted inventories, including rock lacquer. The very man commanding the armory when the accelerant leaked into civilian quarters is Qi Menglin's father.
"I will uncover the truth for your sake and to clear my family." — Qi Menglin
Instead of fleeing the horrifying possibility, Qi Menglin commits to uncovering the full truth, standing firmly alongside Luo Su.
Hidden Agendas: Salt Permits and Jin Shi's Pressure on Qi Anjin
While Luo Su and Qi Menglin follow the scent of rock lacquer, a parallel conflict brews inside the Qi mansion. Jin Shi approaches Qi Anjin, the second son who manages household affairs, demanding assistance to secure lucrative government salt permits. Qi Anjin refuses, citing heavy political surveillance.
Jin Shi strikes directly at Qi Anjin's deep-seated resentment. He reminds Anjin that despite running the estate for ten years as the second son, he receives little standing. Jin Shi also plants suspicion regarding Luo Su's presence in the household, pushing Anjin to spy on her background.
Jin Shi's own past ties run deep: he was the buyer waiting at the threshold the day Luo Su was sold off years ago. Whether Jin Shi acts out of lingering sentiment or operates as a broker tied to the military supply theft remains an urgent question as the investigation pushes forward into Under the Moonlight Episode 25 Recap: Arson Clues, Poison, and Luo Su's Choice and the escalating tensions analyzed in Under the Moonlight Episode 26 Ending Explained: Xu Biao's Death and Luo Su's Choice.
For a breakdown of the period costumes and styling featured throughout these dramatic confrontations, see the Under the Moonlight Episode 24 Outfits: Winter Robes, Fur Collars, and Hairpin Accents.
Frequently asked questions
How did Qi Menglin locate Luo Su's childhood home in Episode 24?
Qi Menglin sent his subordinates through every neighborhood using the only two clues Luo Su remembered from childhood: an alley entrance marked by a gold-lettered sign and a neighborhood steamed bun shop.
What proof reveals that the fire thirteen years ago was an orchestrated murder?
Neighbor Aunt Guo testified that the fire burned harder despite pouring rain, pointing to an accelerant. Fuel tests confirmed the scent was rock lacquer, a tightly controlled military resource. Additionally, armed ruffians patrolled the alley the morning after to verify that all family members died.
How is Qi Menglin's family tied to the arson investigation?
Thirteen years ago, Qi Menglin's father held office as the regional military commissioner of Shanxi, placing him directly in charge of military operations and controlled war materials, including the rock lacquer used in the massacre.
What business brings Jin Shi to the Qi residence?
Jin Shi attempts to obtain lucrative salt trade permits through Qi Anjin. When rebuffed, Jin Shi exploits Qi Anjin's second-son complex and warns him to investigate Luo Su's background.