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TL;DR Version
DFQC has an emotional conversation with the spirit of his father and learns his father caused his own death to limit DFQC’s suffering. DFQC does not execute his brother but takes on his punishment instead. He then forgives his father and gets Orchid’s advice on improving his relationship with his brother.

Recap
DFQC confronts the spirit of the previous Moon Supreme about being tortured and turned into a monster. His father says he wanted to ensure the survival of the Moon Tribe and would do it all again if given the choice. DFQC blames his father for who he is now and his father says he had no choice. DFQC feels like he’s been nothing but a tool, a sharp blade, for his father.

Flashbacks show that in the past the previous Moon Supreme had to deal with high casualties from Chi Di Nu Zi while his son wanted to play ball with him.

When Orchid presses the Moon Supreme on having said he let DFQC kill him, they learn this was meant to end DFQC’s suffering. To keep his emotions dead DFQC would have had to go through the torture of emotion purging every few thousand years, but by killing a loved one he made the emotion loss permanent. Now that DFQC’s emotional root is recovering and he’s in pain, his father wants him to shatter his soul to get rid of his suffering again.

DFQC refuses, deciding to bear the pain so that he can also remember the good times. The previous Moon Supreme takes the wicker ball and kicks it to his son. Orchid urges DFQC to kick it back as the Ranxi Flower burns, but he doesn’t, and the flower and his father vanish. 

Back in the Cangyan Sea, Xun Feng is receiving the lightning while DFQC, Orchid, and Shang Que watch. When he’s received less than half of his punishment, DFQC takes his place, allowing us to see a shirtless DFQC get hit repeatedly by lightning. Once it’s over Xun Feng declares it doesn’t change anything, but Orchid defends DFQC and tells Xun Feng he doesn’t know anything. She sets out the Cloud Shadow Mirror to show him what they learned.

Orchid is making medicine for DFQC’s recovery when she discovers he’s not resting in bed. She finds him in his father’s chamber with the wicker ball, lost in flashbacks. He starts crying, and she slowly takes his hand and pulls him into her arms. He tells her about his newly awoken feelings on his father’s Death Anniversary, and they both cry as he says he doesn’t blame his father anymore.

Later, Orchid is bribing DFQC to take his medicine with flower cakes and urges him to move more. DFQF resists and makes little coughs. Then Xun Feng comes to see him and DFQC suddenly gets up and seems fine. Xun Feng has watched what Orchid recorded and is apologetic. He also explains that after DFQC ‘died’, the Lord of Haishi City helped Xun Feng with the civil unrest that started. Looking back on it, he realizes that the Lord of Haishi City manipulated him and drew out the suffering and death.

DFQC hasn’t pardoned Xun Feng, but wants him to work on the battlefield to redeem himself. 

Orchid and DFQC talk about Xun Feng. DFQC isn’t holding a grudge against him and is interested in Orchid’s advice on getting closer to his brother since he doesn’t know how. First Orchid tries to get him to smile, eventually pushing the corners of his lips up with her fingers. Then she almost demonstrates a hug, but gets shy and pats his shoulders instead. DFQC doesn’t want to do any of this because he thinks it’s cheesy.

Jie Li checks on Orchid while she’s making the promised flower cakes. Orchid calls DFQC (who has tried to kill Jie Li multiple times) cute. Jie Li points out Orchid doesn’t seem to be acting, which Orchid protests.

DFQC is practicing his smile in front of the mirror when Xun Feng shows up. They talk about Chi Di Nu Zi and DFQC’s plans to free the trapped soldiers. Xun Feng is ready to go get Chi Di Nu Zi. DFQC stops him and reaches to pat his shoulder, causing Xun Feng to flinch and Shang Que to smile.

Shang Que reproduces the event to Orchid and Jie Li. He’s happy about the changes to DFQC but worried about what this means for his status as the Moon Supreme. Orchid is optimistic, believing now he won’t kill all the fairies.

DFQC shows up and Shang Que and Jie Li leave. He wants to thank Orchid by smearing Cinnabar (which he thoughtfully chose over the more traditional use of blood) on her face. Orchid resists but lets him when he says it’s the first time he’s ever thanked anyone.

Thoughts
The magic of these dramas is how intimate and emotional just a hug can be. DFQC and Orchid have ‘kissed’ multiple times, but those were silly and fun. The hug she gives him when he’s crying about his father is a bigger deal to their relationship and their growing closeness. It’s also a huge deal for DFQC, as I think it’s the first time DFQC has cried on his own, not prompted by her feelings. That she was there to comfort him is so sweet and touching.

I really appreciate that the Moon Supreme stayed true to his actions. DFQC has a right to be angry about what his father did, but at the same time, his father still thinks he was doing the right thing. It makes sense to me that DFQC needed time to process their conversation, and initially couldn’t kick the ball back to his father even with Orchid’s urging. I’m glad Orchid didn’t push him any harder but gave him a hug when he needed it.

And what a change in him. Back in the real Siming Hall, DFQC maintained his superiority and argued with Orchid about the inferiority of feelings. Now he’s coming to her for advice and listening, even if he still fusses over it. 

Is this show a slow burn? In some ways, they feel like they’ve been a couple since they met, and yet neither of them seems quite in love yet. Definitely on their way, but not there.

Final note: The first time I watched this show I was also watching the kdrama If You Wish Upon Me and in the same week saw both ML’s struggling with their smiles. It was a very tragic week for male leads.