Moonlit Reunion (子夜归)

Mei Zhuyu (Xu Kai), a calm and gifted demon slayer from the Changxi Temple, arrives in Chang’an as an official at the Bureau of Mystic Investigations to uncover the truth behind a devastating fire that killed his parents eighteen years ago. Wu Zhen (Tian Xiwei), the unruly younger sister of the Empress and secret “Cat Master” guardian of the demon underworld, inherited her half-demon powers after being rescued as a child. By day, Mei is a reserved official and Wu is a bold noblewoman; by night, he hunts demons while she protects the demon realm. Neither knows the other‘s secret at first. Forced into an arranged marriage by the Emperor, they navigate a dual life of daytime domestic comedy and nighttime supernatural combat. As they investigate a series of eerie cases involving bone demons, vengeful spirits, and a conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of power, their reluctant alliance deepens into love. Together, they must uncover the truth behind the Chang’an fire, confront the villain manipulating both realms, and ultimately decide whether duty or love will prevail. Based on Fu Hua‘s novel Madame Mei‘s Daily Life Pampering Her Husband.

The 38-episode series can be broadly divided into four main story arcs:

• Act 1 — First Meeting, Daylight Couple by Nighttime Enemies (Episodes 1-10): Strange occurrences plague Chang’an. Mei Zhuyu and Wu Zhen are forced into an arranged marriage. By day they play the part of newlyweds; by night, Mei hunts demons as a Taoist master while Wu, as the Cat Master, protects the demon underworld. They clash at the demon bazaar without recognizing each other. A “missing bride” case forces them to work together, as Mei slowly begins to suspect that his new wife may be the Cat Master he has sworn to capture.
• Act 2 — Identity Revealed and Unlikely Alliance (Episodes 11-20): Wu Zhen’s identity as the Cat Master is fully exposed to Mei. Despite his internal conflict as a demon slayer married to a half-demon, he chooses to protect her and feigns ignorance while secretly aiding her. Snake demon leader Liu Taizhen exposes a conspiracy in which nobles sacrifice demons to brew immortality elixirs. When Wu Zhen is injured protecting small demons, Mei breaks his monastic vows for her sake.
• Act 3 — The Mastermind Emerges (Episodes 21-30): The true villain is revealed—Wu Zhen’s cousin, Pei Jiya (Zhu Zhengting), a charming but sinister cultivator who extracts demon bones to empower himself. He captures Wu Zhen and attempts to force her dark transformation. Mei fights his way into the demon lair to rescue her, and the couple joins forces to unleash their full powers. Pei Jiya then ignites a war between humans and demons, leading to a final confrontation in which Wu Zhen takes a fatal blow for Mei. Mei sacrifices himself to resurrect her.
• Act 4 — Final Battle and Resolution (Episodes 31-38): Mei falls into the demonic path to save Wu Zhen, gaining white hair and red pupils as his power surges. Together they storm the palace, exposing Pei Jiya’s conspiracy and revealing that the Emperor himself is a puppet. Pei summons an ancient dragon to destroy Chang’an. Wu Zhen awakens her nine-tailed cat demon true form, and Mei sacrifices himself to seal the dragon. In an open-ended finale, Mei returns reincarnated as a small kitten, brought home by Wu Zhen. All villains are defeated, and balance is restored to both realms.