My Dear Brothers Episode 23 Recap
> My Dear Brothers Recap
After examining Hou Chi, Bi Hong confirmed that the Evil Aura still lingered in his heart. He explained that any strong emotions would cause Hou Chi chest pain and that while he could provide a Heart-Nourishing Soup for temporary relief, there was no permanent cure, urging Hou Chi to maintain emotional stability. Concerned for Shi Xia, Hou Chi asked Bi Hong to keep his true condition a secret from her.
When Shi Xia arrived with a freshly brewed potion, she inquired about Qiu Li's previous warnings regarding the Evil Aura and its connection to emotional surges. Bi Hong, following Hou Chi's wishes, downplayed the severity of his condition, assuring Shi Xia that his medical skills were reliable and Hou Chi would fully recover by regularly taking the Heart-Nourishing Soup. Reassured, Shi Xia expressed her trust in him.
Bi Hong then excused himself, claiming he needed to blend incense for the Sect Leader (Yuan Zhao), leaving Hou Chi and Shi Xia alone and instructing her to ensure Hou Chi drank all the medicine. Hou Chi drank the potion, remarking that it wasn't bitter thanks to the cotton candy he had earlier. He then confessed that Shi Xia's earlier statement about not seeing him as a brother was likely true because she also harbored feelings for him.
He suggested they break their brother-sister contract and start anew as lovers. Shi Xia, however, wished to keep the contract, valuing it as their unique bond, and playfully proposed that Hou Chi could "love her in the name of a brother" instead, a notion Hou Chi found appealing. Meanwhile, Shi Dong awoke from a dream, still muttering that he hadn't lost the competition.
When challenged by his companion, he insisted that while he may have lost the game, his spirit was overwhelmingly victorious. Upon learning that Shi Xia had been with Hou Chi, Shi Dong grew agitated, deciding to prioritize finding his sister over locating Qiu Li. He worried about Shi Xia being alone with Hou Chi, deeming Hou Chi even more dangerous than Qiu Li in such a situation.
Elsewhere, Bi Hong regretted his past actions, feeling that Shi Xia's growing love for Hou Chi was a consequence he deserved. Qiu Li appeared, mocking Bi Hong for his regrets and his failure as a "villain" to protect his loved one. Bi Hong, asserting he never wished to be a villain, refused to help her harm his father, Yuan Zhao, stating their previous collaboration had balanced their accounts.
Qiu Li countered that their interactions were too intertwined to be simply "done," and using an unspoken threat, instructed him to place a specific incense in Yuan Zhao's room. She assured him the incense was not fatal but would induce hallucinations, enticing him by suggesting it could reveal the identity of the woman in Yuan Zhao's painting, a mystery Bi Hong himself was curious about. Bi Hong reluctantly agreed.
Yuan Zhao sat gazing at the portrait of Ya'er, his thoughts drifting back two centuries. He recalled a time when his young son, Hong (Bi Hong's childhood name), disliked their secluded home and yearned to go out. Ya'er, Bi Hong's mother, encouraged Yuan Zhao to take Hong to the Lantern Festival, as the Devil Sect had not found them in their long hiding. Their daughter, Yue, was ill. At the festival, Yuan Zhao bought a rabbit lantern for Yue.
Suddenly, panicked villagers warned that the Devil Sect had poisoned the entire village. Yuan Zhao told Hong to wait and rushed inside, but Hong collapsed, having been affected by the poison. Yuan Zhao cried out for Ya'er and Yue. His reverie was broken by the appearance of Shen Guan, who questioned the presence of a Devil Sect bloodline within the Yuhua Sect.
Yuan Zhao, without revealing specifics, stated his lifelong mission was to cultivate the perfect Alliance Head to prevent greater sacrifices, emphasizing that the methods were secondary. Shen Guan, accepting his reticence, urged him to ensure Hou Chi's successful entry into the divine palace. Outside the room, Bi Hong had overheard their conversation and was stunned to learn that Hou Chi was of Devil Sect blood. Yuan Zhao, sensing Bi Hong's presence, called him in, causing Shen Guan to depart quickly.
Bi Hong entered, placing the incense he claimed was a calming blend for his father, and then left. Under the influence of the hallucinogenic incense, Yuan Zhao perceived Qiu Li as Ya'er. Qiu Li, in the guise of Ya'er, bitterly accused Yuan Zhao of abandoning her after she left the Devil Sect for him and bore his children.
Yuan Zhao tried to explain that the Devil Sect had poisoned the village before his return, making survival impossible, and that he had to protect Hong due to his unique, spiritual-rootless condition. Still listening from outside, Bi Hong realized that the former Saint Aunt was his mother, Qiu Ya, and that he had a sister. Qiu Li, continuing her deception, accused Yuan Zhao of lying about not entering the village and demanded to know Yue's whereabouts.
Yuan Zhao, still caught in the illusion, asked if Ya'er and Yue had survived. Qiu Li retorted that he did not deserve to know and, blaming him for their suffering, attempted to strike him. Bi Hong, witnessing his father's danger, rushed in and shielded Yuan Zhao, taking the blow himself. Qi Lingling quickly pulled Qiu Li away.
As Yuan Zhao tended to Bi Hong's injuries, Bi Hong confronted him, asking if the Saint Aunt's claims were true and if he had placed the incense to uncover his past. Yuan Zhao confirmed that Bi Hong's mother, Qiu Ya, was indeed the former Saint Aunt of the Devil Sect, and that Qiu Li was his sister, noting their striking resemblance.
He explained that Bi Hong's memory of those events had been suppressed because he was too young to cope with such a traumatic truth. Bi Hong then questioned why Yuan Zhao had saved him, who lacked a spiritual root, over his mother and sister. Yuan Zhao tearfully confessed that without him, Bi Hong would not have survived, and he could not bear to lose another child.
Later, Qiu Li's good personality, Bai Li, emerged, noticing Qi Lingling and realizing that her dark counterpart had committed more wrongdoings. Distraught, Bai Li worried about Shi Dong's anger and resolved to apologize to him. Qi Lingling tried to reassure her, claiming all actions were for Shi Dong and he wouldn't blame her.
Meanwhile, Shi Xia found Shi Dong, who announced his decision to abandon his role as Devil Lord and return home with her, lamenting that his "main lead script" had failed since he couldn't become the Alliance Head. Shi Xia, however, refused, stating her desire to remain with Hou Chi. Shi Dong tried to persuade her to return home with him after Hou Chi became the Alliance Head, but Shi Xia insisted on being with Hou Chi forever.
Shi Dong expressed his frustration at having a "disappointing sister" who would forsake her ideals for love. Shi Xia countered that if Hou Chi was willing to sacrifice his life for her, she could sacrifice her former life for him. She even suggested that Shi Dong join them and Hou Chi at Yuhua Sect. Shi Dong felt unappreciated, believing Shi Xia only acknowledged Hou Chi's sacrifices while ignoring his own efforts.
Suddenly, Qi Lingling appeared and urged the dark Qiu Li personality to kill Shi Xia, claiming it was the only way to keep Shi Dong. Qiu Li, fully embracing her dark side, immediately attacked Shi Xia. Shi Dong instinctively moved to protect Shi Xia, taking the brunt of Qiu Li's assault. Enraged by Shi Dong's self-sacrifice, Qiu Li prepared to deliver a fatal blow to Shi Xia, but Hou Chi arrived just in time to intervene, stopping her attack.
