Riverside Code at Qingming Festival Episode 23 Recap
> Riverside Code at Qingming Festival Recap
When He Huan sought refuge with Wen Yue, Zhao Mo'er offered his room to him and moved to the Office of Justice. Feeling guilty, He Huan suggested Zhao Mo'er return home, but Zhao Mo'er assured him he was family and urged him to stay. Knowing Zhao Mo'er's interest in craftsmanship, He Huan gave him a ship blueprint left by his late father.
Zhao Mo'er was hesitant to accept something so valuable, but He Huan insisted, stating he cherished his new family and it was time to let go of the past. He Huan specifically asked Zhao Mo'er not to mention the blueprint to Wen Yue, fearing it would bring her sadness, and Zhao Mo'er agreed. He Huan invited Zhao Mo'er to dinner that night and offered to buy whatever he wanted to eat.
Zhao Mo'er returned home for dinner, much to the surprise and delight of Wen Yue, Zhao Ban'er, and Zhao Buyou. He Huan helped in the kitchen without mentioning that he had invited Zhao Mo'er. While Zhao Mo'er went to his room to get clean clothes, Zhao Buyou followed him. Zhao Mo'er showed Zhao Buyou the blueprint, which was for a warship.
He expressed confusion, noting that Wen Yue and He Huan's father was a chief shipbuilder at a private shipyard, and wondered why they would have plans for a warship. The fact that He Huan asked him to keep it secret from Wen Yue also struck him as odd. Zhao Buyou agreed that it seemed suspicious and instructed Zhao Mo'er to keep the matter confidential.
Gu Zhen arrived urgently to inform Zhao Buyou that Zou Mian might be secretly in East Capital. He Huan, nearby, overheard their conversation clearly. Zhao Buyou seemed distracted, and Gu Zhen noticed his preoccupation, but Zhao Buyou offered vague excuses to hide his thoughts. At dinner, He Huan prepared wine and toasted Zhao Buyou, expressing gratitude for being taken in and for having such a good family. Zhao Buyou, not accustomed to strong drink, quickly became intoxicated.
He Huan drank heavily as well, appearing to be drunk. Wen Yue suggested he rest inside and followed him, implying she knew he was pretending and advising him not to go out. He Huan agreed. Late that night, He Huan secretly went to the pier in the suburbs, observing the bustling activity around Zou Mian's large ship. He vowed to kill Zou Mian to avenge his deceased parents.
Wen Yue followed him and confronted him, revealing that she knew he drugged Zhao Buyou's wine to sneak out and kill Zou Mian. He Huan admitted he orchestrated the Mei's Boat case, the Hat Demon case, the Imperial Exam case, and the Fan Building case to dismantle Zou Mian's power and allies in East Capital.
He confessed to sending the bounties to Wen Yue himself, using Chi Liaoliao as a mere puppet, explaining that he wanted Wen Yue to witness his plans unfold. He revealed that Zou Mian had sent people to kill their family after their father discovered Zou Mian was illegally converting warship blueprints for transporting precious stones. He stated that Zhao Buyou also knew the truth but deliberately concealed it. He Huan suggested they confront Zhao Buyou to understand his reasons.
Zhao Buyou awoke late the next afternoon, feeling groggy. Zhao Li had prepared him a hangover soup and then left for Xianhe Residence. Suddenly, a package was thrown into the yard. Zhao Buyou retrieved it and found a message addressed to Wen Yue, asking her to meet the sender at the water stage in the business center to learn the truth about the Su family's murder.
Zhao Buyou went directly to the business center to meet the sender, who was a woman in black. The woman insisted on speaking only to Wen Yue and claimed that Zou Mian had sent Dong Qian to kill Wen Yue's entire family, and that Zhao Ban'er and Zhao Mo'er were Dong Qian's children.
Zhao Buyou admitted he had received Dong Qian's notes and knew he was the murderer, but had hidden the truth to prevent the family from turning against each other, explaining that he didn't know how to tell Wen Yue that her adopted siblings were the children of the man who massacred her family. Suddenly, Wen Yue appeared, revealing that she had sent Wu Mei to impersonate the sender to draw Zhao Buyou out and hear the truth from him directly.
Unseen by Zhao Buyou, Zhao Mo'er and Zhao Ban'er had quietly followed him, concerned, and overheard his confession. Overwhelmed by the revelation, Zhao Mo'er ran off into the rain. Zhao Ban'er chased after him, urging him to return home and apologize to Wen Yue together. Zhao Mo'er, who had often studied Dong Qian's case files at the Office of Justice and admired him greatly, was devastated that his idol was the murderer of Wen Yue's parents, who had raised them.
Feeling ashamed and unable to face Wen Yue, he wanted to be alone. Left without her brother, Zhao Ban'er went to Yao He, weeping as she recalled Wen Yue's many years of care and kindness and expressing guilt and helplessness. Yao He stayed by her side, offering silent support. Wen Yue and Zhao Buyou searched for Zhao Mo'er without success. Wen Yue encountered He Huan, realizing that this situation was part of his plan.
He Huan led Wen Yue to a large residence he had purchased in East Capital. Meanwhile, a dejected Zhao Buyou returned home. Zhao Li, complaining he was hungry, offered to make soup noodles when Zhao Buyou said he wasn't up to cooking. Zhao Li served the noodles, mentioning he had anticipated such a day might come.
He recalled how he had staged a scene years ago to make it appear that Zhao Ban'er and Zhao Mo'er were his illegitimate children to help Zhao Buyou keep them when no one else would take them. Filled with self-reproach, Zhao Buyou listened as Zhao Li offered words of comfort. Zhao Buyou noticed a clay figure Wen Yue made, a "mohelo," broken on the floor and asked Zhao Li when Zhao Mo'er and Zhao Ban'er had left.
Zhao Li remembered seeing Zhao Mo'er return home with He Huan, whispering something to Zhao Ban'er, and then the two younger siblings leaving together. Zhao Buyou immediately understood He Huan's involvement. He Huan showed Wen Yue the large house he bought, which included a pavilion identical to the one at their childhood home by Taihu Lake. However, Wen Yue was worried about Zhao Ban'er and Zhao Mo'er, which angered He Huan.
He accused her of prioritizing the children of their enemy over him, her own brother. Wen Yue called him heartless, and He Huan threatened his own life, saying if she thought he was wrong, she should kill him, which would make the "bounty sender" disappear and allow her to return to her life with the Zhao family as if nothing had happened.
