The Eternal Love 2 Episode 27 Recap
> The Eternal Love 2 Recap
Upon the Eighth Prince and Mo Liancheng's return to their palace, an attendant delivered shocking news: the Emperor had passed away, and his dying oral instruction named Mo Yihuai as the successor to the throne. The Eighth Prince was stunned, asking Mo Liancheng if this was how events unfolded in the future he knew. Mo Liancheng, equally shocked, could barely speak, lamenting that in his original timeline, the Emperor should have enjoyed a peaceful retirement.
He was overcome with guilt, fearing his arrival had inadvertently led to the Emperor's premature demise. Qu Xiaotan attempted to comfort him, assuring him he had already done more than enough. The Eighth Prince, accompanied by the Fourteenth Prince Mo Jingxuan, rushed to the imperial palace. Mo Jingxuan immediately confronted Mo Yihuai, accusing him of plotting and usurping power. As the three stood in tense confrontation, the Empress Dowager arrived.
She sternly questioned Mo Yihuai about the heavy military presence outside the palace. Mo Yihuai claimed it was merely to bolster security after the Emperor's passing. The Empress Dowager, however, ordered him to immediately withdraw his soldiers to preserve the Emperor's final peace. Though displeased, Mo Yihuai complied.
She then dismissed the Eighth Prince and Mo Jingxuan, demanding a private explanation from Mo Yihuai regarding the Emperor's sudden death, noting that only he and the Ninth Prince Mo Jingkang were by the Emperor's side. Mo Yihuai tried to dismiss it as over-exertion from state affairs. At this moment, Eunuch Xue, the Emperor's personal attendant, appeared, weeping profusely before the Empress Dowager, and discreetly slipped a written imperial edict into her hand.
The Empress Dowager then warned Mo Yihuai that the Emperor's death was highly suspicious and he needed to provide a full explanation to her and the world. Despite the mysterious circumstances surrounding the Emperor's death, Mo Yihuai successfully ascended the throne. His first act as Emperor was to issue an edict declaring the Eighth Prince Mo Liancheng a traitor for insubordination and treason, condemning him to immediate execution.
His strategist, Liu Shang, was also sentenced to death for aiding a rebel. However, an official reported that the Eighth Prince's palace had been searched, but Mo Liancheng, Liu Shang, and Qu Tan'er were nowhere to be found. Enraged, Mo Yihuai ordered a comprehensive search throughout the capital to apprehend them. Meanwhile, as the Eighth Prince's group was fleeing, the Fourteenth Prince Mo Jingxuan and Jingxin were captured by imperial guards.
Qu Xiaotan instinctively moved to rescue Jingxin, but Mo Liancheng restrained her. He reasoned that engaging the guards would only attract more pursuers, and given Mo Jingxuan's status as a prince, his life wouldn't be in immediate danger. He stressed that a rescue needed careful planning, and their priority was to regroup with Yu Hao. Later that night, Mo Yihuai was informed that Mo Jingxuan and Jingxin had been sent to the dungeon.
He directly confronted Mo Jingxuan, asserting his new power as Emperor. He then attempted to coerce Jingxin into revealing Qu Tan'er's whereabouts, tempting her with the promise of making Qu Tan'er his Empress. Unwavering, Jingxin feigned ignorance. Infuriated by her defiance, Mo Yihuai ordered his men to torture her. Mo Jingxuan, horrified by Jingxin's torment, desperately pleaded with Mo Yihuai to stop, offering to endure the pain himself. Mo Yihuai, devoid of any brotherly affection, ignored his pleas.
He then instructed the Ninth Prince Mo Jingkang to spread a chilling message: if Qu Xiaotan and the Eighth Prince did not return, the Empress Dowager, Mo Jingxuan, and Jingxin would all be put to death. The Eighth Prince's group fled to the outskirts, only to find increasing numbers of Mo Yihuai's pursuers.
The Eighth Prince proposed creating a diversion to draw them away, but Mo Liancheng swiftly stopped him, explaining that they, being Mo Yihuai's primary targets, would be walking straight into a trap. Seeing their predicament, Yu Hao bravely volunteered to go, promising to avoid any mishaps. Mo Liancheng agreed, reminding Yu Hao of a secret meeting place he and Mo Jingxuan used as children.
He instructed Yu Hao to first gather intelligence on Mo Jingxuan's situation and then meet them at that location. In the dungeon, Mo Jingxuan was deeply distressed to see Jingxin severely injured and lying on a straw mat. He gently tried to offer her food. Jingxin, however, comforted him, expressing relief that she was there to suffer with him, rather than leaving him to endure it alone. Mo Jingxuan was profoundly touched by her selflessness.
Overcome with emotion and fearing that time was running out, he confessed his long-hidden feelings, revealing that he had fallen in love with her the first time he saw her smile at the Eighth Prince's palace. He desperately asked if she had any feelings for him. Jingxin, however, showed no joy. She explained that she was merely a humble maid, and he, a prince, should be matched with a lady of noble birth.
Even if she harbored feelings for him, she felt utterly unworthy of his affection. At their secret meeting place, Mo Liancheng pondered a mysterious mark on his hand, explaining to the Eighth Prince that it was a "Life Bond" signed in another timeline when he saved Qu Tan'er. He expressed relief that the current Qu Tan'er had not yet signed such a bond, which allowed him to potentially leave this timeline with peace of mind.
He then mused about the bond's magical ability to share life, wondering if it could also allow for sharing thoughts. The Eighth Prince, intrigued, asked if Mo Liancheng wished for him to know his thoughts, to which Mo Liancheng affirmed, wanting him to understand all he and Qu Tan'er had experienced. He promised to research how to make the Life Bond facilitate shared minds for the benefit of all three.
Soon after, Yu Hao arrived, reporting that the Empress Dowager was now under house arrest, and Mo Jingxuan and Jingxin were confined to the dungeon. He also warned that palace security was exceptionally tight, making rescue attempts difficult. Mo Liancheng deduced that since Mo Yihuai had imprisoned them, he likely wouldn't take their lives immediately. The Eighth Prince then asked Mo Liancheng if he knew their ultimate fate.
Mo Liancheng responded somberly that his presence had altered the timeline—Qu Tan'er should have long been the Eighth Princess, and the Emperor would not have died so prematurely. He concluded that he no longer knew how events would unfold and they could only do their best and leave the rest to fate. The Eighth Prince, in turn, vowed that he would never allow Mo Yihuai to act recklessly.
Back in the dungeon, an individual arrived, claiming to be sent by the Empress Dowager to rescue Mo Jingxuan. Mo Jingxuan insisted on taking Jingxin with him, but the rescuer argued that escaping with an injured person would be impossible. Convinced that he needed to get out to help the others, Mo Jingxuan began to leave. Just as they reached the cell door, a guard noticed them.
The rescuer urged Mo Jingxuan to flee and stayed behind to block the guards. After Mo Jingxuan's successful escape, the "fallen" rescuer stood up. The Ninth Prince Mo Jingkang then emerged from the shadows, revealing that the entire rescue had been a meticulously planned ruse to use Mo Jingxuan as bait. Away from Qu Xiaotan, Mo Liancheng had an urgent, private conversation with the Eighth Prince.
He revealed that his senses were rapidly deteriorating, indicating that his time and form were quickly fading. He solemnly explained that all the visions he had shown the Eighth Prince were intended to convey the depth of his feelings for Qu Tan'er, ensuring that the Eighth Prince would know how to care for her after his departure. He entrusted Qu Tan'er's well-being entirely to the Eighth Prince.
Mo Liancheng then made a final request: when the Eighth Prince eventually reclaimed the throne, he was not to kill Mo Yihuai, whom Mo Liancheng described as a pitiful person. The Eighth Prince promised to honor his wishes. Mo Jingxuan, in disguise, attempted to pass through the city gates. A guard stopped him, but General Wei Zongheng appeared, vouching for Mo Jingxuan and allowing him to pass. This was observed by Yun Ying, who reported it to Mo Yihuai.
The Ninth Prince expressed concern about General Wei's involvement, but Mo Yihuai remained calm, stating that this actually simplified his plans. He instructed Yun Ying to only track Mo Jingxuan, not apprehend him. Mo Yihuai explained his cunning strategy: he anticipated that Mo Liancheng would leverage General Wei's forces for a counterattack. By turning their plan against them, he could lure them all into the palace and capture them at once, like "turtles in a jar."
Mo Jingxuan reached the secret meeting place, much to the Eighth Prince's relief. He explained that General Wei had saved him. General Wei, also present, offered his full support. When the Eighth Prince inquired about Jingxin, Mo Jingxuan expressed profound regret that he had been unable to bring her out. Mo Liancheng, however, remained cautious and questioned Mo Jingxuan about the details of his escape.
Mo Jingxuan insisted that the Empress Dowager had sent someone who sacrificed their life, but both Mo Liancheng and the Eighth Prince found the escape "too smooth" and suspected a ploy. Mo Liancheng deduced Mo Yihuai's true intention: he released Mo Jingxuan to reveal their location and gather intelligence on their plans, intending to lure them into the palace for a decisive ambush. General Wei was alarmed by this deduction, but Mo Liancheng quickly reassured him, unveiling his counter-strategy.
He proposed that the following day, General Wei lead his troops in a feigned attack on the main city gate, drawing Mo Yihuai's primary forces. Meanwhile, Mo Liancheng and the Eighth Prince would lead an elite strike force to assault the imperial palace, aiming to "capture the leader first" by seizing Mo Yihuai and rescuing the Empress Dowager and Jingxin. Liu Shang agreed to guard Qu Tan'er during the assault.
As the group approached the imperial palace, they saw that Mo Yihuai had indeed redeployed the majority of his forces to confront General Wei's feint, leaving the palace sparsely guarded. This confirmed Mo Yihuai had taken the bait. Mo Liancheng ordered their forces to split into two groups: one to storm the Imperial Study and secure Mo Yihuai, and the other to rescue the Empress Dowager and Jingxin.
The Eighth Prince voiced concern, suggesting both he and Mo Liancheng should go for Mo Yihuai. However, Mo Jingxuan volunteered to lead the rescue, confidently stating he knew their precise location. Mo Liancheng agreed, instructing him to take extra men as a precaution.
