The Eternal Love 2 Episode 4 Recap
> The Eternal Love 2 Recap
Mo Liancheng, in his disguised form, approaches Qu Xiaotan, asking about her well-being in the Prince's palace and if she has been mistreated. He then adopts a serious tone, advising her that her status has changed and the palace is rife with internal conflicts and treacherous individuals, urging her to be cautious and avoid reckless actions. Qu Xiaotan is bewildered by his sudden shift in demeanor from coldness to tenderness.
She speculates that he must be Mo Liancheng, believing his initial harshness was a reaction to her past rejection of his confession, and resolves to change her approach. In the imperial palace, the Empress Dowager informs the Eighth Prince that Noble Consort Dugu was behind Qu Jianglin's demotion. She instructs him to treat Qu Jianglin's family with kindness, particularly Qu Tan'er, who is now assigned to his palace.
Qu Tan'er is not to perform hard labor and should instead be promoted to Lady Steward. The Eighth Prince, perplexed by the order to promote her beyond merely exempting her from labor, questions the reason. The Empress Dowager firmly states that she has her own rationale and he need not inquire further, so he assents.
Back at the Prince's palace, Qu Xiaotan confronts the Eighth Prince, repeatedly apologizing and offering to try a relationship with him, under the firm belief he is Mo Liancheng. The Eighth Prince, deeming her words absurd and impertinent for a maid, scolds her and threatens punishment for her unruly behavior. However, he immediately instructs Yu Hao to promote "Miss Qu" to Lady Steward, exempting her from menial tasks.
The Fourteenth Prince observes this interaction, finding Qu Tan'er amusing and playfully suggesting she would bring happiness to his brother if they were to marry. Still confused by the Eighth Prince's contradictory actions, Qu Xiaotan internally concludes that his initial rejection was due to him being a grudge-bearing Scorpio, but her persistent displays of affection have earned her a promotion, leading her to believe continued effort will eventually make him acknowledge their connection.
That night, Mo Yihuai, desperate to see Qu Tan'er after being confined for half a month, demands to leave his palace. He is informed that Qu Tan'er drowned herself days ago. Mo Yihuai vehemently denies this, his heart shattered, and attempts to take his own life to join her. A cloaked figure, Mo Liancheng in disguise, intervenes, urging Mo Yihuai to compose himself and reminding him of his father, the Emperor.
Mo Yihuai dismisses this, believing his father only favors Noble Consort Dugu. Mo Liancheng then reveals that Qu Tan'er is not dead, halting Mo Yihuai's desperate actions. Mo Yihuai orders Yun Ying to immediately verify Qu Tan'er's safety. Later, Mo Liancheng infiltrates the imperial palace. He observes Noble Consort Dugu attending to the Emperor, noting her significant rise in status and suspecting the Emperor's recurring headaches are linked to the medicinal soup she administers.
As Mo Liancheng makes his escape, his movements attract the attention of palace guards, prompting a pursuit. Though he successfully evades them, Noble Consort Dugu, without seeing his face, recognizes his unique martial arts style. Noble Consort Dugu immediately summons General Wei, convinced that the intruder in the Emperor's study was the Eighth Prince, who must have discovered her scheme of drugging the Emperor. She declares it is time to eliminate him.
General Wei expresses hesitation, citing the Eighth Prince's meticulous nature and his own lack of incriminating evidence, in addition to the Soul-Suppressing Pearl's unknown whereabouts. Noble Consort Dugu reminds him that the Eighth Prince was responsible for the massacre of his family, a blood feud he must not forget. She then unveils her plan, revealing her identity as a survivor from the Dayu Dynasty, which was destroyed by the Emperor's clan.
With the First Prince already losing power and the Emperor controlled by her drugs, she believes that weakening the Eighth Prince's influence will plunge Dongyue into chaos, providing the perfect opportunity for her to avenge her clan and restore her fallen nation. In the Eighth Prince's study, the Fourteenth Prince enters while his brother is playing chess, expressing concern about the impending designation of a Crown Prince and the political turmoil caused by Noble Consort Dugu.
The Eighth Prince calmly replies that they will deal with challenges as they come. Yu Hao then informs the Eighth Prince that the brilliant strategist Liu Shang is rumored to be coming out of retirement. The Fourteenth Prince is excited, praising Liu Shang as an incomparable genius whose strategies could bring peace to the world, and hopes they can recruit him. Later, Qu Xiaotan, determined to get the Eighth Prince to acknowledge her, attempts a new strategy.
She boldly declares her affection for him, praising his physique, alluring voice, and wealth, claiming she has been smitten since he was injured saving her. She suggests they try dating and let their feelings develop. The Eighth Prince scolds her for her disrespectful and nonsensical behavior. Frustrated, Qu Xiaotan calls him narrow-minded, questions if he is too attached to his princely status, and suggests they should work together to return home since they are from the same place.
Before their argument escalates, a steward rushes in and pulls Qu Xiaotan away to be punished for her disrespect. The Eighth Prince then orders her to kneel for six hours, and when she protests, he remarks that she seems to have "lost her mind." That night, after her punishment, Qu Xiaotan complains to Jingxin about her aching knees, baffled by the Eighth Prince's refusal to acknowledge her despite her persistent attempts.
Suddenly, a knock at the door reveals a wooden box outside. Inside, Qu Xiaotan finds two sachets and a mysterious note warning her not to flirt with other men, which she finds baffling. Qu Xiaotan then volunteers to serve the Eighth Prince during his bath, replacing Jingxin. Meanwhile, the Fourteenth Prince questions Jingxin about Qu Xiaotan's unusual behavior and strange vocabulary, such as "go die," which Jingxin explains is a recent change since her lady's drowning attempt.
In the bathing chamber, Qu Xiaotan bombards the Eighth Prince with questions about modern concepts like "skyscrapers, planes, and cars," asking if he's fallen recently or has a twin brother, hoping for a clue. Growing impatient, she boldly attempts to pull open his robes, declaring she will find the "truth" by checking for a specific scar. After a brief struggle, she succeeds, but to her dismay, finds no mark on his chest.
Realizing she has made a grave mistake and that he is not Mo Liancheng, Qu Xiaotan is consumed by despair at the thought of being trapped in this world as a maid with no hope of return. In the imperial court, General Wei presents a joint memorial from several high-ranking ministers, accusing the Eighth Prince of dereliction of duty. The memorial claims that recent fires in the capital were due to the Capital Army's delayed response.
General Wei further implies that the army's loyalty solely to the Eighth Prince suggests a desire for unauthorized power. The Emperor is enraged. When the Eighth Prince is summoned, he perceives Noble Consort Dugu's trap. Recognizing his father's inherent distrust, the Eighth Prince admits fault rather than offering a defense that would only intensify suspicion. The Emperor strips the Eighth Prince of his command over the Capital Army, assigning it to General Wei, and reclaims the Royal Command token.
Overwhelmed by despair, Qu Xiaotan laments her fate, blaming Mo Liancheng for her predicament of being trapped in a "three-no's" place: no freedom, no security, and no entertainment. Meanwhile, General Wei learns that the Emperor is planning a hunting expedition to test the Eighth Prince's loyalty. On Noble Consort Dugu's orders, he schemes to use this opportunity to frame and eliminate him. During the hunt, assassins attack the Emperor with arrows bearing the Eighth Prince's unique emblem.
The Emperor instantly suspects treachery. However, as another volley of arrows flies, the Eighth Prince shields the Emperor, sustaining an injury himself. When General Wei arrives and points out the emblem on an arrow, the Emperor, now convinced of his son's loyalty, declares it a malicious frame-up and breaks the arrow. Later, the Fourteenth Prince angrily explains to his brother how the hunt was clearly a trap set by General Wei.
The Eighth Prince acknowledges the treachery but is more intrigued by the mystery of who fired the arrow that saved him, marveling at the unknown person's intelligence in foiling the scheme. Yu Hao then mentions a rumor that the brilliant strategist Liu Shang has recently arrived in the capital, though his whereabouts remain unknown.
