The Eternal Love 3 Episode 13 Recap
> The Eternal Love 3 Recap
Qu Xiaotan found herself in an awkward situation after accidentally kissing Mo Lian Cheng again. Having flashes of his memory, Mo Lian Cheng recalled rejecting a request for repudiation, which made him feel he was constantly at odds with his past self. Qu Xiaotan, frustrated, confronted him, pointing out he had proposed their marriage and was now pushing for their separation without a clear reason, an unfair situation she found hard to accept.
Their argument was interrupted by Jing Xin, who reported a large crowd had gathered outside the residence, making entry and exit difficult. It was rumored to be connected to the New Law, which the Empress had unexpectedly announced after Mo Lian Cheng's return from the palace. Many believed Mo Lian Cheng had personally requested it and came to express their gratitude.
Among them was Yu Hao, who came on behalf of his elder brother, who had been suffering from domestic abuse. Yu Hao's brother's wife, however, angrily tried to drag her husband home, questioning Qu Xiaotan if she would permit Mo Lian Cheng to leave her. Qu Xiaotan, holding Mo Lian Cheng's hand firmly, declared that if it were his wish, she would never stand in his way.
Later, Qu Xiaotan playfully boasted to Mo Lian Cheng about her clever support, but Mo Lian Cheng, less pleased, shifted the topic to the Empress. He suspected her sudden announcement of the New Law had a deeper motive, possibly using him as a pawn to target the Mo family. Meanwhile, Xiao Zhen observed that not only Qu Xiaotan but also Mo Lian Cheng had undergone a drastic change in personality.
He noted that Mo Lian Cheng's recent inconsistency couldn't simply be attributed to his usual cunning. The Empress, informed of the events at the Princess's residence and Mo Lian Cheng’s actions to calm the crowd, mused that he had indeed changed. She was aware of Mo Yuan Long's ambition and the Mo family's subtle moves concerning secret funds, but stressed that they were not the true focus of her grand scheme.
Xiao Zhen expressed concern that Qu Xiaotan and Mo Lian Cheng might form an alliance, but the Empress dismissed his worries, believing Mo Lian Cheng would eventually be hers. Yu Hao's elder brother, now free from his wife, faced a new predicament as his father intended to send him to a monastery. He desperately sought Mo Lian Cheng's help, leading Mo Lian Cheng to realize that the New Law, in its current form, couldn't fully secure the future of men.
Soon after, the Empress summoned Mo Lian Cheng to the palace alone, fueling his suspicions about her true intentions, yet he knew he had to address the New Law's shortcomings. In the palace, Mo Lian Cheng pointed out a significant loophole: men who left their wives, even if legally divorced, would face social ostracism and potentially become homeless.
To remedy this, the Empress proposed that they make perfume sachets together, which would be given to these men as a symbol of imperial affirmation. Mo Lian Cheng agreed, praising her thoughtful solution. While Mo Lian Cheng was in the palace, a sleeping Qu Xiaotan was awakened by Jing Xin, who anxiously informed her that he had been summoned.
During their meeting, the Empress remarked on Mo Lian Cheng's current clumsiness with the sachets, contrasting it with his earlier dexterity when they made Knots of Love. Mo Lian Cheng realized this memory pertained to the time before his amnesia. The Empress then instructed him to draft a repudiation paper as a template, to be publicly announced alongside a new edict encouraging remarriage for divorced men.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Mo Lian Cheng reluctantly complied, knowing the Empress had other motives, but he needed to act quickly. Upon Mo Lian Cheng's return, Qu Xiaotan was visibly upset about his prolonged absence at the palace with the Empress. She accused him of chasing after a glamorous life, which he denied, assuring her he wasn't someone who coveted wealth or status.
Her anger intensified when Xiao Zhen arrived, not only announcing generous imperial rewards for Mo Lian Cheng but also presenting Qu Xiaotan with the repudiation paper he had drafted in the palace. Qu Xiaotan was heartbroken. Despite constantly reminding herself that Mo Lian Cheng was ill and had lost his memory, seeing the paper made her question if the old Mo Lian Cheng would ever do such a thing.
Overwhelmed with emotion, she angrily declared she would let go, leaving a stunned Mo Lian Cheng standing alone. In a fit of pique, Qu Xiaotan drafted her own "divorce agreement" for Mo Lian Cheng to sign. Jing Xin presented it to Mo Lian Cheng, suggesting he simply keep it without signing. Moments later, Yu Hao arrived, expressing heartfelt gratitude.
He explained that Mo Lian Cheng's perfume sachet and the repudiation paper template, announced by imperial decree, had saved his elder brother from being forced into a monastery. Realizing the misunderstanding, Jing Xin immediately rushed to tell Qu Xiaotan. Although still miffed by Mo Lian Cheng's distant behavior, Qu Xiaotan decided she wanted her divorce agreement back, admitting to herself she couldn't bear to let go.
She made several attempts to retrieve the paper, even sneaking into Mo Lian Cheng’s study, but each time she was unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Mo Yanchen, upon hearing about Mo Lian Cheng's repudiation paper and his renewed imperial favor, feigned concern but was secretly delighted. He presented Mo Lian Cheng with a collection of valuables he had saved over the years, ostensibly to prepare him for a possible future within the royal palace.
However, Mo Lian Cheng felt a profound unease, realizing that despite all the talk of a new future, he had never truly desired to leave Qu Xiaotan. He felt powerless to explain his actions to her, wishing desperately for a way to show her his regret and his desire to stay.
He reflected on how he had never performed the simple acts of intimacy, like serving her tea or helping her dress, as other husbands did—a regret he feared might last forever. To avoid Mo Lian Cheng, Qu Xiaotan pretended to be asleep when he entered her room. He offered her a cup of tea, leading to a series of awkward misunderstandings between them. Mo Lian Cheng gently blew on the tea to cool it before serving it to her.
Qu Xiaotan felt a mix of annoyance and confusion, observing that he seemed genuinely uncomfortable, not malicious, as he served her. He then offered to help her change, further puzzling her. She awkwardly asked when he would give her the signed divorce agreement, still clinging to the idea that he wanted to separate. At this point, Mo Lian Cheng revealed his true feelings.
He vowed never to push her away again, admitting that forcing her to let go was a grave mistake. He confessed to experiencing a heartache so profound he had never known before, a feeling akin to having his soul ripped from his body, rendering his future meaningless.
He explained that his earlier attempts to distance himself were due to deep-seated concerns about himself, his family, and Dongyue, a feeling of "a blind man on a blind horse approaching a deep pool at night." He was willing to face danger alone but couldn't bear the thought of involving her. Qu Xiaotan, touched, chided him for underestimating her, assuring him she could protect her own husband. Mo Lian Cheng, overcome with emotion, kissed her, offering it as an apology.
Qu Xiaotan playfully demanded he clarify their relationship, then firmly declared that as the Princess, she wouldn't permit him to repudiate her. Mo Lian Cheng readily agreed, and they mutually decided to nullify their previous agreement. He confessed that his love for her made it impossible to leave. He had mistakenly thought that by avoiding her, he would cease to love her, but instead, the separation only intensified his longing.
As they expressed their heartfelt emotions, Qu Xiaotan promised to help him regain his lost memories, while Mo Lian Cheng, in a characteristic display, grew comically jealous of his former, un-amnesiac self. Qu Xiaotan then embraced him tenderly, telling him she could only sleep soundly when he was by her side.
