The Eternal Love 3 Episode 23 Recap
> The Eternal Love 3 Recap
Qu Xiaotan and Mo Liancheng coached Yun Xiu, giving him specific instructions like, "be more affectionate" and "speak clearly" while looking Mo Fengyang "in the eyes." When Mo Fengyang arrived, expecting a martial arts sparring session, Yun Xiu surprised her by kneeling with a ring, asking, "Feng Yang, will you take me as your husband?" Mo Fengyang playfully chided him for forgetting his prepared speech, but Yun Xiu confessed he was overwhelmed by seeing her.
With Qu Xiaotan and Mo Liancheng’s encouragement, Mo Fengyang accepted, declaring "I do," to which Yun Xiu placed the ring on her finger. Witnessing the proposal, Mo Liancheng reflected that being proposed to is "what every girl fantasizes about," realizing he still owed Tan Er an official proposal.
Qu Xiaotan, moved by their union, wished Yun Xiu and Mo Fengyang a lifetime of happiness, while Mo Liancheng promised Qu Xiaotan he would "always care for you, love you, and stay with you until we're old and grey." Qu Xiaotan then proudly proclaimed herself his "love of two lifetimes" and him her "love of three lifetimes." Meanwhile, in the palace, an official questioned the Empress’s decision to approve Mo Fengyang and Yun Xiu's union, suggesting it was too lenient.
The Empress explained that Yun Xiu, belonging to the prestigious Pugu clan in Xiyue, would strengthen the Mo family, making them more audacious. If Mo Fengyang's father, Mo Yuanlong, made any moves, Xiyue would be implicated, thus allowing her to "keep Xiyue in check." She also inquired about Mo Liancheng’s recovery, noting his unusual ability to resist the Soul-guarding Pearl. Before proceeding with her "grand scheme," she declared her need to uncover all truths.
An imperial decree was then announced, ordering Prince Consort Mo Liancheng to the palace for "morality training," accusing him of jealousy and disrespecting royal traditions. Qu Xiaotan was distraught, fearing his identity might be exposed and endanger him. Mo Liancheng reassured her that he would be careful and use this opportunity to investigate other conditions for their return, in addition to the Soul-guarding Pearl. Qu Xiaotan urged him to be especially wary of Xiao Zhen.
In the palace, the Empress frequently summoned Mo Liancheng, telling him he reminded her of a deceased friend. She described the friend's striking features and his "white, cotton robes," revealing he was "a doctor" whom she met while he was "on his way to pick herbs."
Mo Liancheng recognized the description as remarkably similar to Young Master Lian Cheng from Xuanling Continent, and given the Empress's resemblance to Qu Xiaotan, he wondered if she knew Qu Xiangtan or might even be her. The Empress, observing him, mused that while his handwriting differed from Young Master Lian Cheng's, he had clearly recalled something. Although she allowed him to return to his residence the following day, Mo Liancheng secretly re-entered her royal study that night.
There, he discovered an astronomy chart depicting the "Red Star of Demise" (Yinghuo Shouxin). He deduced that this celestial event was linked to the Empress's plans and was likely another crucial condition for him and Qu Xiaotan to return to their original world, alongside the Soul-guarding Pearl. Upon Mo Liancheng's return to the residence, a distressed Qu Xiaotan was overjoyed to see him. He had romantically arranged flowers into a large heart on the ground.
Despite their three previous marriages, Mo Liancheng felt he still owed her a formal proposal. Expressing how her presence still made his heart pound and how he longed to marry her "thousands of times over," he formally proposed. Qu Xiaotan eagerly accepted, proclaiming, "I do," and that she would marry him "thousands of times" again. She reflected that "every day is Valentine's day" when you are with the right person and expressed her desire to "be with you forever."
Mo Liancheng then shared his discovery about the "Red Star of Demise," emphasizing the urgency of calculating its exact date, fearing they might be trapped in this world forever if they missed the opportunity. However, he chose to keep his suspicions about the Empress's possible connection to Qu Xiangtan from Qu Xiaotan. The next morning, Qu Xiaotan and Mo Liancheng found the household in disarray, with Yu Hao scolding idle servants.
Yu Hao explained that since Mo Yanchen's departure, no one had managed the internal affairs, leading to chaos. Neither Qu Xiaotan nor Mo Liancheng knew how to manage a household. Simultaneously, the Empress sent memorials, ordering Qu Xiaotan to begin reviewing them and assist in governmental affairs. Mo Liancheng suspected the Empress's true intentions were to groom Qu Xiaotan as Crown Princess. Qu Xiaotan complained about the overwhelming task, comparing the memorials to "college entrance examination materials."
She tried to persuade Mo Liancheng to manage the household, arguing that if she could learn politics, he could learn domestic duties, especially since he was currently "doing nothing." Initially reluctant, Mo Liancheng eventually conceded, agreeing to manage the household so Qu Xiaotan could focus on politics. He ventured out with Yu Hao for groceries, only to find himself haphazardly buying items without haggling, quickly running out of money, and realizing the complexities of household purchasing.
Meanwhile, Qu Xiaotan struggled with the memorials, even misinterpreting the classical term for 'galloping' (奔驰, bÄ“nchÃ) as 'Mercedes-Benz.' Returning home, Mo Liancheng found Qu Xiaotan asleep, dreaming of her high school math teacher. He saw her flawed critiques in the memorials, confirming that if submitted, they would cause trouble. To avoid further issues, they agreed to swap roles: Mo Liancheng would handle the memorials, and Qu Xiaotan would manage the household.
Qu Xiaotan, with Mo Liancheng's full discretion, decided that all men and women in the residence would swap roles. The "gender role reversal" was announced the following day. Women who were formerly guards struggled with cooking and cleaning in the kitchens, while men previously in domestic roles awkwardly attempted to guard the residence. Jing Xin reported the chaos to Qu Xiaotan, highlighting the women's unsuitability for kitchen work and the men's injuries from trying to wield swords.
Qu Xiaotan admitted that a complete "one-size-fits-all" gender role reversal was "not realistic." Mo Liancheng, who had quickly and efficiently completed his share of the memorials, observed the disorder and explained that the "division of labour" should not be solely "based on gender." He argued that true reform should involve "appointing people on their merit, not gender," as this is "the true meaning of gender equality."
Inspired by this, Qu Xiaotan implemented a new system where everyone reported their skills and hobbies, leading to a more orderly and efficient household based on individual aptitudes. Separately, Qu Meier, concerned by the Empress's decision to let Qu Xiaotan handle state affairs, vowed not to be complacent before the Crown Princess announcement and discussed a plan with her aide to counter Qu Xiaotan. However, the Empress later reviewed Qu Xiaotan's edited memorials and was enraged by the things written within them.
