The Eternal Love 3 Episode 26 Recap
> The Eternal Love 3 Recap
Mo Feng Yang and Yun Xiu, worried about Tan and Mo Liancheng, found an excuse to enter the palace, joined by Mo Jingxuan. Tan, seeing everyone gathered, suggested a hearty drink, and Jing Xin was instructed to prepare food and fine wine. Over drinks, Tan decided to reveal a truth she could only share with her closest friends and family: she came from another Dongyue, where her name was Qu Xiaotan, not Qu Tan Er.
She explained that the original Qu Tan Er had passed away and now only she remained. Mo Liancheng then added that the original Eighth Brother, too, might have passed away during a sickness. Mo Jingxuan, though saddened by this revelation, affirmed his love for Mo Liancheng, grateful for the joy he brought, which was absent before. Yun Xiu admitted he had long sensed Tan was different but couldn't bring himself to believe it.
Jing Xin expressed a wish that both the current Tan and the former Princess could exist so she could protect them both, then consoled Tan, assuring her that she was just as important as the original Princess and would always be protected. Tan then shared that she had indeed met Qu Tan Er, and they were good friends, with Qu Tan Er even having saved her life.
Yun Xiu acknowledged the story was baffling but thanked them for their honesty, while Mo Liancheng expressed gratitude for their meeting, despite knowing they would eventually return to their own world. They all then decided to drink to their hearts' content. Later that night, Xiao Zhen was caught breaking into the East Palace by Mo Liancheng.
Mo Liancheng, aware of Xiao Zhen's intentions, instructed him to relay a message to Her Majesty: he would honor his promises and protect what was precious to him. Mo Liancheng chose to spare Xiao Zhen, acknowledging that Xiao Zhen had once saved Her Majesty’s life.
Xiao Zhen later reported to Her Majesty, Qu Xiangtan, about Mo Liancheng's formidable skills and also revealed that several supposedly retired commandants from the Mo family's troops had reappeared in the border garrison under new names, pointing to Mo father's involvement. Her Majesty immediately ordered Mo Feng Yang to be permanently stationed at the border.
Hearing that the yin imperial token had been retrieved and Mo Feng Yang was dispatched to the border, Mo father confronted Mo Feng Yang, viewing it as Her Majesty stripping her of power to curb him. He urged her to retrieve the imperial token. Mo Feng Yang, however, vehemently refused, declaring that her future lay at the frontier, on the battlefield, not in her father's elaborate schemes.
She accused him of neglecting his children's happiness, highlighting how he had treated her eldest brother, eighth brother, and even Mo Jingxuan. After a heated argument, Mo Feng Yang bid her father farewell and left. Yun Xiu, who had long desired to fight alongside Mo Feng Yang, readily decided to join her, stating he would follow her to the ends of the earth, even if it meant never returning.
Three days later, everyone gathered to bid farewell to Mo Feng Yang and Yun Xiu. Tan playfully teased Mo Feng Yang about keeping Yun Xiu on a leash, while Yun Xiu embraced their adventurous future. Mo Liancheng apologized for his role in their departure, but Mo Feng Yang saw it as a blessing, a chance to live freely at the border with Yun Xiu and defend their country without distractions.
Mo Jingxuan presented Mo Feng Yang with some injury medicine from Mo Yanchen, who, unable to face her directly, watched from a distance, wishing her a life of peace and hoping she would never return to the palace's chaotic quagmire. Meanwhile, Her Majesty, Qu Xiangtan, entrusted the yin imperial token to General Lu for safekeeping, noting her mediocrity made her a reliable choice to hold the divided power.
Qu Xiangtan chose to spare Mo Feng Yang, recognizing her strength and integrity compared to the fawning officials on the court, and realizing that without military power or political backing, Mo Feng Yang posed no threat. She admitted to envying Mo Feng Yang’s opportunity to live a life true to herself. Mo Liancheng then sought an audience with Her Majesty, reiterating his concern for her as a subordinate and family member.
He then addressed her as Qu Xiangtan, urging her to abandon the past, reminding her that "Young Master Lian Cheng" was gone and their scores were settled. He declared that his love for Qu Xiaotan was absolute, regardless of her identity, and asked Qu Xiangtan to direct any grievances solely at him, not to involve others. Xiao Zhen interjected, reminding Her Majesty to control her emotions, as her body was already failing.
Qu Xiangtan, feeling her body weakening, resigned herself to letting it go. She decided to grant Mo Liancheng's wish, saying, "Whoever she is, you will always love her. Very well. So be it!" Subsequently, Her Majesty summoned Qu Meier, testing her with a childhood favorite osmanthus cake, which Qu Tan Er used to pretend to like to please her.
Qu Meier seized the opportunity, noting how Qu Tan Er’s tastes had changed and that she now acted like a completely different person, even forgetting past events. Qu Meier, aiming to surpass Qu Tan Er, was encouraged by Her Majesty to investigate the matter, to "cleanse Dongyue of any evil." Later, while Tan was playfully enjoying a swing Mo Liancheng had built, she was summoned to the royal study.
There, Qu Meier formally accused Tan of impersonating Qu Tan Er, betraying the royal bloodline, and attempting to usurp the throne. Tan vehemently denied the accusations, countering that her changed handwriting was an after-effect of her drowning accident, which weakened her hands. She argued that servants could easily be bribed and that expecting her to prove her own identity was illogical.
Tan explained that her memory issues and desire for a new life, free from bullying, stemmed from her near-death experience during the drowning, and suggested investigating the circumstances of that incident. Qu Meier, undeterred, implied Tan might have murdered Qu Tan Er and taken her place. Despite Tan’s defiant assertion that she was indeed Qu Tan Er, Her Majesty, while acknowledging some logic in Tan’s defense, found Qu Meier’s evidence sufficient to raise doubts.
She tasked Qu Meier with a thorough investigation and ordered Tan's temporary imprisonment in the royal prison, though she allowed Tan to retain her title as heir apparent in the East Palace pending the investigation’s outcome. Mo Liancheng rushed to the prison as Tan was being led away, suspecting a setup. Tan, however, comforted him, asserting she was merely experiencing life as a future Empress and would return soon.
In her cell, Tan, despite the bland watery rice, made herself comfortable, even wishing for pickles and chili sauce. Her Majesty, Qu Xiangtan, then arrived to confront Tan directly, who knew this was all part of Her Majesty's plan. Qu Xiangtan demanded to know who Tan truly was, her connection to Mo Liancheng, and her purpose in coming.
Tan, revealing a truth she knew would be hard to accept, explained she came from a parallel Dongyue founded by Mo Yi Feng, where she was the reincarnation of Qu Xiangtan, essentially another Qu Xiangtan. Her Majesty scoffed at this, declaring herself the sole ruler of Dongyue. Tan insisted that she and Mo Liancheng came from the same place, and he had always been "her Cheng Cheng," having no relation to Her Majesty's "Young Master Lian Cheng."
She dismissively called Qu Xiangtan a "lousy ex-girlfriend." Xiao Zhen again advised Her Majesty to remain calm as "it's almost time." Her Majesty then threatened Mo Liancheng's life if Tan did not behave. Tan challenged her, questioning if she truly had the heart to harm Mo Liancheng. Qu Xiangtan chillingly replied that if she couldn't have him, she wouldn't mind destroying him.
Meanwhile, Mo Yanchen confronted Qu Meier, expressing his disbelief that the current Tan was not his Qu Tan Er and questioning the evidence and the swift imprisonment. He recalled Tan mentioning that her drastic personality change was due to the after-effects of her drowning and that to understand what truly happened, one should investigate the site of her accident. When Qu Meier claimed ignorance of the drowning’s details, Mo Yanchen decided to investigate it himself.
