The Eternal Love 3 Episode 28 Recap
> The Eternal Love 3 Recap
Qu Xiangtan, now inhabiting Qu Xiaotan’s body, woke to find Xiao Zhen’s lifeless form. She reflected that each person has only one heart, and she had ultimately let Xiao Zhen down. She returned to the East Palace, where Jing Xin greeted her with relief, concerned about her well-being and offering to prepare supper. Qu Xiangtan, feigning exhaustion, dismissed Jing Xin and declined the meal. Alone in the bedroom, she was greeted by a relieved Mo Lian Cheng.
She eagerly kissed him, but his concern grew when he noticed a fresh wound on her hand. She dismissed it as a minor scratch and found comfort in his warmth, appreciating his rare smile—a happiness she had long forgotten. She then made him promise never to leave her, sealing it with a pinky swear, recognizing it as one of Qu Xiaotan's childish habits. While getting ready, Qu Xiangtan saw the words "Cheng Cheng, save me" scrawled on a mirror.
Enraged, she ordered Jing Xin to remove all mirrors from the room, claiming she felt she looked much older after her time in prison. Soon after, an edict declared the Empress's sudden passing and appointed Qu Xiaotan as the successor, with a minimalist five-day mourning period. Qu Xiangtan, in Qu Xiaotan’s body, readily prepared to ascend the throne. During a court session, Qu Meier questioned the hasty coronation and the Empress's sudden death, calling it suspicious.
Qu Xiangtan, adopting an imperious tone reminiscent of the late Empress, immediately put Qu Meier in her place, hinting at past misdeeds and threatening to "rake over the ashes" if Qu Meier didn't leave. Later, Qu Xiangtan happily told Mo Lian Cheng she was Empress and he would be the "top of the harem." Mo Lian Cheng noted her performance in the main hall was strikingly similar to the late Empress.
She dismissed it as an act to control Qu Meier. He then probed her memory of their earlier agreement: once she completed her reforms, they would return to their original Dongyue with the Red Star of Demise and reunite with Yu Er. Qu Xiangtan repeated the terms but privately seethed, vowing to find a way to keep Mo Lian Cheng by her side and dismissively referring to Yu Er as a "bastard" who wasn't worth returning for.
Mo Lian Cheng sensed something amiss, especially after Yu Hao reported Qu Xiaotan had ordered all mirrors removed and seemed increasingly restless. Suspecting foul play beyond mere prison trauma, Mo Lian Cheng decided to investigate. At the prison, a frightened warden confessed that Xiao Zhen had taken Qu Xiaotan towards the imperial chamber. Mo Lian Cheng and Yu Hao then went to the chamber.
Despite signs of a recent clean-up, Mo Lian Cheng discovered traces of burned Glacial Soulweed in the Altar of Souls. He explained that this rare herb enables "body-usurping" through human sacrifice. By extinguishing all the candles, shimmering specks of light—the "light dust" of a sacrificed body—became visible, confirming his suspicion that Xiao Zhen had been the sacrifice and the Empress had taken over Qu Xiaotan’s body.
Mo Lian Cheng deduced that Qu Xiaotan's consciousness was still present but suppressed within her own body, explaining her occasional struggles for control and the mirror incident. He instructed Yu Hao to secretly prepare a guest room filled with mirrors. Mo Lian Cheng led Qu Xiangtan into the mirror-filled room, confronting her directly.
Surrounded by her reflection, she finally admitted she was Qu Xiangtan, stating that Qu Xiaotan's body was always meant for her, and Qu Xiaotan's consciousness would soon be erased. Through the mirrors, Mo Lian Cheng heard Qu Xiaotan's faint pleas for help. Qu Xiangtan, her control over the body wavering, held a knife to her own throat, threatening to harm Qu Xiaotan if Mo Lian Cheng didn't cooperate.
Mo Lian Cheng remained defiant, declaring he would follow Qu Xiaotan to heaven or hell. Qu Xiangtan scoffed, warning him to play along and keep her identity a secret, or face severe consequences. At court, Qu Xiangtan continued to assert her authority, publicly humiliating Qu Meier and executing several "sinful officers" loyal to her, accusing them of corruption.
When Qu Meier feigned illness to avoid the coronation, Qu Xiangtan brutally forced her to attend, even threatening to have her carried in, chilling Qu Meier into submission. Qu Xiangtan then demanded Qu Meier help her overthrow Mo Yuan Long, revealing her knowledge of their secret collusion and ordering Qu Meier to provide all evidence. Jing Xin, overhearing this, was deeply disturbed by Qu Xiaotan’s drastic change and her intention to harm the Mo family.
She immediately reported to Mo Lian Cheng, who confirmed her fears, revealing that the person was not Qu Xiaotan but the late Empress. A distraught Jing Xin wanted to rescue Qu Xiaotan, blaming them for their secrecy. Mo Lian Cheng explained the need for secrecy and instructed Jing Xin to remain by Qu Xiangtan's side, feigning ignorance, to observe and uncover her weaknesses. He tasked Yu Hao with urgently informing Mo Yuan Long of the impending danger.
Meanwhile, Qu Meier met Mo Yanchen, confessing she had revealed Mo Yuan Long's plans to "Qu Xiaotan." Mo Yanchen, still bitter, accused her of betrayal and of trying to use his family to eliminate 'Qu Xiaotan'. She argued it was a desperate measure, insisting that only by stopping the tyrannical new empress could they save their own lives and the Mo family.
Though Mo Yanchen expressed lingering resentment, he urged her to be careful, acknowledging he would feel indebted if she sacrificed her life. Qu Meier dismissed their past entanglements, suggesting they forget their love and hatred. Yu Hao arrived at the Mo Residence with Mo Lian Cheng's warning that "Her Highness" knew of their rebellion and was ready to strike. Mo Yuan Long initially dismissed it, believing Mo Lian Cheng was on Qu Xiangtan's side, but Mo Yanchen's confirmation swayed him.
Realizing their plan was compromised, Mo Yuan Long decided to rely on General Lu, who possessed the yin imperial token. He asked General Lu to risk his life to publicly prove the regicide and lead troops to quell the uprising, to which General Lu bravely agreed. Mo Yuan Long then ordered Mo Yanchen and Mo Jingxuan to leave the city for their safety.
Mo Yanchen refused to abandon his father, so Mo Yuan Long insisted Mo Jingxuan leave to preserve the Mo family bloodline. Just as they finalized their plans, news arrived that imperial guards were rapidly approaching to surround the Mo Residence. Mo Yuan Long quickly instructed his steward, Yun Ying, to find a way to trick Mo Yanchen out of the mansion through the back door.
