The Eternal Love 3 Episode 4 Recap
> The Eternal Love 3 Recap
Mo Yanchen appeared troubled, prompting Mo Lian Cheng to inquire about his state. Mo Yanchen questioned Mo Lian Cheng's newfound closeness with Qu Xiaotan. Mo Lian Cheng explained that Qu Xiaotan's recent words about men living for themselves and not depending on women held truth, and suggested that Mo Yanchen might have misunderstood their interaction. He then advised Mo Yanchen to be wary of Qu Xiaotan, noting her significant change.
Mo Yanchen, however, dismissed these concerns, asserting his long-standing bond with Qu Xiaotan and warning Mo Lian Cheng not to speak ill of her. Mo Lian Cheng cautioned his brother not to be blinded by love. Soon after, an official arrived with a royal decree, summoning Mo Lian Cheng to the palace. Before he departed, Mo Feng Yang urged him to be cautious with his words and actions to avoid bringing disgrace upon the Mo family.
Meanwhile, Jing Xin presented Qu Xiaotan with an invitation from Qu Meier, the eldest princess. Qu Xiaotan, suspicious of Qu Meier's intentions, initially refused to go. Jing Xin expressed her concern, wondering if the traumatic events had profoundly altered Qu Xiaotan's personality. Qu Xiaotan acknowledged her recent changes, admitting she couldn't fully explain them, but reassured Jing Xin of their unbreakable sisterly bond across all timelines.
She insisted that Jing Xin call her "Xiaotan" informally, much to Jing Xin's delight, despite Jing Xin's initial hesitation about the breach of protocol. Three days later, the Bachelor School was set to open. Their father, the head of the Mo family, gathered Mo Lian Cheng, Mo Yanchen, and Mo Jingxuan, reminding them of their family's reputation and demanding exemplary conduct. After dismissing the others, he privately questioned Mo Lian Cheng about his palace visit.
Mo Lian Cheng revealed that the Empress was testing his loyalty and likely harbored no trust in him. He then proposed using Qu Xiaotan as a strategic move, to which his father agreed, emphasizing the importance of doing his utmost. At the Bachelor School, taught by Official Su Yue La, the curriculum focused on cultivating men to be good husbands who would bear offspring and work hard without complaint.
Mo Lian Cheng found himself preoccupied with how to compel Qu Xiaotan to propose to him. Su Yue La, noticing his distraction, tried to corner him, but Mo Lian Cheng flawlessly recited the lecture content, thwarting her attempts. Later, she excused herself, leaving the students to study. During a study session, Mo Yanchen was helping Mo Jingxuan, who snatched Mo Lian Cheng's notebook.
Mo Jingxuan read aloud entries about "intimate contact with a strange man" and "sending expensive gifts to a strange man," sparking Mo Yanchen's curiosity about the identity of this "strange man." Their discussion was interrupted when Qu Xiaotan arrived at the school gates with a lunchbox, loudly summoning Mo Lian Cheng, drawing the attention of all the students. Mo Lian Cheng internally noted that this grand public display would serve his purpose.
Mo Yanchen watched their interaction with a heavy heart. Qu Xiaotan, after giving Mo Lian Cheng snacks she had brought, snatched his textbook, discovering his notes detailed her recent actions towards him. Mo Lian Cheng used this opportunity to demand compensation for his tarnished reputation. Qu Xiaotan, ever playful, asked if he meant she should marry him. Despite sensing that this was not the real Cheng Cheng, she decided that marrying him was the way forward.
She eagerly agreed to his terms, declaring her willingness to do anything. Mo Lian Cheng then presented his "Three Orders and Three Rules" for their interaction: maintain one-arm distance, use a screen in the bedroom, and no intimate gestures. Qu Xiaotan, surprised but undeterred, agreed to the "see and no touch" conditions, reaffirming her desire to marry him.
Mo Lian Cheng agreed to visit her residence that evening to discuss the marriage arrangements, and Qu Xiaotan triumphantly told him to prepare to sit in the bridal sedan chair. That night, Qu Xiaotan was playfully attempting to give Jing Xin a more feminine makeover when Mo Lian Cheng suddenly appeared, startling them both. Jing Xin quickly withdrew. Mo Lian Cheng revealed that the Empress had summoned him after school, expressing curiosity about Qu Xiaotan's altered demeanor.
Qu Xiaotan complained that Mo Lian Cheng was a "playboy" attracting powerful rivals, including the Empress. Mo Lian Cheng explained that given the Empress's suspicions, a direct proposal of marriage would be complicated. He suggested they cooperate in a staged performance. The next day, Mo Lian Cheng formally accused Qu Xiaotan before the Empress of molesting him and ruining his reputation.
Qu Xiaotan, following his lead, countered that Mo Lian Cheng, after failing to be chosen for the Empress's harem, was trying to frame her into marrying him. Mo Lian Cheng brought up her public visit to the school, leaving Qu Xiaotan temporarily speechless. Mo Lian Cheng then asked the Empress to arbitrate, prompting Qu Xiaotan to request that the Empress bestow a marriage upon them.
The Empress, however, unexpectedly asked if they had engaged in "skin-to-skin" contact, leaving Qu Xiaotan at a loss for words. Mo Lian Cheng dramatically threatened to commit suicide to prove his innocence. The Empress ultimately decreed that Qu Xiaotan was free to choose her own spouse. Qu Xiaotan instantly recognized this as a trap; choosing Mo Lian Cheng directly would expose their charade. The Empress awaited her choice with keen interest. News of the Empress's decree distressed Mo Yanchen.
Mo Lian Cheng opined that Qu Xiaotan's nature made her an unsuitable match for Mo Yanchen. Their father, the Mo family head, reminded them that Mo Yanchen and Qu Xiaotan had been childhood friends, and without her, Mo Yanchen might spend the rest of his life as a monk. Mo Lian Cheng assured his father that he would not let Mo Yanchen be troubled.
Qu Xiaotan, after dismissing her attendants, confided in Mo Lian Cheng her determination to choose him, regardless of the Empress's hidden motives. Mo Lian Cheng, anticipating future complications, then proposed that Qu Xiaotan marry both him and Mo Yanchen. Qu Xiaotan was dumbfounded, fearing his eventual regret, but under his persistent pressure, she reluctantly agreed, betting that he would eventually regret his audacious suggestion. Later, before the Empress, Mo Yanchen, Mo Lian Cheng, and Qu Xiaotan presented themselves.
The Empress bestowed Mo Yanchen upon Qu Xiaotan in marriage, praising Mo Yanchen's steadfast character. She then added Mo Lian Cheng to the union, stating that the brothers could look after each other and manage the household together. Mo Yanchen understood this as the Empress's attempt to sever Mo Lian Cheng's supposed affections for her. Qu Xiaotan, however, felt a surge of triumph, relishing the unexpected fortune of having two husbands.
This familiar situation triggered Mo Lian Cheng's memory, causing him to instantly switch back to his original personality. He immediately pleaded with the Empress and Qu Xiaotan to reconsider, asserting that marriage was not a trivial matter. Qu Xiaotan, unaware of his switch, was baffled by his sudden change in demeanor. Mo Yanchen, noticing Mo Lian Cheng's renewed devotion to the Empress, stepped in and assured the Empress that he and his brother would diligently serve the princess.
The Empress then asked Qu Xiaotan to designate one of them as the primary husband. Mo Lian Cheng, now fully aware of the scheme, proposed Mo Yanchen as the primary husband, embracing the "as things stand, let's go with the flow" approach. Qu Xiaotan, finding the idea of Mo Lian Cheng as her "second husband" intriguing, readily agreed. Mo Yanchen, misinterpreting her decision, believed it was a sign of her lingering affection for him.
As they left the palace, Mo Lian Cheng abruptly pulled Qu Xiaotan aside, confronting her. Qu Xiaotan, still confused by his erratic behavior, reminded him of his constant theatrics. Mo Lian Cheng, now the true Cheng Cheng, then passionately reaffirmed his eternal love for her, reiterating his timeless promise to find and marry her countless times, never to be separated. Qu Xiaotan, hearing these familiar words, finally realized that her beloved Cheng Cheng had returned.
