The Eternal Love 3 Episode 8 Recap
> The Eternal Love 3 Recap
Having exhausted various remedies to restore Mo Lian Cheng's memory, Qu Xiaotan suddenly remembered Liu Qian Shui. The next day, accompanied by Jing Xin, she ventured out of the city to a secluded residence she recalled as his abode. She found an old man with black hair there, which made her doubt his identity. Nevertheless, she sent Jing Xin outside and directly addressed the old man as Liu Qian Shui, a sage from the Xuanling Continent, to test him.
The man, who was actually Liu Bai Shui, was surprised to learn of his legendary reputation. Qu Xiaotan explained that she had come because of an anomaly with the Soul-guarding Pearl and that she was its host. Liu Bai Shui, unfamiliar with these concepts, played along, inadvertently providing what she took as a correct counter-sign. Believing she had successfully reconnected with Liu Qian Shui, Qu Xiaotan greeted him warmly.
Internally, Liu Bai Shui, amused by being called "Liu Qian Shui" instead of his real name, felt like he had somehow gained an extra nine hundred. As Qu Xiaotan detailed her and Mo Lian Cheng's journey from a parallel world, Liu Bai Shui concluded she was mad and saw an opportunity to exploit her financially.
He informed Qu Xiaotan that Mo Lian Cheng's amnesia could be treated with a specific medicine, but its rare ingredients were costly and hard to find. He claimed he needed to travel to Beixuan, Nanlu, and Xiyue to acquire them, each journey incurring significant expenses. He further embellished his story, mentioning other elusive ingredients like millennial ginseng and ancient Ganoderma fungi, and even claiming he might need a trip to the Xuanling Continent.
Desperate to cure Mo Lian Cheng, Qu Xiaotan handed over all her money, instructing him not to skimp on costs. Liu Bai Shui vowed to dedicate himself entirely to the task. When she pressed him for a timeline, he vaguely estimated "a month or so," emphasizing the need for patience. Though anxious, Qu Xiaotan urged him to be as swift as possible.
After she and Jing Xin departed, Liu Bai Shui chuckled at his newfound wealth, lamenting what he saw as the country's misfortune and believing the money wouldn't cure Qu Xiaotan's perceived madness anyway. Upon returning to the mansion, Qu Xiaotan found Official Su awaiting her with an imperial decree for Qu Tan Er. The decree stated that Her Majesty held great expectations for Qu Tan Er and desired to test her talents and abilities, giving her three days to prepare.
Mo Yanchen expressed confidence that Qu Tan Er, being well-read and skilled in arts since childhood, would excel. However, Qu Xiaotan, aware of her own lack of such accomplishments, worried about the impending test. Meanwhile, Qu Meier invited Official Su for tea, attempting to subtly inquire about Mo Yanchen. Official Su assured her that Mo Yanchen was well, a statement Qu Meier disbelieved, feeling that Mo Yanchen had been wronged by Qu Tan Er.
Qu Meier then revealed her strategic thinking regarding the assessment she had pushed for: regardless of the outcome, the test would disadvantage Qu Tan Er. If she passed, Her Majesty would become more wary of her. If she failed, it would clearly demonstrate that Qu Tan Er was unfit to be the Crown Princess. Panicked by the unexpected examination, Qu Xiaotan considered faking an illness to avoid it.
Jing Xin, however, quickly recognized her deception, warning her about the severe consequences of trying to fool an imperial physician. Qu Xiaotan then decided to flee, but Mo Lian Cheng arrived before she could. He stopped her, asserting he had a plan to help her. He led her to the study, showing her Qu Tan Er's personal letters and calligraphy.
He explained that he was intimately familiar with Qu Tan Er's handwriting, having read numerous letters she penned to a "worthless friend." Mo Lian Cheng’s strategy was for Qu Xiaotan to painstakingly mimic Qu Tan Er's writing style, focusing solely on the character "Yong" (forever), which encompassed all the fundamental strokes of calligraphy.
Qu Xiaotan wanted Mo Lian Cheng to remain by her side for guidance, but he insisted she practice in seclusion to conceal her true identity from Mo Yanchen, as its discovery would jeopardize her life. He promised that Jing Xin would deliver her practice sheets to him every four hours for corrections. He then demonstrated the intricate strokes for writing "Yong."
As he guided her hand, they drew close, and Mo Lian Cheng, suddenly aware of their proximity, quickly stepped back, leaving Qu Xiaotan to smile at his hasty retreat. Qu Xiaotan diligently practiced the character "Yong" for three days. Jing Xin regularly delivered her practice sheets to Mo Lian Cheng, who provided corrections. On one occasion, Qu Xiaotan playfully penned "Forever Love Cheng Cheng."
Mo Lian Cheng responded with a note indicating that the "Yong" character was now perfected, wishing her success for the next day's test and a restful sleep. The following day, Qu Xiaotan was unexpectedly led to the training grounds, realizing to her dismay that Her Majesty had arranged a martial test instead of a written one. Xiao Zhen, the supervising official, explained that the test aimed to assess her physical fitness.
Qu Xiaotan, with her background as a real estate agent and some martial training from Mo Lian Cheng, initially felt confident. However, she quickly recalled that the real Qu Tan Er was known for her frailty. To avoid raising suspicion, she resolved to deliberately perform poorly. In the first challenge, an arm strength test with bows, Qu Xiaotan feigned inability to draw even the lightest one. She similarly underperformed in the second challenge involving a horse stance.
After the test, Qu Xiaotan apologized for her lackluster performance, attributing it to being a newlywed and thus somewhat "lax." Xiao Zhen then conveyed Her Majesty's decree: Qu Tan Er was to report to the palace daily for practice, with a re-test in ten days. Qu Xiaotan was deeply frustrated by this turn of events.
Back at the mansion, Qu Xiaotan recounted the details to Mo Lian Cheng, admitting her intentional poor performance was to maintain the illusion of being the frail Qu Tan Er, as she was physically more robust. Mo Lian Cheng praised her quick thinking but then mused over Her Majesty's peculiar choice of a physical test, finding it unsettling.
When Qu Xiaotan teasingly asked about his sudden concern, he quickly retorted that she was overthinking and he was "not him," hinting at his amnesia. Meanwhile, Mi Xue informed Qu Meier about the martial test. Qu Meier initially suspected Her Majesty was deliberately trying to challenge Qu Tan Er, knowing her delicate health.
However, upon learning that Her Majesty had ordered Qu Tan Er to undertake daily practice in the palace, Qu Meier concluded that this was Her Majesty's way of grooming Qu Tan Er as the next Crown Princess and decided it was time to take decisive action. Concurrently, Xiao Zhen reported Qu Tan Er's test results to Her Majesty. Despite her disappointment, Her Majesty harbored hope.
With her own health deteriorating, she expressed her desire for Qu Tan Er to prove her worth as Crown Princess, ensuring a smooth succession. She planned to use the daily palace visits to covertly improve Qu Tan Er's health, making her fit for the role. To fund a costly altar, she instructed Official Su to increase taxes on royal farmlands, and he assured her of his diligent execution.
