The Eternal Love Episode 5 Recap
> The Eternal Love Recap
Qu Xiaotan returned to her chambers, lamenting that despite using the ancient bed, she couldn't travel back to her own time. Jingxin interrupted her, revealing that the bed had belonged to Mo Liancheng since childhood and was said to have refreshing properties. She added that an old carpenter from outside the city had crafted it. Realizing the carpenter might hold the key to the bed's secrets, Xiaotan instructed Jingxin to find the man the next morning.
Prince Mo Liancheng was deeply troubled by his wife's erratic behavior, which shifted between a dignified lady and the unconventional Xiaotan. His maids offered contradictory descriptions of her tastes: one said she favored plain, traditional attire, while another claimed she preferred bright colors and revealing outfits. Frustrated, Mo Liancheng also pondered the mystery of the Soul Bead, which a Life Hunter had suggested was hidden in the Emperor's palace.
Meanwhile, in the Emperor’s study, Prince Mo Yihuai discovered a hidden paper in a wooden compartment. After a young servant briefly interrupted him, Mo Yihuai examined the paper, which contained a quatrain poem from his grandfather: "One hardly gets drunk when drinking by the winding stream." Unable to decipher its meaning or connect it to the rumored Soul Bead, he returned the paper to its hiding place and left with a grave expression.
At the Eighth Prince's residence, Mo Liancheng discussed with the Fourteenth Prince, Mo Jingxuan, the possibility that the princess was a spy for the Grand Prince. He hinted that a "good show" was about to unfold. Just then, Qu Xiaotan entered, clumsily tripping. Upon seeing the handsome Mo Jingxuan, she became animated, openly admiring his looks. She offered breakfast to Mo Liancheng, who, after confirming he would spare Jingxin, instructed Xiaotan to grind ink for him.
Lady Yun and Lady Yi soon arrived and tried to take over the ink grinding to curry favor. Xiaotan refused, and in the ensuing struggle, the inkstone toppled, splashing ink on the two ladies. They accused Xiaotan of acting deliberately, but Mo Liancheng intervened. He ordered all three women to copy the family rules, using the task as a pretext to compare their handwriting with a secret letter he possessed.
Qu Xiaotan's modern, messy script, which made Mo Jingxuan laugh, did not match the letter, nor did the handwriting of the other two ladies. All three were cleared of suspicion. Feeling wronged, Xiaotan demanded "spiritual compensation" and insisted on having the ancient bed from his room. Mo Liancheng agreed but remained suspicious. He later instructed Yu Hao to keep a close watch on her.
His suspicion deepened, as the messenger's physique matched the princess's, but the handwriting did not, leaving him to wonder if she was simply eccentric or hiding a larger secret. Later, Mo Liancheng pleaded with the Emperor to take back the Royal Command token, explaining that assassins were constantly targeting his palace for it. Mo Jingxuan interjected, suggesting the assassin could be a royal, implicating the Grand Prince's escort for contacting the notorious Bloodstain Hall.
The Emperor refused to reclaim the token, stating it was a gift from Mo Liancheng's grandfather, and ordered him to keep it safe while promising to investigate the assassin. Delighted to have the ancient bed installed, Xiaotan discovered a letter with handwriting identical to the secret message. Jingxin revealed that Qu Tan'er had written many such letters to the Grand Prince.
The revelation shocked Xiaotan, who finally realized she had been sharing a body with Qu Tan'er since the day Tan'er attempted suicide over the Grand Prince's marriage a month prior. She tried to explain time travel to a bewildered Jingxin. To communicate, Xiaotan wrote a letter to Qu Tan'er, introducing herself as a real estate agent from another world. As Jingxin relayed the message, she comically misinterpreted Xiaotan's modern slang.
In her reply, Qu Tan'er expressed guilt for the hardships Xiaotan had endured and promised to help her return home. She warned Xiaotan to keep their body-sharing a strict secret, fearing they would be burned as demons if exposed, and instructed Jingxin to ensure Xiaotan's behavior didn't arouse suspicion. In the courtyard, Mo Liancheng was playing the qin when Princess Qingyun arrived.
To deter her, he engaged in a public display of affection with a sleepy Qu Xiaotan, loudly declaring his love. He secretly signaled to Xiaotan that he had a "special gift" for her if she played along. Angered, Princess Qingyun vowed to marry him one day and stormed off. After her departure, Xiaotan expected information about the bed. Instead, Mo Liancheng presented her with the Royal Command token, entrusting the powerful heirloom to her.
Unaware of its significance, Xiaotan saw only a "lump of gold" and eagerly accepted it, unknowingly passing another of Mo Liancheng's tests. Later that night, unable to sleep, Xiaotan yearned for modern nightlife. She persuaded Jingxin to bring her wine, and she proceeded to drink heavily. The next morning, a weak and disoriented Qu Tan'er awoke entangled in her bedding with a wine jar nearby. Startled, she discovered the Royal Command token among the covers.
Jingxin explained that Mo Liancheng had given it to Xiaotan for safekeeping. Understanding the token's power, Qu Tan'er immediately resolved to deliver it to the Grand Prince, accepting her role as a pawn in his political ambitions.
