Love Like The Galaxy Episode 3 Recap, Plot

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Ling Buyi's investigation confirmed that Xu Jinzhong, a former blacksmith from Feng Yi County who had recently entered officialdom, was the one who bribed Head Armorer Dong. Xu Jinzhong, now the Imperial Armourer in charge of all weapons, regularly paid Head Armorer Dong to turn a blind eye to shipments. However, Dong claimed he did not know the destination or recipient of the armaments. Ling Buyi found the name "Xu Jinzhong" intriguing, pondering who the man was truly loyal to.

He noted that the large quantity of armaments suggested ambitious buyers. Ling Buyi's men reported that Xu Jinzhong had been missing for several days since Dong's arrest. Ling Buyi decided that Dong, while complicit, would be spared the death penalty and instead be banished to the borders, as he was unaware of Xu Jinzhong's full plan. As a gesture of gratitude for Cheng Shaoshang's contribution to catching Dong, Ling Buyi permitted Dong to visit the Cheng family before his banishment.

Meanwhile, Cheng Shaoshang was recovering. Her mother, Xiao Yuanyi, brought her many gifts, including beautiful hairpins and precious items she had saved over the years. However, among these gifts were also numerous scrolls, which Xiao Yuanyi considered the most valuable. When asked to read, Shaoshang struggled, admitting she only recognized four characters from a dozen-word passage about Cangjie. A servant, Qingcong, quickly blamed Madam Ge, Shaoshang's Second Aunt, for deliberately neglecting Shaoshang's education, turning her into an "illiterate."

Cheng Shi, Shaoshang's father, tried to comfort her, revealing he too was once illiterate and praising Xiao Yuanyi's vast knowledge. Shaoshang confessed that she didn't like studying and was perhaps like her father. Cheng Shi encouraged her, stating that he only began studying at thirty but could now read official reports without difficulty, emphasizing that she had ample time to learn. The family was preparing for Head Armorer Dong's farewell.

Cheng Yang, the daughter of the Second Branch, arrived late, apologizing that her teacher had given her extensive homework. Madam Ge seized the opportunity to praise Cheng Yang's studiousness, contrasting it with Shaoshang's playful and unmanageable nature. Shaoshang, however, thanked Madam Ge for never forcing her to study, claiming Madam Ge once told her that a woman only needed to remember her husband's name, unlike her mother, Xiao Yuanyi, who excelled in both studies and martial arts.

Madam Ge, exasperated, called Shaoshang an idiot and warned her not to end up banished like her useless brother, Dong. The women of the family rushed out to the courtyard upon hearing Dong's wails. Before his sister, Old Madam, Dong cried about being abandoned. She, in turn, told him to take care of himself at the border and avoid further mistakes.

Old Madam then told Dong's family to stop visiting, asserting that Cheng Shi's rising status demanded stricter household rules, unlike their past life in the village. Shaoshang sarcastically remarked that Old Madam's dramatic tantrums must have been inherited from the Dong family. Dong then angrily criticized Old Madam, claiming she lived a better life at his expense.

Old Madam retorted that the Cheng family's prosperity was earned by Cheng Shi's sacrifices, reminding Dong that they now belonged to different families with different ancestors. Dong then accused Shaoshang of being ungrateful and heartless, just like Cheng Shi. When Xiao Yuanyi urged him to quiet down, Dong claimed Old Madam had once said Xiao Yuanyi and her daughter were bothersome and should be abandoned to save resources. Old Madam vehemently denied this as slander.

Dong then turned his accusations towards Madam Ge, stating she deliberately kept Shaoshang illiterate and embezzled money Cheng Shi sent home. Despite Madam Ge's heated denials, the officers took Dong away, leaving the family in disarray. High above, Ling Buyi received an update from his men: Xu Jinzhong remained missing, and with no family to track, his whereabouts were completely unknown.

Ling Buyi deduced that, like Dong, Xu Jinzhong would likely hide in a place most familiar to him, yet unknown to others. Recalling Xu Jinzhong's blacksmith origins in Feng Yi County, Ling Buyi ordered his men to search all forges in the capital, believing that was his most probable hiding spot. Back at the Cheng residence, Old Madam expressed relief that Dong was finally gone, though still fuming from the ordeal.

She then reprimanded Madam Ge for unwisely investing Cheng Shi's reward money in her family's fabric store, resulting in significant losses. Old Madam clearly favored her eldest and third sons' families. Cheng Shi then announced that his third brother, Cheng Zhi, and his family, including their sons Song and Shaogong from Qing District, would return to the capital for New Year, completing a rare family reunion, with only Yong and his wife at the border unable to make it.

Old Madam was overjoyed. Madam Ge, however, immediately suggested converting Shaoshang's study into rooms for the nephews, claiming Shaoshang had no real use for it. Shaoshang protested, mentioning Xiao Yuanyi's recent insistence on her studies, but Madam Ge and Old Madam dismissed her, arguing that one could study anywhere. Xiao Yuanyi sent Shaoshang to her room to study, instructing Qingcong not to allow her to eat or sleep until she finished memorizing.

Madam Ge then attempted to claim the main house for her nephews, suggesting the First Branch move to the smaller back rooms and taunting that they "had no sons anyway," as none were currently at home. Old Madam rebuffed her. When Old Madam insisted she vacate the main house she currently occupied, Madam Ge refused to move, asserting the main house was old, humid, and uninhabitable. Old Madam insisted she renovate it for the returning nephews.

Later that night, Madam Ge vented her frustration to her husband, Cheng Cheng, calling him a useless fool who only read books, leaving her to fight their battles. She lamented that unlike his successful brothers, Cheng Cheng couldn't even keep their main house. In a fit of rage, she threw Cheng Cheng's precious scrolls into a brazier, declaring them worthless if they couldn't secure their home.

Their daughter, Cheng Yang, rushed to rescue her father's scrolls from the fire, reminding her mother that the main house rightfully belonged to the eldest son, Cheng Shi. Madam Ge, still furious, merely shouted "Nonsense." Shaoshang continued her studies under Xiao Yuanyi's strict supervision, feeling a new kind of pressure. She complained of hunger, which Xiao Yuanyi met with a strict "hunger sharpens the mind" but offered snacks with the condition of memorizing five extra lines for each piece eaten.

Qingcong questioned Xiao Yuanyi's harshness given Shaoshang's difficult upbringing, but Xiao Yuanyi retorted that Cheng Shi could teach their daughter if he felt her methods were too strict. Alone in her room, Shaoshang reflected on her mother's actions, questioning why Xiao Yuanyi had endured so much from Madam Ge for decades, allowing herself to be bullied and even losing the main house. She felt Xiao Yuanyi's passive "virtue" was suspicious.

Shaoshang then paid a secret visit to Madam Ge, pretending to be at odds with her mother. Madam Ge, who had been spying on the mother-daughter duo, confirmed their strained relationship. Shaoshang, playing along, suggested to Madam Ge that to secure the main house, she should use the excuse of "offspring" with Old Madam, who was prone to superstitious beliefs. Shaoshang hinted that no one could predict if Madam Ge might bear a grandson for Old Madam in the future.

Madam Ge, initially suspicious, eventually bought into Shaoshang's idea, convinced that Shaoshang's goal was merely to upset her mother. Shaoshang left, content that her plan was set in motion. Madam Ge, emboldened by Shaoshang's advice, approached Old Madam, claiming the "Old Deity" had prophesied the main house was auspicious for childbirth, citing Xiao Yuanyi's three sons born there as proof. She dramatically pleaded with Old Madam to pity Cheng Cheng, who was still without a son at his age.

Xiao Yuanyi, however, interjected, questioning the Old Deity's accuracy, linking it to Shaoshang being left behind and uneducated for so many years. Madam Ge countered by claiming the Old Deity had helped her recover her health. Old Madam, swayed by the "offspring" argument and her own superstitions, ultimately agreed that Madam Ge could remain in the main house. Madam Ge then dramatically swore an oath that she would not move until she bore a son for the Cheng family.

Madam Ge gloated to Xiao Yuanyi, reminding her that Old Madam's decision was final, and that the importance of progeny meant Xiao Yuanyi's family would stay in the backyard. She hoped Xiao Yuanyi would not regret it. Madam Ge continued to taunt Xiao Yuanyi, claiming that Shaoshang's idea to fight for the main house was a direct result of Xiao Yuanyi's overly harsh treatment of her.

She contrasted Cheng Yang's academic aptitude with Shaoshang's manipulative cleverness, implying Shaoshang should be taught "women's tricks." She concluded by stating that since Shaoshang was not her own daughter, she had no reason to care more than Xiao Yuanyi, the biological mother. Under house arrest, Shaoshang presented a cleverly modified brush to a servant, demonstrating how it could write three characters at once. The servant praised her ingenuity but also warned that such cleverness could backfire.

Xiao Yuanyi entered, dismissing the servant, and confronted Shaoshang about helping Madam Ge. Shaoshang calmly replied that since the family would soon move to a new residence, she saw no harm in letting Madam Ge have the old main house.

When Xiao Yuanyi asked how she knew about the impending move, Shaoshang explained her deductions: her mother's unusual lack of opposition to Madam Ge's actions, combined with Cheng Shi's recent military victories and the overdue imperial rewards, strongly suggested a new residence was imminent. Shaoshang concluded that Xiao Yuanyi had likely already deemed the old main house irrelevant. Xiao Yuanyi sternly reminded Shaoshang that the feud with Madam Ge was an adult matter and she should not interfere.

Shaoshang, however, retorted that she, too, had grievances against those who bullied and humiliated her while her mother remained passive. She asserted she was merely giving them a taste of their own medicine and questioned why Xiao Yuanyi couldn't accept it. Xiao Yuanyi acknowledged her own failure in Shaoshang's upbringing, which allowed Madam Ge to foster her reckless nature. She forgave Shaoshang's past transgressions but warned that this was the absolute last time.

She confiscated Shaoshang's modified brush, reiterating her warning for Shaoshang to behave, as her reckless actions could bring disaster upon the entire family. Soon after, an imperial envoy arrived at the Cheng residence to deliver a royal decree. Cheng Shi and Xiao Yuanyi knelt as the decree proclaimed Cheng Shi as Marquis of Quling, awarding him income from 500 families, in recognition of his unwavering loyalty and numerous battle achievements. Cheng Shi accepted the honor.

Old Madam was ecstatic, celebrating Cheng Shi's success at his late father's memorial tablet. Madam Ge quickly pointed out the extensive land awards. Old Madam, however, lamented Cheng Cheng's lack of similar achievements compared to his brothers. Cheng Shi, defending his second brother, highlighted Cheng Cheng's crucial contributions to the family. He then offered Cheng Cheng his pick from the newly awarded imperial scrolls, knowing his brother's love for books.

Old Madam, reminding Cheng Shi of her maternal efforts, asked for some of the treasures for herself, to which Cheng Shi readily agreed, ensuring all the jewelry and valuables would be hers. A servant excitedly described the numerous, rare treasures that had arrived. Old Madam, eager to see them, quickly led Cheng Shi and Cheng Cheng to inspect the scrolls and treasures, respectively.

As they admired the new wealth, Madam Ge brought up the rumor that His Majesty had also awarded General Wan a grand mansion. Cheng Shi confirmed this, adding that General Wan intended to give his current residence to the Cheng family. He then outlined their new living arrangements: Old Madam would reside in Madam Wan's current quarters, while he and Xiao Yuanyi would occupy General Wan's former rooms. Old Madam was delighted, having long admired Wan's residence.

However, Cheng Shi then turned to Madam Ge, pointedly telling her that she wouldn't be moving to the new residence. He reminded her of her solemn oath to stay in the main house of the old residence until she bore a son, emphasizing that even Cheng Cheng would be moving to the new residence, leaving her undisturbed in the old main house to fulfill her pledge.

Madam Ge desperately pleaded with Old Madam for intervention, but Old Madam firmly reiterated Madam Ge's oath and the Old Deity's prophecy, confirming that "the son is paramount" and that Madam Ge's fate was sealed by her own words. With nothing left to say, Old Madam, along with Cheng Shi and Cheng Cheng, quickly diverted their attention back to the exciting new imperial treasures.

Episode 2 Recap

Episode 4 Recap