Love Like The Galaxy Episode 32 Recap
> Love Like The Galaxy Recap
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As officials in the court heard that Wen Di had reprimanded the Crown Prince, they observed the Third Prince's rising prominence. Consequently, many began to align themselves with the Yue clan, abandoning their former loyalties. Though Little Yue Hou disdained these opportunists, he recognized their usefulness in shaping public opinion. He and his retainers secretly discussed methods to depose the Crown Prince. During this time, the Fifth Princess arrived at a restaurant with several male companions.
Little Yue Hou, feigning concern, warned her that as a princess, she should be careful with her conduct, as such public displays would negatively impact the Crown Prince and Empress. The Fifth Princess arrogantly dismissed his words, declaring that the empire belonged to the Wen family, not the Yue family, and only her mother's clan, the Xuan family, was on par with them.
After she departed, Little Yue Hou subtly instructed the landlord, Mr. Tian, to spread stories about his "unrestrained future daughter-in-law" who "likes handsome men" and connect it with current court rumors, ensuring the Fifth Princess's inappropriate behavior would be widely known. The scandalous rumors about the Fifth Princess quickly spread. Meanwhile, Cheng Shaoshang was consulting with the Crown Princess about the Empress's upcoming birthday banquet.
Cheng Shaoshang expressed her frustration with the multitude of demanding tasks, finding it even more challenging than governing a county. The Crown Princess gently explained that Wen Di wanted Cheng Shaoshang to become familiar with palace affairs. The Crown Princess then confided her own burdens, lamenting that her maternal clan criticized her for "forgetting her roots" when she couldn't fulfill their greedy ambitions. She also despaired over the political attacks on her husband for his leniency.
Cheng Shaoshang firmly stated her belief that valuing familial affection was not a flaw. Suddenly, the Fifth Princess burst in, demanding to see the Crown Prince and angrily lashing out at Cheng Shaoshang for being in the Eastern Palace. She confronted the Crown Prince, calling his maternal cousin, Wang Long, a "waste" and questioning if it was worth angering Wen Di for such a man.
When the Crown Prince defended his commitment to family, the Fifth Princess boasted that if she were male, the position would never have been his. Cheng Shaoshang interjected, reminding her that the Crown Prince's leniency was precisely what had saved her from being condemned for her previous refusals of marriage.
Unmoved, the Fifth Princess turned her anger towards the Crown Princess, cruelly suggesting that the Crown Prince had only married her out of pity, as everyone knew who he truly loved. Enraged, the Crown Prince ordered the Fifth Princess to leave and not return unless absolutely necessary, though he promised to prepare gifts for her marriage. Still defiant, the Fifth Princess stormed off to complain to the Empress. The ensuing argument left the Empress bedridden.
Her attendants expressed despair, but Cheng Shaoshang insisted that parents, even when they claim to want to be left alone, secretly yearn for their children's presence. Cheng Shaoshang entered the Empress's chambers, not to persuade her to eat, but to seek her help. She presented some cucumbers she had grown, asking the Empress to compare their taste to the expensive tributes from the Western Regions. The cucumbers were excessively salty, prompting the Empress to eat some porridge.
Cheng Shaoshang then proposed using her homegrown cucumbers as appetizers for the Empress's birthday banquet. When the Empress hesitated, citing the palace's new frugality, Cheng Shaoshang explained her method of cultivation and offered Ling Buyi's help in expanding production, making the rare vegetable accessible to all. The Empress, touched by Cheng Shaoshang's thoughtfulness, praised her as "caring and clever," lamenting her own perceived failure in raising her children.
Cheng Shaoshang shared her own feelings of inadequacy concerning her parents, and the Empress explained that parents compare their children to others not out of a lack of love, but to motivate them, emphasizing that a child's strength brings a parent peace. Meanwhile, watching them from outside, the Empress's lady-in-waiting, Luo Jitong, grew resentful of Cheng Shaoshang's good fortune. Outside Changqiu Palace, the Crown Prince stood, filled with remorse.
He blamed himself for disappointing Wen Di and causing his mother such sadness. Cheng Shaoshang found him and explained that the Empress's sorrow stemmed not from his failures as Crown Prince, but from her pain as a mother seeing him sad and criticized.
She advised him that while he could not plead for Wang Long as the Crown Prince, he could do so as a son for his maternal cousin, for there was no crime in acting out of familial affection. The Crown Prince, enlightened by her words, thanked her for her profound insight. That evening, Ling Buyi met with Cheng Shaoshang.
He gently told her that instead of acting on her own, she could trust him with her plans, especially when it came to making enemies. He promised to protect her but needed her to give him the chance. Cheng Shaoshang, however, was preoccupied with the day's events. She told him about the Empress's distress over the rumors of the Crown Prince being replaced and asked who was targeting the Crown Prince at the Yan Hui Pagoda.
His expression grew serious, and he reiterated his warning for her to stay away from Eastern Palace matters and court politics. Later, Wen Di observed the court officials' blatant ambition to replace the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince arrived, requesting to play chess. As they played, Wen Di reminisced about teaching his son chess when he was young and intentionally losing to make him happy.
The Crown Prince explained that he had learned from his father that caring for a family's feelings was more important than winning, and therefore, his decision to stand by his family was one he would never regret. Wen Di, understanding his son's heart, accepted his explanation. The next day in court, Wen Di defied the opposition of many officials. He praised the Crown Prince for his benevolence, loyalty, and filial piety.
Wen Di declared that the Crown Prince would henceforth command the three armies, entrusting him with the tiger seal. The discussion then turned to Wang Long's fate, prompting a heated debate. Wen Di firmly declared that Wang Long's actions of suppressing bandits had become reckless, leading to his demotion. He asserted that Wang Long's father, Wang Chun, was not at fault and would take command of his son's troops.
Ling Buyi was then ordered to lead the suppression of the bandits, and the Crown Prince was instructed to personally deploy the troops. Later, at the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince attempted to give the tiger seal to Ling Buyi for safekeeping. Ling Buyi refused, stating that the tiger seal was a symbol of Wen Di's trust.
When he inquired how the Crown Prince had managed to persuade Wen Di to show leniency towards Wang Chun, the Crown Prince credited Cheng Shaoshang's advice. He affectionately called both Ling Buyi and Cheng Shaoshang his "lucky stars." Ling Buyi sought out Cheng Shaoshang and confronted her, accusing her of acting on her own despite his repeated warnings. He sternly asked if she was satisfied with the outcome for Wang Chun.
Cheng Shaoshang retorted that she had only intended to help the Empress and had no interest in Wang Chun's fate. Ling Buyi countered that her actions might inadvertently create more trouble. He then revealed the deeper political implications: by forgiving Wang Chun, Wen Di had effectively shifted the court's resentment onto the Empress and Crown Prince, further fueling those who coveted the Crown Prince's position.
He warned her that her seemingly well-intentioned actions could harm them and even embroil the Empress. Cheng Shaoshang admitted she had never considered such complex consequences. Feeling wronged, Cheng Shaoshang expressed her frustration that Ling Buyi never truly wanted her to understand his plans, always dismissing matters as "too complicated." She lamented that she could have married a simple man and lived a simple life, but it was he who had dragged her into this complicated world.
She recalled her initial hesitation about their engagement, yet even after deciding to be with him, he continued to insist that his world was too intricate for her. Ling Buyi insisted he only wanted to protect her. Cheng Shaoshang, however, compared his words to her mother's criticisms, suggesting they implied she was "not good enough." She admitted she didn't know how to satisfy him without changing her inherent nature—to act recklessly and follow her own heart.
She apologized for disappointing him. The conversation ended unhappily, with Ling Buyi stating he would return home alone. As Cheng Shaoshang walked back by herself, she reflected on Ling Buyi's words, finally realizing that her marriage to him was indeed proving to be very troublesome.
