Love Like The Galaxy Episode 33 Recap, Plot

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The Crown Prince spent a sleepless night, plagued by the thought of thieves attempting to steal the tiger seals. Though the seals were still present, his anxiety was immense. The Crown Princess noticed his distress as he was barefoot and without a robe, asking if he had heard strange noises.

The Crown Prince confessed to his unease, feeling the seals were like divine objects strangling him until he was out of breath and fearing that their loss would not only cost him his title but also implicate his Mother, the Empress. To calm his nerves, the Crown Princess suggested relocating the seals to Zigui Courtyard, where her cousin, Sun Sheng, a guard, could watch over them in a more secluded environment.

The Crown Prince agreed, intending to move them the next day. However, the tiger seals were lost during transit. Upon hearing this, Ling Buyi was furious, reminding the Crown Prince that he had repeatedly warned him about Sun Sheng's unreliability and the perils of appointing staff based on favoritism rather than merit. Acknowledging his profound mistake, the Crown Prince desperately sought Ling Buyi's help, as the army was poised to depart for a bandit suppression campaign, requiring the tiger seals.

Ling Buyi questioned whether he had consulted General Wang or Grand Tutor Lou. The Crown Prince revealed that General Wang had feigned illness, while Grand Tutor Lou had suggested blaming the Empress to mitigate the situation, advice the Crown Prince adamantly refused, unwilling to tarnish his noble Mother's reputation. Ling Buyi hinted that a solution might still exist. Meanwhile, the Crown Princess, eager to halt Ling Buyi's investigation and secure his aid, sent a message to Cheng Shaoshang.

Cheng Shaoshang was still annoyed with Ling Buyi, though her maid, Lianfang, noted that despite Ling Buyi's fearsome reputation, Cheng Shaoshang was uniquely bold enough to be upset with him. Before Cheng Shaoshang arrived at the Eastern Palace, the Crown Princess approached Ling Buyi, flattering him by highlighting his deep trust with His Majesty and then subtly conveying her and the Crown Prince's dire predicament.

Ling Buyi, seeing through her pretense, suggested that the Crown Princess confess to Emperor Wen, taking full responsibility and portraying the Crown Prince as merely an unfortunate bystander. The Crown Princess stammered, calling such an act "deceiving His Majesty" and showing clear reluctance despite her earlier vows of self-sacrifice. Just then, Cheng Shaoshang, having overheard the conversation from outside, mistakenly believed Ling Buyi was forcing the Crown Princess to take the blame.

She burst in, criticizing the notion of men pushing responsibility onto women. Ling Buyi, struggling to maintain his composure, tried to dismiss her, stating the discussions were not for her ears. The Crown Princess intervened, confirming she had invited Cheng Shaoshang, and then escorted her outside. There, she continued her manipulative charade, expressing deep concern for the Crown Prince's repeated mistakes and the potential implications for the Empress.

She even went as far as implying she would sacrifice her position or life, subtly mentioning that the Crown Prince had another "person in his heart" and she would step aside for their happiness. Ling Buyi left the Eastern Palace alone. Cheng Shaoshang, still upset, initially decided to return to Cheng Manor by herself. However, Ling Buyi appeared, stopping her and pulling her into an embrace.

He apologized for his harsh tone, explaining that the tiger seal crisis was extremely grave, and he wanted to keep her out of harm's way, promising to handle everything. Cheng Shaoshang, mollified, decided to head to Changqiu Palace instead. Ling Buyi, ever watchful, then instructed his guards to discreetly monitor the Eastern Palace, especially the Crown Princess, and report any unusual activities. At Changqiu Palace, Cheng Shaoshang found the Empress reminiscing with an old wet nurse.

The Empress clutched the Crown Prince's infant clothes, recalling his difficult birth and the Emperor's intense worry. She spoke of the Crown Prince's filial nature and how the Emperor had granted him the tiger seals to secure his position. The Empress then expressed her profound fear for her son's safety, knowing the tragic fates—suicide or execution—that befell deposed Crown Princes. She admitted her maternal selfishness, stating that if anything happened to her child, her life would be over.

Deeply moved by the Empress's words and understanding the perilous situation, Cheng Shaoshang resolved to help the Crown Prince by attempting to forge a replica of the tiger seal. On the day of the army's departure, Emperor Wen Di presided over the ceremony. The Crown Prince, before a gathering of civil and military officials, presented the tiger seal to General Wan Songbai. Suddenly, Marquis Yue interjected, questioning the seal's authenticity and demanding an immediate verification.

He specifically cited that genuine tiger seals contained magnets allowing them to merge. Cheng Shaoshang, who had crafted a visually identical replica but was unaware of the magnetic properties, was filled with dread. To her immense relief and surprise, Ling Buyi stepped forward, confidently stating that the truth would be revealed with a single merge. He then flawlessly brought the two halves of the seal together, silencing Marquis Yue's doubts.

Earlier, foreseeing Cheng Shaoshang's intention to create a counterfeit and understanding the severe charge of deceiving the Emperor that would ensue if exposed, Ling Buyi had already taken decisive action. He had dispatched his subordinate, Qi, to retrieve the Huo clan's tiger seals.

He explained that Marquis Yue had bribed Sun Sheng to steal the original seals, and while finding them would take time, only the Huo clan's seals, forged by the same master and nearly identical, could prevent Cheng Shaoshang from being exposed. Despite his subordinates' protests about sacrificing the last relic of the Huo clan, a gift from His Majesty to General Huo, Ling Buyi firmly declared that he would protect Cheng Shaoshang, no matter the cost.

Meanwhile, discussions about marriage permeated the air. Marquis Ban was pursuing Cheng Yang, while Wan Qiqi and Cheng Song's relationship was quickly solidifying, with Cheng Song agreeing to marry into the Wan family. Cheng Yang expressed her own anxieties about marriage, feeling overwhelmed by the decision-making process and admitting she lacked strong opinions, resigned to follow her aunt's guidance even if it meant marrying Marquis Ban.

Wan Qiqi, however, vehemently argued for a woman's control over her destiny, playfully boasting about how Cheng Song was entirely submissive to her. Noticing Cheng Shaoshang's troubled demeanor, Wan Qiqi directly confronted her about her true feelings for Ling Buyi. Cheng Shaoshang admitted she was unsure, stating that "most of the time," she was happy with him and believed she liked him, but he also often angered her.

Wan Qiqi urged her to list their interactions and weigh the good against the bad. Cheng Shaoshang recounted specific instances: Ling Buyi's help at Ruyang Manor (good), offset by his threat with the bridge (bad); his rescues in Hua County and assistance at Mount Tugao (good), countered by his orchestrating the imperial marriage and restricting her habits (bad).

Wan Qiqi sharply rebutted, asserting that Cheng Shaoshang's complaints were trivial compared to Ling Buyi risking his life and sustaining injuries for her, emphasizing that one act of saving her life far outweighed all her grievances. Cheng Yang supported this, stating that someone who risks their life to save and protect you is truly worthy of love, and sincerity should be reciprocated. This conversation sparked a profound realization within Cheng Shaoshang.

Moved by this clarity, Cheng Shaoshang impulsively rushed out, choosing a horse for speed over a carriage, to find Ling Buyi. To her deep emotion, he was already waiting outside her gate. He confessed that he often waited for her, secretly escorting her home and guarding her door when she wasn't at Changqiu Palace. Ling Buyi began to thank her for her involvement in the tiger seal matter, but Cheng Shaoshang assured him she knew the truth.

He told her he didn't want her to feel compelled to compromise or be reluctant in their relationship. Cheng Shaoshang then expressed her gratitude for his repeated rescues, admitting she couldn't conform to traditional wifely roles like her mother or accept fate like Cheng Yang. She realized that while she once felt "she" had to compromise for him, it had always been "he" who made concessions.

Ling Buyi, touched, apologized for attempting to restrain her, affirming that he loved her exactly for her uninhibited and brave spirit, and urged her to be herself in his presence. Cheng Shaoshang then openly declared her feelings with two promises: first, she would treat him exceptionally well, even to the point of annoyance; and second, she would cherish and love him forever, until they were old and their hair turned gray, always remembering his kindness.

Overjoyed, Ling Buyi eagerly asked if they could marry sooner. He then took her to Xinghua Courtyard to introduce her to his mother, Huo Junhua. Before entering, he cautioned Cheng Shaoshang not to speak or react hastily to anything she might witness, promising a full explanation later. Inside, Huo Junhua, in a state of confused delusion, mistook Ling Buyi for a relative seeking handouts and Cheng Shaoshang as his "new wife" joining him in "freeloading."

Her mood quickly escalated as she mourned her deceased brother and his family, then turned on Ling Buyi, mistaking him for his father, Ling Yi, accusing him of betrayal and ordering him to die. When Huo Junhua lunged at Cheng Shaoshang, Ling Buyi instinctively shielded her, enduring a bite to his hand that bled profusely. An attendant swiftly intervened to calm Huo Junhua, while urging Ling Buyi to tend to his injury.

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