Love Like The Galaxy Episode 38 Recap, Plot

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Empress Xuan, understanding that the Crown Princess's offensive remarks stemmed from her own insecurities, especially when faced with figures like the Fifth Princess or the graceful Qu Lingjun, advised Cheng Shaoshang not to take them to heart. Shaoshang, curious, asked about Qu Lingjun. The Empress revealed that Qu Lingjun, a noble lady of superior background, was the Crown Prince's first love. They had developed feelings for each other through her frequent palace visits.

However, Emperor Wen, having made a marriage promise in his earlier, humbler days, insisted the Crown Prince honor it by marrying Sun, the current Crown Princess. Shaoshang lamented the fate that separated the Crown Prince and Qu Lingjun.

The Empress disclosed that Ling Buyi, even as a young boy, had also tried to prevent this marriage, warning both the Emperor and the Empress, and later the Crown Prince and Crown Princess themselves, of its future harm, but his efforts were in vain. The Empress then observed that Shaoshang could not truly comprehend the Crown Princess's deep-seated anxieties because Shaoshang had not yet fully opened her heart to Ling Buyi.

Shaoshang denied this, earnestly confessing that while she once saw Ling Buyi as an unreachable ideal, she now recognized him as a flesh-and-blood individual capable of joy and sorrow, and loved him even more than before. The Empress was pleased, believing Ling Buyi had chosen the right person. Their conversation was abruptly cut short by a eunuch rushing in, announcing Emperor Wen's fury and his order to severely punish Ling Buyi at Xuanming Hall. Shaoshang hurried towards the hall.

An attendant explained that Ling Buyi, seeking revenge for Shaoshang, had acted without imperial decree, stormed into the Imperial Censorate, and broke Official Zuo's legs. This outrageous act led to eight powerful families jointly petitioning the Emperor, leaving the situation in chaos. Shaoshang entered the hall, kneeling to plead for leniency. Emperor Wen, fuming, watched as Ling Buyi declared his willingness to accept punishment, refusing any intercession. Shaoshang interrupted, insisting it was her grievance, not his, to address.

Ling Buyi retorted that if she would act with such defiance, he would too, and that she need no longer concern herself with him. Shocked, Shaoshang accused him of trying to break their engagement. Ling Buyi then unexpectedly declared his desire to resign his post and live in seclusion with her in the countryside, fulfilling her dream.

Emperor Wen, enraged by Ling Buyi's insolent talk of resignation, scolded Shaoshang for constantly arguing with his foster son and failing to emulate the Empress's gentle disposition. Attempting to shield Ling Buyi, Shaoshang falsely claimed their argument had provoked his reckless behavior, but the Emperor still chastised her. Despite Shaoshang's plea for clemency, the Third Prince demanded a harsh penalty. To appease the influential families, Emperor Wen ordered Ling Buyi to be beaten one hundred times.

Ling Buyi accepted his fate silently and walked out. When Shaoshang saw the Fifth Prince openly enjoying Ling Buyi's plight, she angrily confronted him, prompting Emperor Wen to also order the Fifth Prince to receive ten strokes. Outside, Shaoshang watched in anguish as the executioner's blows fell upon Ling Buyi, seemingly tearing his flesh, causing her profound distress.

Emperor Wen told her that Ling Buyi endured this punishment for her, instructing her to be exceptionally careful in the palace to prevent further harm to him. When Shaoshang noticed the Third Prince deliberately miscounting, she broke free from the guards, vehemently protesting the unfairness and accusing the Third Prince of malice. Her cries became hoarse as she struggled against the guards. The Empress and Consort Yue arrived.

The astute Consort Yue immediately discerned that Emperor Wen's punishment was a calculated charade. She explained that there were two types of corporal punishment in the military: one that leaves no external marks but causes severe internal damage, and another that looks brutal but inflicts no lasting injury. She concluded that Ling Buyi was receiving the latter.

Emperor Wen confirmed her suspicions, revealing his intention was to force Shaoshang to confront her true feelings and recognize Ling Buyi's place in her heart. He even subtly ordered a guard to allow Shaoshang to get closer to Ling Buyi, but not touch him, to amplify her emotional realization. Witnessing Ling Buyi's silent endurance, Shaoshang was overcome by a powerful emotion she had never known.

She cried out her love for him, promising to always consult him and act as one with him, offering him her sincere heart and begging him to never again act so recklessly for her sake. Satisfied, Emperor Wen ordered the beating to stop and arranged for Ling Buyi to be taken to Changqiu Palace for recovery. Consort Yue departed with a sarcastic remark about the Emperor's cleverness.

That night, with the first cold wave of winter descending, Ling Buyi rested in Changqiu Palace. Despite the warmth of the hearth, Shaoshang remained deeply worried. She disregarded the Empress's assurances and, wrapped in a blanket she had warmed by the fire, went to check on him, concerned about the thin bedding.

Earlier, Liang Qiufeng had sneaked in to visit Ling Buyi but was quickly sent away by his master, who pointed out that outsiders were not allowed to stay in Changqiu Palace. Alone with Ling Buyi, Shaoshang realized his injuries were not real. Ling Buyi admitted it was a ruse to elicit her true feelings, confirming that she loved him. The two shared their first intimate kiss.

Shaoshang tenderly cared for him, feeding him medicine and then playing the flute for him. They reminisced about their first encounter at the lantern festival, with Ling Buyi confessing that for him, "one look was enough" to know she was his lifelong companion. Shaoshang promised that if he never deceived her, she would never let him down. Away from the palace, Xiao Yuanyi was despondent over Shaoshang's prolonged absence, even dismissing the warm cloak Shaoshang had sent.

Cheng Shi tried to console his wife, highlighting Shaoshang's capability and how she brought honor to their family, unlike other young women who caused trouble. He suggested that Ling Buyi's recent audacious acts had made Shaoshang seem less troublesome by comparison. However, Xiao Yuanyi remained unconvinced, perceiving Ling Buyi's reckless assault on an official as a sign that he was even more unreliable than their daughter.

As Ling Buyi had anticipated, Emperor Wen, in an attempt to pacify public outrage, ordered him to personally supervise the restoration of the Imperial Censorate. The Liang brothers took this opportunity to covertly retrieve military reports belonging to the Yue family, managing to do so without arousing Official Zuo's suspicion. Liang Qiufeng questioned the necessity of these reports, as they already suspected Marquis Yue of deliberately delaying aid to Gu City.

Ling Buyi explained that despite Marquis Yue's avarice, Consort Yue's integrity meant Emperor Wen would always protect the Yue clan, making irrefutable evidence crucial. With the key witnesses, the military doctor and Han Wu, now deceased, Ling Buyi revealed a vital inconsistency in the military records: although soldiers sent to investigate the miasma were reported dead, there was no mention of casualties among their warhorses.

Given the high value of warhorses, their deaths would certainly have been recorded, proving the miasma incident was fabricated and Marquis Yue was lying. Acknowledging Marquis Yue's cunning, Ling Buyi concluded that if he would not make a mistake willingly, they would force him to do so.

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