Love Like The Galaxy Episode 45 Recap
> Love Like The Galaxy Recap
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Ling Buyi's meaning was clear enough. In contrast, Lou Ben was no longer calm and composed. After a brief silence, he suddenly smiled and readily admitted that their acquaintance began due to a shared experience. However, in Lou Ben’s view, their friendship was superficial and not particularly deep.
In the end, it came down to Yan Zhong trusting Ma Rong on Yuan Shen's advice and entrusting two thousand fine copper pieces in hopes of ensuring the survival of his young child and elderly mother—only for Ma Rong to turn out to be ruthless and massacre the entire Yan family. Although no one had publicly mentioned the discovery of corpses at the postal pavilion, Lou Ben somehow already knew.
Just as Cheng Shaoshang was about to rise and press further, she saw Ling Buyi signaling with his eyes and had to restrain herself. Now that Lou Ben had returned to the capital by imperial edict to take office, Ling Buyi reassured Cheng Shaoshang not to act rashly. Ma Rong was not a fool and must have backup plans, so there was still time to investigate.
Cheng Shaogong divined from the hexagrams that they would find hope in desperate straits, but Cheng Song didn’t believe it at all. He even pointed out that he had previously insisted he would marry before his younger sister, yet now was on the brink of death without ever having taken a wife.
Just as Cheng Song was thinking longingly of Wan Qiqi, she unexpectedly rushed in, took off her outer garment, and stood before him in a bright red wedding dress. Everyone was stunned at the sight and hadn't yet reacted when Wan Qiqi swore she would marry no one but Cheng Song in this lifetime. If the Cheng family failed to clear their name and met a tragic end, she would remain a widow for life.
Naturally, Cheng Song didn’t want to implicate Wan Qiqi and flatly rejected the marriage, but Wan Qiqi pulled out scissors and threatened to cut her hair to make a vow. Old Madam Cheng, who had initially opposed Cheng Song becoming a matrilocal son-in-law, was moved by Wan Qiqi’s declaration and accepted her as a granddaughter-in-law on the spot. Even Xiao Yuanyi uncharacteristically did not object, leaving Old Madam Cheng incredulous.
In truth, Xiao Yuanyi had come to realize over this period that, no matter the past conflicts and grievances, in the face of life and death, they were all family who cared for each other. There was no such thing as a grudge that lasted overnight—mother- and daughter-in-law had reconciled. Now that Lou Ben had entered court and gained Emperor Wen’s favor, he had become one of the most sought-after figures in the capital.
The Lou family hosted a banquet in his honor, and guests streamed in without pause. Even the sharp-tongued Lou Li showed off the token of affection that her eldest brother had given to Wang Yanji. It was a familiar bronze mirror, but the inscription on it was personally engraved by Lou Ben in ten different scripts, forming a poem titled Jianjia. Upon hearing this, Cheng Shaoshang asked to see the mirror and confirmed her suspicions.
Immediately after, Ling Buyi arrived with his Black Armor Guard and publicly accused Lou Ben of colluding with General Peng Kun and Ma Rong to deceive Yan Zhong, the county magistrate of Tongniu, into entrusting him with the refined copper and his family—only for them all to be slaughtered. Lou Ben argued strongly, demanding that Ling Buyi produce evidence. Unexpectedly, Yuan Shen spoke up, exposing his plot to kill by proxy.
Ling Buyi and Cheng Shaoshang had found a letter written by Lou Ben to Yan Zhong at the county office. The letter detailed how they met, agreed to rendezvous, and Lou Ben’s encouragement for Yan Zhong to leave the city with his mother, young child, and the supply escort led by Cheng Shi—even specifying the time and place.
At first, Lou Ben adamantly denied everything, until Ling Buyi pointed out that the handwriting on the mirror matched that of the letter. His carefully planned scheme was ultimately exposed. Yet Lou Ben showed no remorse; he only regretted not being born a few decades earlier. Even Ling Buyi admired Lou Ben’s talent—had he been born in better times, he might have achieved greatness. Sadly, Lou Ben had strayed down a dark path.
Ling Buyi knew well that Lou Ben was ambitious, but only by rising step by step and earning official rank could one truly serve the country. Lou Ben said his nature would not allow him to be subordinate to others. If he had to start as a petty official, it would only wear down his ambition with flattery and pointless social maneuvering—he would rather never step into court at all. Lou Ben condemned Grand Preceptor Lou for his selfish greed.
He had modestly declined the Crown Prince’s recommendation, only to be deliberately sidelined. Worse still, Grand Preceptor Lou, as the family patriarch, pushed all the dirty deeds onto the women—something Lou Ben found utterly disgraceful. Cheng Shaoshang demanded Lou Ben reveal Cheng Shi’s whereabouts. Surprisingly, he insisted on speaking alone and, after leading her to a side hall, presented her with a personally drawn map of the landforms as an apology.
He hoped it would help her find a way out if she ever found herself trapped. He then began expounding on a deep and mysterious theory of cause and effect. Everyone waited outside, unaware of what was happening inside. Suddenly, Lou Ben emerged holding Cheng Shaoshang hostage. Ling Buyi ordered Wang Yanji restrained and warned her—since she was a smart person, there was no need for mutual destruction.
In fact, Lou Ben had no intention of harming Cheng Shaoshang, but he refused to face reality. After giving final words to Lou Yao and others, he took his own life on the spot. Wang Yanji was devastated and rushed to embrace Lou Ben’s corpse, lamenting that they were forever separated before she could tell him she was pregnant. The Second Wife and Lou Yao were grief-stricken. Ling Buyi was also deeply moved, while Cheng Shaoshang fell into deep thought, replaying Lou Ben’s words in her mind until she realized the hidden clue about Cheng Shi’s location.
