Love Like The Galaxy Episode 5 Recap
> Love Like The Galaxy Recap
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Ling Buyi stood on the city wall with his subordinates, discussing the ongoing investigation into Xu Jinzhong and the military armaments. His subordinate reported that despite searching all forge shops, no relevant items were found, leading them to believe Xu Jinzhong might have destroyed all evidence after Head Armorer Dong's capture. Ling Buyi remained resolute, asserting that Xu Jinzhong's urgency to sell the armaments would force him to contact buyers, inevitably leaving a trail.
As he spoke, he spotted the familiar carriage of the Cheng family. Moments later, he instructed his men to prepare New Year's goods for the troops, remarking that this would be their first New Year in the capital. His subordinate reminded him that he typically avoided such reunion festivals and mentioned that Marquis Chengyang had repeatedly petitioned the Emperor to invite Ling Buyi home for a New Year's reunion, which had begun to cause gossip among officials.
Ling Buyi, however, flatly refused the invitation. On the day the Cheng family moved into their new, magnificent residence, Cheng Shaoshang, bundled in a cloak, joined her family in entering the grand estate. Due to Old Madam Cheng's superstitious beliefs, exorcism rituals were performed by nuo people, complete with ancient chanting and the clang of gongs. Cheng Shi, standing at the entrance, respectfully waited for Old Madam Cheng to begin the offerings, emphasizing the importance of tradition.
Although initially tired and chilled, Cheng Shaoshang was soon captivated by the lively singing and dancing of the nuo people in the torch-lit courtyard. Inside the main hall, Old Madam Cheng expressed her joy at the spacious new house, eagerly anticipating a lavish banquet to collect monetary gifts once Cheng Shi received his new appointment. After inspecting her own chambers, she departed, leaving Cheng Shaoshang to relax casually on the floor, complaining of exhaustion from the early morning.
Xiao Yuanyi promptly scolded her daughter for her lack of decorum and "lazy" behavior, contrasting her with the diligent Cheng Yang, who studied daily without complaint. Cheng Yang gently interjected, suggesting Cheng Shaoshang needed rest after recovering from her illness. Cheng Shi supported Cheng Shaoshang, noting that everyone was tired from the long day. Cheng Shaoshang then advised her father to rest well, as his upcoming expedition would be arduous.
Cheng Shi was surprised by her knowledge of such matters, but Cheng Shaoshang explained her deduction: since he had received a title and wealth but no official post, and did not appear ostracized, the Emperor must have other plans for him. She urged him to decline any difficult assignments, as the family now lacked nothing. Cheng Shi praised her wisdom, assuring her it was not a war expedition and he would not depart until after New Year's Day.
He then gently sent her to her new courtyard to rest. In her courtyard, Lianfang marveled at its beauty. Cheng Shaoshang noticed a pile of old items discarded by Old Madam Cheng and, despite Lianfang's skepticism about their usefulness, decided to repurpose them into a swing chair for enjoying the moon and stars. While Cheng Shaoshang worked, her parents discussed her.
Cheng Shi praised Cheng Shaoshang's intelligence, likening her to Xiao Yuanyi, and suggested her upright character came from him, making her a perfect combination. Xiao Yuanyi, however, remained critical, contrasting Cheng Shaoshang's spirited nature with Cheng Yang's composure. Hearing noise from Cheng Shaoshang's courtyard, Xiao Yuanyi went to investigate, fearing her daughter was "destroying the house." She found Cheng Shaoshang and Lianfang constructing the swing.
Xiao Yuanyi sternly reminded Cheng Shaoshang that she was a lady, not a carpenter, criticizing her for wasting time on "useless things" instead of studying. She declared that Cheng Shaoshang would study ancient texts in her room daily from the next day onward, threatening to confine her to the house if she refused. Despite the harsh words, Cheng Shaoshang perceived her mother's departing glance as a subtle sign of approval and pride in her ingenuity.
The much-anticipated return of Cheng Zhi, his wife Sang Shunhua, and their twin sons, Cheng Song and Cheng Shaogong, brought a flurry of excitement to the residence. Old Madam Cheng doted excessively on Cheng Zhi, with Xiao Yuanyi remarking that her display resembled welcoming a lover. Cheng Shaoshang met her brothers for the first time. Cheng Shaogong playfully tried to trick her, claiming she would be punished after he "read her fortune."
Cheng Shaoshang, however, quickly discerned their identities: she identified Cheng Song as the formidable military man and, with characteristic bluntness, described Cheng Shaogong as the "frail" third brother based on their appearances and reputations. Cheng Song found this amusing, noting Cheng Shaoshang's sharp tongue rivaled Shaogong's. Old Madam Cheng, still fixated on male heirs, urged Cheng Zhi to have more children. Sang Shunhua, Cheng Zhi's wife and daughter of the Master of Mount Bailu, kindly commented on Cheng Shaoshang's liveliness.
However, Xiao Yuanyi criticized Cheng Shaoshang for her overly eager behavior compared to Cheng Yang's decorum. Later, at the banquet, Cheng Shaoshang discreetly asked her brothers about Sang Shunhua, learning that Old Madam Cheng disliked her, even though the marriage elevated the Cheng family's status by connecting them to the Master of Mount Bailu. Apparently, Old Madam Cheng expected a "fairy" for her son.
During the banquet, Old Madam Cheng continued to lavish attention on Cheng Zhi, completely ignoring Sang Shunhua. Cheng Shaoshang confided in her brothers, lamenting that her Second Uncle, Cheng Cheng, had suppressed his own ambitions for over a decade for the family's sake, yet Old Madam Cheng showed him no compassion. She critically noted that if parents judged their children based on appearance or power, they did not deserve respect.
Xiao Yuanyi, overhearing their hushed conversation, redirected the brothers to pay attention to Cheng Yang, creating an awkward silence. Later, on New Year's Eve, Xiao Yuanyi and Cheng Yang meticulously handled the household preparations and ancestral offerings. Xiao Yuanyi praised Cheng Yang's diligence and flawless execution of the New Year's feast and ancestral rites, holding her up as an exemplary young lady.
Sang Shunhua tried to intercede for Cheng Shaoshang, suggesting both girls had their merits and that Xiao Yuanyi should not constantly praise Cheng Yang while disparaging Cheng Shaoshang. Xiao Yuanyi, however, maintained her impartiality, stating she merely commended competence. She insisted that Cheng Shaoshang first needed to correct the "bad behaviors" she had learned from Madam Ge before she could be taught household management.
When Cheng Shaoshang returned to the main hall with her brothers, she sensed the disheartening atmosphere and quietly retreated to her room, declining to watch the firecrackers. At Marquis Chengyang's Residence, Ling Yi hosted a New Year's banquet, where he toasted Ling Buyi's anticipated marriage to Princess Yuchang, who was present. Ling Buyi arrived, stating he was there only by imperial decree to reunite with Marquis Chengyang.
He publicly challenged Ling Yi, demanding to know the whereabouts of his real mother and dismissively referring to Madam Chunyu, Ling Yi's wife, as a "nobody" in terms of maternal authority. He attempted to leave, but Ling Yi and Madam Chunyu urged him to stay and consider Princess Yuchang, reminding him that marriage was a parental affair.
Ling Buyi, however, declared that he sought a woman he would recognize as "the one" at first sight, to whom his heart and life would wholly belong, and if he could not find such a woman, he would remain unmarried. He explicitly stated that Princess Yuchang was not that woman and then departed. Undeterred, Princess Yuchang followed him outside, expressing concern that he left without eating because of her.
She inquired if he would attend the Lantern Festival, but he declined. She steadfastly declared that she would wait for him at the Lantern Festival Show, regardless of his decision. Later, in the solitude of Xinghua Courtyard, Ling Buyi dismissed his attendant's offer of reheated food, stating he had no appetite. His gaze fell upon a lantern, sparking a new lead. He ordered his men to collect all lanterns from Xu Jinzhong's forge shop.
His attendant questioned this, noting other shops also had lanterns. Ling Buyi explained that unlike others with bamboo frames, Xu Jinzhong's lanterns all featured a unique iron ring at the base, a craftsmanship beyond typical lantern makers. He deduced that Xu Jinzhong, a blacksmith, had crafted these lanterns himself and used them to hide clues that had been overlooked in his secret room.
Later, as they inspected the collected lanterns, his attendant pointed out a romantic inscription on one, referencing Princess Yuchang's unwavering affection. Ling Buyi, however, was struck by the fact that Lantern Festival lanterns commonly came in pairs. He realized that Xu Jinzhong, the "old fox," had exploited this tradition to facilitate covert communication with his buyers: a buyer would simply leave the matching lantern to convey messages without needing a direct meeting.
This crucial breakthrough led Ling Buyi to decide that they must attend the upcoming Lantern Festival Show. Fu, Cheng Yang's attendant, expressed her concern that Cheng Yang's overly sensible nature made her vulnerable, especially now that her mother, Madam Ge, had been banished, leaving her without protection. Knowing Old Madam Cheng's bias towards males and the diminished status of the second chamber, Fu believed Cheng Yang needed to assert herself. She and maid Changpu conspired to elevate Cheng Yang's standing.
Meanwhile, Cheng Shaoshang's brothers showered her with gifts. Cheng Song presented her with bamboo texts illustrated with heroic stories, far more engaging than the dry ancient texts Xiao Yuanyi had assigned. Cheng Shaoshang revealed that she had been forced to repeatedly wash and reuse bamboo scrolls during her childhood, which deeply angered Cheng Song, who promised to get her anything she desired, even the stars from the sky.
Cheng Shaogong noticed her current writing desk was a child's desk, too small for her. He generously offered her a larger, rosewood writing desk with carved qilins, a previous gift from their eldest brother that he no longer used. Cheng Shaoshang sent Lianfang to fetch it. On her way, Lianfang encountered Changpu, who, feigning admiration for the desk's unique style, requested to borrow it for Cheng Yang to inspect for her own custom desk.
Lianfang, proud of the desk's craftsmanship, agreed. However, Changpu then directed the porters to take the desk directly to Cheng Yang's study. Later, Lianfang and Changpu were found brawling over the desk in the courtyard, each claiming it for their respective mistress. Cheng Shaoshang, wondering why Lianfang had not returned, rejected Cheng Shaogong's suggestion that Lianfang might be dallying, vouching for Lianfang's loyalty and stating that Lianfang had saved her life. Just then, Ms. Qing arrived, summoning Cheng Shaoshang to Jiuzhui Hall for questioning by Xiao Yuanyi.
