Love Like The Galaxy Episode 8 Recap, Plot

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Female guests began to arrive at the banquet, and servants brought out snacks. Princess Yuchang and Wang Ling exchanged glances, then Princess Yuchang announced the meticulously prepared golden dates, which required over ten stages to create. Wang Ling then pointedly suggested it was likely Cheng Shaoshang and Cheng Yang’s first time tasting such a delicacy.

Wan Qiqi, however, dismissed the golden dates as nothing special, contrasting them with the leopard she had personally killed and processed for her father's bone wine, noting that the others had probably never tasted such a strong drink. Wang Ling retorted, calling Wan Qiqi uncivilized like a savage, but Wan Qiqi quickly reminded her that the Emperor himself had praised her father's leopard bone wine, questioning if Wang Ling considered the Emperor a savage too.

Wang Ling then tried to correct Cheng Shaoshang about the "golden dates," explaining they were actually made of honey-coated butter noodles, not real dates, implying Cheng Shaoshang’s ignorance. Wan Qiqi then criticized the extravagance, invoking the Emperor’s call for frugality and accusing Princess Yuchang of belittling others with such luxury.

Wang Ling and her companions fired back, pointing out Wan Qiqi's own lavish attire and questioning her sincerity, suggesting she should be farming in rags if she truly cared about common people. Cheng Shaoshang intervened, defending Wan Qiqi by explaining her years of arduous work assisting General Wan with war casualties, a task no easier than farming.

She then chastised the women for enjoying peace and luxury while ridiculing military families, emphasizing that such a refined lifestyle was foreign to them and the banquet was not worth their attendance. She stressed that their peaceful lives were owed to divine blessings, the Emperor’s tireless efforts, and the soldiers’ sacrifices, and questioned how they could mock military descendants without shame.

A servant announced General Ling's arrival, prompting Wang Ling to try to smooth things over, warning Cheng Shaoshang not to embarrass herself before distinguished guests. Cheng Shaoshang scoffed, questioning if Wang Ling considered herself a distinguished guest. Wang Ling then revealed that the Eleventh Master was coming for the Princess's birthday, condescendingly remarking that Cheng Shaoshang, having been confined, likely hadn’t met the Eleventh Master before. Wan Qiqi dismissed Wang Ling’s infatuation, telling her to meet the Eleventh Master alone.

Cheng Shaoshang then declared her disinterest in the Eleventh Master, even boasting that he admired her, but that meeting him would only be awkward. She then excused herself. Ling Buyi entered, confirming he was the Eleventh Master, the man Cheng Shaoshang claimed admired her but whom she found uninteresting. Cheng Shaoshang immediately regretted her words. Feigning a stomachache from the golden dates, Cheng Shaoshang, Cheng Yang, and Wan Qiqi quickly left the banquet.

Princess Yuchang expressed her pleasure at Ling Buyi's attendance, but Ling Buyi immediately stated his regret, noting that Lord Ruyang's Mansion seemed unwelcoming to military officers. Although Princess Yuchang claimed she had invited military daughters, Ling Buyi observed none were present. He then excused himself to "chat with the military officers who knew nothing about golden dates."

Outside, Cheng Shaoshang and Wan Qiqi discussed Ling Buyi being the Eleventh Master, and Shaoshang recounted her past encounters with him, including how he "betrayed" her to her father after she helped him find his way, and her role in exposing Princess Yuchang’s feigned drowning to attract Ling Buyi during the Lantern Festival. Wan Qiqi noted that the capital had indeed laughed at Princess Yuchang then. Wan Qiqi advised Shaoshang not to tell her mother about her involvement.

Both agreed the banquet was a "trap" and found each other’s straightforward company preferable to the "pretentious aristocratic women." Wan Qiqi also shared that her father admired Cheng Shaoshang, finding her unlike her "rigid and conservative" mother, a sentiment Shaoshang reciprocated, feeling a deep connection with Wan Qiqi. Wan Qiqi, angered by Cheng Song's past slanders, left with Cheng Yang to confront him.

Cheng Shaoshang chose to wander alone, warning her companions to be cautious of the seemingly delicate noble ladies. She then encountered Yuan Shen, who remarked on her "old dame" attire, sparking a playful argument. Cheng Shaoshang thanked him for his previous help with his teacher. Yuan Shen, however, stated that since the matter was resolved, and he wouldn't ask her to rebel, act in bad faith, or marry him, they should part ways.

Cheng Shaoshang insisted their matter was not over. Meanwhile, Prince Xiao pursued He Zhaojun in the garden, expressing his desire to propose. He Zhaojun hesitated, citing their short acquaintance and her existing betrothal to Lou Yao. Prince Xiao dismissed Lou Yao as dull and monotonous, sympathizing with He Zhaojun’s past complaints about him. This conversation was overheard by Lou Yao, who then confronted He Zhaojun.

She clarified that she hadn’t accepted Prince Xiao’s proposal and would reject him if Lou Yao treated her better, adding that she didn't want him to become a laughingstock by breaking their engagement. Hurt, Lou Yao stated she could marry Prince Xiao, as he wasn't attached to their engagement and only honored it out of family principle.

Provoked, He Zhaojun defiantly agreed to break the engagement and marry Prince Xiao, praising him as "a thousand times better" and describing a future of happiness and travel with him in Shu, where he had a villa. Lou Yao agreed to the broken engagement. He Zhaojun then spotted Cheng Shaoshang and, in a fit of anger, shouted at her to stop staring, threatening to gouge out her eyes. Lou Yao apologized to Cheng Shaoshang for He Zhaojun’s outburst.

Cheng Shaoshang asked Yuan Shen why he hadn't pulled her away, to which he replied, "Men and women should not be intimate," and reminded her they were supposed to part ways. Cheng Shaoshang again stated their matter was not over. Yuan Shen then identified Lou Yao and He Zhaojun, explaining their betrothal.

Cheng Shaoshang expressed disinterest, prompting Yuan Shen to lecture her on the importance of studying aristocratic family lineages, sacrificial rites, and proper conduct, criticizing her lack of skills beyond quarreling, and offering to recommend female tutors. Cheng Shaoshang dismissed him. From a high platform, Ling Buyi observed Cheng Shaoshang, lost in thought. He then instructed his subordinates to investigate officials who had traveled between the capital and Shu in the past six months.

He suspected Prince Xiao of colluding with Shu, noting that large shipments of military armaments to Shu were suspicious given years of peace, and feared Shu harbored disloyal intentions, necessitating swift preparation. Back in the garden, a servant's cries drew attention to Cheng Yang, who had fallen into the water. Cheng Shaoshang, finding Cheng Yang’s handkerchief near the pond, then discovered a horse tripping rope, which she quickly cut before rescuing her cousin.

As Wang Ling and her companions shoved her, Cheng Shaoshang retaliated, hitting Wang Ling while accusing them of the "dirty trick." Cheng Yang tried to de-escalate, fearing family disgrace. Wang Ling further provoked Cheng Shaoshang, accusing her of ruining Princess Yuchang’s plans and seducing the Eleventh Master, then launching into insults about Cheng Shaoshang’s lack of parents and proper upbringing. Cheng Shaoshang, enraged, fought back, shouting that it was for bullying her cousin.

As others approached, Cheng Shaoshang strategically inflicted injuries on her own face to appear more severely harmed. In a rear chamber, Wang Ling cried out in pain, while Cheng Shaoshang feigned weakness in Wan Qiqi’s arms. Lady Ruyang summoned the matriarchs for a confrontation. Wan Qiqi staunchly defended Cheng Shaoshang, accusing Lady Ruyang of bias. Although both girls appeared disheveled, Cheng Shaoshang's self-inflicted injuries made her look significantly worse.

She played the pitiful victim, contrasting with Wang Ling’s sharp and aggressive denials. As the argument escalated, Ling Buyi arrived, presenting the horse tripping rope he had found in the garden, noting its Ruyang Mansion emblem. He offered it as evidence and sarcastically challenged Lady Ruyang to inspect the hands of those involved in the attack for abrasions, calling their plot "stupid."

He warned Lady Ruyang that if she failed to administer justice impartially, he would take the matter to the Ministry of Justice himself the following day. Due to Ling Buyi's unyielding stance, Lady Ruyang quickly decided to downplay the incident. When Wang Ling attempted to garner sympathy, Cheng Shaoshang dramatically fainted, bringing the matter to a swift and inconclusive end.

Later, Lianfang expressed sadness over Cheng Shaoshang's visible injuries, but Cheng Shaoshang, rather smugly, revealed her self-inflicted wounds were superficial and that Wang Ling's waist injury, strategically inflicted, would take much longer to heal. Xiao Yuanyi summoned Cheng Shaoshang to Jiuzhui Hall. Fearing severe punishment, Cheng Shaoshang quickly instructed Lianfang to find her brothers for a "rescue." At Jiuzhui Hall, Cheng Shaoshang continued her act, looking frail and almost collapsing as she knelt, which deeply pained Cheng Shi.

She offered a feigned apology but subtly defended her actions, claiming she was protecting Cheng Yang and the family’s honor. Cheng Shi, concerned about her face, worried about her chances for marriage. Xiao Yuanyi demanded Cheng Shaoshang specify her mistake. Cheng Shaoshang defiantly declared that her mistake was promising never to fight again, even if her cousin was bullied, she was humiliated, the Cheng family was slandered, or even if someone tried to kill her.

Cheng Shi rebuked her for her defiance, asking why she hadn't sought the elders' help instead of resorting to violence. Xiao Yuanyi, undeterred, ordered Cheng Shaoshang to apologize to Wang Ling at General Wang’s residence the next day. Cheng Shaoshang refused, stating Wang Ling deserved her injuries, further enraging Xiao Yuanyi. As Xiao Yuanyi prepared to inflict corporal punishment, Cheng Song and Cheng Shaogong rushed in to plead on their sister's behalf.

Seizing the opportunity, Cheng Shi ordered everyone to "get out," effectively allowing Cheng Shaoshang to escape punishment by leaving with her brothers. Realizing the issue was not truly resolved, Cheng Shaoshang decided to run away from home. She soon encountered Yuan Shen, and to escape the cold, she got into his carriage. Yuan Shen mocked her "self-defeating bitter trick" and her fierce nature, predicting she would no longer be invited to aristocratic banquets.

Cheng Shaoshang brushed it off, stating she wasn't afraid and would simply decline future invitations. Yuan Shen then mentioned his mother had planned to invite her to a plum blossom viewing, to which Cheng Shaoshang bluntly asked if he was trying to arrange a marriage interview.

Yuan Shen chastised her for her lack of shyness, then described the ideal wife for the Yuan family's eldest son—dignified, virtuous, compassionate, and skilled in managing household affairs and rituals, unlike Cheng Shaoshang who resorted to "punching people." Cheng Shaoshang thanked him, and he gave her some Ziyu Ointment for her injuries, claiming they were "unsightly," then urged her to leave his carriage and go home, so as not to "scare people" with her appearance.

Shortly after she exited, Cheng Song and Cheng Shaogong found her, informing her that Xiao Yuanyi had changed her mind and would only punish her with writing. Unwilling to accept this, Cheng Shaoshang decided to seek refuge at Wan Qiqi's residence, sending Lianfang back with her brothers. Meanwhile, Ling Buyi arrived at General Wan's residence. General Wan feigned ignorance of his purpose, assuming Ling Buyi was there to admire his collection of treasures.

Ling Buyi cut to the chase, asking for a "map of Shu." General Wan, misunderstanding, initially thought he meant "erotic paintings," then clarified, confirming it was indeed the "map of Shu." General Wan vehemently denied possessing such a map, asserting that if he had acquired it during the Shu campaign, he would have presented it to the Emperor, not left it for Ling Buyi to investigate. Ling Buyi pressed him, asking if he "truly didn't have it" and "truly wouldn't hand it over," but General Wan insisted he couldn't hand over what he didn't possess.

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