Love Like The Galaxy Episode 9 Recap, Plot

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Ling Buyi arrived at General Wan Songbai's residence at night, immediately requesting the geographical map of Shu. Wan Songbai initially feigned ignorance and tried to dismiss him, but then Cheng Shaoshang unexpectedly appeared, seeking shelter. She was bruised and battered, and Wan Songbai, after initially not recognizing her, expressed concern for her condition and quickly agreed to let her stay.

Despite his earlier statement about not eating at other residences, Ling Buyi then declared he would be staying the night in the guest room, claiming dinner wasn't prepared at his own home, much to Wan Songbai's surprise. That evening, Cheng Shaoshang paid her respects to Old Madam Wan, who sympathized with her injuries and criticized Wang Ling for the beating. Old Madam Wan encouraged Cheng Shaoshang to stay longer.

Mrs. Wan, however, criticized Cheng Shaoshang for being impulsive and prone to fighting, suggesting more ladylike ways of handling conflict. Old Madam Wan disagreed, defending Cheng Shaoshang's spirited nature and comparing her to her own younger self. She expressed disapproval of Xiao Yuanyi's approach to raising Cheng Shaoshang and emphasized that in turbulent times, true allies must be willing to defend each other.

Mrs. Wan, feeling guilty for not bearing a son for Wan Songbai, offered to let him take a concubine, but Old Madam Wan firmly refused, stating she was not so "foolish and corrupt." Later, a servant reported that Wan Songbai was drunk and resting in his study, and that Ling Buyi was staying in the guest room without having consumed any alcohol, causing Old Madam Wan's expression to change.

In their room, Wan Qiqi offered Cheng Shaoshang some Qianlizui, boasting she had "snatched" it from her father. Cheng Shaoshang then inquired about Old Madam Wan's left ear. Wan Qiqi explained that after her grandfather's early death, when her father was a child, grasping granduncles tried to seize their family property and force her grandmother to remarry.

To prove her unwavering resolve and loyalty to her late husband, who had always loved and respected her despite her humble origins, Old Madam Wan dramatically cut off her left ear and threw it at the lead instigator, vowing never to remarry. Cheng Shaoshang was deeply impressed by Old Madam Wan's heroism.

While Wan Qiqi dreamed of marrying a great hero, Cheng Shaoshang, believing her mother had not prepared her for a life of military command or aristocratic society, desired only a stable life with an ordinary man, acknowledging her fate was never her own. Ling Buyi, having overheard this conversation from outside their window, walked away thoughtfully. Meanwhile, Lou Yao hesitated at the door of his elder brother Lou Ben's room.

Lou Ben emerged and encouraged Lou Yao to be more assertive, even comparing him to Cheng Shaoshang who at least "dared to fight." Lou Yao confessed his wish to break off his engagement with He Zhaojun, citing their incompatible personalities and her public relationship with Prince Xiao. To Lou Yao's surprise, Lou Ben readily agreed, promising full support and stating he would not allow Lou Yao to sacrifice his happiness for an alliance.

Lou Ben then probed if Lou Yao had developed feelings for someone new, which Lou Yao denied for the time being, vowing to share any such news with his brother first. The next morning, Wan Qiqi planned to take Cheng Shaoshang to the horse training ground. Cheng Shaoshang, however, was keen to inspect the mansion's architecture, particularly an old, swaying arched bridge over Bihu Lake. The steward informed Wan Songbai that the intricate bridge required complete demolition and rebuilding.

Cheng Shaoshang, a keen observer of construction, asked Wan Qiqi to go to the stables first, allowing her to examine the bridge's delicate structure. As she realized how unstable the bridge was, Ling Buyi and Wan Songbai approached. Cheng Shaoshang quickly hid beneath the bridge. Ling Buyi pressed Wan Songbai about the geographical map of Shu, emphasizing its crucial importance for His Majesty's upcoming western tour. Wan Songbai continued to deny knowledge, dismissing it as a mere "treasure map."

Ling Buyi, fully aware of Cheng Shaoshang's presence below, deliberately stepped on the "dangerous bridge," highlighting its fragility, before departing. After Ling Buyi and Wan Songbai left, Cheng Shaoshang quickly went to the horse training ground. While attempting to ride a horse, she almost fell. Ling Buyi swiftly intervened, stabilizing the horse and guiding her feet into the stirrups. He then offered advice on mastery, comparing taming a horse to handling life's challenges.

Cheng Shaoshang, uncomfortable with his proximity, cited the "propriety between men and women" as her reason for being uneasy. Ling Buyi playfully retorted that she had grabbed his arm tightly and sarcastically claimed his closeness stemmed from his long-standing "admiration" for her, which she, however, did not return. Cheng Shaoshang, flustered, tried to dismiss his "admiration" as nonsense, reminding him of his past remark comparing her to an "interrogator" at the Ministry of Justice.

Ling Buyi retorted that a person who eavesdropped on military secrets would be considered a "wanted criminal," not an interrogator, at the Ministry of Justice, implying he knew she had overheard his conversation under the bridge. Cheng Shaoshang vehemently denied hearing anything from under the bridge, prompting Ling Buyi to smirk before he slapped the horse, sending it galloping with a startled Cheng Shaoshang.

To secure Cheng Shaoshang's assistance in retrieving the map, Ling Buyi revealed the true seriousness of the situation. He explained his suspicion that her granduncle's lost armaments might have been transported to Shu, suggesting a brewing rebellion. He warned that if His Majesty discovered Wan Songbai was secretly holding the map, both the Wan and Cheng families could face grave consequences due to their close ties and the Cheng family's previous involvement in the armament case.

He acknowledged that Wan Songbai likely viewed the map innocently as a "treasure map." Having searched most of the residence except Old Madam Wan's private chambers, Ling Buyi sought Cheng Shaoshang's help, stating his intention was to protect the Wan family. In return for her cooperation, he pledged to keep her secret about eavesdropping at the "dangerous bridge" and promised to fulfill a wish for her in the future.

Cheng Shaoshang accepted the terms and, disguised as Wan Qiqi, infiltrated the study. Old Madam Wan entered the study, and sensing Cheng Shaoshang's presence, she cleverly played along, pretending "Qiqi" was playing hide-and-seek. She then dismissed her servants and, feigning tiredness, instructed "Qiqi" to place her pearl hairpin in a "fragrant rosewood box with flower carvings" on the bookshelf.

Crucially, she issued a stern warning not to touch the prized "box made from red sandalwood" belonging to Wan Songbai, claiming that doing so would be a greater offense than stealing Qianlizui. Cheng Shaoshang, understanding the hidden message, retrieved the geographical map from the forbidden red sandalwood box. After Cheng Shaoshang reported her success to Ling Buyi, he made his departure from Wan Songbai, promising to return for a future "big celebration" of the Wan family. Wan Songbai was relieved.

However, Old Madam Wan later subtly explained to her son that Ling Buyi's departure indicated he had successfully acquired the map, revealing her role in assisting him, which Mrs. Wan did not fully grasp. That evening, as Cheng Shaoshang left the Wan residence to return home, she and Wan Qiqi were startled by Wan Songbai's screams echoing from his study. Upon her return home, Cheng Shaoshang immediately sought out her parents.

She expressed regret for her past desire to leave and her newfound appreciation for home, which pleased her father, Cheng Shi, even though Xiao Yuanyi remained cynical about her apparent change of heart. Cheng Shaoshang then revealed that Ling Buyi had been at the Wan residence searching for the geographical map of Shu, explaining that she had overheard his suspicions that her granduncle's lost armaments had potentially been sold to Shu, hinting at a possible rebellion.

Xiao Yuanyi sternly admonished Cheng Shaoshang for discussing such sensitive national affairs, cautioning Cheng Shi not to involve himself, and ordered Cheng Shaoshang to keep the matter a complete secret, stating that her silence would atone for her previous misdeeds. Cheng Shi agreed with the need for discretion. Despite giving her this reprieve, Xiao Yuanyi still expressed a desire to question Cheng Shaoshang further, much to Cheng Shi's confusion.

With the geographical map confirming Shu's potential for rebellion, Ling Buyi explained his strategic plan to his subordinate. He clarified that by having Old Madam Wan "gift" the map through Cheng Shaoshang, rather than having his guards seize it, he spared the Wan family from treason charges, aligning with His Majesty's benevolent view of the matter as a misunderstanding.

Ling Buyi anticipated that His Majesty's upcoming western tour, intended as a deterrent, would likely be misinterpreted by the guilty parties in Shu as an imminent attack. This miscalculation, he believed, would cause them to "jump the gun," allowing him to implement a "shut the door and beat the dog" strategy to force their hand. As part of this plan, that very night, Lord Yong's mansion reported an intrusion by a stealthy thief, though nothing was reported stolen. Shortly thereafter, Ling Buyi, leading his black armored guard, swiftly surrounded the entire mansion, ordering a thorough investigation.

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