Tag: The Stars are Brilliant

Love Like The Galaxy (Chinese Drama Review & Summary)

KDrama, JDrama, TwDrama, ThDrama, FDrama, CDrama, HKDrama

Chinese Drama 2022

Love Like The Galaxy (Chinese Drama Review & Summary)

AKA Xing Han Can Lan

Love Like the Galaxy poster

Cast

15 May 2021:

As of writing, the casting for the male lead has not been confirmed but Wu Lei is the forerunner.

They both worked in the very successful The Long Ballad where Wu Lei is the male lead and Lu Si was the second female lead.  They had minimal interaction in the drama.

But they are both endorsers of Bulgari and their videos, though not really shown being together in the ads, had very promising chemistry already. 🥰🤗🤗

This drama is expected to commence filming by July or August 2021 with a 150 days schedule and it will be directed by the very able Fei Zhen Xiang.

Can’t wait.

7 June 2021: Wu Lei had been confirmed as the male lead for Love Like The Galaxy.  He will play the role of Lin Bu Yi who has a strong character, very ambitious, daring, and can be very romantic.

Apparently, the novel from which this drama was adapted was also written by the one who did the Story of Minglan.

9 June 2021 – Twitter Update (Quick Precis)

Apparently, this drama will be a big production because getting the copyright for the novel alone costs an arm and a leg (expensive) as the story is really good.

How good?

What I gathered from reading tweets was that it is a time travel genre as well.

Lu Si’s character will travel to ancient 🇨🇳 where she goes into the body of a girl, who was one of those ‘Left Behind’ children who are left in the care of relatives as parents go to work in another county or even country.

Her mother accompanied her husband and her four sons to the Northern border (?).  The patriarch of the family was a general in the army and the sons are all able warriors.

Then they came home to reunite with the youngest member of the family.

What they found was a wild and rather unruly girl as she was raised by her grandmother in the mountains.  Her mother also found out that she was illiterate.  This was of course had something to do with the girl coming from the future, she can’t read ancient Chinese calligraphy.

The girl was taken back to the Capital to live, imbibe some culture and make friends.

While promenading with her new girl friends, they saw Wu Lei’s character.

He is an adopted son of the Emperor.  He was so gorgeous; all the girls were crushing on him.

Not wanting to be left out, our girl pretended that she was also in love with him but in actual fact, she did not even know who he was.

The male lead found out that she was head-over-heels in love with him.

The Emperor thought that his son was in love with the general’s daughter so he tried to match them up but alas the general said that his daughter had just become engaged with someone else.

The emperor got mad at the general when he found out that he had only one daughter…

So cute!  I wanted to read the novel but I heard it has not been translated into English.

 

Snippets

26 July 2021: The booting ceremony was held today.  Filming is expected to take place from July to December 2021.  Wishing the cast and crew a happy Filming.  Jiayou.

5 August 2021: There is a rumour that Wu Lei was hurt/burnt in the face while filming. Hope this is just a rumour and our gorgeous Wu Lei is ok.

27 October 2021: Apparently, this drama will be made available online and on the national television network, thru Dragon Tv when it airs.

12 November 2021:  Apparently, even with just Reuters’s photos, the chemistry between Wu Lei and LuSi is so palpable that investors had already offered them another drama together.

28 November 2021: Drama is expected to wrap by the middle of December 2021.

9 December 2021: Character posters were released today.  They look so good.  So looking forward to this drama.

14 December 2021:  Wu Lei, Lu Si, Guo Tao and Ceng Li have wrapped their role.  But the drama has still some supporting roles to shoot.

17 December 2021: It is a wrap!

29 December 2021: Tencent released a little taste of what Love Like The Galaxy would look like.

4 February 2022:  Love Like The Galaxy shoot to the top Datawin list of the most anticipated drama for 2022.

6 April 2022:  Apparently this drama will be made as a two-parter.   I just hope that they are shown immediately as one after the other.

27 May 2022: Tencent has included Love Like the Galaxy to its summer broadcast schedule so we might see this drama between June to August 2022.  Here is waiting!

10 June 2022: Rumours have it that Love Like The Galaxy will be shown at the same time as Immortal Samsara and

11 June 2022: LuSi dubs her own character’s voice in this drama.  It took her 3 days to complete over 1400 sentences in voice recording.

9 September 2022: If you are still umming and ahhing whether to watch this most excellent drama then be guided by these latest awards garnered at the Golden Goose Award 2022:

  1. Drama of the Year 2.
  2. Outstanding Director of the Year / Fei Zhenxiang 
  3. Outstanding Producer of the Year/Li Xing 
  4. Member’s Favorite drama of the Year 
  5. Audience Favorite drama of the Year
  6. The chemistry between the leads was so endearingly hot, they have now earned the sobriquet of National CP (couple) in China.

15 October 2022: I read from Twitter that this drama is coming to Netflix.  Watch out for it on 17 October 2022 – sadly it was only in Taiwan Netflix.

3 November 2022: During their Merchant Conference or Vision Conference for investors, Tencent officially declared that Love Like The Galaxy is a National Hit alongside A Dream of Splendor.

29 November 2022:  Weibo TV & Internet Video Summit 2022

Awards:

  • Director Fei: Breakthrough Director –
  • Zhao Lusi: Excellent Actor with her drama trilogy: WRTW, LLTG & HT
  • Zeng Li is: Annual (acting) strength actor –
  • LLTG: excellent work???

21 May 2023:  LLTG won the “Excellent International Communication Series” from Global Film and Television Culture Communication Summit Forum

I watched the first episode and found that I can’t stop to blog a summary so continued on until episode 4.

I love it but to be honest I thought episode 2 is a bit draggy because of the overacting of Matriarch Cheng.  Her histrionic went on a bit too long but having said that every time Lu Si appears as Cheng Shao Shang it is a complete gem.

BTW, there is no time travel element as I first heard.

The scene, especially the ending of episode 4 made me cry so much, and to think Cheng Shao Shang did not say a word.  It was just the way she looked.  OMG, it makes me cry again.😭😭😭😭

I gather the writer of this drama was the author of The Story of Minglan.  Like Minglan, the leads do not have a face-to-face interaction until after several episodes.

Ling Buyi and Cheng Shao Shang had not interacted yet but apparently, they will meet in episode 5.

Episode 1

The cinematography was impressive.  It is like watching a film.  I suggest watching this on a large screen; the larger the better.  Kudos to Director Fei, the attention to detail was superb.  The colouring was done really well.

Anyway, let’s get to the story.  An exhausted lone rider came to the city gate of Ruyang.   He then shouted that victory for thousands had been achieved and that war is over.

The next scene was the returning soldiers under the command of the young General Ling Bu Yi.  His return was widely anticipated with the Emperor’s eunuch leading the welcome party.

Wu Lei as Ling Buyi is rather majestic.  He has a very mature aura and charisma which his sculpted good looks.

The Emperor’s Eunuch, Attendant Cao, announced that the Emperor had issued a decree for Ling BuYi for leading his soldiers to end the war and bringing peace to the land.

Ling Bu Yi was promoted to Deputy Superintendent to lead the Cavalry of Yulin Guards.  Additionally, he will also lead the Yueqi Guards of the Five Schools of the Northern Army.  He has a new title of Palace Attendant which means he can come and go inside the palace and can have an audience with the Emperor wearing shoes and a sword and can walk normally, thereby bypassing many palace protocols.

Attendant Cao was really excited about bestowing the decree on behalf of the Emperor to Ling Buyi who accepted the decree and the robe to go with his promotion rather calmly.

Ling Buyi then told Attendant Cao to extend his apologies to the Emperor who was going to give him a banquet.  Ling Buyi received intel about where a suspect could be found.  He and his soldiers then rode off.

In a very rustic village, a gaggle of servants was knocking on a gate of the courtyard of a derelict house.

Inside the house was a starving Cheng Shao Shang who was gorging herself on the food parcel that was snatched by her maid, Liangfang, from the servants outside.  Shao Shang had been banished to the village with barely anything to eat.

Housemaid Li was going mental.  She shouted that Grandma Cheng had ordered that Cheng Shao Shang had to go back with them even if she is ill, dying, or even dead.

Shao Shang overheard what Housemaid Li said to the other servant with her that Shao Shang was just someone nobody cares about.

Anyway, Shao Shang knew she had to go back but she did not make it easy for Housemaid Li.

The commotion was witnessed by Ling Bu Yi who was on the top of a ravine overlooking the village.

He ambushed Shao Shang’s carriage and asked to have it searched.

Shao Shang agreed but she said that perhaps the answer to who they were looking for was on the haystack by her village house.  She said if they burn the haystack they might get a surprise.

Despite seeing only her hand, Cheng Shao Shang made a great impression on Ling Bu Yi.

At this point, Housemaid Li was going crazy with worry.

Sure enough, from a burning haystack escaped Head Armorer Dong.

Head Armor Dong is Grandma Cheng’s brother.

While Shao Shang was living a sorry life, her grandma was lavishly enjoying her situation.

Grandma Cheng is prejudiced against Shao Shang because her mother was a divorcee.  In her opinion, Yuan Yi was not good enough for her firstborn son.  She thinks that Shao Shang is so much like her mother, both annoying.

(She was half right, Xiao Yuan Yi, Shao Shang’s mother is too annoying.)

Finally, the neglectful parents arrived as the war is over.

Grandma Cheng was so excited to see her son but then she was asked where little Niaoniao was.  She was forced to say that she was not in the villa.

But when they finally saw a very frail-looking Shao Shang, her parents were really unmoved.  Her mother did not give her a hug but just patted her back as Shao Shang started coughing.

Her father and mother were in two minds about whether to see to her or to Grandma Cheng who was having a histrionic.

Shao Shang tested her parents by fainting.  Her father carried her immediately while her mother looked on and noticed that Shao Shang was faking.

Even though Shao Shang was faking, her situation still brought tears to my eyes.  She was an abandoned baby and had not had contact with her father for 15 years and apparently 10 years with her mother, except for occasional letters.

Her mother watches her like a hawk, trying to gauge what she was up to.  Does not trust her daughter she abandoned.  Instead of making it up to her, she treated Shao Shang like a stranger who was only there for what she could get.  She is the worst mother.

Col Cheng is more loving but he is under the thumb of his wife.  One look from her and he was trembling.

Ling Buyi came to the Cheng manor with a criminal in tow.

It was Head Armor Dong who had been found out to have committed embezzlement.  Not knowing that it was his Uncle Dong, Col Cheng was all for hanging the bastard who endangered the lives of soldiers.

But then before he could beg Ling Buyi to overlook this crime, Buyi told Col Cheng that he was so much like his daughter who is a credit to the Emperor and the country.  She put the country first before the family. She was likened to the `Minister of Justice.

Cheng Shao Shang was not happy when she heard what Ling Bu Yi said.  She has a tendency to overthink so she could anticipate danger and protect herself. She took Ling Buyi’s compliment as something hiding insult: she reckoned that he thought she was a busy body who was unfilial and disrespectful to her elders.

Cheng Shao Shang continued to pretend to be bedridden to get some longed-for attention from her parents.

When her mother said that she will ask the chef to cook some of Shao Shang’s favourite food, Shao Shang could not help but asked her mother if she knew what her favourite food was.  This made me tear up. 😭😭😭

It is so poignantly sad.

LuSi is growing into a brilliant actress.

Episode 2

Ling Buyu was told by the Emperor to drop the case but Ling Buyi decided to proceed with his investigation.

This second episode is more on the interplay between the Cheng family.

Second Madam of the Cheng was inciting Grandma Cheng to create as much fuss as she could regarding her brother Dong.

Grandma was making Col Cheng’s life unbearable and calling him an unworthy son.  She was over dramatising everything and creating too many tantrums including throwing herself against the wall.

Col Cheng joined her and started howling as well.

Despite her dramatic tendencies, Grandma is attentive to her son, which is the opposite of Yuan Yi and Shao Shang.

Yuan Yi was treating the 15-year-old girl as an enemy, someone not to be trusted, someone who is a cross to bear.  This was despite hearing reports from servants of how Shao Shang suffered.  They said that Shao Shang had not known any kind of love and care in the household since she was an infant.  She is just someone to be tolerated but most of the time, treated with disdain.

Xiao Yuan Yi said that now that she had arrived, this not going to happen anymore because she will sort out the girl.  She doesn’t really think of her as her daughter more of a recalcitrant army soldier.

She noticed every petty thing she thought Shao Shang was doing and prevent her from bonding with her own father.

When her father said that Niaoniao had grown into a beautiful girl, her mother immediately castigated Col Cheng for making their daughter vain rather than virtuous.

Shao Shang felt more alone than ever.

Meanwhile, Shao Shang is a brave girl.  She secretly sent a clue to Ling Buyi to really get Uncle Dong.

Grandma Cheng finally calmed down when an old confidant came to visit her.

Mrs Hu was a victim of the war and would have perished with her family if Col Cheng did not fight off the bandits.  The confidant said that Col Cheng’s weapon was substandard compared to the bandits’ armory but still the Colonel fought back despite being cut all over.

This got to Grandma Cheng.  There is nothing like protecting or ensuring your child is well and healthy.  She saw all the healed scars on his arm and felt remorseful for her antics.  She realised that her brother Dong was responsible for the substandard armories for the soldiers because of his embezzlement.

Seriously, Shao Shang’s mother was evil.  Having found Shao Shang eavesdropping on her father and grandma, her mother who was holding a ruler used it to punish her.  It was not just a slight tap, it was a harsh slap that even Qingcong (her mother’s foster child) winced.

Yuan Yi later talked about how unruly Shao Shang was.

Col Cheng said that it took 1000 days to make an army so give Shao Shang some leeway as they have only been home a few days.

Yuan Yi said that she would not let anyone say that she was a bad mother so she will disciple Shao Shang.

Poor girl.  All she needed was love and understanding and to have someone fighting in her corner but instead, she will have another enemy.

She grew up too fast and developed a way to protect herself because she knew only when she fights back that she could cope with hardship and indifference from her supposed nearest and dearest family.

I love her character.

Episode 3

From their investigation, Ling Buyi found out that Xu Jinzhong, the Imperial armourer, was involved.  He turned a blind eye when armaments were being sold which were then replaced by substandard variety.

Qingocng was trying to do a good press for Yuan Yi, telling Shao Shang that her mother was always thinking of her as she showed an array of trays of jewelry for Shao Shang.

But then her mother then came in and started humiliating her for her illiteracy.  Making it sounds like Shao Shang chose to be illiterate.

She did ask Shao Shang what she wanted to do.  Shao Shang said she wanted to design bridges and watch buildings grow.  She wanted to be an architect or engineer. But Yuan Yi thought that Shao Shang was being irreverent and just dismissed her dreams.

Uncle Dong was let out of prison in wooden handcuffs.  He went to Grandma Cheng and complained about how he had suffered.

Though Grandma felt sorry for him at first, she later said that what happened to him was his own doing.

This made Uncle Dong fulminate even more and revealed Grandma and Second Aunt’s dastardly treatment of Shao Shang.

But her parents were far from feeling any guilt.  Not once did they hug her or apologise for leaving her in such a sorry situation but just made her feel that she was an inconvenience to their lives.

Both of her parents believed that it was better to be cruel than be kind.  Shao Shang had to learn her lessons and a little starvation will not do her any harm after all she was used to it for the last 15 years.

Cheng Yang, Shao Shang’s cousin was her opposite.  She is ladylike, filial, and ultra respectful.

But she is caught between her warring parents.

Shao Shang thought that since her parents will not fight her battles for her then she might as well do it herself.

She had her revenge against Second Aunt by giving her advice on how to remain in the main house rather than exchanging abode with her parents who had been given the side house.

She told her Second Aunt to say that she wanted to get pregnant to have a baby boy.

So the next day, Second Aunt told Grandma Cheng about her plans of having a baby, and she said that their astrologer, Old Fairy, advised it.

Grandma Cheng said she could stay in the main house.

Shao Shang tricks did not escape her mother and when she quizzed Shao Shang, she freely admitted that she knew her mother was not really bothered about moving into the main house because she and Col Cheng’s military service had been rewarded by the emperor which included a mansion of their own.

You would think her mother would be happy their daughter was logical and intuitive but no she wanted Shoa Shang to be a simpering little fly who is seen and not heard.

Episode 4

Second Aunt realised Shao Shang’s revenge when she found out that she was not part of the moving party to the new mansion.

Grandma Cheng told her that she wanted to stay at the main house; she got her wish.

Yuanyi is finding out how wily and scheming Shao Shang was and she was not liking it.

Probably this was the reason why she doesn’t feel any maternal instinct toward the young girl.   She was always anticipating that Shao Shang was up to something and that her misbehaviour will reflect on her as a mother.

Second Aunt was divorced from Second Uncle and her father and Aunt Ge came to take her home.  Second Aunt was livid.

Anyway, Shao Shang and her mother had a tete-a-tete with Cheng Yang and Aunt Ge.

Shao Shang was enthralled by how kind and loving Aunt Ge was.  She started to be a little envious of Cheng Yang for having relatives that actually care for her.  She had never had anyone interested in her well-being.

She finally accepted that she can only rely on herself, treat herself better, and not expect anything from others as she doesn’t really have a family to speak of.

Second Aunt was taken home and Second Uncle had his wish fulfilled by being sent away to study and be with the books he cherished.

Therefore, Cheng Yang was left to Col Cheng and Yuanyi to look after.

Yuanyi promised Second Uncle that she would treat Cheng Yang like her daughter as she hugged and comforted the distraught Cheng Yang in her arms.

This made Shao Shang feel more excluded than ever.  She had never had a hug from her mother. She was totally bereft of love and affection from her parent.

The mother who gave birth to her and her twin brother.

A bit of back story…

Because Grandma Cheng demanded that her grandchild should stay with her to prolong her life as advised by Old Fairy, their astrologer, Yuanyi, without any second thought gave her daughter to Grandma Cheng and took her baby boy with her.  It looks like she never cradled Shao Shang at all. Because within minutes of giving birth to a set of twins, she was gallivanting with her husband, leaving a newly born baby girl without a care in the world.

In her deluded mind, Yuanyi blamed Second Aunt for her separation from the baby.  She doesn’t seem to realise that the baby she might be pining for had already grown into Shao Shang. Her post-natal depression is way too late.

Episode 5

It was moving day to the new manor.  There was a dawn ritual that Shao Shang was not particularly interested in as she had been kept busy by her mother with reading and writing until very late at night.

Anyway, the new manor was huge and Shao Shang had her own wing.

Grandma Cheng was incandescent with gladness because her Third Son had come home. Grandma was not too enamored of her son’s wife though.

I have to admit that I have been tearful in all the episodes that I have watched so far.

But in this episode, it was tears of joy because finally, Shao Shang has two fighting in her corner.  These two were her Second Brother and her Third Brother, her twin.

Her brothers, unlike their mother, loved her at first sight; they were excited to meet her.  They told her that they have got loads of presents for her.

Their mother overheard and told her sons to give half of it to Cheng Yang.

Episode 6

It is in this episode that Shao Shang needed protection the most from her biased mother.

Her brothers did not fail her although they realised that Shao Shang can face up and protect herself from their mother’s tyranny.

It started with the Second Brother noticing that Shao Shang still has a child desk so he offered to give her the desk he inherited from their eldest brother.

Liangfang was sent to collect the desk but she was ambushed by the maids of Cheng Yang who decided that it was about time that they flex their muscles and show the other servants that though Cheng Yang was ‘a left behind child’ in Cheng Manor she was as important and can get whatever she wanted.

Cheng Yang did not know what her maids were planning.

Anyway, Liangfeng was totally devoted to Shao Shang considering that she saw how much hardship Shao Shang suffered at the hands of her relatives and now her mother. So she fought with Cheng Yang’s maids.

Yuan Yi found out what was happening and called everybody to her sitting room.  She had Shao Shang sit in the middle and interrogated as the instigator of the whole thing.

For once, Shao Shang was absolutely clueless about what was going on.  Her brothers were aghast at their mother’s behavior.

They explained that Second Brother gave the desk to his sister because they noticed that she was still using a child’s desk.

Still, the mother was holding Shao Shang responsible for what happened.  This time Shao Shang argued her heart out and she managed to make her mother sound petty and accused her of her favoritism of Cheng Yang.  Shao Shang realised she had to do it because if she allowed it to pass without being discussed it would pester and she would suffer more.

Shao Shang said that she knew that she was in a losing battle because Cheng Yang’s maid would prevail over Liangfeng because Yuan Yi would favour Cheng Yang against Shao Shang every time.  She then challenged her mother for fairness and said to punish Chang Yang’s maid.  Her mother said that the case was over.

Her sons could not believe their mother and they become more protective of their sister.

There was another person who had taken a shine to Shao Shang because of the maltreatment she was getting from everyone.

She was the newly arrived Third Aunt, married to Grandma Cheng’s favourite youngest son.

Seeing that Shao Shang was the victim of her mother’s unfair interrogation, she told the girl that if she wanted anything then she only had to ask.

Goaded by her brothers, Shao Shang said that she wanted to go to the Lantern Festival.

Third Aunt gave a beautiful red-trimmed ermine coat to Shao Shang to wear at the lantern festival which annoyed Yuanyi as Cheng Yang did not get one.

To compensate Cheng Yang Yuan Yi totally ignored Shao Shang. Instead, she took Cheng Yang under her wing and showed her around the marketplace, and bought her new hairpin.  The mother complains that Third Aunt did not give a coat to Cheng Yang and yet she was doing the same thing by buying only a set of hairpins for Cheng Yang and nothing for her daughter who watched her pinning a clip tenderly on Cheng Yang’s hair.

Her brothers saw how affected Shao Shang was so they drag her to see the lanterns.  Her father stayed with her.

Finally, her three fiances appeared in this episode and they seemed to be attracted to her at first sight.

Mr Yuan threw the embroidery ball to her which meant he had chosen her amongst all the pretty girls.  But Shao Shang did not have a clue of its meaning and promptly threw the ball back at him which surprised this very eligible bachelor.

Ling Buyi saw her and fell in love at first sight.  He can’t take his eyes off her.  He saw that she was in danger as the Tian Restaurant caught fire and the lanterns adorning the restaurant were about to fall on Shao Shang.  He picked her up and put her to safety.

Meanwhile, Ling Buyi found the mastermind of the armory theft.  It was Prince Xiao.

Episode 7

What have we here?!!! No tears today.

In fact, there is cuteness overload.

Col Cheng had been made a Marquis of Qulingby the Emperor.  With his new title and new mansion he was holding a housewarming party attended by influential military men like Mr. Wan SioBai.

There was a gatecrasher, Mr. Yuan, who seemed to find Niao Niao fascinating as he singled her out.

Also at the party were a couple of girls who were very snobbish and dismissive of the Niaoniao and her family as well as the Chengs being a nouveau riche family.

Mr Yuan introduced himself to Grandma who was very impressed with the handsome and elegant gentleman.  Shao Shang was not interested though because she left to get some air.

I must say LuSi has a lovely chemistry with Li Yun Rui as Mr Yuan.

Anyway, Mr Yuan is a prominent scholar who is versatile in poetry.  He asked Shao Shang to relay a message to the Third Aunt for him.  He then recited what he called a rhapsody which Shao Shang did not really understand or care about so she asked him to make it brief and concise.  He said to tell Third Aunt that someone misses her.

Shao Shang did not really remember nor understand the poem so she asked Cheng Yang if she heard of it.

Cheng Yang said that it sounded like the Rhapsody by Xirong or something.

Shao Shang did not make it a priority to deliver the message to the Third Aunt so when she next saw Mr Yuan, he asked her why she had not been in touch with him for her aunt’s reply.

She honestly said that she did not really think much of the message so she had put it aside.

Mr Yuan said that perhaps this was her way to cling to him and that she wanted to see him again.

Shao Shang sarcastically said that she will deliver the message pronto and she doesn’t think they should see each other again.

Shao Shang interrupted a loving moment between her Third Aunt and Third Uncle.  She did not care despite her Uncle telling her to come back later.

She insinuated herself between the two which was so cute as she seemed to have developed easy-going relationships with her Third Aunt and a rather awkward but tolerable with her Third Uncle. She can share a giggle with them.

Ling Bu Yi continues with his investigation which was rather thwarted by the fire at Tian Restaurant.  He ordered his men to make trouble at the shops owned by Prince Xiao.

Despite being busy, he would still continue to crush on Shao Shang and looked at her longingly from afar.

Ling Bu Yi was being matched up with Princess Yuchang but he told his parents that who ever he marries will be someone he would like to spend his whole life with.

And he will recognise her at first sight and Princess Yuchang was not her so he told his father and stepmother to bat the hell out of his life.

Ling Buyi received an invitation to Princess Yuchang’s birthday party delivered by her stepmother.  He told her that he was much too busy to go to any sodding party.

At Princess Yuchang’s birthday party,  Shao Shang and Cheng Yang met a very lively but friendly Wan QiQi who was rather overdressed and over accessorised  She was so lovely she gave some of her hair pins to Shao Shang and Cheng Yang.

Wan QiQi is a daughter of General Wan who was often away in the prairie with her family.

They became friends immediately.

Episode 8

Shao Shang was in trouble with her mother again.  This time it was hard to shed a tear because Shao Shang was just the cutest with her symmetrical black eyes and when she crosses her eyes, she is darn adorable.

It was the banquet for the young ladies on Princess Yuchang’s birthday.

Qi Qi became the subject of ridicule for being overdressed.  The noble mean girls just couldn’t help themselves from being nasty to those they think were inferior to them.

Of course, Shao Shang had to come to Qiqi’s rescue and did a long monologue about how spoilt the other ladies were for indulging and preening over a gourmet dish of dates that had been cooked nine times.

She said that soldiers and military do not have the privilege of this ostentatious gathering and yet they are protecting the country from marauders and keeping peace under the king and the heavens.

Having been chastised, the ladies moved to another subject and it seems it was the main one.  It was about Zicheng who they said had come to wish Princess Yuchang a happy birthday.

Wang Ling started insulting Shao Shang for growing up in a village so she does not know who Zicheng was.

Quick-witted Shao Shang said that on the contrary, Zicheng had been admiring her for a long time but she just was not interested and as this is the case, to avoid any awkwardness, she was leaving them to admire him.

Ling Bu Yi who was just walking in met Shao Shang who asked him who he was.  All the young ladies can hear his reply that he was the guy he had long admired her but she showed no interest in him.  He introduced himself as Zicheng but Wang Ling called him Ling Buyi.

Finally, Shao Shang knew who and what Ling Buyi looks like.  So cute.

Because of what happened, the mean girls plotted to punish not only Shao Shang but Cheng Yang as well.

At the party, Prince Xiao asked He Zhao Jun to break her engagement to Luo Yao and marry him instead.

Their meet-up was being watched by curious onlookers including Yuan Chen who started flirting with Shao Shang who was not interested.

Luo Yao turned up and confronted the two.  He said that he was being cuckolded by them but he said she can marry Prince Xiao because he was not interested.

He Zhao Jun was so annoyed when noticed Shao Shang. Luo Yao apologised for the disturbance.

Shao Shang noticed that Yuan Chen abandoned her and did not warn her to hide.  She was still mulling with her annoyance when she heard Cheng Yang cry of help.

She ended up having a free for all fight with Wang Ling and Lou Li.

To not incriminate herself too much, Shao Shang gave herself black eyes.

The girls were taken to the `Princess of Ruyang who presided over the issue.

Yuanyi was also present but she did not say anything in defense of her daughter instead she wanted the girls punished but then Ling Buyi walked in and gave the evidence that the fight was premeditated.

At home. Shao Shang was in trouble with her mother.  She asked Liangfang to call her brothers to rescue her from their mother’s wrath.

Her mother asked her what she Shao Shang had done wrong.

Shao Shang apologised and said that from now on she would not start a fight even if someone was trying to kill Cheng Yan, she will not start a fight even if they insult their military family, she won’t start a fight even when someone told her that she was uncouth for being a left-behind daughter, she will not start a fight even when someone tries to kill her.

All she said was true but Xuanyi refused to listen to her daughter’s gripes.  Instead, Yuanyi insisted for Shao Shang to go to Wang Ling’s house the next day and apologised.

Shao Shang refused and would have been beaten if her brothers did not turn up.  They took her away and advised her to run away from home.

So she did and saw Yuan Chen who invited her into his carriage with Liangfang.  He then told her that there will be a plum blossom party and he would like her to come.

Yuan Chen said that for a girl she was not shy at all when she told him point blank that she would not marry him.  He added that he had not asked her.

He then gave her a box of ointment for her face bruises.

Shao Shang cheekily asked him if she will get disfigured with any side effects.

Yuan Chen told her side effect will not do much to her not pretty face.  He said rather sweetly sarcastic.  They do have chemistry.

Episode 9

Shao Shang went to Qiqi for refuge.

It so happened that Ling Buyi was at the Wan to speak with General Wan regarding a map but he was told that General Wan did not have it.  Ling Buyi was just about to leave having refused to have dinner when he saw Shao Shang.

Shao Shang had a rather awkward but hilarious conversation with General Wan who did not recognise her at first.  When she explain who she was, General Wan assumed that her mother beat her up.

Shao Shang said that it was not her mother.

Ling Buyi turned back and was fascinated with Shao Shang’s panda eyes.

Shao Shang noticed her Ling Buyi’s rather undivided attention to her face so she told him to feel free and laugh.

Anyway General Wen told her to proceed to the house and find Qiqi.

Qigi tooked her to her Grandma and mother.

Later on, Qiqi’s mother said that Shao Sheng was unruly but Grandma replied that she admired Shao Shang uninhibited attitude to life.  She was able to look after herself, she is a strong girl who needed to be as her mother did not say a thing during the questioning at the Ruyang.

Qiqi and Shao Shang were drinking wine and bed.  They were overheard by Buyi who only did not stay for dinner but asked to stay the night as well at the Wen mansion.

He was very interested to hear what Shao Shang’s ideal man was.  She told Qiqi that she wanted someone who is not from a humble but stable background.  She is not suitable to marry a hero because her mother never thought her how to deal with a military and not aristocratic because again her mother did not teach her how to deal with them.

That’s Ling Buyi out then.

The next morning, Shao Shang became so interested in the pond bridge and wanted to know why it was not safe to use.

Ling Buyi and General Wen suddenly came to the vicinity and Shao Shang had to hide under the bridge which Ling Buyi noticed.

Anyway, she went to look for Qiqi who was horse-riding.  Qiqi invited her to try the horse.  Qiqi then was called away.

Having been left to her own devices, Shao Shang though a novic4e at horse, thought how hard could horse riding be.  So she hefted herself on the horse which promptly cantered away.

Ling Buyi was there to the rescue.  Shao Shang complained that he was to close to her but  Buyi said that she was the one holding on to his arm tightly.

Anyway, they later ended up under the bridge where Ling Buyi said that she had to help him find the geographical map.  He explained that he was not only doing him a favour but her family and General Wan as well because the Emperor might think that her father collude with General Wan about the map and selling of armament.

Ling Buyi added a sweetener to his request, he will remain mute regarding her plans with the weak bridge.  Buyi said that they had searched the whole house the night before but could not find the map.  Only Old Madam Wan’s quarters had not been searched and he would like Shao Shang to search it.

So Shao Shang dressed like Qiqi went to Grandma Wan’s room and looked for the map.  She can’t find it but she was trapped in the room when Grandma suddenly turned up.

Grandma though was very astute.  She noticed immediately that someone had searched the room and the Shao Shang was still in the room.

Grandma told her where the very important thing that General Wan told her to keep for him.  She more or less told Shao Shang to take it.  She did not let on that she knows that Shao Shang was not Qiqi.

As soon as Buyi got the map, he made his excuses to leave.

Meanwhile, Lou Yao asked his elder brother to cancel his engagement with He Zhao Jun.

Ling Buyi and his Black Armour Guards were at Prince Xiao’s villa.

Episode 10

Cryfest!

Xuanyi reached another level of cruelty to Shao Shang.

Anyway, it was a housewarming party at General Wan’s mansion.  Everyone was invited though Qiqi was surprised that the mean noble girls turned up at all.

Anyway, Shao Shang meant to make the noble girls pay for their nastiness.  So in cohort with Ling Buyi she started her plan.  The girls gathered by the pond pagoda spotted Ling Buyi with the eligible guys on the other side of the pond.

Ling Buyi enticed the girls to come to him and the other guys who looked like having a good time.  Ling Buyi cajoled the guys to laugh with him for no reason but to entice the girls to come over.

The only way that the girls could reach the other side of the pond was through a bridge that was made by Shao Shang to be non-functional.  So when the excited girls filed up on the weak bridge it collapsed sending all the girls into the muddy water of the pond.

They did not suspect Shao Shang to have done it.

Anyway, Shao Shang could not help but smirked because they made the girls pay for their nastiness.

However, when she got home, it was anything but happy.

Grandma Wan who was very astute said that Shao Shang was one kind of a girl but they had to let her mother know what she had been up to at the Wan.  So she sent Xuanyi a letter of the bridge malarkey.

Her parents, Third Uncle and Third Aunt agreed to discipline Shao Shang and put the fear of God on her.  They will pretend that she will be disciplined the military way by caning.  But they would not really do it.  They nominated Yuanyi to do the pretend punishment.  They agreed that Yuanyi will throw a bowl to break as a signal for them to appear and stop the punishment before it commences

Shao Shang was summoned by her mother.  She was fetched by Qingcong and other military women.  Seeing them knew that she will be punished.

Liangfang asked Shao Shang if she had to call her brothers to intervene for her but Shao Shang said that they can’t do anything this time.

She went to her mother who could barely looked at her. But her mother asked her to apologise but this time Shao Shang refused thinking that she was just going to waste both her mother’s time and hers.  She will not be going to be heard as her mother had always been deaf to her entreaties so she just arranged herself on the bench ready for the caning.

Her mother once again asked her to apologise but Shao Shang said there is no point.  She knew what would happen so she prepared herself to get it over and done with.

She put a cloth gag on her mouth so she won’t scream her pain.

Yuanyi ordered the caning to commence which shocked Qingcong.  Yuanyi was shown wincing at every stroke of the cane but she did not order it to stop.

Gen Cheng, Third Brother, and Third Aunt realised that their plan went wrong.  They hurried to Yuanyi and found Shao Shang battered to near collapse.

This time, Gen Cheng scolded Yuanyi strongly,  Third Uncle who had grown rather fond of his cheeky niece was so annoyed he asked his sister-in-law how she could punish her young daughter like was a soldier.  No mother does that.  Third Aunt also had her say and said to discipline a strong-minded child, you have to lead by example as she looked pityingly at the weak Shao Shang.  This is a cryfest moment and I have never hated her Yuanyi more.

Yuanyi told Third Uncle and Third Aunt to take Shao Shang with them to Hua City because she was no longer to care for Shao Shang.

Shao Shang managed to race her head and looked her mother in the face.  She then told her mother “It is a deal”

Col Cheng was really upset with his wife and did not even go and speak to her, while she pretended to be so upset while kneeling by the window.

Col Cheng went to check up on Shao Shang who was in pain.  Her father told her that she had to try to go to sleep; once she was asleep, the pain will go away.

Shao Shang told him that she loved him the most because he was the one that cares about her the most.  OMG, it makes me cry just typing this scene so it might not make any sense. LOL

Episode 11

It was time to go to Hua City where Third Uncle will be the new magistrate.

Third Uncle pitied Shao Shang so much but Third Auntie said that she had a look at Shao Shang’s back and there was no broken skin which means she did not get the Full Monty caning.

It meant though that Shao Shang was correct, whether she apologises or not her mother had already arranged with her female guard to cane her.

They were not far from Rayang when they noticed that Lou Yao was following them.  They stopped to speak to him.  He then said that he wanted to speak to Shao Shang and said that he was no longer engaged and had always admired her.

They were so cute like little puppies.  But Shao Shang told him to go away, she was not interested that he had broken up with his fiancee, it has nothing to do with her.

But he continued to follow.  Third Auntie told her husband to sort it with Lou Yao to go back to the Capital.

But Third Uncle was playing cupid instead.  He advised Lou Yao to show Shao Shang love, kindness, and devotion as she had been bereft of these while growing up.

Lou Yao found another clue to what makes Shao Shang happy.  She said she wanted to be like a bird free to soar in the blue yonder.

There were almost near a town when they noticed that something was wrong.  Third Uncle went to investigate.  He told them to proceed to Hua City immediately while he was gone.

But then they were ambushed by men who they thought at first were bandits, instead, Shao Shang deducted that they were soldiers.

Poor Auntie had an accident in the collapsed carriage.

Shao Shang took over the command and told Lou Yao to go to the nearest magistrate and ask for help and reinforcement.  He then gave her a map of where they can take refuge

Shao Shang used her engineering and design knowledge and build rudimentary machinery to hinder the coming soldiers who were after them.

It worked at first but their resources were so limited the soldiers were able to penetrate their hideout.  They abducted Miao, one of the soldiers tasked by Yuanyi to look after Shao Shang.

Shao Shang felt so guilty about it despite her Third Aunt telling her that she had done well for them.

Episode 12

Their situation had gotten worst.

Hua County was besieged by marauders, who were intent on killing anyone and everyone who gets in their way.

Wow, the lighting and cinematography were particularly stunning in the scene where the old magistrate announced that they were in a hopeless situation.

He said that he would go out there and not just give in so he dressed in his old armour suit followed by his soldiers and able men.  They then opened the gate to confront the renegade soldiers. It was a massacre, not a single Hua soldier was left standing.

Very epic and the background music was so good.

The renegade soldiers managed to barge into Hua County and started to carry out mass destruction and looting.  But Ling Buyi turned up just in time to save the granddaughter of the old magistrate.

The little girl gave Buyi a red box to pass on to the new magistrate.

An arrow sniper got Buyi on the back.  But instead of going to the nearest Imperial post where there will be a royal physician and get treated, Bu Yi cut the arrow himself and rode hard to find Shao Shang and her entourage who he just found out were on their way to Hua but seemed to have been delayed.

Buyi was just in time to save Shao Shang from near death.  Buyi’s spear impelled the leader of the bandits to the wall.  He then assured Shao Shang not to be scared because he’s there.  OMG. this is gloriously romantic.

Shao Shang treated the injured including the soldiers under Buyi.  Buyi then asked her if she could look at his injuries as well.

Gorgeous Wu Lei revealed his ripped abs (there is a very funny BTS on this scene on Youtube)

Shao Shang must pluck the arrowhead off his chest.  Shao Shang said she may not be able to do it but Buyi said she can do it, he trusts her.

She used the string from her necklace which she explained to Buyi was not an ordinary string.  It is called Shaoshang normally used in gujin.

Meanwhile, Yuanyi started to worry about Shao Shang but she reckons Shao Shang was behaving like a brat because Shao Shang thought that she had a miserable life growing up alone but that is not experiencing real misery.

Seriously, this parent is priceless.

Episode 13

The Chengs finally arrived at Hua Country Court.  Magistrate Cheng (Third Uncle) was shocked beyond measure to see what had happened.  The old magistrate and his family were obliterated.

Meanwhile, Ling Buyi’s love for Shao Shang was not good for his physical health 🤣 Delaying to seek medical assistance in order to save Shao Shang made his upper chest wound fester.

The Emperor saw the pus on the wound and castigated Ling Buyi for being careless with his health and safety.  He wanted him to settle down.

Buyi threatened the Emperor that if he forces Buyi again to marry Princess Yuchang, he would go on another expedition or try to start a war with barbarians and die.

However, the Emperor noticed the smirk on Liang Qiu Fei’s expressive face so he asked to see him and Liang Qiu Qi.

From them, Emperor Wen found out that Ling Buyi opted to rescue a damsel in distress. And the damsel was the youngest daughter of the Marquis Quling.

The third Uncle was mourning the death of the old Magistrate Cheng.  They were worried about him because he was not eating.

Cheng Xiaomei was alive, making her the lone survivor of her family.  She was pining for her grandfather, father, and brother but when she was compos mentis she was proud of his family.  This made Shao Shang remember that she had a different upbringing.

Where Xiaomei was loved, she did not have anyone to protect her from bullies while growing up.

Realising how much sacrifice, the old Magistrate Cheng family gave to protect the village people, Shao Shang used it to make those injured in the infirmary to be more positive and stop feeling for themselves.

She told a rape victim that she was completely blameless and if her husband blames her for what happened to her then just leave him as he was a scoundrel who doesn’t deserve her.

Lou Yao was so devoted to Shao Shang.  He had become her helpful shadow.  He agrees and is enthusiastic about everything she says and does.

When she said that they need to rebuild the houses at Hua County, he was her first donor by giving her everything he has in his person.

But Shao Shang did not try to take advantage of him.  Instead, she had a capital idea which she immediately told her Third Uncle who she badgered until he agreed.  She told him to ask for donations from the more affluent shopkeepers and businessmen in the county in return for certification of their benevolence.

Behind the scene, more than half of the donations they gathered came from Ling Buyi’s pocket.  He wanted to make it secret though so Shao Shang was not aware of it.

A very weak Xiaomei got up to see the noise of activities outside.  She saw a busy Shao Shang and her assistant Luo Yao.  They asked her what kind of house she wanted.

Xiaomei was very pragmatic, she knew that she had not much time left but still she told them she wanted a house with big windows.

At the Capital, Emperor Wen could not help himself from teasing his foster son who was recuperating at the palace.

He made sure the Buyi could hear him that he had heard of the beautiful niece of the new Magistrate of Hua County and needed someone to deliver his edict to the Magistrate Cheng.

Buyi suddenly felt better and volunteered to do the honours of going to Hua County.

Being an old romantic and rather fond of his foster son, the Emperor could not help but smirked at how cute Buyi was.  Buyi is often dour and incommunicative.

Episode 14

LIng Buyi went back to Hua Country had delivered the Emperor’s edict to Magistrate Cheng Sicheng.

Magistrate Cheng was promoted to Second Rank Secondary Marquis for good management and good deeds.

Also at Hua Country was Huang Yi with his pupil Yuan Shen.

Ling Buyi and Yuan Shen saw how Shao Shang had grown so closed with Lou Yao.  They were too late.

Poor little Xiaomeng died.

Later on, Shao Shang went to Xiaomeng’s gave to play the flute for her.  It started raining and Ling Buyi was ready with an umbrella but Lou Yao was a tad quicker.

Lou Yao was the one to comfort a very sad Shao Shang who somehow blamed herself for all the atrocities.

Buyi overheard her saying that she hated all those whose hands are tainted in blood, which Buyi of course is one for being a general.

Shao Shang heard all the right things from Lou Yao which finally convinced her that he might be the one or only one for her.

Poor Buyi was so distressed.

Lou Yao did not waste any time.  He immediately told Third Uncle and Third Auntie of his intention to marry Shao Shang.

Third Auntie said that she had already written to Shao Shang’s parents.

They arrived and when General Cheng saw his daughter, he told her she was fat.

At that same time, Lou Yao appeared with all sorts of food for Shao Shang.

Shao Shang took out her ire on Lou Yao and blamed him for making her fat.

General Cheng had a man-to-man talk with Lou Yao.

The general asked why he wanted to marry his daughter who was worthy of him.

Quick as a flash, Lou Yao said that he was the one who was not worthy of Shao Shang who is kind, straightforward, and a broad-minded young lady.

Hearing how much the young man thought highly of his daughter, General Cheng no longer has any doubt about Lou Yao.

Meanwhile, back in Rayang, Xiaoyi was going mental for the snub of her as the mother. She said that Shao Shang can’t marry without her say-so.

She was raging when she saw her mother-in-law having fun with the many engagements presents that came from the Lou.  She told her mother-in-law to return everything.

Meanwhile, Fang Chang had confessed his misdeed by writing everything wrongdoing he did with his own blood.

The Emperor was wondering why Buyi had gone back to being dour and vengeful.  It dawned on him the reason when one of his ministers announced that the Lou family will have a wedding soon.  The youngest Lou will marry General Cheng’s youngest daughter.

The Emperor saw Buyi only got sadder, who then asked to be excused.

When Buyi was out the Emperor asked the minister how many daughters has General Cheng have.

When the Emperor was told only one, he can’t help saying that General Cheng was useless.🤣

Xuanyi arrived in Hua County and immediately put her weight about.  She told Shao Cheng that she can’t marry.

The more they told her that she could not marry, the more determined she became.  She told her mother that Lou is a good match and the only one who asked to marry her.  She was concerned that if she let him go she will miss her chance of contentment as no one as good as A-Yao might want marriage with her.

Xuanyi told them to keep away from each other but they were like Romeo and Juliet

Third Aunt spoke for Shao Shang that she has already grown up and is a very responsible girl.

Shao Shang more or less said that Third Aunt is wasting her breath because her mother only favours Cheng Yang.

As far as she is concerned her mother thinks that Shao Shang is a troublemaker.

Episode 15

Shao Shang was really serious about her engagement and would like to give it her best so she asked Fu Deng to get all scriptures with a Love and Romance genre.

Fu Deng got her a good selection which Shao Shang happily browsed.

Awww, Shao Shang was such a giggle.  She was so shocked to find that the ‘books’ given to her were ancient copies of Kamasutra,  She can’t believe the drawings of coupling couples.

She got more flustered when Yao turned up and found her with the books.  When he tried to look at one, Shao Shang told him to stop but then he told her that he had seen them before.  He said that Confucius said desires are part of human nature.

This somehow made Shao Shang calmer and said if Confucius said it that it must be right after all they can’t reason out against a saint.

Still, after looking at the books, Shao Shang got so shocked and decided for her and Yao that their union will be one of minds, freedom, and something humanitarian and assist in empire building, Yao got an A+++ from Shao Shang when he said that women should be allowed to make their contribution and be treated the same way as men. So they decided not to read any more of the books. They should not be confined to carnal knowledge. These two are so endearing.

Shao Shang had her innocent love with Yao.  She told him that they should learn how to start their relationship.

Yao again scored good points with Shao Shang when he said that he thought they were already in a relationship. (Her being the master and him her puppy, aww)

The two young lovebirds were on a date on a tea plantation where they met Huang Fu Yi who recognised the music Shao Shang played on her flute.

Huang Fu Yi asked her if she was Sang Shun Hua’s niece.

Shao Shang confirmed that she was.  I then started to drizzle. Huang Fu Yi invited them to stay at the Emperor’s lodge on the hill.

Shao Shang happily obliged to stay despite Yao telling her that they could make it back home before it really pours.  Shao Shang told him that they have a good chance of getting the story right from the horse’s mouth about what went wrong with her Third Aunt and Hung Fu Yi’s romance.

When they got to the hill, not only Yuan Chen was being the student of Huang Fu Yi but Ling Buyi as well.

The rain got harder and Shao Shang had to stay at the Emperor’s lodge for the night.

Between Yuan Chan and Ling Buyi, Yao was made too busy to be running after Shao Shang.

They would not even let them sit next to each other.

Huang Fu Yi then started to relate his lovelorn story with Third Aunt.

He said that he had been engaged with Third Aunt since they were children.  While he grew up handsome, intelligent, and popular.  Third Aunt was plain of face.

Though he did mean to marry her one day, he took her for granted and found his new freedom exhilarating after his father died.  He disappeared for seven years.

All that time, Third Aunt waited for him faithfully and loyally.  He was supposed to show up at her father’s birthday to announce their wedding but he did not show up because he chose to sort out the funeral of his dead bodyguard’s daughter who committed suicide.

Huang Fu YI could not understand why Third Aunt could not wait a few days more when she had already waited for seven years.  Then he was shocked that she married immediately to someone else.

Ling Buyi said that Third Aunt waited for Huang Fu Yi for seven years but realised that Huang Fu Yi felt something for his bodyguard’s daughter and felt that he insulted her own loyalty to him by embarrassing her at her father’s birthday.

Shao Shang further asked who would Huang Fu YI saved if Third Aunt and the bodyguard’s daughter fell into the water at the same time.

Buyi said Third Aunt can swim a little but not the daughter.  Buyi then said that he would still save his fiancee first because she might get caught up with some grass in the water or even washed away by a current.

Finally, Huang Fu Yi realised that he did wrong.  He deserved being dumped by his plain-looking but loyal fiancee.

Meanwhile, Buyi managed to corner Shao Shang and asked her if she was really choosing the right guy for herself?

Shaoshang was very resolute in her decision so she told Buyi that A-Yao is the guy for her.

Episode 16

Poor Huang Fu Yi realised that he made the biggest mistake in his life for taking Third Aunt for granted.

He howled all night in distress and drunkenness.

The next morning Shaoshang asked Buyi if there were wolves on the hill as she heard them howling.

Buyi could not help but smile but he told her that there were indeed wolves.

Shaoshang asked where Yuan Chen, Buyi said that he was probably still resting as he was disturbed by the howling wolf.

When she got back at Hua Court, Third Aunt asked her what Huang Fu Yi told her.

Shaoshang said that Huang Fu Yi was a bad man.

Aunt said that Huang Fu Yi was not basically a bad man.  He was just a man.  Third Aunt made Shaoshang promise that when she’s married not to change herself for anyone.  She must remain true to herself.

It was a very sad farewell for Shaoshang to her Third Aunt and Third Uncle which annoyed her mother because she said Shaoshang never showed such loyalty to her parents.

Anyway, Buyi went to visit his mother which was a very sad affair as she does not recognised Buyi as her son.  Her mind has gone back to when she was a young woman before she got married.

His mother became agitated when Ling Li turned up.  Thank goodness Buyi was there and intervened.

Ling Li later told Buyi to stop his investigations because he will get into trouble as the people involved were from the royal family.

The Chengs have arrived at Ruyang but the gate to the Capital was barricaded to prevent the fugitive to get out,

Somehow Buyi and his Black Helmet Guard were there.  Buyi went immediately to Shaoshang and told her that she was looking tired.  He sounded rather intimately familiar with her so she called ouot to her father and explained that General Ling was the one who saved her and Third Aunt on their way to Hua County.

Buyi purposely made the situation more scandalous by saying that young Lady Cheng had personally undressed him and treated his wound.

I must say, Director Fei was able to milk a short scene into a very atmospheric romantic interlude between Buyi and Shaoshang.  Loving it.

At the Marquis Quling manor, Shaoshang was interrogated by her parents about her exact relationship with Ling Buyi.

She told them that she probably met Ling Buyi about 8 times.

Her parents told her that it looks like Ling Buyi likes her.

Shaoshang dismissed this immediately telling them that she was going to marry A-Yao.

Her mother said that the Luo Family is more complicated than Shaoshang thought and she would not be able to survive in the family.

Shaoshang said that she had already talked about the situation with A-Yao. They would leave the family and move to new pastures where they could be free and soar to the sky.

Meanwhile, Buyi escorting the Chengs into the Capital got to the Emperor.  He decided that he will be the number fan of the CP and he would make

Episode 17

Ling Buyi rescued the runaway, Fan Chang, from the men of Prince Xiao, son of Lord Yong, rather singlehandedly.

Ling Buyi’s soldiers just let him get on with the slashing, kicking, and killing to vent his anger and frustration.

Yuanyi was temporarily incapacitated.  She was ill which made General Cheng worried because Yuanyi was usually hale and hearty in the 20 years of marriage.  Though Shao Shang was also with her mother, the main carer was Cheng Yang.

And when Shao Shang asked to look after her mother, Yuanyi could not help griping that Chengyang was the one looking after her while Shao Shang was in Hua County.

This selfish mother completely forgot that it was her who banished her daughter to Hua County.  Seriously!

She then told Cheng Yang that is she wanted to marry someone, then she only had to say and Yuanyi will arrange it for her.

Cheng Yang of course said that marriage is arranged by parents.

This of course made Shao Shang sad and excluded.

Qiqi and General Wan came to visit which made Shao Shang happy.

Qiqi and Shao Shang were talking about Lou Yao.

Shao Shang was full of paise that he was always there to help her with things.

Immediately, Qigi commented that the relationship was more like Liangfang to Shao Shang – maid to her master.🤣

Qiqi told her that when two people are together, there must be love.

Shao Shang asked what is love?

Qiqi who had never been in love herself was lost for words.  But it looks like she might like Shao Shang’s Second Brother and it might be mutual as well.

Lou Yan and his mother came to visit as well.  Yuanyi was not accommodating to the mother and son.

Yuanyi said that the Cheng children need schooling so she was hiring a teacher to homeschool her children.

Yuan Chen so happened to think that he was the best person for the post.  So he also visited the Cheng Mansion.

Yuanyi was surprised by Yuan Chen’s visit and reckoned that he was after more than a teaching position.

They immediately thought of Niaoniao had something to do with it.

Episode 18

It was the day of the wedding of Prince Xiao to He Zhaojun.

Prince Xiao was going mental because his bride had disappeared.  He threatened Zhaojun’s mother to tell him where her daughter had gone but the mother won’t say.

She had found out that Lord Yong, Prince Xiao’s father, wanted to have a strong connection with the He Family to use them to rebel against Emperor Wen.

Madam He declared her family was no traitors.

Prince Xiao stabbed the mother whose blood poured into the floorboards and into Zhaojun and her young brother who was hiding beneath.

Meanwhile, it was the engagement party for Shao Shang and Lou Yao.

Ling Buyi turned up to give the Emperor’s edict to Shao Shang.  Ling Buyi had begged the Emperor to say lovely words about Shao Shang so her new in-laws will see that Shao Shang was greatly thought of by the Emperor.

When Ling Buyi was reading the edict, Shao Shang and her family were surprised by how perfect Shao Shang was being described. Shao Shang was thinking about whether the Emperor made a mistake. LOL

She was rather flustered when Ling Buyi asked her to accept the edict she stumbled and he had to support her which rather shocked everyone.

Episode 19

I must say, I am really impressed with Director Fei.  The cameraman was so good as well.  The depth of field makes what you meant to concentrate on look almost 3-D.

Aww!  Shaoshang almost fell over when she tried to stand up to receive the edict from the Emperor.  Ling Buyi managed to keep her not collapsing to the ground.

The way he looked at her was very obvious that he fancies her.

Lou Ben took A-Yao aside and mentioned that Ling Buyi begged the Emperor to issue an edict to compliment Shaoshang.

Ling Buyi knew that Lou Ben was Mr Mou who sent him intel previously.  Buyi asked Lou Ben for a map of Feng Yi County in return for a promise for a high office when the time comes.

Unfortunately, the tyrant Grand Tutor Lou overheard what was said.

Shaoshang was enjoying her engagement party with the girl when Liangfang called her attention.

Liangfang told her that Ling Buyi gave her three messages to pass on to Shaoshang.

First, he has something to tell her, second, not to worry he will not harm her.

Shaoshang interrupted Liangfang ordering her to tell Buyi that it is improper to meet him.

Liangfang though continued on the third message which was that if Shaoshang refused to see him, he will go to her instead and break the engagement and then marry her himself.

She told Liangfang that it was absolutely ridiculous but her bravado vanished immediately and asked Liangfant when to meet Buyi.

Their meeting place is a beautiful but narrow avenue.  Very atmospheric for a rather clandestine meeting.

At the other end of the tunnel-like spot stood a rather lonely-looking Buyi, who wanted to know whether she came to meet him because of the third message or the first two.

Shaoshang was loyal to Yao and told Buyi that it was inappropriate to meet up.

Buyi asked her what she wanted to do after her wedding?

Shaoshang answered honestly that she wanted to be a mechanical engineer, agricultural engineer as well, also she wanted to write the ancient version of ‘Books for Dummies – Learning made easy.’

Buyi fell in love with her a little bit more and advised her to not be so headstrong and move to a no-man’s-land with A-Yao without thinking it through first.  He told her that he will discuss it with the Emperor to send her and A-Yao to a good place.

Buyi used a bit of emotional blackmail saying that he was leaving the Capital for war and he does not know if he could return alive, such is the life of a soldier.

Shaoshang told him that she will play the flute to him when he returns.

Buyi said better not as she will be married by then.  If he returns they will be strangers.

Despite this, Buyi could not help worrying how Shaoshang would fare under the Second Chamber of the Lou Family after Lou Ben turned down Buyi’s offer to back him up for higher office.

One month later..

Buyi and a general returned to the palace to report success of their mission.  They have apprehended and rounded the Yongs and taken Lord Yong and his family back to the Capital.

The other general said that before his death, General He was worried about his young son and his daughter.  He requested that the Lou family should honour the engagement of He Zhaojun to Lou Yao once again.

This put the Emperor in a rather difficult situation as Luo Yao was now betrothed to the Marquis of Quling’s daughter.

Shaoshang was full of pity for Yao, who was trying everything to see Shaoshang.

Buyi was in a vengeful mode as he interrogated Long Yong about his role in the massacre at Gu City fifteen years ago.

Episode 20

Young Ling Buyi witnessed the massacre of his Hou Clan at Gu City fifteen years ago.

Buyi learned more of what happened from Lord Yong.

Lord Yong said that he never intended the massacre at Gu City.  It was not his fault that the requested reinforcement ignored General Hou’s plea.

Lord Yong laughed at Buyi’s shocked face and continued that the Emperor did not even bother investigating the lack of reinforcement.

Lord laughter stopped when Buyi started stabbing him everywhere but not on his fatal point at first so he feels the pain.  Buyi then screwed his dagger on Lord Yong’s heart and finally finished him off.

Buyi went to the memorial temple of his house where his mother was tending rather harshly with the money plant.  I think the mother is not crazy at all.  She was just pretending so she does not leave with Ling Yi.  Anyway, Buyi told her that he had found out the mastermind of the Gu massacre and he had dealt with him.

Buyi’s next stop was the palace.  He knelt down for six hours and prepared to continue on but Eunuch Cao begged him to go see the Emperor instead.  Buyi however won’t budge.  In the end, the Emperor had come into the room and asked Buyi to follow him.\

Buyi continued kneeling.  The Emperor was so put out, he kicked Buyi down but Buyi was like a spring, he was back into his original kneeling position.  Again, the Emperor kicked him again and the same thing happened.

The Emperor finally told Buyi that he reached his bottom line with Buyi ignoring the fact that he killed a prisoner, ignoring the Ministry of Justice.  With his latest action, Buyi will endanger peace.  He must be punished.

Buyi’s will have a 6-month penalty on his salary as well as a demotion.

Buyi agreed with the penalty.

Meanwhile, Yuanyi and Shaoshang went to the Lou which ended with a slap fest when Madam Lou insinuated that the Chengs were much too lowly to become a member of the Lous.  Yuanyi slapped the madam.

Lou Li was upset with the treatment of her mother and was fulminating so Shaoshang slapped her.

The incident was seen by AYao, his mother, and for some reason by Yuan Chen.

Yuan Chen seemed to be stalking Shaoshang.  He was always there wherever Shaoshang was.

Anyway, AYao’s mother that there is a solution to the marriage.  They don’t have to break up.  The mother continued by saying that Shaoshang and He Zhaojun can both marry A-Yao.  They can be on the same level as long as Zhaojun can be treated with respect.

Yuanyi could not believe that her daughter was being asked to be a concubine.  She asked Shaoshang for her opinion but Shaoshang asked Ayao what he thought about it.

A-Yao hesitated so Yuanyi strode off in a huff.  Ayao said that he will only marry Shaoshang.

Shaoshang was happy with it.

As Yuanyi had already left, Shaoshang and Liangfang accepted the lift offered by Yuan Chen.

Yuan Chen told her why the Luo family wanted a marriage to He Zhaojun.  It was because He Zhaojun is in charge of He’s great fortune in the interim while her brother is a minor. Yuan Chen knew that Shaoshang and AYao’s relationship was not a great love affair.  She just wanted to escape her parents.

Shaoshang and Ayao waited for He Zhaojun at the Ruyang gate.

Shaoshang asked her to drop her wanting to marry Ayao because he doesn’t love her and she doesn’t love him as well.

Zhaojun said that if Shaoshang wanted to talk then she can climb into the carriage.

They ended up at the Ministry of Justice where Prince Xiao was ready to be beheaded.

Zhaojun climbed the dais and told the executioner that she wanted to cut off Prince Xiao’s head herself.

Poor Shaoshang was so shocked and turned around as the sword started to come down into Prince Xiao’s neck.

A trembling Shaoshang was caught in a protective embrace by Ling Buyi, who gently whispered to her not to be scared as he was there.  Ling Buyi never looked more handsome.  This psycho is just adorable.🤣❤️🤣❤️

Episode 21

Shaoshang told Zhaojun that though she greatly symphatised with her bereavement and all, she still get let Zhaojun have A Yao.

This set off Zhaojun and started screaming at Shaoshang.

Buyi turned up and put himself between Shaoshang and Zhaojun.

This only made Zhaojun madder and screamed why Shaoshang still wanted A Yao when she obviously has General Ling at her beck and call.

Buyi told Shaoshang to get into his carriage and he will take her home.

Buyi spoke to Zhaojun and told her that no one owes her anything really as she was in a sorry state, she really can’t afford to upset anyone, meaning him.  Zhaojun realised what he was saying.

Shaoshang and Buyi were in his carriage.  She asked him if Feng City was really as grim as what Zhaojun said.

Buyi said that it was different from Hua Country because General He and his five sons sacrificed themselves for Feng Yi City so there was minimal damage but it left Zhaojun and her brother totally orphaned.  He said no pressure, whatever decision she makes, it will be the right one.

Shaoshang began to understand the sacrifice of the He.  Standing in the way of the last wish of the heroic General He made Shaoshang feel so guilty.

She cried in front of Buyi, asking him why she was always give the worst fate.

Her official breakup with A-Yao was heartbreaking.  He did everything to make her not break up but she felt so guilty.

The Cheng officially went to the Luo to break the betrothal.  Still, Yao refused to accept it.

Shaoshang had a quick word with Ayao and used emotional blackmail.  She reminded him that General He was the person he admired most because he had always time for A Yao.  Now it was A Yao’s turn to make General He peaceful in the afterlife.  So sad. Cryfest.

Shaoshang gave A Yao advice.  She told him to look after and really love Zhaojun but it does not mean he had to take her shit.  If Shaojun makes a mistake, he had to tell her off and not let her get away with murder.

A Yao announced the end of the engagement and asked the Chengs to treat him as a nephew and for Shaoshang to think of him as a brother.

Shaoshang became the object of gossip.

And Buyi heard it from Lady Ruyang who was visiting the Ling Yi’s mansion with Princess YuChang.

Buyi asked Lady Ruyang if she knew why the Emperor cut off his salary by six months?

Lady Ruyang immediately said that Buyi should not threaten to kill her.

But Buyi said he did not threaten her, he was just saying that the Emperor is fair and strict with moral code.  And whoever gossips about an engagement which was the edict of the Emperor is punishable by death.

The Cheng Family was invited by the Emperor to the sacrificial ceremony at Mount Tugao.

General Cheng was happy to accept as it would probably cheer Shaoshang up.

Shaoshang was so sad but Qiqi was there to try to liven her up a bit.  She gossip about who was present at the ceremony.

There was the Fifth Princess, who was spoilt rotten by her parents because she was born after the war.  The Fifth Princess was great friends with Wang Ling.

There was also the Third Princess who was a daughter of Noble Consort Yue.  She likes her bling.

The Second Princess is the most reliable and tries to control her sisters’ extravagance and arrogance.

Shaoshang became sadder when she saw A Yao arrived with Zhaojun.

Episode 22

Cheng Shao Gong was doing divination when Ban Jia stumbled upon him.

They had an instant rapport.  They then witnessed Yuan Chen being chased by a hoard of girls.  One of them was Cheng Yang who stood behind.

Ban JIa seemed to have fallen for her at first sight but she was only in love with Yuan Chen who had not given her any encouragement.

Meanwhile, Shaoshang went to find somewhere quiet to stay and found a tower.

She was fascinated with the intricate design of Yanhui tower.  She kept climbing and climbing until she reach the top of the tower.  Looking from the window above, she realised that everything is lovely.  There and then, she decided to cheer up as she was still her.

She then overheard someone talking about Lou Yao being married to the He Family.  The Emperor was apparently sorry for the Lou Family, so he is more lenient with the Lou and even turned a blind eye to Grand Tutor Lou’s interfering with officials with ordinary birth under the Eastern Palace’s influence.

She heard that they were planning to set up the Eastern Palace and put idiots which will make the Emperor so mad he will depose the Crown Prince from his ascendancy to the throne.

Shaoshang knew that she was listening to a conspiracy so she tried to get away but she dropped her jade token which broke in half.

She was then taken by Ling Buyi into the roof and they fell and hung by a thread.  Buyi told her to hold on tightly to him as he help on with one hand into the roof of the tower while they were dangling from a very high position.

He later told her to forget what she heard and not to mention to anyone where she had been.

Meanwhile, Qiqi and Cheng Song are going to be a couple.

Cheng Song had had a crush on Qiqi for a long time.  He finally told her to take responsibility for having seen his private parts (just top of his leg) LOL

Episode 23

The Emperor was determined to matchmake his beloved foster son, Ling Buyi, to Cheng Shao Shang so he invited the family to the palace.

They more or less see what Buyi saw in Shao Shang.  She is an innocent girl without any guile.  She is what you see is what you get.  She is full of life with a smartness not learned from schooling.

Episode 24

This is a very blood-boiling episode.

Ling Buyi asked the Emperor during the banquet to act as his father and offer marriage to Cheng Shaoshang.

Cheng Shaoshang was shocked but not as petrified as her parents.

Yuanyi went overboard in describing how unsuitable her daughter was for Ling Buyi.  She said that her daughter was so uncouth, doesn’t listen to instructions, she does her own thing without any thought for others.  She added that if Shaoshang had not been her daughter, she would never in a million years allow her Shaoshang to marry into the Cheng family.

Poor Shaoshang heard every insult her mother was spouting.

The Emperor was shocked but asked Shaoshang if what her mother said was correct.

Shaoshang immediately said that her mother spoke the truth.  She is indeed unruly and ill-educated.

She told Ling Buyi that she was not on par with his excellence; she does not listen to others, she will not conform, she will do her own thing so she wanted to know if Ling Buyi still wanted to marry her.

Ling Buyi looked at her seriously, with his heart on his sleeve.  He said of course.

Episode 25

Shaoshang was woken up early by Liangfang telling her that Ling Buyi was waiting to take her to A Yao and Zhaojun’s wedding.

The wedding was uncomfortable as Wang Ling and Lou Li gossiped nonstop and loudly of Shaoshang being dumped by her fiance to marry someone else.

Wang Yan Jie, Lou Ben’s wife, felt rather perturbed and sorry for Shaoshang so she more or less warned Ling Buyi that Shaoshang was being bullied.

Now that they were engaged, Ling Buyi’s protective instinct had multiplied to the nth power.  So he had the ladies’ corner surrounded by the Black Helmet guards and put the fright on the gossiping women led by Wang Ling and Lou Li.  He told them that instead of gossiping why not get used to calling a couple of women who had been taken by their father as new concubines.

Episode 26

Lord Ruyang was tasked by the Emperor to deliver Buyi’s dowry to the Marquis of Quling’s manor.  He found a very unsophisticated girl who was very charming and straightforward talker.

He learned that she was Cheng Shaoshang. Talking with her made him realised a few things in his own life.

He had promised his domineering wife and spoilt granddaughter that he will convinced Cheng Shaoshang to break up with Ling Buyi.  Instead, he ended up telling Shaoshang not to break up her engagement to Buyi.

When he got back to his wife and Princess Yuchang, they started at him immediately if he accomplished what he had set out to do.  The two women just went on and on so Lord Ruyang told Lady Ruyang that he will be divorcing her and that his decision was final.  He also told his granddaughter who was going out of control to get married to someone else or become a nun,  He said that she can never be able to compete with Cheng Shaoshang so forget about Ling Buyi.

Cheng Shaoshang was rather disappointed when Ling Buyi did not show with the dowry.

The Chengs were having dinner when her brothers started gossiping about Ling Buyi and how he seemed to be taking Shaoshang for granted already.

Then suddenly, the Black Helmet guards surrounded their garden and then strode Ling Buyi.

Ling Buyi greeted Shaoshang first who was rather alarmed, just like everyone else at the Cheng household, by the frightening presence of the guards.

But Buyi was all smiling, as if really glad to be part of the family.  They were all looking at him rather alarmed especially when he told them a story to break the ice.  The story was rather a dark humour which shocked the Chengs even more.

But then Grandma Cheng turned up and she was all over Ling Buyi.

The following day, Shaoshang, her brothers and their father had just come back from a very jolly shopping spree.  They were prevented from entering their own manor because Buyi had arranged an official checkpoint at the manor gate.

Buyi was very proud of himself telling them that now they are family, their safety is his utmost priority.

Episode 27

Shao Shang wanted a lie-in and told the one trying to wake her up that she wanted to sleep a little bit more.  She did not expect to be bundled up and carried into the yard.

She was surprised to find every single one from Quling mansion in the yard looking all sweaty and bothered.

Ling Buyi unraveled her from the quilt which she was wrapped like a sausage.  He then expected her to do exercises and martial art training as well.

He said that only when the family is healthy can everything prosper.

If Shao Shang thought her mother was authoritarian, Ling Buyi was on another level.

Everyone knew it.

Buyi controlled everything, what they do during training and what they can eat or drink.

General Cheng was telling Shaoshang that he find Buyi to be expecting a lot from all of them.

It just got too much for everyone, they all abandoned Shaoshang in the guise of allowing her to have some intimate moments with Buyi.

Shaoshang escaped to meet up with Qiqi.  They ended up in a bar drinking.

Shaoshang moaned continuously about Ling Buyi as they both got drunker and drunker.

Qiqi said that if you do not like someone, you just won’t like him, ever.  She then asked Shaoshang if she really didn’t like Buyi.

Shaoshang asked her how would she know if she really like someone.

Qiqi said to close her eyes; the person she sees in her mind’s eye is the person she likes.

Shaoshang tried and then opened her eyes and right staring at her was Ling Buyi.  To make sure that he was real, she pinched him and then patted his cheek.  He then disappeared.  He was actually behind her.  He carried her out of the drinking establishment and brought her back to Quling Mansion.

General Cheng and Yuanyi saw Buyi carrying Shaoshang.  They told her that they are aware that they are engaged but still not married so it is unseemly to be too familiar with each other.

Buyi said that he understand but he was powerless to put Shaoshang down on her feet on the ground.  To prove his point he stretched both his arms.  They can see that Shaoshang was clinging to Buyi like a limpet.

Shaoshang then screamed, commanding Buyi to move on as if he was her horse.  Both parents surrendered and told Buyi to bring Shaoshang to her bedroom.

Meanwhile,  Cheng Song had to deal with the unruly Qiqi in Buyi’s super deluxe carriage.

Qiqi was really getting more violent and kicked Song in the groin.

Song told her that her aggression might make him unable to have children in the future.  But still, he tried to subdue her as she challenged him to try.  Song kissed her.

Qiqi was shocked for a second but acquiesced immediately to the kissing.

The next morning, Shaoshang was woken by Liangfang telling her that Ling Buyi carried her home.

She was shocked as she can’t remember anything.  Suddenly, a very tender loving looking Buyi was there with a hungover soup.

He also had with him a bottle of wine.   Buyi told that he especially had an Imperial sommelier concoct a plum wine with only 10 percent volume of alcohol. She would not be getting drunk immediately from it.  It would just give her the taste of alcohol. He said that he was not constraining her from drinking.

Shaoshang said she doesn’t like it.

Buyi seemed to know her too well because he said that he knows she was being contrary.  Despite wanting something, she would refuse it if it comes from him.

Shaoshang did not bother to deny it.  She said that he was too full on, it was her house, not his, it was her family, not his so he needs to butt out.

She continued to say that his love is suffocating her.  He is oppressive.  He makes decisions without consulting her like asking the Emperor to marry him to her.  He never asked if she likes him.

Buyi was very upfront and asked her if she did not have any feelings for him at all.

Shaoshang did not really answer it. But she said he was so authoritarian and she could not bear a life like that.

When Buyi asked what life she wanted.

She quickly said, “A life without you.”  😭😭😭.

They were actually both shocked by what she uttered.

Buyi asked if she really meant it.

She said more than he will ever know.  She then told him to get his guards and leave her house.  Sever their relationship.

Buyi rather hopelessly agreed.

Shaoshang was not relieved.  She was actually very unhappy.  Then she heard from Liangfang how Buyi patiently cleaned her up while she was throwing up.  She even became violent, she was so out of control, Liangfang was afraid Ling Buyi would kill her.

Instead, Ling Buyi held a vigil looking after Shaoshang who eventually had a good sleep on top of Ling Buyi.

Shaoshang was enthralled by what she heard.  She went to her parents to consult them about Buyi.

Her father said that Ling Buyi had done nothing wrong.  He also reminded her that there is no perfect marriage, to begin with.  You have to work on it to make it how you want it to be.

Her parents said that if she doesn’t really like Ling Buyi, they can give up their current life now and move to the countryside to become farmers.  They would do anything for her and support any decision she makes.

They asked her if she really does not want to marry Buyi.

She had to think about it first.

She started to remember bits and pieces of how Buyi protected her in the past.  Far from being violent in front of her, he had always been gentle and kind.  She also realised that she always felt safe with him.

She run back to her long-suffering parents and announced her decision of marrying Buyi after all.

End of Part 1

Click here for Love Like The Galaxy Part 2:   Episodes 28 – 56

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