Following the Northern Princess’s hint, scouts discovered traces of the Northern army’s movements. According to reconnaissance, this appeared to be the largest hidden Northern army unit.
When the information reached Nanyang, urgent overnight discussions were held. General Wei decided to take advantage of their advance intelligence by secretly deploying troops to launch an attack and deal a heavy blow to the enemy forces.
Some generals disagreed, since Northern envoys were in Jianye for negotiations, and major conflicts should be avoided during this period.
General Wei berated them harshly in response.
General Wei Cong never believed the peace talks would yield results. When Lu Yun analyzed that the Northern Kingdom was hiding tens of thousands of troops preparing to surround Nanyang, General Wei decided they couldn’t let moral high ground prevent them from protecting their interests.
The victors write history, and with the imperial court far away, Wei Cong held supreme command of Nanyang’s military. With one order from General Wei, the entire camp began preparing to follow him out of the city to ambush the enemy.
Before departing, training in the military camp continued as usual. Luo Lingyu and other noble ladies came to the camp representing the gentry women, bringing food to comfort the soldiers – homemade pastries and osmanthus cakes made by the ladies themselves.
Luo Lingyu originally smiled sweetly, playing the role of a kind and generous noblewoman, moving through the camp with her maids to distribute the wrapped pastries. They had made many items using the previously picked osmanthus flowers, and these cakes were among them. But when Luo Lingyu heard bits and pieces from the soldiers, and then got confirmed news from Lu Yun, her smiling face fell after returning to Lu Yun’s tent.
Standing behind the desk organizing pastries, her crimson lips pouted high enough to hang an oil lamp, looking quite adorable.
Holding a book scroll and sitting behind a small table watching her, the young lord’s features were graceful and refined. His dark eyes blinked as he tilted his head, his jade-white fingers long and elegant as they gripped the scroll.
Lu Yun said lazily: “With your lips pouted so high, who has made our Yu’er sister so unhappy?”
Luo Lingyu: “Hmph!”
Lu Yun glanced at her sideways, raising an eyebrow and making a sound through his nose: “Hmm?”
Luo Lingyu paused, raised her face and put on a fake smile. Her autumn eyes sparkled as she said with false sincerity: “Don’t slander me, how could I be unhappy? Brother Xuechen came to Nanyang with grand ambitions for our country. I’m just a common girl blessed by your protection, grateful for your kindness. How dare I be dissatisfied? Brother Xuechen is about to leave, so I came to bring food and drinks. How virtuous of me!”
With her affected gracious speech, combined with her sarcastic tone, fluttering eyes, and twisting posture… Lu Yun smiled, knowing this little woman was being jealous again.
Who knows how much she was resenting him inside.
Lu Yun chuckled softly: “Let brother teach sister something: in the future when pretending to be gracious and virtuous, could sister pay attention to her eyes? Your words sound nice but your eyes are so wide. I can see you’re about to explode with anger – who do you think you’re fooling?”
Luo Lingyu: “…”
Embarrassed and angry, she suddenly threw down the package she was holding. Lady Luo puffed up her cheeks and angrily slapped the table: “My beloved is going somewhere so dangerous! Knowing he faces deadly peril, yet still walking straight into danger, as if afraid of not dying fast enough. So generous, disregarding life and death, heart only for country and not family… Am I wrong to be angry?”
Lu Yun’s eyes suddenly brightened as he stared at her steadily. He repeated: “Your… beloved?”
Though it was a normal phrase, when he said it softly with eyes overflowing with light and spirit, it immediately became ambiguous.
Luo Lingyu froze, then became shy under his loving gaze. She suddenly turned away, covering her face and pretending to cry: “You’re bullying me, wuu wuu wuu!”
Lu Yun: “…”
Luo Lingyu sobbed coquettishly: “I knew it, what a terrible man, words sweeter than songs. National affairs are national affairs, love is love, men always keep them separate and refuse to mix them. Someone wants to sacrifice himself for the country, yet won’t marry me. His mouth is honeyed but his heart is a sword, deceiving me without taking responsibility. Such a bad person… wuu wuu wuu, I’m so foolish, I even helped him win people’s hearts, bringing food and drinks to his camp comrades. Once he gets what he wants, he’ll abandon me.”
“There’s no lord in this world who truly cherishes and loves me!”
Lu Yun: “…”
He watched as the lady acted coy and affected to the extreme, yet because of her beauty, it wasn’t annoying. Rather, her eyes peeking out from her sleeves, blinking like raindrops on clear lotus, fresh and charming, vivacious and lively, captivated his heart and soul. Her nonsensical words became more and more unreasonable, yet her every expression was alluring… Lu Yun’s throat moved as he suddenly turned away awkwardly and coughed.
Lu Yun: “Know your limits, don’t get carried away.”
Luo Lingyu was annoyed seeing his proper and aloof manner, extremely displeased and wanting to bite him. So the more stern his face became as he spoke, the more she twisted her body and sobbed.
Lu Yun watched her for a long while, seeing she wasn’t afraid of his anger at all and was deliberately provoking his limits. Perhaps he had been too lenient with her?
Lu Yun’s cold expression faded as he slowly smiled and stood up. He walked over, holding back laughter as he put his hands on her shoulders to comfort her: “Alright, stop making a fuss. I know what I’m doing, how could I go to my death? If I died and left behind such a world-toppling beauty of a sister, how could I be willing?”
Luo Lingyu’s heart bubbled with joy at his praise of her beauty as world-toppling — though she knew she was beautiful, she still vainly wanted to hear such a handsome young lord praise her.
She couldn’t help smiling behind her sleeves, but trembled her shoulders, not letting Lu Yun see.
As she twisted coyly, her struggling hand was caught by the young lord. Lu Yun’s face changed as quickly as turning a page – previously cold-faced, now he grabbed her hand with a smile on his lips, and even bent down to press his lips to the lady’s delicate fingers, kissing them one by one. Luo Lingyu let out a “ya!”, her fingers tingling, a creeping numbness climbing up her tailbone.
She nearly collapsed weakly in Lu Yun’s arms.
She turned her head shyly, meeting Lu Yun’s smiling eyes. His lips pressed against her fingers and she couldn’t pull her hand away even if she tried. Lu Yun raised an eyebrow, his deep eyes brilliant beneath, gradually enticing her with an increasingly frivolous and romantic look. Luo Lingyu’s face reddened from his gaze and finger kisses, letting out another “ya!”.
Lu Yun, like a prodigal son using his looks to seduce a good family’s daughter into depravity: “I haven’t even touched a finger of sister’s yet, haven’t let sister experience soul-consuming ecstasy, how could I be willing to die? Yu’er sister can rest completely assured, even just for you, brother wouldn’t dare die.”
Luo Lingyu pouted coquettishly, her glance teasing him: “…What do you mean ‘haven’t touched my finger’? Aren’t you touching right now?”
Lu Yun’s eyebrow raised again as he looked at her deeply, light flowing in his eyes, revealing a somewhat helpless expression — this was the downside of not being married. Every time he said something suggestive or made risqué jokes with Yu’er sister, she basically didn’t understand. The lady’s mind was simple and straightforward, unable to catch his other meanings, making him lose interest in teasing her.
Lu Yun sighed: “Should have agreed to marriage earlier.”
Luo Lingyu glanced at him mockingly: “Whose fault is that? I nearly cried begging before, yet you still said ‘love and marriage should be viewed separately’. I urged and pressured you, but you avoided the topic, refusing to properly agree to marry me. Regretful now? Someone who can’t even get a divorce letter, hah.”
Lu Yun gazed over at her.
They were both rarely seen beauties in the world. Outstanding beauty naturally breeds love, each taking what they need. So in their exchanged glances, they both subtly and ambiguously enticed each other, unmoving, wanting the other to bow to their charm.
First they flirted while talking, then as they spoke Lu Yun pulled that awkward lady into his arms. He lowered his head to tease her, and sure enough she was fake crying – after he said a few words and nuzzled her forehead, she broke into a smile through her tears, giving his chest an angry punch with her fist. The young lord held her, their passion intertwining, and somehow after a while he lowered his head to taste the rouge on her lips.
His hands grew restless too, after all there weren’t many layers of clothing.
Snow peaks towered high, cherry lips trembling.
The Southern kingdom’s summers were famous for their “Red Agate Sweet Mountains” – made with pastry shaped into snow-white mountains, then crushed cherries sprinkled on top. A layer of sweet cherry juice poured over the pastry, red and white reflecting each other, simple and fresh, beautiful, delicious, and cooling.
Lu Yun’s eyes darkened as he smiled: “…Truly beautiful, delicious, and cooling.”
Luo Lingyu was utterly embarrassed, shoving him hard, refusing to let him have his way. She panted, autumn mist descending – though the tent shouldn’t be hot, her raised neck had developed a light sweat from Lu Yun’s actions. This man extremely loved her two mounds of flesh, impossible to push away. Even through clothes his techniques were like this, if he actually saw them… Luo Lingyu gasped: “You really are a scoundrel!”
Lu Yun lowered his head and laughed, his laughter husky: “But only for you. Sister is like my very life, I truly can’t be without you. If sister isn’t happy, how could I be happy? Thinking of not seeing sister for many days after I leave, my heart is so lost. I hope sister remembers brother’s goodness today, and writes more letters to brother when we can’t meet.”
He panted as he kissed her jade neck, murmuring: “I long to hear sister call me ‘Brother Xuechen’ more. When you call me that, brother is easily aroused by you…”
Luo Lingyu was shocked: …Has this man gone mad?!
His manner truly frightened her a bit. Though Luo Lingyu did want to seduce Lu Yun, but Lu Third Young Master’s willingly debauched and extremely frivolous face… she understood now – that night leaving Jianye, though Lu Third Young Master was drunk, it was actually just that he usually restrained himself when sober. Once this man let loose, he was too scary…
As he held her in passionate embrace, she was unsettled by the deeper meaning behind his sweet words, always feeling something was off.
Taking advantage of Lu Yun’s distraction, Luo Lingyu stomped hard on his foot. He grunted in pain, his grip on her wrist loosening slightly, and Luo Lingyu jumped out of his arms, leaping ten feet away. Luo Lingyu steadied her frightened soul while touching her chest, seeing Lu Yun wasn’t even angry. He just gazed at her darkly, eyes downcast under his lashes, his gaze falling on her disheveled clothes.
Luo Lingyu: “…”
She immediately turned sideways, refusing to let him look. Luo Lingyu said shyly: “Brother Xuechen, you’ve changed, you’re too good at sweet talk now.”
Lu Yun was surprised for a moment, then his peach blossom eyes curved slightly. He snorted with laughter, looking down on Luo Lingyu’s skill: “You call this ‘sweet talk’?”
Luo Lingyu: …If this isn’t sweet talk, what is?
Lu Yun gazed at her languidly: “Good sister, brother doesn’t dare be too ‘sweet talking’ with you yet, afraid of scaring you. After we’re married…” his voice lowered as he gave her a meaningful look without speaking, his eyes full of “you know what I mean”.
Luo Lingyu was slightly embarrassed: …Such normal words, but coming from his mouth, the meaning always felt strange.
But Lu Yun didn’t explain further, and women are indeed naturally not as quick to understand certain things as men. Luo Lingyu couldn’t figure it out no matter how she thought about it, yet suspected Lu Yun was taking advantage of her. To avoid losing out, she could only swallow her anger, giving him suspicious glances while avoiding the topic.
And because of Lu Yun’s distraction this way, when Lu Yun really left, Luo Lingyu only felt somewhat lost and melancholic, not particularly sad or heartbroken. Though her heart was so sour it could produce vinegar, she generally supported Lu Yun’s bigger picture. Protecting home and country, pushing back enemy troops, was ultimately a good thing. In this aspect of understanding, Luo Lingyu rarely maintained perspective.
…
Lu Yun arranged for several subordinates to stay at the Luo family home just in case. But Luo Lingyu rarely went out these days, and with no battles in Nanyang city, the Luo family was completely safe, so these guards gradually relaxed, feeling nothing would happen. Who knew what Luo Lingyu was busy with, but the lady who loved going out to make friends and play was truly staying quietly in her room tinkering with something.
Two days passed.
Suddenly one night, after dark, a large fire broke out at the Luo residence. The flames weren’t extinguished in time and quickly engulfed the entire compound. The guards Lu Yun left behind saw the flames reach Lady Luo’s courtyard, and thinking of their lord’s care for Miss Luo, several guards quickly helped the courtyard servants fight the fire.
Buckets of water were poured down amidst mixed voices, unable to clearly hear what was being said or argued. That night servants ran about in chaos throughout the Luo residence. Among them were several unusual figures hidden among the servants, shouting and rushing about with everyone else, but their steps gradually approached Luo Lingyu’s courtyard. However it was too chaotic for anyone to notice.
Fire everywhere, trees in the courtyard caught flame, maids and servants pale-faced as they poured water to fight the fire. Luo Lingyu was called out from her room, standing anxiously with her maid Lingyu at the fence edge where smoke couldn’t reach, waiting. Lingyu constantly comforted her lady, when suddenly she closed her mouth and collapsed with a thud.
Luo Lingyu turned her head in shock, only seeing a black shadow pouncing forward, a pair of familiar eyes reflected in her own. Her heart was terrified to the extreme and she opened her mouth to scream. But her neck was struck from behind, and being a weak woman, she immediately went limp and collapsed, caught in the arms of the person in front.
Fan Qingchen, a noble young lord with proper gentleman’s bearing, actually used such methods, in this situation tightly embracing the unconscious Luo Lingyu.
He held her fully in his arms, lowering his head to lightly smell her hair, revealing a smile. His eyes showed an almost bizarre madness as he trembled and murmured: “…Lu Yun doesn’t treat you so well after all, sister seems to have gotten thinner.”
Fan Qingchen said softly: “Finally seeing you makes my longing for sister worthwhile.”
The fifteen-year-old lady’s figure had developed well, her beautiful face increasingly bewitching. That thousand charms and hundred allures would only attract more young lords in the future. Fan Qingchen held her sideways in his arms, covering her head and face with his cloak, hiding the beauty in his arms.
Hearing servant voices from the courtyard approaching, Fan Qingchen didn’t waste time – after scooping the lady into his arms, he exchanged a look with his following servants. Several servants immediately followed Fan Qingchen, protecting their lord as he boldly left the Luo residence without anyone knowing.
Who could have imagined Fan Qingchen would be so bold?
An hour later, the few guards arranged by Lu Yun to protect Luo Lingyu, who had just been fighting the fire, returned but couldn’t find Luo Lingyu anywhere. Suddenly there was crying throughout the courtyard, and cold sweat broke out all over the guards — terrible, they had lost Miss Luo! Their lord would kill them!
Who in Nanyang was so bold as to kidnap someone jointly protected by their lord and the Fan family?
Especially with Lady Luo’s looks and beauty… her chances of encountering danger were many times that of ordinary ladies. What man could walk away after seeing her?
Thinking this, several guards panicked and split up – some went to search and pursue, while others anxiously contacted Lu Yun to report their mistake and ask what to do.
…
Three days later, after marching over a hundred li, following the scouts’ directions, the Southern army found that extremely large Northern army. The Northern army was camped in the mountains, well-equipped and ready at any time. To avoid alerting them, the Southern army killed the Northern army’s scouts and carefully made camp, discussing how to launch a surprise attack.
The generals and Military Advisor Lu made plans together, listening to Military Advisor Lu’s detailed strategy. Better early than late – night attack would catch the enemy off guard.
Hidden in the mountain forest with green leaves hanging on their heads and bodies to conceal their movements, General Wei said: “Listen to Military Advisor Lu’s arrangements. For these kinds of schemes and strategies, following his lead isn’t wrong.”
Wei Cong glanced at Lu Yun’s handsome face: “Military Advisor Lu, I’m giving you a chance to prove yourself. When we return to Jianye later, don’t say I suppressed you and didn’t let you make a name in the army.”
Lu Yun: “I certainly won’t fail this mission.”
Everyone lay motionless in the mountain forest for several hours, just waiting for sunset.
It was at this time that a messenger from Nanyang came specifically to see Lu Yun. Lu Yun’s heart skipped a beat, and after saying something to General Wei and the others, he went to meet the person in the tent. Lu Yun stood in the tent reading a letter – it was from Lu Xian—
Lu Xian’s dream circumstances.
The dates matched reality.
Lu Yun’s expression suddenly became strange as his fingertips rubbed over the words “Prince of Hengyang”, his eyes staring for a long time at “Tenth month, Prince and cousin become engaged. Following year second month, they marry.”
Lu Yun’s eyes suddenly turned cold.
Besides this letter, Lu Xian sent another letter telling him the Northern envoys had entered Jianye and both sides were meeting amicably.
Lu Yun directly ignored this letter. He took out and looked again at the part about the Prince of Hengyang from the first letter. An indescribable rage suddenly welled up in his heart, extremely intense.
It was actually the Prince of Hengyang!
So that’s why second brother’s dream was strange, with parts unclear!
It was actually the Prince of Hengyang!
Then Lu Yun suddenly understood why, over the past half year, second brother had been friendly with the Prince of Hengyang. What Lu Xian hadn’t said in the letter, Lu Yun deduced, and the more he thought about it the angrier he became—
This person would steal away Luo Lingyu, yet in reality he was allying with this person!
Standing in the tent reading the letter for a long while, Lu Yun’s cold expression made the messenger anxious. Lu Yun suddenly asked: “My cousin didn’t send any letters?”
Messenger: “No…”
Lu Yun slowly raised his head.
He stared at the messenger for a long time, quietly tricking him: “Before I left, my cousin and I agreed she would write to me every day. Now I haven’t received a single letter, what’s the reason? Is someone withholding letters to target me?”
No one dared take on such a crime. The messenger fell to his knees, and once tricked by Lu Yun, told the truth with a miserable face: “This subordinate dares not deceive my lord! Lady Luo truly didn’t write any letters, but there is indeed a letter from the Luo family…”
There was news in Nanyang saying Luo Lingyu seemed to have disappeared, but unconfirmed rumors weren’t widespread. The messenger feared delaying military matters, and after receiving the letter from the Luo family, hesitated to show Lu Yun. But now that Lu Yun had tricked him, he handed over the letter he had been hesitating to deliver all at once.
Lu Yun read the letter in three glances, his fingers gripping it turning white—
She had been kidnapped!
For a moment his mind went blank, his soul seemed to leave his body.
The messenger worriedly asked: “My lord? My lord, are you alright?”
Lu Yun maintained his composure, but in an instant, the thought of leaving immediately to find her arose in his heart. The night was long and full of uncertainty – without even knowing who the enemy was, how could he let Luo Lingyu remain in danger?
His heart was full of anxiety, his face gradually turning pale. The messenger said several things before Lu Yun barely regained his senses. He forced himself to stay calm, quickly calculating his timing. Tonight’s surprise attack – as long as circumstances were favorable, he would leave this place tomorrow. Before leaving he could set some plans and arrangements, or with someone as skilled at warfare as General Wei, his presence here wasn’t absolutely necessary…
He had to go find Luo Lingyu – with war between the two countries, Lu Yun had a premonition this war would explode, he couldn’t let Luo Lingyu be lost outside!
Murderous intent arose in his eyes as he expressionlessly put away the letter and went to plead his case with General Wei.
The soldiers witnessed the mountain-chested General Wei and that refined, romantic Military Advisor Lu argue earth-shatteringly. General Wei jumped in rage: “With battle ahead, how can you act on emotion so childishly? You’re a military advisor who won’t follow the army, you want to fight an ambush yourself? I’d be crazy to give you troops!”
Lu Yun calmly said: “I absolutely won’t delay military matters.”
Wei Cong: “Then why exactly do you need to leave? Have you discovered something we missed, are there other Northern armies hidden elsewhere?”
Lu Yun was silent for a moment, then said: “I don’t wish to deceive the General – there must be other Northern armies hidden elsewhere, but their numbers definitely aren’t as large as here, not enough to pose a threat to us. I need to leave for some private matters, please understand, General.”
Wei Cong saw his attitude was so determined, and after cursing a few times, said coldly: “…Good thing you’re not under my command, if I had a soldier like you under me, I’d kill you first!”
Lu Yun said nothing.
He was willing to do things for country and family, but his nature was equally selfish. He wasn’t willing to let someone he cared about come to harm while he was risking his life. If something happened to Luo Lingyu, even if this great battle at Nanyang was won, to Lu Yun it would still be a loss.
He had to go find her.
…
In the jolting carriage, she dreamed hazily.
In the dream she seemed to dream of Lu Yun, seemed to dream of raging war. Fire and smoke floated around her, cannon fire shook the heavens, over half the soldiers on the ground dead or wounded. Under the dark heavy sky, rivers of blood flowed in the human world, she dreamed of Lu Yun stumbling about, searching everywhere for her, calling her name.
She too searched among the corpses, looking everywhere.
Through endless thick fog, Lu Yun shouted harshly: “Luo Lingyu! Lingyu—”
Kneeling on the ground, covered in filth, the lady raised her face, staring blankly in all directions, also terrified: “Lu Yun, Lu Yun—”
…
Her head splitting with pain, she woke from the dream, unable to come to her senses for a moment.
Feeling the carriage swaying, Luo Lingyu gradually looked at her surroundings. She was still rubbing her forehead, wiping the sweat from her brow. She thought about how she worried day and night, always fearing Lu Yun would die – after hearing Lu Xian’s dream, she kept being afraid. Being afraid so much and unable to see him, she had this dream…
Suddenly Luo Lingyu looked down, staring in shock at the red clothes she wore. Bright red and shining, cloud silk finery, jewels and precious ornaments. These clothes… clothes… how strange, like what a lady would wear for her wedding?
A clear male voice came from beside her: “Awake?”
Luo Lingyu’s head snapped up, her face turning white as paper when she saw this person — her gaze met Fan Qingchen’s.
Fan Qingchen looked at her, laughing darkly: “Sister Luo, long time no see.”
Luo Lingyu’s memories flooded back as she recalled being kidnapped: “…Where are you taking me, what do you want to do?”
Fan Qingchen leaned forward, seeing her press against the carriage wall yet still try to retreat, his eyes darkened and expression turned slightly cold. But it was just for an instant – he put on a gentle smile again. The lady’s shoulders trembled in fear, but he didn’t mind, instead reaching out to grab her wrist. Holding Luo Lingyu’s hand, Fan Qingchen lowered his head to lightly kiss her fingers one by one.
Luo Lingyu’s face was deathly pale, feeling utterly nauseated, nearly fainting from fear.
She heard Fan Qingchen smile and say: “Sister Luo is truly cold-hearted, coming to Nanyang without telling me. What can I do with you? No matter how much sister hurts me, I will always cherish and love sister. I just… want to marry sister.”
“I still hold our marriage contract, even without bowing to parents, we can still have a wedding ceremony.” He reached out to embrace her neck, pulling her into his arms. This young lord lowered his head, pressing his forehead against hers intimately, saying softly: “Sister Luo, you’re too mischievous, always avoiding me, truly breaking my heart. But no matter, you will eventually be mine… I am so good to you, you will one day understand my goodness.”
Luo Lingyu’s face darkened: I don’t want to marry this madman!
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