Lu Xian silently watched them discuss whether Zhou Zibo should leave. If Zhou Zibo was indeed the leader of the common people and the disciple and adopted child of the scholar Zhou Tan, her reputation would be sufficient. She could seek assistance from the common people for weapons and supplies. From Zhou Zibo’s actions in Jianye over the past half year, her competence in handling matters was evident.
The downside was Zhou Zibo’s weak and sickly constitution – whether she could endure long journeys was questionable.
Another concern was that the northern envoys, along with some interest groups in Jianye, were watching Prince Chen. After Zhou Zibo left Jianye, would she be able to avoid potential assassination attempts?
Zhou Yangling quietly listened to their doubts about her. When they finished speaking, she responded gently: “Please don’t worry. Though I am weak, it’s only an illness I’ve had since birth. Common ailments don’t affect me much and won’t impact long journeys.”
“As for assassination attempts, they will surely come. But who the hunters are remains unknown. If the prince helps me, perhaps I can help him in return, helping him identify his political enemies?”
Zhou Zibo spoke at a measured pace, discussing things calmly. Beside her, Prince Chen’s eyes were bright as he stared at her intently, completely forgetting about everyone else.
Lu Xian listened silently, gradually understanding the complexity of what they were discussing. This seemingly kind and modest young lord, who was actually quite naive, smiled self-deprecatingly, thinking that he wasn’t really a strategist after all. He could foresee crises but had difficulty solving them. However, as an observer, after looking at Zhou Zibo several times, he felt a sense of familiarity—
In his dream, Zhou Yangling and Luo Lingyu were known as the “Two Beauties of Jianye.” Luo Lingyu’s beauty was incomparable, while Zhou Yangling’s grace was like a natural landscape. As beautiful women often feel jealous of other beautiful women, Lu Xian’s cousin Luo harbored some jealousy and wariness towards Zhou Yangling, and their relationship wasn’t close.
With Zhou Yangling around, cousin Luo was rarely present. Because of this lack of connection, Lu Xian hadn’t seen much of Zhou Yangling in that dream. He had only glimpsed her from afar a few times, thinking this woman was extremely beautiful, as sickly as Xi Shi, with an air like a secluded orchid.
The Zhou Zibo he saw in reality was elegant and modest, with the bearing of a scholar. The young lord was handsome, like all the admired young men of the time. Though thin, the spirit and magnanimity in his features, and the unrestrained nature in his bearing, didn’t make him seem feminine at all.
Lu Xian felt familiar with the sight, yet he hadn’t recognized that the Zhou Zibo before him was actually the Zhou Yangling from his dream.
He hadn’t recognized it yet, and Prince Chen Liu Shu, who had never seen Zhou Yangling before, though he had some doubts at this time, still felt he was being delusional—how could someone like Zhou Lang… how could someone of Zhou Lang’s talent, what was he even hoping for?
With doubts in his heart, Liu Shu sent someone to Yicheng to investigate whether Zhou Tan had a disciple named Zhou Zibo. When the attendant was about to leave, Liu Shu added another question – what kind of person was Zhou Tan’s daughter Zhou Yangling, and whether it was possible… possible… Prince Chen didn’t finish his sentence, leaving the confused attendant to figure out his implied meaning.
However, regardless of what the investigation would reveal, over these two days, with the unanimous agreement of Prince Chen’s advisors, Zhou Yangling was to quietly leave Jianye. She planned to head south first to collect the supplies donated by her father’s followers, then take a detour north to play a game of cat and mouse with potential pursuers, and finally arrive safely in Nanyang to assist the northern troops.
This journey would be full of changes, requiring Zhou Yangling to adapt to circumstances. After discussing the relevant matters with others and setting the itinerary, on the day before her departure, she specifically visited the Lu family to meet Luo Lingyu’s younger sister, Luo Yunhuan. The young lady Luo Yunhuan reluctantly entrusted her with letters and gifts for her sister, asking Zhou Lang when her sister would return.
The young lady was melancholic, her eyes reddening as she rubbed them: “I’ve never been apart from my sister for so long. When she was here, I complained about her always managing me, but now that she’s gone, I worry about her and fear she’ll get into trouble.”
Zhou Yangling stroked her hair, speaking to the young lady not in a patronizing way as one would to a child, but sincerely as if talking to an adult: “I will not fail Huan’er’s trust.”
Luo Yunhuan was startled, looking up in surprise at this gentle-featured young lord, somewhat understanding why her sister had once been attracted to this young lord… Zhou Lang was gentle and well-mannered.
After Zhou Yangling finished these matters and drove back to the alley where the Zhou residence was located, the moon was cool as water, and the night was deep. Having worked all day and needing to travel far the next day, she was inevitably tired. However, when Zhou Yangling alighted from the carriage at the alley entrance and slowly walked back to the mansion with her servant, she saw under the pressing high walls and blue night light, a beautiful-featured young lord pacing back and forth outside her gate, frowning.
Prince Chen Liu Shu was pacing outside the Zhou residence, his brows furrowed, his face alternating between pale and flushed. When he looked up at the tree shadows extending from the wall top, his upturned face showed both focus and confusion.
Until a gentle voice of surprise sounded from behind: “Your Highness?”
Liu Shu startled, turning to see Zhou Lang. His face paled for a moment as he realized what foolish thing he was doing. When Zhou Lang’s gentle eyes looked at him, his face grew even paler, yet also suddenly flushed. He remained silent for a long while before saying softly: “Can’t, can’t, can’t sleep, taking a walk, just, just, just ended up here.”
He couldn’t let go of her, and after much hesitation, though knowing he shouldn’t, he still came.
After speaking, Liu Shu gave a self-mocking smile: whenever he talked to Zhou Lang, he became like a fool.
However, Zhou Yangling didn’t mock him. While the servant knocked on the door, she even invited him in for tea. But the Prince stepped back, looking at Zhou Lang as if seeing a flood or fierce beast, hastily shaking his head. Zhou Yangling’s eyes flickered slightly as she looked at him once, saying nothing. Since he wouldn’t come in, as she cupped her hands to bid farewell, the Prince gathered courage from behind: “Tomorrow, afraid, political enemies, might see, I, I can’t send you off… you, you be careful.”
Zhou Yangling replied gently: “Yes. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I have received much care from you in Jianye, so I should naturally repay you this time. Moreover, my political views align with yours, so I naturally want to help Lu Yun.”
Liu Shu nodded absent-mindedly.
Zhou Yangling bid farewell again, but once more she was called back by the person behind her. Back and forth, again and again, the ice-smart young lady realized something. The last time she turned to look at the youth behind her, her wrist in the sleeve that Prince Chen had grabbed clearly stiffened for a moment, but the Prince, absorbed in his own embarrassing thoughts, couldn’t notice.
Liu Shu silently took out a small sandalwood box carved with magnolias from his sleeve. When opened, inside quietly lay a sachet.
Liu Shu gave a brief, forced smile, his fingers pointing at the sachet, somewhat weakly: “When, when the master from Kaishanse Temple came to the palace to preach Buddhism, my mother, asked for it. I, took an extra one, for, for you. Inside, there’s a charm from the master, don’t, don’t open it. Otherwise, it won’t, work.”
Zhou Yangling accepted the sachet, her fingers brushing over the flowers embroidered on it. The embroidery was crude, but the thread and fabric were of the highest quality. With one touch, she guessed that the person who embroidered this sachet was a noblewoman of extremely high birth. Only noble ladies, who didn’t need to make a living from it, could have such poor embroidery skills. Combined with Prince Chen’s words, the answer was obvious – this sachet was embroidered by Prince Chen’s mother for him.
His mother had asked for the sachet for him, yet he gave it to her?
The calm lake of Zhou Yangling’s heart rippled with spring water and flowers. Under Liu Shu’s gaze, she bowed to him, saying softly: “Thank you for your care, Your Highness.”
A door closed between the two.
Liu Shu stood motionless at the door, his features delicate, his eyelashes very long, quietly watching the person behind the door. Just like every time before. Suppressing his feelings, hiding his feelings. But this time was different from before – when he looked at Zhou Lang, Zhou Lang didn’t turn away. Zhou Lang stood in the doorway, robes fluttering, similarly watching him.
“Bang.” The door closed completely.
That subtle, shy feeling that wanted to speak but couldn’t, was gently scattered by the harsh autumn wind in the alley.
Separated by a door, Liu Shu leaned against the wall, lowering his eyes in thought.
Zhou Yangling stood inside the door, absently fingering the sachet when she noticed its opening had been sealed. She hesitated for a moment but still had servants bring scissors to open the sachet. After opening it, the medicinal and floral fragrances wafted out, and when she opened the sachet to search, there was no so-called charm drawn by the master, but rather a red love bean lying in the fair-skinned young lady’s palm—
So his mother hadn’t asked for a charm to protect him, but had made a sachet, hoping he would give it to the lady he admired.
Looking down at this love bean, Zhou Yangling’s fingertips trembled slightly, her heart skipping a beat inappropriately.
Slowly leaning against the wall, the lady clutched the love bean in her hand, suddenly understanding those unspoken feelings, perceiving why that person had helped her so. Deep in the night with heavy dew, pacing outside the door, what was that person seeking? It was exactly that untimely yet heartfelt phrase—
My heart delights in you, both hoping you know and fearing you’ll know.
…
A wall between them, feelings hard to express.
However, inappropriately, the young lady frowned in confusion: did Prince Chen truly admire her, or… did he have a preference for men?
…
When Zhou Yangling was bidding farewell in Jianye, in the war-torn cities of the north, Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu had already set out to return to Nanyang. The Ruyang battle situation was handed over to Prince Hengyang to handle, while Lu Yun urgently needed to return to Nanyang to coordinate with the battle of Ruyang city and jointly annihilate the enemy. Rushing their journey, they traveled dozens of li by horse during the day, still staying at official post stations at night.
Luo Lingyu, feeling unwell, retired early.
Lu Yun routinely reviewed and handled government affairs, writing and responding to letters late into the night. When it got late, he returned to the quarters and lifted the bed curtain to see the young lady sleeping inside. Like a begonia under the spring night, her long hair scattered across the pillow, her cheeks flushed from deep sleep, half-buried in the brocade quilt. Such a disheveled, unconscious beauty, tempting to pluck.
Lu Yun’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he awkwardly turned his face away, letting down the curtain. Seeing her like this made his heart flutter uncontrollably. But he shouldn’t be so unrestrained—her injuries from his actions hadn’t healed yet, and her legs were still in pain; moreover, with official duties being so busy, Lu Yun still had reservations, fearing she might become pregnant at an inappropriate time.
He secretly regretted that day when he was bewitched and touched her, becoming addicted to the taste and unable to forget, thinking now that it wasn’t really a good thing.
Lu Yun fled the quarters in embarrassment, returning to the room arranged for him at the post station. After washing up, his mind was overly alert, and being just a door away, constantly thinking of someone, he couldn’t sleep at all. Lu Yun simply brewed tea to drink, while summoning his attendants to continue handling affairs.
The attendants who couldn’t sleep peacefully at night were suffering terribly, and the sleeping Luo Lingyu didn’t know that Lu Yun actually brewed tea by hand – she had never enjoyed the treatment of him brewing tea.
It started raining in the middle of the night. Opening the window, after the previous snow, winter was slowly arriving, and there was little greenery left outside. Lu Yun sat by the window, listening to the patter of rain and the bubbling of tea water on the stove when an attendant came in: “My lord, Fan Qingchen has been brought here.”
…
After several days, behind Luo Lingyu’s back, Lu Yun finally understood the story behind Luo Lingyu’s kidnapping. Unable to contain his anger, he naturally couldn’t let Fan Qingchen go, and also needed to question the Fan family of Nanyang about their purpose. Writing to Nanyang, the Fan family, knowing they were in the wrong, naturally backed down and admitted defeat. What surprised Lu Yun was that even the stubborn Fan Fourth Young Master Fan Qingchen didn’t resist this time.
Fan Qingchen accepted his defeat.
The rain fell steadily as Fan Qingchen was led in by attendants, seeing that handsome young lord sitting by the bed. The lord wore a blue robe, brewing tea beneath his hands, casting a casual glance his way, clearly wary of him yet not impulsively overbearing.
Fan Qingchen laughed self-mockingly and sat down.
Listening to Lu Yun speak of his negotiations with the Fan family and their compensation, Fan Qingchen remained silent. Lu Yun took out the marriage annulment letter from the Fan family and let Fan Qingchen see it. This arrogant young lord didn’t take him seriously, discussing and handling matters directly with his father, only notifying him after things were settled.
Fan Qingchen saw Lu Yun as a rival, but Lu Yun had always, from beginning to end, been talking with Fan Qingchen’s father, Lord Fan. Lu Yun didn’t take Fan Qingchen seriously, suffering the consequences of his actions. At the same time, this also made Fan Qingchen more angry.
After several days, Lu Yun had already calmed down. Seeing Fan Qingchen, he wouldn’t lose his composure in anger either. Lu Yun spoke distantly: “Lord Fan has already sent the marriage annulment letter, so from now on Lingyu has no connection with the Fan family. But to prevent any problems, I still need to take that marriage certificate from you, to prevent anyone from causing trouble. Your father said you stole that marriage certificate. It’s with you now, right?”
Fan Qingchen, his mind in a daze: “I can hand over the marriage certificate, I can annul the marriage…”
His voice lowered as he bowed his head. He didn’t continue for a long while, so Lu Yun quietly brewed his tea, so casual that the contempt in his bones was evident. Fan Qingchen suddenly raised his head, his eyes strangely bright. He stared at Lu Yun, his eyes full of red bloodshot, his expression somewhat maniacal and strange: “…what would you have me do? If you were me, what could you do? How am I inferior to you? If it was at the City God Temple that time, if you were there, could you have protected her? You’re also a scholar! Not a military commander! The opponent was the vanguard of the northern army! What could you do?!”
Lu Yun paused for a moment.
Yes, he was a civil official, not a military commander. His martial arts weren’t high, but his skills were at least at the level of being able to assassinate enemies and retreat safely… Perhaps because Lu Yun usually maintained a scholarly demeanor and had never fought with anyone in Nanyang, everyone had this misunderstanding.
Now facing the maniacal Fan Qingchen, Lu Yun glanced at him: “Why should I tell you?”
Fan Qingchen trembled: “I need to know the answer! If it were you, what would you do… tell me, and I’ll hand over the marriage certificate! In the future, I’ll disappear from Sister Luo’s sight, never bothering her again.”
Lu Yun looked at him, judging the truth and falsehood in his words. After a long while, Lu Yun finally said: “If it were me, when Ruyang city fell that day, I wouldn’t have left. How could I possibly go to the City God Temple?”
Fan Qingchen was stunned, then said sarcastically: “You’re quite the loyal and righteous one.”
Lu Yun curled his lip, continuing to provoke him: “If it were me, I wouldn’t need to kidnap her at all. Back in Nanyang, I would have made her willingly like me.”
Fan Qingchen’s eyes darkened: this paradox… comparing Lu Yun with Lu Yun himself, who was more capable. How could this be compared?
Fan Qingchen raged: “I’m talking about that night at the City God Temple! Why do you keep bringing up what happened before? Could it be that the famous Lu Yun, faced with the same situation as me that night, couldn’t have saved Sister Luo either?”
Lu Yun shook his head, seeming to find him ridiculous.
Under Fan Qingchen’s cold gaze, Lu Yun spoke slowly: “If I were at the City God Temple… my subordinate attendants wouldn’t dare lay hands on me. If I wanted to save someone, my subordinates could only obey, not resist. Knowing I admired her, yet still daring to act against me and take her away… such subordinates would deserve death.”
Fan Qingchen shuddered, his shoulders stiffening, his breathing rapid, realizing something.
Lu Yun lowered his eyes, speaking faintly: “Your attendants listen to your father’s words, listen to the Fan family’s words. You’re just an ordinary young lord of the Fan family, sheltered by the family, you can’t step out of the family’s shadow. I’m different from you, from the beginning, my affairs have always been decided by me alone.”
He was the only young master of the Lu family’s second branch, and from a young age, he had to set the rules for all matters big and small in the second branch. The head of the Jianye Lu family was naturally Lu Xiang, not Lu Yun’s father. After Lu Yun’s father passed away, the main family of the Lu clan, fearing idle talk and not lacking the small property of the second branch, naturally kept their distance from this young third master who had returned to Jianye. With the main family acting this way, the Lu family’s collateral branches naturally also avoided getting involved with the second branch. From childhood, the training, from childhood, having no one behind him but himself alone. The special growing environment made Lu Yun naturally solitary, lacking in security, while at the same time, making him accustomed to making his own decisions in everything.
Perhaps the early death of his parents had left him some benefits after all.
Fan Qingchen’s eyes darkened as he completely quieted down. So the difference was this great. One was a young master, one just an ordinary young lord. One made all his own decisions, one had never been in control of his own fate… Fan Qingchen’s voice trembled: “I understand now… so this is how I lost to you.”
He closed his eyes.
No longer feeling much resistance or obsession.
Obsession prevented him from saving Sister Luo, and would instead have killed her. He wanted her to be his alone until death, but if she really died, his heart would be cut like a knife.
That night at the City God Temple… that night… when he was immobilized and kidnapped by his attendants, when he lay rigid with wide eyes, watching that young lady rush out of the temple in panic, nervously untying the reins and jumping onto the horse. He remembered she couldn’t ride, remembered her poor athletic ability… She was forced into a corner with nowhere to go, and he watched helplessly as those soldiers rushed out to chase and kill her.
The snow fell heavily, heaven and earth were in chaos and lost their way. When she mounted the horse to flee, how could she know where her destination lay?
Fan Qingchen watched with wide eyes, his heart breaking, his spirit turning to ash.
Gritting his teeth, yet crushed by the pressure, his shoulders slumped as he thought about how he had completely lost her.
Lu Yun: “Where’s the marriage certificate?”
Fan Qingchen’s throat choked as he mumbled: “…can you leave, let me see Sister Luo one last time, give us some time?”
Lu Yun casually replied: “No.”
His tea was ready, the fire in the stove extinguished, points of starlight illuminating his blurred features behind the curtain of rain. He spoke softly: “My woman, how dare you covet her.”
Fan Qingchen’s heart ached.
He took a deep breath: “I don’t have the marriage certificate with me, I’ll go back to get it and return before dawn.”
Lu Yun raised an eyebrow, gesturing “as you please.” Fan Qingchen stood up and left the room. Lu Yun was so arrogant he wouldn’t even rise to see him off. The room was filled with tea fragrance as Lu Yun skillfully poured himself tea, turning his face toward the window: “Follow him. If he doesn’t do anything harmful, there’s no need to stop him.”
The attendant was surprised: “…My lord seems to know what he’s going to do?”
Lu Yun smiled indifferently: being men, and him being so perceptive, how could he not know?
He just pretended not to know.
Many things didn’t need to be black and white, clearly defined.
…
With his mind cleared, perhaps being too tired, the tea still warm, Lu Yun leaned against the window and dozed off for a while.
He had a vague dream.
Perhaps because he had talked too much with Fan Qingchen and glimpsed inner secrets, in his dream, he returned to when he first arrived in Jianye, to when he first associated with Prince Chen Liu Shu.
The lonely, timid Lu Yun needed friends, Liu Shu needed protection… That fall into the water was the beginning of their friendship.
Liu Shu, at such a young age, growing up in the palace, was more scheming than Lu Yun who grew up at the border. But in the years that followed, Lu Yun grew up, and what he couldn’t understand in his youth, he now fully comprehended. Understanding it, he was initially resentful, but later didn’t mind.
The falling into water incident was Liu Shu’s scheme to pledge allegiance from the very beginning.
Liu Shu was ruthless, paying the price of a lifelong stutter for this. Such a price was too heavy for someone who might inherit the throne. If people knew, even with the Lu family’s protection, Liu Shu would have no chance of becoming emperor.
Things that both parties understood didn’t need to be spoken to embarrass each other.
Lu Yun knew the reason for things, he could be at ease; the only thing he couldn’t figure out was his inexplicable, groundless love for Luo Lingyu.
Thus he would agonize.
Would be reluctant to part.
But the reason for love didn’t need to be clearly defined either. That love would initially waver, go back and forth, and finally become hopelessly entangled, vowing never to return. It was all fate.
…
The rain fell like whispers, heaven and earth were clear and pure.
In his sleep, intermittently, he heard a “snap” sound, like flower branches breaking and hitting the window.
“Sister Luo, Sister Luo…”
That voice was muffled and unclear.
Luo Lingyu awoke startled from her dream, patting her chest as she sat bewildered on the bed. The wooden window was closed, yet she still heard that voice. That voice that made her hair stand on end, she could tell who it was almost immediately. Luo Lingyu hesitated for a moment, thinking that Lu Yun was next door, Fan Qingchen wouldn’t dare act recklessly. She fumbled out of bed, took up the oil lamp from the bedside, and made her way to the window.
Thinking if he acted recklessly, she would hit him with the lamp stand.
Luo Lingyu pushed open the window and leaned down to see Fan Qingchen standing in the rain below, looking up at her.
Dawn had not yet broken, the rain had not stopped, he stood in the rain, and when he saw her open the window, his eyes brightened for a moment. These clear eyes without violent emotions made Luo Lingyu dazed, as if returning to long ago, when Fan Qingchen still pretended in front of her, still maintaining an appearance of gentle refinement.
Now, the young lord below the window saw her open it and smiled, extremely bright. Fan Qingchen was soaked through, he looked at her for a long while, then suddenly remembered something. From his sleeve, he solemnly took out a piece of paper, spreading it upward to let her see clearly.
In the dim light, Luo Lingyu actually couldn’t see clearly, but seeing the red cinnabar seal, the official stamp, she guessed what it was—her marriage certificate with Fan Qingchen.
Luo Lingyu’s heart rose to her throat, thinking he would use this to threaten her.
But no, after showing her this marriage certificate, Fan Qingchen tore it to pieces before her eyes. The torn paper touched by water fell to the ground like withered butterflies. Snow-white particles fell around that young lord with his damp robes.
Fan Qingchen looked at her deeply, slowly revealing a peaceful smile.
No longer taking by force, no longer forcing and pressuring her, no longer watching her clear water-like eyes filled with panic.
He said softly: “Sister Luo, you are the one I admire most in this life.”
“But… goodbye.”
Never need to meet again.
After tearing up the marriage certificate, he looked for a long time at the beautiful young lady who was dazed, then turned away. The pear-blossom-reflected-in-water beauty, the stunning beauty in chaotic times, the thin beggar-like girl when she first arrived in Nanyang… all left him far behind.
He walked into the rain, dropping that heart full of admiration for her, countless needle-like raindrops striking him. Fan Fourth Young Master’s heart was full of desolation and numbness, but he had finally let her go.
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