The situation in Nanyang City had deteriorated. The Northern Kingdom’s new explosive powder was overwhelmingly powerful, beyond human comparison. The northern provinces of the Southern Kingdom had united under General Wei’s command, but with dwindling troops and supplies, pushing back the Northern forces became increasingly difficult.
In recent battles, the Southern Kingdom suffered heavy casualties. Even after recruiting civilian militia, they had fewer and fewer soldiers able to fight.
The supply problem could have been solved by capturing enemy provisions, but without major victories, this became increasingly challenging.
After a snowfall, while clearing the battlefield, Luo Lingyu found General Wei outside the commander’s tent. He was covered in blood and dirt, his armor and battle robes in tatters. Snow scattered around him, settling on his shoulders and body. He stared blankly at the stretcher bearers moving back and forth across the battlefield. Hearing footsteps behind him, Wei Zong turned, his eyes slightly dull.
He spoke slowly: “…Lady Luo.”
Luo Lingyu looked at him and said softly: “General, you’re wounded. I heard you were angry and wouldn’t let anyone approach. I came to check on you.”
Wei Zong gave a low laugh, noticing that her dress hem was also stained with blood. She was slender and beautiful, standing in this crude post-battle setting like a striking rose blooming amidst the flames of war. Wei Zong rubbed his face and said: “…It’s hopeless here. Nanyang is falling into chaos. I promised Lu Yun I would protect you. My lady, pack your things and prepare to leave the city.”
They had been winning against the Northern Kingdom, had the upper hand. Yet due to the court’s inaction, they were pushed to this point.
Wei Zong was filled with rage, but due to his high position and authority, he had no way to vent his frustrations.
Luo Lingyu’s heart sank heavily, not expecting the situation to be this dire. Yet her expression remained unchanged, maintaining her gentle demeanor: “I won’t leave. Why is the General so discouraged? Didn’t my third cousin go to Luoyang to rescue someone? If that master is rescued and the North loses their explosive powder, the advantage will be ours… Don’t you believe in my third cousin’s abilities?”
Wei Zong spoke anxiously: “What’s the use of believing or not? Lady Luo, you don’t understand! If we keep fighting, we’ll run out of supplies! Our forces are already dwindling, and now heavy snow has fallen… Once we run out of supplies, will Lu Yun’s success or failure even make a difference?”
The heavy snow after the winter solstice was exactly as Lu Xian had dreamed.
Luo Lingyu had other worries in her heart, but faced with the General’s outburst, she remained calm to the point of appearing cold: “If there are no supplies, ask the noble families. Nanyang’s great houses have stored countless provisions over the years. Even if they’re struggling now, they still have far more resources than ordinary households. If they pool their resources, we can surely last another day or two. In such critical times, the noble families naturally need to make sacrifices.”
General Wei’s expression changed slightly: “…Make enemies of the noble families?!”
Lu Yun could do this because he had a top-tier family backing him, but where would Wei Zong get such courage?
Luo Lingyu gazed into the distance, speaking softly: “…Hasn’t my cousin returned? Bearing both the Lu and Luo family bloodlines, he should be the one to do this thankless task. Don’t worry, General. My third cousin has made arrangements… my cousin will help, and won’t let you be the villain.”
Luo Lingyu: “In any case, General, you needn’t worry about these matters. Just focus on helping my cousin buy time.”
These words made sense to Wei Zong, who had fought for so many years – he just needed a moment to think it through. Luo Lingyu merely pointed it out ahead of time. And this early reminder greatly comforted Wei Zong.
Wei Zong stared at her in amazement, seeing snowflakes clinging to her eyelashes, her face lovely and expression full of confidence. The wild wind whirled snow around them, making her skirts flutter. A snowflake blew against her neck, making her shiver. Noticing Wei Zong watching her, she turned to look at him, her lips curved in a smile. The light in her dark eyes burned like wildfire. She was so beautiful, blooming more brilliantly in adversity, showing none of the timidity or sorrow typical of other ladies in such times.
Luo Lingyu gave him a gentle smile, crouched down, took hold of his arm, and began examining his wounds.
Wei Zong couldn’t help blurting out: “Sister truly has deep insight, I’m ashamed…”
Luo Lingyu shook her head: “No. I’m just helping him.”
Before coming to Nanyang, she had cut up Lu Yun’s letters and burned the old items he’d given her. At that time, she was afraid and had considered leaving Lu Yun. But she still came to find him. After seeing him, her previous hesitation no longer mattered. Luo Lingyu was the type of person who, once determined, would crash into a wall without turning back. She had no grand principles, no great compassion… she just wanted Lu Yun to survive.
To survive and marry her.
She yearned for a happy marriage, especially a marriage with Lu Yun. When so close to her dream, even as heavy snow began falling on Nanyang, she refused to take a step back. She silently recited in her heart: You said you would survive, you said you would marry me… you cannot break your word. If you break your word, you’ll be killing me, and I won’t accept such a fate.
…
Luo Lingyu actively helped the army handle backup supply issues, as Lu Yun had indeed spoken with Luo Yan before leaving. When Luo Lingyu went to find him, Luo Yan was wearing a crane-patterned robe and leading soldiers from house to house, negotiating with Nanyang’s noble families, demanding they provide grain. The noble families barely had enough food for themselves, how could they care about Luo Yan? They naturally brushed him off.
Luo Lingyu was with several ladies in a tent bandaging wounded soldiers when her maid Lingyu rushed in and whispered urgently in her ear: “Some noble families are arranging for their young masters to flee Nanyang, they’re already at the city gate. Second Young Master Luo might not be able to control the situation.”
The lady beside her was momentarily stunned as she watched Luo Lingyu lift her skirts and run out with her maid. The lady called out “Hey!” trying to stop her but failed. She ran to the tent entrance, wanting to ask where Luo Lingyu was going. She saw in the snow that the lady had run so fast that in the blink of an eye, she and her maid had disappeared from sight.
This lady: “…”
Usually Luo Lingyu moved so leisurely, she’d never seen her in such a hurry!
Luo Yan was in a standoff with several patriarchs of Nanyang’s noble families at the city gate. They wanted to open the gates to let their young masters leave the city, but he refused, leading troops to block the city gate and prevent anyone from leaving. Near and far, commoners in tattered or coarse clothing observed the conflict between the noble families and the military, weighing something in their minds.
Both sides argued loudly—
“Second Young Master Luo, don’t go too far! Nanyang is still Fan family territory, and we Fan family aren’t refusing to provide grain. Just let a few of our clan’s young masters leave the city, and our Fan family will tighten our belts and gather enough supplies for your daily needs, how about that?”
“Thank you for Lord Fan’s help. However, now is not the time to leave the city. You are all Nanyang’s established noble families, and the common people are watching. If you flee at this time, morale will collapse… My lord, look at those common-born people, they’re still willing to help only because you’re still here.”
“We’re just sending a few disciples out of the city!”
Luo Yan shook his head: “Let’s not play these trap games, we’re all noble families here. You’ve seen that Nanyang is hopeless and want to abandon this place. I won’t agree to it.”
“Since you’re from a noble family, won’t you consider our position?! Nanyang is about to be defeated! We’re going to lose! Even the court has abandoned us… If we don’t leave now, should we perish with the city? You’re surnamed Luo… you may be righteous yourself, and when the Luoyang Luo family was destroyed, we sympathized and praised you as heroes. But Second Young Master Luo, just because you once sacrificed, does that mean we all have to sacrifice now?”
The voices of several noble family patriarchs grew louder as they pressed Luo Yan. He stepped back twice, feeling increasing pressure.
Suddenly, horse hooves thundered on the ground, and an authoritative cold voice rang out: “What’s all this noise?!”
The crowd blocking the city gate saw a group of soldiers approach, led by the recently stationed Great General of Yingchuan, Prince Hengyang Liu Mu, who dismounted and strode forward. Liu Mu drew his sword and pointed it at the people at the city gate. The soldiers behind him moved in unison. In an instant, dozens of battle-hardened warriors drew their swords and stood ready, causing the noble family patriarchs to turn pale: “What are you doing?!”
Liu Mu spoke flatly: “A gentleman’s agreement. We agreed no one would leave the city, so no one leaves.”
“Also, we’re out of supplies. You figure out how to gather them, at least enough for tomorrow and the day after. Until you hand them over, no one’s leaving this place. Second Young Master Luo, isn’t this your responsibility?”
The young prince’s eyes showed slight impatience, as if saying “why must I deal with such a small matter?” Luo Yan smiled bitterly: high status was needed to intimidate these noble families. Obviously, Luo Yan’s status wasn’t high enough. This would be best handled by Third Young Master Lu… but Lu Yun had too many tasks already.
Amidst the chaos, the noble families were cowed by Liu Mu’s cold aura and dared not speak. Behind Liu Mu, the graceful Luo Lingyu came running up, her face pale white.
The Fan family patriarch suddenly understood and glared angrily at Luo Lingyu: “Lady Luo, did you go fetch Prince Hengyang? You brought reinforcements to deal with us? Are you still a Nanyang native, still a lady of Nanyang’s noble families?”
At once, many gazes fell on Luo Lingyu. Among these gazes were heavy resentment and malice. Liu Mu frowned slightly, thinking how these old men would threaten a young girl. He discreetly stepped forward, intending to shield Luo Lingyu behind him. However, Luo Lingyu only paled slightly, her resolve unchanged: “Nanyang is in crisis, the army is in trouble, you should naturally provide support.”
Lord Fan, father of Fan Qingchen the Fourth Young Master Fan, gave a snort of derision. He had always disliked this lowborn orphan girl, and after his son broke off the engagement with her, his disdain was unconcealed: “Since when did this become our duty? Is it our fault that Nanyang lacks troops and supplies? Did we stop you from deploying troops? Isn’t our money and food earned by us? And now, you won’t even write an IOU, yet you want to requisition all our grain. Even we noble families can barely supply ourselves! Everyone is suffering and starving! Should we be exploited, have our blood sucked by you at this time?”
“So this is the teaching of the Luoyang Luo family, to be generous with others’ resources.”
Liu Mu’s expression turned cold and stern.
Luo Yan’s face also tensed up.
Luo Lingyu’s eyelashes trembled slightly as she looked at Lord Fan: “In ordinary times, the noble families’ glory relies on the common people’s support. Land, farming, commerce, the military… they all sustain you. In times of national crisis, especially in your own territory, you should give back what you’ve received. They no longer have the ability, but you still do… Even if the army must suppress and force you to provide grain, it’s justified at this time.”
“You want only the luxury of peaceful times but refuse to contribute in times of crisis. There’s no such good fortune in this world.”
The atmosphere fell silent and tense. Liu Mu gave Luo Lingyu a surprised look, not expecting her to say such things. Liu Mu himself had no fondness for noble families, and if not for Second Young Master Lu constantly reminding him… he hadn’t expected Luo Lingyu to have such insight.
Luo Yan also looked at his cousin in surprise.
From afar, among the commoners watching them, someone in the crowd cheered: “Well said, Lady Luo!”
“You should provide food! You take so many tributes from us during normal times, going on pleasure trips, and now you claim poverty? We don’t believe it!”
“You can’t leave the city! If you leave, we’ll flee too!”
Lord Fan’s face turned red with anger. Being scolded by a teenage girl and criticized by that unruly mob of commoners was utterly infuriating!
He was about to argue further when Liu Mu said impatiently: “Enough! This ends here!”
He pointed at the noble families: “Provide grain, then you can leave.”
The noble family patriarchs blocked at the city gate looked at each other. In the blizzard, they couldn’t keep standing here forever, with that mob of commoners eyeing them like tigers. After conferring together, the old men reluctantly agreed to Liu Mu’s conditions, willing to write pledges to provide grain to the army.
Liu Mu stood straight-backed beside Luo Lingyu, watching Luo Yan busy with registration. The sky grew dark and gloomy. Seeing that no fighting had broken out, Luo Lingyu quietly sighed in relief and shifted her feet. However, a soldier came to whisper something in the prince’s ear. Liu Mu’s expression tensed, and he immediately called for his troops to gather and turned to leave on horseback.
Luo Lingyu reacted quickly, chasing after him: “Young Master, is it him…”
She wanted to ask “is there news of him.”
Liu Mu cut off her words: “I will help him.”
He leaned down, looking at the lady gazing up at him from below his horse. The lady’s eyes were clear and beautiful, concerned only for another man. Liu Mu felt a slight pang in his heart but still told her: “If there’s news, I’ll tell you, don’t worry.”
He had indeed received news from Luoyang and was going to check on it, but he didn’t want to cause Luo Lingyu excessive panic.
Liu Mu brushed the snow off his horse’s back, called out “Ya!” and rode away. The troops followed closely!
At the city gate behind them, Luo Lingyu watched quietly, her heart in turmoil, barely managing not to overthink—
Yet Lu Yun’s deadly crisis loomed ahead. She had no one to share her worries with, every movement made her anxious. She was like a frightened bird…
When would she see him return safely?
That annoying man, making her so angry.
…
In the Taichu Palace of Jianye City, a thin layer of snow had fallen. At night, fog rose in the imperial city, the palace lanterns swaying. Among the shadows of the corridors, there were very few palace servants. Outside His Majesty’s chambers, Prince Chen Liu Su’s face was calm as he had waited for almost two hours, yet his father the Emperor still hadn’t summoned him inside.
He saw the lights blazing within the palace, heard the sounds of music and dancing… After standing in the corridor a while longer and calculating the time, Liu Su stopped waiting and went directly inside. The eunuchs outside the palace tried to stop him, but after Liu Su gave them several gold ingots, they closed their mouths. They thought, since they were father and son, surely there was no harm in the prince entering?
Liu Su’s shoulders were covered in frost from outside, and as he stepped into the warmth of the hall, the snow fell from his boots like a stream.
The Emperor, drunk to stupor, vaguely raised his eyes behind the table, seeing three or four shadowy figures. He stared straight ahead but couldn’t recognize who had come. After all, this son was too unremarkable.
The Northern Kingdom princess accompanying the Emperor was startled to see this prince suddenly enter: “Prince Chen, how dare you enter without being summoned by His Majesty!”
The Northern princess wanted to rebuke him to leave and even turned to complain to His Majesty. But the two beautiful young women sitting beside His Majesty gave her a cold look, monopolizing the Emperor and not letting the Northern princess approach. They patted their chests and greeted Prince Chen, then turned to continue offering grape wine to His Majesty: “Your Majesty, Prince Chen has come to see you.”
Their voices were sweet and alluring, nothing like what a proper lady like the Northern princess could produce.
The Northern princess felt waves of shock in her heart.
She heard Prince Chen Liu Su say calmly: “All of you, leave first.”
The Northern princess naturally didn’t want to, naturally wanted to scold this prince for disrespecting His Majesty’s authority. But the two imperial consorts by His Majesty’s side had been given to his father by Prince Chen. Grateful for Liu Su’s patronage, when he told them to leave, they took the Northern princess with them.
The Northern princess kept looking back: “You can’t, you can’t… Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”
Behind the screen, shadows layered upon shadows, the lamplight flickering, nothing clear. The Northern princess saw that Prince Chen walk up the steps and bow before His Majesty. Having grown up in the palace and seen countless plots and schemes, the Northern princess broke out in a cold sweat, her mind blank, thinking Prince Chen was going to assassinate the Southern Emperor—
How could this be?!
If His Majesty were to…
The Northern princess opened her mouth to scream but was gagged by the two women beside her. One of them gave her a cold look: “What are you shouting for? A father and son having a private conversation, why do you keep getting in the way? Could it be you really are a Northern spy? Hmph, no wonder His Majesty usually doesn’t favor you.”
After a quarter hour, when Prince Chen came out again, he still had that refined face and calm expression bordering on coldness. He didn’t explain anything to these people, only said the Emperor had fallen asleep. The Northern princess pulled away the hand covering her mouth and ran into the great hall to check.
She was terribly afraid, fearing she would witness a palace assassination.
The Northern princess’s legs weakened, and as she climbed the steps, she stumbled and fell. Yet rubbing her knees, she still determinedly crawled upward: “Your Majesty, Your Majesty…”
Those unaware of the situation would surely think this princess truly loved the Emperor.
Liu Su, who had reached the great hall’s entrance, merely glanced calmly before leaving, opening his umbrella as he headed out of the imperial city.
The Northern princess rushed to the Emperor’s seat, her eyes wet with tears, her trembling fingers placed under the old Emperor’s nose. She was about to cry, yet felt steady breathing on her fingers.
The Northern princess: “…?!”
The old Emperor had merely fallen asleep, not been killed by Liu Su? How was this possible? Had she overthought things? Was Prince Chen Liu Su truly the filial son everyone said he was? He had trudged through snow into the palace at midnight, stood in the snow for an hour. Was it not that he had ulterior motives, but that he truly simply cared for his father?
The Northern princess was confused, unable to understand Liu Su’s intentions.
Meanwhile, Liu Su walked straight out of the palace gates, along the city wall to a shaded spot, where a sudden hand pulled him behind a tree. Behind the tree, Lu Xian anxiously asked: “Did you get it? Did you really get the imperial edict for troops and supplies? Did His Majesty really agree?”
Liu Su pulled an imperial edict from his sleeve, his beautiful eyelashes lowered: “He, didn’t agree, but he drank, too much.”
Lu Xian: “…”
Liu Su’s attitude was so natural that it made Lu Xian feel this was somehow reasonable. Liu Su showed him the edict, and after Lu Xian scanned it a few times and confirmed it was indeed what they wanted, he smiled. Then Second Young Master Lu realized what had happened and suddenly looked up: “…Your Highness, you don’t mean you forged this edict and just went in to stamp it with the imperial seal? You… this is treason… aren’t you afraid His Majesty will wake up and punish you?!”
Liu Su: “Third Brother, can’t wait anymore. I, cannot delay, further.”
“…So you scheme against your father?”
Liu Su still maintained his calm expression: “He was drunk.”
What exactly happened, he might not remember. And even if he did remember… Liu Su lowered his eyes: “Hope the Lu family, won’t waver.”
Second Young Master Lu’s hand holding the edict tightened.
Liu Su spoke slowly: “Time is of the essence, send the edict out of the imperial city tonight first. As for His Majesty… I’ll handle it for now.”
As long as Third Young Master Lu succeeded and had the Lu family standing on his side, Liu Su would still have room to maneuver with His Majesty. But if Nanyang was defeated… Liu Su would face a capital crime.
Lu Xian was shocked and gave this prince a deep look – for the first time, he realized that this prince with his refined appearance, who usually kept a low profile, could make such bold moves at crucial moments. He even dared to forge an imperial edict!
All for saving Third Brother?
Lu Xian said softly: “…Your Highness, rest assured, if His Majesty blames you, the Lu family will definitely stand with you.”
Liu Su made a sound of acknowledgment without saying much more, gesturing for Second Young Master Lu not to waste words. Before His Majesty woke up, sending tens of thousands of troops and supplies north with the edict was the first priority.
…
Everything was slowly deviating from Second Young Master Lu’s dream.
Deep in the night, snow fell on Jianye as Second Young Master Lu drove alone through the cold night. With burning passion, he carried a scorching imperial edict as he drove toward the brightly lit Sima Manor—
He had obtained the imperial edict! The Grand Marshal should deploy troops immediately! They must act before dawn!
Quickly, quickly, faster!
…
In Nanyang, troops were exhausted as noble families negotiated. Luo Lingyu actively rushed between the army, noble families, and commoners, wringing her hands as she kept looking into the distance.
In Jianye City, the forged edict was sent to Sima Manor. The next day when large troops left the city, the Sima Manor caught fire, burning tens of thousands of scrolls, including last night’s edict. Prince Chen sat in the manor, letting those who set the fire leave the city directly. As Jianye’s Sima Manor fell into chaos, Prince Chen climbed high, gazing into the distance while quietly awaiting questions from His Majesty who would soon awaken.
Further north in Luoyang City, the sensation caused by Lady Chen Xue was quietly ending. After three days of heavy snow, the Luoyang governor’s elegant interest remained undiminished. That night the governor wished to take Chen Xue as a concubine and invited military and noble people to observe the ceremony. The snow light shone like water under the night sky, illuminating the beautiful woman playing the zither behind the screen.
Chen Xue’s grace once again made those noble admirers of beauty shake their heads and sigh in appreciation.
Chen Xue came out, accompanied by the governor, toasting each guest one by one.
Across another waterway, under the pavilion in the heart of the lake, cultured gentlemen were painting portraits of Lady Chen Xue.
Soon after, Chen Xue said she needed to change clothes and left the governor’s side. After a long while without seeing her return, the governor grew increasingly uneasy as he drank at the banquet. More and more guests at the banquet fell drunk, the atmosphere growing quieter, until the governor suddenly stood up. He stumbled out of the room, his head foggy, but grabbed a wine-serving servant to ask: “Where’s Xue’er? Why hasn’t she returned?”
The servant: “The lady seems to have returned to her room…”
The governor shook his head, forcing himself to be more clear-headed. He felt increasingly uneasy, the entire courtyard uncomfortably quiet. He looked back at the people passed out drunk at the banquet, the wine spilled on their clothes, then gazed at the reflection of the waterside pavilion’s screen where the cultured men should still be painting… The governor stumbled towards Chen Xue’s room to look for her.
He pushed open the door, drunk: “Xue’er, Xue’er…”
The room was silent and dark. As he fumbled in the darkness, he accidentally knocked over a screen. The screen crashed to the ground, tripping the governor. The governor became instantly alert, raising his head, but froze – behind the fallen screen in the inner chamber, he saw an open window and someone with their back to him, half-dressed, their snow-white back reflecting in his eyes.
Their long hair was loose, the jade crown in their hair slightly askew.
Just the back view made his eyes burn with desire. His mouth went dry: “Xue’er…”
The person paused, then turned around. Though graceful and jade-like in appearance… it was a man.
Lu Yun raised his eyebrows with a slight smile.
The Luoyang governor jumped up in shock and anger: “Who are you? Why are you in my beloved concubine’s room? What is your relationship with her? Guards! Could it be, could it be…”
Third Young Master Lu smiled ambiguously and slowly stood up after dressing himself, providing an answer: “Could it be that I’m having an affair with your beloved concubine?”
The governor: “…!!!”
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