Recently, Chen Wang has been investigating the refugees in Jianye. Those without proper papers or unclear identities were being driven out of the city. Because of this, many refugees began hiding, becoming fearful at the sight of officials.
This phenomenon made people secretly resentful, especially compared to last year when the court was providing aid to refugees.
At the same time, this policy gave the real Northern spies massive headaches. Since Chen Wang Liu Chu took over the Ministry of War, he now had almost complete control over Jianye’s military. With Liu Chu guarding the city, their chances of overthrowing the government had decreased, forcing them to focus on self-preservation.
The wedding of Lu Xian, second young master of the prominent Lu family in Jianye, was set for early June. It was said this would be the most lavish wedding celebration in Jianye in the past decade. This caught the attention of the Northern spies—
“Since this will be the grandest wedding in Jianye in ten years, the Lu family must have invited many guests to attend. The city will be at its most chaotic then – it would be the perfect opportunity for us to strike.”
Young Yue Zihan listened to his superior, a middle-aged man, talk confidently about the possibility of overthrowing Jianye’s government. They were in a dark room, packed with Northern soldiers disguised as refugees who were contributing ideas. Only Yue Zihan, with his sharp facial features, seemed distracted as he gazed out the window.
Outside was an ordinary scene – green willows and red flowers, branches and petals drifting lazily onto the duckweed-covered lake surface, sparkling in the light. An ordinary view, yet one he had grown attached to.
“Yue Zihan!” the middle-aged man suddenly shouted.
The youth snapped back to attention, finding everyone in the room staring at him. He maintained his silence.
Having worked with this young man for nearly a year, the middle-aged man understood Yue Zihan’s temperament. Though internally scoffing, he outwardly showed an encouraging expression: “While we create chaos in Jianye, we’re just small fry. The truly important task falls to you… kidnap the Southern Emperor and escort him to the Northern border, where someone will meet you.”
“With your martial skills, you’re the only one who can complete this mission.”
“Once you bring the Southern Emperor to our Northern territory, your mission will be complete. Even if we all die fighting in Jianye… after you complete your task, you can return to Chang’an. You’ll get what you’ve wanted.”
Young Yue Zihan came to the South on this mission because he was the illegitimate son of the famous Northern General Yue. He wanted to return gloriously to his father’s side with his lowborn mother. But after a year, Yue Zihan’s faint hope grew increasingly unclear. He wondered if he could really go back.
Still, Yue Zihan quietly agreed to the middle-aged man’s orders. He had no right to refuse, however—
He would likely be returning North.
Luo Yunhuan… he probably wouldn’t see her again.
The youth’s heart felt dusty and chaotic.
—
The summer rains of June came suddenly and heavily.
Luo Yunhuan left her good friend’s home, preciously holding a potted plant. Her little friend had said this flower was valuable and told her to take good care of it. The young lady sat in the covered carriage pondering what kind of flower it might be, as it only had branches without any blooms.
She could ask her knowledgeable brother-in-law when she got back!
When the carriage was nearly at Wu Yi Lane, the driver awkwardly said the carriage had broken down. The young lady cheerfully got out holding her flower: “Then you can fix it… no need to follow me, I can head back on my own!”
When going out to play, she had even convinced her maids to stay home, with only the driver accompanying her. After leaving the driver behind, Luo Yunhuan happily walked away carrying her flower, ignoring the driver’s calls.
As she walked, the sky suddenly unleashed a downpour without warning. The young lady let out an “Ah!” and ran to take shelter under nearby eaves with her flower. She bit her lip, judging the intensity of the rain and distance home, then decisively prepared to dash out into the rain.
As Luo Yunhuan stepped forward, a hand suddenly reached out from behind and pulled her back under the eaves.
Under the eaves, the heavy rain flowed like a river, trickling endlessly. Through the rain curtain, Luo Yunhuan’s black eyes like grapes blinked as she recognized who had grabbed her wrist. She smiled brightly, calling out sweetly: “Brother Zihan! Did you come to play with me?”
Luo Yunhuan was slightly troubled: she needed to get her flower home… especially in such heavy rain.
Yue Zihan looked down at her, his expression unclear through the misty rain, his voice somewhat distant: “I’m leaving Jianye, going back home.”
Luo Yunhuan froze, her heart suddenly empty as she stared blankly up at him.
She quickly said: “In a few days is my second cousin’s wedding feast, won’t you come? I can get you an invitation!”
…his identity was problematic.
Since Luo Yunhuan’s brother-in-law Lu Yun was in charge of this matter, she knew well that refugees leaving Jianye at this time more or less all had some issues. Luo Yunhuan vaguely recalled last year when she and Lu Chang, the fourth young master of the Lu family, were chased by refugees, causing friction between the Lu and Chen families… Yue Zihan had been there then too.
Luo Yunhuan couldn’t believe her suspicions, so she used her second cousin Lu Xian’s wedding feast to test Yue Zihan. From what her sister and brother-in-law had hinted, it seemed something would definitely happen at her second cousin’s wedding feast. If Yue Zihan was one of the people her third cousin needed to catch… he wouldn’t miss her second cousin’s wedding feast.
But Yue Zihan shook his head, saying softly: “There’s not enough time, I’m afraid I won’t be able to attend.”
Luo Yunhuan was stunned, then let out a relieved breath.
Since he wasn’t even coming to the wedding feast, she must have overthought things. Her Brother Zihan couldn’t be someone her brother-in-law was trying to catch.
But the young lady’s happiness lasted only a moment before her mood sank again. Because he said he was leaving.
…he was really leaving.
Luo Yunhuan lowered her eyes, her voice trembling: “Brother, when you say goodbye… does that mean you won’t ever come back?”
Yue Zihan remained silent.
Luo Yunhuan understood.
Her eyes grew wet, tears mixing with the slanting rain to redden her eyes. She said softly: “I wish Brother a safe journey and that your wishes come true.”
Even if he wasn’t one of the bad people her brother-in-law was trying to catch, refugees who were leaving must have some issues. She stayed quiet, pretending not to know, having fully repaid the friendship between them.
The young lady held her precious flower in the pouring rain, walking in the opposite direction from Yue Zihan.
They brushed past each other, their gazes unwavering.
Hearing the thunderous rain around them, both felt heartache, thinking this would be their last meeting.
—
Goodbye then.
My dear brother.
Since you’re not a good person, I won’t give you anything. Only, your journey ahead is long and treacherous – I hope you won’t do evil things anymore, and also, don’t forget me.
—
In the Taichu Palace of Jianye, the old Emperor’s health was declining day by day. He took more and more elixirs frantically, yet their effects grew increasingly weak. Last year, Xiangyang Wang Liu Mu had wanted to use elixirs to kill the old Emperor. After being thwarted by Lu Xian, who could have predicted that a year later, without Liu Mu’s schemes, the old Emperor would still walk this path.
Excessive consumption of elixirs leading to death by poisoning – this was common knowledge among the upper classes. It was unclear whether the old Emperor didn’t believe this, or if he simply couldn’t quit the elixirs. As his health worsened, the Taoist priests would say a few flattering words, and he would again urge people to concoct more elixirs.
At other times, he spent his life in debauchery with beauties in the rear palace.
The Northern Princess, this hidden piece, finally found her use after wasting so much time. After an indulgent night of pleasure, the Northern Princess spoke sweetly and intimately to the Emperor: “Your Majesty always says your health is poor, but I see you growing stronger… In my Northern homeland, we have a tradition of gaining fortune from wedding celebrations. I wonder if the South has the same custom. I heard the second young master of the Lu family is getting married, and the wedding feast will be incredibly grand. Why doesn’t Your Majesty go to share in the joy and gain some good fortune?”
The old Emperor’s heart stirred. He had been anxious lately, his body and spirit growing increasingly weak. In his pursuit of longevity, he was superstitious about all sorts of strange beliefs. Among his various peculiar pursuits, attending a subject’s wedding feast to gain good fortune was actually quite normal.
The old Emperor’s only discomfort was with the Lu family.
The prominent Lu family of Jianye didn’t even really respect the Emperor’s face. Yet here he would be, eagerly going to congratulate his subject’s marriage?
The old Emperor hesitated: “…We’ll see.”
But his heart was already wavering – with just a few more words of persuasion from the Northern Princess, he would surely agree.
The Northern Princess smiled confidently.
Suddenly, her smile dimmed – this old fool was so easy to persuade, yet with the same words, she had been unable to sway Lu Yun back then.
Lu Yun was the most handsome lord she had ever seen, and also the most difficult to talk to. She heard he had married his cousin Luo Lingyu in Nanyang. He actually married that crying, dependent girl – did he really love such weak and pitiful women?
The Northern Princess still didn’t know Luo Lingyu’s true nature, but in her heart she had grown to hate both Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu again and again. She hated that she couldn’t marry Lu Yun, hated that Lu Yun wouldn’t give her face, and also hated that Luo Lingyu could so easily obtain the man she desired.
Since they had embarrassed her so, this couple might as well die.
She whispered slander in the old Emperor’s ear, thinking that if she couldn’t have that lord, she hoped no one could.
Better if they were dead.
—
The heavy rain continued for days.
Zhao Wang Liu Huai also gazed pensively at this world. His advisor came up behind him, frowning deeply, asking disapprovingly: “Has the young master truly decided to cooperate with those Northern spies?”
“Are we really going to hold back the City Governor’s troops and let those Northern bandits overthrow our Jianye?”
“How could those Northerners truly be willing to sacrifice themselves for our cause? Young master, beware of dealing with tigers!”
The advisor earnestly advised, and Liu Huai sighed.
This Prince Zhao had been blinded by benefits, but he actually didn’t believe the grand promises made by the Northern spies either. Liu Huai said: “Of course I won’t fully trust them… we’ll see.”
“Contact the other princes… if we find a suitable opportunity, I will naturally make my move. If that’s not enough, then we’ll need their troops.”
This calamity in Jianye could not be avoided – everyone had their own calculations, waiting for a good show.
—
In early June, all arrangements were made, and the wedding feast of Lu Xian and Princess Ningping proceeded as scheduled.
The day before the wedding, Lu Xian was filled with anxiety. He knew something would definitely happen at tomorrow’s grand wedding feast, but because his bastard brother had forcibly changed his dream, no signs had appeared yet. The second young master of the Lu family hadn’t dreamed for many days, hadn’t dreamed of what would happen on this day.
It should be similar to that July chaos in Jianye from his dream. But that chaos had only flashed briefly in Lu Xian’s dream – he only remembered that the chaos caused the court to delay, missing military opportunities and leading to the death of Xiangyang Wang Liu Mu at the border.
But in reality, to save Liu Mu, Lu Xian had brought forward this chaos that should have happened a month later. His heart was in turmoil, and he could only choose to trust his third brother’s judgment—
But had the heavens been lazy these past few days? As the wedding feast drew closer, he should have been dreaming, dreaming of the details of that chaos to remind his third brother.
Yet he still wasn’t dreaming!
In such anxiety, the wedding day slowly arrived.
When Princess Ningping Liu Tang married out, the ceremonial procession stretched for over ten li. Although the princess wasn’t favored in the royal family, the second young master held an honored position in the Lu family. Half of Jianye’s noble families came to attend, bringing countless treasures of gold, silver and jade.
At dusk, Lu Xian led Princess Liu Tang by hand, riding together in a carriage for the common people to view. The Lu family was generous, throwing gold and jade items to the observing commoners. The clattering treasures caused people to scramble.
Meanwhile, fireworks lit up the night sky in brilliant colors.
At the Lu residence, Luo Lingyu helped other women manage the wedding feast while trying to suppress her jealousy and envy as she and her husband received guests.
She could barely endure this, but then as the ceremonial officer began to sing, a eunuch’s clear voice announced from outside—
“His Majesty arrives!”
Immediately, all the guests were shocked and stood up. Lu Xian and Liu Tang, the newlywed couple, went out first to personally welcome His Majesty. The Emperor came with the Northern Princess, smiling as he had people present grand gifts and blessed the newlyweds.
Observing from the side, Chen Wang Liu Chu’s expression grew subtle as his eyes swept over the Northern Princess. Seeing how her gaze occasionally fell on Lu Yun, Liu Chu’s eyes flashed, realizing some interesting information.
Lu Yun was already used to ladies occasionally studying him. Even at his second brother’s wedding feast, even though Lu Yun was already married, he knew about the frequent glances from ladies at the feast. With so many ladies’ attention, the Northern Princess’s gaze didn’t particularly concern Lu Yun.
The princess’s eyes grew darker.
Lu Yun stood tall like jade, standing out among the crowd of men and women. Though he hadn’t approached, his thoughtful gaze was fixed on the unexpectedly appearing Emperor. This was probably the only exception to his predictions… the young lord’s temple twitched slightly, feeling that the Northern plot seemed bigger than he had thought.
As he was contemplating this, someone suddenly stepped on his foot and also gave his waist a hard pinch. Lu Yun winced in pain, looked down, and grabbed Luo Lingyu’s mischievous hand at his waist: “Why are you pinching me?”
Luo Lingyu was insanely jealous. She didn’t dare show it to others, not wanting people to think she was petty. But facing Lu Yun, she didn’t hide it. Her bright eyes stared at the Emperor who had been invited to sit in the place of honor by the Lu family. She stepped on her husband’s foot and pinched Lu Yun’s waist again. She complained: “Look, look! Look at them! Their wedding is so grand, spending hundreds of thousands of taels on fireworks without hesitation, even inviting the Emperor… Now look at you! What was it like when you married me, so poor… I also want such a grand wedding feast. Lu Xuezhen, it’s all your fault!”
Lu Yun: “…Second brother’s wedding has ulterior motives, otherwise it wouldn’t be so grand. He’s actually sacrificing his wedding feast – there will be bloodshed at the feast, you think that’s a good thing?”
Luo Lingyu: “I don’t care! I just think theirs is so nice… Xuezhen brother, look at you, you weren’t thoughtful at all when you married me, wuu wuu wuu.”
Lu Yun chuckled softly, rubbing her head: “If you want a grand wedding feast, that’s actually easy to arrange. When have I ever not satisfied you?”
Luo Lingyu looked at him in surprise, as if shocked he could fulfill even this.
Then she heard Lu Yun say: “First let your husband divorce you. Then we can hold an even grander ceremony, how about that?”
Luo Lingyu: “…”
She glared at him fiercely: This bad guy!
—
That same night, as the second young master of the Lu family took a wife, Jianye’s refugees prepared to act, with the Ministry of War’s troops watching these people. Young Yue Zihan and a group of subordinates waited silently with closed eyes along the Emperor’s procession route.
Blade light gleamed cold, illuminating the winter sky.
At the same time, horses thundered like breaking ice, swift as lightning – Xiangyang Wang led his troops, rushing toward Jianye at top speed. Getting closer and closer, gradually approaching Jianye’s outskirts. That ancient city with its endless lights grew increasingly clear in view, making Liu Mu’s heart race faster and faster.
Meanwhile on the northern waterway, a group of common-born scholars boarded ships, following the famous scholar Zhou Tan to support Chen Wang Liu Chu in Jianye. Under her father’s nose, Zhou Yanglin had already changed back into women’s clothing, and throughout the journey, she caught countless stares.
The lady stood at the ship’s bow, cool wind and still water brushing her face. Her gaze clear and dark, her hand unconsciously gripped the fragrance pouch someone had given her again.
—
United in purpose.
Under Lu Yun’s subtle influence and guidance, everything was different from Lu Xian’s dream. Everyone’s different thoughts were affecting major events.
Only Lu Xian remained confused and unclear, bewildered as he both wondered at the wedding feast why the old Emperor had come to observe, and worried about the details of this coming chaos… On his wedding night, should he abandon his new bride and get some proper sleep to have a dream?
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