The rain enveloped heaven and earth, making the night pitch black. Under the eaves, the sound of flowing water was like a stream, crisp and pleasant to the ear, making one feel lazy. On the empty streets, a carriage belonging to Prince Chen moved slowly. The red lantern hanging at the front of the carriage swayed gently in the wind and rain, its red glow illuminating the glistening puddles on the ground.
In the carriage, the young and handsome Prince Chen sat with his eyes closed. Though he sat straight, his mind was calculating the causes and consequences of everything happening. For example—
Would his father emperor definitely seek a scapegoat?
Even if Liu Mu wasn’t forced to death, he still wouldn’t benefit.
Different political ideologies, different expectations for the future situation of the Southern Kingdom – would the conflicts between him, his father emperor, and his brothers lie dormant or explode?
Imperial power had never been at its peak, and neither had the noble families. Between their struggle, if a common-born force was introduced, creating a three-way balance, only then would things be stable.
Liu Shu asked himself honestly: If I don’t fight for that position, will I definitely die? If I don’t fight for that position, will my political aspirations never be realized? Are Lu Yun’s expectations of me inevitable?
The Southern Kingdom was so wealthy, yet so corrupt. Like oil being heated to boiling, like flowers in full bloom. In just one year, the Southern Kingdom had already experienced how the Northern Kingdom watched them like a tiger eyeing its prey, and even now with Prince Zhao’s rebellion, this problem still hadn’t been resolved.
If there wasn’t an heir apparent who could turn the tide, the Southern Kingdom’s future would be even more precarious. If the country couldn’t be protected, what use was there in personal grudges? And among his brothers… who had such capability?
Most only wished to enjoy the privileges of being emperor, not willing to endure its hardships.
Prince Chen’s closed eyelashes trembled slightly. He kept asking himself—What about me? Previously unwilling to fight for the throne, it was for self-preservation, and also unwillingness to invest so much energy. So now, having gained an advantage, can I step forward?
Like being tormented, Prince Chen Liu Shu kept questioning himself in the rainy night carriage. As each question arose, each answer became clear in his heart. Being an extremely decisive person, the clearer things became, the more determined his heart grew.
And the more he could understand the inevitability of Lu Yun’s actions.
…
In the vast rainy night, Prince Chen drove his carriage to the Lu manor, seeking Lu Yun for a night talk. In Lu Yun’s “Clear Courtyard,” the third young madam, with the help of maids and servants, had managed to get Lu Yun into the side room’s wooden tub for a bath. Having worked up a great sweat, Lu Yun remained unconscious due to the alcohol.
Her husband’s beauty was unmatched in Jianye, and even more so when drunk. Unwilling to let others take advantage of her husband, after preparing the hot water and before removing his clothes, Luo Lingyu hastily shooed away the maids and servants. With her own body covered in fragrant sweat and slightly out of breath, the young lady rolled up her sleeves to help undress her husband who was leaning against the edge of the tub, sleeping.
Moving his head to rest on her shoulder, she carefully peeled off his clothes. Removing his crown, throwing aside his vermillion-sleeved robe, belt, scholar’s knife, jade pendant, and red tassel one by one, revealing his white inner garments and underclothes. When those too were removed, he was naked. Luo Lingyu’s face turned peach-red, her eyelashes fluttering, having stripped her husband so completely bare, she still felt somewhat shy, embarrassed to look.
Though embarrassed to look, she couldn’t help but raise her moth-wing-like eyelashes to peek, and then boldly gaze.
Lu Yun was naturally frivolous and unrestrained. As his favorite wife, Luo Lingyu was often enticed by him to make love during the day. However, although their daytime trysts were frequent, because Lu Yun only undressed for that particular activity, she was usually too immersed in his techniques to look properly. Now as Lu Yun bathed, it was the first time Luo Lingyu truly saw his body—
Broad shoulders, a slim waist, water droplets meandering down his long limbs like sleeping dragons. Her husband’s long hair spread like ink on the water, pitch black strand by strand. Droplets followed his eyelashes, trailing down his high straight nose, rouge-red lips, then along his jaw, Adam’s apple, falling onto his smoothly contoured chest. The water droplets gathered, covering his body, and further down, through the water, shadowy and indistinct, she could only see his waist and abdomen, that magnificent thing that usually left her half-dead… Luo Lingyu let out a soft moan, her arms propped on the edge of the tub as she covered her crimson face with her hands.
After silently berating herself for a moment, Luo Lingyu turned her face away, telling herself not to think too much. She properly focused her gaze on Lu Yun’s face. He was still unconscious, his complexion clear and white, features handsome and refined. His eyebrows and eyes were black, as gentle as a painting. Water dripped from his eyelashes, wetting his eyes.
So beautiful.
Rarely seeing him look so peaceful and harmless, Luo Lingyu watched and watched until her heart suddenly fluttered. She leaned forward and gently kissed his soft lips. Usually during intimate moments, he always took the initiative, controlling the pace, being gentle when he wanted to be gentle, passionate when he wanted to be passionate. This rare opportunity let Luo Lingyu taste his lips herself, to find out exactly what they tasted like.
Slowly and deliberately, repeatedly grinding, his lips were so soft, with a lingering taste of mellow wine… Luo Lingyu, as if finding a fun toy, gradually became absorbed. Unable to resist the tingling in her heart, she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him from various angles, wanting to part his teeth.
The heat rose to her face as she lingered, unwilling to part.
Suddenly she felt the chest she was leaning against vibrate, and a teasing laugh came from above her head: “I don’t know how I’ve neglected you, my dear, for you to be so hungry that you won’t even leave me alone while I sleep.”
Luo Lingyu: “…!”
She instantly stiffened and quickly stood back, but the clothes scattered on the ground tripped her. As she stumbled and was about to fall, Lu Yun rose to catch her… Luo Lingyu’s eyes went wide as she saw him stand up completely naked, and she screamed: “Don’t stand up!”
But it was too late. Not only did Lu Yun stand up, but he also pulled her. He gave her a meaningful smile and directly embraced her slender waist, pulling Luo Lingyu into the bathtub to sit in his lap.
With a splash, the bathtub now had one more person, naturally causing more water to overflow, soaking the entire floor. The clothes on the ground couldn’t escape either. Luo Lingyu glanced at them, then hit Lu Yun’s shoulder, annoyed: “Look what you’ve done! Water everywhere, when the maids come to clean up later, they’ll think we… what!”
Lu Yun also glanced around, nodding in agreement, then sighed: “This truly isn’t good. Another day I should invite sister Yu’er to bathe in the hot springs together, then we won’t have to worry about spilling water.”
The hot springs were open-air, with water hot enough to cook rice, and had healing properties for hundreds of ailments. People could receive countless benefits without moving, though ordinary people had never even seen such springs.
Hearing this, Luo Lingyu grew curious: “I’ve only heard of the Lu Mountain Princess’s Bath, which is so precious it’s been claimed by several great families. I’ve never been there myself. Does the Lu family have hot springs too?”
Lu Yun looked down at the beauty sitting in the water in his arms, her thin clothes soaked through, her chest especially alluring and clearly visible through the wet fabric. Though the sight made his mouth go dry and his eyes change, he maintained his composure. Lu Yun pinched her nose tip, still smiling as he said: “Poor sister Yu’er, having never seen hot springs before. How fortunate you married such a good husband, who knows how much your knowledge has expanded.”
Luo Lingyu raised her beautiful eyes in mock anger: “Shameless! It’s all your good qualities, none of mine?”
“Of course it’s also because of how beautiful my sister is,” Lu Yun rubbed his nose against hers, his lips ghosting over her forehead, cheeks, and lips. His eyes were filled with tenderness as he spoke softly, “How did my sister turn out so perfect? Your eyes, nose, mouth, everything is perfect. How did the ancients put it? Add a bit and it would be too long, take away a bit and it would be too short; add powder and it would be too white, add rouge and it would be too red…”
When Lu Yun wasn’t being sharp-tongued, his words were so pleasant to hear. As he praised her beauty next to her ear, Luo Lingyu was overjoyed. She tried hard to bite back her smile as she looked up at him.
As Lu Yun spoke, he pushed aside her already soaked clothes. With practiced ease, that snow-white softness emitted a faint glow. Luo Lingyu let out a soft “mm” and grabbed his hand through her clothes, not letting him continue. She said sweetly: “Aren’t you tired? You were just so exhausted you fell right asleep.”
“No need for sister to worry, brother won’t fall asleep at a time like this. We’ve never tried ‘mandarin duck bathing’ before,” Lu Yun’s lips pressed against Luo Lingyu’s blood-red ear, chuckling as he kneaded it, “Doesn’t sister want to try?”
He pressed against her.
Luo Lingyu’s expression changed slightly, knowing she couldn’t escape this fate. Her mind was fuzzy as she tried to remember if she had forgotten something. Steam rose as they kissed neck to neck, her clothes being peeled away layer by layer like lotus petals. He lowered his head to kiss her round shoulder, his hand resting in the hollow of her trembling shoulder. Lu Yun sighed: “Sister’s shoulder hollow is so lovely, if we placed a brocade fish to play in it, what an interesting sight that would be.”
Luo Lingyu was startled and hugged his neck, burying her face in it: “I don’t want that kind of pleasure. It’s scary.”
Lu Yun showed slight regret but made no comment, and it wasn’t clear whether his idea had been dismissed. Eventually Luo Lingyu tilted her head back, water drops racing with kisses, when she suddenly remembered something and dug her nails into Lu Yun’s shoulder. Lu Yun hissed and stopped, raising an eyebrow to look at her: “What’s wrong, not feeling good?”
Luo Lingyu: “You’re terrible, you only think about this one thing! I suddenly remembered why I came to find you… did you know Yunhuan is sick?”
Lu Yun frowned slightly. He had no issue with Luo Yunhuan, and even quite liked her. But for Luo Lingyu to bring up her sister when he was aroused, Lu Yun’s mood wasn’t very good.
He made a noncommittal “mm” sound, and Luo Lingyu observed his expression: “It seems to be related to someone called ‘Yue Zihan’. Does brother Xuechen know this person?”
Lu Yun paused for a moment: “I don’t know.”
Luo Lingyu was getting better at reading his subtle changes in expression, and both annoyed and amused, she gave him a look: “You’re lying to me again. You definitely know! Brother Xuechen, tell me.”
Lu Yun looked down below, his expression changing several times before choosing the more stable option of not getting angry. Lu Yun asked: “…Who is that, your lover?”
Luo Lingyu: “Lu Yun!”
Lu Yun’s expression turned cold: “Are you sure you want to discuss other men while in brother’s arms?”
Luo Lingyu’s eyes darted around as she put on an innocent expression. As she was about to speak again, her opened lips were sealed by Lu Yun. Kissing her lips, Lu Yun’s voice was muffled: “Good sister, be quiet, don’t deliberately provoke me to anger… brother has been tired for several days, dealing only with official documents for days without seeing sister or talking with sister. If sister angers me more, isn’t that too cruel…”
Luo Lingyu was startled, noticing the dark circles under his eyes that hadn’t disappeared even after his brief rest. Her heart suddenly ached for Lu Yun, and she didn’t want to upset him anymore. She softened her body as much as possible, letting it open like flower petals for him to enter.
…
The hot water turned cool, the ground completely wet. Behind the curtains, the intimate sounds were more delicate than the rain hitting outside, stirring one’s heartstrings.
Through the misty water vapor, the young lady’s sweet voice: “Brother, does this make you feel good?”
After a long while, the young lord’s breathing intensified, trembling and hoarse: “Good… good… sister is so understanding today.”
Luo Lingyu laughed. She mimicked his way of speaking, full of charm and allure, captivating his soul: “We’ve barely begun!”
…
Back and forth, like wind and rain.
At first, the young lady was pressed by the waist in the bathtub, but later the space was too cramped, and the young lady was rarely so obedient. Lu Yun’s interest grew stronger, and he carried her out of the bathtub to the bed.
In the midst of their passionate encounter, drenched in sweat, a maid reported from outside: “My lord, Prince Chen requests an audience.”
On the bed inside the room, where the bedding had been thrown to the floor, Lu Yun, who was covering the young lady, paused for a moment and was about to get up. His Luo Lingyu, who had been resting her face on the pillow, turned and wrapped her arms around his neck, not letting him leave. Luo Lingyu complained angrily: “Don’t go! Every time he looks for you, you leave. Is he more important than me? What harm is there in making him wait?”
Lu Yun: “…Sister, you’re not jealous, are you?”
Luo Lingyu humphed: “Another day I’ll find a good friend too, who comes whenever called, and see how you feel.”
Lu Yun laughed: “That won’t be necessary. Jealousy is harmful to the body, brother is already suffering now, just finding pleasure in the midst of pain… Since sister doesn’t want brother to leave, then brother will stay with you a while longer. After all, it’s a rare opportunity, brother must definitely be satisfied today.”
Luo Lingyu: “…!”
Being pressed down again, she was shocked: “I-I didn’t mean it that way…” She just wanted to annoy Prince Chen and talk with Lu Yun a bit more.
…
When Lu Yun finally dressed properly and appeared before Liu Shu, Liu Shu was sitting by the window, bored, having finished a game of chess. As Liu Shu lowered his head to contemplate the chess game before him, across from him, robes swishing, Lu Yun sat down.
Liu Shu looked up and unexpectedly saw a spot of blood on Lu Yun’s lip. After a moment of surprise, he remained silent—he no longer assumed Lu Yun was injured somewhere when he saw him touch his lip.
Lu Yun touched his lip and smiled lightly: “Pardon me. My little cat is truly fierce, couldn’t avoid getting scratched a couple times.”
Liu Shu had no words, and could only nod: “…You just like them like that, fierce ones.”
Too simple, too easy to control, and Lu Yun would be lazily uninterested. To be his match, Luo Lingyu naturally couldn’t be an ordinary woman.
Lu Yun’s eyes held a smile, unable to resist sharing his romantic success with Liu Shu. Liu Shu’s originally cold expression gradually relaxed, his eyes holding a hint of smile. The Prince spoke slowly: “You’re good like this.”
Lu Yun lowered his head to brew tea for the person across from him, casually saying: “I just don’t know what A-Man plans to do? Will she seek explanation from me for what happened that night during the Jianye refugee uprising?”
Liu Shu shook his head.
He couldn’t say much, but thought a great deal. Having figured things out, he didn’t want to speak much.
Liu Shu dipped his finger in a drop of clear water from the cup and wrote for Lu Yun to see: “What’s more important right now is how to save Prince Hengyang?”
“I’m being watched by Father Emperor and Prince Zhao, I cannot act as both guard and thief. However, Prince Hengyang shouldn’t be killed by Father Emperor’s personal interests. The Ministry of Justice has strict security, ordinary people cannot enter or leave. I need to find a reason that appears unrelated on the surface.”
“What does Third Brother think… about breaking someone out of prison?”
Lu Yun’s expression turned serious, his brow twitching sharply. He suddenly looked at the refined young noble across from him: “Liu Shu, a prison break! Are you prepared to be enemies with your father?”
Liu Shu calmly replied: “Yes.”
Since they would eventually reach this step anyway, it was better to be prepared from the start. He was never one to hesitate – Lu Yun helped him see the truth, so naturally his decision came quickly as well.
Liu Shu swept the chess pieces off the board and stood up to look out at the black curtain of rain outside the window. He spoke softly: “The Southern Kingdom needs a successor who can preserve what we have.”
…
That night, Lu Yun and Liu Shu talked through the night.
The Lu manor received another guest. At Lu Xian’s quarters, an elderly visitor arrived.
Princess Liu Tang had gone into hiding, and Master Kong knelt at Lu Xian’s feet, pleading: “Second Young Master, you have always been close friends with our young master. Now our young master is imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice, clearly a death trap. Second Young Master, can you save our young master?”
In truth, Lu Xian had never been close with Liu Mu. Master Kong was simply desperate and trying anything. In all of Jianye city, perhaps only Lu Xian, who was connected to Prince Chen, would dare to get involved in Liu Mu’s affairs.
Lu Xian stood up and helped Master Kong rise, saying softly: “This matter began because of me. I asked him to return, not expecting… I will save him.”
Even if it means breaking him out of prison!
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