The old emperor died from erysipelas, and the new emperor took the throne. The new emperor and empress had conflicts with the Lu family. After Lu Yun died at the border, tensions between the Lu family and the new emperor exploded. The once-mighty Lu family of Jianye began to decline.
In his nightmare, Lu Xian, the second young master, watched helplessly as everything unfolded. His heart ached with worry and fear. Sometimes he saw glimpses of Miss Luo’s glory, sometimes he witnessed his third brother’s death at the border. His vision was filled with blood and tears, and he was terrified.
“Second Young Master, Second Young Master…” The maids saw that he was sweating heavily in his sleep. They kept wiping his forehead with a wet cloth. His face was flushed red, and his body was tense as a bowstring. The veins on his hands stood out as he clutched the bedding, muttering in his sleep.
A maid leaned down close: “Young Master, what are you saying?”
She ordered others: “Quick, go fetch the doctor. Our Young Master seems to be having nightmares… Why won’t he wake up?”
Late that night, lights were lit again in the Second Young Master’s quarters as the doctor rushed over. In the “Clear Courtyard” of the second household, Luo Lingyu was helped by her maid Jin Yue to drink a bowl of medicine. She was sweating and felt weak, but refused to sleep.
After taking the medicine, she struggled to sit up and asked Jin Yue to bring her brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
Jin Yue tried to discourage her quietly, but Luo Lingyu wouldn’t listen. Her long hair was wet with sweat and stuck to her face. Though her cheeks were flushed and she looked frail, she insisted on having a small table placed on her bed.
Lu Yun came out from the inner room and saw the young lady had only written two characters before she was breathing heavily, tears in her eyes, looking extremely weak.
Luo Lingyu reminded herself she had to persist. But her hand holding the brush trembled slightly. She grabbed her shaking, sweaty right hand with her left hand. Just as she was trying to write more while fighting off dizziness, her brush was snatched away.
She fell back against the pillows behind her. Opening her eyes wide, she saw the elegant young master sitting down by the table.
Lu Yun’s downcast eyelids twitched slightly upward, his dark pupils rising sharply like deep black water. He gave a casual, mocking glance at her sorry state: “What do you want to write?” He held up the brush and took the paper, clearly intending to write for her.
Luo Lingyu’s long lashes trembled as she gripped the bedding beneath her. If Third Brother was willing to help her write, perhaps the effect would be even better.
Luo Lingyu spoke softly and nervously: “Thank you, Third Cousin. When the young ladies were still staying at our home, I made some friends. Like Miss Wang and Miss Han… Now they’ve all gone home, and I miss them dearly. I want to write to ask how they are and invite them over for tea, flowers, and fun.”
Lu Yun didn’t start writing. He looked up at her with a half-smile. His tone was playful: “Looking at flowers? Drinking tea? Having fun?”
He leaned in slightly, his dark eyes fixed on his cousin’s sickly but beautiful face. His voice was cool: “Is that all?”
Luo Lingyu’s grip on the bedding tightened. His gaze made her hair stand on end. Lu Yun always seemed to see through her thoughts. She didn’t know why he always thought the worst of her.
Her heart felt a little hurt, but knowing she needed his help, she told the truth: “And to explain about Aunt’s harsh words last time… See if they’d like to come visit me.”
Lu Yun’s eyes sparkled with amusement.
Luo Lingyu lifted her gaze to meet his lowered eyes. As their eyes met, both understood the unspoken truth.
She wanted to use the young ladies from the Wang and Han families to pressure the Lu family and Lady Lu. She would endure a few days praying for Second Brother’s recovery. Once the ladies’ replies arrived and Lady Lu’s anger subsided, she would remember Luo Lingyu’s importance.
The Lu family had no daughters. Though Luo Lingyu was dependent on them, they needed her to make connections in noble ladies’ circles.
If Lu Yun hadn’t rescued her that night, these letters couldn’t be sent. Perhaps when Luo Lingyu left the temple, she would really be sent back to Nanyang.
What Luo Lingyu knew, Lu Yun naturally understood too.
Lu Yun lowered his head and began writing, asking lazily: “Who all do you want to write to?”
Luo Lingyu happily listed a few more names. Lu Yun made an uninterested “hmm” sound and wrote rapidly. He finished a letter in just a few strokes.
Luo Lingyu carefully took it, eager to admire Lu Yun’s calligraphy. But her face froze – the writing was so wild that she could barely make out the shapes of the characters. No one would believe these were Lu Yun’s characters.
What an annoying person… She had hoped the young ladies would write back quickly out of concern when they saw Third Brother’s writing. Now it was clear that Lu Yun’s wild calligraphy was deliberately making it impossible to tell who wrote the letters.
Third Cousin saw through her plan and was still mocking her as always.
Luo Lingyu shot him a quick glare.
While writing, Lu Yun casually asked: “Anything else you want to do?”
Seeing him ask on his own, Luo Lingyu boldly thought for a moment before saying: “Could I trouble your maids to go to Snow Trace Court to find my sister? Tell her not to be afraid. Have Wan’er go find my aunt – I don’t ask her to protect me, just to help if someone else speaks up for me. And have Wan’er find Fourth Brother’s mother, Concubine Liu. Again, I don’t ask for her protection, just for some kind words to Lady Lu if others defend me. After all, Concubine Liu has served Lady Lu for many years, surely she can say a few words?”
Lu Yun: “…”
He suddenly looked up at her.
Luo Lingyu stared back, confused by his expression.
“Second Brother’s fall in the water – was Fourth Brother involved?” Lu Yun’s voice was very soft. He paused. “And Wan’er too?”
Luo Lingyu: “…!”
Her eyes went wide. His sudden words caught her off guard. Her mind went blank, unable to think of how to deny it. She froze for a long time. Seeing Lu Yun’s knowing look, she realized her shock had already given him the answer.
Luo Lingyu was very startled, unsure how to handle Lu Yun.
This Third Cousin was far too perceptive…
Lu Yun gave her an odd look. He hadn’t expected Luo Lingyu would protect those two children. Even if she only wanted to protect her sister… the fact that she wanted to protect her sister at all surprised Lu Yun.
This cousin wasn’t as coldhearted as he’d thought. In her selfish heart, Luo Yunhuan was still important… Lu Yun glanced aside, his eyes softening slightly.
The ink on his brush was thick. He picked it up and, across the table, pointed it at Luo Lingyu’s forehead. She was confused, barely leaning back before feeling a cool touch on her forehead.
The ink marked her forehead as she met the young master’s smiling eyes. Her heart pounded as Lu Yun’s gaze and voice seemed both near and far. Still holding the brush, he had just dotted her once: “Little Sister Luo… you’re quite clever.”
Between the young ladies’ letters, the elders’ help, and Second Brother Lu’s kind and gullible nature, Luo Lingyu had about an 80% chance of getting through this crisis. The last 20% was just luck.
Lu Yun’s gaze changed as he looked at her: he had underestimated her.
Her chest felt tingly, with threads of numbness spreading. Luo Lingyu’s face turned red. As soon as his brush lifted away, she raised her hand to touch her forehead, belatedly realizing he had marked it black.
She looked annoyed, but when she glanced at Lu Yun writing with his head down, taking in his features, eyebrows, fingers… Luo Lingyu stared in a daze. Looking down, she felt the cool spot on her forehead and her lips curved up slightly.
At the door, the maid Zhi Yue brought a late night snack for Lu Yun. Standing in the flickering lamplight by the curtain, she watched the young master and lady sitting opposite each other on the couch.
The young master wrote while Miss Luo ground ink for him. Their eyes met occasionally… at first glance, they looked like a talented scholar and beautiful lady, a perfect match. Zhi Yue bit her lip, her gaze darkening as she withdrew from the doorway.
Zhi Yue lingered outside: Could Third Young Master… like this Luo girl? But this young lady was so calculating, wasn’t the young master’s standard very high?
If Third Young Master really did… did that mean she… had a chance, or was her chance even more remote?
Jin Yue called from inside: “Zhi Yue, what are you doing? Aren’t the refreshments ready?”
Zhi Yue responded and hurried in, only to be casually ordered by Lu Yun to go to Snow Trace Court to find Luo Yunhuan.
Leaving aside how Zhi Yue left unwillingly, after watching Lu Yun finish the letters, Luo Lingyu felt slightly relieved. She collapsed and was persuaded by Jin Yue to sleep for a while.
Where Lu Yun went, she mumbled unclearly, not remembering if she had asked. After what felt like just moments of anxious sleep, Luo Lingyu was woken again. Eyes closed, Jin Yue made her drink another mouthful of bitter medicine.
Still in a daze, she felt someone lift her up.
Until the cold wind hit her face, making her shiver. Luo Lingyu trembled and opened her eyes to find Lu Yun carrying her through the cool dawn breeze.
Lu Yun said softly: “It’s almost dawn. I’m taking you back to the temple.”
Luo Lingyu’s heart fluttered. She glanced up to see his chin. The young master with his clear, gentle features and deeply emotional gaze had a face so beautiful it seemed cruel and unfeeling.
As he carried her through the morning wind, Luo Lingyu felt protected. His embrace was warm, and she unconsciously leaned closer… Her mind full of guesses, she said softly: “Third Cousin, why are you so kind to me? Could it be… could it be you…”
Before she could finish her hesitant words, everything went dark as a cloak was thrown over her face. Luo Lingyu was confused. Then she felt Lu Yun’s chest vibrate as he spoke in a voice clear as jade: “Great Aunt, you’re up early. Where are you headed?”
Lady Lu replied: “I heard Second Young Master woke up, so I rushed over to see him. Third Young Master… why are you out so early before dawn? What are you doing?”
Lu Yun: “Taking a walk.”
Lady Lu: “…”
Lady Lu asked: “What are you carrying…”
Hearing this, Lu Yun immediately felt the person in his arms go rigid, trembling as she frantically tried to burrow deeper into his embrace. She clung to his waist, soft and delicate as snow, shaking uncontrollably.
Lu Yun’s lips curved slightly as Lady Lu exclaimed in shock: “It looks like a woman’s figure… Third Young Master, what exactly are you doing?!”
Lu Yun: “What could I be doing…”
Lady Lu gasped, utterly shocked: “You slept with one of our maids?!”
Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu: “…”
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