Liu Mu, the Prince of Hengyang, was the Emperor’s youngest brother. Sickly as a child, his family doted on him. Even now, both the Emperor and Empress Dowager favored him deeply.
Rumors said the late Emperor left a secret order for the throne to pass to the Prince of Hengyang. Though unproven, the clear favoritism from the Emperor and Empress Dowager made other princes feel threatened.
When the Prince arrived in Jianye, the streets cleared. Crowds watched as a young man in black rode past, his horse swift as a swallow, servants trailing behind. The youth was handsome but stern, his presence making people step back.
“Is the Prince really so young?” newcomers wondered. “He looks younger than some other princes.”
“Well, he is the Emperor’s youngest brother — only seventeen,” others explained.
Liu Mu’s group ignored the chatter. After entering through the South Gate, they rode past Changgan Lane and Zhuque Bridge, reaching Wuyi Lane.
Wuyi Lane housed the city’s oldest noble families. Even royal relatives showed great respect to these established clans.
Near Wuyi Lane, an official caught up to warn the Prince: “Your Highness, no galloping allowed here.”
The Prince tensed, veins bulging on his hands as he gripped the reins. Forcing himself to slow, he turned — and saw an ox cart in the twilight.
A stunning woman stood on the cart’s front platform, her clothes fluttering. A young man behind grabbed her sleeve as horses startled her, making her stumble.
“Sister!” A little girl in the cart reached for her, but only caught her sleeve.
Luo Lingyu fell backward. She panicked. Behind her, Lu Xian, still recovering from illness, hadn’t expected her sudden fall. He staggered back several steps.
As both lost balance, someone laughed softly. Lingyu felt warm hands steady her waist, helping her stand.
Lu Xian finally caught his balance. “Third Brother, why are you out here?”
Lingyu turned to see Lu Yun holding a wine jug. He smirked, “Got some wine. Watched you two almost fall. Couldn’t let you embarrass yourselves at our front door, could I?”
Lingyu’s face flushed. She ignored how he said “you two,” focusing on the “embarrass.” She fumed: What’s wrong with having poor balance?!
A loud snicker came from nearby. Lingyu looked up to see riders stopped at an angle, their young leader mockingly laughing at their awkward scene.
“That’s the Prince of Hengyang,” Lu Xian whispered to her.
Lingyu’s heart skipped. Her beautiful eyes met the Prince’s.
The beauty before him made the Prince’s heart flutter. His usual scorn for the Lu family faded. Under her gaze, he grew flustered and annoyed.
“Your Majesty awaits in the palace,” someone reminded him.
“I know!” Liu Mu snapped impatiently.
He jerked his chin their way and tossed something from his sleeve. “I dare not offend the Lu family. Here’s my apology for startling you!”
The object flew straight at Lingyu. She panicked, knowing she’d never catch it. It was about to hit her face.
Lu Xian was too weak to help. Lingyu grabbed Lu Yun’s sleeve desperately. “Third Cousin!”
Lu Yun’s long fingers caught the object – a fine white jade hairpin.
Lingyu’s eyes sparkled. “Why would he give me a hairpin?”
Since ancient times, when a man gave a woman a hairpin, it suggested romantic intentions. Though this clearly wasn’t the case now, Lingyu’s heart fluttered. She’d always been drawn to noble young men.
Lu Xian grew worried. In his dream, Lingyu had already left for Nanyang by now. Had she met the Prince on that journey? What happened between them? He didn’t know.
But the scary thing was – in his dream, Lingyu met the Prince after leaving. Yet now, though she hadn’t left, they still met outside Wuyi Lane…
Was his dream true? Was fate unchangeable? Then his third brother would…
Lu Yun felt uneasy seeing Lu Xian’s strange, protective, pitying look again. His face darkened. Ever since his brother woke up, he kept looking at him like he would die tomorrow.
Lu Yun looked down at Lingyu, who kept admiringly touching the hairpin.
Lu Yun: “…”
These two were giving him a headache.
“The hairpin might not be for you,” Lu Yun said coldly. “Maybe it’s for Second Brother?”
Lingyu: “…”
Lu Xian saw they were about to argue and his head hurt. Just as he tried to stop them, a maid called from the lane: “Miss! Miss! The Madam asks you to stay, don’t return to Nanyang!”
Lu Yun and Lingyu shared a knowing look. Their plan was working.
Lu Xian saw their exchange and was stunned. But he pushed the thought away, sure he was overthinking things.
The maid Lvyao had come personally to find Lingyu. But Lingyu refused, saying she’d troubled the Lu family enough.
The young miss kept gracefully declining, insisting on leaving. Lvyao grew anxious. Other young ladies had just written to invite Miss Luo to visit. How could she face the Madam if Lingyu left now?
“The Madam truly wants you to stay,” Lvyao pleaded. “You were living so well with us. Won’t people think we mistreated you if you suddenly leave? Please don’t go, Miss.”
Little Luo Yunxuan sat quietly in the cart. She saw her sister covering her face with her sleeve, shoulders shaking in “tears.” But from Yunxuan’s angle, she could see her sister’s clean face – she hadn’t even put on rouge to make the crying easier.
When Lvyao couldn’t convince Lingyu alone, she looked around for help: “Young Masters, please help persuade her! Second Young Master, didn’t you tell the Madam the incident wasn’t Miss Luo’s fault? The Madam knows now. Third Young Master, um…”
Seeing Lu Yun’s cold eyes, Lvyao faltered and skipped over him.
So Lu Yun quietly watched as the maid and Lu Xian urged Lingyu to stay. Lingyu sobbed softly, hesitating repeatedly. This made them try even harder to convince her.
After three or four rounds, Lingyu finally lowered her sleeve. Looking very reluctant and wronged, she let Lvyao help her down from the cart and agreed to return.
Meeting Lu Yun’s knowing look, Lingyu quickly looked away, praying he wouldn’t say anything.
When she’d left the Lu house earlier, she’d only taken a few changes of clothes. All her books, treasures, and collections stayed behind. Obviously, Lingyu never intended to leave. This was all for show. She must have been anxiously waiting for Lu Xian to chase after her.
Lu Yun mentally rolled his eyes: Tsk tsk.
But he kept quiet.
Madam Lu anxiously waited with letters from the other young ladies. She was surprised they still wrote to Lingyu after leaving. She didn’t care about Lingyu herself, but these ladies were all from prominent Jianye families. She’d already offended them before and didn’t want to…
Seeing Madam Lu’s regret, Concubine Liu remembered Little Miss Yunxuan’s plea. To protect her son, she immediately spoke up for Lingyu.
Lu Ying, who’d been sitting uncomfortably with his sister-in-law for half an hour, also spoke up for his niece.
By the time they convinced Lingyu to return, Madam Lu completely wanted her to stay. When Lingyu came to see her, Madam Lu noticed Lu Xian following. She stared at her son for a long while until Lingyu’s confused look made her turn away.
With a kind smile, she had someone give Lingyu the young ladies’ letters and told her to stay longer at the Lu house.
Lingyu bowed: “…Thank you, Madam.”
“Go rest now, Miss Luo,” Madam Lu said.
She turned to Lu Xian hesitantly. “Second Son, stay. I have questions for you.”
After the others left, Lu Xian stayed. Madam Lu sipped tea for a long time: “I had other reasons for keeping Miss Luo. But why did you chase her out to the lane? Why are you so attentive to her? You won’t even let me blame her for pushing you into the water. You must explain yourself.”
Lu Xian was shocked.
What could he say? That he was attracted to Lingyu? Then his mother would destroy her – how could Lingyu stay then?
Under his mother’s fierce gaze, unable to think of another excuse, Lu Xian sweated profusely. Finally he forced out: “It’s- it’s not about me, it’s…”
“It’s what?!” Madam Lu demanded.
Lu Xian had a sudden inspiration: “…It’s Third Brother who likes her! Yes, it’s Third Brother!”
Madam Lu: “…?”
She fell into deep thought.
Author’s Note: Lu Yun: I heard everyone wants to change the male lead. Does anyone still love me? (T_T)
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