After Lu Xian left, Madam Lu remained skeptical. How could it be Lu Yun ? Was Lu Xian lying to her? The Lu family was far above the Luo family in status, and Madam Lu didn’t like the Luo girl. She would never accept her as a daughter-in-law.
But if it involved Lu Yun… Madam Lu could avoid meddling in the second branch’s affairs to prevent suspicion.
The only people who could arrange Lu Yun’s marriage were the old Marquis, the old Madam, and Lu Yun himself.
As long as the Luo girl wasn’t involved with Lu Xian, Madam Lu thought she seemed quite decent from an outsider’s perspective.
The maid LüiYao, who had just returned from seeing Lu Xian out, noticed Madam Lu deep in thought.
Knowing what was on her mind, she hesitated before speaking: “Madam, that day when Lu Xian woke up, didn’t we see Lu Yun carrying a lady outside the courtyard? Looking closer, though Lu Yun covered her with his cloak, the hem of her dress matched exactly what Miss Luo was wearing.”
“Madam, could it be that Miss Luo wasn’t praying at the temple that day like she claimed, but was actually with Lu Yun?”
Startled, Madam Lu looked up sharply: “Are you certain?”
Under Madam Lu’s piercing gaze, Lüi Yao suddenly felt unsure. She coughed and suggested: “Madam, why don’t we investigate?”
Madam Lu stirred slightly: “Investigating her is fine, but I’m worried she really has something with Lu Yun. I don’t want to investigate the Clear Courtyard. If Lu Yun gets dragged into this, won’t the elders say I’m mistreating my brother-in-law’s bloodline?”
As the household matriarch dealing with a branch family with only one young master left, she was full of concerns and reluctant to cause trouble.
After pondering for a while, Madam Lu waved her hand and muttered: “Let it be. Better not to know. I just thought she wasn’t simple, having everyone wrapped around her finger, pleading for her. If she was really with Lu Yun that day… hm?”
Madam Lu trailed off, confused whether to be angry that Luo Lingyu might have fooled them, or wonder if she was genuinely closer to Lu Yun than Lu Xian.
Madam Lu slapped the table and called her old servant: “Miss Luo came to our family through my sister-in-law’s arrangements. I didn’t ask much then. But now I see Miss Luo isn’t one to stay quiet. If something develops between her and Lu Yun in the future, I can’t be completely ignorant when the old Madam asks.”
“Find me some clever servants. I need to send them to Nanyang — to find out why Luo Lingyu left the Luo family.”
“Was she driven out for bad behavior? Or did she cause trouble everywhere, using her beauty to make brothers fight for her… or what other reasons made her determined to come to the Lu family in Jianye?”
Meanwhile, Lu Yun was in a second-floor private room of a new teahouse by the Qinhuai River bridge. Though the South had good tea and teahouses were everywhere, with new teas quickly selling out when released, the teas in the market were just leftovers from wealthy families showing off. Lu Yun clearly wasn’t here for the tea.
After gazing out the window and having a cup of tea, Prince Chen Liu Chu arrived, lifting the curtain. Though usually handsome, his brow was furrowed with worry. Seeing Lu Yun’s casual demeanor, Liu Chu fell silent before taking a seat.
Before Lu Yun could speak, the typically stuttering and quiet Prince Chen urgently said: “Xue Chen, you… leave Jianye, hide for a few days.”
Lu Yun’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“I’ve been home nursing my wounds daily, not even leaving the house. I’ve done nothing. Why should I hide? What am I hiding from?”
Liu Chu grew anxious: “Hengyang… Hengyang Prince, he…”
His stutter got worse as he grew flustered, face reddening.
Finally, he wrote on the table with tea water to communicate with Lu Yun: “At court, the Prince of Hengyang told Father Emperor he was attacked before coming to Jianye. Father Emperor was furious and sent men to investigate. He even assigned infantry to guard the Prince’s mansion. This shouldn’t involve us, but somehow, word spread about you leaving Jianye for months and returning injured, staying home. Before court today, an adviser told me the Prince of Hengyang suspects you were the attacker.”
Lu Yun raised an eyebrow. “I left Jianye for Yicheng. I never went to Hengyang. The scholars in Yicheng can vouch for me. What does the Prince’s attack have to do with me?”
Liu Chu replied: “This shows there’s no one at court anymore. Hengyang and Yicheng are both south. You avoided those noble families and didn’t take official roads. If he uses this as an excuse to cause trouble, you can’t prove your innocence.”
Liu Chu spoke again: “Here in Jianye, I’ll… cover for you. You… hide first. Don’t provoke him.”
“No,” Lu Yun said.
He continued slowly: “It’s not just me he wants to target. I’m not even at court and have no conflicts with him. Maybe he’s targeting you, Your Highness. As soon as he arrived in Jianye, he told His Majesty about the attack instead of investigating privately. The Prince must have something… I won’t leave. I want to see his reason. Even if I’m not at court, I won’t be his scapegoat.”
After a long silence, Liu Chu carefully asked: “What will you do?”
Lu Yun lowered his eyes, lips curving slightly. “How about sneaking into the Prince’s mansion at night? I’ll check things out for you… Since he came to Jianye, life hasn’t been easy for any of the young lords.”
Liu Chu fell silent, moved. When Lu Yun mentioned the young lords, it reminded him they could unite to keep the Prince of Hengyang in check. The Prince had the Emperor and Empress Dowager’s favor, but their sons wouldn’t just step aside.
Liu Chu looked at Lu Yun: “Your… wounds… healed?”
“They’re fine,” Lu Yun said carelessly.
Staring at the young lord’s face in the shadows, Liu Chu felt a twinge of sadness. He thought of all Lu Yun had done for him secretly over the years.
Liu Chu reached out to grasp Lu Yun’s hand, whispering: “Everyone knows you’re on my side. After this ends, even if you refuse again, I must give you an official position.”
Lu Yun smiled faintly: “I don’t mind that. With the Prince here, let them fight it out. I just wonder if Your Highness will get involved…”
Liu Chu’s eyes turned cold as he slowly shook his head: “I don’t care.”
He clearly wasn’t referring to who the Emperor favored more or who had more power.
Lu Yun leaned forward: “Then I don’t care either.”
He continued: “If you don’t care about the Prince, care about this — I received a letter from the scholar Zhou Tan. He’s willing to help His Majesty. His daughter Zhou Yangling is likely on her way to Jianye now. You care about the gap between nobles and commoners. You should put some effort into this young lady, Zhou Tan’s most beloved daughter.”
Liu Chu nodded slowly.
They discussed many matters, big and small. Finally, Liu Chu showed concern: “Breaking into the Prince’s mansion at night… Xue Chen, be careful.”
Meanwhile, as some dealt with major affairs, others handled personal matters. Luo Lingyu was organizing things in her room. Her sister Luo Yunhuan sat behind her holding books, watching as her sister spread countless treasures across the carpets and tables.
Luo Lingyu clutched an abacus, clicking away for ages until her face stiffened: “…Too poor.”
Getting poorer and poorer.
Who started this extravagant trend in Jianye? Exchanging gifts back and forth, throwing away things they didn’t like… Luo Lingyu really couldn’t keep up.
She gritted her teeth. The young ladies had invited her out again, which terrified her, but she couldn’t refuse. She’d already cancelled attending the polo match Aunt arranged. If she kept declining outings, how would she establish herself among Jianye’s noble ladies?
But going out meant dealing with the ladies’ frightening spending habits… After long hesitation, Luo Lingyu placed two items on the table:
Peeking from behind her sister, Luo Yunhuan saw her sister reluctantly set out a hairpin and a painting.
Luo Lingyu thought: I must sell something to get by.
The books and tea she brought were small items, not worth much. Once sold, they wouldn’t last long. But this gifted white jade hairpin and the painting by the famous “Plum-Seeking Recluse” were both precious and rare. If she sold either one, many collectors would be interested.
But a genteel lady selling things would be so shameful if discovered.
Which should she sell? The white jade hairpin was given by the Prince of Hengyang – it might help build connections with him later. As for the “Plum-Seeking Recluse’s” painting from Lu Yun, normally she wouldn’t care about his gifts, but this was different. Luo Lingyu knew she was materialistic, but she truly loved this artist’s work. She’d sought his paintings for years before getting just this one. She’d admired him secretly for so long – how could she bear to part with it…
Torn between the two, unable to give up either.
A maid announced from outside: “Miss, Lu Xian is here to see you.”
Luo Lingyu looked up in surprise: Lu Xian had been visiting quite frequently lately…
Lu Xian didn’t come alone. He brought his little brother, the fourth young master Lu Chen. The fourth young master blushed, hiding behind his second brother. When Luo Lingyu’s studying sister Luo Yunhuan saw Lu Xian, she grew nervous, thinking of her misdeeds.
As Luo Yunhuan stammered, so did the fourth young master. Lu Xian smiled easily, but when he tried to enter and saw the room full of items, he had nowhere to stand. He could only stay at the door, and when he looked at Luo Lingyu, he noticed the painting before her. Lu Xian’s smile faltered: “Cousin, why do you still have Lu Yun’s painting?”
Luo Lingyu replied shyly but happily, lowering her head to admire it again: “No, it’s Third Cousin’s gift. He was too kind… giving me the Plum-Seeking Recluse’s painting.”
Lu Xian stared at her for a while, sensing something odd. He coughed: “You… ahem, don’t you know the Plum-Seeking Recluse is my third brother?”
Luo Lingyu: “…”
She exclaimed: “…How is that possible?!”
Lu Xian turned and beckoned to a servant with instructions. As Luo Lingyu’s heart tumbled, she finally remembered to clear the room’s mess to let Second Cousin in. Lu Xian had barely sat down, with Luo Lingyu distractedly making conversation, when the breathless servant returned carrying a painting.
Lu Xian spread out the painting before Luo Lingyu, pointing at both: “See if the brushwork is the same?”
Luo Lingyu: “…”
She stared at the signature on Lu Xian’s painting, weakly protesting: “…But this is clearly someone named Xue Chen…”
She suddenly stopped, then stood up blushing furiously: “Could it be Third Cousin’s name is Xue Chen?!”
Leave a Reply