In the Buddhist temple’s elegant music, celestial dancers twirled gracefully.
Under the eager gaze of the young lords and ladies, Lian Qiniang repeatedly invited Lady Luo to join, who finally accepted with a smile.
During this era, wealthy families valued entertainment and self-expression. Dancing was particularly popular among the nobility. From their perspective, being invited to dance together was a form of entertainment – if Lady Luo kept refusing Lian Qiniang, she would be seen as “arrogant” or “unsporting” — similar to how they viewed Lady Chen Xiu.
When Lady Luo started dancing with Lian Qiniang, cheers erupted from the crowd.
Watching the dancers surround the slender-necked, slim-waisted lady, her movements were subtle – just raising her long sleeves and swaying gently. Her hands were clasped together, her beautiful face slightly turned, phoenix eyes lowered as she moved to the music and switched positions with Lian Qiniang.
The two ladies stood back to back, both leaning toward each other, their eyes gently curved, flowing like spring water – the young lords watched with bright eyes. As they danced back and forth, Lian Qiniang danced boldly and passionately while Lady Luo moved with light grace. Their robes swirled like flying snow, and following the drum rhythm, Lady Luo clapped her hands together twice, “clap clap” in time with the Buddhist music—
“Young Lady Luo dances so well!”
“Though her moves aren’t as precise as the dancers, she looks extremely elegant – must be because of her beauty?”
Graceful yet proper, alluring yet refined – this was high praise for Lady Luo.
Everyone enjoyed watching such entertainment, and Lady Luo’s cosmetics shop had made quite an impression on its first day. When they returned home and recalled today’s “Celestial Dance,” thinking of Lady Luo dancing with the performers, they would surely spread word of it, bringing more people to this newly opened shop. This was exactly what Lady Luo wanted.
Standing back to make room for the ladies to dance, Lu Yun narrowed his eyes, staring at the widely praised Lady Luo.
Unable to control himself, his face remained expressionless, but the anger in his chest had subsided significantly. His focused gaze never left the gracefully dancing lady in the center. He watched her waist, her neck, saw her look toward him proudly and provocatively, and heard the young lords’ praises… Lu Yun couldn’t help but smile.
…Indeed… she was quite beautiful.
Her talents never disappointed, only performing when she was confident. Though she had her little schemes, she never stooped to underhanded methods, still maintaining her dignity… so why was she so different with him? Selling his bracelet without a second thought? Why didn’t she sell gifts from others?
Lu Yun’s feelings were complicated.
At times he wanted to approach her, comfort her; at times he knew this woman was dangerous, and falling for her would be his undoing. Perhaps because his feelings ran so deep, she took advantage of his affection, still keeping him on a string…
Lu Yun’s deep, entranced gaze fell on the opposite side. The ladies in the crowd began whispering more loudly.
Lu Xian raised his head and finally noticed Lu Yun, Lu Yun. Lu Xian’s heart skipped a beat inexplicably amidst the music and cheers. He anxiously glanced at the young Prince of Hengyang beside him, who was watching just as intently, then worriedly looked toward the alley entrance—
This scene felt familiar, like something that had happened in his dreams.
After the Flower Goddess selection, Cousin Luo had returned to Jianye with the Prince of Hengyang.
She refused to stay at the Lu family home anymore, and though he didn’t know what transpired between her and the prince, Lady Luo didn’t move into the prince’s mansion without proper status, instead setting up her own residence.
Whether Lu Yun had helped during this time, Lu Xian didn’t know. At that time, people in Jianye had speculations about the relationship between the Prince of Hengyang and Lady Luo, but nothing was certain. The turning point in their relationship had likely been a situation like today.
Lady Luo had still opened her own shop, though without Zhou Zibo’s help in the dream. That day the nobility had still come to support her. The same dance, the same music.
In the dream, Lu Xian had only found it strange but didn’t think much of it, and certainly hadn’t realized Lu Yun might have come for Lady Luo. The Prince of Hengyang supported her… Lu Yun had wanted to support her too.
Then a mad horse had burst into the alley entrance. During the chaos, Liu Mu had slain the horse in the street, getting blood all over himself. Before the horse died, its iron hooves had trampled straight toward the young lord. Though the Prince of Hengyang had saved Lady Luo, he was injured in the process. Everyone was shocked and rushed to get medical treatment for the prince. Cousin Luo had tears in her eyes, eyes only for Liu Mu.
Afterward, Lu Yun had clutched his arm.
He had also tried to help restrain the horse, but Liu Mu had stolen the spotlight. Neither Lady Luo nor the others noticed Lu Yun’s injured arm, only seeing Liu Mu’s serious injuries. Only Lu Xian cared about his third brother, asking him: “How’s your arm?”
In the dream, Lu Yun had stood amid the chaos, his gaze distant, lips curved in mockery. Standing in the sunlight, the young lord was like an ink wash painting. He said softly: “It’s nothing.”
Lu Xian had believed it was truly nothing…
Now, seeing Lu Yun lower his eyes just like in the dream, Lu Xian was terrified. He kept looking at the alley entrance, specifically to prevent what happened in the dream. He had deliberately stationed servants at the entrance to stop any potentially mad horses.
While singing and dancing continued merrily here, Lu Xian saw several servants at the entrance struggling to pull horse reins as they ran past.
Lu Xian sighed in relief – this way, there should be no accidents.
Liu Mu wouldn’t be seriously injured, Lady Luo wouldn’t sympathize with him, and Third Brother wouldn’t completely lose his chance…
Liu Mu hated Lu Xian’s “I know everything so I’m here to bother you” look the most. He shifted to the side. The young lord’s eyes were still bright as he watched the beautiful lady being pulled to dance by Lian Qiniang, while his mouth already denounced that lady’s cousin: “Lu Xian, I warn you again, don’t give me that look…”
His eyes suddenly twitched.
They watched as a window opened on the second floor of the pavilion, and a tea master poked his head out. The young tea master admired Lady Luo’s beauty along with the young men and women below, staring so intently that the wooden pole he was leaning on slipped from his hand—
The pole crashed down toward the dancing ladies below.
Liu Mu tensed up immediately. The frail scholar Lu Xian beside him didn’t even see clearly before he could stop him – Liu Mu had already rushed forward, shouting: “Get out of the way!”
He leaped into the air, reaching for the falling pole.
As he reached for it, a warrior-like young man on the side also noticed the danger. This warrior had been thoroughly enjoying Lady Luo’s dance, but when danger struck, he too jumped to grab the pole.
Liu Mu and the warrior reached out simultaneously, colliding in mid-air as both their hands grabbed the same pole.
But the danger wasn’t over!
Lu Xian cried out in horror: “Cousin, move away!”
His voice came too late, because the tea master’s teapot followed just moments after the wooden pole. The teapot tipped over, its freshly poured boiling water splashing down. When Liu Mu and the warrior both moved to help, the dancers below screamed and scattered, while the noble lords and ladies also fled instinctively in fright. The scalding tea poured down from above, falling toward Lady Luo faster than the pole.
Lu Xian’s mind exploded in shock, his eyes filled with horror: “Cousin!”
He had prevented one accident, but the inevitable accidents still couldn’t be stopped? If something bad was meant to happen, it would happen no matter what. Even if the path changed, major events couldn’t be denied.
Didn’t that mean the war would still continue, Third Brother would still die, and his cousin would still marry the Prince of Hengyang…
Lu Xian cried out in anguish as he ran forward, his eyes red, appearing almost mad as he tried to stop it all— “No!”
The noble men and women nearby: “…Has Lu Xian gone mad?”
The accident happened so suddenly – they had avoided the wooden pole, but the hot water came pouring down, giving no time to dodge. Lady Luo looked up, only seeing the water about to drench her. She had no time to react, her eyes showing fear.
Just as she was about to be soaked, a hand reached out from beside her, embracing her and pulling her into an embrace.
That person’s wide sleeve directly shielded her face, burying her in his arms.
Lady Luo’s nose bumped against the young lord’s chest, smelling his fresh scent, and she knew who had embraced her and used his sleeve to shield her face. In that instant, her frightened heart calmed down, her fingers tightly gripping his sleeve as she trembled in his embrace.
Though Lu Yun had protected her face with his sleeve, the water fell faster than his movement – while he helped Lady Luo, he couldn’t help himself.
The noble men and women watched in horror as the boiling water from the teapot poured onto Lu Yun’s face. They cried out: “Lu Third Young Master!” and rushed over.
The terrified tea master upstairs collapsed weakly to the ground: “…”
Lu Yun let out a muffled groan, his sleeve brushing past Lady Luo’s face as he raised it to cover his own. He stumbled backward and fell sitting down, with Lady Luo falling with him. Seeing everyone rushing over to check on them, and the young lord covering his face with his sleeve while his other hand gripping her arm tensed up, Lady Luo looked up, only seeing his slightly reddened chin and the dripping wet water…
Lady Luo turned deathly pale, tears immediately rolling down as she grabbed his hand: “Third Cousin, Third Cousin…”
She tremblingly reached out to pull away his sleeve, wanting to see his face, but he gripped her wrist tightly, still refusing to remove the sleeve…
His, his, his face…
Lady Luo’s mind went completely blank.
Fortunately, at this moment Lu Xian, Lu Xian pushed through the crowd, calling out loudly: “Find a doctor! Don’t worry, Third Brother, we’ll go home right away…”
“Cousin, don’t cry, Third Brother will be fine…”
“Tie up that tea-pouring person and bring him to me!”
That warrior was also quite annoyed: “Young lord, please stop! I was just passing by, what is the meaning of this?”
Liu Mu’s already cold gaze pressed down further as he said coldly: “That depends on whether you’ve done anything!”
When the pole fell, when he and this warrior simultaneously grabbed for it, when their techniques clashed – in that flash of lightning, Liu Mu instantly discovered something about a case he had considered closed regarding Prince Chen – this warrior’s martial arts techniques were from the same school as those assassins he had encountered on his way from Hengyang to Jianye.
This warrior was a soldier – could those who tried to assassinate him that day also have been soldiers?
Liu Mu’s heart went cold, a thousand thoughts arriving at once. He chased after this warrior, his jaw set in determination: Prince Chen was just an ordinary prince in Jianye, without military authority – how could he have the power to mobilize troops as assassins to kill him?
If it wasn’t Prince Chen who wanted to kill him, then who?! In all of Jianye, who had the authority to mobilize troops?!
The string in his mind tensed, disbelieving, unable to accept it, his whole body alternating between hot and cold.
In this moment, the Prince of Hengyang Liu Mu had completely forgotten about saving Lady Luo. His sinister gaze wrapped around the warrior like a snake as he gave chase, determined to know the truth! To know why he had been targeted for assassination!
Lu Xian’s anxious calls grew more distant: “Prince of Hengyang! Liu Mu! Liu Mu, come back…”
Liu Mu heard nothing, single-mindedly pursuing that warrior who couldn’t bear his harassment. The two chased and fought, leaping onto walls and jumping out of the alley. Lu Xian couldn’t call him back and was truly more concerned about Lu Yun’s injuries. In his haste, Lu Xian could only leave servants to find Liu Mu while he got in a carriage with his cousin and immediately drove back to the Lu family home.
Lady Luo had tears in her eyes as she sat in the same carriage. Lu Yun covered his face with his sleeve as she kept trying to look: “Let me see what happened to your face…”
Her mind was in chaos, completely forgetting her previous anger with Lu Yun. She felt she was wrong – if apologizing could undo his injury, she would do so without hesitation. The closer they got to the Lu residence, the more afraid Lady Luo became. Even Lu Xian’s comfort couldn’t ease her mind. All she could think about was how she had harmed Lu Yun… if anything happened to Lu Yun, what would she do…
At the Lu residence, Lu Yun was immediately taken away by Lu Xian and others for medical treatment. Both imperial court doctors and civilian doctors were summoned to examine Lu Yun’s burns. Lady Luo followed the whole way, but when she tried to enter the “Clear Courtyard,” she was stopped by a maid.
Jin Yue spoke urgently: “Young Lady, please don’t enter! Third Young Master instructed not to let Young Lady see…”
Lady Luo was angry: “Even at a time like this you’re stopping me!”
But because the “Clear Courtyard” was in chaos due to Lu Yun’s injury, Lady Luo was afraid and worried, not daring to argue with Jin Yue at this time. She paced in the courtyard, with her maid Ling Yu following, looking extremely troubled. Seeing more and more doctors going in and coming out, all sighing, Lady Luo’s legs went weak and she collapsed against the wall…
Then Old Madam Lu was supported by her daughters-in-law, wailing as she came to visit personally: “Third Son… Third Son… oh my poor grandson… if anything happens to you, how can I face your parents in the underworld…”
Lady Luo struggled to stand up against the wall, watching Old Madam Lu stumble along, with Lady Luo’s aunt Lu Ying and Lady Lu Zhang Minglan closely following Old Madam Lu, trying to comfort her. Other female relatives and young lords also came, creating quite a crowd.
The more people came, the more color drained from Lady Luo’s face… Old Madam Lu walked past her without even a glance. Since he wasn’t her own son, Lady Lu wasn’t as anxious as when Lu Xian was injured last time. Lady Lu only glanced at Lady Luo before having someone attend to the young lady to rest first, not wanting to lose composure.
Lu Ying also rarely showed concern for this niece, saying: “I heard it’s just burns on his face… it shouldn’t be serious for a young man to get some burns on his face, you needn’t worry…”
No, how could she not worry?
It would be bad enough for others to get burns on their face, but Lu Yun was Jianye’s famous “Jade Young Lord,” known for his face. As a mere cousin, if she had harmed him, the Lu family would… she had been thinking about a good marriage, but if Lu Yun was injured even slightly, she could forget about having it easy.
Moreover, she was very worried about him. Thinking about how he was injured saving her, her heart twisted in pain, making it hard to breathe. Her beloved Brother Xuechen…
Ling Yu trembled beside her: “Don’t be afraid, Young Lady. This isn’t as serious as what happened to Second Young Master. The young master received treatment promptly, and our Lu family has plenty of miraculous medicines and skilled doctors… if Young Lady is truly troubled, why not go to the Buddhist hall to pray for Third Young Master like last time?”
Lady Luo choked: “How can I be in the mood to pray to Buddha! What use is praying, no one listens anyway. I just want to see Brother Xuechen with my own eyes! If anything happens to Brother Xuechen… I don’t want to live either!”
Ling Yu: “…”
Even though she was very anxious now, the young lady’s words still made her pause. She thought to herself that you weren’t like this when facing Lu Xian last time. You prayed quite sincerely then. It was because of your sincerity that Lady Lu and others felt you deserved forgiveness. But now you say you’re too distraught to pray…
In the chambers, the doctors worked together to treat Lu Yun. Lu Yun’s face had been splashed with boiling water, but thankfully he had raised his sleeve in time – only the area around his eyes had been hit by the hot water. The doctors applied medicine and wrapped his eyes with gauze.
When Old Madam Lu and others came to visit, seeing the handsome young lord with gauze wrapped around his eyes, Old Madam Lu thought Third Son had gone blind and immediately panicked.
She was quickly informed that his eyes were fine.
The doctor said: “…This is just to protect the injured area. As long as the young master rests well, we guarantee there won’t be a single scar left on his face.”
Lu Yun, with gauze wrapped around his eyes, nodded to the doctors. Facing the tearful Old Madam, though he couldn’t see, he could imagine everyone’s distress.
Lu Yun only pleaded with Old Madam Lu: “Grandmother, please don’t blame Cousin Luo. I chose to save her, it has nothing to do with her.”
Old Madam Lu was angry: “You’re in this state and still speaking up for her…”
Lu Yun: “Grandmother…”
Lady Lu observed from the side and coughed: “The most despicable is that tea-pouring person – why pour water for no reason, was it intentional to harm Third Son?”
Old Madam Lu: “Right, this matter must be investigated thoroughly.”
Lu Yun consistently disagreed with Old Madam Lu wanting to hold Lady Luo accountable. After Lu Xian came in and also helped plead her case, along with Lady Lu and Lu Ying’s agreement on the side, seeing that Lu Yun truly wasn’t seriously injured, Old Madam Lu’s anger toward Lady Luo subsided after her mind was put at ease.
Old Madam Lu just found it strange why they were all speaking up for Lady Luo?
It made sense for Lu Ying to help her niece, but what were Lu Xian and his mother Lady Lu meddling for?
After leaving the inner chamber, Lady Lu finally shared her observations with her mother-in-law: “From what I know, Lu Yun and Lady Luo have feelings for each other. Let the young ones handle their own affairs, we shouldn’t interfere.”
“What?!” Old Madam Lu was shocked, “Lady Luo and Third Son… how is this possible? How could Lady Luo’s family background be worthy of our Third Son?”
Lady Lu: “I’m afraid Third Son has made up his mind. He never listens to what we say anyway, Mother should not get involved.”
Old Madam Lu remained silent, saying nothing more, but her expression was still unhappy. When she and Lady Lu left her grandson’s room and saw the young lady pacing in the corridor outside, beautiful in appearance – but thinking of her background, Old Madam Lu disliked her even more.
However, as soon as Lady Luo saw them come out, she rushed over.
Her gaze was anxious, though she tried to contain it, forcing herself to stay calm: “Old Madam, My Lady, I have questioned that tea master. He had no ill intentions…”
Lady Luo laid out the key questions clearly and systematically, calling the tea master to answer questions in front of all the ladies. She was orderly and showed no confusion. Lady Lu nodded at her, while other ladies were surprised by her composure. Even Old Madam Lu’s face showed astonishment. Finally, Old Madam Lu looked at her and sighed deeply, her voice weathered and sorrowful: “Such trouble, these two really are a fated pair…”
Lady Luo’s face once again showed anxiety and fear.
She watched helplessly as the ladies left with Old Madam, leaving her alone and ignored, not knowing what to do.
…
The Lu household was in chaos over Lu Yun’s injury until early evening when lanterns were first lit. Outside the Lu residence, in an alley, Prince of Hengyang Liu Mu stood with sunken eyes, his face pale and muscles tense. The dark night loomed like a great beast, layers of shadows pressing down on him.
The young lord’s face was deathly pale, his eyes showing desolation: So this was how things were?
The person who wanted to kill him was never Prince Chen or Lu Yun. It was the current Emperor, that sovereign who always showed him meticulous care and concern for his daily life.
He thought that just staying quietly in Hengyang would avoid suspicion, that as long as he made no big moves he could stay safe… yet his brother still wanted to kill him! Even though he had done nothing!
That warrior couldn’t defeat Liu Mu and under his interrogation answered Liu Mu’s questions. Liu Mu’s mind was blank as he stumbled through the dark alley, involuntarily letting out a cold laugh of self-mockery. His brother wanted to kill him, yet he had actively run to Jianye waiting to be slaughtered… Was it just his brother who wanted to kill him, or did his mother know too? Did the Empress Dowager also approve of his brother’s actions?
The hearts of people in this world were hard to fathom, good and evil difficult to distinguish. The retainers around him were all sent by the previous emperor, current emperor, and empress dowager. At this moment, Liu Mu couldn’t tell which side the people around him were on, whether they were helping the emperor monitor and deal with him. In this world, who could he trust…
A servant shrinking in the alley suddenly called out to the young lord with his cold expression and eyes full of killing intent: “Young Master…”
Liu Mu stopped and turned to look. His cold, hard expression made the servant tremble. But Liu Mu recognized him: “You are… Lu Xian’s person? Waiting for me?”
The servant trembled: “Yes… our Third Young Master was injured, and our master went back with him. Our master left me here to wait for you, Young Master, to report back to him when you returned safely.”
Liu Mu’s eyes flickered with uncertain emotions as he stared woodenly at this servant. After a long while, his killing intent receded somewhat and he said flatly: “Mm, tell him I’ve returned, no need to worry.”
How laughable life was. His brother wanted to kill him, his mother might be helping. Yet it was a noble young master he had always disliked who cared whether he was still alright.
…
Lady Luo wouldn’t leave the “Clear Courtyard.” By early evening, she still refused to leave and was reportedly crying, so Lu Yun had no choice but to have Jin Yue bring her in. He didn’t want to see her in his current state, but according to the maid’s message, she clearly didn’t believe them and kept crying and making his head hurt.
Lady Luo was led behind the screen, as Lu Yun could only speak with her from behind it. Lady Luo looked up and saw the young master on the couch behind the screen with his hair loose and gauze wrapped around his eyes. The lamplight fell on his turned face, showing much of his handsome grace along with a hint of fragile loneliness. With his long hair disheveled and collar loose, Lu Yun presented a beautiful sight that Lady Luo completely failed to appreciate.
She saw his face and the gauze around his eyes. Lady Luo wrung her hands, dense sweat breaking out on her forehead.
Lu Yun spoke calmly: “Now you’ve seen me? I’m not badly hurt, you should go rest.”
Lady Luo stared blankly, unable to hear anything from the outside world, only hearing those few sentences from Lu Yun. Seeing the gauze wrapped around Lu Yun’s face, she feared she had destroyed his eyes, and her heart sank violently; then seeing his cold, detached attitude as he spoke, she feared he had been traumatized by this and his personality had changed, becoming gloomy and difficult to talk to.
She had ruined him…
He must hate her to his bones…
Never mind marriage – even if she became his slave now, she would surely be abused. He would torture her, mistreat her, humiliate her to vent his hatred. The young lord whose nature was already twisted only saw her faults before, and now her faults must be infinitely magnified in his eyes…
Lu Yun had his face turned to speak with her, but had barely said one sentence when he heard no response. In the silence, suddenly there was a “thud.” Lu Yun’s heart jumped in alarm and he called out: “Ling Yu?”
There was no response.
The young lord got out of bed barefoot, anxiously feeling his way past the screen, and took the unconscious lady who had collapsed on the ground into his arms.
Lu Yun raised an eyebrow, caught between laughter and tears as he pressed her acupuncture point – she had been trembling delicately, and had actually fainted dead away from fright at the sight of him.
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