The young ladies, gentlemen and women were asked to leave, with lanterns swaying under the eaves outside. As the lights overlapped, the recently awakened Jiang Wanyi walked down the stone steps with the other women. She looked back and saw the silhouettes of a gentleman and lady sitting by the window behind the lantern-lit curtains.
It was Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu.
After Madam Lu sent everyone away, she said Lu Yun and Lady Luo were arguing intensely, and she needed to mediate personally.
Lu Yun leaned against the window. Jiang Wanyi could only see his elegant profile in the evening breeze through the curtains – his side profile remained handsome and refined, unforgettable to those who saw it.
Meanwhile, Luo Lingyu sat weakly across from him, head lowered and crying softly. Tears stained her cheeks, appearing delicate and pitiful.
Jiang Wanyi’s eyes dimmed. She thought that if she were to cry, she could never match Luo Lingyu’s display of deep sorrow and moving vulnerability. Though naturally gentle herself, she could not cry like that. The other young ladies said Luo Lingyu was “competitive” – how could she have so many tears?
In her dazed state, Jiang Wanyi kept thinking about Lu Yun saying “I will marry her” before she fainted.
There were so many ladies in the family who had known him for years… Lady Luo had only been here for half a year, yet he wanted to marry her…
Tears welled up in Jiang Wanyi’s eyes, her heart aching with jealousy. She wished she could go back and cry alongside Luo Lingyu, to compare who had more grievances.
Madam Lu had no time to worry about the young ladies’ feelings. That single statement from Lu Yun – “I will marry her” – had shocked her so much that she lost her appetite before dinner time. After everyone left, only Lu Yun’s mother remained to accompany her.
Madam Lu then gave earnest advice to Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu:
“You’re both so young, yet so hot-tempered. Even if Lady Luo wasn’t already engaged, I wouldn’t agree to your marriage after such reckless demands. You’re already fighting like this now – wouldn’t you tear apart the Lu family if you actually got together?”
“Third Young Master, you’re just bullying your cousin! Lady Luo is young and lively, fond of joking – how could you take her seriously? You even made her cry! She’s our family’s relative – acting this way makes people say the Lu family has lost its manners and looks down on old friends.”
“I’ll consider this a childish prank from both of you, but don’t let it happen again. Stop talking about marriage – Lady Luo is already betrothed. Third Young Master, you need to consider her reputation.”
Madam Lu truly didn’t want her grandson to marry a girl from a powerless fallen noble family. She directly defined this incident as children’s play. Lady Lu stood by with a slight curl of her lips. As the first person to notice the entanglement between Third Young Master and Lady Luo, she had investigated their relationship for so long and knew better than Madam Lu how close these two were. However, since her mother-in-law said so, she naturally wouldn’t contradict her.
In any case, Madam Lu’s scolding managed to stop Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu’s argument, and even got them to reconcile.
After Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu both stood up to apologetically apologize to each other and left together, Madam Lu’s expression finally relaxed. When the maid outside returned to tell Madam Lu and Lady Lu that “Third Young Master escorted the young lady back,” the two women truly relaxed – this incident was finally over.
However, Luo Lingyu had now caught Madam Lu’s attention.
Lu Yun’s words about wanting to marry Luo Lingyu made Madam Lu quite uncomfortable. Like a thorn, it would prick her from time to time, making her unable to forget.
“What? What? What did I miss? Third Brother wants to marry our Lingyu?”
While Madam Lu and her daughter-in-law were discussing Lu Yun’s marriage prospects, with Lady Lu specifically picking out portfolios of noble ladies from Jianye for her mother-in-law to review, hurried footsteps came from outside the screen. The screen opened, and Lu Ying entered in a narrow-sleeved riding robe and tall boots, radiating beauty and full of curiosity. She sat down next to her mother, craning her neck expectantly for an explanation.
Lady Lu scoffed: “Little Sister-in-law is back early today, in time for dinner.”
Lu Ying ignored her sister-in-law, only asking about what interested her: “I just got back and heard Third Brother wants to marry Luo Lingyu? Is our Lingyu really so charming that she can move Third Brother’s iron heart even while betrothed? Ha, I’ve never seen Third Brother lose composure like this before. Has he given up on his reputation?”
Madam Lu scolded her daughter: “Stop talking nonsense! Don’t spread this around – if rumors get out, I’ll hold you responsible! Third Brother and Lady Luo were just having a childish argument. You’re making it sound like there’s really something there. You never look after your niece normally, why care now?”
Lu Ying shifted uncomfortably under her sister-in-law’s gloating gaze: “Well, I’m asking about it now, aren’t I?”
How could she possibly look after Luo Lingyu, who was now only nominally her niece with no actual blood relation, when she barely even cared for her own son?
Madam Lu flipped through the portfolio in her hands, then set it aside after one read-through. She sighed: “These ladies from Jianye – Third Brother knows them all. If he were interested, something would have happened already. Let’s not limit ourselves to Jianye, we should look at noble ladies from other places too. Write a letter to Qingyi and ask if she knows any suitable ladies to introduce to her third brother.”
“For a family of our status, we won’t settle for less. When choosing a wife, we need not only a suitable match but also someone our young master approves of. Make sure to tell Qingyi properly – don’t make it seem like we’re disregarding the young master’s preferences.”
These words were meant for Lady Lu. Qingyi was Lady Lu’s eldest daughter, currently married and living in Hanzhong. Among the Lu family girls of this generation, she was the only one, so Madam Lu thought of her granddaughter first.
Lady Lu nodded.
Madam Lu thought for a moment, then asked other married-in women of the family to help look for matches. While the Lu family had no daughters, their relatives certainly did. Through various connections, they should be able to find someone Lu Yun likes.
Thinking of Luo Lingyu again, Madam Lu muttered to herself: “I suppose Lady Jiang has no chance now. We’ve introduced many ladies to Third Brother before – lively ones, gentle ones, shy ones, bold ones… all types. But he didn’t like any of them. Does he prefer Lady Luo’s type? We can look for someone similar to Lady Luo. But what type is Lady Luo exactly?”
Lady Lu felt a tightness in her chest, unable to explain clearly. She and Luo Lingyu had clashing personalities, and she was full of prejudice against the young lady’s daily behavior. Yet oddly enough, she found Luo Lingyu capable – the few small banquets at home had all been well-organized by her. When she was looking for potential daughters-in-law, Luo Lingyu could help her ask questions. Lady Lu had complex feelings, unsure how to evaluate Luo Lingyu.
Lu Ying understood her mother and sister-in-law’s words. She raised an eyebrow and said lazily: “Looking for someone like Lingyu? I advise you to stop wasting your time – Lingyu has already reached the peak of her type. You probably won’t find anyone better than her.”
Madam Lu looked at her daughter.
Seeing her mother’s look, she counted on her fingers: “My niece has been competitive since childhood, quick to learn everything, never falling behind. When her family met with misfortune, I thought she surely wouldn’t survive, but surprisingly she managed to lead her younger sister all the way from Ruyang to Nanyang to find the Luo family ancestors. The destruction of the Luo family was such a major event that even I had nightmares for a whole year and couldn’t sleep well. Yet she lived well in Nanyang, and even found herself a fiancé? Heh, the Fan family of Nanyang is almost as prestigious as our Lu family.”
“Every festival and holiday, she remembers to send me gifts, always mentioning me as her aunt. I’m lazy and usually don’t care about such things. Normally when young girls encounter my indifference once or twice, they understand I look down on them and won’t approach again. But our Lingyu is different… she can thick-skinnedly keep calling me ‘Aunt’ with warmth, until she actually made me remember her.”
Lu Ying smiled meaningfully: “She encountered some trouble in Nanyang and came to Jianye for refuge. If it weren’t for all these years of her writing letters and sending gifts, I really wouldn’t have taken on such a troublesome matter.”
“She’s truly sweet-tongued, good at pleasing people, and clever. Yes, she has some small schemes, and being young, doesn’t hide them well enough, but nobody’s perfect. As long as she doesn’t do anything truly despicable, it’s no great fault.”
“She’s truly strict with herself. How many years has it been since my little brother’s family passed away? She was only ten when she left Ruyang, but looking at her now, she hasn’t fallen behind in any of the skills a noble lady should learn. Music, chess, poetry, painting, cooking, women’s work, games and entertainment… Have you thought about how many pieces she must split her time into each day to reach this level?”
Madam Lu and the others appeared thoughtful.
Lu Ying propped her chin with her hand, sighing: “And as for our Third Brother Lu, he’s proud by nature, looking down on everyone. If a lady isn’t thick-skinned enough, she probably couldn’t even manage a few words with him. Luo Lingyu is lively and eloquent – you never have to worry about awkward silences with her. Even the young ladies at home, each with their own thoughts, haven’t openly created discord with Luo Lingyu. And given Luo Lingyu’s beauty, the number of ladies who dislike her should be many times more than what we actually see.”
“Luo Lingyu is so beautiful, clear yet alluring. Since ancient times, when it comes to such striking beauties, while men might say they’re ‘national disasters’ out loud, who doesn’t want to take a second look? No matter how proud and arrogant our Third Brother is, he’s still a normal man.”
“Luo Lingyu has a slim waist and full chest, moving with graceful charm. Perhaps because she learned dance when young, her spirit and bearing are excellent. In just half a year in Jianye, she’s truly become the ‘Flower Goddess.’ Which gentleman or lady in Jianye now doesn’t know her? Hasn’t heard of her fame?”
Lu Ying smiled: “I suppose Third Brother Lu likes this type of graceful lady. Lingyu has nearly perfected her style, raising Third Brother’s standards so high… how will you find someone else? Those who are lively might not be as beautiful as her, those as beautiful might not have her figure, those with her figure might not have as many talents… Haha.”
Lu Ying couldn’t help but laugh at her own words, seeing the fascinating expressions on Madam Lu and Lady Lu’s faces. Though she wasn’t close with her niece, perhaps due to all the gifts Luo Lingyu had sent, at this crucial moment, Lu Ying had said many good things about her.
It shows that diligence doesn’t necessarily make people treat you warmly in normal times, but it definitely helps at crucial moments.
After hearing her daughter’s words, Madam Lu also felt that Luo Lingyu was quite good.
Lu Yun was different from Lu Xian – Lu Xian had his parents planning for him, but Third Brother had lost his parents young. Third Brother’s wife would need to be someone capable of managing things independently.
When looking for a daughter-in-law for her grandson, Madam Lu focused on noble ladies not just for the benefits of an alliance between prominent families, but also because noble ladies had broad horizons and experience, could maintain appearances, and wouldn’t hold her grandson back.
She looked down on recently risen common families, thinking the difference in background was too great and they’d have nothing in common.
But Luo Lingyu…
Madam Lu said: “She’s good in every way, except her family background is too poor. Marrying her would be like not marrying at all. Not only can’t she help Third Brother, but the Luo family of Nanyang would need Third Brother’s support. Third Brother already lost his parents, and in the future, his wife’s family wouldn’t be able to help him either. Third Brother has had a difficult fate, yet has always been talented. He’s finally made himself a renowned scholar of our time through his own abilities. I am his grandmother – I can’t bear to see him take the hard path, can’t bear to see him fall behind other young masters who aren’t as good as him.”
Lu Ying shrugged indifferently. In her view, how difficult could life be for a noble young master? But she couldn’t say that – if she did, her mother would scold her for being cold-hearted and not caring about her nephew.
It rained that night, with raindrops pattering against the windows. Luo Lingyu had dinner in her own courtyard. The air grew cooler, and her sister Luo Yunhuan, having heard about her argument with Lu Yun, came to check on her with blinking eyes. The young lady had her head patted by her sister, who gave a proud smile: “Don’t worry, I have my plans.”
Finally, as they discussed, their voices gradually grew weaker. Madam Lu’s last sigh remained: “…Let’s see what happens.”
…
Luo Yunhuan lingered at her sister’s place all evening while her sister watched her practice calligraphy. The young lady lay on the desk, secretly watching her sister. She saw Luo Lingyu initially appear calm, but later kept turning to look at the window and even asked her maid to check the courtyard. As Luo Lingyu’s expression grew increasingly anxious, her little sister observed for a while before having an epiphany: “…Sister, did you offend Third Cousin again?”
Luo Lingyu froze: “…”
She tapped her sister’s forehead: “What do you mean ‘again’? Don’t talk nonsense.”
Seeing the discomfort in her sister’s expression, Luo Yunhuan sighed like a little adult: “I know, you must have used him again. Sister, you’re just used to using people to achieve your goals. But Third Cousin particularly minds this. If you just talked to him properly, he might help you willingly. You insist on not saying anything, just using people as you please – of course he’s unhappy.”
“And these past two days, I think you haven’t been nice to Third Cousin. Many young ladies came to our home, and you’ve been calling them sister all day. Third Cousin rarely comes home, and when he seeks you out to talk, you have no time for him. Having no time is one thing, but as soon as you need something from him, suddenly you have time. What do you expect Third Cousin to think?”
Luo Yunhuan wrote her characters stroke by stroke: “Sister, be careful or Third Cousin won’t marry you.”
Luo Lingyu was embarrassed and angry: “What do you mean won’t marry?! He never said anything about marriage!”
“You’re just a child, what do you know? This is playing hard to get! When dealing with men, you have to…”
Luo Yunhuan mimicked her words: “When dealing with men, you have to keep them hanging.”
The little sister made a face, yet spoke truth: “But the person you’re trying to keep hanging is Third Cousin! The famous Lu Yun!”
She was deeply scheming, while he was extremely sensitive. Luo Lingyu reflected on herself, wondering if she had been too arrogant these past days, if she had only used Lu Yun without considering his feelings. Thinking this way, she grew increasingly uneasy. With the new young lady Jiang Wanyi at home, she had been focused on making Jiang Wanyi admit defeat, using Lu Yun as a tool for competition. Lu Yun had given her face in front of everyone, but…
Luo Lingyu’s face fell: He might give her face in public, but not in private.
Her shaky marriage dream… Why was she more anxious now that Lu Yun had told his grandmother he wanted to marry her?
Made nervous by her sister’s words, Luo Lingyu spent the whole evening restless. Irritated, she got up to pace, several times thinking of taking an umbrella out. Given that they had just argued that afternoon and Madam Lu was watching closely, plus the distance between their courtyards being too far… While Luo Lingyu was hesitating about whether to send someone, there was movement in the courtyard.
Jingyue’s smiling voice came through: “Is the lady home? Our young master asked this servant to bring you something.”
Another gift?!
Luo Lingyu stood behind the room door, not immediately rushing to open it in excitement. However, the stone in her heart was lifted, while her sister tiptoed up beside her to peek.
Luo Yunhuan teased her sister with a grin: “Oh, Third Cousin is sending gifts again? Looks like Third Cousin is a fool who doesn’t realize he’s being played.”
“Nonsense!” Luo Lingyu pushed her sister away, “Go back to your writing! Don’t meddle in adult matters.”
After quietly sending her sister away, Luo Lingyu coughed once, then spoke demurely through the door, brushing away some loose strands of hair from her cheeks: “Sending me gifts again… We just had trouble with gifts at Madam’s place this afternoon, I dare not accept Cousin’s gifts anymore. Sister Jingyue, please take them back.”
But in her heart, Luo Lingyu thought: Don’t you dare take them back!
As if hearing her thoughts, Jingyue laughed once before saying through the door: “Third Young Master asked this servant to bring you account books… I don’t recognize many characters and don’t really understand them, why don’t you open the door and see for yourself what they are? Originally Third Young Master was going to come himself, but he was called away by Prince Chen’s people right after dinner, something about another northern city being attacked… Third Young Master left word for this servant to deliver the account books to you. When he returns, he’ll come find you himself.”
What?
Lu Yun said he’d come find her himself when he returns?
Luo Lingyu’s legs went weak with fright. After her sister’s reminder, she was somewhat afraid of Lu Yun finding her… Steeling herself, Luo Lingyu opened the door, smiling with spring in her eyes: “What account books? I don’t know what you’re talking about, but with the rain so heavy, sister please come in first.”
Jingyue led the maids in bringing Luo Lingyu several thick account books. Luo Lingyu was bewildered, not understanding Lu Yun’s intentions. But under the admiring gazes of the maids, she pretended to understand, as if she and Lu Yun had really arranged something. Moreover, when Luo Lingyu was responding to Jingyue, she casually flipped through the account books and saw the large amounts of income and expenditure… The lady gripped the edges of the books, unwilling to let go.
Completely shocked: So much money!
So much!
So very much!
Seeing such large sums of money, whether income or expenses, Luo Lingyu couldn’t bear to return the account books. Moreover, her heart was full of joy and excitement, her face flushed red: Could it be that Lu Yun was going to give all these shops to her? Could this be the entire second branch’s fortune? All for her?
He… she would be willing to marry him for this life, the next life, and eighteen lifetimes! Whatever he says goes, she would devote herself completely!
After Jingyue left and her sister was led away to bed after finishing her homework, Luo Lingyu still studied by lamplight. She placed the dozen or so account books on her desk, having no mind to wash up and sleep. The lady sat down with an abacus and began calculating the accounts in the books. The more she calculated, the more delighted she became, the more dizzy she felt… He was really so wealthy!
Luo Lingyu was excited internally: Although Lu Yun might be difficult to talk to, he must be her ideal husband. No other gentleman would give her such large sums of money… Most were lands, estates, and harvests, earning many times more than the cosmetics shop she co-owned with Young Master Zhou.
The summer rain pattered until midnight, and Luo Lingyu sat under the candlelight for two full hours, with only the crisp sound of the abacus beads in the room. The lady sat motionless, showing no fatigue. After some unknown time, the rain outside formed small streams, the time-keeping drums fell silent, and the window made a soft patting sound as it was pushed open from outside.
Yet Luo Lingyu remained completely unaware.
After a while, she heard an amused, cool male voice from behind: “Given how much you love money, you probably wouldn’t notice if your house was on fire or if a thief came in the night.”
Lu Yun!
Luo Lingyu startled and immediately turned around. She only saw a shadow before her, and just as she began to smile, she was grabbed by the waist and lifted up. He carried her horizontally, her face pressed against his damp chest. The ornament in her hair swayed slightly, and she let out a small cry, tilting her neck back and wrapping her arms around him.
Being suddenly carried by him made her heart pound and her face burn like fire. However, at the same time, Luo Lingyu looked back longingly: “Put me down! Let me look at the account books one more time…”
Lu Yun looked down at her as she struggled to jump down to find her account books.
Lu Yun’s expression remained calm, his eyes dark with ink. After watching her for a while, he laughed softly: “Little Sister Lingyu, don’t push your luck.”
“I played along with your act this afternoon. You’ve been getting carried away for days, isn’t it time for that attitude to come down?”
“You pressure me about marriage, push me about marriage to such an extent. Using me as a tool in your beauty competition with your sisters, only remembering to give gifts to your sisters without putting me in your heart… Even now, your mind is still full of money…”
Luo Lingyu suddenly stopped struggling. She propped herself up and hugged him tightly. She looked up and pecked his lips once. Lu Yun’s breath caught, and just as he was about to speak, Luo Lingyu hurriedly kissed him again.
She wouldn’t let him continue speaking, wrapping her arms around his neck, rubbing against his waist, shyly yet boldly seducing him.
The inner chamber was warm. Lu Yun lowered his head, his hair falling on her red lips. She opened her mouth, taking in his slightly hardened hair. The lady’s seductive charm made Third Young Master Lu’s eyes grow darker.
Again and again, he kissed her gently, then passionately embraced and kissed her.
Incense burned in the burner, and somehow, she had been carried into the bed curtains. Her body fell onto the couch, and she let out a surprised cry just as he followed, pressing down on top of her. The lady moaned once, breathing so heavily that he kissed her again.
Pressed against the gentleman’s face, breath chaotic, Luo Lingyu melted like water: “Brother Xuechen…”
Lu Yun’s eyes danced with flames.
He pinched her cheek: “Will you admit to this afternoon’s accounts?”
Luo Lingyu’s face reddened with guilt, her fingers hooking around the skin at the back of his neck. She looked up again, seeing the moist traces on his eyelashes. Her mind wandered, only focusing on his handsome features. She reached out to touch his face, enchanted by him: “I admit it…”
The man and woman’s breaths mingled into one, shadows moving within the curtains. Spring feelings swirled hazily, real and unreal. Looking up to see his face flushed red, she sank into his starlight-like eyes. Hearing Lu Yun murmur, his voice between lips hoarse and enchanting, yet carrying a cool strength: “Then I must collect some benefits. May I?”
When you meet someone, your bottom line keeps getting lower. In the past, if she acted this way toward him, he would definitely have stormed off. But now, Lu Yun merely calmly stated that he wanted to collect some benefits—collect some benefits, and he wouldn’t be angry anymore.
Both embarrassed and tingling, her heart was also very soft, feeling his tolerance for her. Lying nestled in his embrace, the light dim within the curtains, who could remember any account books now.
Pressed beneath him as he kissed her cheeks, the lady curled up her body, and under his guidance, Luo Lingyu melted like spring water, tears welling in her eyes, which he kissed away. Her voice trembled: “Yes… ah!”
“Brother Xuechen… Xuechen… brother!” Her hand grabbed the jade ring in his hair, clutching it tightly, her neck arching back, yet her soft upper body was pinched at the waist by him, lifted upward.
He bent down, lifted her collar, and his lips and teeth moved downward, kissing her chest.
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