The next day, the Northern Princess finally mustered great determination to venture outside.

True to her status as a princess, even though she harbored intense hatred and felt utterly humiliated in private, the Northern Princess maintained her proud and aloof demeanor before others. The princess and her retinue did not share meals with the military camp’s soldiers, instead had their separate kitchens. Similarly, Luo Lingyu, not being part of the military, also had her separate dining arrangements.

When the Northern Princess went to dine, she happened to encounter Lady Luo walking with her maid outside the dusty training grounds. The maid carried a food box while Lady Luo wore wide-sleeved garments and a long silk dress, with numerous ribbons on her sleeves dancing in the wind, creating an elegant and ethereal sight. Moreover, the lady’s brows were slightly furrowed, her eyes veiled with a misty haze, her expression delicate and moving… truly a peerless beauty who could stir sympathy at first sight.

Upon seeing this lady, the Northern Princess wanted to turn and leave, but unexpectedly, Luo Lingyu’s beautiful eyes had already spotted her and greeted her from over ten zhang away.

As Luo Lingyu approached, she maintained her melancholic expression and spoke languidly: “…These are meals I prepared for Brother Xuecen.”

The Northern Princess couldn’t help but blurt out: “…Aren’t you two still fighting?”

Last night, she had vaguely heard them quarreling tempestuously outside.

Luo Lingyu gave a fragile smile.

Behind her, her maid Lingyu’s eyelid twitched, knowing her mistress was about to begin: she had wondered why her cousin, who had been walking normally, suddenly changed her expression and immediately became as pitiful as a rain-drenched plum blossom. So this was what her cousin had been waiting for.

The Northern Princess, naturally unaware, only saw the Lady Luo before her heaved a long sigh and spoke softly: “How could I blame Brother Xuecen? Last night I was too impetuous. My lord is like heaven itself, and I am but a mere woman – what right do I have to criticize him? He may do as he pleases. As long as Brother Xuecen doesn’t anger me and still wants me, that’s enough. I only wish to serve Brother Xuecen well, even as a servant or slave, I am willing.”

The Northern Princess felt somewhat uncomfortable, her contemptuous words held back by this display. Noblewomen of this era typically acted boldly, and such displays of weakness were rare. With Luo Lingyu acting this way… the Northern Princess still attempted to provoke her: “I don’t know what he told you, but he surely didn’t mention that he spent last night in pleasure with me?”

Luo Lingyu once again clutched her heart like Xi Shi, her profile shrouded in sorrow, sighing even more self-pityingly: “If there was pleasure, then there was pleasure. I don’t mind. I am dependent on others, without support, with only Brother Xuecen. Even if he wants to marry the princess as his wife and take me as a concubine, I am willing. I prepared meals for Brother Xuecen, hoping that seeing I can still be virtuous, he won’t hold things against me, won’t beat or scold me anymore, *whimper whimper whimper*.”

The lady covered her mouth and wept, tears falling like pearls.

The maid Lingyu was stunned watching this: …truly, how pitiful her lady was.

The Northern Princess was equally dumbfounded, perhaps having never seen such a weak woman before, unable to provoke any substantial reaction. Her malicious intentions were subdued by Luo Lingyu’s self-deprecating display of magnanimous acceptance of her lord’s dalliances. With blood caught in her throat, the Northern Princess had to listen as Luo Lingyu continued whimpering and weeping:

“It’s right that he beats me, right that he scolds me. Following him, I have no complaints or regrets. How could I be angry? As long as he isn’t angry with me, I am content.”

The Northern Princess’s expression turned ugly at Luo Lingyu’s display—she had never seen such a woman without aspirations.

As Luo Lingyu prepared to provoke the princess further, from afar came Lu Third Young Master’s faint voice: “Lingyu, what are you doing?”

Turning her face, against the backdrop of training soldiers, she saw the tent flap of the military advisor’s tent lifted, and Lu Third Young Master standing at the entrance with his clear and noble bearing, raising his eyes to look over. The Northern Princess awkwardly avoided his gaze, but soon discovered that Lu Third Young Master hadn’t even looked at her, causing her to raise her eyes again in renewed resentment. Meanwhile, Luo Lingyu only paused briefly before running over with eyes full of joy, supporting herself on her lord’s arm, leaning against him with utmost fragility: “Brother Xuecen, please don’t send me away, alright? I won’t shout at you anymore. I’ll follow you without name or status.”

Lu Yun: “…”

He raised an eyebrow, originally indifferent, but her arrival stirred interest in his heart. However, the Third Young Master’s face remained unchanged: “Without name or status? Surely it won’t come to that…” He was still busy dealing with the matter of breaking off her engagement.

Luo Lingyu clung tighter to his arm and shook it coquettishly: “No, I insist on having no name or status.”

Lu Yun’s entire arm had gone numb from her shaking, and he glanced at her: “…Whatever makes Sister Yuer happy.”

Lu Yun’s eyes deepened with amusement as he reached out to pinch her cheek. This earned him a glare from Luo Lingyu: What are you doing? Can’t you cooperate with me? Can’t you be fierce with me?

Lu Yun immediately condemned his expression and sneered: “A cheap woman like you only deserves to be without name or status. How dare you cause a scene with me last night? Who gave you such courage?”

Luo Lingyu appeared even more grieved, sobbing quietly, seeming increasingly pitiful.

The Northern Princess was left speechless, feeling extremely strange. On one hand, she was rolling her eyes internally at Luo Lingyu’s pure white lotus act, while on the other hand, she was shocked that someone of Lu Third Young Master’s caliber would speak such humiliating words to a lady. Yet Luo Lingyu still hadn’t been angered away, instead continuing to whimper and refusing to let go of Lu Third Young Master.

Northern Princess: …I give up.

She left with an ugly expression, while Luo Lingyu was led into the tent by Lu Yun. Only after the curtain fell did she finally drop the expression from her face. Luo Lingyu coldly snorted at Lu Yun, her eyes shooting daggers at him. Not wanting to stay any longer, she perfunctorily had her maid set down the food box and prepared to leave.

Lu Yun gave a low laugh.

He embraced her from behind.

Lingyu expressionlessly lowered her eyes, dedicating herself to studying the patterns on the felt carpet below.

Lu Yun held Luo Lingyu from behind and laughed: “What’s wrong, still angry? Don’t you know there’s nothing between us? Only you make my heart race. Last night when she acted that way, my heart didn’t even skip a beat.”

Luo Lingyu believed there was nothing between them because she knew how high Lu Yun’s standards were. She had worked hard to win his favor, and now she was tasting the sweetness of success: precisely because this man wasn’t easily moved, women’s seduction was ordinary to him, and almost no one could breach his psychological defenses.

But in the back-and-forth between men and women, how could she let him lead all the way?

Luo Lingyu struggled free from his embrace, jumping three steps away. Lu Yun’s expression changed slightly as he saw her stop at the tent entrance, casting a sidelong glance that showed no anger but rather coquettish provocation: “Sweet words, who would believe your lies? Meeting a lady in the dead of night, letting her into your tent, I won’t pay attention to you anymore!”

Though she said “I won’t pay attention to you anymore,” her glances were alluring, her words betraying her true feelings, seeming both true and false as she teased him.

Many times his heart was hard as iron, knowing her tactics, he wouldn’t fall for them. But increasingly often, though he knew she was deliberate, knew she was leading him on, his heart still couldn’t help but race with her. One smile from her, and his heart would move. Her push and pull made his heart race uncontrollably… Lu Yun stepped forward, the dark changes in his eyes noticed by Luo Lingyu. Luo Lingyu didn’t want to give him satisfaction so quickly; she was already standing by the curtain, and just as Lu Yun’s expression changed, she lifted the curtain and left.

Luo Lingyu and her maid came and went like the wind, giving Lu Yun no satisfaction at all. Standing in the middle of the tent, the Third Young Master felt a certain area becoming uncomfortably hard, yet the beauty who could comfort him refused to easily grant his wishes. Lu Yun’s face showed traces of embarrassment: who would have thought he would have such moments?

The Third Young Master’s expression was unpleasant as he sat back down. He opened the food box she had brought, and seeing the exquisite pastries inside, his expression softened slightly. After eating a piece, Lu Third Young Master composed himself and returned to official business. Of course, he would reconcile with Luo Lingyu, but he had an idea… the time wasn’t right yet, no need to rush.

General Wei Cong hadn’t noticed anything about their romantic entanglements but came to find Lu Yun because he had discovered something. Wei Cong’s face was gloomy as he paced in Lu Yun’s tent: “We got those Northern envoys drunk, but their mouths were tight, refusing to say anything. However, an attendant accidentally let something slip—I suspect these Northern envoys didn’t come for negotiations at all, but to stall our Southern Kingdom. They must be preparing for a major battle… just waiting for the right timing, they need time.”

Lu Yun pondered thoughtfully: “What better time than during diplomatic visits when both countries aren’t at war?”

But then he added: “It’s just the general’s speculation, might not be accurate. We still need to investigate… How about this, I’ll discuss it with the new general from Yingchuan Prefecture and King Hengyang, and exchange some opinions.”

In Lu Second Young Master’s dream, King Hengyang hadn’t come to the border, and the connection between border prefectures wasn’t close. But in reality, King Hengyang had come. Coincidentally, Lu Yun and King Hengyang Liu Mu were old acquaintances. Even if their relationship wasn’t particularly good, they could at least talk to each other. Nanyang and Yingchuan were very close, naturally supporting each other.

Lu Yun continued: “Have spies cross the mountains to investigate the Northern army’s situation… Hmm, there should be many scholars staying in Luoyang city, I can write to ask them to keep an eye on Northern troop movements.”

Though Luoyang was within Northern territory, scholars traveled freely throughout the world, uninvolved in politics, having their channels.

Only then did Wei Cong remember that although Lu Third Young Master now sat in the military camp daily, before this he had been a scholar renowned throughout the world, holding high status in both Northern and Southern kingdoms. Seeing Lu Yun begin writing letters quickly, General Wei slowly “hmmed”: “We must still be vigilant against these ambitious people… enough talk, I must hurry to continue training troops. Whether it’s obvious strategies or hidden schemes, only by improving our military strength can we respond to everything effectively.”

Speaking of this, Wei Cong smiled bitterly: “It’s a pity our Southern people’s physique and strength can’t compare to the Northern army. It will take much longer for people from Jiangnan to train into the kind of iron-blooded fierce soldiers of the Northern army.”

Lu Yun’s eyebrows twitched slightly: The South’s advantage lay in its prosperity, in the fertile lands of Jiangnan. Military weakness could be compensated with numbers and wealth… but if the entire chain broke, they would be somewhat passive.

Thinking this, Lu Yun went ahead and wrote another letter to Jianye, asking King Chen whether the Jianye court’s support behind the scenes was reliable.

…

For now, it appears reliable.

King Chen replied as such.

His Majesty the Emperor lived in debauchery, and after dispatching the military officers, he left all matters of war to the Grand Marshal to worry about, neither asking nor managing anything. Now though Prince Chen was in the Marshal’s residence, and while unable to control Jianye’s army, he could still maintain some control over Nanyang’s troops.

The court treasury’s remaining funds were far from enough for war consumption, but the noble families had plenty of money. Prince Chen visited various households daily, speaking kindly to persuade them. With the help of young masters like the Lu Second Young Master’s Lu family, the noble houses were still reluctantly providing financial support, transferring it to the state. The noble houses’ wish was for the war to end quickly; they were unwilling to drag it out for long.

Prince Chen said: “…The common families have also contributed funds, offering them to the court to buy official positions. Several scholars have agreed.”

The distinction between scholars and commoners only referred to their status. However, in this era, there were impoverished among the scholar families, like the Luo family of Nanyang. Among commoner families, there were also highly reputed local wealthy figures, like Zhou Yangling’s father Zhou Tan representing the Yi City forces. Commoner families weren’t necessarily less wealthy than scholar families; even scholars of common birth like Zhou Tan could mobilize more assets than ordinary scholar families. As commoner families sought to enter high society, some ordinary scholar families were already interested in “financial marriages,” willing to offer their status while commoner families provided money, benefiting both sides.

Given this, it was normal for common families to be willing to support the court in fighting the war.

Prince Chen said: “Master Zhou Tan truly lives up to his reputation as a great scholar of our time. It’s a pity we couldn’t arrange a marriage alliance. I wonder what happened to that daughter of his who was originally coming to Jianye, why did she come and then leave? Could it be that the great scholar Zhou was disappointed with Jianye?”

Prince Chen had only heard of Zhou Yangling’s existence from Lu Yun. He discussed the possibility of a marriage alliance with a normal attitude, treating it as an exchange of interests. But he was no longer willing… Prince Chen thought of Zhou Zibo, letting out a soft sigh in his heart.

A strange thought welled up in his heart: both surnamed Zhou. If Young Master Zhou wasn’t male, but female, even if she was that disappeared daughter of Zhou Tan… how wonderful that would be.

…

While Prince Chen Liu Shu was corresponding with Lu Yun, the Lu family’s Second Young Master Lu Xian also wrote a long, flowing letter to his third brother, anxiously telling him about his dream. But Lu Xian was more careful this time, because he often didn’t receive replies from Lu Yun, and he couldn’t help wondering if he was writing too many letters, too frequently, and his third brother simply had no time to read so many letters. Just in case, when he wrote to Lu Yun, he sent an even more detailed letter to Luo Lingyu.

Cousin Luo was so clever, surely she would seek out Third Brother after seeing this letter?

Lu Xian guessed he had such a dream because of the appearance of that Northern Princess who came for the marriage alliance. There was no news in Jianye, but the border region should have received news by now. In the dream, that princess spoke bewitching words, the Northern envoys twisted right and wrong, forcibly making the Southern court hold back their troops, ultimately causing Lu Third Young Master’s death. If that Northern Princess didn’t enter the territory and didn’t enter Jianye, wouldn’t Third Brother not have to die?

So, how could they prevent a Northern Princess with clear intentions from entering Jianye?

Second Young Master Lu didn’t know, to let the border soldiers worry about such matters.

…

Nanyang was hosting this princess from the North, and the Northern envoy group was being kept in Nanyang, still waiting for the Southern civil officials’ escort, not rushing to head to Jianye yet.

Second Young Master Lu’s guess was indeed correct – Lu Yun had too many letters on his desk, too many important letters. Lu Yun didn’t think his Second Brother’s daily questions about what he ate and drank were very important; he would read his Second Brother’s letters when he had time, not opening them immediately upon receipt. Moreover, these past two days, when he had a bit of free time, Lu Yun was busy with another matter: he had previously bought a lamp from the Northern Princess to give to Luo Lingyu. He was busy perfecting this lamp… and had even less time to reply to letters.

Meanwhile, Luo Lingyu received the letter first.

Sitting in the courtyard at home, other ladies were playing liubo, laughing continuously. Luo Lingyu put down the letter in her hand, her beautiful eyes downcast, contemplating the earth-shattering secret Second Young Master Lu mentioned in his letter. Her concern made her confused; every mention of Lu Third Young Master’s death made her heart twist like tangled hemp, feeling helpless at every turn.

Lu Third Young Master would die!

The cause was precisely this Northern Princess!

The lady sitting quietly in the home garden, her lowered eyes flashed with murderous intent. Her first thought was that they couldn’t let this Northern Princess enter Jianye. And the best way to prevent a princess who was determined to marry and harbored ill intentions from entering Jianye was to make her disappear. This princess couldn’t be allowed to live… while she lived, she would always be a threat to Lu Yun.

But traditionally, between countries, envoys were never executed. The Northern Princess was part of the envoy group; if she died, wouldn’t Lu Yun, as Nanyang’s highest official, be held accountable? Hmm, being held accountable wasn’t a problem… Lu Third Young Master was from a noble family, as long as he wasn’t the one who killed her, it would be fine.

They couldn’t let the princess’s death be connected to Lu Yun… the aftermath could be remedied, but the incident itself had to be handled cleanly.

The group of ladies enjoying themselves in the Luo household didn’t know that while sitting in the same courtyard, while their minds were full of thoughts about marrying ideal husbands, Luo Lingyu’s gentle exterior masked thoughts of using others as weapons to kill.

And in Nanyang currently, wasn’t the best weapon the highest military commander of Nanyang – General Wei, Wei Cong?

…

Once her mind was made up, the next day, Luo Lingyu drove to the military camp, cheerfully inviting the noble Northern Princess to play with Nanyang’s ladies. The Northern Princess, harboring her intentions, naturally didn’t want to associate much with these people from Nanyang. But Luo Lingyu smiled as if oblivious: “Marriage alliances between noble families in the South are numerous, pulling one thread affects the whole; it must be similar in the North, right? If the Princess makes friends with ladies in Nanyang, won’t they look after you when you marry and go to Jianye?”

She then showed a pitiful smile: “Princess, let me make up for my previous mistakes. If you marry Brother Xuecen in the future, I’ll have to serve you anyway, won’t I?”

Marry Lu Third Young Master… the Northern Princess’s heart rippled, then sank, telling herself not to dream anymore.

But Luo Lingyu’s words weren’t wrong. The Northern Princess set aside the awkwardness about the previous incident with Luo Lingyu and Lu Yun, her heart stirred – being in a foreign land, having noble families’ support would naturally be good.

By now she knew Lu Third Young Master was hopeless, she would probably truly have to marry that old and muddleheaded Southern Emperor. Though resentful and disdainful in her heart, she had to start making thorough preparations.

So Luo Lingyu led the Northern Princess around, introducing this princess to various people. A strange thought flashed through the Northern Princess’s mind, wondering how Luo Lingyu could have such broad connections in Nanyang if she was truly weak. It seemed everyone knew her, every lady could converse with her.

When asked about this.

Luo Lingyu paused for a moment, then her face flushed red: “…Probably because I’m beautiful?”

The Northern Princess was speechless, unable to refute. Her tone was slightly sour: “Good thing you’re not a princess. If you went to our North for a marriage alliance, our Emperor would probably pluck the stars from the sky for you.”

Luo Lingyu immediately made a refusing gesture, eyes brimming with tears: “My heart only has Brother Xuecen, I won’t marry anyone but him… Princess, please don’t marry me off to someone else.”

In her words and manner, she was trying to curry favor with the Northern Princess as if she were a future mistress.

The Northern Princess was pleased internally, but spoke lightly: “National interests come first, how can you be so affected?”

Luo Lingyu’s bright eyes flickered, with an ambiguous smile, but she didn’t say much—national interests came first, but for her, she was always most important.

Luo Lingyu, who was single-mindedly plotting to kill this princess and step by step leading her toward death, naturally wouldn’t waste words with the princess anymore. She said: “Why only Brother Xuecen? For a marriage alliance, what does the Princess think of our General? Imposing and mighty, commanding thousands of troops. Our General looks at the Princess quite differently.”

The Northern Princess recalled, thinking of that mountain-like robust man: “…Does he?”

Luo Lingyu spoke without blushing or her heart racing: “Yes, he blushes when he sees Your Highness.”

The Northern Princess smiled reservedly, not taking it seriously. She certainly wouldn’t choose Wei Cong as a marriage partner – just a general who climbed up from common origins, without any interest groups behind him, what would she gain? But Luo Lingyu’s words still created ripples in her heart, and beautiful people were always self-confident. The Northern Princess believed Wei Cong admired her, and when she looked at that general again, her gaze was different from before.

She became much more confident when ordering people around.

Wei Cong was bewildered, struggling to contain his anger: “…Can’t get angry, these are Northern envoys. Just wait until I send these troublesome people out of Nanyang. Can’t let anything happen to her while she’s under my watch!”

Meanwhile, Luo Lingyu continued to accompany the Northern Princess daily with a smile. Once when they went to the outskirts of the city, they were stopped by military horses and couldn’t leave the city. Luo Lingyu secretly pointed to a temporary shelter with tent curtains and dried grass, with no one guarding it, casually saying: “I heard Brother Xuecen say they seem to be developing some new weapons…”

Luo Lingyu suddenly covered her mouth, smiling embarrassedly.

The Northern Princess’s heart pounded heavily, and when she questioned Luo Lingyu further, Luo Lingyu showed a regretful expression but repeatedly deflected, saying she knew nothing.

But the Northern Princess took it to heart, having the Northern envoy group send people to inquire about what those row houses were used for. The Northern envoy group was being watched closely by Southern soldiers; with no alternative, the Northern Princess discussed with them and decided to use her advantage as a woman to investigate more thoroughly.

Luo Lingyu hadn’t lied to the Northern Princess, it was new weapons, but this was Luo Lingyu’s guess – Lu Yun hadn’t told her. Before Lu Yun came, Luo Lingyu had inquired about the situation from General Wei. She had guessed some things, and would consciously pretend not to know.

Now was the perfect time to use this to trap the Northern Princess.

…

Step by step she laid out her plan, imperceptibly pushing things forward, perfecting the whole story, perfecting this lie she had woven.

The Northern Princess harbored ulterior motives while also believing Luo Lingyu to be a helplessly weak woman. She didn’t take Luo Lingyu seriously, naturally not knowing how this gentle and beautiful young woman was harming her step by step, pushing her toward death.

When investigated afterward, Luo Lingyu would appear especially innocent: Had she said anything? All her words were ambiguous, emotional talk, how could they be taken as evidence?

Moreover, with Lu Xuecen around, who would investigate her?

Once the Northern Princess died, everything would be over.

…

In early October, one night, a torrential rain fell, drenching the entire world.

Heavy rain knocked on windows, strong. Luo Lingyu sat indoors, head lowered practicing calligraphy. Suddenly, hearing approaching commotion outside, her brush tip paused on the rice paper as she raised her head. “Bang—” her door was pushed open, lightning from the sky cast down, bright as snow, illuminating her lord’s tense, slightly angry face.

Lu Yun: “Luo Lingyu!”

The maids hurried after him, panting and anxious: “Third Young Master, Third Young Master…”

Lu Yun slammed the door shut, keeping the maids outside: “No one is allowed to enter!”

Turning to face the still-seated lady, his whole body trembling, suppressing his anger: “…Do you know, tonight the Northern Princess almost died at General Wei’s hands?”

Luo Lingyu froze.

Then murmured regretfully: “…She didn’t die?”

Lu Yun narrowed his eyes, strode forward, and bent down to grip her wrist. His eyes were full of disappointment in her, he controlled his emotions, but couldn’t understand: “…So it was you?! Why did you do this, do you know what position this puts me in? Do you know what consequences this will have? The war and peace between two countries, they don’t matter at all in your eyes, do they?”

Luo Lingyu was burned by the disappointment in his eyes, her extremely strong pride before him couldn’t accept his disappointment. Anyone else could look down on her, but not him. Anyone else could think she was a bad person, but she was saving him. She suddenly pushed him away, stood up, and angrily said: “Lu Xuecen! If I don’t do this, you will die!”

“You still blame me, you don’t know anything! You fool!”

Lu Yun was stunned, seeing her eyes reddened, and filled with mist. His heart was instantly scalded, unable to bear seeing such an expression in her eyes.

Thunder struck again outside the window, lightning flashed and thunder roared, the windows were pushed open from outside with a clatter, and a mighty gust of rain swept into the room. Her sleeves were wet with rain, Luo Lingyu pushed him away, a tear falling from the corner of her eye. She quickly moved to walk outside, but her lord, expressionless, reached out his hand and pulled her into his embrace. Luo Lingyu struggled, choking back sobs, but his eyes were black as ink, deep as the sea. Lu Yun held her and lowered his head to kiss her, swallowing the sobs emerging from her throat.