Lu Xian, the Second Young Master Lu, silently watched them discuss whether Zhou Zibo should leave. If Zhou Zibo was indeed the leader of the commoner faction and the disciple-cum-adopted child of the renowned scholar Zhou Tan, her reputation would be sufficient to secure support from the commoners, whether for weapons or supplies. Moreover, Zhou Zibo’s conduct in Jianye over the past half year demonstrated their competent handling of affairs.

The downside was that Zhou Zibo had a weak and sickly constitution, raising concerns about whether they could endure long-distance travel. Additionally, with the northern envoys and certain interest groups in Jianye watching Prince Chen, there were questions about whether Zhou Zibo’s group could evade potential assassination attempts after leaving Jianye.

Zhou Yangling listened quietly to their doubts about her. When they finished speaking, she responded in a gentle voice, “Please don’t worry. Though I am weak, it’s only due to an illness I’ve had since birth. Common ailments don’t affect me much and won’t hinder long journeys.”

“There will certainly be assassination attempts. However, the identity of the hunters remains uncertain. If the Prince assists me, perhaps I can help the Prince in return by identifying his political enemies?”

Zhou Zibo spoke at a measured pace, discussing matters candidly. Beside her, Prince Chen’s eyes shone brightly as he stared at her, completely forgetting about everyone else.

Lu Xian listened silently, gradually understanding the complexity of their discussion. This seemingly modest yet naive young lord smiled slightly in self-deprecation, thinking that he was not a strategist after all – he could foresee crises but struggled to resolve them. However, as an observer, after looking at Zhou Zibo several times, he felt a sense of familiarity—

In his dream, Zhou Yangling and Luo Lingyu were known as the “Two Beauties of Jianye.” While Luo Lingyu’s beauty was incomparable, Zhou Yangling’s elegance was like a natural landscape. As beautiful women often avoid each other, Lu’s cousin Luo harbored some jealousy and wariness toward Zhou Yangling, and their relationship was not close. With Zhou Yangling present, Luo’s cousin was rarely around. Due to this lack of connection, Lu Er Lang had rarely seen Zhou Yangling in that dream. He had only glimpsed her from afar a few times, finding her extremely beautiful, as delicate as Xi Shi when ill, and as graceful as an orchid.

The Zhou Zibo he saw, in reality, possessed the refined and modest demeanor of a scholar. The young lord was handsome, like all the admired young men of the time. Though slender, the spirit and magnanimity in his features, along with the natural grace in his movements, didn’t give any impression of femininity.

Lu Er Lang felt familiar with the sight, yet he hadn’t recognized that Zhou Zibo before him was Zhou Yangling from his dream.

While he hadn’t recognized her, Prince Chen Liu Shu, who had never seen Zhou Yangling before, had developed some suspicions but still thought he was delusional—with such talent as Zhou Lang possessed… what was he hoping for with such a talented person?

With doubts in his heart, Liu Shu sent someone to Yicheng to investigate whether Zhou Tan had a disciple named Zhou Zibo. When the attendant was about to leave, Liu Shu added another question about Zhou Tan’s daughter Zhou Yangling—what kind of person she was, and whether it was possible… possible… Prince Chen didn’t finish his sentence, leaving the confused attendant to figure out his implied meaning.

Regardless of what the investigation would reveal, during these days, the advisors under Prince Chen unanimously agreed that Zhou Yangling should quietly leave Jianye. She planned to head south first to collect the supplies donated by her father’s followers; then take a detour north, playing a game of cat and mouse with potential assassins; and finally arrive safely in Nanyang to assist the northern troops.

The journey would be unpredictable, requiring Zhou Yangling to adapt to circumstances. After discussing the relevant matters with others and finalizing the itinerary, the day before departure, she specifically visited the Lu family to meet Luo Lingyu’s younger sister, Luo Yunwan. The young lady Luo Yunwan reluctantly entrusted her with letters and gifts for her sister, asking Zhou Lang to inquire when her sister would return.

The young lady was melancholic, her eyes reddening as she rubbed them: “…I’ve never been apart from my sister for so long. When she was here, I complained about her always supervising me, but now that she’s gone, I worry about her getting into trouble.”

Zhou Yangling stroked her hair, speaking to the young lady with sincere respect as one would to an adult, rather than with the patronizing tone used with children: “I will not fail Wan’er’s trust.”

Luo Yunwan was startled, looking up curiously at this gentle-featured young lord, somewhat understanding why her sister had once been attracted to this lord… Zhou Lang was gentle and well-mannered.

After Zhou Yangling finished these matters and drove back to the alley where the Zhou residence was located, the moon was cool as water, and the night was deep. After a tiring day and with a long journey ahead tomorrow, fatigue was inevitable. However, when Zhou Yangling alighted from the carriage at the alley entrance and slowly walked back to the mansion with her servant, she saw the high walls pressing in on both sides, the night light bluish, and a beautiful-featured young lord pacing anxiously outside her gate.

Prince Chen Liu Shu was pacing outside the Zhou residence, his brows furrowed, his face alternating between pale and flushed, looking up at the tree shadows extending from the wall top with an expression both focused and confused.

Until a gentle voice of surprise sounded from behind: “Your Highness?”

Liu Shu was startled, turning to see Zhou Lang. His face paled for a moment as he realized what foolish thing he was doing. As Zhou Lang’s gentle eyes gazed at him, his face grew even paler, yet also suddenly reddened. After a long silence, he said softly: “Can’t, can’t, can’t sleep, taking a walk, just, just, just ended up here.”

He couldn’t let her go, and after much hesitation, though knowing he shouldn’t, he still came.

After speaking, Liu Shu gave a self-deprecating smile: whenever he talked to Zhou Lang, he became like a fool.

However, Zhou Yangling didn’t mock him. As the servant knocked on the door, she even invited him in for tea. But the Prince backed away, looking at Zhou Lang as if at a fierce beast, hastily shaking his head. Zhou Yangling’s eyes flickered slightly, looking at him once but saying nothing. Since he wouldn’t come in, as she cupped her hands to bid farewell, the Prince gathered courage from behind: “Tomorrow, afraid, political enemies, might see, I, I can’t send you off… you, you be careful.”

Zhou Yangling replied gently: “Yes. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I have received much care from you in Jianye, and should naturally repay you this time. Moreover, my political views align with yours, so I naturally wish to assist Lu San Lang.”

Liu Shu nodded absently.

Zhou Yangling bid farewell again, but once more was called back by the person behind. Back and forth, again and again, the clever young lady realized something. The last time she turned to look at the youth behind her, her wrist in the sleeve that Prince Chen had grabbed stiffened for a moment, though the Prince, immersed in his embarrassing thoughts, couldn’t notice.

Liu Shu silently took out a small sandalwood box carved with magnolias from his sleeve. When opened, it contained a sachet.

Liu Shu gave a brief, forced smile, his fingers pointing at the sachet almost weakly: “The, master from Kashan Temple came to the palace to preach Buddhism, my mother, asked for it. I, took an extra one, for, for you. Inside, there’s a charm from the master, don’t, don’t open it. Otherwise, it won’t work.”

Zhou Yangling accepted the sachet, her fingers brushing over the flowers embroidered on it. The embroidery was crude, though the thread and fabric were of the highest quality. With one touch, she guessed that the person who embroidered this sachet was a noblewoman of extremely high birth. Only noble ladies, who didn’t embroider for a living, could have such poor needlework. Combined with Prince Chen’s words, the answer was obvious – this sachet was embroidered by Prince Chen’s mother for him.

His mother had asked for a sachet for him, yet he gave it to her.

The calm lake of Zhou Yangling’s heart stirred with ripples like spring water blooming with flowers. Under Liu Shu’s gaze, she bowed to him, saying softly: “Thank you for your care, Your Highness.”

A door closed between the two.

Liu Shu stood motionless at the door panel, his features refined, his eyelashes very long, quietly watching the person behind the door. Just like every time before. Suppressing his feelings, hiding his feelings. But this time was different from before – when he watched Zhou Lang, Zhou Lang didn’t turn away. Zhou Lang stood in the doorway, robes flowing gracefully, similarly watching him.

“Bang.” The door closed completely.

That subtle, shy feeling that wanted to be expressed yet couldn’t, was gently dispersed by the harsh autumn wind in the alley.

Separated by a door, Liu Shu leaned against the wall, lost in thought with lowered eyes.

Zhou Yangling stood inside the door, absently caressing the sachet when she noticed its opening had been sealed. She hesitated for a moment but still had servants bring scissors to open the sachet. Upon opening, the medicinal and floral fragrances wafted out, and as she unfolded the sachet, searching everywhere. There was no charm supposedly drawn by the master, but instead, a red love bean lay in the young lady’s clean white palm—

So his mother hadn’t asked for a charm to protect him but had made a sachet, hoping he would give it to the lady he admired.

Looking down at this love bean, Zhou Yangling’s fingertips trembled slightly, her heart skipping a beat inappropriately.

Slowly leaning against the wall, the young lady gripped the love bean in her hand, instantly understanding those unspoken feelings, and comprehending why that person had helped her so. In the deep night heavy with dew, pacing outside the door, what was that person seeking? It was precisely that untimely yet heartfelt sentiment—

My heart yearns for you, hoping you know, yet fearing you’ll know.

…

Separated by a wall, feelings remained unspoken.

However, inappropriately, Young Lady Zhou frowned in confusion: was Prince Chen attracted to her, or… did he have homosexual inclinations?

…

While Zhou Yangling was bidding farewell in Jianye, in the war-torn cities of the north, Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu had already set out, returning to Nanyang. With the Ruyang military affairs handed over to Prince Hengyang, Lu Yun urgently needed to return to Nanyang to coordinate with the battle at Ruyang city to jointly annihilate the enemy. Rushing along the journey, they traveled dozens of li by horse each day, still lodging at official post stations at night.

Luo Lingyu, feeling unwell, retired early.

Lu Yun routinely reviewed and approved government affairs and wrote letters until late at night. When it got late, returning to the quarters, he lifted the bed curtain to see the young lady sleeping in the bed. Like a begonia in the spring night, her long hair scattered messily on the pillow, her cheeks flushed from deep sleep, half-buried in the brocade quilt. Such a disheveled, unconscious beauty is tempting to be picked.

Lu San Lang’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he awkwardly turned his face away, lowering the curtain. Seeing her like this made his heart flutter. But he shouldn’t be so impulsive—her injuries from his actions hadn’t healed, and her leg was still hurting; moreover, with official duties being so busy, Lu Yun still worried about her becoming pregnant at an inappropriate time.

He secretly regretted that day when he had touched her in a moment of confusion, becoming addicted to the taste and unable to forget it, now thinking it wasn’t such a good thing after all.

Lu San Lang fled the quarters in embarrassment, returning to the room arranged for him at the post station. After washing up, his mind was excessively clear, and because of the separation by just one door and constantly thinking of someone, he couldn’t sleep at all. Lu Yun simply brewed tea to drink, and while at it, summoned his attendants to continue handling affairs.

The attendants who couldn’t sleep peacefully at night were suffering terribly, and the soundly sleeping Luo Lingyu didn’t know that Lu San Lang was brewing tea himself—she had never enjoyed the treatment of him making tea for her.

It rained in the middle of the night. Opening the window, after that previous snowfall, winter was slowly arriving, and there was little greenery left outside. Lu San Lang sat by the window, listening to the patter of rain and the gurgling of tea water on the stove when an attendant came in: “My lord, Fan Lang has been brought here.”

…

After several days, behind Luo Lingyu’s back, Lu Yun finally understood the story behind Luo Lingyu’s kidnapping. Unable to contain his anger, he naturally couldn’t let Fan Lang go and also had to question the Nanyang Fan family about their intentions. When he wrote to Nanyang, the Fan family, knowing they were in the wrong, naturally backed down and admitted defeat. What surprised Lu Yun was that even the stubborn Fan Qingchen, the Fourth Young Master Fan, didn’t resist this time.

Fan Qingchen accepted his defeat.

In the continuous sound of rain, Fan Qingchen was led in by attendants and saw the handsome young lord sitting by the bed. The lord wore a blue-lined robe, brewing tea beneath his hands, casting a casual glance without concern, clearly wary of him yet not overwhelmed by impulse.

Fan Qingchen gave a self-mocking smile and sat down.

He listened silently as Lu Yun spoke of his negotiations with the Fan family and their compensation. Lu Yun took out the letter of marriage annulment given by the Fan family and showed it to Fan Qingchen. This arrogant lord didn’t take him seriously, conducting talks and business directly with his father, only notifying him after matters were settled.

While Fan Qingchen considered Lu Yun his rival, Lu Yun had from beginning to end only conversed with Fan Qingchen’s father, Lord Fan. It was so in Jianye then, and it was so in Nanyang now. Lu Yun’s dismissal of Fan Qingchen led to consequences, while also making Fan Qingchen even more furious.

After several days, Lu Yun had already calmed down. Upon seeing Fan Qingchen, he wouldn’t lose his composure in anger. Lu Yun spoke with a distant tone: “Lord Fan has sent the letter of marriage annulment, henceforth Lingyu has no connection with the Fan family. But to prevent any issues, I still need to take that marriage certificate from you, to prevent anyone from causing trouble. Your father said you stole that marriage certificate. It’s with you now, isn’t it?”

Fan Qingchen said in a daze: “I can hand over the marriage certificate, can annul the marriage…”

His voice lowered, his head also dropping. When he didn’t continue for a long while, Lu Yun quietly brewed tea, so casually that the contempt in his bones was evident. Fan Qingchen suddenly raised his head, his eyes strangely bright. He stared at Lu San Lang, his eyes full of red bloodshot, his expression somewhat maniacal and bizarre: “…what would you have me do? If you were me, what could you do? How am I inferior to you? If you had been at the City God Temple then, could you have protected her? You’re also a scholar! Not a military commander! The opponent was the vanguard of the northern army! What could you do?!”

Lu Yun paused for a moment.

Yes, he was a civil official, not a military commander. His martial arts weren’t outstanding, but his skills were at least sufficient to assassinate enemies and withdraw safely… Perhaps because Lu San Lang usually maintained a scholarly demeanor and had never fought anyone in Nanyang, everyone had this misunderstanding.

Now facing the maniacal Fan Qingchen, Lu Yun glanced at him: “Why should I tell you?”

Fan Qingchen trembled: “I need to know the answer! If it were you, what would you do… tell me, and I’ll hand over the marriage certificate! I’ll disappear from Sister Luo’s sight thereafter, never bothering her again.”

Lu Yun looked at him, judging the truth in his words. After a long while, Lu Yun finally said: “If it were me when Ruyang city fell that day, I wouldn’t have left. How could I possibly have gone to the City God Temple?”

Fan Qingchen froze, then said sarcastically: “So you’re the loyal and righteous type.”

Lu San Lang curved his lips, continuing to provoke him: “If it were me, I wouldn’t have needed to kidnap her at all. Back in Nanyang, I would have made her willingly like me.”

Fan Qingchen’s eyes darkened: this paradox… comparing Lu San Lang with himself, who was more capable? How could they compare?

Fan Qingchen raged: “I’m talking about that night at the City God Temple! Why do you keep bringing up the past? Could it be that the renowned Lu San Lang, faced with the same situation as me that night, also couldn’t have saved Sister Luo?”

Lu Yun shook his head, seemingly finding him laughable.

Under Fan Qingchen’s cold gaze, Lu San Lang spoke softly: “If I had been at the City God Temple… my subordinates and attendants wouldn’t dare lay hands on me. If I wanted to save someone, the subordinates could only obey, not resist. Knowing I had feelings for her, yet daring to act against me and take her away… such subordinates would deserve death.”

Fan Qingchen shuddered, his shoulders stiffening, his breathing rapid, realizing something.

Lu San Lang lowered his eyes, speaking indifferently: “Your servants listen to your father’s words, listen to the Fan family’s words. You’re just an ordinary young lord of the Fan family, under the family’s protection, you can’t step out of the family’s shadow. I’m different from you, from the start, all my affairs have been under my control.”

He was the only lord of the Lu family’s second branch, and from a young age, he had to set the rules for all matters big and small in the second branch. The head of the Jianye Lu family was naturally Minister Lu, not Lu Yun’s father. After Lu Yun’s father passed, the Lu family’s main line feared gossip and didn’t lack the second branch’s small wealth, so they always kept their distance from this young third lord who returned to Jianye. With the main line acting thus, the Lu family’s side branches naturally also avoided association with the second branch. From childhood, the training, the lack of support with only himself to rely on. This special upbringing made Lu San Lang naturally solitary, lacking in security, but also accustomed to making his own decisions in everything.

Perhaps his parents’ early death had left him some benefits after all.

Fan Qingchen’s eyes darkened, becoming completely still. So the gap was this large. One was a lord, and one was just an ordinary young master. One made all his own decisions, one never had control of his fate… Fan Qingchen said with a trembling voice: “I understand now… so this is how I lost to you.”

He closed his eyes.

No longer holding much resistance or obsession.

His obsession had prevented him from saving Sister Luo and would have gotten her killed instead. He wanted her to be his alone until death, but if she were truly gone, his heart would be torn like a knife.

That night at the City God Temple, that night… when he was immobilized and taken away by servants, when he lay rigid with wide eyes, watching that young lady rush out of the temple in panic, nervously untying the reins and jumping onto the horse. He remembered she couldn’t ride, remembered she was poor at physical activities… When she was forced into a corner with nowhere to go, he watched helplessly as those soldiers rushed out to chase and kill her.

The snow fell heavily, and heaven and earth lost their way in confusion, when she mounted the horse to flee, how could she know where her destination lay?

Fan Qingchen watched with his own eyes, his heart breaking, his spirit turning to ashes.

Gritting his teeth, yet crushed by the pressure, his shoulders slumping, thinking he had completely lost her.

Lu Yun: “Where’s the marriage certificate?”

Fan Qingchen’s throat choked, murmuring: “…can you leave, let me see Sister Luo one last time, give us some time?”

Lu Yun replied casually: “No.”

His tea was ready, the stove’s fire extinguished, tiny stars reflecting off his blurred face behind the dark rain curtain. His voice was light: “My woman, how dare you covet her.”

Fan Qingchen’s heart ached.

He took a deep breath: “I don’t have the marriage certificate with me, I’ll go back to get it and return before dawn to give it to you.”

Lu Yun raised an eyebrow, gesturing “as you please.” Fan Qingchen rose and left the room. Lu Yun was so arrogant he wouldn’t even stand to see him off. The room was filled with tea fragrance as Lu Yun skillfully poured himself tea, turning his face slightly toward the window: “Follow him, if he doesn’t cause trouble, no need to stop him.”

The attendant was surprised: “…My lord seems to know what he’s going to do?”

Lu Yun smiled indifferently: being men, and him being so perceptive, how could he not know?

He was just pretending not to know.

Many things didn’t need to be distinguished, black or white.

…

With his concerns released, perhaps too tired, the tea still warm, Lu Yun leaned against the window and closed his eyes, falling into a confused sleep for a while.

He had a vague dream.

Perhaps because he had spoken too much with Fan Qingchen, glimpsing inner secrets, in his dream, he returned to when he first arrived in Jianye, to when he first associated with Prince Chen Liu Shu.

The lonely, timid Lu San Lang needed friends, and Liu Shu needed protection… that fall into the water was the beginning of their association.

Liu Shu, young as he was, growing up in the palace, had more schemes than Lu San Lang who grew up at the frontier. But in the years that followed, Lu San Lang grew up, and what he couldn’t understand in his youth, he now fully comprehended. Understanding it, he was initially bothered, but later ceased to care.

The falling into the water incident was Liu Shu’s scheme to pledge allegiance from the very beginning.

Liu Shu was ruthless, paying the price of a lifelong stutter. Such a price was too heavy for someone who might inherit the throne. If people knew, even with the Lu family’s protection, Liu Shu would lose any chance of becoming emperor.

Things mutually understood needed not to be spoken to embarrass each other.

Lu San Lang knew the reason for things, he could be at ease; the only thing he couldn’t understand was his inexplicable, groundless love for Luo Lingyu.

Thus he would be troubled.

Would be reluctant to part.

But the reason for love need not be clearly distinguished either. That love would initially waver and hesitate, going back and forth, finally becoming hopelessly entangled, swearing never to return. All was fate.

…

The rain whispered like a confession, heaven and earth clear and pure.

In his sleep, intermittently, he heard a “pat” sound, like a flower branch breaking and hitting the window.

“Sister Luo, Sister Luo…”

That voice was muffled and unclear.

Luo Lingyu startled awake from her dream, patting her chest as she sat bewildered on the bed. The wooden window was closed, yet she still heard that voice. That spine-chilling voice, she could tell who it was almost instantly. Luo Lingyu hesitated for a moment, thinking that with Lu Yun next door, Fan Qingchen wouldn’t dare act recklessly. She fumbled out of bed, took the oil lamp from the bedside, and made her way to the window.

Thinking if he acted recklessly, she would hit him with the lamp stand.

Luo Lingyu opened the window and leaned down, seeing Fan Qingchen standing in the rain below, looking up at her.

Dawn hadn’t broken, and the rain hadn’t stopped, he stood in the rain, his eyes brightening when he saw her open the window. These clear eyes without violent emotions made Luo Lingyu dazed as if returning to long ago, when Fan Qingchen still pretended in front of her, maintaining an appearance of gentle refinement.

Now, the young lord below the window saw her open it and smiled, incredibly brightly. Fan Qingchen was completely soaked, he looked at her for a long time, suddenly remembering something. From his sleeve, he solemnly took out a piece of paper, opening it up to show her clearly.

In the dim light, Luo Lingyu couldn’t see clearly, but seeing the red cinnabar seal, the official temple stamp, she guessed what it was—her marriage certificate with Fan Qingchen.

Luo Lingyu’s heart rose to her throat, thinking he would use this to threaten her.

But no, after showing her this marriage certificate, Fan Qingchen tore it to pieces before her eyes. The torn paper touched by water fell to the ground like withered butterflies. White particles fell around the young lord in his damp robes.

Fan Qingchen looked at her deeply, slowly revealing a serene smile.

No longer taking by force, forcing and pressuring her, seeing her frightened clear water-like eyes.

He said softly: “Sister Luo, you were the one I admired most in this life.”

“But… goodbye.”

No need to meet again.

After tearing up the marriage certificate, he looked for a long time at the beautiful young lady who stood in a daze, then turned and walked away. The beauty like pear blossoms reflected in water, the stunning beauty in chaotic times, the girl as thin as a little beggar when she first arrived in Nanyang… all left him behind.

He walked into the rain, leaving behind his heart full of love for her, countless needle-like raindrops striking him. Fourth Young Master Fan’s heart was numb with sorrow, but he had finally let her go.

…

The vines and creepers fell to the ground with a pat, startling the dreamer awake.

Lu San Lang opened his eyes, learning of the attendant’s report, sighed, and poured his cold tea out the window. The landscape was moist, clear air floating, dim light behind the rain curtain, dawn was breaking.