A faint ray of morning light filtered through the gaps in the doors and windows.

Luoshen hadn’t slept well the night before. She awoke as soon as dawn began to break.

Just as she woke, before even opening her eyes, scenes from last night immediately flooded her mind.

She opened her eyes at once.

Li Mu lay on his side beside her, one arm gently encircling her waist, holding her in his embrace.

In the hazy morning light, he was still fast asleep. His chin rested against her forehead. Warm breath from his breathing gently fell on her face.

It was completely quiet around them—not a sound could be heard.

The wild wind and torrential rain of last night had completely vanished without a trace.

Luoshen slowly closed her eyes again, which still felt somewhat sore and swollen, and continued to lie quietly curled beside him.

But her thoughts became chaotic once more.

Later last night, he had held her like this continuously, constantly comforting her until she became too exhausted and fell asleep in his arms.

She knew he hadn’t meant to treat her that way. She so loved this man named Li Mu. Therefore, even though he had been so frightening, making her panic and cry uncontrollably at the time, she had quickly forgiven him afterward.

Things seemed to have finally passed.

She knew he would never do such things to her again. This was intuition. She trusted this man.

They would be like before. He would continue to dote on her, and she could continue to be his wife without worry. Acting spoiled with him when happy, getting annoyed with him when unhappy.

And he would always be so good-tempered. Except for last night.

But deep in her heart, there was clearly another voice quietly reminding Luoshen.

After experiencing such emotional upheaval last night, her heart could no longer truly settle down as it had before.

Her husband Li Mu had originally made her feel completely safe whenever she thought of him.

But now, she could no longer find that sense of security she had felt by his side.

Her intuition was quietly reminding her that Li Mu must still be hiding something from her.

She truly couldn’t believe that just because he had seen those few drafts recording her past exchanges with Lu Jianzhi, or because she had unintentionally mentioned Lu Jianzhi a few times in front of him since returning, he would become so abnormal.

Yet he simply wouldn’t tell her.

She felt utterly powerless.

A night of wild wind and rain had devastated the flowers and trees throughout the garden.

Outside, the early-rising servant women and maids saw the ground covered with fallen flowers and broken branches, with banana plants lying flat, quietly complained a few words about last night’s terrible weather, then began cleaning up the courtyard.

Brooms swept across the wet pathways, making soft rustling sounds.

Li Mu awoke but didn’t immediately open his eyes, only slowly tightening his arms to hold the warm, soft body in his embrace more closely.

After a moment, he felt a small hand gently stroking his cheek, which had sprouted messy stubble overnight. Opening his eyes, he saw her watching him with eyes that still bore the swollen traces of last night’s crying.

He gazed at her, slowly catching the small hand that had stopped on his cheek and bringing it to his lips to kiss her fingers.

“Still tired? Sleep a bit more—I’ll stay with you.”

He leaned closer, his chin gently nuzzling her face.

Luoshen obediently hummed in agreement and slowly closed her eyes again in his embrace.

…

When the court had no urgent matters, officials rested every five days. Today was another rest day.

In the past, even on rest days, Gao Qiao would certainly go to the Tai City offices. Today, however, he unexpectedly stayed home to accompany Xiao Yongjia.

Reaching middle age, not only had he reconciled with his wife, but now he was to become a father again. Having borne the reputation of being henpecked for many years, he could finally turn things around. Gao Qiao couldn’t hide his pride and joy. When asked about it, he naturally had to boast. Thus within a few days, everyone in the entire office knew and came to congratulate him.

News of the Eldest Princess’s pregnancy immediately reached the palace as well. Although Empress Gao didn’t leave the palace herself, she immediately sent palace envoys with congratulatory gifts to express her joy upon hearing the good news, instructing her aunt to take good care of herself during pregnancy.

Gao Qiao was in excellent spirits this morning. After rising, he watched Xiao Yongjia comb her hair in the room, then insisted on painting her eyebrows himself. After finishing, Xiao Yongjia looked in the mirror once and complained repeatedly.

Gao Qiao, who prided himself as a master of painting, wouldn’t give up after being criticized for his eyebrow work and insisted on painting them again. One complained while the other coaxed her to be patient, laughing softly together like a young couple. After fussing for quite a while, they heard servants reporting that their daughter and son-in-law had arrived, so they finally stopped and came out together to have breakfast with them.

After the meal, Luoshen accompanied her mother back to rest. Li Mu then spoke up, asking Gao Qiao to step aside for a private conversation.

Gao Qiao knew he must have something to discuss and led him to the study, saying with a smile: “Jingchen, I drank too much that night. If you don’t want to practice calligraphy, I certainly won’t force you. But if you do want to learn, I have several good copybooks here. I know you’re busy, but you might take them with you. When you have time to practice, even accumulating one or two characters each day—as they say, a journey of a thousand li begins with a single step, and streams converge to form seas—over time, there should surely be some improvement…”

As he spoke, he went to the bookshelf to find copybooks and brought them over.

Li Mu respectfully received them, thanking his father-in-law with a smile.

Gao Qiao asked him to sit down, then inquired what the matter was.

Li Mu didn’t sit but instead bowed deeply to Gao Qiao, performing a kneeling ceremony with a solemn expression.

Gao Qiao hurriedly told him to rise, asking in confusion: “What do you mean by this?”

Li Mu remained kneeling and said: “To be honest, last night I severely injured Lu Huanzhi. Today the Censorate should summon me. Lu Guang will likely also take this opportunity to find fault with Father-in-law. I know this will certainly disturb Father-in-law’s peace, so I ask for Father-in-law’s understanding.”

On the second day after Li Mu’s return, he had encountered Lu Huanzhi’s provocation on the road—Gao Qiao had already learned of this from Gao Qi. Though he felt dissatisfied with that Lu family son, thinking the matter had passed, he let it go. He never expected such a sequel and was greatly shocked: “How did you injure the Lu family’s son? What exactly happened last night?”

Li Mu said: “Last night your son-in-law went drinking at Qinhuai with some old brothers and encountered Lu Huanzhi again. We had a disagreement, and I lost control for a moment, beating him into serious injury.”

Gao Qiao asked about the injuries. Hearing that Lu Huanzhi had been struck on the head with a sword hilt, had broken ribs, and had fallen unconscious at the time, he sighed and rose from his seat, pacing back and forth several times before stopping and looking at Li Mu with furrowed brows.

“Jingchen, it’s one thing for you to go to such places with others—human relationships are unavoidable. But I thought you were always steady. If the Lu family son was disrespectful and you taught him a lesson, that would be acceptable, but things should have limits. How could you strike so heavily? What if you had beaten him to death—how would a murder case be resolved?”

His tone carried reproach.

Li Mu kowtowed: “At the time I truly lost my composure. I’ll bear all responsibility myself. I only fear involving Father-in-law, so I earnestly ask for Father-in-law’s forgiveness.”

Gao Qiao was silent for a moment, shook his head, and sighed: “Forget it, forget it! That Lu family son was indeed disrespectful—his character and nature are like heaven and earth compared to his elder brother. Since the beating is done, you’re my son-in-law—how could I not care? Stand up!”

Only then did Li Mu rise.

“You’re still young, inevitably hot-blooded, and your hands are heavy. Losing control momentarily can happen. Fortunately, no life was lost this time. Remember, never be so reckless again in the future!”

Li Mu respectfully agreed.

Gao Qiao told him to leave first. He himself pondered, then returned to his seat, planning to write to Lu Guang first. After finishing the letter, he felt it inappropriate.

Regardless of who was more in the right, it was ultimately his son-in-law who had beaten someone into such serious injury that they were still unconscious. Merely sending a letter would seem insufficiently sincere.

After much consideration, Gao Qiao decided to meet Lu Guang in person.

Though he didn’t hold much hope, Gao Qiao decided to make the trip first to see if the matter could be settled peacefully. So he wrote a visiting card, tucked it in his sleeve, but had only gone halfway when family members hurriedly caught up, saying Li Mu had just been summoned to the Censorate. Only then did he learn that Imperial Censor Ding Song had received Lu Guang’s complaint early in the morning, accusing Li Mu of assault last night, severely injuring Lu Huanzhi, and demanding severe punishment to uphold discipline.

“The matter even alarmed His Majesty, who sent Prince Xin’an to oversee the investigation. Someone just came to summon Li Langjun for immediate questioning.”

Gao Qiao’s brows furrowed tightly as he immediately turned around and hurried to Tai City.

…

Luoshen accompanied her mother back to the room, sitting beside her and listening to her talk about the gradually warming weather and plans to go to Bailu Zhou for summer retreat. She responded appropriately but was thinking about last night’s events, gradually becoming lost in thought. Suddenly hearing her mother call her name again, she snapped back to attention and saw her looking over with concern, quickly responding.

Xiao Yongjia felt her daughter’s forehead—nothing unusual.

“Do you have something on your mind? I noticed your eyelids were swollen this morning—didn’t sleep well last night? Just now when I was talking to you, I don’t know where your thoughts went!”

How could Luoshen let her mother know about last night’s events? Even this morning after rising, she had repeatedly instructed the nearby servant women and maids not to mention a word about Li Mu’s abnormally late return last night in front of A’Ju or her mother.

Now hearing the question, she quickly denied it. Seeing her mother looking at her with apparent disbelief, remembering her earlier mention of wanting to move to the island for summer retreat, which her father also strongly supported, she hesitated before saying softly: “Mother, I’d very much like to accompany you again, but I’m afraid it won’t be possible. Once Langjun finishes his business here and we visit my grandmother, we’ll probably return to Yi Cheng…”

Having just returned a few days ago and already having to leave again, Luoshen indeed felt reluctant to part from her parents. But thinking of Li Mu’s tone last night when he said he didn’t like this imperial city, her heart softened infinitely.

After speaking, she looked at her mother with apologetic eyes.

Xiao Yongjia was startled, thought for a moment, then nodded: “That’s fine too. The affairs in Yi Cheng and Chang’an are important—if Jingchen is away too long, that wouldn’t be good either. Just go. Don’t worry about Mother. Mother has Father.”

Luoshen nodded, leaning closer to gently touch her mother’s belly.

“Mother, when you give birth, remember to send word to me.”

Xiao Yongjia smiled and drew her daughter into her arms: “Of course. How could Mother forget you?”

Luoshen leaned against her mother’s side, involuntarily thinking again of last night’s events, finally unable to help asking: “Mother, you previously taught me to remember that I’m now Li Mu’s wife. I want to do well…”

She hesitated, then sat up straight, looking at her mother.

“But if he has something on his mind yet won’t tell me, what should I do?”

Xiao Yongjia looked at her daughter. “He’s hiding something from you?”

“How could that be?” Luoshen immediately shook her head.

“I was just thinking, asking casually. Since we’ll be leaving in a few days, I thought if I encountered such a situation in the future, having asked beforehand, I’d have some idea what to do.”

She feigned casualness, even smiling at her mother after speaking.

Xiao Yongjia asked no more questions, only saying: “Your question really stumps me…”

She pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled and shook her head.

“Others don’t know, but you’re my daughter—you know best. Your father and I, for these twenty-plus years, he’s always had things he wouldn’t tell me. And I myself—haven’t I been the same? That’s precisely why your father and I have had such a rocky relationship all along, never living well together, making you suffer quite a bit too. Now thinking back, speaking for myself, I was too strong-willed, suppressing your father from the very beginning, which made him avoid me. But you’re different from Mother…”

Xiao Yongjia looked at her daughter.

“It’s also Mother’s fault for raising you too delicately from childhood, and your nature is gentle and weak. Mother thinks that if your husband only sees you as someone who needs his complete protection, when he has troubles, how would he easily tell you? The heavier the troubles, the less likely he’d let you know.”

“So Mother told you before to forget you’re a daughter of the Gao family and truly consider yourself his wife. What does it mean to be husband and wife? You’re not merely someone who needs his protection. You must also let him know that if he’s troubled, you can extend your hand to him. Even if you can’t help him much, you won’t let go—you’ll stay by his side no matter what. I imagine that way, if he has troubles, he naturally wouldn’t hide them from you.”

Luoshen was lost in thought.

Xiao Yongjia smiled and sighed: “Getting along as husband and wife is a lifetime’s work. It sounds easy but is difficult to do. Mother is like this too.”

She grasped her daughter’s soft hands, saying gently: “A’Mi, your character is so much better than Mother’s, and you’re clever too. Whether what Mother just said is right, you can think it over carefully when you have time.”

Luoshen looked at her mother, slowly nodding: “Mother, I will think about it.”

…

Early in the morning, the Tai City Censorate offices were bustling again.

Today was a rest day, and even Gao Qiao rarely didn’t show up at Tai City, so everyone could finally relax at home. But Lu Guang had forced them all to come.

Imperial Censor Ding Song was thoroughly vexed but had no choice. Moreover, even the Emperor had been alarmed and spoken, sending Prince Xin’an Xiao Daocheng to oversee the investigation. He could only hurriedly don his official robes and rush over. After meeting Prince Xin’an, he tried to placate the angry Lu Guang while waiting for Li Mu’s arrival.

Li Mu had actually struck and injured Lu Guang’s son Lu Huanzhi. According to the subordinate official who had gone to the Lu residence to examine the injuries, Lu Guang’s words weren’t exaggerated—Lu Huanzhi was seriously hurt. Besides his broken head and fractured ribs on one side, after a whole night, he was still unconscious.

Ding Song groaned inwardly.

Originally this case wouldn’t be difficult to decide—just an ordinary assault case. Since it involved court officials, it had been brought to him.

But now, because one party was the Lu family and the other the Gao family, and the one who had committed assault was Li Mu, who had just captured Chang’an and achieved great merit.

This became a huge problem.

Ding Song felt uneasy but finally heard footsteps outside the office and looked up to see Li Mu arriving.

Though he had been summoned for questioning, he hadn’t yet been convicted, and his official rank was higher. Ding Song hurriedly went out to personally escort him inside.

Li Mu entered, exchanged greetings with the smiling Xiao Daocheng, then turned toward Lu Guang nearby.

Lu Guang’s face was ashen. Unable to wait for others to speak, he sternly shouted: “Li Mu! My son Huanzhi accidentally bumped your servant with his horse that day on the street and exchanged a few words. Why did you strike him so viciously? Pitifully, after a whole night, he’s still unconscious with his life hanging in the balance! If you don’t explain clearly today, I’ll never let this go!”

Prince Xin’an coughed: “Minister Lu, please calm down for now. Since this prince came by imperial command, may I ask what exactly happened last night?”

Lu Guang looked toward the servant he had brought.

The man was Lu Huanzhi’s attendant from last night. He fell to his knees with a thud, head hanging low, eyes closed, saying: “The Second Young Master heard there was a skilled qin player at a Qin Tower in the south of the city. Last night he went there out of admiration, just wanting to hear a piece, but unexpectedly encountered General Li. Without any explanation, General Li locked the Second Young Master in a room and beat him into that condition, then left triumphantly. What this slave says is absolutely true, without the slightest falsehood!”

Prince Xin’an looked at Li Mu with concerned and regretful expression: “General Li, if what this Lu family slave says is true, then General Li is in the wrong. Even with private grievances, striking someone like this violates national law. Moreover, General Li is a court official holding high position—you should set an example for others. How could you act so impulsively?”

Lu Guang slammed the table: “Li Mu, what else do you have to say?”

As his words fell, another voice came from outside: “Minister Lu, since the Second Young Master is still unconscious, he naturally hasn’t spoken. Since he hasn’t spoken, how can you believe a household slave’s wild words?”

Everyone looked toward the voice and saw Imperial Guard Commander Li Xie arriving, striding inside. After greeting Xiao Daocheng, he looked at Lu Guang.

“Minister Lu, your slave has a poor memory—just saw him last night, yet he didn’t mention me? I can also testify. I was also at the Qin Tower last night. Your son was indeed beaten by General Li, witnessed by many. However, the cause wasn’t as your slave claims. At the time, your son clearly saw a woman he fancied and tried to force himself on the qin player. The woman desperately resisted, enraging your son, who actually drew his sword to threaten her. It happened that General Li and I were both at the Qin Tower last night. Hearing the woman’s cries for help, we went over and advised your son to stop. Your son harbored resentment toward General Li—everyone knows this. Not only did he not listen, he turned his sword on General Li.”

He turned to Xiao Daocheng: “Prince Xin’an, please judge clearly. I witnessed the scene myself. Your son acted like a mad tiger, and General Li only acted in self-defense. Though he accidentally struck too heavily, it wasn’t intentional. This is absolutely true—I can testify!”

Lu Guang was furious: “Li Xie! Who doesn’t know your relationship with Li Mu! With such testimony, who could believe it?”

The attendant, seeing his master’s anger, hastily opened his mouth to cry injustice again, but suddenly heard rapid footsteps. Looking up, he saw even Gao Qiao had arrived. For a moment he didn’t dare speak, hastily lowering his head.

Everyone hurried to greet him, even Xiao Daocheng rising. Lu Guang didn’t move. Seeing Gao Qiao bow to him, he merely nodded coldly, saying: “Minister Gao, I know your son-in-law has friends throughout the realm. But such testimony is rather laughable. Given their close relationship, how can such testimony be trusted?”

Gao Qiao’s brows were tightly furrowed.

“Minister Lu, I already know that Li Mu accidentally injured Huanzhi. Regardless of right or wrong in this matter, injuring someone is ultimately inappropriate. I was just planning to visit my nephew and discuss with you how to resolve this matter. Hearing everyone had come here, I came as well.”

He glanced at the Lu household slave kneeling on the ground.

“What you just said presumably came from this household servant of yours. His relationship with the Second Young Master is probably even closer than Imperial Guard Commander Li’s with Jingchen. If he can testify for the Second Young Master, why can’t Imperial Guard Commander Li speak a few honest words for Jingchen if what he says is true?”

Lu Guang was speechless.

Xiao Daocheng remained silent.

Li Xie smiled slightly and immediately said: “Reporting to the Minister, every word this subordinate speaks is true! Not only can this subordinate testify, the victim courtesan from last night can also testify.”

Gao Qiao nodded: “If so, summon her.”

The Imperial Censor secretly breathed a sigh of relief, quickly asking: “Is the person here?” Seeing Li Xie nod, he immediately ordered someone to summon her.

Shortly after, accompanied by light footsteps, a woman in her twenties entered. She had a beautiful face, slender figure, and elegant dress, with no trace of dusty air about her.

However, on such a hot day, she wore a scarf around her neck, which was rather eye-catching. After entering with a serious expression, she lowered her head to kowtow to everyone, calling herself Lü Niang, a qin courtesan from the Qin Tower.

Ding Song repeated Li Xie’s words and asked: “Can you testify to what Imperial Guard Commander Li said?”

Lü Niang’s eyes immediately reddened. She raised her hand and slowly untied the scarf around her neck, revealing a wound on the side of her neck. Weeping, she said: “What Imperial Guard Commander Li said contains no falsehood. This cut on my neck was inflicted by that young master’s sword last night. If General Li hadn’t intervened in time, I would already be dead.”

Ding Song immediately approached to examine it closely, seeing the wound on her neck was neat and straight, clearly made by a sharp blade. It was several inches long, deep into the skin. Though a night had passed, blood still seeped around the wound, and the location was dangerous—only a hair’s breadth from the neck artery. If it had gone a bit further, she probably wouldn’t have survived at the time.

Ding Song shook his head, returned, and described what he had seen, then looked at Gao Qiao and Xiao Daocheng.

Lü Niang covered her neck wound and kowtowed again, crying: “This lowly body knows that young master is of noble birth and I cannot provoke him. Originally, even if I had died under his sword last night, it would have been my fate—I wouldn’t dare complain. Fortunately escaping with my life, I was tending my wounds at home today when suddenly summoned here to testify. I don’t know what testimony to give. Risking death, I dare to tell the truth. Please spare me, noble ones. I really know nothing else…”

She took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears.

The great hall was completely quiet.

Gao Qiao’s expression was calm, showing neither joy nor anger. Lu Guang’s face, however, was extremely ugly.

The household slave was panic-stricken.

After bringing the unconscious and seriously injured Second Young Master home last night, the Lu household was in chaos. Lu Guang was furious and pressed him for answers. How could he dare say that Lu Huanzhi had stolen a musical score, intending to spread rumors that his elder brother and the Gao family daughter had an affair? He stammered evasively. When pressed urgently, he hastily made up a story, thinking to get through it first and let Lu Huanzhi explain when he woke up. He never expected Lu Guang to bring the matter here so early in the morning, and he could only bite the bullet and continue fabricating. He never imagined this Li Xie would be even more shameless than himself, not only completely deflecting the fault for the beating but even turning it around to bite back.

Seeing his master glaring at him angrily as if wanting to devour him, he hastily cried out: “This woman is talking nonsense! It’s all fabricated! The Second Young Master never hurt her. Li Mu beat the Second Young Master because—”

“Because of what?”

Gao Qiao stared at him, his eyes like lightning.

The household slave choked again, and under Gao Qiao’s piercing gaze, his face turned liver-colored as he dejectedly hung his head.

Li Xie glanced at Lü Niang, who was still kneeling on the ground wiping tears, feeling both admiration and amazement.

Last night he had only arranged with her to come testify for him when needed, nothing more. He never imagined that this seemingly delicate woman could think of and bring herself to cut such a shocking wound on her own perfectly good neck.

He stepped forward and said: “Prince Xin’an! Imperial Censor! Right and wrong are already clear. Even before His Majesty, this subordinate would have only these words.” After speaking, he respectfully withdrew to one side.

Ding Song had originally been unwilling to offend the father and son-in-law pair of Gao Qiao and Li Mu. With the situation dramatically reversed, he had already reached his conclusion and looked toward Xiao Daocheng. Seeing him silent with a somewhat strange expression, just as he was about to speak, he heard another report from outside that many Qinhuai courtesans were kneeling outside the palace gates, all seeking justice for this Lü Niang. A crowd of onlookers had gathered around them, discussing how the Lu family young master had gone too far.

The scene fell into silence again, the atmosphere somewhat awkward.

Xiao Daocheng suddenly stood up and said: “This was all a misunderstanding! General Li saw injustice and acted righteously, also in self-defense. In a moment of carelessness, he accidentally injured the Second Young Master Lu.”

He looked at Lu Guang.

“Minister Lu, in this prince’s opinion, this matter shouldn’t be made bigger. Moreover, your son is still unconscious—no matter how important anything else is, it can’t compare to the Second Young Master’s life and safety. Minister Gao just said he feels deeply apologetic. Minister Lu, why not give this prince some face and set this matter aside for now? The most important thing at present is treating the Second Young Master’s injuries. If there’s still anything to discuss, wait until the Second Young Master recovers, then we can talk further. Even if General Li isn’t here, Minister Gao is in Jiankang and can be seen at any time.”

A muscle at the corner of Lu Guang’s mouth twitched slightly. He slowly rose from his seat, glared hatefully at Gao Qiao and Li Mu, turned and strode away. The household slave rolled and crawled, hastily following him out.

After they were completely gone, Xiao Daocheng laughed heartily and said to Gao Qiao: “When this prince came, I knew there must be other circumstances in this matter. As expected! Justice lies in people’s hearts—Minister Gao can rest assured. When I return to the palace, I’ll report truthfully.”

Gao Qiao bowed in thanks. Xiao Daocheng then turned to Li Mu, who had remained silent throughout, encouraging him with a few words before departing first.

Gao Qiao told Li Xie to take the woman called Lü Niang to tend her wounds. Li Xie agreed, helped Lü Niang up, and took her away for treatment.

Ding Song smiled as he escorted Gao Qiao and Li Mu out. Remembering the tense scene from before, he let out a long breath of relief.

…

Three days later, Li Mu appeared at court asking permission to return to Jingkou to visit his mother, then return to Yi Cheng to take up his post as Governor of Chang’an.

The Emperor, having already learned the details from Gao Qiao, granted the request on the spot. After court that day, the Gao family’s main gate was crowded with court officials of all ranks who had come to bid farewell upon hearing the news.

Li Mu was busy socializing with people all day and hadn’t been seen.

They would depart from Jiankang tomorrow morning.

Toward evening, Luoshen had already packed everything and had nothing to do. Holding a book in one hand and resting her chin on the other, she sat by the window looking at the empty space in the courtyard where the wind-broken banana plants had been removed, gradually becoming lost in thought again.

That rainy night, before Li Mu returned, he had actually encountered Lu Huanzhi again and beaten him severely.

They said that even now, Lu Huanzhi was still unconscious. The imperial physicians were at their wit’s end, saying they could only treat him slowly—he might wake up someday.

Of course, the implication was that he might never wake up.

When Luoshen learned this news, her feelings were unusually complex.

It wasn’t that she cared about why he would go to a place like the Qin Tower.

On this point, she completely trusted him. Even if he had gone, it must have been for socializing with friends—she had no concerns about that at all.

Rather, she couldn’t understand why, even if Li Mu had truly acted to help someone in distress, he wouldn’t lose control to the point of injuring Lu Huanzhi so severely.

Luoshen had always felt that Li Mu was an extremely steady and restrained person.

He should have known that seriously injuring Lu Huanzhi could cause trouble not only for himself but also implicate her father.

Yet he had still done it.

These past few days, his behavior, one incident after another, had all been so abnormal.

These past two days, he seemed to have finally returned to his original self. So when they were alone together privately, she had tried asking him again why he so hated Lu Huanzhi.

Given the degree of Lu Huanzhi’s street provocation that day, though hateful, Luoshen believed the Li Mu she knew would never be so narrow-minded.

But he wouldn’t admit it, only saying it was accidental. When she pressed further, he would change the subject.

His obvious evasive attitude made Luoshen feel deeply disappointed again.

Tomorrow they would leave, ending this trip that hadn’t brought her any pleasure. Originally she should have felt relieved.

But she didn’t. She only felt troubled and restless.

What exactly had happened that night before Li Mu returned?

Night gradually fell.

Luoshen put down her book, stood up, and paced around the room for a long time. The thought that had begun growing in her heart the past two days surfaced again, becoming clear.

She clenched her fists and finally made her final decision.

Precisely because they were leaving tomorrow, and she didn’t know when they might return to Jiankang again.

If she didn’t clear up this doubt in her heart before leaving, even if she followed him back to Yi Cheng, she would have no peace.

She walked to the door, opened it, and instructed the servant women outside to prepare a carriage for her.

…

When darkness fell, the ox cart Luoshen was riding stopped by the Qinhuai River.

She boarded a hired boat and sat quietly in the enclosed cabin, waiting for the person she had summoned.

Lü Niang had an injured neck and hadn’t received guests for several days. Because good medicine was being used, by today the wound she had cut herself had already scabbed over. Suddenly hearing that a wealthy patron wanted her to board a boat on the Qinhuai tonight out of admiration for her qin playing to provide entertainment, she hesitated briefly before agreeing. After dressing up appropriately, covering her neck with a scarf, she had a servant carry her qin and gracefully came to the riverside. Seeing a large boat moored there, she looked back once, paused in her steps, but ultimately went aboard.

A servant woman led her into the cabin. Looking closely, she saw the cabin’s portholes were tightly closed and brightly lit, but there was no man inside.

On a sitting couch sat only a young woman whose face still bore traces of girlish innocence—extremely beautiful with refined bearing and dignified manner. From her clothing and adornment, she appeared to be married.

Lü Niang was startled and immediately turned to look behind her, but saw the woman smile slightly at her and say: “I am the one who invited you aboard. Sister, please sit as you like.”

Lü Niang looked at her with surprise, hesitating for a moment before asking: “May I ask, miss, who you are? You called for me—what is the matter?”

Luoshen replied, “Li Mu is my husband. I invited you here tonight because there is something I wish to ask you.”