Following the Northern Princess’s hint before her departure, the scouts discovered traces of the Northern army’s march. According to their reconnaissance, this force appeared to be the largest hidden troop contingent from the Northern Kingdom. Once the information reached Nanyang, there was no time to waste. After an overnight discussion, General Wei decided to take advantage of their early intelligence by secretly deploying troops for an ambush to deal a heavy blow to the enemy.

Some generals disagreed, arguing that since the Northern Kingdom’s envoys were in Jianye for negotiations, this period should be free of major conflicts.

General Wei responded with a barrage of fierce curses.

General Wei Cong never believed the so-called peace talks would yield any results. When Military Advisor Lu analyzed that the Northern Kingdom was concealing tens of thousands of troops preparing to surround Nanyang, General Wei decided they couldn’t let moral high ground considerations harm their position. The victors wrote the history of battles, and with the imperial court far away, the highest military command authority in Nanyang belonged to Wei Cong. With one order from the General, the entire military camp began preparations to follow him out of the city to ambush the enemy.

Before departing the city, training in the military camp continued as usual. Luo Lingyu and the ladies of the Luo family, representing the noble families’ women, came to the camp to deliver comfort food to the soldiers—homemade pastries, specifically osmanthus cakes made by the young ladies themselves.

Luo Lingyu had originally been smiling sweetly, playing the role of a kind-hearted and magnanimous noble lady, moving through the camp with her maids to distribute the wrapped cakes. They had made many items using the previously picked osmanthus flowers, and these cakes were just one of them. However, after hearing snippets of conversation from the soldiers and then getting confirmation from Lu Yun, Luo Lingyu’s smiling expression fell once she returned to Lu Yun’s tent.

Standing behind the desk arranging cakes one by one, her crimson lips pouted high enough to hang an oil lamp, making her look utterly adorable.

Holding a scroll and sitting behind a small table watching her, the young lord’s features were refined with an enduring charm. His dark eyes blinked as he tilted his head, his jade-white fingers long and elegant as they gripped the scroll. Lu Yun drawled, “With your lips pouted so high, who has made our little Yu’er so unhappy?”

Luo Lingyu: “Hmph!”

Lu Yun glanced at her sideways, raising his eyebrows and making a sound through his nose: “Hmm?”

Luo Lingyu paused for a moment, then lifted her face to reveal a fake smile. Her autumn waves flowing, she said with affected sweetness: “Don’t slander me, how could I be unhappy? Brother Xuecen came to Nanyang with a heart full of ambition only for the country and state. I’m just a common little woman, blessed by my lord’s protection, grateful beyond words. How dare I be dissatisfied? Brother Xuecen is about to leave, so I’m just here to bring food and drinks. How virtuous of me!”

This pretentious speech, coming from her with that sarcastic tone, flowing glances, and twisted posture… Lu Yun curved his lips, knowing this little woman was jealous again.

Who knows how much she was resenting him in her heart.

Lu Yun gave a low laugh: “Let brother teach sister something: in the future when pretending to be virtuous and gentle, could sister pay attention to her eyes? Your words sound nice, but your eyes are so wide. I can see you’re about to explode with anger, who do you think you’re fooling?”

Luo Lingyu: “…”

Embarrassed and angry, she suddenly slammed down the package in her hand. Young Lady Luo puffed up her cheeks and angrily slapped the table: “My beloved is going to such a dangerous place! Knowing he faces a deadly calamity, yet still heading straight for danger, as if afraid he won’t die fast enough. So generous, disregarding life and death, heart only for country and none for family… Is it wrong for me to be angry?”

Lu Yun’s eyes suddenly brightened as he stared at her. He repeated: “Your, beloved?”

Though it was a normal phrase when he said it softly, his eyes overflowing with light and spirit soaring, that expression suddenly became ambiguous.

Luo Lingyu froze, then became shy under his meaningful gaze. She suddenly turned away, covering her face and pretending to cry: “You’re bullying me, wuu wuu wuu!”

Lu Yun: “…”

Luo Lingyu whimpered and sobbed: “I knew it, what a terrible man, his words sound better than songs. State affairs are state affairs, love is love, and men always keep them separate, never willing to mix the two. Someone wants to sacrifice himself for the country, yet won’t marry me. His mouth is honeyed but his heart is cruel, he deceived me but won’t take responsibility. Such a bad person… whimper whimper whimper, I’m so foolish, I even helped him win people’s hearts, bringing food and drinks to his military companions. Once he gets what he wants, he’ll abandon me.”

“There’s no lord in this world who truly cherishes and loves me!”

Lu Yun: “…”

He watched as the young lady acted extremely affected and pretentious, yet because of her beauty, it wasn’t annoying. Instead, when her watery eyes peeked out from behind her sleeve, blinking like raindrops on a clear lotus, fresh and enchanting, vivacious and spirited, it captivated his soul. Her nonsensical words became increasingly unreasonable, yet her every brow and glance was captivating… Lu Yun’s throat moved once, and he suddenly turned away awkwardly and coughed.

Lu Yun: “Know your limits, don’t get carried away.”

Luo Lingyu was irritated, seeing his proper sitting posture and aloof manner, she felt extremely displeased and wanted to bite him. So the more stern his face became as he spoke, the more she twisted her body and sobbed.

Lu Yun watched her for a long while, seeing that she wasn’t afraid of his anger at all, actually daring to challenge his bottom line. Perhaps he had been too lenient with her?

Lu Yun dropped his cold expression and slowly smiled, standing up. He walked over and, holding back his laughter, put his hand on her shoulder to console her: “Alright, stop making a fuss. I know what I’m doing, how could I possibly go to my death? If I died, abandoning such a peerlessly beautiful lady as yourself, how could I be willing?”

When Lu Yun praised her as peerlessly beautiful, Luo Lingyu’s heart immediately bubbled with joy—though she knew she was beautiful, she still vainly wanted to hear such a handsome young lord as Lu Yun praise her.

She couldn’t help but smile behind her sleeve, but trembled her shoulders, not wanting Lu Yun to see.

As she twisted her body affectedly, her struggling hand was caught by the young lord. Lu Yun’s face changed as quickly as turning a page—though cold-faced earlier, now as he grabbed her hand, not only did his lips hold a smile, but he bent down, pressing his lips against the young lady’s slender fingers, kissing them one by one. Luo Lingyu let out a “ya!”, her fingers tingling, a soft pulling sensation crawling up her tailbone.

She almost went weak all over and fell from Lu Yun’s teasing.

She turned her head shyly, meeting Lu Yun’s smiling eyes. His lips pressed against her fingers, and she couldn’t pull her hand away even if she wanted to. Lu Yun raised his eyebrows, his deep eyes sparkling brilliantly, gradually hooking her in, a frivolous and romantic color slowly rising. Luo Lingyu’s face reddened from his gaze and finger-kissing, and she let out another “ya!”.

Like a wastrel son using his beauty to tempt a good family’s daughter to fall: “I haven’t even touched a single finger of sister’s yet, haven’t let sister experience soul-consuming ecstasy, how could I be willing to die? Yu’er sister can rest ten thousand hearts assured, even if just for you, brother doesn’t dare to die.”

Luo Lingyu glared coquettishly: “…What do you mean ‘haven’t touched a single finger’, aren’t you touching them now?”

Lu Yun’s eyebrows raised again as he looked at her deeply, light flowing in his eyes, revealing a somewhat helpless expression—this was the downside of not being married. Every time he made risqué jokes with Yu’er’s sister, she didn’t understand. The young lady’s mind was straightforward and single-tracked, unable to catch his other meanings, making him lose interest, even losing interest in teasing her.

Lu Yun sighed: “Should have agreed to marriage earlier.”

Luo Lingyu glanced at him, mocking: “And whose fault is that? I almost cried begging before, yet you still said ‘Love and marriage should be viewed separately’. I urged and pressured you, but you evaded the topic, unwilling to properly agree to marry me. Regretful now? Hmph, someone who can’t even get a marriage annulment letter.”

Lu Yun gazed at her.

They were both rarely seen beauties in the world. Outstanding beauty naturally breeds love, each taking what they need. Thus in their exchange of glances, they both subtly and ambiguously hooked at each other, neither moving, each wanting the other to bow to their charm, to submit to their allure.

First, they were flirting while talking, and as they talked, Lu Yun pulled that stubborn young lady into his embrace. He lowered his head to tease her, and sure enough, she had been fake crying. After he said a few words and nuzzled her forehead, she broke into smiles through her tears, giving his chest an angry punch with her fist. The young lord held her, their intimacy lingering, and somehow after a while, he lowered his head to suck the rouge from her lips.

His hands weren’t behaving either, after all, there weren’t many layers of clothes.

Snow peaks towered high, and cherries trembled.

The South Kingdom’s summer had the famous “Red Agate Pastry Mountain,” which used pastry as a cooling agent, made into a layer of snow-white mountains, then crushed cherries were ground into juice. A layer of sweet cherry juice poured over the pastry, red and white reflecting each other, simple and fresh, beautiful, delicious, and cooling.

Lu Yun’s eyes darkened, and he smiled: “…Truly beautiful, delicious, and cooling.”

Luo Lingyu was utterly embarrassed, pushing him hard, unwilling to let him have his way. She panted, autumn had arrived and the tent shouldn’t have been hot, yet her raised neck had developed a layer of fine sweat from Lu Yun’s actions. This person extremely loved her two mounds of flesh, and she couldn’t push him away. If he was like this through clothes, if he were to see them… Luo Lingyu breathed: “Truly a lecher!”

Lu Yun then lowered his head and laughed, his laughter rough: “But only for you. Sister is like my life’s root, truly inseparable. If my sister isn’t happy, how could I be happy? Thinking of not seeing my sister for many days after leaving, my heart is so lost. Hope sister remembers brother’s goodness today, and when unable to see brother, write a few more letters to brother.”

He panted as he kissed her jade neck, murmuring: “I long to hear sister call ‘Brother Xuecen’ a few more times. Hearing you call like that, brother easily gets aroused by you…”

Luo Lingyu was shocked: …Had this person gone mad?!

His appearance truly scared her a bit. Although Luo Lingyu indeed wanted to seduce Lu Yun, the Third Young Master Lu’s self-degrading, extremely frivolous appearance… she understood now, that night leaving Jianye, though Third Young Master Lu was drunk, actually he was just restrained when not drinking. Once this person let loose, he was too scary…

Embracing her intimately, she was unsettled by the deeper meaning behind his sweet words, always feeling something was off.

Taking advantage of Lu Yun’s distraction, Luo Lingyu stepped hard on his foot. He grunted in pain, his grip on her wrist slightly loosening, and Luo Lingyu jumped out of his embrace, leaping ten feet away. Luo Lingyu patted her chest, still frightened, and saw that Lu Yun wasn’t even angry. He just gazed at her deeply, lowering his eyelashes, his gaze falling on her disheveled chest.

Luo Lingyu: “…”

She immediately turned sideways, unwilling to let him look. Luo Lingyu said shyly: “Brother Xuecen, you’ve changed, you’re too good at sweet talk now.”

Lu Yun was surprised for a moment, then his peach blossom eyes curved slightly. He sneered and looked down on Luo Lingyu’s level: “This is what you call ‘sweet talk’?”

Luo Lingyu: …If this wasn’t sweet talk, what was?

Lu Yun gazed at her languidly: “Good sister, brother doesn’t dare to ‘sweet talk’ you too much yet, afraid of frightening you. After we’re married…” his voice lowered, he just smiled without speaking and gave her a meaningful look, his eyes full of “you know what I mean” expression.

Luo Lingyu was slightly embarrassed: …Such normal words, coming from this person’s mouth, the meaning always felt strange.

But Lu Yun didn’t explain further, and women were indeed naturally not as quick to understand certain things as men. Luo Lingyu pondered endlessly but couldn’t figure it out, yet suspected Lu Yun was taking advantage of her. To avoid losing out, she could only swallow her pride, glancing at him suspiciously a couple of times, and avoided this topic.

Because of Lu Yun’s distraction, when Lu Yun left, Luo Lingyu’s heart only felt somewhat lost and empty, not particularly sad or heartbroken. After all, though her heart was so sour it could produce vinegar, she generally supported Lu Yun’s position. Protecting home and country, and repelling enemy troops, was always a good thing. In this aspect of awareness, Luo Lingyu rarely maintained it.

Lu Yun arranged for several subordinates to stay at the Luo family residence, just in case. But Luo Lingyu rarely went out these days, and with no battles in Nanyang city, the Luo family was completely safe. These guards gradually relaxed, feeling nothing would happen. They didn’t know what Luo Lingyu was busy with—the young lady who loved going out to make friends and play was staying quietly in her room, tinkering with something.

Two days passed.

Suddenly one night, after dark, a fire broke out at the Luo residence. The flames weren’t extinguished immediately and quickly engulfed the entire compound. Lu Yun’s guards watched as the flames spread to the young lady’s courtyard, and thinking of their lord’s care for Miss Luo, they hurriedly helped the courtyard servants fight the fire.

Bucket after bucket of water was poured, voices mixed in chaos, unclear what was being said or shouted. That night servants ran about, the Luo residence in complete disorder. Among them were several unusual figures hidden among the servants, following along with everyone’s shouting and chaos, their steps gradually approaching Luo Lingyu’s courtyard. However, it was too chaotic for anyone to notice.

Fire was everywhere, the courtyard trees were ablaze, and maids and servants were pale-faced as they poured water to fight the flames. Luo Lingyu was called out from her room and stood anxiously with her maid Lingyu at the fence edge where the smoke and fire couldn’t reach, waiting. Lingyu continuously comforted the young lady, but suddenly she fell silent, collapsing with a thud.

Luo Lingyu turned her head in shock, only to see a dark figure pouncing forward, a pair of familiar eyes reflected in hers. She was terrified to her core and opened her mouth to scream. But her neck was struck from behind, and being a weak woman, she immediately went limp and collapsed, caught in the arms of the person in front.

Fan Qingchen, a noble young lord with the dignified bearing of a gentleman, actually employed such methods, holding the unconscious Luo Lingyu tightly in his arms in this situation.

He held her fully in his embrace, lowering his head to lightly smell her hair, revealing a smile. His eyes showed an almost eerily frantic expression as he trembled and murmured: “…Lu Yun doesn’t treat you so well after all, looking at sister, you seem to have gotten thinner.”

Fan Qingchen said softly: “Finally seeing you, my longing for a sister hasn’t been in vain.”

At fifteen years old, the young lady’s figure had developed even better, and her beautiful face had become even more bewitching. That alluring charm that used to entice would only attract more young lords in the future. Fan Qingchen held her horizontally in his arms, covering her head and face with his cloak, thus hiding the beauty in his arms.

Hearing the servants’ voices in the courtyard coming this way, Fan Qingchen didn’t waste time. After scooping the young lady into his arms, he exchanged a look with his following servants. Several servants immediately followed Fan Qingchen, protecting their lord as he brazenly left the Luo residence.

Who could have imagined Fan Qingchen would be so bold?

An hour later, the guards arranged by Lu Yun to protect Luo Lingyu, who had been helping fight the fire, returned but couldn’t find Luo Lingyu anywhere. Suddenly, the courtyard was filled with crying, and the guards broke out in cold sweat—terrible, they had lost Miss Luo! Would their lord kill them?

Who in Nanyang was so bold as to kidnap someone protected by both their lord and the Fan family?

Especially with Miss Luo’s beauty and appearance… her chances of encountering danger were many times higher than ordinary young ladies. Which man could walk away after seeing her?

Thinking this, the guards panicked and split up—some went to search and pursue, while others nervously contacted Third Young Master Lu to report their mistake and ask what to do.

…

Three days later, after marching over a hundred li, following the scouts’ directions, the Southern army found that extremely large Northern army unit. The Northern troops were camped in the mountains, well-equipped and ready for action. Not wanting to alert them, the Southern army killed the Northern army’s scouts and carefully set up camp, discussing how to launch a surprise attack.

The generals and Military Advisor Lu developed plans together, listening to Military Advisor Lu’s detailed strategy. Better early than late—attack at night, catching the enemy off guard.

Hiding in the mountain forest with green leaves hanging from their heads and bodies to conceal their whereabouts, General Wei said: “Follow Military Advisor Lu’s arrangements. For these kinds of schemes and strategies, following his lead isn’t wrong.”

Wei Cong glanced at Lu Yun’s handsome face: “Military Advisor Lu, I’m giving you a chance to prove yourself. When we return to Jianye later, don’t say I suppressed you and didn’t let you rise in the military.”

Lu Yun: “I certainly won’t fail this mission.”

Everyone lay motionless in the mountain forest for several hours, just waiting for sunset.

It was at this time that a messenger from Nanyang came, specifically asking to see Lu Yun. Third Young Master Lu’s heart skipped a beat, and after saying a word to General Wei and the others, he went to meet the person in the tent. Third Young Master Lu stood in the tent reading a letter, written by Second Young Master Lu—

Second Young Master Lu’s dream circumstances.

The dates matched reality.

Lu Yun’s expression suddenly became subtle as his fingertips traced the words “Prince of Hengyang,” his eyes lingering long on “In the tenth month, the Prince and cousin become engaged. The following year in February, they marry.”

Lu Yun’s gaze suddenly turned cold.

Besides this letter, Second Young Master Lu sent another, telling him that the Northern Kingdom’s envoys had entered Jianye and both sides were meeting amicably. This letter was directly ignored by Lu Yun. Lu Yun took out the first letter again to look at the part about the Prince of Hengyang. An indescribable anger suddenly surged in his heart, incredibly strong.

It was the Prince of Hengyang!

No wonder the second brother’s dream was strange, with parts unclear!

It was the Prince of Hengyang!

The Third Young Master Lu suddenly understood why, over the past half year, his second brother had been friendly with the Prince of Hengyang. What Second Young Master Lu hadn’t said in the letter was all deduced by Third Young Master Lu, and the more he thought about it, the angrier he became—

This person would steal away Luo Lingyu, yet in reality he was allied with this person!

Standing in the tent reading the letter for a long while, Third Young Master Lu’s cold expression made the messenger anxious. He heard Lu Yun suddenly ask: “My cousin didn’t send any letters?”

Messenger: “No…”

Lu Yun slowly raised his head.

He stared at the messenger for a long time, quietly tricking him: “Before I left, my cousin and I agreed she would write to me every day. Now I haven’t received a single letter, what’s the reason? Has someone intercepted the letters, targeting me?”

No one dared to bear such an accusation. The messenger fell to his knees with a thud, and being tricked by Lu Yun, explained the truth with a distraught face: “This subordinate dares not deceive my lord! Young Lady Luo truly hasn’t written any letters, but there is indeed a letter from the Luo family…”

There was news from Nanyang saying Luo Lingyu seemed to have disappeared, but unconfirmed rumors hadn’t spread much. The messenger feared delaying military matters and hesitated to show Third Young Master Lu the letter received from the Luo family. But now that Third Young Master Lu had tricked him, he handed over the letter he had been hesitating to deliver all at once.

Third Young Master Lu read the letter at lightning speed, his fingers gripping it turning white—

She had been kidnapped!

For a moment his mind went blank, his soul seeming to float away.

The messenger worried: “My lord? My lord, are you alright?”

Lu Yun maintained his composure, but in an instant, the thought of leaving immediately to search for her arose in his heart. The night was long and full of uncertainty—not even knowing who the enemy was, how could he let Luo Lingyu remain in danger?

His heart was full of anxiety, his face gradually turning pale. The messenger said several things besides his ear before Lu Yun barely managed to collect himself. He forced himself to stay as calm as possible, quickly calculating his timing in his mind. Tonight’s surprise attack, as long as conditions were favorable, he would leave here tomorrow. Before leaving, set down some planned arrangements, or with someone as skilled at warfare as General Wei, it wasn’t necessarily essential for him to stay here…

He must go find Luo Lingyu—with the war between the two countries, Lu Yun predicted this conflict would explode, and he couldn’t let Luo Lingyu be lost outside!

His eyes filled with killing intent, his face expressionless as he put away the letter and went to plead with General Wei.

The soldiers witnessed the mountain-chested General Wei and the refined, romantic Military Advisor Lu arguing earth-shatteringly. General Wei jumped in fury: “With battle ahead, how can you act on impulse so childishly? You’re a military advisor who won’t follow the army, you want to conduct an ambush yourself, I’d have to be crazy to give you troops!”

Lu Yun calmly: “I absolutely won’t delay military matters.”

Wei Cong: “Then why exactly do you need to leave? Have you discovered something overlooked before, are there other Northern armies hidden elsewhere?”

Lu Yun was silent for a moment, then said: “I don’t wish to deceive the General, there must be other Northern armies hidden elsewhere, but their numbers must not be as great as here, not enough to pose a threat to us. I need to leave for some personal matters, please understand, General.”

Seeing his attitude so resolute, Wei Cong cursed a few times then said icily: “…Good thing you’re not under my command, if I had a soldier like you under me, I’d kill you first!”

Lu Yun didn’t make a sound.

He was willing to do things for his country and family, but his nature was equally selfish. He was unwilling to have someone he cared about come to harm while he was gambling with his life. If something happened to Luo Lingyu, even if this great battle at Nanyang was won, for Lu Yun it would still be a defeat.

He must go find her.

…

In the bumping and shaking, she dreamed some confused dreams.

In the dream, she seemed to dream of Third Young Master Lu, who seemed to dream of raging warfare. Fire and smoke drifted around, cannons thundered, and half the soldiers on the ground dead or wounded. Under the dark sky, blood flowed like rivers, she dreamed of Lu Yun stumbling about, searching everywhere for her, calling her name.

She too searched among the corpses, looking everywhere.

Across endless thick fog, Lu Yun shouted harshly: “Luo Lingyu! Lingyu—”

Kneeling on the ground, covered in filth, the young lady raised her face, looking around in a daze, also terribly afraid: “Lu Yun, Lu Yun—”

…

Her head splitting with pain, she woke from the dream, unable to collect herself for a moment.

Feeling the carriage’s swaying, Luo Lingyu gradually looked at her surroundings. She was still rubbing her forehead, wiping the sweat from her brow. Thinking that she worried during the day and thought at night, she always worried about Lu Yun dying, and after hearing Second Young Master Lu’s dream, had been constantly afraid. Being afraid so much and unable to see him, she had this dream…

Suddenly Luo Lingyu looked down, staring in shock at the red clothes on her body. Bright red, clouds, and silk in splendor, with precious ornaments and bracelets. These clothes, these clothes… how strange, like what a young lady would wear for her wedding?

A clear male voice beside her ear: “Awake?”

Luo Lingyu’s head snapped up, her face turning white as paper when she saw this person—her gaze met Fan Qingchen’s in the carriage.

Fan Qingchen looked at her, giving a gloomy laugh: “Sister Luo, long time no see.”

Luo Lingyu’s memory returned as she recalled being kidnapped: “…Where are you taking me, what do you want to do with me?”

Fan Qingchen leaned forward, seeing her press against the carriage wall yet still try to retreat, his eyes darkened and his expression grew slightly cold. But it was only for an instant before he put on a gentle smile again. The young lady’s shoulders trembled in fear of him, but he didn’t mind, instead reaching out to grab her wrist. Holding Luo Lingyu’s hand, Fan Qingchen lowered his head to lightly kiss her fingers.

Luo Lingyu’s face was deathly pale, feeling utterly nauseated and almost fainting from fear of him.

She heard Fan Qingchen smile and say: “Sister Luo is truly cold-hearted, coming to Nanyang without telling me. What can I do with you? Even if my sister hurts me so much, I will always cherish my sister. I just… want to marry a sister.”

“I still hold our marriage contract, even without bowing to parents, we can still have a wedding ceremony.” He reached out to embrace her neck, pulling her into his arms. This young lord lowered his head, pressing his forehead against hers with deep affection, saying softly: “Sister Luo, you’re too mischievous, always avoiding me, truly breaking my heart. But it doesn’t matter, you’re ultimately mine… I’m so good to you, you’ll eventually realize how good I am to you.”

Luo Lingyu’s face was terrible: I don’t want to marry this madman!