“Are you willing?” Lu Sanlang’s hand pressed against the back of her head, while his other hand caressed her face. Their noses touched as he asked again with deep affection, catching Luo Lingyu in a daze.

His voice carried neither haste nor slowness, yet beneath it lay a fatal attraction that could capture one’s soul.

The candlelight flickered once, and Luo Lingyu lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling. In truth, she was unwilling.

Though she had rested and recovered her spirit, her inner thighs still ached from too much horseback riding. Additionally, after dealing diplomatically with various people along the journey and engaging in mind games with Young Master Fan, Luo Lingyu had little interest in entertaining a man’s advances. Although she knew Lu Yun’s affection was precious, and understood this represented his submission to her… Luo Lingyu was the kind of young woman who, even with someone she loved, cared deeply about maintaining a perfect image before him.

Her demanding standards for herself ran bone-deep. She refused to let her first time be anything less than completely captivating for Lu Yun.

Luo Lingyu dared not meet Lu Yun’s eyes, and lowered her head to refuse: “I don’t… mmph.”

She had barely begun to express her meaning when Lu Yun’s eyebrow twitched slightly, and his lips came forward to kiss her. It was a gentle, lingering kiss that felt like dying in a dream. Their lips and teeth intertwined as if bound for life and death, their breaths like feathers carried on the hot summer wind. The heart in her chest beat rapidly, blood flowing with passion, making one feel light-headed – soul and body originally as one, gradually separating, then joining together again.

The young lord supported Luo Lingyu’s head, his long fingers moving through her thick hair like playing an ancient zither, gentle and slow yet rhythmic, revealing the rippling emotions in his heart. The lady’s recently loosely-pinned hair fell once more as he removed her hairpin. He had woven a great net, capturing this little bird in his embrace.

Whether Lu Yun was intoxicated remained unknown, but Luo Lingyu was kissed until her eyes grew wet, moist as a lake.

When this long, passionate kiss finally ended, Lu Yun’s lips parted from hers by an inch. He looked down through lowered eyelids, his eyes deep and dark, and asked again: “Are you willing?”

Luo Lingyu’s mind was muddled. Still drunk on the previous tender intimacy, his departure left her soul adrift. She didn’t quite hear what Lu Yun was saying, and he kissed her nose again, his fingers massaging her hair, urging her to answer.

Luo Lingyu breathed heavily, her face like March peach blossoms. Her heart was sweet, yet annoyance arose:

— This man!

This man was truly wicked – asking if she was willing, and just as she was about to say “unwilling,” he kissed her to let her try. Try first, then answer. And when this man showed his romantic, passionate side, when he tenderly held a lady’s face to kiss her, what woman could refuse?

Luo Lingyu was enchanted by his deep affection. Her arms around his neck, she smiled slightly.

The smile was sweet and clear, carrying a maiden’s shyness and destined devotion.

Lu Yun’s peach blossom eyes narrowed at the sight, seeing her softly press close, intimately embracing his neck. Whether intentional or not, the lady already in his arms lifted her head and shyly kissed his Adam’s apple once, nodding: “I am willing.”

As her tongue tip brushed his Adam’s apple, Lu Yun’s hand in Luo Lingyu’s hair suddenly tightened, his entire body burning with desire, the light of passion flaring bright in his eyes.

Luo Lingyu’s eyes sparkled with emotion. Since she was willing, she acted completely dependent on him. Whimpering softly in his embrace, ignoring the fire she had ignited in him, she closed her eyes shyly: “Brother Xuecen, I still have injuries, please be gentle, alright?”

“Brother Xuecen, I heard it hurts. You won’t let me hurt, will you?”

Lu Yun drew a sharp breath, suddenly gripping her waist. His strength was suddenly so great it seemed he would break the lady’s waist. Luo Lingyu had barely whimpered when his lips sealed hers. Lu Yun carried her horizontally in his arms, stumbling slightly as he rose, walking unsteadily toward the bed chamber behind the screen—

Enchantress.

Like an innocent female spirit newly descended from the forest into the mortal realm. Alluring, incomparably beautiful, yet coy and clingy, subtly enticing. Unconsciously, deliberately… it was all her.

All her!

…

The great snow in heaven and earth did not cease. Due to the war, this post station was desolate, currently only hosting one high official – Lu Sanlang. The night deepened, the bright snow still falling, and the minor officials worriedly closed the doors and windows, extinguished the lamps and candles, and went upstairs to sleep. In their dreams, they prayed, prayed that the flames of war would not reach here, that this post station would not be abandoned.

While in the chambers, the bed curtains were drawn down, the lamplight’s shadow cast upon the curtain, stretching long one moment and shrinking short the next. Looking carefully, those curtains were like ocean waves, flying and rolling. Rising and falling, waves rolling white foam, layer upon layer of light and shadow concealing the man and woman’s turbid, low voices behind the curtain.

Lu Yun gripped Luo Lingyu’s waist.

She lay prone on the brocade quilt, her shoulder blades exceptionally beautiful on her back. His hand rested between them, following those well-proportioned jade bones downward. Sinuous and spreading, like butterfly wings unfurling – he would touch once, she would tremble once, those butterfly bones seeming ready to break free of mortal flesh and fly away.

The dimples at her waist were round points, like the indentations left by rolling pearls, curving where the spine met her buttocks. His fingertips pressed there, clear and smooth, and Official Lu’s eyes blazed extremely bright as if burning everything—

So her body of ice and jade bones had none of the unsightly marks he had imagined he might see.

She turned her face slightly, and caught unawares, was forced to lift her neck high, accepting his intimate kiss.

This was how Lu Sanlang was.

Saying he didn’t care whether she had lost her virtue or not, he didn’t want to hear her speak of it, yet he had to see for himself. Lu Yun’s heart was jealous, angry, and painful. His words comforted Luo Lingyu, but the thorns in his heart couldn’t be pulled out, he had to know for certain. Moreover, whatever she had encountered these past days must have left some psychological shadow, and the longer this shadow dragged on, the more hidden dangers there would be. Lu Yun gradually lost patience and gradually became unwilling to see so many admirers constantly surrounding her. These hidden dangers, Lu Yun had to eliminate from the very beginning.

This night had to be extremely good, extremely beautiful, extremely gorgeous.

From now on, when she thought of men who had made love to her, the first would be him; it could only be him.

Lu Yun suppressed his true thoughts, like plucking zither strings as he caressed Luo Lingyu’s long neck. He lit fires, set fires, inadvertently seeing her beautiful, passionate peach blossom face. She bloomed like a flower, and Lu Yun’s heart emptied, immediately kissing her without restraint. Lu Yun said hoarsely: “Darling… brother loves you so much, brother’s soul is almost gone…”

The fire ignited in clusters, consuming the lady beneath. The lady’s shoulders trembled, her moistened long hair held in his mouth. A face like a hibiscus, a waist like a willow. He would move once, she would whimper once. Her cheeks and body were completely red, beads of moisture trembling chaotically, seeming extremely difficult to endure, yet extremely repressed. In that entanglement, another current of careless yet impossible-to-ignore emptiness and desire swept in unprecedented and unmatched, surrounding her, seducing her.

Sweat clung to her forehead, but not only there.

Everything happened naturally.

The affairs between men and women were largely just so.

Pattering, like summer rain falling on a lotus pond. That lotus pond stretching ten li, its fragrance enveloping the mortal realm, eternally pure and beautiful. The lotus leaves were emerald green, round dewdrops rolling on the huge leaves. The rain curtain urged them on, the dewdrops rolling, flowing bit by bit toward the edges of the lotus leaves. Such fresh, tacitly understood supreme beauty of the mortal realm.

Suddenly the rain curtain grew heavy, pouring down in torrents.

The dewdrops and lotus leaves were torn together into the depths of the lotus pond, the green dense and dark, filling heaven and earth. Ripples spread across the lotus pond, uniquely hiding that most beautiful lotus leaf and the dewdrops upon it.

…

Knowing the taste of marrow, gentleness turned wild.

Her waist seemed about to break, her soul also knocked from her body.

Whimpering cries, choked sobs, piteous begging, constantly saying it hurt.

Lu Yun at first: “Brother won’t touch your legs, it won’t hurt… since you’re injured so badly, I’ll apply some medicine for you in a moment.”

A while later, his voice hoarse: “Little sister, lift your legs, move a little. How can little sister who has studied dance be so stiff as wood?”

By the middle, he kissed the tears at the corners of her eyes, seeming to sigh and plead: “Little sister is too good, brother gives you his life, don’t cry anymore. Don’t be so tight… good little sister, brother’s heart is about to be shattered by your crying…”

Later still, he could no longer speak, only breathing heavily. The sighs from his throat, low and deep, rough and profound, consumed Luo Lingyu’s heart. He was extremely passionate, extremely intense, his引以为傲的 self-control about to be defeated by her. While Luo Lingyu, under his soothing, slowly, began to taste a hint of pleasure.

Floating and drifting, sticky and clingy.

Just not as intoxicated as him.

She cried, hoping this affair would end soon. Her legs already hurt, and now more than just her legs hurt. Lu Yun had initially said he would help apply medicine, but she thought he must have completely forgotten by now. He only knew to say she was good, kiss her, caress her, yet her waist was about to be broken by his caressing.

Beauty’s hometown, hero’s tomb, yet Lu Sanlang wished this night would never end. Sinking into this, he finally understood dying beneath peony flowers, even as a ghost would be romantic.

…

How could the taste be so good?

So making one unable to let go?

He was about to go mad.

…

The long night finally quieted in the latter half. Perhaps not willing to quit, but the lady truly could not endure more, so there was no choice but to stop.

Overall it was still somewhat restrained, everything only happening within the bed curtains, though the traces and scents were rather heavy, at least the chambers were not in complete disarray. Lu Yun personally boiled water and carried her to wash. His hands somewhat inexpertly helped clean her body, then applied medicine, carried her back to bed, dried her hair, and lay down to sleep beside her.

Luo Lingyu’s heart trembled, feeling the unreality of falling into dreams.

So this was Lu Yun’s true nature… so he could be this gentle in bed, not at all like his usual self who would show anger at the slightest provocation, he didn’t get angry at all… and so when he was good to a lady, he was willing to serve her, condescending to take care of her. When he treated someone well, he was most dependable, inspiring endless love and admiration.

The lady in Lu Yun’s embrace had scattered thoughts, her mind completely muddled. Luo Lingyu’s eyes were red from crying, and when he bent down to kiss her, her long hair scattered across his arm like clouds. Also stirring his heart—

How could Lu Sanlang bear to die when she was so beautiful, so soul-stirring?

Flying snow spread across the horizon – northern snow was always much heavier than in the south. Lu Sanlang was born in Jianye and had never seen such heavy snow, continuing for two days, vast as goose feathers. Both Ruyang and Nanyang regions were drawn into the warfare, and this snow brought everyone either crisis or opportunity. It was uncertain which.

Lu Yun believed he had done everything he could think of.

Discovering the Northern army horses in Nanyang early, succeeding in the surprise attack, General Wei led troops to battle again; coordinating with the Inspector-Generals and generals of Yingchuan, Ruyang, and other regions to jointly eliminate the enemy; maintaining constant contact with Prince Chen Liu Shu in Jianye, secretly arranging solutions to hidden dangers; hearing Lu Erlang’s dream and verifying its truth himself; connecting with renowned scholars at the border between the two countries, inquiring about the Northern country’s conspiracies through these scholars, earning the favor of these upright scholars who wielded brush and controlled public opinion; joining forces with his hidden love rival, Prince Hengyang, arranging detailed plans for Prince Hengyang to lead troops to aid Ruyang.

This journey had been full of back-and-forth struggles.

Lu Yun was a military advisor – he should follow the army but not enter the battlefield. Like an observer, he soberly watched everything unfold, judging the changing situation. He was patiently experimenting with something, seeking some answer… Before the grand scheme, not only others but even Lu Erlang, who could dream of the future, didn’t understand what his third brother was doing.

While great snow covered everything at the border between the Northern and Southern countries, Jianye remained fresh with just a light snowfall. Before people could savor it, the snow had vanished, leaving them quite regretful.

At the first morning court after the snowfall, Lu Erlang attended with his fellow officials. News of the northern warfare had reached Jianye, and before the court, the young lords were all discussing the war situation. War required money, and eight-tenths of the South’s wealth was controlled by the great families. When the court pressed these families for silver, they complained bitterly, getting headaches at the mention of war, unwilling to part with their silver.

Lu Erlang’s eyelids twitched as he listened, feeling this scene was quite similar to his dream. Lu Xian couldn’t help but complain internally – he had told his third brother about the dream, so what exactly was the third brother doing? Why couldn’t he see any difference between this current situation and his dream?

The unwillingness to fight was just the same!

During morning court, when war reports reached the throne, His Majesty seemed somewhat drowsy, nodding off several times. Recently the old emperor had been conflicted, unable to let go of his pursuit of immortality through alchemy while also indulging in female company. The old emperor had practiced self-cultivation for many years, staying away from women, but unexpectedly, when Prince Chen Liu Shu sent several beauties, it opened the old emperor’s heart. When the Northern princess was presented by the Northern envoys to the emperor’s harem, the emperor naturally accepted.

Once the old emperor had practiced alchemy to become immortal; now he urged the Daoist priests to make elixirs for the sake of women.

Though that Northern princess might be somewhat affected, she was still young and beautiful, especially representing the North’s goodwill, making the Southern emperor unprecedentedly pleased. Thus, upon hearing about the northern warfare, His Majesty’s aged face fell. At this time, the Northern envoys stood up righteously, angrily denouncing the South’s breach of agreement – both sides had been negotiating peace, so how did warfare arise in the North? That Lu Sanlang was truly detestable!

The Northern envoys had passed through Nanyang and seen that while General Wei was formidable in battle, the strategist behind him was Lu Sanlang, Lu Yun, who never entered the battlefield yet controlled the whole situation.

After investigating the situation in Jianye and visiting various noble families and royal relatives, the Northern envoys gathered their courage to denounce Lu Sanlang at court.

Indeed, at the mention of Lu Sanlang, these court officials began having their calculations, their expressions changing, eyes darting about. The Northern envoys spoke eloquently, claiming Lu Yun had provoked the northern warfare, causing several scholars to frown: “What is Lu Sanlang doing? If he can’t fight, he shouldn’t meddle.”

“Perhaps we should recall Lu Sanlang? Send someone who knows…” This scholar had meant to say “knows how to fight,” but seeing the peace-seeking Northern envoys glaring at him collectively, he coughed and changed his words, “someone with a better temperament.”

Among the princes, several young lords heard them discussing the warfare, saying Lu Sanlang had caused it, and their expressions became subtle. Lu Sanlang naturally represented the interests of the noble families – though these scholars criticized Lu Sanlang, they were speaking in his favor. But for several princes, Lu Sanlang represented not just the Lu family but also had deep connections with Prince Chen.

Especially recently, there were rumors that the Lu family was discussing marriage between their second son and Princess Ningping. Princess Ningping Liu Tang was Prince Chen Liu Shu’s sister! Wouldn’t this marriage mean the Lu family and Prince Chen were completely aligned? If Lu Sanlang then manipulated the northern warfare, gaining military merit, increasing the Lu family’s power… The Lu family was already Jianye’s most prestigious great family, and several princes who had finally driven away Prince Hengyang were completely unwilling to let Prince Chen rise at this time.

The Northern envoys had barely begun their instigation when Prince Zhao Liu Huai eagerly stood up: “Your Majesty, we must issue an edict recalling Lu Sanlang! The North has entered winter, the climate is harsh, and our Southern soldiers aren’t accustomed to such weather… this war situation isn’t good. Moreover, since the Northern envoys have come, we should negotiate – that’s better than warfare.”

The Northern envoys’ hearts stirred, glancing at Prince Zhao, finding their ally. They exchanged looks, deciding that after morning court ended, they would need to visit this prince who was at odds with Lu Sanlang again—

Instigate their relationship, casually disrupt the war situation, and make circumstances favorable to the North! Who truly wanted to negotiate peace with the South? The South was so wealthy, that noble families competed in luxury, no longer satisfied with gold and silver, jade and crystal becoming commonplace… How envious in Northern eyes! This territory, the North would consume bit by bit.

Lu Erlang Lu Xian stood in the scholars’ ranks, watching his father the Left Minister, and the noble young lords discussing the warfare, debating whether to issue an edict to stop the war or recall Lu Sanlang. The Lu family wasn’t so concerned about Lu Sanlang’s struggles – in Jianye, the Lu family’s prestige was already high, they didn’t need their young lord risking his life on the battlefield. But when others wanted to completely suppress Lu Sanlang, the Lu family became unhappy – their young lord hadn’t yet achieved results in the North, what did it mean to recall him? To play games with you?

Lu Xian listened with extreme anxiety and dizziness. This situation was increasingly overlapping with what he had seen in his dream. He truly feared that after their discussion, they would make the same decision as in the dream, recalling Lu Sanlang, providing neither troops nor supplies and when the third brother refused to obediently return, he would be dragged down by these people’s slander… Lu Xian internally blamed his third brother again:

What exactly have you done?! Why can’t I see where your influence is at all?

In his anxiety, Lu Xian had a sudden inspiration, remembering Lu Sanlang’s good friend, Prince Chen Liu Shu. Yes, these people all had their schemes, but didn’t Prince Chen claim to be the third brother’s good friend? In the dream, Prince Chen had also spoken up for his third brother!

Lu Xian hurriedly made eye signals to Liu Shu in the ranks, hoping Liu Shu would denounce the Northern envoys and propose suggestions favorable to Lu Sanlang.

But Liu Shu seemed not to see his signals, this prince’s expression remained bland as he casually participated in the discussion with a few words. He did suggest that the court shouldn’t make big moves, that generals in the field had some autonomy from orders, and that His Majesty should give the northern generals and Lu Sanlang maximum independence. His words naturally provoked the Northern envoys’ rebuttal – imperial orders were supreme, how could generals in the field ignore national circumstances and His Majesty’s arrangements?

Liu Shu spoke very little, and Lu Xian was sweating anxiously, watching this prince slowly say just a few words. Moreover, when the envoys attacked him collectively, Liu Shu fell silent.

He just quietly listened, no longer expressing opinions.

Lu Erlang’s eyes were almost cramping from making signals, and seeing this, he nearly fainted: “…”

Lu Erlang Lu Xian couldn’t get used to Prince Chen’s style of knowing when to stay quiet, of not wasting effort on verbal battles when things weren’t favorable to himself. Lu Xian didn’t know what Prince Chen was thinking, and after court, while the Northern envoys busied themselves secretly contacting other princes, Lu Xian hurriedly chased after Prince Chen.

The officials left the palace.

When Liu Shu was caught up by Lu Erlang, he had a headache. This brother of Lu Yun was exceptionally simple, and he had a stutter – he didn’t want to waste effort talking much with a simple person. The more he spoke, the faster his stuttering secret would be exposed. Prince Chen spoke directly: “Second Brother seeks me, is it to discuss your marriage with my sister?”

Lu Xian: “…”

He said irritably: “No.”

With the parents and elders all making trouble, how could he be in the mood to discuss marriage now? He wished he could have two more dreams to help his third brother. Unfortunately, he hadn’t had any dreams recently. Lu Xian anxiously approached Liu Shu, wanting to discuss in detail with this prince how to help the third brother.

Unexpectedly, Liu Shu was excessive, flicking his sleeve: “Except for my sister’s marriage, I am not familiar with you, we need not discuss other matters.”

Lu Erlang: … Was Prince Chen always such a difficult person to talk to? This was somewhat excessive.

Lu Erlang hesitated, he didn’t want to discuss marriage at this time. But he also wanted Prince Chen’s help for his brother – since his brother wasn’t making an effort, he could only help. Lu Erlang hesitated all the way, following outside Prince Chen’s mansion, where he paced back and forth. The guard at the gate looked strangely at this Second Young Master Lu, watching to see if he would just walk outside Prince Chen’s gate or go in—

After a long while, Lu Erlang finally made up his mind. He resigned himself, pinching his nose with a red face: “Tell your highness, I’ve come to discuss marriage.”

… To enter Prince Chen’s mansion, to attach himself to this prince who was hardly more approachable than Prince Hengyang, Lu Xian accepted this marriage.