A lady’s temper was truly unfathomable.
The day before, Lu Yun had privately humbled himself to please her, making her breathless, her eyes pink at the corners, crying out dramatically. Lu Sanglang felt their conflict had been resolved, and though he was somewhat angry at being interrupted by the suddenly appearing General Wei Cong, overall he felt refreshed and clear-headed.
After all, he had also explained clearly that his “seeking death” wasn’t truly seeking death, but rather had contingencies in place, with minimal life-threatening danger.
Lu Yun pondered deeply: perhaps it was precisely because the life-threatening danger was minimal. After all, it was death he could control himself, that it was useless regarding the death prophecy?
Lu Sanglang felt he had solved the problem, so the next morning, when Lingyu hurriedly sent word during the soldiers’ pre-training breakfast that the young miss still wanted to pack and leave the mountain, Lu Yun particularly didn’t understand. Lu Yun went to seek an explanation from Luo Lingyu, entering her tent to find the lady sitting by the couch personally folding clothes to put into a bundle.
There was no one else in the tent. When he entered, Lady Luo merely raised her eyelids slightly, her beautiful eyes not looking up. She concentrated on folding clothes, her cloudy hair and flowery countenance swaying gently like golden steps. The jade-white earrings framing her peach-colored cheeks swung like tiny autumn swings, making one’s heart itch. Her hundred-pleated skirt trailed to the ground, the hem embroidered with falling plum blossoms, a pink and white silk sash layered over the skirt, truly refined and delicate.
Lu Yun walked over, standing behind her, looking down at her. She still kept her face stern, showing no intention of acknowledging him. A small flame flickered in Lu Yun’s eyes, a slight smile appearing on his face as he spoke in a gentle tone to please her: “Sister, these clothes seem to be old ones. Let me give you some money, and you can have new clothes made, how about that? Sister is so beautiful, naturally new clothes would suit you better.”
Lu Yun reached out: “These old ones, no need to keep them, let brother keep them as a memento.”
Luo Lingyu extended her arm to block the hand reaching from behind, saying irritably: “Don’t grab randomly! Aren’t you a noble young master? Don’t you know old clothes are more comfortable to wear than new ones?”
Lu Yun smiled: “Finally willing to talk to me?”
He embraced her from behind, and when she showed signs of avoiding him, his heart sank. Lu Sanglang had no patience for other ladies, never needing to please anyone. With Luo Lingyu, Lu Yun’s patience threshold lowered again and again. Though she was unwilling, he still sat down, holding her waist from behind, lifting her to sit on his lap.
This intimate posture was unprecedented—Lu Yun was becoming increasingly uninhibited. But Luo Lingyu was completely unwilling. His cool nose nuzzled her neck, and though her face flushed red, she turned her face away immediately, her body trying hard to lean away from him.
Lu Yun’s expression grew ugly.
After staying silent for a long while, he continued with a gentle smile, his hands caressing her as he spoke softly: “What’s wrong now? Where have I offended you again, hmm? A little coquettishness is charming but too much…”
Before he could finish speaking, the lady in his arms exploded.
Luo Lingyu jumped up, pushing him away, putting three steps’ distance between herself and the now dark-faced young master. Lu Yun sat on the couch, his dark eyes coldly watching her. Luo Lingyu held her waist, her figure graceful. Before Lu Yun could get angry, Luo Lingyu laughed coldly: “I knew it, you’re always like this. Always thinking things are resolved.”
Lu Yun felt extremely annoyed inside, and it showed slightly on his face.
Lu Yun held his forehead, turning his head to look at her: “Isn’t it resolved? Weren’t you whimpering yesterday, crying ‘Brother spare me,’ very satisfied?”
Luo Lingyu’s face flushed red: his vulgar words!
She said angrily: “Those weren’t my true feelings, clearly you forced them. You’re always like this, whenever we disagree, you always resolve it this way. Every time I don’t agree with you, every time you don’t want to hear what I have to say, you just come to wear me down, kiss me…”
Lu Yun paused, thinking that it was indeed like this.
He had always disliked hearing others’ opinions and disliked hearing people refuse him. With Luo Lingyu, whenever she resisted, whenever she wouldn’t listen to him speak, he would just kiss her, hold her, nuzzle her…
A smile appeared on Lu Yun’s face. Light fell on his eyelashes, trembling, then dancing in his black pupils. He smiled ambiguously: “You don’t like it, mm?”
Luo Lingyu: “Which eye of yours saw that I liked it?”
Lu Yun raised an eyebrow, his look clearly saying: that both eyes saw it. Sister, your enraptured appearance, tsk tsk…
Luo Lingyu was unbearably embarrassed; when he raised his eyebrow, her heart already itched. She stamped her foot angrily, her eyelashes trembling, and spoke truthfully: “…I was just captivated by desire, that’s all.”
Lu Yun drew out his voice: “Oh… that’s enough.”
Just a peerless beauty, each taking what they need.
Seeing his expression, Luo Lingyu quickly said: “I was just seduced by you, my heart doesn’t necessarily agree with you.”
Lu Yun didn’t care: “It’s just a kiss, that’s all.”
Luo Lingyu nearly broke down: “Was that just an ordinary kiss? If I were a bird, you’d want to turn me inside out, not satisfied with just plucking all my feathers, you’d have to shake me twice too, wouldn’t you?! I’d be completely bald from your shaking!”
Lu Yun curved his lips: “…”
His techniques were always lingering and passionate, full of tender affection. When he held her, his breath barely touching the lady’s, kissing her neck, smelling behind her ear, sucking her collarbone… that feeling of dark fire burning, how could the lady resist? Even when Luo Lingyu reminded herself to stay strong, once before Lu Yun, she couldn’t help but be led by him.
It was her fault for truly liking him, being captivated by desire.
Such words from Luo Lingyu pleased Lu Yun. His eyes curved, peach blossom eyes full of feeling, when they flew upward, light lingered in his eyes, rippling and soul-stealing. Lu Yun propped his chin, listening attentively: “Thank you, sister Lingyu, for praising my kissing technique.”
Luo Lingyu: “…Hmph!”
In her heart, she thought what are you so proud of, just relying on having read a few more erotic books than me? Wait until… wait until… someday I’ll have you prostrate beneath me, following my commands.
Though Lu Yun joked verbally, in his heart he understood Luo Lingyu’s meaning. She felt the problem hadn’t been resolved at all, he was just delaying. Therefore she still wanted to leave, still wanted to ignore him. Lu Yun sighed, his expression slightly fading—such a small matter, back and forth, he truly found it annoying.
In the past, if a lady was so persistent, Lu Yun would just leave without a word.
Luo Lingyu lowered her eyes, judging Lu Yun’s expression, judging where his bottom line was. She couldn’t let everything be as he wanted, him having his way when he wanted and her having no say when he didn’t; but she also couldn’t go too far—a little coquettishness was cute flirting, but too much coquettishness, if it truly made Lu Yun tired of her, then who knew when they could reconcile.
A clever lady should grasp this balance.
Lu Yun now knew what she wanted, but remained silent for a long while, glancing at her. Luo Lingyu was confused by his look, only seeing him lift his robe to stand, saying nothing, and thus lift the thick felt curtain to leave. The tent was suddenly left with just Luo Lingyu alone, making the lady’s face turn from green to white as she bit her lip. This time, tears truly filled her lashes.
Her heart felt wronged and angry, unable to bear his cold attitude, she suddenly fell onto the couch, crying softly: “What’s so great! Who needs you… say two words to you and you get unhappy… I won’t pay attention to you anymore in the future! Wuwuwu… bastard Lu Yun, wuwuwu…”
When Lu Yun lifted the curtain to enter again, he saw her lying on the couch crying and heard her sobbing and cursing him. Lu Yun’s steps slowed, at once feeling heartache at seeing her shoulders shake with crying, at once finding her crying endearing. Lu Yun put down what he was carrying, sat down, and smilingly embraced her from behind, his fingers wiping the tear tracks at her eyes, teasing: “Yi yi, why are you cursing me behind my back again? You must curse me eight hundred times a day?”
His fingers couldn’t wipe away enough tears, so he used his sleeve to wipe them. Seeing her sobbing, her shoulders trembling, her eyes and nose all wet. And… her makeup was smeared. Usually, he would tease Luo Lingyu about smeared makeup, making her nervous; but when she became like a little cat, he didn’t say anything. Lu Yun held back for a long time, but still couldn’t resist, turning his face away.
Luo Lingyu immediately pounded his shoulder, breaking down: “Are you laughing? Are you secretly laughing?! I’m so angry I could die, and you can still laugh!”
She pouted, glaring at him full of resentment. Then turned to wrap her arms around his neck, rubbing her tears into the hollow of his neck. Luo Lingyu after all had endless small tricks, knowing what Lu Yun’s return meant, knowing where her advantages lay, knowing the way of men and women—the more she nuzzled him and pouted at him, embracing and cuddling him, the more he would love her.
The lady was both coquettish and lovely, her beauty and allure etched into his bones, captivating his heart.
Making the young master lower his eyes, holding her hand, kissing and sucking her fingers, earning a “yi” sound from the lady. Lu Yun knew her little thoughts in his heart but was ultimately put in a good mood by her coquetry. One hand embraced her, one hand taking the paper he had brought and handing it to the teary-eyed lady in his arms. Lu Yun reached out to pinch her nose, not gently: “Heartless one, I write something for you, and you curse me behind my back.”
Luo Lingyu sobbed, trying hard to suppress the tears that were deliberately making his heartache, rubbing her eyes to look at the paper he handed over. The ink was not yet dry on the paper, the calligraphy flowing like dragons and phoenixes, this excellent handwriting was a master’s work, clearly from the scholar Lu Sanglang. Luo Lingyu’s heart pounded, and after admiring her future husband’s artistic cultivation, she finally looked at what he had written—
Lu Yun had written two rules regarding the two of them on the paper.
First, he would never joke about matters of life and death, and in future encounters with such matters, would never conceal anything, would speak everything that should be spoken and express everything that should be expressed; second, Luo Lingyu would not embarrass him in front of others in the future, damage his face. They could make trouble privately, but couldn’t let Lu Yun lose face in front of outsiders.
Luo Lingyu read seriously, and a rabbit hair brush was placed in her hand: “If you agree, then sign. In the future, we’ll act according to this agreement, and won’t argue about such problems anymore.”
Luo Lingyu was satisfied in her heart, seeing that he had already signed his name, she then signed her name after his. As she signed, Lu Yun looked down at her, indulgent amusement rising in his eyes. After she finished writing, the paper was torn in half, each keeping one half, and both sides were satisfied. Having achieved her goal, Luo Lingyu found Lu Yun pleasing to look at no matter how she looked at him.
She thought how fortunate she was, that the young master she loved was not only outstanding in talent and appearance, but also understood feelings and reason, quick to understand, not needing her to explain at length what she was angry about.
Embracing the young master’s neck, Luo Lingyu raised her face, speaking softly and intimately: “Brother Xuehen, after arguing all morning, does your head hurt, are you hungry? Let me make you some extra food. Just for you alone, no one else will have any. Brother Xuehen doesn’t like sharing things with others, you like having things exclusively, I know.”
The beauty looking up eagerly should have been pleasing to the eye. But she didn’t know that her crying had smeared her makeup, her face streaked red and black, sticky and messy. Lu Yun was so mean that even seeing this he didn’t say anything, only laughing secretly to himself, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. Lu Yun said with a straight face: “Thank you for sister Lingyu’s thoughtfulness, then please do.”
Luo Lingyu happily made an “mm” sound, no longer packing her bundle, standing to kiss him before swaying gracefully out. Lu Yun sat in the tent waiting, eyes lowered, and sure enough, after a while, he heard footsteps running back outside, someone panting heavily, a female voice furious: “Lu Yun! Come out here—”
Knowing he’d been discovered, Lu Sanglang fell laughing onto the couch: “Hahaha…”
…
In everyone’s eyes, after Lu Sanglang and Lady Luo’s quarrel, they strangely reconciled again after two or three days. Luo Lingyu no longer spoke of going down the mountain, resuming her role as the gentle beautiful lady, showing concern for people in the military camp. Lu Sanglang and Luo Lingyu were inseparable, making people extremely puzzled. During the idle chat, some soldiers curiously asked Lu Sanglang how he had won the lady’s favor.
Lu Sanglang avoided the topic.
He naturally wouldn’t let people know about his shameless behavior.
Luo Lingyu truly gave his face in front of others, especially apologizing for slapping him; witnessed by everyone, Lu Sanglang also condescended to apologize, saying he shouldn’t have made her angry.
The two of them sweetly and affectedly put on a show, making the military officers and soldiers watch enviously, and making other Nanyang ladies who had come up the mountain hoping to attract Lu Sanglang leave disappointed.
After being lovey-dovey for several days, after Luo Lingyu went down the mountain, she still came back many times to visit Lu Yun, bringing winter clothes and food for the soldiers in the camp. After several times, the soldiers all knew Lady Luo would bring necessities when she came, all looking forward to Luo Lingyu’s arrival. Until late in the eleventh month, on the eve of the winter solstice.
When Luo Lingyu climbed the mountain again, comforting the soldiers together with Lu Yun, suddenly the ground shook violently, and she staggered back several steps, falling into Lu Yun’s arms. The originally relaxed soldiers instantly became alert, standing up, and sending people to investigate. Lu Yun’s expression was grave, and after a while received news that the northern army had begun a strong counterattack, reaching the city walls, and attacking the city anew.
Lu Yun immediately had people contact General Wei, not staying long on the mountain, but going down to provide aid. He hurriedly had people send Luo Lingyu back, and though Luo Lingyu didn’t say anything at the time, halfway there she got off the carriage, heading to the main army’s camp at the foot of the mountain. Observing Lu Yun’s expression, she knew this battle was strange, likely difficult to handle. As a weak woman like herself, the urgent task was to help save lives and heal wounds in the rear, help brew porridge, and prepare food, relieving pressure for the soldiers at the front.
The northern army’s attack this time was extremely powerful.
The Southern army resisted with all its might, but the number of casualties continued to climb.
General Wei and Lu Yun and others faced a great enemy, discussing daily why the enemy army’s firepower had suddenly become so fierce, and what help they had received. Both men’s expressions were ugly—they could still resist just the northern army alone; but if the northern army had gained reinforcements, the southern army would be isolated.
The flames of war raged, consuming the north.
…
When the northern war fires ignited, due to poor information transmission, the southern capital Jianye did not immediately learn of the war situation. However, on the day the northern army bombarded the southern army’s city gates, in court, Lu Erlang’s eyelid kept twitching, vaguely having an ominous premonition. This premonition came so strongly that it made him absent-minded, causing him to miss participating in the confrontation between political enemies in court while in a daze.
After the morning court session ended, Lu Erlang didn’t leave the imperial city, going directly to his office to work. Today many scrolls had been submitted to the Minister of Works’ office, all needing Lu Xian to organize alone. Organizing until noon, extremely tired, Lu Xian fell asleep on his desk. In this sleep, his prophecy dreams with confused timelines and unknown timing returned—
Snow-capped mountains are vast and boundless, guests arriving like coming home, white robes whiter than snow.
The city gate under warfare, mixed with smoke and fresh blood, buried countless corpses. Both sides fighting, a scholar secretly crossed over, returning from the northern country, coming to Nanyang to seek Lu Sanglang Lu Yun.
This person wore a tall hat and jade belt, his robes and shoes elegant, in his every movement showing the refined and soaring spirit of Jianye’s noble youth. When he raised his eyes, amid the filth, revealing his face, the observing spirit Lu Xian immediately shook. And seeing him look at Lu Yun, smiling as he spoke: “Yan has returned, seeing Third Cousin brings boundless joy.”
Lu Yun’s expression moved slightly, grasping the newcomer’s hand. As if sensing something, he welcomed the young nobleman into the tent to talk in detail.
And the observing Lu Erlang was shocked, dazed: this young nobleman… was his cousin, his aunt’s only son, Cousin Luo’s brother, Luo Yan.
After returning to Jianye with his mother, Luo Yan studied for two years before going to travel and study around the world. Not returning for two consecutive years, even his mother Lu Ying wasn’t worried, so naturally no one in the Lu family asked about Luo Yan’s whereabouts. Lu Erlang had always thought this cousin was traveling and studying among the southern provinces.
Only in the dream did he learn that Luo Yan had somehow gone to the northern country!
Luo Yan’s return brought explosive news.
…
Lu Xian woke startled from his dream, covered in sweat, rushing to his desk to write a letter, his cursive writing dancing wildly as he hurriedly tried to finish this letter to send to his third brother. Only hoping it would arrive in time, hoping his third brother would be prepared in advance!
He had completed this dream, seeing his white-robed, graceful cousin Luo Yan in it. At this moment, all the information from the dream finally pieced together completely, and he finally understood exactly how his third brother had died!
The southern court’s refusal to send grain when summoned, the northern princess’s slander, the northern provinces’ distrust of Lu Yun refusing to fight alongside him, the assassination by the strange youth in the snowy mountains… plus this explosive news Luo Yan brought!
All these together had caused his third brother’s death!
Reality and the dream were already different, but what was meant to come would still come. Lu Erlang’s hand shook as he wrote the letter, reminding himself: quickly, faster! Only by grasping all this in advance could his third brother escape the trouble!
…
Under the flames of war, Luo Lingyu helped bandage the wounded in the military camp. On this day, she received an honored guest who asked to see her by name. Luo Lingyu was extremely surprised, not knowing when she had gained such a face. She washed up and tidied her appearance before being led by a soldier to see the person.
In the tent, the youth turned first, his gaze deep as he looked over.
Luo Lingyu was startled: “Prince Hengyang! Weren’t you in Ruyang, how did you come to Nanyang?”
Liu Mu said flatly: “I was in Ruyang, saved someone who insisted on coming to Nanyang to see Lu Sanglang. When I mentioned you, he became even more excited… This person claims to be your cousin.”
Behind Liu Mu, another young nobleman turned, smiling as he looked at the young lady standing at the tent entrance. Luo Yan’s features were gentle and refined, combining the bloodlines of both the Lu and Luo families, his appearance was excellent, as he cupped his hands and bowed, making Luo Lingyu step forward instinctively to support him.
Luo Lingyu: “Cousin! It is you… how are you here, Uncle’s wife said you were traveling and studying.”
Luo Yan had originally looked gently at this sister, his relationship with Luo Lingyu being closer than with ordinary people. But hearing Luo Lingyu say this, Luo Yan remembered the urgent matter, frowning: “I heard from Prince Hengyang that the strategic deployment here is under Third Cousin’s responsibility. I have important news to tell Third Cousin, quickly take me to see him!”
Luo Lingyu’s gaze flickered, agreeing, to have a servant deliver the message.
She and Luo Yan were cousins in name, having grown up together in childhood, Luo Yan acting as her brother, loving her much more than her uncle’s wife did. But since Ruyang city fell and Luo Lingyu became separated from her uncle’s wife’s family, counting down it had been five years since Luo Lingyu had seen Luo Yan. Not seeing each other for five years, even if she was selfish, she didn’t know Luo Yan’s character today, so she had to stand on Lu Yun’s side, considering whether her cousin might harm people.
After all, the meaning Prince Hengyang hadn’t spoken… seemed to be that Luo Yan had come from the northern country.
…
That night, Lu Sanglang returned and met with Luo Yan. Time was pressing, Luo Yan followed Lu Yun into the tent, having no time for pleasantries about old times, hurriedly telling Lu Yun: “Cousin, when I was studying in the northern country, I received your letters to the scholars. Do you know the North views you as a great enemy? Whichever scholar helps you, they arrest them, not letting them out?”
Lu Yun’s brow jumped: “You were also arrested?”
Luo Yan: “Anyway, I escaped… While being detained I made contact with people and learned the news. The North captured a gunpowder master, having him develop new explosives to use against the South. That master is also proud in temperament, unwilling to hand over the formula, fearing he would die after giving up the formula. Now that the gunpowder master is still imprisoned… if Cousin has a way, please save him. Once he comes out, the North won’t have new explosives, and won’t be able to threaten our South.”
Lu Yun glanced at him: “…Your news is late. I’m afraid these explosives have already been used by the north.”
The new counterattack’s northern firepower was so fierce, so this was the reason.
Luo Yan was stunned, then his face went white as he collapsed sitting: “Ah! How can this be? Will the South be defeated?”
Lu Yun didn’t answer Luo Yan, but his heart stirred as he stood up, pacing in the camp. His mind was sharp, inferring one thing from another. When Luo Yan told him this news, he didn’t need Lu Erlang to write a nagging letter telling him what else happened in the dream. Lu Yun’s eyes flickered slightly, light brightening in them as he made a sound—
So that was it.
The snowy mountain, a troop, enemy pursuit.
So he had led those people deep into the northern country to rescue those implicated scholars and to take away that gunpowder master.
Otherwise, General Wei wouldn’t have trusted him to lead troops into battle alone.
At that time, the situation must have been General Wei controlling this battle while he went behind enemy lines to rescue people. The enemy pursuit was fierce, he died on a day of heavy snow and fog. But the gunpowder master was successfully sent back to Nanyang, buying time for Nanyang, buying time until supplies could arrive.
Only then could Nanyang achieve great victory.
Only then could the South avoid defeat.
…
Lu Yun laughed softly, murmuring: “So that’s how it was.”
Luo Yan was completely bewildered, watching Lu Yun walk out of the tent. In high spirits, Lu Yun left the tent but inadvertently looked up to see Prince Hengyang Liu Mu and Luo Lingyu standing together talking. Though those two had normal expressions, standing together they were like a thorn stabbing Lu Yun’s heart.
Lu Yun was silent for a moment, then spoke: “Young Master.”
Liu Mu looked over.
Lu Yun said slowly: “Lingyu is already engaged to me, she is now my fiancée.”
Liu Mu: “…”
Frowning, still not understanding what Lu Yun meant.
After speaking, Lu Yun also felt he had said too much. Under Luo Lingyu’s suddenly smiling gaze, Lu Sanglang remained composed, casually making up an excuse: “Lingyu and I are engaged, and I’ve long been acquainted with Your Highness. Shouldn’t Your Highness give us congratulatory gifts?”
Liu Mu: “…”
He was dumbfounded: …Had this person gone mad wanting gifts? Wait, this approach… how was it somewhat like his second brother who spoke in a confused, illogical way? Truly worthy of being family?