Lu Sanlan of Jianye Danyang was born with divine handsomeness and exceptional appearance.

Because everyone knew Lu Sanlan was male, when they saw him in women’s clothing, it didn’t appear awkward but rather showed an extraordinary charm. When the Southern Vanguard soldiers changed back into their regular uniforms, they all wore expressions that were hard to put into words. With such a tall and slender stature and cold temperament, if they didn’t know it was Lu Sanlan in disguise, they would have been captivated by this lady. But knowing it was Lu Sanlan’s disguise… everyone collectively shuddered as they guessed Lu Yun’s intentions: “You’re not planning to personally seduce that governor, are you? Your looks are good, and your height could barely pass… but what about your voice?”

Lu Yun was unconcerned as he sat down, lifting his robes. Though he had no feminine air about him, his refined features and cold temperament made him appear even more otherworldly, like an immortal: “With a few days of practice, I’ll just need to speak less.”

When Lu Yun asked for everyone’s opinions on his female disguise, they circled him while shuddering, unable to offer any critiques. Beautiful women came in all varieties – some were charmingly coquettish like Lu Yun’s fiancée Miss Luo, while others could be cold and stunning like the persona Lu Yun was portraying. In fact, to some degree, the colder and more aloof, the more gentlemen would pursue – like an ethereal fairy, impossible to obtain in the mortal realm. Self-proclaimed refined nobles all enjoyed pursuing such challenging conquests.

Everyone wondered hazily: Did Lu Sanlan enjoy dressing as this type of lady, or did he simply believe such women attracted men’s pursuit and was using it tactically?

Lu Sanlan’s behavior was beyond what ordinary men could comprehend.

As they continued offering suggestions, several gradually accepted Lu Sanlan’s purpose. Some would occasionally glance at him, secretly lamenting that such beauty was wasted on a man rather than a woman. After exhausting their opinions, someone thought to ask: “So what identity will you arrange for yourself? What surname and given name, where are you from, and what brings you here?”

Lu Yun: “Surname Chen, given name Xue.”

Everyone: …Chen Xue?! Indeed a feminine name, though something felt odd…

Lu Yun rolled up his sleeves, drawing everyone’s attention to his beautifully prominent wrist bones. His hands were long-boned with proportionate joints and jade-like skin – truly beautiful hands. But… would a lady have such clearly defined finger bones? Everyone was stunned as they saw Lu Yun startle slightly before rolling his sleeves back down. Lu Yun said: “Hmm, still not used to being in a woman’s role, I forgot.” He remembered to cover his throat but forgot his hands could give him away too.

Lu Sanlan spoke softly: “As for the background… let me make a template, and you just need to remember it.”

Lu Sanlan rose, found a desk in the room, took up brush and paper, and began writing with flourishing strokes. After writing several characters in wild cursive script, he realized the handwriting should be changed too, so with a turn of his brush tip, the characters instantly transformed into gentle, fresh regular script. As Lu Yun grew more practiced, his characters became increasingly delicate and graceful… making observers’ temples throb.

Not daring to disturb Lu Sanlan’s artistic mood, everyone closed the door and went out, leaning against it while exchanging glances.

Lu Sanlan… truly was extraordinary.

After a while, someone realized: “Chen Xue… isn’t that just the reverse of the young master’s courtesy name Xuezhen? Isn’t that too lazy? What if someone astute notices?”

The others chorused: “How could anyone notice!”

“Who would possibly notice!”

“Only a madman would notice such a thing!”

If they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, who would believe Lu Sanlan could dress as a woman so beautifully and naturally? Even compared to Miss Luo… apart from being a bit too tall, Sanlan wasn’t necessarily inferior to Miss Luo.

Thus, as Lu Yun’s identity disappeared, a lady named Chen Xue quietly appeared in an ordinary song and dance establishment in Luoyang. Her background was personally crafted by Lu Sanlan – an incredibly tortuous tale with past experiences that provoked sighs and tears. In Lu Sanlan’s story, Chen Xue had mixed Han and Tatar blood, growing up in the northern frontier where she was treated as a slave and endured countless abuses. Yet Chen Xue refused to submit to fate. She was resilient – rebelling against her master, traveling thousands of miles to search for her mother, being kidnapped en route, sold to a pleasure house to learn performing arts, escaping only to be separated from her companions, falling in love with a noble youth but being torn apart, attempting suicide by drowning only to be saved, encountering assassins while repaying her savior… Finally, after countless twists and turns, Chen Xue was sold to this song and dance establishment by one of his soldiers disguised as a merchant.

This story left not only the establishment’s owner dumbfounded, but even when the soldiers first heard it, they were amazed by its dramatic turns, secretly swallowing their saliva-

“Young master, why make your background so tragic? Is it to gain the governor’s sympathy? We haven’t heard that the governor is known for cherishing beauties.”

Lu Yun glanced at them: “An unstable past explains a mysterious personality. A complicated story makes it more troublesome to investigate upward. With poor communication, the governor won’t be able to verify my identity’s truth quickly. Before he discovers it, we’ll be long gone.”

Everyone nodded, accepting the lesson.

From Lu Yun’s first day at the establishment, he didn’t hide his talents, playing the guqin with skilled technique and transcendent noble bearing, establishing his reputation in Luoyang.

In this era, how greatly were beauties pursued?

Luo Lingyu faced such difficulties because she wanted to marry into a noble family, but Chen Xue, played by Lu Yun, didn’t seek marriage into nobility – she only needed to catch the Luoyang governor’s eye and enter his residence.

While Chen Xue’s reputation grew in the entertainment district, at the Luoyang governor’s mansion, beauties continued to be sent in, and those who lost their lives were carried out. The governor’s private nature was brutal, and the ladies of Luoyang felt fearful and uneasy, dreading being chosen. At this time, the ever-casual and indifferent Chen Xue, who seemed to exist outside the crowd, caught the attention of the officials responsible for selecting beauties for the governor.

“This woman is quite beautiful, just a bit cold and too tall…”

“But in all of Luoyang, I can’t find anyone more beautiful.”

“Recently with the north-south war, there are soldiers inside and outside Luoyang city. The governor is anxious and irritable, his temper likely worse. We shouldn’t provoke him, just select good beauties to send to entertain him.”

…

Lu Sanlan moved through Luoyang like a fish in water, seizing opportunities to enter the governor’s mansion. Meanwhile in Nanyang, while General Wei’s main battlefield situation remained stable, Luo Lingyu found time to check on the soldiers sent by the Prince of Hengyang to assist them.

Luo Lingyu’s method of assistance was to use her clever tongue to obtain grain from the noble families and distribute it to the soldiers.

The Prince of Hengyang was surprised and somewhat moved: “Thank you for your trouble, my lady.”

Luo Lingyu smiled bitterly, thinking that if the war didn’t end soon, Nanyang’s noble families would collapse first. There were barriers between the noble families and common people, with mutual distrust. Under these circumstances, her mediation between both sides was quite exhausting.

Yet Lady Luo remained full of energy. Even when tired, she never showed complaints on her face. While soldiers went to distribute grain, she went to the kitchen to cook for generals like Liu Mu of Hengyang. When she served fresh fish to Liu Mu’s table, he was slightly shocked. The lady smiled gracefully: “This fish is called ‘Longevity Fish’, a famous dish of our Nanyang.”

Luo Lingyu’s voice was like an oriole as she explained that this was Yellow River carp, known for its delicious meat. Luo Lingyu cooked the fish with wolfberries and her special seasonings, making the fish bright red and fragrant to taste. The fish was succulent and exceptionally delicious.

Liu Mu sat at the table while the lady eagerly brought him chopsticks, introducing the fish’s origin and preparation method, and then telling stories to please him.

Liu Mu’s expression flickered slightly. Seeing Luo Lingyu bustling about, he suddenly had a strange thought – she was so clever and lively, skilled in so many things. From what he had seen alone, she could write poetry, paint, compose music, dance, play music with others, and even cook. A lady so skilled in life’s pleasures… whoever married her would have flavorful days, never dull, right?

And who would be so fortunate to marry her?

Luo Lingyu’s voice pulled Liu Mu back to reality as she frowned with concern: “Why aren’t you eating? Did I prepare something wrong?”

Liu Mu shook his head.

He took a bite, and the fish meat melted in his mouth, truly delicious as promised. Liu Mu’s eyes brightened slightly, and he saw Luo Lingyu’s eyes filled with a smile. After watching for a while, she finally asked: “Has he sent any news recently?”

Liu Mu paused before realizing who “he” referred to. Suddenly losing his appetite and interest, he understood her attentiveness had such purpose. Luo Lingyu’s intentions were clear, as Liu Mu was beginning to sense. He felt uncomfortable, but under the lady’s beautiful gaze, Liu Mu still answered briefly: “No. Entering Luoyang’s important location, he can’t risk exposing his whereabouts. He absolutely cannot send messages out.”

Luo Lingyu nodded disappointedly: “I just worry about him.”

Liu Mu sneered: “What’s there to worry about!”

Hearing his disdainful tone, seemingly having deep grievances against Lu Yun, she paused before curiously asking Liu Mu: “I heard that in your youth, third cousin studied together with Your Highness?”

Liu Mu’s interest continued dropping: “…Mm.”

Luo Lingyu’s eyes brightened slightly as she leaned forward, her wariness toward Liu Mu lessening: “So what kind of person was third cousin during his study days? The same as now? The second cousin said the third cousin was romantic in his youth, saying he’s much more steady now. I see the third cousin doesn’t like attending banquets now, was he like this when studying?”

Liu Mu felt rising anger, extremely impatient, finally understanding that Luo Lingyu wanted to chat about Lu Yun’s youth – what was there to chat about? Some people are annoying from childhood to adulthood.

Liu Mu glanced at Luo Lingyu: “He wasn’t any good person before. Are you sure you want to hear?”

Luo Lingyu nodded.

Liu Mu put down his chopsticks, sneering: “Lu Sanlan now acts reserved and appears indifferent to desires, but he wasn’t like this in his youth. In his youth, he was flamboyant, looked down on everyone, and wrote poems and prose that spread across the land. He especially relied on his good looks to attract women’s pursuit. But he wasn’t a good person. Several noble families in Jianye were related to the Lu family by marriage, and family alliances were hard to refuse, so Lu Sanlan deliberately mixed up several ladies’ letters. Only then did the ladies realize how many were pursuing him simultaneously, causing an uproar. That year, several families became enemies, all because of Lu Sanlan’s mischief.”

Luo Lingyu: “…This shows third cousin never cared for women’s attention.”

Liu Mu: “He looked down on our teaching mentor, so he united with other students to petition, forcing the teacher to debate with students. At worst, he drove away three teachers in one month. As a result, no one dared to teach us for half a year.”

Luo Lingyu: “…Third cousin’s scholarship must have been excellent.”

Liu Mu: “For an entire year we followed him playing around barely studying, but by year’s end, his grades were still the best. Though we all played together, he studied secretly behind our backs. How irritating is such a cunning person?”

Luo Lingyu: “…Perhaps he simply had higher natural talent.”

Liu Mu: “…”

For each point he made, Luo Lingyu praised one. Liu Mu gradually couldn’t continue, staring at Luo Lingyu with a darkening heart. In Lady Luo’s heart, Lu Sanlan was naturally different, naturally perfect in every way. Perhaps from beginning to end, she had always loved Lu Yun. Others in her eyes were never as good as Lu Yun. In Jianye she still concealed it, but now she could express her wishes…

With a slight heaviness in his heart, Liu Mu no longer wished to speak of the past, responding perfunctorily: “Thus you can see, your third cousin has always been this way, he won’t suffer in Luoyang.”

Liu Mu stood up, no longer eating the fish, and turned to walk outside the tent.

Luo Lingyu had been happily listening to the stories, and seeing his sudden coldness, she couldn’t help but be surprised. Luo Lingyu stood up and followed him: “Your Highness…”

Liu Mu harshly interrupted: “Stop following me!”

Luo Lingyu was startled.

Liu Mu’s back was stiff and straight: “Don’t worry, since I agreed with him, I will naturally help him and won’t deliberately cause his death. You don’t need to curry favor with me and speak for him. Though I don’t get along with him, I won’t cause trouble at this time.”

Luo Lingyu looked at his back for a long while before bowing slightly and saying softly: “Then thank you, Your Highness.”

…

Setting aside Luo Lingyu’s attempts at friendship and probing, in Luoyang at this time, someone finally introduced Lady Chen Xue to enter the governor’s mansion to play qin for him. When first hearing this news, the soldiers who had followed Lu Sanlan to Luoyang and were now hidden throughout the city gathered in disbelief and excitement: Lu Sanlan really could enchant men!

They split into small groups, positioned at different targets, climbing opposite walls to watch Lady Chen Xue enter the mansion.

They saw a long carriage stop before the governor’s mansion, and a tall figure in snow-white clothes with jet-black hair, carrying an ancient qin, step down from the carriage. The lady wore traditional deep robes, with aloof features and clear, cold eyes. She raised her head to look at the mansion’s nameplate, her black eyes seeming misty, showing remote vastness and melancholy emotions.

Just a casual glance was enough to be startled by her fleeting beauty.

The crowd on the wall: “…”

As Chen Xue carried her qin to enter, she was stopped by the unfriendly guards at the gate. The guard ignored her beauty, showing no courtesy: “My lady, please stop. Anyone entering the governor’s mansion must be searched. Please put down your qin and step forward.”

Chen Xue’s gaze was melancholy and sorrowful as she glanced over. She sighed softly, her breath like orchids. The lady’s eyes flowed with radiant charm, that unintentional grace causing the speaking guard to suddenly freeze, his neck reddening. This guard stammered: “My-my-my lady, don’t make things difficult for me…”

The crowd on the wall observing Lu Sanlan immediately tensed: This is bad, they want to search her. How can Lu Sanlan let anyone touch him? Not to mention how fake his chest padding is, the extra thing down below would scare someone to death!