In the night, ram’s horn lanterns and red gauze lamps hung beneath the window eaves. When the wind blew, their sounds intermingled with the clinking of iron horse bells. Through several layers of blue and moon-colored curtains, the music and laughter of men and women within filtered out through the gaps in whispers.

While the banquet was set, servants and maids waited outside. The string and wind music from within wasn’t played by musicians but by the noblemen and women themselves. In this era, nobles prided themselves on their artistic accomplishments, considering it “refined” to perform their compositions. Such performances weren’t for servants to watch – they evaluated and appreciated each other’s talents for entertainment.

Besides those playing music, some in the room were engaged in pitch-pot, cup-guessing games, painting, discussing poetry, playing double-sixes, or Go. The young lords and ladies, whether sitting or standing, gathered or alone, all enjoyed themselves.

As this was a farewell banquet for Miss Han’s return home, both men and women were in high spirits. Miss Han and Lady Wang spoke briefly before their conversation turned to Luo Lingyu, and the two women unconsciously searched for her figure among the crowd. They spotted her at a table with an embroidered Go board, sitting opposite another young lady, both holding white jade and black rhinoceros pieces. The game must have been fascinating, as quite a few men and women stood watching.

Luo Lingyu’s eyes were lowered, her cloud-like hair elegantly arranged, the lamplight falling softly upon her form.

The eyes of the Lu family’s young masters and the attention of the surrounding ladies all fell on her.

Miss Han spoke with slight sourness: “This Sister Luo, not only is she beautiful, but she seems to know far too many things.”

Lady Wang responded with complex emotions: “I heard she was born in Ruyang, where her family was once prominent. Ruyang is close to the Northern Kingdom, and Northern noble families have always surpassed our Southern ones in artistic skills – she must have learned extensively in her youth. We can’t compare to her.”

The South’s love of luxury had gradually developed after the kingdom’s founding, but in terms of cultural foundation, the South often couldn’t match the North. However, in recent years, with the prevalence of luxurious trends, the prestigious families of Jianye in the South had gradually caught up with the North, even showing signs of surpassing them.

Miss Han spoke acidly: “Yes, I can’t compare to her. Even now, she’s only displaying her talents within the Lu family, yet she has the young masters completely enchanted. It’s just that the Lu family has few ladies who go out… if she were to leave the Lu family grounds, her reputation would spread throughout Jianye before long.”

“How could the noble ladies of Jianye lose to a country bumpkin?”

Lady Wang was briefly lost in thought before saying: “Perhaps Miss Chen from Scholar Chen’s household could match her.”

Hearing Lady Wang’s words, Miss Han pictured a young lady’s figure. She twisted her mouth, turning away in displeasure. Ah, Miss Chen from Scholar Chen’s household… She thought to herself that with Third Young Master Lu’s outstanding qualities, though Miss Chen had admired Lu Yun for years, she still maintained an air of superiority, looking down on the female cousins staying at the Lu residence, as if waiting for Lu Yun to come curry her favor. How could Third Young Master possibly do that?

Rather than choosing Miss Chen, he might as well choose this… Luo Lingyu, whose face clearly said “I’m going to outshine all of you.”

Shadows overlapped as men and women mingled, with young masters like Lu Xian standing behind Luo Lingyu, watching her play Go. Second Young Master’s gaze flickered, his eyes filled with amazement as they fell on Luo Lingyu. Lu Xian loved the tranquility and collected famous game positions. He could tell that Luo Lingyu’s play wasn’t particularly brilliant, but she had her strategic vision, clearly following her plan…

Observing her through her Go play, Lu Xian pondered: this cousin seems to have many thoughts…

While under Lu Xian’s observation, Luo Lingyu held a white piece between her fingers, a smile playing at her lips, though her heart felt somewhat bitter. She hesitated internally, thinking of Third Young Master’s previous words, which left her wavering, unsure whether she should conceal her talents and avoid drawing too much attention. However, while other young ladies had time to play it safe and build relationships gradually in the Lu family… where was her time? She hadn’t expected Jianye’s noble family to be so extravagant – she could barely support herself for half a year.

If she couldn’t marry a young master from a good family within half a year, life would become very difficult for her and her sister.

While playing Go, Luo Lingyu absently pondered: should she have her maid secretly sell the return gifts she’d received for some silver? But the items she used were only affordable to noble families – how could common people use them? If one bad sale revealed her desperate situation, how could she face staying with the Lu family?

How troublesome.

Luo Lingyu furrowed her brows: it was all Third Young Master Lu’s fault.

After spending so much effort, this cousin from a good family was clearly about to slip away…

Luo Lingyu unconsciously looked up, her gaze meeting Lu Xian’s as he looked down at her. Lu Xian started, giving her a kind, encouraging smile. Second Cousin’s features were proper and upright, without many complicated thoughts… Just as she was thinking this, a maid’s announcement came from outside: “The Principal Madam has arrived!”

The men and women playing in the room all started in surprise, rising together as the bamboo curtain opened and a woman in a turned-collar, tight-sleeved, floor-length dress entered with furrowed brows, surrounded by maids. Her clothing colors were rather dark, matching the solemn, austere impression she gave. With the Lu family’s Principal Madam’s arrival, the room’s relaxed atmosphere instantly dissipated.

Luo Lingyu stood beside the Go board, watching as the Second Cousin beside her went forward in surprise: “Mother, why have you come?”

As everyone bowed to Madam Lu, they were all startled, knowing that the Lu family’s Principal Madam disliked such gatherings and normally wouldn’t attend their small banquets. Little Luo Yunzha stood beside her sister like a little adult, rising on tiptoe and tugging at Luo Lingyu’s sleeve: “Sister, look!”

Following her little sister’s pointing finger, Luo Lingyu saw an eight or nine-year-old child following dejectedly behind the Principal Madam. The child pitifully raised his head to peek around, and upon suddenly seeing the Luo sisters, the young master’s expression became anxious.

Luo Lingyu: “You were sick the other day and didn’t meet him – this young master is Fourth Young Master Lu Chang. He should call you ‘Elder Cousin.'”

Luo Yunzha huffed: “Look at his expression… Sister, could he have gotten into trouble?”

Just as Luo Lingyu was lost in thought, Madam Lu had been enthusiastically invited to the seat of honor by Lady Wang. When offered tea, Madam Lu didn’t even accept it, her cold gaze sweeping around the young masters and ladies, lingering for two breaths when it fell on Luo Lingyu standing in the corner, her beauty impossible to suppress, before moving on.

Luo Lingyu’s heart skipped violently.

They heard Madam Lu speak coolly: “The teacher says your studies have all been poor lately. When I inquired, not one of you was in your courtyard – all out playing. So I had no choice but to make the effort to follow you here and question each of you about your studies. Lüyao, bring the past month’s academic records for our young masters.”

All the young masters were stunned: “…!”

Lu Xian frowned: “Mother, what are you doing? Couldn’t questioning about studies wait for another day…”

Madam Lu: “Silence! Since Young Lady Luo’s arrival, don’t you know how poor your studies have become?”

The young masters lowered their heads while the female cousins whispered nervously. The atmosphere grew heavy as Madam Lu truly took the seat of honor, having people clear away the wine and food and bring over thick stacks of silk and paper. The academy teacher’s vermillion comments were all there, and starting with Second Young Master Lu Xian, Madam Lu questioned them one by one…

Madam Lu suddenly said: “Young Lady Luo, come here and grind ink for me.”

Luo Lingyu, being secretly observed by all the men and women and suddenly called out by Madam Lu, flushed red. Such humiliation was no less than a public execution. Madam Lu didn’t even spare her another glance, as if attributing the Lu family’s young masters’ poor academics entirely to her.

The female cousins could barely look after themselves, but finding that Luo Lingyu seemed to be taking the brunt of it up front, they sighed in relief while stealing glances at her: would this female cousin storm out in anger?

Luo Lingyu’s expression remained normal as she softly spoke a few words to her frowning, dissatisfied sister. Luo Yunzha looked up at her sister and nodded. Though Luo Yunzha was so small, with her delicate, jade-like beauty, she slipped away from her sister’s side. As she passed Fourth Young Master Lu Chang drooping by the door, the little lady snorted and deliberately stepped hard on the young master’s foot.

Young Master Lu Chang covered his mouth in pain, looking in surprise only to receive a full face of the little lady’s scorn.

Fourth Young Master was bewildered: “…”

Who was this little sister he’d never met who had stepped on him?

No one stopped Luo Yunzha as she ran out of the courtyard. Meanwhile, Luo Lingyu knelt at a lower seat from Madam Lu, acting as an assistant to grind ink while listening to Madam Lu educate the young masters about their studies.

Madam Lu didn’t even spare her son Second Young Master Lu Xian, scolding him until his face turned from green to white, so the other young masters certainly couldn’t escape. But while she overtly spoke of the Lu family’s young masters, her words all implied that Luo Lingyu had led them to play, causing the young masters to change their ways. She frequently brought up how women should stay behind closed doors, learn needlework and household management, and not run about everywhere…

The female cousins’ faces burned red.

Miss Han, who had already planned to return home tomorrow, had tears in her eyes: how could Madam Lu speak of them this way? Just because Madam Lu herself liked to sit at home without going out, did she expect them all to be the same?

Lady Wang, who was originally meant to be the hostess of this small banquet, wanted to speak but hesitated: this gathering was her idea…

As Lady Wang was about to speak, her gaze met Luo Lingyu’s brimming eyes. The Luo lady sitting at a lower seat than Madam Lu gently shook her head, signaling her not to say more. Lady Wang felt conflicted but could only listen sullenly as Madam Lu made oblique criticisms.

The female cousins lost face, all thinking: tomorrow I’ll bid farewell and return home, not coming back to the Lu family for some time.

However, while they had homes to return to, Luo Lingyu had no choice.

After Madam Lu had scolded her until her mouth was dry, she called out again: “Young Lady Luo, am I right? They only know how to play all day, not studying or seeking improvement. Playing in the inner chambers, having their nature changed by women’s influence – is this what young masters should do?”

Luo Lingyu slowly raised her head.

Everyone looked at her.

Luo Lingyu spoke steadily and softly: “If Madam wishes to hear my words, might we move inside the tent to speak?”

Madam Lu: “Why? Why not speak in front of everyone?”

Luo Lingyu kept her eyes lowered, her tone gentle but neither servile nor overbearing: “For Madam’s face.”

Madam Lu: “…”

Her eyes narrowed, her temple twitching as she looked at this female cousin with uncertainty. After her expression changed several times, Madam Lu nodded and rose to enter the tent with Luo Lingyu. All around, those who had been scolded until they couldn’t raise their heads collectively sighed in relief.

…

In Second Branch’s “Pure Courtyard.”

Two young masters sat playing Go under a plum blossom curtain on the couch – one was Lu Yun, and one was Liu Chu.

The lamp flame sputtered, its light flickering as Lu Yun turned his head to see his maid Jin Yue anxiously trying to catch his eye through the window. Jin Yue gestured, pointing outside: there’s trouble over there!

Liu Chu turned his head, speaking softly: “Snow Official, do you, have, a lover?”