—Who was Chen Xue?

This question troubled Luo Ling Yu for many days.

Luo Ling Yu was cunning; although she was furious, she wouldn’t rush to confront Lu Yun immediately upon finding the handkerchief. What if she had misunderstood? What if Lu Yun was too clever and denied it?

She found it difficult to explain her feelings. If it had been any other young lord, she likely wouldn’t have obsessed over it, and wouldn’t have asked many questions. Born into the upper-class gentry, Luo Ling Yu clearly understood noble young lords’ private conduct. Few young lords didn’t stray, and clever young ladies pretended not to know, privately dealing with that “straying.” But when such matters involved Lu Yun, she couldn’t swallow this anger.

She and Lu Yun had reached the stage of discussing marriage, and he was about to marry her. If he was truly involved with another young lady at this time, given her small-mindedness, it would stick in her throat like a fishbone, making her uncomfortable whenever she thought about it – she absolutely couldn’t marry him. If she couldn’t marry him, wouldn’t all her effort spent on him be wasted? Wouldn’t all the flaws she had corrected in Lu Yun benefit the next woman?

Only a fool would investigate whether Third Young Master Lu was secretly straying.

But holding that handkerchief made Luo Ling Yu feel sick and unbearable. She waited several days, still visiting Lu Yun daily as before, and discovered Lu Yun hadn’t even noticed a handkerchief missing from his clothes. Seeing his expression unchanged, Luo Ling Yu grew more suspicious, wondering if he truly didn’t know, or if he was anxious inside while pretending in front of her.

To say Lu Yun would never deceive her – she didn’t believe it, he was too clever; to say his deception would be obvious to her – Luo Ling Yu believed even less in her ability to see through Lu Yun’s lies.

So she investigated privately.

Lu Yun’s first opportunity for an affair was during the period before she came to Nanyang. During that time, the war situation in Nanyang wasn’t urgent, and he still had time for dalliances. Later he was too busy, unable to finish his official duties – Third Young Master Lu was so proud, he absolutely wouldn’t be so desperate for pleasure as to stray under her nose. For this reason, Luo Ling Yu specifically went to General Wei Cong to inquire.

The young lady was enchanting, her eyes flowing with charm, radiantly brilliant. With her alluring smile, Wei Cong was besotted, obediently answering whatever the young lady asked.

General Wei held his nose high, criticizing Third Young Master Lu from head to toe: “…Colonel Lu has all the airs of nobility, and looks down on everyone. Young Lady, you don’t know – when he first came to Nanyang, if someone got a bit of mud on him, he’d sulk all day. You know Third Young Master Lu’s expression, right? And once during a conversation, I mispronounced one word, you know how cutting his glance was? He sees no one as worthy… Every time I see him looking down on everyone, I want to beat him up. Damn, is he the only human? Are we not human? Not worthy of his glance?”

General Wei cursed and complained. Although his relationship with Third Young Master Lu had improved greatly now, when mentioning Third Young Master Lu’s flaws, he still had endless complaints – “Other young lords who come to train in the military gradually get used to the rough life. Only Third Young Master Lu is different, he makes us get used to him! Half a year has passed, look, whenever possible, Colonel Lu still doesn’t stay in the military camp, doing whatever’s most comfortable…”

Luo Ling Yu completely understood General Wei’s feelings.

Because Lu Yun was exactly that kind of person – thinking back to when she first met him, she couldn’t count how many times he had looked at her with disdainful eyes. That kind of half-smiling, watching-for-entertainment, mocking, embarrassing gaze.

But now wasn’t the time to sit with General Wei criticizing Lu Yun. When General Wei’s throat grew dry from talking, Luo Ling Yu interjected: “So he didn’t have any young ladies following him?”

General Wei immediately recalled how Lu Yun had returned the beauty he had sent him, growing angrier: “He even looks down on women! Who could serve him? Young Lady Luo, how do you tolerate him…”

Luo Ling Yu pressed her lips together in a smile, not daring to say she and Third Young Master Lu were equally matched.

Having gotten her desired answer from General Wei, Luo Ling Yu departed gracefully, her beautiful retreating figure leaving Wei Cong stunned for quite a while, thinking that just in terms of appearance, Third Young Master Lu and Lady Luo were indeed a perfect match like a golden boy and jade girl. After Luo Ling Yu left, she verified through multiple sources, confirming Lu Yun hadn’t had any women around him before she came to Nanyang. She then focused her target on the period when Third Young Master Lu went to Luoyang.

What happened in Luoyang, how Lu Yun rescued those scholars – these were military secrets that Luo Ling Yu couldn’t easily inquire about. But “Chen Xue” – how could that be considered a military secret? Luo Ling Yu obtained a roundabout way to the list of soldiers who had gone to Luoyang with Lu Yun, planning to inquire about each one following the list.

After morning military drills and breakfast, the kind and virtuous Lady Luo came again to help improve everyone’s meals, making the soldiers feel quite embarrassed. The young lady fluttered like a flower butterfly among the crowd, finding opportunities to chat enthusiastically with several soldiers. Suddenly Luo Ling Yu casually asked: “I heard in Luoyang city, there was a famous young lady surnamed Chen, given name Xue – have you heard of her?”

“Pfft—” Several people spat out their porridge, choking and coughing violently.

Zhou Yangling heard the commotion and looked over. Luo Ling Yu stood up with a red face, hurriedly waving to indicate nothing was wrong, quickly going to pat several people’s shoulders, not expecting the name “Chen Xue” would cause such a strong reaction. After the men finished coughing, they raised their heads with strange expressions. The young lady still looked at them with earnest, water-bright eyes, and one person said in an odd tone: “Who told Young Lady about this person ‘Chen Xue’?”

Luo Ling Yu pretended to laugh coyly, even covering her cheek with a handkerchief: “Naturally my Third Cousin.”

Several people: “Ah…”

They exchanged indescribable expressions: Third Young Master Lu was truly brave. Not only did he cross-dress himself, he even dared to tell Young Lady Luo about it. His face was incredibly thick. Perhaps this was why Third Young Master Lu could marry Young Lady Luo while they could only sigh in admiration.

Luo Ling Yu scolded them: “Tell me! Why aren’t you speaking? Who exactly is Chen Xue? Why does my Third Cousin know her?”

The men looked at each other again, and one carefully said: “Maybe… just… just knows her?”

Luo Ling Yu’s eyes narrowed. Skilled at reading people’s expressions, she naturally saw these men’s evasive glances. And the more they evaded, the more it confirmed her suspicions – Lu Yun was their superior officer; Lu Yun had strayed, and to please their superiors, they were keeping his secret.

Luo Ling Yu’s heart ached, but she knew even if she asked more, they wouldn’t tell her the truth.

She could only probe indirectly: “…Actually, it’s very normal for young lords to have three wives and four concubines. The third Cousin is something, not telling me directly. As if I’m so unreasonable. Even if Sister Chen Xue enters the household, I would be very magnanimous.”

Several people: “…Ah, Third Young Master probably won’t let, let Chen, Chen… enter the household. Young Lady Luo, don’t think too much about it.”

Even if Third Young Master Lu wanted to, he didn’t have that capability – how could he take himself as a concubine?

The men became even more evasive facing Luo Ling Yu. Little did they know their evasiveness only made Luo Ling Yu angrier, increasing her fury toward Lu Yun. But Luo Ling Yu had one virtue – she could keep her composure. Although inside she was so angry she wanted to tear apart Lu Yun and that vixen, her face still smiled as she inquired: “My Third Cousin has always seen many beauties, those who can move his heart are truly rare. Young Lady Chen Xue must be a famous beauty of Luoyang?”

Several people thought of the sensation Lu Yun had caused in Luoyang and stammered: “…Her reputation was quite great…”

Luo Ling Yu: “What’s that lady’s background? What are her talents?”

Several men broke into cold sweat: “A… a courtesan… but Young Lady, you’re thinking too much…”

Luo Ling Yu interrupted, leaning forward to ask: “Then who is more beautiful, me or Sister Chen Xue?”

Several soldiers broke down: In their eyes, of course, Young Lady Luo was the most beautiful! But they couldn’t say, Chen Xue, whom Third Young Master Lu had portrayed, wasn’t attractive – otherwise, how could she have bewitched the Luoyang Governor who was used to seeing women? Moreover, Third Young Master Lu was their superior officer; they couldn’t very well say their superior looked ugly!

They stammered: “This, this question… better ask the Colonel directly…”

After speaking, and seeing Luo Ling Yu about to ask more, they became afraid of this young lady. They thought Young Lady Luo appeared so gentle and beautiful, how could her words contain so many traps? Every question was full of schemes behind it, making them uncomfortable to answer. Luo Ling Yu’s usual impression differed from how she was acting now, frightening away the soldiers who dared not speak with her anymore.

Zhou Yangling walked over then, standing behind Luo Ling Yu, seeing her fair profile but eyes floating with hatred and sadness. Zhou Yangling lowered his head, saying softly: “What’s wrong, little sister?”

Luo Ling Yu’s shoulders stiffened as she bit her lip. Though her heart was impulsive, she still wanted to save face for Lu Yun, not wanting to say more about this matter. But she frowned, her heart full of sighs, beginning to worry about her future with Lu Yun – did she need to dig out this thorn of “Chen Xue”?

Her heart was barely larger than a needle’s point; once this thorn came out, would she and Lu Yun still have a future?

But leaving Lu Yun… she was reluctant, her heart cut like a knife.

…

Luo Ling Yu became somewhat afraid and somewhat hesitant to investigate further. She tossed and turned all night, truly unable to sleep. Rising early, she convinced herself to let it go, not to ask anymore. She dared not go see Lu Yun, afraid she couldn’t help confronting him directly, arguing with him, making things irreparable. She listlessly combed her hair, and when her maid asked about today’s schedule, she hesitated for a while, deciding to still go to the military camp.

Love made one anxious about gain and loss.

Making her unable to leave him, yet deeply hating his heartlessness while being so romantic.

Luo Ling Yu no longer wanted to inquire about this person “Chen Xue,” but unexpectedly, when she went to the military camp that day, she happened upon the exchange of prisoners of war between North and South. The bearded, depressed Luoyang Governor returned to the Northern envoy’s camp. As everyone was leaving through the camp’s fence gate, the Luoyang Governor saw the young lady in a wide-sleeved long dress standing by the gate, and his expression subtly changed.

The Luoyang Governor fell silent for a moment, then walked over and, across the wooden fence, asked the lady outside: “Are you… Lady Luo? Third Young Master Lu’s fiancée?”

After several days as a prisoner, the Luoyang Governor had clarified who Third Young Master Lu was and his relationships with others.

Luo Ling Yu was surprised for a moment, and only after the Luoyang Governor darkly introduced himself did the young lady bow: “Yes… when my Third Cousin was in Luoyang before, did he offend Your Excellency? The two countries were at war, I hope Your Excellency won’t mind.”

The Luoyang Governor’s face stiffened for a moment.

Luo Ling Yu gave him a strange look.

The two stared at each other for a long while. Luo Ling Yu began to wonder why this person had come to speak with her – could he be coveting her beauty? Thinking this, Luo Ling Yu inconspicuously took two steps back. Unexpectedly, this Luoyang Governor’s expression twisted for a long while before he couldn’t help asking: “…Is Third Young Master Lu… feeling better? Haven’t seen him.”

Luo Ling Yu: “…”

Feeling something strange.

She cast a measuring glance at him with her lovely eyes, carefully saying: “Still injuries from the avalanche. He’s been recuperating and should be better soon. Since Your Excellency knows my Third Cousin and the two countries are making peace, does Your Excellency wish to visit Third Cousin?”

The Luoyang Governor reacted extremely strongly: “No!”

Luo Ling Yu was startled by him, stepping back again: “…Well, if you don’t want to go then don’t.”

The Luoyang Governor saw the young lady’s snow-white face and realized his overreaction. But he felt stifled inside – how could he not overreact? He had been attracted to Chen Xue, but Chen Xue turned out to be Lu Yun in disguise, yet he didn’t favor men… Lu Yun was truly a terrifying person.

He both wanted to see him.

Yet dared not see him.

Luo Ling Yu stared at this governor, and as he turned to leave with a complex expression like a lost soul, she suddenly asked: “What was Your Excellency’s relationship with Young Lady Chen Xue?”

Luoyang Governor: “…?!”

He slowly looked at this young lady once, saying: “She, she… was originally to be my concubine.”

The governor laughed bitterly: “I had never liked a woman so much… I truly loved her in my heart, who knew, who knew… alas.”

Luo Ling Yu: “…!”

The Luoyang Governor left, but his single “alas” provided endless imagination for Luo Ling Yu.

…

Now Luo Ling Yu had guessed.

That vixen called Chen Xue was a top beauty of Luoyang. Not only did she have an ambiguous relationship with the Luoyang Governor, but she also captured the heart of Third Young Master Lu who had just arrived in Luoyang. Third Young Master Lu and the Luoyang Governor competed for the same woman – with Third Young Master Lu’s appearance and bearing, his peerless elegance, how could he lose to the Luoyang Governor?

That vixen called Chen Xue had then thrown herself into Third Young Master Lu’s embrace.

After sharing spring nights with Third Young Master Lu, she had even given him her handkerchief. This woman probably had tears in her eyes, reluctant to part with Lu Yun.

This was why the Luoyang Governor’s attitude toward Third Young Master Lu was so strange.

…

While Lu Yun knew nothing, Luo Ling Yu had already charged him with many crimes.

Lu Yun was still recuperating, drifting in and out of consciousness, waking for a while then sleeping for a while. His spirits weren’t as good as before, and every time he woke there was still a line of people waiting to see him. When Lu Yun finally had a bit of energy, his usual sensitivity suddenly made him realize he hadn’t seen Luo Ling Yu for ten consecutive days.

Lu Yun furrowed his brow and lowered his eyes: This wasn’t right.

Given his little sister Ling Yu’s personality, wouldn’t his illness be a perfect opportunity for her to display her abilities? How could she not come to see him for so long?

Thinking this, Lu Yun could no longer sit still, deciding that if the mountain wouldn’t come to him, he would go to the mountain. He still didn’t know that his little sister Ling Yu was currently struggling with whether she should part ways with him.