In the quarters, when maid Lingyu returned after trimming the candle wick, she found her lady still sitting despondently, turning the note over and over in her hands.

Lingyu tried to comfort her: “My lady, please don’t overthink it. Although ladies must wear veils when traveling, perhaps some young master caught a glimpse of your appearance. My lady is so beautiful, and this army is ninety percent men, so it’s natural to receive such eager admiration.” Afraid that Luo Lingyu would become overly suspicious, she added, “My lady, rest assured, this servant definitely won’t tell Third Young Master about this.”

“No,” Luo Lingyu shook her head, frowning, her expression somewhat hesitant, “Lingyu, come look, why do I find this handwriting somewhat familiar?”

As a maid like Lingyu, she recognized some characters and wasn’t completely illiterate. But being able to read books and compose poetry was beyond her abilities. So when Lingyu came over to study the handwriting together with Luo Lingyu, she could only shake her head in confusion, indicating she didn’t recognize it.

The handwriting on the note was elegant and graceful, with a neat and precise structure, carrying quite a classical style.

But Lingyu was certain she hadn’t seen it before. Observing Luo Lingyu’s hesitant expression, she suddenly realized: “Could my lady suspect this note was written by Third Young Master? But his handwriting isn’t like this.”

Luo Lingyu paused, then brushed off the maid’s words. She put away the note, inwardly resolving to probe Lu Er, Lu Xian, tomorrow. The maid blew out the candles and went to sleep without worry, unaware that her lady was tossing and turning, thinking about that handwriting—

The handwriting on the note was so classical and elegant, that ordinary people could hardly achieve such refinement to write such fine characters. Those who could write like this must have studied poetry and practiced calligraphy since childhood; only noble young masters would have such a foundation. But in their group, they were mostly soldiers, many of humble origins, and among the few from noble families, most were old enough to be her grandfather. How could someone be so thick-skinned as to flirt with her, a mere maid?

Perhaps she was overthinking, but when she saw this handwriting, she kept thinking of her husband Lu Yun.

Lu Yun was a scholar, the Plum-Seeking Recluse, and a nationally renowned calligrapher. He usually wrote in wild cursive script, but he was skilled in other styles as well. Luo Lingyu had seen at least two different styles of his writing… Luo Lingyu felt slightly angry: Could this note be written by her husband? Was her husband flirting with strange young women while she was away?

She must trick Lu Er into revealing the truth.

…

Lu Xian was very easy to trick.

When Luo Lingyu put on her veil and once again slipped into Lu Er’s quarters, Lu Xian was extremely helpless. Luo Lingyu took out the note, asking for his guidance. She observed her second cousin’s expression, seeing Lu Xian pause for a moment, his expression becoming somewhat awkward.

Luo Lingyu immediately became angry: “I knew I hadn’t guessed wrong, it was written by Lu Yun! That bastard!”

Lu Xian’s expression was subtle.

But he felt vaguely relieved.

In his view, the Third Brother knew the other person was Cousin Luo, and now Cousin Luo also knew the other person was the Third Brother. By this coincidence, the two had recognized each other, so they should end this strange relationship and quickly meet face to face.

Just as Lu Er was about to open his mouth to persuade them lightly, he saw Luo Lingyu’s face full of suppressed anger, her chest heaving with rage. He hastily averted his eyes, not daring to look more, as Luo Lingyu paced back and forth in the room, grinding her teeth: “He must have seen I wasn’t around, saw this little maid was pleasing, and went to flirt with her. I knew someone like him with such fickle thoughts couldn’t be trusted. But he’s also too undiscerning! He hasn’t even seen the maid’s face, yet he’s already sending her things…”

It must be because the maid she was pretending to be was too gentle and virtuous, that it had captured Lu Yun’s heart. Luo Lingyu’s eyes reddened: “I won’t forgive him!”

Lu Xian: “I think we should let it go, why don’t I call Third Brother out…”

Luo Lingyu: “No! If he wants to play, I’ll play along with him… if he really, really… I’ll divorce him!”

Lu Xian: “Uh… cousin…”

He couldn’t stop her, watching as Luo Lingyu burst in like the wind and flew out like the wind, he couldn’t even grab her sleeve. Lu Er immediately felt incredulous, not knowing how things had developed this way. He was deeply troubled by this young couple, his mood becoming even heavier.

…

After returning, Luo Lingyu forced down her indignation, putting on the act of a maiden in love, writing delicately: “This humble one is overcome with joy.”

—If it’s an affair he wants, then bring it on.

She left the note in the maid’s quarters, and under maid Lingyu’s meaningful gaze, calmly went to bed to rest, quietly waiting for someone to come take it while she wasn’t there. Lu Yun never disappointed Luo Lingyu; she wrote the note before going to bed the previous night, and by the next morning, Lu Yun had received it.

Early in the morning, by the window where flowers were arranged, after a night of the maid’s arrangements, sweet dreams until daybreak. Lu Yun’s good mood ended when he saw the note. His face suddenly froze, sinking deeply. The veiled maid Luo Lingyu, who was dawdling in the quarters wanting to see his reaction, suddenly felt a cold light pierce from behind. She sensitively turned around, and through the gauze curtain, saw Lu Yun push open the door and leave with a swoosh.

From beginning to end, he hadn’t looked at her, the little maid, once.

And Lu Er, who was just elegantly having his breakfast, was interrupted by his brother Lu Yun bursting in.

Lu Yun was furious, dragging his only confidant, Second Brother, to show him how his wife was having an affair: “What does she mean? Does she think that just because I’m not around, she’ll nod her head at any young master who slightly entices her? She even says she’s ‘overcome with joy,’ joy about what? What is there to be joyful about!”

Lu Xian: “…”

He was confused: “If I remember correctly, weren’t you the one who wrote the note first, seducing cousin?”

Lu Yun paused, then his eyes flickered, his expression somewhat arrogant as he said coldly: “I was merely testing to see if she was faithful, if she could remain loyal to me. Now, she has truly disappointed me.”

Lu Xian: “I think we should just let this go…”

“No,” his elegant jade-like brother’s eyes sparkled with a bewitching light, “I want to test further, to see just how little regard she has for me as her husband.”

Lu Er: “…”

His heart was so tired.

His brother and sister-in-law were both too dramatic and too fond of making trouble and when two such dramatic troublemakers became husband and wife, it was he, the bystander, who ended up exhausted.

Seeing that he couldn’t shake Lu San’s determination, Lu Er could only say: “Do as you please. I have just one request, can you both stop involving me in your mess?”

Lu Yun let out a derisive laugh, the answer of course was “no.” With Second Brother as the only person in the know, who could curse Luo Lingyu along with him, how could Lu Yun possibly give that up?

…

The same conversation occurred between Lu Er and Luo Lingyu.

Luo Lingyu’s answer was identical to Lu Yun’s, truly worthy of being husband and wife: “How can we not let Second Brother know? The one bullying me is your brother!”

Lu Xian: “…”

He fell silent, deciding to let things be. He couldn’t handle either of them, so he could only silently watch how these two would torment each other.

…

Luo Lingyu and Lu Yun both knew who the other was, yet both thought the other didn’t know their identity.

Over the next few days, they exchanged notes, Luo Lingyu and Lu Yun flirting back and forth, completely like a pair of lovers having an affair behind their spouses’ backs—

“Where does brother serve? Why have I never seen you?”

“Under a certain general. Because my face is ugly, I dare not meet my sister. Sister is just a maid, why do you only serve Commander Lu? Is Commander Lu good to you?”

“Brother, that Commander Lu is all facade and no substance, just an empty shell, not worth mentioning. Sister prefers someone heroic and magnificent like a brother, not those scheming scholars like Commander Lu… But I heard Commander Lu has a wife of unparalleled beauty, has brother seen her? Have you ever been moved by that lady?”

“Sister worries too much, that Miss Luo is just a wooden beauty, nothing special.”

As they probed each other this way, Luo Lingyu stared at Lu Yun’s evaluation of her as “nothing special,” her expression almost twisted. If Lu Yun were in front of her, she would have wanted to scratch him to death—what did he mean by “nothing special”? How was she nothing special? Had he seen anyone better looking than her? And calling her a “wooden beauty.” Too much!

At the same time, on the other side, Lu Yun was also internally injured by his wife’s evaluation of him as an “empty shell”—how was he an empty shell, how was he all facade and no substance? Had he ever failed to satisfy her? That certain someone who cried out “no more” at night, did she have no self-awareness at all?

They were both so angry they could spit blood.

Yet these two could both endure, continuing to hold their noses and suppress their anger while flirting with each other. When they finally could barely contain their anger anymore, both sides were almost desperate—

“Brother (Sister), I don’t look down on you, I enjoy talking with you, why don’t we set a time to meet?”

…

The two immediately agreed, setting a time to meet, and both coincidentally went to Second Brother Lu Er beforehand.

Both holding evidence of the other’s “affair,” their faces ashen yet feeling triumphant: “Second Brother, just watch, at midnight tonight, I want to see how he (she) explains this. Having an affair behind my back, I won’t easily forgive him (her).”

“Hah, I can’t wait to see his (her) expression when they discover it’s me. They’ll surely regret it and be confused, begging for my forgiveness, wanting to win me back. But am I so easily appeased?”

Lu Er, Lu Xian: “…”

Silently watching them.

To be honest, Lu Xian was also looking forward to the scene when his brother and sister-in-law would meet—it would surely be quite spectacular.

…

The moon rose above the willow tips, and people met after dusk.

After another day’s journey, they rested at a new post station in the evening. At night, Luo Lingyu in the maids’ quarters and Lu Yun in the commander’s residence both quietly avoided others’ attention, moving through shadowy corners. They had arranged to meet at the stables with their respective lovers.

Night brought fog, empty and silent.

Luo Lingyu arrived at the stables first, waiting for Lu Yun with a heart full of resentment and anticipation. Her feelings were somewhat contradictory—on one hand, angry at Lu Yun for having an affair behind her back, on the other hand secretly pleased that she was the one who had attracted him, wondering if she could attract him no matter what form she took. After all, among so many maids, Lu Yun had only written notes to her. So she was both angry and self-satisfied.

The young lady Luo had specially bathed and groomed herself beforehand, now stretching her neck waiting for her lover. As time slowly passed, her heart beat faster and faster, her eyes filling with anticipation: Although she wore a veil daily while tidying Lu Yun’s quarters and occasionally encountered him, with her veil on and her husband’s steadfast gaze, even seeing him every day made her feel as if she hadn’t seen him in ages.

Her husband was so casual and elegant, noble and proud. Clear eyes, a straight nose, crimson lips…

In the thin mist, a man’s figure slowly approached the stables. From afar it wasn’t clear, only seeing the approaching person’s flowing robes, and tall figure, with the bearing of jade and orchids. Who else could it be walking so slowly but Lu Yun?

Luo Lingyu’s heart beat even harder.

The person entered and faced each other. Luo Lingyu glanced at him briefly, seeing his face still as elegant and gentle as landscapes, she suppressed the joy in her heart, and being too nervous, didn’t notice Lu Yun raise an eyebrow, his expression extremely cold.

Luo Lingyu and Lu Yun spoke almost simultaneously: “Looking for pleasure behind my back, you didn’t expect it to be me, did you?”

The cold male voice and the crisp female voice mixed, intertwining, Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu both paused, not expecting the other to say the same thing: “…”

Immediately after, their second sentences came together again: “…You were testing me?”

Luo Lingyu: “…”

Lu Yun: “…”

The two spoke simultaneously a third time: “…You don’t trust me?!”

Both again: “…”

Luo Lingyu was finally the more thin-skinned one, her face reddening as she stamped her foot in anger: “Stop copying what I say, you bad person!”

Lu Yun’s brow bone lifted slightly as he lowered his eyes. His phoenix eyes were deeply affectionate, but at this moment, matching the lady opposite him, his expression was somewhat embarrassed.

…

What could be more embarrassing than deliberately testing the other person, only to find out they were doing the same thing?

What could make one’s feelings more complicated than discovering the other person was just as suspicious as oneself?

…

The two stood like wooden posts, after a while, Lu Yun was the more thick-skinned one.

He laughed lightly: “…Sister Yu’er, you’re something. You knew it was me all along and deliberately provoked me?”

Luo Lingyu pouted: “You did the same!”

Her mood was so awkward—

Originally she had traveled thousands of li, leaving Young Master Zhou to seek Lu Yun. To tell Lu Yun of her love for him, her care for him, to express that she would rather risk her life to share his hardships.

It should have been like that. That way Lu Yun would have been moved and would love her more.

Who knew, who knew… now it was so awkward, who could still be romantic?

The two looked at each other, secretly watching each other, then stiffly moved their gazes away, falling silent.

Luo Lingyu said dejectedly: “Brother Xuezhen, I do love you. It’s just that we just got married, and you’re so outstanding, I couldn’t help but… want to test you.”

Lu Yun replied politely: “Me too.”

Lu Yun paused: “Come let sister give me a hug… shall we pretend these recent events never happened?”

Luo Lingyu sighed in relief: “Of course, of course.”

The two politely embraced, showing joy at their reunion. Only their feelings were indescribable, impossible to express.

…

The next day as the morning sun rose high, Lu Er, Lu Xian, was curious whether his brother and sister-in-law had concluded last night. He thought to himself that absence makes the heart grow fonder; after clearing things up last night, his brother and sister-in-law hadn’t seen each other for so long, they must have been passionately inseparable. The considerate Lu Er decided to give Third Brother and his cousin more time.

Lu Er had breakfast before leisurely going to knock on Third Brother’s door. When the door opened, he indeed saw Cousin Luo there with Third Brother.

These two had risen early and were having breakfast, greeting him with particular courtesy and politeness.

Lu Er was very surprised and looked around the room. He found it surprisingly neat and clean. He was amazed that Third Brother hadn’t shown his wild nature, and looking over, saw Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu sitting stiffly and distantly together having breakfast. One called “brother,” the other “sister,” pretending to be calm while trying hard to repair the awkward atmosphere.

Lu Xian: “…”

He smiled slightly, understanding in his heart. It seemed last night’s story had been quite spectacular indeed.

Lu Yun and his wife’s awkwardness lasted for three days before finally dissipating. By then, no longer dwelling on how they had deceived each other and played with each other, Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu finally had several passionate encounters. Deep in the night, in the intimate atmosphere behind the curtains, Luo Lingyu, breathing heavily, lay buried in her satisfied husband’s embrace, finally having the mood to talk about leaving Young Master Zhou and returning to Jianye with Lu Yun.

She said anxiously: “It’s not that I didn’t listen to you, I just felt I could help you… I won’t lose your child.”

She looked apprehensive, afraid Lu Yun would bring up both old and new grievances and get angry with her. But after several days of mental preparation, though initially unhappy, Lu Yun had gotten over it. On the bed, the young master held his lady’s small waist. His touch was smooth and warm, Third Young Master’s hands playing as if caressing snow and frost, unable to let go.

In his good mood, he was particularly unconcerned: “It’s fine. Since you’ve come back, you’ve come back. Sister Yu’er is capable and can help her brother quite a bit. Brother will also do his best to protect sister, nothing untoward will happen.”

Though Lu Yun didn’t blame her for acting on her own, Luo Lingyu began to lack confidence again: “If, if I do miscarry… that won’t do! I’m not afraid of anything else, just this accident.”

Lu Yun exhaled, saying lightly: “Second Brother once suggested I shouldn’t touch you, that would be a good way to prevent you from getting pregnant. We’re young, there’s no rush to have children. After matters in Jianye are settled, we can talk about preparing for pregnancy, that’s better than an accidental rush.”

Luo Lingyu: “…”

She suddenly sat up from Lu Yun’s embrace, her black hair scattered on the bed, setting off her small face as exquisite. Her expression was completely shocked: “What? You won’t touch me anymore in the future?”

Lu Yun raised an eyebrow, playfulness rising in his eyes as he looked at her.

His long eyebrows relaxed, the interest in that gaze was quite provocative. It made her blush. Luo Lingyu saw something in his gaze and her face suddenly flushed red. But Lu Yun had already reached out to embrace her back. The young master kissed her cheek lightly, smiling ambiguously: “I thought sister didn’t like this matter. It seems sister has developed a taste for it… But let me ask sister, did brother make it pleasant for you?”

Luo Lingyu blushed and complained coquettishly: “Not at all! My waist hurts terribly, how could it be pleasant?”

Lu Yun laughed, his raised eyes bright and intense, gently hooking her in. His eye corners slanted up, his gaze languid, making one dizzy like drinking wine. She evaded his gaze, and he brushed aside the hair by her cheek, kissing and sucking behind her ear. His breath was intimate, her ear gradually reddening, her body trembling in his embrace. Whether the woman spoke truth or lies, he could tell clearly.

“Silly sister,” Lu Yun murmured against her ear, caressing, “there are many ways to prevent pregnancy, isn’t contraceptive tea one of them… Sister is so sweet, how could brother bear not to touch you?”

“Sister’s breasts…”

Luo Lingyu quickly covered his mouth with her hand, saying angrily: “Don’t say it! Don’t say it! Why are you always so talkative at times like this?”

…

After such playing and traveling, by the end of April, the group finally reached Jianye. In Jianye City, Chen Wang Liu Chu had long been waiting.