At the end of April in the fifteenth year of Yuanshuo, the great army returned south, entering Lake Xuanwu and establishing camps around Jianye awaiting orders. Several large ships sailed into Lake Xuanwu’s waterway, carrying civil and military officials who would stay aboard as they traveled to Jianye to report their duties. Among them, the only female noble was Luo Lingyu, Lu Sanrang’s new bride. A separate ship was arranged to accommodate the lady.

As dawn broke and the ship emerged from the mist, a maidservant relayed a message saying they would reach the dock shortly, requesting the Third Young Master and his wife to prepare themselves.

A fresh breeze rippled across the green water, the air thick with moisture. Opening the window, Luo Lingyu stood beside it, her black hair adorned with hairpins and a flower painted on her forehead, wearing a plain dress with wide sleeves. Her shoulders were narrow, her waist slim, her figure graceful. The young lady’s eyes were clear and dark as she gazed at the shimmering water, listening to its gentle lapping.

A strange sense of déjà vu suddenly came over her as she recalled the last time she had sailed this waterway when her fateful connection with Lu Yun had begun. Back then, how could she have imagined that in just a year, she would pass through these waters again and that young man she had heartlessly pushed into the water would now be her husband?

The memories drifted like clouds, and Luo Lingyu’s lips curled upward slightly.

Warmth enveloped her from behind as her husband’s tall, fragrant form pressed against her, his arms encircling her waist. With the window open, he was incredibly bold, casually turning his head to plant a kiss on his wife’s cheek. After just one kiss, he frowned and complained, “Why does it taste so awful?”

He was referring to the rouge on her face.

Lu Yun had grown accustomed to opening his eyes each morning to find his new bride meticulously applying her makeup. Luo Lingyu wouldn’t leave the house without perfectly done makeup. Since she mixed her rouge and powder, which were both fragrant and sweet, making them quite palatable, Lu Yun had come to accept it… but today when he kissed her, his lips met with a somewhat bitter taste.

Luo Lingyu placated her difficult husband, chiding, “We were fighting in Nanyang before, and then rushing back with you—when would I have had time to mix cosmetics? I’ve used up all my previous supplies, and now I’m wearing store-bought powder… if my lord finds it distasteful, then please keep your hands and lips to yourself.”

Lu Yun immediately released his hands from her waist and stepped back two paces.

Luo Lingyu: “…”

Being magnanimous, she turned and began hitting Lu Yun: “You do find me distasteful?!”

Lu Yun’s lips curved into a smile as he pulled his angry wife into his embrace. Her face flushed with anger as she pounded against his chest. He couldn’t help but chuckle, catching her hands and kissing them. Luo Lingyu deliberately said, “My hands aren’t edible either. With all your random kissing, aren’t you afraid I’ll poison you?”

Lu Yun laughed heartily and suddenly lifted her entire body. It was his first time lifting her so abruptly, startling his lady into a sharp cry as she smacked his arms, but he wouldn’t let go. He couldn’t stop laughing, his features relaxed, his eyes brimming with mirth. As he spun Luo Lingyu in his arms, she cried out and clung tightly to his neck. The more frightened she became, the tighter she held him. The lady’s body pressed close against his chest, her heart pounding—they were so close he could feel the soft curves of her bosom.

Outside the window, maidservants passing through the cabin heard their lady’s voice. The women glanced over, then awkwardly averted their eyes in embarrassment. From the corner of their eyes, they saw Lu Yun holding his wife, lowering his face to nuzzle her forehead, his eyes bright and gleaming: “What nonsense are you speaking? Your brother would gladly die in your arms.”

Luo Lingyu tilted her face up to see the tender look in his eyes, his smile as warm as spring. This handsome and distinguished young lord had always drawn people’s attention. Before, his smiles had always been shallow and faint. But now, as he lifted her and spun her around, their sleeves tangling together like snow… This was the first time Luo Lingyu had seen him laugh so freely, and she was struck by his stunning appearance—

So this was what Lu Yun looked like when truly happy.

As Luo Lingyu gazed at him in a daze, Lu Yun finished laughing and pressed his forehead to hers, asking softly, “We’re about to enter Jianye… are you sure you don’t want me to accompany you back to the Lu family?”

Although Lu Yun was currently on the same ship as her, once they reached shore, he would need to enter the palace with the other officials to report military and political matters to the Emperor. But although his new bride was his cousin, this would be her first time returning to the Lu family in her new role. Though Lu Yun appeared arrogant to others, he knew well that entering the Lu family’s gates wasn’t so simple.

Luo Lingyu’s heart trembled.

She understood Lu Yun’s implied meaning. Her background was inferior; in truth, she wasn’t worthy of Lu Yun. If Third Young Master Lu accompanied her back to the Lu family, it would be better, but if she went alone, who knew how much gossip there would be? In marrying Lu Yun, the world saw her as climbing up the social ladder while Lu Yun was lowering himself. The noble families emphasized lineage—this was a marriage of mismatched status.

The pressure was immense.

Yet Luo Lingyu smiled radiantly, declaring with fighting spirit: “Who needs you to accompany me? If you don’t accompany me, they’ll say you don’t like me; if you do accompany me, they’ll say I’m low-class. Both are wrong. I, Luo Lingyu, set my heart on marrying into a noble family—how could I not handle this… My lord, you focus on your official duties. By the time you’re free, I’ll certainly have your household affairs in perfect order.”

She shot Lu Yun a glance.

Lu Yun’s eyes brightened, and he held her even tighter. Even though her lip rouge wasn’t edible, he still couldn’t help lowering his head to kiss her crimson lips—how he loved Luo Lingyu’s independent, ambitious style.

If he were to leave any other young lady in a great family like the Lu household, he would worry about his new bride being bullied; but leaving Luo Lingyu there… Lu Yun had complete faith in her.

Luo Lingyu turned her head to look at the calm lake surface—

A year ago she was Young Miss Cousin, and a year later she was Third Young Madam Lu.

Jianye, this place of decadence and hedonistic dreams, she had returned!

…

At the dock, Luo Lingyu bid farewell to the army with a bright smile, watching as the various generals and ministers mounted horses and carriages heading toward the imperial city. After her husband’s figure disappeared from view, she turned back and tightly gripped the hand of her maid Lingyu. Amidst the bustling crowd, shoulders bumping against each other, the slender young lady stood at the ship’s bow, looking toward the Lu family’s welcoming servants.

Wide sleeves like floating clouds, a fleeting glimpse of beauty.

Third Young Master Lu’s new bride was even more beautiful than when they had last seen her, like peach blossoms in March.

The Lu family servants stared in amazement, not immediately recognizing their former Young Miss Cousin. It wasn’t until the young miss’s excited and choked cry burst from the crowd—”Sister! Sister!”—that they realized.

Luo Lingyu’s eyes filled with excitement: “Wan’er!”

Her sister threw herself into her arms, hugging her waist and jumping up and down, crying and laughing at once. Never having been separated from her sister for so long, only upon reunion did she realize how much she had missed her. Luo Yunwan looked up with tears in her eyes: “Sister, you’re so mean. You didn’t even invite me over when you got married—I thought you didn’t want me anymore. Wuwuwu, I’ll be good and listen to you from now on, don’t leave me alone for so long again…”

She sobbed continuously, crying until she had hiccups. Not only did Luo Lingyu’s eyes redden, but even the wet nurses’ and maidservants’ eyes grew misty as they chattered about how well-behaved the young miss had been and how much she had missed the lady.

Then everyone said: “This is wonderful—no longer ‘Young Miss Cousin’ but ‘Third Young Madam’ now. She’s here to stay for good and all.”

Luo Lingyu smiled radiantly, like pear blossoms touched by dew.

Though the Lu family elders’ attitudes remained ambiguous, the servants were very fond of this diplomatic young miss cousin. They enthusiastically welcomed the lady, inviting her into the carriage. Luo Yunwan clutched her sister’s sleeve, obediently following her sister into the carriage. After settling beside her sister, she suddenly remembered something and stuck her head out the window, waving in a certain direction to say goodbye.

Luo Lingyu: “Wan’er, who are you waving to?”

Luo Yunwan quickly pulled her head back in, snuggling into her sister’s embrace and mumbling vaguely, “Just a friend, it’s nothing.”

Luo Lingyu raised the window to look outside. She caught a glimpse of a figure turning away in the corner of a teahouse, but before she could get a better look, the figure had vanished. Luo Lingyu looked back at her sister who refused to say more and had to swallow her suspicions for now.

The Lu family procession departed.

In the corner of the teahouse, young Yue Zihan stood silently, watching them leave. He was good friends with Luo Lingyu’s sister Luo Yunwan, but he didn’t yet know that Luo Yunwan’s brother-in-law Lu Yun was now meeting with Prince Chen Liu Shu. The two entered the palace together, and Liu Shu spoke concisely—

“If there’s a problem, it can only be those refugees.”

As their robes swirled and they ascended the golden hall, exchanging a glance with Prince Chen, Lu Yun said coldly: “Then eliminate them all.”