Prince Chen had been investigating refugees in Jianye recently, expelling those without permits or those who couldn’t clearly explain their identity. Because of this, many refugees began hiding everywhere, becoming fearful at the sight of officials.

This phenomenon caused much more hidden resentment compared to the court’s assistance to refugees last year.

At the same time, this policy gave the Northern Kingdom’s real spies severe headaches. Since Prince Chen Liu Shu took over the Grand Marshal’s Temple, he could now almost fully command Jianye’s troops. With Liu Shu guarding the city, their chances of overthrowing the regime had decreased, and they were forced to act in self-preservation by Prince Chen.

The wedding of Second Young Master Lu from Jianye’s prestigious Lu family was set for early June, and it was rumored to be the most luxurious wedding in Jianye in the past ten years. The Northern spies were intrigued—

“Since this will be Jianye’s grandest wedding in ten years, the Lu family must have invited many guests to attend. Jianye will be at its most chaotic then, making it the perfect opportunity for us to strike.”

Young Yue Zihan listened to his superior, that middle-aged man, talk confidently about the possibilities of overthrowing Jianye’s regime. They were in a dark room, crowded with Northern soldiers disguised as refugees who could offer suggestions. Only Yue Zihan, with his strong facial features, listened absent-mindedly to their conversation while turning to look out the window.

Outside was an ordinary scene: green willows and red flowers, branches, and petals falling lazily onto the green water covered with duckweed, creating rippling reflections. An ordinary scene, yet one he cherished.

The middle-aged man suddenly shouted: “Yue Zihan!”

The youth snapped back to attention, realizing everyone in the room was staring at him. He maintained his silence.

Having worked with this youth for nearly a year, the middle-aged man understood Yue Zihan’s temperament. Internally sneering, he instead showed an eager, encouraging expression: “We’ll create chaos in Jianye, but we’re just small fry. The truly important task must be entrusted to you… kidnap the Southern Emperor and escort him to the Northern border, where someone will meet you.”

“With your superior martial arts, only you can complete this task.”

“Once you bring the Southern Emperor to our Northern Kingdom, your mission will be complete. Even if we all die in Jianye… after you complete your task, you can return to Chang’an. You’ll get what you want.”

Young Yue Zihan came to the Southern Kingdom on a mission because he was the illegitimate son of the famous Northern General Yue, hoping to return gloriously to his father’s side with his lowborn mother. But after a year, Yue Zihan’s view of this faint hope grew increasingly unclear. He wondered if he could go back.

Nevertheless, Yue Zihan quietly agreed to the middle-aged man’s orders. He had no right to refuse, however—

He would probably return to the Northern Kingdom.

Luo Yunhua… he probably wouldn’t see her again.

The youth’s heart is covered in dust, gray, and mess.

…

The summer rain in June came suddenly and heavily.

Luo Yunhua left her close friend’s house, preciously carrying a potted plant. Her little friend said this flower was precious and told her to take good care of it. The young lady carried the pot with only branches and no flowers, pondering what kind of flower it might be while sitting in the covered carriage.

She could ask her knowledgeable brother-in-law when she got home!

When the covered carriage was nearly at Wuyi Lane, the driver apologetically said the carriage was broken. The young lady cheerfully got down with her flower, sweetly saying: “Then you can fix it… don’t follow me, I can go back by myself!”

The young lady had even convinced her maids to stay home when she went out to play, with only the carriage driver accompanying her. After leaving the driver behind, Luo Yunhua happily carried her flower and walked away, ignoring the driver’s calls.

As Luo Yunhua walked, the sky suddenly began pouring rain without warning. The young lady let out an “Ah!” and rushed to take shelter with her flower under the eaves of a roadside building. She bit her lip, judging the intensity of the rain and the distance home before firmly deciding to dash through the rain.

As Luo Yunhua stepped forward, a hand suddenly reached out from behind, pulling her back under the eaves.

Under the eaves, the heavy rain gathered like a river, flowing endlessly. Through the rain curtain, Luo Yunhua’s black eyes like grapes blinked as she recognized who was holding her wrist. She smiled brightly, calling out sweetly: “Brother Zihan! Did you come to play with me?”

Luo Yunhua was slightly troubled: she needed to take the flower home… especially in such heavy rain.

Yue Zihan looked down at her, his expression unclear through the misty rain, his voice somewhat ethereal: “I’m leaving Jianye, going home.”

Luo Yunhua froze, her heart suddenly empty as she stared up at him blankly.

She quickly said: “In a few days is my second cousin’s wedding feast, won’t you come? I can give you an invitation!”

…his identity was problematic.

Because Luo Yunhua’s brother-in-law Lu Yun was in charge of this matter, she knew well that refugees leaving Jianye at this time more or less all had some issues. Luo Yunhua vaguely recalled last year when she and Fourth Young Master Lu, Lu Chang, were chased by refugees, causing friction between the Lu and Chen families… Yue Zihan was there then too.

Luo Yunhua couldn’t believe her suspicions, so she used her second cousin Lu Xian’s wedding to test Yue Zihan. From what her sister and brother-in-law had implied, something was bound to happen at her second cousin’s wedding. If Yue Zihan was someone her third cousin wanted to catch… he wouldn’t miss her second cousin’s wedding.

But Yue Zihan shook his head, saying softly: “There isn’t enough time, I’m afraid I can’t attend.”

Luo Yunhua was stunned, letting out that held breath.

If he wasn’t even coming to the wedding, she must have overthought it. Her Brother Zihan couldn’t be someone her brother-in-law wanted to catch.

But the young lady’s happiness lasted only a moment before her mood sank again. Because he said he was leaving.

…He was leaving.

Luo Yunhua lowered her eyes, her voice trembling: “Brother when you say goodbye… does it mean you’ll never come back?”

Yue Zihan remained silent.

Luo Yunhua understood.

Her eyes grew moist, tears mixing with the slanting rain to redden her eyes. She said softly: “I wish Brother a safe journey and that all your wishes come true.”

Even if he wasn’t a bad person her brother-in-law wanted to catch, refugees leaving now couldn’t be completely innocent. She said nothing, pretending not to know, having fulfilled the friendship between them.

The young lady carefully held her flower in the pouring rain, walking in the opposite direction from Yue Zihan.

They brushed shoulders, their gazes unchanging.

Hearing the thunderous rain around them, both felt heartache, thinking this would be their last meeting.

…

Goodbye.

Her dear brother.

Since you’re not a good person, I won’t give you anything. Only, on your long journey ahead, I hope you won’t do evil things anymore, and also, don’t forget me.

…

In the Taichu Palace of Jianye, the old Emperor’s health was deteriorating day by day, his consumption of elixirs growing increasingly frantic while their effectiveness diminished. Last year, the Prince of Hengyang Liu Mu had planned to use elixirs to kill the old Emperor. After being thwarted by Second Young Master Lu Xian, who could have guessed that a year later, without Liu Mu’s plot, the old Emperor would still walk this path.

Excessive consumption of elixirs led to death by poison – something all upper-class nobles knew about, but either the old Emperor didn’t believe it or he could no longer quit the elixirs. As his health worsened, the Taoist priests would say a few coaxing words, and he would urge people to make more elixirs.

At other times, he spent his life in drunken revelry with beauties in the back palace.

The Northern Princess, this hidden piece, finally proved useful after such a long waste of time. After a session of debaucherous lovemaking, the Northern Princess spoke tenderly and sweetly to the Emperor: “Your Majesty always says your health is poor, but I see you growing stronger… In my Northern Kingdom, we have a saying about gaining fortune by attending happy occasions. I wonder if the Southern Kingdom is the same. I heard Second Young Master Lu is getting married, and the wedding feast will be incredibly grand. Why doesn’t Your Majesty go to add to the festivities and gain some fortune?”

The old Emperor’s heart stirred. He had been anxious lately, his body and spirit growing increasingly weak. In pursuit of longevity, he was superstitious about all sorts of strange beliefs. Among various bizarre pursuits, attending a subject’s wedding to gain fortune was the most normal approach.

The old Emperor’s only discomfort was with the Lu family.

The prestigious Lu family of Jianye barely showed respect even to the Emperor. Yet he would eagerly go to congratulate a subject’s marriage?

The old Emperor hesitated: “…We’ll see.”

But his heart was already wavering; with just a few more words of persuasion from the Northern Princess, he would surely agree.

The Northern Princess smiled confidently.

Suddenly, her smile faded—this old fool was so easy to persuade, yet with the same words, she had been unable to sway Third Young Master Lu back then.

Third Young Master Lu was the most handsome young master she had ever seen, and also the most difficult to talk to. She heard he had already married his cousin Luo Lingyu in Nanyang. He married that crying, dependent girl; could it be that he loved such a weak, pitiful woman?

The Northern Princess still didn’t know Luo Lingyu’s true nature, but in her heart, she had grown to hate Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu as a couple over and over again. She hated that she couldn’t marry Lu Yun, hated that Lu Yun wouldn’t give her face, and also hated that Luo Lingyu could so easily obtain the man she had set her sights on.

She whispered slander in the old Emperor’s ear, thinking that if she couldn’t have that young master, she hoped no one could.

It would be better if they died.

…

The heavy rain continued for several days.

Prince Zhao Liu Huai also pondered while looking at this world. His advisor came up behind him, frowning deeply, asking disapprovingly: “Has Young Master truly decided to cooperate with those Northern spies?”

“Are we going to hold back the Capital Prefect’s troops and let those Northern bandits overthrow our Jianye?”

“How could those Northerners truly be willing to sacrifice themselves for our cause? Young Master, beware of dealing with tigers!”

The advisor earnestly advised, and Liu Huai sighed.

This Prince Zhao had his eyes blinded by profit, but he didn’t believe the Northern spies’ grandiose promises either. Liu Huai said: “Of course, we won’t trust them completely… let’s wait and see.”

“Contact the other princes… if we find the right opportunity, I’ll naturally make my move. If that’s not enough, then we’ll need their troops.”

This catastrophe in Jianye was unavoidable, everyone had their calculations, waiting for the show to begin.

…

In early June, all arrangements were made, and Second Young Master Lu Xian’s wedding to Princess Ningping proceeded as scheduled.

The day before the wedding, Lu Xian was full of anxiety. He knew something would happen at tomorrow’s grand wedding feast, but because his bastard brother had forcibly changed his dream, no signs had appeared yet. Second Young Master Lu hadn’t dreamed for many days, hadn’t dreamed about what would happen on this day.

It should be similar to that July turmoil in Jianye from his dream. But that turmoil had flashed by quickly in Lu Xian’s dream; he only remembered that it caused the court to delay, miss military opportunities, and lead to the death of Prince of Hengyang Liu Mu at the border.

But in reality, to save Liu Mu, Lu Xian had moved up this turmoil that should have happened a month later. His mind was in chaos, and he could only choose to trust his third brother’s judgment—

But had heaven been lazy these past few days? As the wedding drew closer, he should have been dreaming, dreaming of the details of that turmoil to warn his third brother.

Yet he still wasn’t dreaming!

While he was anxious like this, the wedding day arrived.

When Princess Ningping Liu Tang married, the ceremonial procession stretched for over ten li. Although the princess wasn’t favored in the royal family, Second Young Master Lu held an esteemed position in the Lu family. Half of Jianye’s prestigious families came to attend, sending countless treasures of gold, silver, and jade.

At dusk, Lu Xian held Princess Liu Tang’s hand as they rode in a carriage for the public to see. The Lu family was generous, throwing gold and jade items to the common people watching. The items clinked and clattered as people scrambled for them.

Meanwhile, fireworks overhead painted the night sky in brilliant colors.

At the Lu residence, Luo Lingyu, who was helping other women manage the wedding feast, grew red-eyed with jealousy, trying hard to suppress her envy while helping her husband receive guests.

She could barely endure this, but then the ceremonial officer began to sing, and another eunuch’s clear voice announced from outside—

“His Majesty has arrived!”

For a moment, everyone at the feast was stunned, all rising, with the newlyweds Lu Xian and Liu Tang going out first to personally welcome His Majesty. The Emperor came with the Northern Princess, smiling broadly, having grand gifts sent up to bless the newlyweds.

Observing from the side, Prince Chen Liu Shu’s expression grew subtle as his eyes swept over the Northern Princess. Seeing her gaze occasionally falling on Lu Yun, Liu Shu’s eyes flashed, realizing some interesting information.

Lu Yun had long grown accustomed to ladies occasionally appraising him. Even at his second brother’s wedding, even though Lu Yun was already married, he was aware of the ladies’ frequent glances toward him during the feast. With so many ladies’ attention, the Northern Princess’s gaze didn’t concern Lu Yun at all.

That princess’s eyes grew darker.

Lu Yun stood tall as jade, standing out like a crane among chickens in the crowd. Though he hadn’t approached, his gaze thoughtfully fixed on the unexpectedly appearing Emperor. This was probably the only exception to his predictions… The young master’s temple twitched slightly, feeling that the Northern Kingdom’s plot seemed bigger than he had thought.

As he was contemplating this, someone suddenly stepped on his foot, and his waist was also twisted hard. Lu Yun winced in pain, looking down to grab Luo Lingyu’s mischievous hand at his waist: “Why are you pinching me?”

Luo Lingyu was dying of jealousy. She didn’t dare show it to others, lest they think her petty. But facing Lu Yun, she didn’t hide it. Her bright eyes stared at the Emperor who had been invited to the high seat by the Lu family as she stepped on her husband’s foot and pinched Lu Yun’s waist. She complained angrily: “Look, look! Look at their wedding! What a grand scale, tens of thousands of taels worth of fireworks set off just like that, even the Emperor came… Now look at you! What was it like when you married me, so modest… I also want such a grand wedding feast. Lu Xuechen, it’s all your fault!”

Lu Yun: “…Second Brother’s wedding has other purposes, otherwise it wouldn’t be this grand. He’s sacrificing his wedding feast, there will be bloodshed at the feast, Do you think this is something good?”

Luo Lingyu: “I don’t care! I just think theirs is better… Brother Xuechen, look at you, you weren’t thoughtful at all when you married me, wuwuwu.”

Lu Yun chuckled softly, rubbing her head: “If you want a grand wedding feast, that can be arranged. When have I ever not satisfied you?”

Luo Lingyu looked at him in surprise, seeming amazed that he could satisfy even this.

Then she heard Lu Yun say: “First, let me divorce you. Then we can hold an even grander ceremony, how about that?”

Luo Lingyu: “…”

She glared at him fiercely: What a scoundrel!

…

That same night, as Second Young Master Lu married, Jianye’s refugees prepared to act, with the Marshal’s Temple troops watching these people. Young Yue Zihan and a group of subordinates waited silently with closed eyes along the Emperor’s procession’s inevitable route.

Cold blade glints illuminated the night sky.

At the same time, iron horses galloped like ice, swift as lightning, as the Prince of Hengyang led his troops, rushing toward Jianye at top speed. Getting closer and closer, gradually approaching Jianye’s outskirts. That ancient city with its endless lights grew clearer in view, making Liu Mu’s heart increasingly turbulent.

On the northbound waterway, a group of common-born scholars boarded ships, following the famous scholar Zhou Tan to support Prince Chen Liu Shu in Jianye. Under her father’s watch, Zhou Yangling had already changed back into women’s clothes, drawing countless stares throughout the journey.

The young lady stood at the ship’s bow, cool breeze and still waters brushing her face, her gaze clear and dark, her hand unconsciously gripping again the sachet in her embrace that someone had given her.

…

All were united in purpose.

Under Lu Yun’s subtle influence and manipulation, everything was different from the Second Young Master’s dream. Everyone’s different thoughts were affecting the major events.

Only the Second Young Master remained confused and unaware, still wondering why the old Emperor had come to the wedding while worrying about the details of this turmoil… On his wedding night, should he abandon his new bride and get a good sleep to have a dream?