Lu Yun had a slight headache.

The nineteenth of June was Luo Lingyu’s birthday. On this day, she would turn sixteen.

Last year, Lu Sanlan was deeply impressed by Lady Luo’s tearful coming-of-age ceremony at fifteen. No matter what, Third Young Master Lu had deeply remembered his cousin Luo’s birthday. Lu Yun put in great effort to make this day enjoyable for her. Not only did the Lu family and the noblemen and women of Jianye come to celebrate the Third Young Mistress’s birthday, but in the evening, Lu Yun also arranged for fireworks to be displayed over the Qinhuai River for a full half hour.

He also gave her grand gifts.

With her husband being so attentive, Luo Lingyu’s face flushed red with excitement. By the time the fireworks over the Qinhuai River ended in the evening, probably everyone in Jianye knew it was Third Young Mistress Lu’s birthday. Even though Luo Lingyu was known for her shameless love of luxury and vanity, she couldn’t help but feel embarrassed, blushing in Lu Yun’s arms—she was only sixteen, yet Lu Yun had arranged such a celebration as if it were a major birthday.

With her husband being so considerate and good to her, when serving Lu Sanlan that night, Luo Lingyu naturally used all her charms to please him. With an enchanting beauty moaning in his arms, covered in fragrant sweat and yielding to his every move, Lu Yun was thoroughly satisfied. After bathing together following their intimacy, the summer night was somewhat hot, and neither could sleep. Lu Yun simply laid out a bamboo mat, and together with Luo Lingyu, they enjoyed the moon outside the bamboo grove in their courtyard.

The atmosphere was wonderful, and Luo Lingyu wanted to show that she wasn’t merely a materialistic person. Under the cold moon and misty bamboo, amid the layered shadows, the young lady nestled in her lord’s arms, swaying her arm to show Lu Yun the glass bracelet on her wrist. Lu Yun’s eyes held a smile as he listened to Luo Lingyu say with a beaming smile: “My lord didn’t need to arrange such a grand birthday celebration for me. It makes people laugh and say that I’m young and don’t know my limits. Though Brother Xuecian gave me such wonderful gifts, what I remember most deeply is still the glass bracelet you gave me last year. No gift could compare to that one.”

The smile in Lu Yun’s eyes deepened as his hand lazily stroked her ink-black beautiful hair scattered across his arm.

Ah, the glass bracelet… Before that, he and Luo Lingyu had been testing each other, true and false, their hearts containing some but not all feelings, yet neither speaking plainly. That was the first time he and Luo Lingyu had quarreled seriously, and their feelings were probably made clear around that time.

Luo Lingyu remarked thoughtfully: “Zhou Lang and I share the same birthday. Last year, Prince Chen even celebrated his birthday, I wonder how Zhou Lang celebrated his birthday this year.”

Lu Yun’s expression cooled: “While in my arms, don’t speak of other men.”

Luo Lingyu blushed for a moment, realizing her mistake. She was so unreserved with Lu Yun that she had momentarily forgotten herself, forgetting that he disliked her mentioning other young men… he was extremely jealous. Luo Lingyu didn’t want to displease him on this night, so she obediently said “yes” and kissed him to show her goodwill.

But Lu Yun’s mood began to worsen. Since it was now June, after his second brother’s wedding, Lu Yun had been focused on the refugees in Jianye. Now that matter was mostly resolved, first Prince Chen had sighed about when Zhou Yangling would return, and tonight Luo Lingyu had reminded him… Third Young Master Lu remembered something: Luo Lingyu still didn’t know Zhou Yangling was a woman.

In other words, he had known all along but had coldly watched how Luo Lingyu developed feelings for Zhou Yangling. Although he was confident and believed he would never lose to a woman, his concealment from Luo Lingyu until now… once Luo Lingyu learned the truth, it would be his day of misfortune.

Lu Yun secretly regretted that when he had agreed to conceal Zhou Yangling’s identity, he hadn’t cared so much for Luo Lingyu. At that time, he hadn’t thought he would marry Luo Lingyu. Unfortunately, the mistake was already made, and given Luo Lingyu’s pride and temperament, the later the reckoning, the worse it would be for him.

Third Young Master Lu’s head truly ached.

After much consideration, Third Young Master Lu decided to make some amends.

One evening in late June, Luo Lingyu went to visit her aunt Lu Ying. Her aunt asked about her cousin Luo Yan’s affairs, and only then did Luo Lingyu learn that when Luo Yan had gone to Nanyang that day, he hadn’t told his aunt at all. Several months had passed before Lu Ying finally learned that her son had returned to the Southern Kingdom. Luo Yan had briefly appeared in Nanyang, and after Lu Yun resolved the matter of the scholars, Luo Yan had left again. Amid the many difficulties in Nanyang, Lu Ying only heard bits and pieces from others much later, instantly becoming extremely worried. Though Lu Ying was generous and unrestrained by nature, when it came to her son being as unrestrained as herself, she couldn’t help but pull her niece Luo Lingyu aside and complain at length.

Luo Lingyu naturally soothed her with gentle words, and finally brought out puppets to make her aunt laugh, managing to bring a smile to her aunt’s face. She asked Luo Lingyu to write to Luo Yan, demanding that he return to Jianye to visit his family.

Lady Lu Liu Tang, who had accompanied her, clicked her tongue in amazement. In her view, Lady Lu and Aunt Lu Ying were two types of “difficult to please.” Lady Lu was strict and rigid, while her aunt loved to play around. These two people with opposite personalities, yet Luo Lingyu can appease them both. How impressive.

Luo Lingyu smiled modestly.

Managing the household was just like this, knowing a bit about all the big and small affairs of the Lu family. Luo Lingyu and Liu Tang learned together under Lady Lu’s guidance, but Luo Lingyu left the little princess Liu Tang far behind. Yet the little princess deeply admired Luo Lingyu, not only not minding that Luo Lingyu outshone her but almost wishing her mother-in-law wouldn’t trouble her with such complicated matters. Since Sister Luo did it so well, just let Sister Luo handle it.

Liu Tang blushed red, her girlish sentiments newlywed, it was the time when she was inseparable from her husband, how could she have the mind to worry about household management?

Lady Lu was full of resentment towards her unambitious daughter-in-law.

After rushing about like this, when Luo Lingyu returned to “Clear Courtyard,” the night had already deepened. She had thought she would return to an empty room and would need to ask when Lu Yun would return. Unexpectedly, as soon as she stepped through the courtyard gate, she smelled fragrance. While she was secretly surprised, she saw servants standing on tiptoes throughout the courtyard, all curiously craning their necks to look.

Luo Lingyu curiously looked with them toward the kitchen: “Did we get a new cook? What are you all looking at?”

Everyone: “Third Young Mistress!”

They hurriedly paid their respects, after which Jingyue finally told Luo Lingyu with a strange expression: “It’s the Third Young Master busy in the kitchen… Young Mistress, I’ve served our Young Master since childhood, you know our Young Master’s temperament… I’ve never seen the Young Master go near the kitchen.”

Everyone excitedly said: “The Young Master must be preparing a surprise for the Third Young Mistress!”

Luo Lingyu was also made happy by their words, though she outwardly chided them “Don’t talk nonsense,” she was secretly proud. However, she was also puzzled – her birthday had already passed, so why was Lu Yun trying to please her like this?

What happened afterward made Luo Lingyu feel even more honored.

Her husband, the peerlessly elegant Third Young Master Lu, not only rolled up his sleeves to cook personally but made a table full of dishes for her. After dinner to aid digestion, he taught her how to brew the “Qin Fish Tea” that he had never bothered to brew before. Not only that, but Lu Yun also gave Luo Lingyu a dazzling bead curtain that shimmered with flowing light.

The sound of pearls and jade colliding was crisp, each bead of the same size, polished round and clear. Luo Lingyu indeed couldn’t bear to put it down.

In this era, glass was precious, making bead curtains even more precious. Even though the Southern Kingdom was known for luxury, finding such a high-quality bead curtain was not easy. Luo Lingyu specifically asked Lu Yun, and when she learned that even the palace only had two such curtains, her vanity was satisfied to the extreme. She loved to show off, and such a fine bead curtain wouldn’t be put away in a box – she immediately had lights lit and people hung up the bead curtain.

The fresh wind created ripples, pearls, and jade-like water as if living in the Crystal Palace of the East Sea.

However, Luo Lingyu felt slightly uneasy: Lu Yun was not one to do things without reason – it wasn’t a special day or festival, why was he being so good to her? It made her afraid.

Especially when Luo Lingyu was looking at the accounts at night, Lu Yun didn’t lie on the couch asking for her company. When she looked at him, he was lying on the bed, smiling and saying: “Your husband will warm the bed for you first.”

Luo Lingyu: “…”

She couldn’t continue looking at her account books.

The young lady’s expression became serious as she put down her books and walked to the bed curtain. Lu Yun raised his eyebrows as the young lady sat down, her eyes burning with curiosity. Luo Lingyu went to embrace his neck, saying coquettishly: “My lord, why are you suddenly being so good to me? Do you have something to ask of me?”

Lu Yun: “Nothing.”

He gently took the young lady’s hand and lightly kissed it. He looked at her lovingly and chided: “You little woman is overthinking. Does your brother need a reason to pamper you?”

Luo Lingyu smiled shyly, following his lead as she fell into his embrace and was pressed down onto the bed. Lu Yun kissed her for a while, kissing until the young lady’s cloud-like hair was disheveled, her breath slightly rapid with soft moans, and his eyes also grew heated, gradually aroused. Lu Yun’s hand reached into her collar, about to caress her when Luo Lingyu made a soft sound and pressed his hand. Luo Lingyu looked at him with seductive eyes, teasing: “Does Brother Xuecian pamper me unconditionally?”

Lu Yun stared at her snow-white peaks rising and falling with her breath, his eyes burning hot. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he lowered his head to suckle, but was again rejected by her shaking head. His heart grew impatient, feeling she was being coy, but not wanting to upset her, he controlled his desire and laughed hoarsely: “Of course.”

Luo Lingyu asked innocently: “Even if I want Sister Chen Xue to come out and meet with me, you would agree?”

Lu Yun paused: “…”

His gaze stiffened slightly as he looked at her. After a moment of silence, he surprisingly didn’t get angry, but instead probed: “Why must you see her? Didn’t we agree not to mention her?”

Luo Lingyu’s finger poked his shoulder as she whimpered like a kitten: “Just tell me if you’re willing or not. Didn’t you say you pamper me? I just like Sister Chen Xue and want to see her. Will Brother Xuecian agree?”

Lu Yun paused for a slightly longer time.

He secretly hesitated for a moment before slightly nodding: “Not today… in a few days, your brother will let you see her.”

Luo Lingyu: “…”

He agreed! He agreed!

How could he possibly agree?!

Luo Lingyu knew all too well how much Lu Yun despised Chen Xue. Although she often teased Lu Yun about Chen Xue, it was only to mock him. She had never dared hope that Lu Yun would dress as a woman again. Yet today, he had agreed… As Lu Yun pulled down Luo Lingyu’s bodice and lowered his head to kiss and suckle, he suddenly felt warmth on his face.

He looked up to see tears falling like pearls from Luo Lingyu’s eyes.

Lu Yun: “…Haven’t I already agreed? What’s wrong now?”

His words only made it worse – Luo Lingyu cried even harder, her shoulders beginning to shake.

This lovemaking clearly couldn’t continue… As Lu Yun was at a loss, the young lady pushed him away while sobbing and even threw a pillow at his face. Luo Lingyu cried as if she would stop breathing: “You- you agreed to my request, but you’d have been better off not agreeing… you hate Chen Xue so much, yet you’d let her appear. You’ve given me so many gifts tonight, wuu wuu wuu… you must have done something to wrong me and are trying to appease me in advance.”

Lu Yun stiffened for a moment.

He didn’t speak, and Luo Lingyu glanced at him with tear-filled eyes. The young man sitting with her in the bed curtains, his long hair scattered over his shoulders, jade crown slightly askew, his robes disheveled – yet his features remained refined, his eyes and brows delicate and beautiful. No matter how messy his clothes, when draped on him they created a kind of disheveled beauty. He was so handsome… The more Luo Lingyu thought, the more her thoughts spiraled, and she trembled as she lay face-down on the bed: “Tell me, did you do something with another lady, and now it’s been exposed, and you’re afraid I’ll be angry? Did you- did you hold someone’s hand, or- or did you sleep with someone…”

Lu Yun: “What sleeping, how can you speak so crudely…”

Both annoyed and amused, he pulled her into his arms: “No, your brother hasn’t done any of those things… Your brother only likes you.”

Luo Lingyu collapsed crying in his arms: “Wuu, you admitted it!”

Lu Yun said: “What did I admit?!”

Luo Lingyu lifted her head, eyes brimming with tears: “You only denied doing things with other ladies, but didn’t deny other things. You admitted you did something to wrong me, Lu Yun you scoundrel…”

Lu Yun grew irritated, her crying giving him a headache. But he did indeed feel guilty and didn’t want to promise he hadn’t wronged her. Just one Zhou Yangling had Lu Yun at his wit’s end. Luo Lingyu grew suspicious, wondering if his heart had changed. Fear of the unknown made Luo Lingyu truly heartbroken, but then she saw Lu Yun rub his forehead and glance down at her.

Lu Yun: “Whether my heart has changed or not, sister will know once we do it.”

Luo Lingyu choked: “What… what are you saying… mmph!”

He immediately pushed her down on the bed, saying nothing more as he thrust straight in. Luo Lingyu let out a cry of distress, but her lips were sealed by his.

…

That night was extremely intense, with the Third Young Mistress begging for mercy several times. At first, she still managed to cry, but later she could only whimper, sweetly calling “good brother,” until finally she was left breathless, pleading “Spare me, brother.”

A night of passion, drenched in hot sweat.

Luo Lingyu confirmed that Lu Yun’s performance in bed showed he still very much loved her. Her little cherry buds were extremely swollen the next day… His passionate desire that night was not the guilty behavior of someone who had been unfaithful to another.

So what exactly had he done to wrong her?

Luo Lingyu couldn’t figure it out no matter how much she thought about it. When she asked Lu Yun, he wouldn’t say, leaving Luo Lingyu’s head full of questions.

At this time, the matter of Prince Zhao’s secret communications with the enemy finally came to an end.

Yue Zihan had confessed everything, and even though Prince Zhao Liu Huai had fled to his father’s bedchamber, he was still convicted of his crimes. Prince Chen was merciful and didn’t execute Prince Zhao, only demoting his elder brother to commoner status and forever barring him from entering Jianye. Prince Zhao wept loudly in his father’s bedchamber at the end, but the old emperor now lay in bed all day, and despite his extreme anxiety, he couldn’t plead on Prince Zhao’s behalf.

Prince Zhao cried to each of the other princes in turn, and with a heart full of bitterness and weariness, cursed Prince Chen: “My fate today will be yours tomorrow! He doesn’t kill me only to maintain his reputation. He will use the same methods to deal with you all.”

The princes grew wary, as Prince Zhao’s matter made them realize Prince Chen was not simple. Without them noticing, Prince Chen had gained control of Jianye’s military affairs. Several princes developed a sense of crisis and wanted Prince Chen to return power to the old emperor, but the old emperor’s health wouldn’t allow it. Individual princes couldn’t oppose Prince Chen alone, so they joined forces, gathering their supporters to try to deal with Prince Chen first.

Jianye’s great families were pulled into the white-hot struggle between the princes, swaying left and right, many closing their doors and refusing to go out.

Only the Lu family, with their deep ties to Prince Chen, now fully supported him, becoming the core force behind Prince Chen. But the Lu family alone couldn’t stand against all of Jianye’s great families. Prince Chen’s situation had become somewhat less favorable for a time.

Prince Chen remained composed, slowly engaging in a battle of attrition with them.

In early July, several major temples including Zhongshan Kaishan Temple and Jianye Jianchu Temple jointly invited Prince Chen to preside over this year’s Ghost Festival ceremonies, subtly indicating Buddhist support for the next emperor. This made the other princes even angrier. Jianye welcomed its most prosperous Ghost Festival in over a decade, yet several princes and their supporters refused to participate, unwilling to give face to Prince Chen. Though there was no major confrontation, the success or failure of this ceremony related to whether Prince Chen could stabilize his power in Jianye.

Even with such a loss of face, Prince Chen still didn’t show anger.

On the eve of the Ghost Festival, Luo Lingyu followed her husband Lu Yun up Zhongshan to stay at Kaishan Temple, representing the Lu family in supporting Prince Chen’s presiding over the ceremony. The day before the festival, Luo Lingyu went to great lengths to invite some of her close lady friends to come play. But even so, the turnout was sparse, with few noblemen and women present.

Under a mountain pavilion, lords and ladies sat around flowing water, playing “floating wine cups.” Prince Chen Liu Shu was also present. Several princes suddenly came up the mountain together to watch them play “floating wine cups” and mock Prince Chen, seeing how he would manage the ceremony with so few people.

Prince Chen’s expression remained calm.

Seeing so few people on the mountain, Luo Lingyu couldn’t help whispering to Lu Yun: “Will it be alright? What if no one comes tonight, how will Prince Chen save face?”

Lu Yun smiled mysteriously: “People will come. Just watch.”

Some watched to mock, some played games, mountain springs burbled, and gradually the princes lost patience. One prince stood up, wanting to represent his brothers in fake sympathy to mock Prince Chen: “Fifth Brother, with no one coming, tonight’s ceremony surely won’t succeed. You’d better apologize to the abbots now while there’s still time. We’re all brothers, and we can’t bear to see you lose face. Wouldn’t that also be losing face for the royal family?”

Prince Chen remained unmoved.

The princes were displeased: “Fifth Brother (Fifth Elder Brother), don’t make things difficult for everyone.”

Suddenly, an attendant rushed over and whispered a few words in Prince Chen’s ear as he sat by the water. Prince Chen’s eyebrows lifted, and after being mocked for so long, he stood up. To the princes’ bewilderment, he went personally to welcome: “Please, Master, come—”

Everyone by the pavilion and water stood up, watching Prince Chen quickly descend the steps and go to welcome in one direction. Standing beside Lu Yun, Luo Lingyu looked curiously and saw among the green trees a procession of white-robed gentlemen approaching. Walking down the mountainside, green leaves brushing their heads, flowers, and leaves falling to the ground, shrubs reflecting their shadows. Looking at the magnificent group, they moved with dignity, their robes flowing in the wind, all bearing the air of scholars.

Prince Chen’s voice rarely showed such excitement as he welcomed the leader: “Master Zhou Tan!”

Zhou Tan!

The famous scholar Zhou Tan! Zhou Tan, leader of the common-born scholars!

Luo Lingyu was stunned, her hands and feet turning ice cold as she stood up. She saw that middle-aged man reach out to help Liu Shu, who was about to bow to him. The middle-aged man laughed heartily and called out loudly: “Your Highness is too courteous! Having heard of Your Highness’s righteousness, this old man, though unworthy, has brought the common-born scholars of the realm to pledge allegiance to Your Highness.”

The gentlemen came one after another, their white robes like clouds against the green shade. All the common-born scholars of the realm had returned to submit.

What a magnificent show of force!

The young princes who had been mocking Prince Chen turned pale: “…”

They looked at the snow-white-robed common-born scholars, anger rising in their hearts. But uncontrollably, they couldn’t help but look at one person behind Zhou Tan – the only lady among all the men.

Her clothes danced in the wind, she was refined and elegant, embodying the grace of mountains and rivers. What a clear and gentle lady, beautiful in her gentle grace, she smiled slightly as she bowed with her father to everyone. Every movement, though frail and delicate. That Western maiden beauty made Luo Lingyu stare at her inappropriately, unable to look away. She heard the discussions around her, her face turning from green to white, quite a sight to behold. She heard this lady’s name spread around the winding stream—

“Zhou Yangling, so this is the renowned Zhou Yangling.”

“I heard she could have been included in the Portrait of Notable Ladies of the Realm long ago. But she was frail, and the scholar Zhou Tan wanted to protect his daughter, refusing to let the world see what his daughter looked like.”

“Don’t you all think Lady Zhou looks somewhat familiar?”

“Not familiar exactly… I just feel she has surpassed, Luo…”

“Not at all. Sister Luo is graceful and striking, with the beauty of a startled swan; Lady Zhou is elegant in form and spirit, with the quality of an orchid. Both are rare beauties. Each has her beauty, but in my heart, Sister Luo is the most beautiful.”

As the important figures discussed the submission, the princes’ faces grew ugly, while the spectators quietly compared beauties. Lu Yun stood there, feeling a pain at his waist, just as he had expected.

Luo Lingyu looked at Zhou Yangling in a daze: Zhou Zibo, Zhou Yangling… so that’s how it was.

Author’s Note: Sister Zhou, hurry and comfort Sister Luo~