After falling into the water that evening, Second Young Master Lu was carried back to his courtyard. He remained unconscious, and a physician was urgently summoned. Old Madam Lu and Madam Lu rushed over, along with Minister Lu who had originally returned home to examine his son’s studies.

While the elders hurried over, Luo Lingyu was already kneeling by the Second Young Master’s bedside, completely soaked but dutifully attending to him. Late into the night, the elders who had stayed up worried gathered in Er Lang’s courtyard, questioning the physician about why Lu Xian wouldn’t wake up.

Though shivering in her wet clothes, Miss Luo Lingyu remained conscientious. She never left to change, voluntarily accepting punishment by kneeling in the small Buddha hall two rooms away from Lu Er Lang’s chambers, praying for his recovery.

Luo Yunhua was stunned. Second Cousin falling into the water was already terrible, but his not waking up was even worse – the outcome had exceeded her imagination. She finally realized what enormous trouble she had caused her sister… With no one else to turn to, Luo Yunhua could only go to the “Clear Courtyard” seeking Lu Yun’s help while crying. She held onto a glimmer of hope that Third Young Master Lu would be merciful and not stand idly by, and that he wouldn’t fear confronting the elders like Madam Lu.

Whether Third Young Master Lu was merciful or not remained to be seen, but he did instruct Jingyue to light the lamps. Rubbing his forehead with a weary expression, he sat down to hear Luo Yunhua’s plea.

Jingyue worried about her master’s injuries and draped a loose cloak over his shoulders. Seeing Lu Yun sitting in the lamplight, his black hair scattered over his shoulders with several strands clinging to his face, his eyelids drooping and eyelashes casting multiple shadows on his cheeks. His face was pale as silver, and the fingers supporting his forehead were long and elegant. Sitting there disheveled and fatigued, compared to his usual noble demeanor like an icy snow-capped mountain, he now possessed an added air of magnificent languor.

After Luo Yunhua finished speaking through her sobs, Lu Yun raised his lashes, his eyes flowing with a mesmerizing light that even stunned the crying young lady. He asked in a cool voice: “Does Miss Luo know how to swim?”

He recalled that day when he accidentally pushed her into the water and she immediately sank – had she been truly frightened, or was she deliberately trying to entice him?

Based on his usual assessment of Luo Lingyu’s character, Lu Yun inwardly sneered.

He asked again: “You say she voluntarily jumped in to save Second Brother?”

Luo Yunhua: “Yes…”

Lu Yun’s face instantly turned cold. After several thoughts crossed his mind, understanding flashed in his eyes as he said with a cold laugh: “Has she gone mad with desire to become my second sister-in-law?!”

That day when she fell in the water, she had shown him no courtesy and even tried to push an injured person in. Why was she treating Lu Xian differently? What right did she have to discriminate? The only answer Lu Yun could think of was that seeing mountains of gold and silver, power and status dangling before her eyes, Luo Lingyu’s heart was moved beyond control, rushing recklessly to save him…

Luo Yunhua froze, about to explain that wasn’t the case when she saw Lu Yun’s gloomy expression.

Lu Yun was a man of many faces. Usually, when meeting others he was noble and aloof, looking down on everyone and paying them no mind. In private he was somewhat frivolous, fond of joking and teasing, every word and action full of charm. Now Luo Yunhua had the fortune of seeing his third face – serious and merciless. When his cold eyes glanced at someone, the overwhelming pressure made young Miss Luo Yunhua’s legs weak as she sat on the ground, unable to utter a word.

Lu Yun had already stood up, no longer wanting to investigate what exactly happened over there. Third Young Master Lu turned and left with a wave of his sleeve, saying coldly: “Since it was Miss Luo’s own choice, naturally she must endure great setbacks if she wants immense wealth and status. When paths differ, one cannot walk together – why must you stop your sister?”

Luo Yunhua anxiously said: “No, it’s not like that…”

Luo Lingyu had warned her not to tell anyone that she and Fourth Young Master had accidentally pushed Second Cousin into the water. When Luo Yunhua came seeking Lu Yun’s help, she originally didn’t want to say either. But now seeing Lu Yun heading to his inner chambers this way, with servants following with lamps, she quickly ran a few steps. Luo Yunhua chased after him: “Cousin, Cousin…”

…

By the next day, classes at the academy were suspended and all the young masters went to visit Second Young Master Lu. Lu Yun, who originally didn’t attend the academy, learned during breakfast that his second brother’s condition was worse than he had imagined. As Jingyue served her master breakfast, seeing his quiet gaze lost in thought, she was struck by an idea and scooped a small dish of cheese for him: “This was just sent by Miss Luo yesterday for us to try. She said it doesn’t keep well and asked us to eat it quickly.”

Lu Yun lowered his gaze.

The celadon dish held a small piece of yellow-white cheese with ice-crack patterns, crystalline and transparent like snowy mountain peaks.

Lu Yun’s eyes flickered: “It was just falling in water, how is Second Brother still unconscious after a whole night? Let’s go see him too.”

After finishing breakfast, Lu Yun went to visit Er Lang. Lu Xian’s courtyard was already crowded with young masters who, seeing Lu Yun arrive, pulled him aside to explain the situation inside. Reportedly, Lu Xian had started running a high fever intermittently late in the night. After the younger generation persuaded Old Madam Lu to rest, Madam Lu’s eyes were red from crying. Before dawn, the Lu family had sent name cards to Taichu Palace requesting imperial physicians.

This had alarmed all the palace ladies and young masters. His Majesty personally dispatched imperial physicians, and even Her Majesty the Empress inquired about Second Young Master Lu’s condition.

The Lu family’s influence in Jianye could be seen from this.

Lu Yun pondered thoughtfully: “It was just falling in water…”

The young masters sighed: “Indeed, we’d never heard of Second Brother having such poor health before. Poor Miss Luo, Madam Lu is furious…”

Lu Yun’s eyes flickered again. The widely circulated story was that Luo Lingyu had pushed Lu Xian and then saved him. But just as Lu Yun didn’t believe Luo Lingyu would save someone, he also didn’t believe she would push anyone – his cousin was extremely careful around Second Brother, her eyes clearly showing her desire to “marry nobility”, she absolutely wouldn’t push him.

If it was about creating opportunities for herself… Luo Lingyu wouldn’t be so foolish.

There seemed to be another story in between.

Lu Yun chatted idly with several young masters under the corridor for a few minutes, his manner cold and distant. The other young masters were used to this and didn’t ask much. Later, Lu Yun entered the room, greeted several elders, and lingered by Second Young Master Lu’s bedside. Lu Yun even sat down and took Lu Er Lang’s pulse to examine him.

The courtyard and rooms were filled with physicians and workers, the whole house full of sighs. Madam Lu had never understood Lu Yun and looked down on him. Now seeing Lu Yun taking Lu Xian’s pulse, Madam Lu wondered when Lu Yun knew medicine. Though she didn’t trust Third Young Master’s abilities, Madam Lu still asked earnestly: “Third Young Master, can you tell what’s wrong? Why hasn’t your Second Brother woken up yet?”

Lu Yun stood up and perfunctorily replied: “There’s nothing seriously wrong with his body, he’ll wake up when it’s time. Aunt needn’t worry.”

Madam Lu’s eyes darkened as she nodded reluctantly. All the physicians said Er Lang was fine, and Third Young Master said the same… but why wouldn’t Lu Xian wake up? It was all that Luo Lingyu’s fault… Madam Lu gritted her teeth, that troublemaker… She couldn’t deal with her now, but once her Er Lang woke up, she absolutely wouldn’t let that girl off.

After leaving the room full of medicinal fragrances, Lu Yun strolled along the corridor, passing by the corner Buddha hall. Luo Lingyu had confined herself in the Buddha hall to pray for Er Lang’s recovery. The Lu family elders neither approved nor objected, and the servants didn’t dare interfere much. As Lu Yun passed by the Buddha hall, walking slowly, he turned his head and glanced inside.

The tree shadows were lush, casting wavelike patterns on his face and eyes through the wooden railings. Through the swirling dust, he saw the young lady kneeling inside. Her back was straight as a brush, kneeling devoutly with disheveled hair. As he passed by the side, he caught sight of her porcelain-white cheeks, lips whiter than snow, and body trembling slightly. The young lady was extremely delicate, arousing pity.

Kneeling through the night and still kneeling during the day without a drop of water, she was still persevering through gritted teeth.

Lu Yun’s eyes lowered: If Luo Lingyu could go to such lengths to marry into a noble family, he had to admire her dedication…

Though full of disdain, within his contempt Lu Yun also had some suspicions: The story about pushing someone into the water was full of holes, likely inconsistent with the truth… But Luo Lingyu herself had admitted to it, heh.

When his Second Brother woke up, he would either be moved and marry Luo Lingyu despite all opposition, or be furious and send her back to Nanyang.

Lu Yun turned his face away, no longer looking at the small lady kneeling in the Buddha hall. Yet a thorn had lodged in his heart, neither up nor down. Thinking of the possibility of Luo Lingyu becoming his second sister-in-law, with her beautiful glancing eyes and sweet charming smile, forming a pair with Second Brother, constantly flitting back and forth before his eyes… Lu Yun thought she’d better go back to Nanyang.

…

As night fell again, there was still no news of Second Young Master Lu waking up, and Luo Lingyu’s heart grew colder and more fearful. As long as Lu Xian woke up, scolding and punishment would be fine; with Lu Xian not waking up, Luo Lingyu’s crime grew heavier by the day. Kneeling before the Buddhist shrine, she sincerely prayed for the Second Cousin to wake up…

If someone must be blamed, let it be her, don’t implicate her sister. She was already tainted, it didn’t matter, but her sister couldn’t bear such a burden.

After kneeling for a day, she was dizzy and her mind was hazy, thoughts coming and going. Several times she collapsed, then crawled back up, Luo Lingyu’s back covered in hot sweat…

In the silent night, suddenly there came an extremely soft “pat” sound from behind.

Luo Lingyu’s thoughts were sluggish, her head throbbing, barely registering what she heard.

Then unexpectedly, a snow-colored robe swept across her face from behind. The coolness made her tremble slightly as she fell backward. Suddenly someone crouched down in front of her, supporting her waist and pushing her forward. With this push, in her dazed state, Luo Lingyu fell directly into the embrace of the person crouching before her.

She smelled the full embrace of clarity, a man’s scent.

Falling into the young master’s arms, an icy hand lifted her chin, raising her sweaty face. His fingertips touched her delicate face, gently rubbing twice. Luo Lingyu’s black eyes met a pair of peach blossom eyes. Those affectionate peach blossom eyes sent a chill across Luo Lingyu’s burning face, startling her. She trembled: “Th-th-third…”

Lu Yun’s face was expressionless as his hand touched her forehead, his voice cool: “You have a fever.”

He curled his lips: “Don’t make a sound. Your sister’s complaints are driving me crazy – I’ll take you out to rest for a while.”