Near Second Young Master’s courtyard, clear mist curled around the trees. The pre-dawn light glowed faintly at the horizon, coming from an angle. Treading on wet, fragrant ground at this chance encounter, Madam Lu and her maids all stared with some surprise at Third Young Master Lu opposite them, and at the woman in his arms whose face and body were covered by a cape. Though they couldn’t see the woman’s face, the maids vaguely glimpsed the hem of a skirt overlapping with Third Young Master Lu’s sleeve—

A color as fresh as jade.

It seemed strangely familiar as if they had seen it before.

Everyone knew that although Third Young Master Lu had the face of a romantic, perhaps because of the burden of his looks, his character was most pure and noble, like clear skies after rain. Unlike Second Young Master Lu’s steady restraint, Third Young Master Lu was proud and aloof. Born to a noble family, by this age the Lu young masters had all had some women around them according to their preferences. Even if not lustful, they surely had shown curiosity and interest.

Only Third Young Master Lu hadn’t.

The Lu family’s young ladies came and went in their finery, but none could exchange more than a few words with Third Young Master Lu.

Such a proudly cold young master, actually had a woman in his arms one day?! This, this, this…

Madam Lu was dumbfounded, momentarily forgetting her purpose for coming here as she stared at Lu Yun. Meanwhile, Luo Lingyu in Lu Yun’s arms clung to the young master’s sleeve, trembling non-stop, desperately pinching his arm to signal him to find a way to leave. Lu Yun maintained an extremely innocent expression as he looked back at Madam Lu. Lu Yun’s composure, his matter-of-fact attitude, and his thick skin, gradually confused Madam Lu, causing her to doubt her perception.

Madam Lu: …Could I be overthinking?

Before Madam Lu could come to her senses, a servant boy ran out from the courtyard ahead of them, announcing to those inside: “Madam, quick! Second Young Master has truly woken this time!”

The news of her son waking was naturally more important than “Third Young Master Lu possibly sleeping with a household maid,” and upon hearing about Lu Xian, Madam Lu no longer bothered with Lu Yun’s romantic affair. Giving Lu Yun a warning look, Madam Lu led her maids hurriedly past him to enter the courtyard and see Second Young Master Lu. After they left, Lu Yun lifted the cape to reveal the beauty in his arms, her face flushed red from holding her breath.

Before Lu Yun could say anything, Luo Lingyu exclaimed excitedly: “Second Cousin has finally woken? That’s wonderful… Third Cousin, quickly take me back to the Buddha hall, I must see Second Cousin right away!”

Luo Lingyu’s heart immediately flew to Second Young Master Lu, thinking about how to warn him before Madam Lu and the others arrived, to take the blame for the fall into the water upon herself. Deliberately forgetting Madam Lu’s recent interruption while hiding in Lu Yun’s arms, Luo Lingyu quietly smoothed her temple hair and wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve. She even brought her sleeve to her nose to smell it.

Looking up, she met Lu Yun’s cold, disdainful gaze.

Luo Lingyu: “…Everyone has a love for beauty, am I wrong?”

Lu Yun: “Heh.”

Setting aside whatever his ambiguous “heh” meant, after their game of hide and seek, Lu Yun took a roundabout route to the back door of Er Lang’s courtyard, several times avoiding busy servants, and successfully returned Luo Lingyu to the Buddha hall, taking away the maid who had been impersonating her. Afterward, Lu Yun went directly to Second Young Master’s chambers – after being unconscious for two nights and a day, Second Young Master Lu finally awakened, and the room was filled with physicians and elders.

Old Madam Lu wiped her tears, saying repeatedly: “It’s good that you’ve woken, you had us so worried…”

Lu Yun stood absentmindedly behind them, casually looking at Second Young Master Lu Xian sitting on the couch, being embraced and cried over by Madam Lu. Lu Xian’s forehead was covered in sweat, his face pale, his lips peeling. After being given medicine, his color improved slightly, but his eyes still showed a dazed state. Second Young Master Lu rubbed his forehead, pulling his mother back a bit: “Mother, don’t cry, what happened to me…”

His voice was hoarse, stopping halfway. His mind was foggy as he recalled the nightmare from his dreams. Even after waking, he still remembered that terrifying dream, the line between dream and reality blurred. It seemed the dream began just as he had awakened, with Cousin Luo entering tearfully, stumbling through the curtain. Her face was haggard, breathing softly and rapidly as she choked out—

“Second Cousin!”

“Second Cousin!”

The voice from his dream overlapped with reality, and just as Lu Xian thought this, he saw the beautiful young lady stumble in from outside, tears glistening as she fell beside his bed, calling him “Cousin.” Then, kneeling by the couch, the young lady grabbed his sleeve, looking up to examine him carefully, crying as if overjoyed: “I knew Second Cousin would be alright. Earlier I accidentally pushed Second Cousin, causing you to fall into the water and catch a cold. If anything had happened to Second Cousin, I would deserve death a thousand times over. Thank goodness, thank goodness you’re alright!”

Lu Xian: “…”

She deliberately emphasized the words “I accidentally pushed Second Cousin,” her phoenix eyes brimming with tears as she looked at him, hoping for his cooperation. But Lu Xian was stunned, not just stunned – looking at his cousin’s beautiful face, he even became distracted – because this was exactly like in the dream.

In the dream, Lu Xian hadn’t processed what Luo Lingyu was saying, as he had fallen in while trying to stop Fourth Young Master and Cousin Yunhua’s fight. After Luo Lingyu finished speaking, his strange reaction alerted Madam Lu. Before Lu Xian could understand the situation, Madam Lu had already put on a stern face and berated Luo Lingyu. In front of all the elders and peers, Luo Lingyu was ashamed, and forced by Madam Lu to request to return to Nanyang.

That would be Luo Lingyu’s last day at the Lu manor…

Even if Lu Xian later came to his senses and tried to stop it, it would be too late… His mother’s words had been so harsh, what young lady would turn back?

Uncontrollably, as the dream scene overlapped with reality, Second Young Master Lu’s heart began to beat violently. His face flushed as he stared at Luo Lingyu’s face, wondering if the dream was real. Had he foreseen future events? But how was that possible?

Half believing and half doubting, at first Lu Xian paid no attention to Cousin Luo’s crying and sobbing beside his ear. He suddenly looked up, his gaze passing through the crowd to fall on Lu Yun standing among them. Even standing in the crowd, he was like precious jade and coral, a crane among chickens. Lu Yun lowered his eyes to meet Second Young Master Lu’s gaze. Lu Xian’s heart trembled:

In that dream world, Lu Yun had died with his heart pierced by countless arrows! His third brother, still so young, had died just like that…

Under everyone’s surprised gazes, Lu Xian broke free from Madam Lu’s support and shook off his cousin’s hand gripping his sleeve. He got down barefoot, his eyes red and earnest, tears glistening, even more than in his cousin’s eyes. While everyone was bewildered, they watched Lu Xian rush toward the crowd, raise his arms, and give Lu Yun an extremely passionate embrace.

Second Young Master Lu trembled all over: “Third Brother!”

Lu Yun: “…?” Has Second Brother gone mad?

Madam Lu: “…?” What’s wrong with my son?

Luo Lingyu: “…?” Second Cousin, don’t you care about me at all?

Second Young Master Lu excitedly hugged Third Young Master Lu tight, while Lu Yun’s bewilderment matched that of all the onlookers. Everyone watched as Second Young Master Lu hugged Lu Yun, repeatedly saying: “You’re still alive, thank goodness, thank goodness…” He pulled back slightly to look at Lu Yun’s elegant face, his heart full of sorrow.

Third Young Master Lu discreetly stepped back, but that one step was matched by Lu Xian stepping forward. Lu Xian gripped Third Young Master Lu’s hand: “Third Brother, don’t worry, Second Brother won’t let anything happen to you… You will surely live a long life with a virtuous wife and filial children. Second Brother will protect you, Second Brother absolutely won’t let anyone again…”

Lu Yun calmly said: “Could someone examine Second Brother, he seems to have a brain illness.”

Madam Lu’s tears fell as she stood up pale-faced, pushing the stunned physician beside her: “My poor Er Lang, don’t worry, mother will surely cure your illness… First, let go of your Third Brother…”

Lu Xian wouldn’t let go: “Third Brother! Third Brother! I’m not ill, I’m perfectly fine! All of you go out, I need to talk with Third Brother for a while…”

Outside the crowd, Luo Lingyu knelt lonely by the bed, jealous and heartbroken: Second Cousin, do you not care about me at all? I’m the one who pushed you into the water, how can you just rush to Lu Yun… Annoying Third Cousin, he has to compete with her even for this!

…

After the physician’s examination, it was proven that Second Young Master Lu was healthy with no aftereffects. As for his confused speech after waking, once Second Young Master Lu returned to normal, he said he had had a nightmare and mistook it for reality. Hearing this, Madam Lu naturally didn’t worry anymore. Madam Lu’s newest concern was that on the day Second Young Master Lu woke up, she had worried her son might have become foolish, and had anxiously asked Lu Yun to keep his second brother company for a day.

Lu Yun was inexplicably forced to be bound to Second Young Master Lu for an entire day.

After Second Young Master Lu recovered, Madam Lu finally remembered the other person involved in the incident, Luo Lingyu. Just as Madam Lu was about to send servants to find Luo Lingyu, before her message could be delivered, a maid came to report that Luo Lingyu was requesting an audience. The timing was perfect, and Madam Lu nodded, indicating for Luo Lingyu to enter.

The young lady who entered through the curtain had her customary narrow shoulders, slender waist, tall beauty, and snow-white skin. As she entered, it was as if fine jade filled the room, dazzling to the eye.

With her silk sash trailing to the ground, Luo Lingyu bowed slightly and spoke reasonably: “…Therefore, I am deeply ashamed and wish to return to Nanyang, to no longer trouble the Lu family.”

Madam Lu looked at her with great surprise: The quick-witted Luo Lingyu wasn’t going to argue with her? How unusual.

Concubine Liu, who was crouching to massage Madam Lu’s legs, also turned her head in astonishment: “…”

After a while, Madam Lu nodded with satisfaction: “…I’ve always appreciated your understanding of propriety. I’ve prepared some gifts for you, you may return home.”

Luo Lingyu: “Thank you, Madam.”

To everyone’s satisfaction, Madam Lu had the matron accompany Luo Lingyu back to the “Snow Tracing Courtyard.” After the matron set down Madam Lu’s gifts, she discovered that after one day, the two Luo sisters had already packed their belongings. Most things in the courtyard remained untouched, they only took some changes of clothes. The young ladies had brought many things when they came, but when leaving only needed two or three bundles. After Luo Lingyu’s final bow, under the tearful gazes of Lingyu and the others, she left the “Snow Tracing Courtyard.”

Saying she feared being too emotional, she didn’t bid farewell to the other elders, making her quiet departure perfect.

After walking out of Wuyi Lane, Luo Yunhua was finally helped into the carriage by her maid Lingxi. As Luo Lingyu waited a moment to get in, there was a rush of wind behind her. Her hand was grabbed and she was pulled down from the carriage: “Cousin, you cannot leave—”

Luo Lingyu fell back to the ground, took a breath, and turned around to see, as she had hoped, Second Young Master Lu running breathlessly, having grabbed her as she wished. Where Second Young Master Lu couldn’t see, a cunning, self-satisfied smile flashed in Luo Lingyu’s eyes. But she quickly frowned, appearing weak and pitiful: “Please let go, Second Cousin…”

Second Young Master Lu: “You cannot leave—”

Suddenly there was the sound of hoofbeats ahead, and Second Young Master Lu looked up to see a group of riders passing outside Wuyi Lane. Commoners stood to both sides, whispering: “The Prince of Hengyang has come.”

Lu Xian stared at the mounted procession, his hand gripping his cousin’s sleeve. He tightened his grip, thinking: If my dream was true… the Prince of Hengyang would become the emperor. Cousin would become empress, how could she leave?

Just then, Lu Yun entered the lane after buying wine, and at the entrance saw Second Young Master Lu pulling at Luo Lingyu’s sleeve, refusing to let go—

Could it be that his Second Brother truly had feelings for Luo Lingyu?