Prince Chen was never one for many words, so Chen Xiu hadn’t expected him to intervene. The Prince of Hengyang, unfamiliar with the power dynamics in Jianye, understandably remained silent. But Lu San Lang? Chen Xiu had considered him a friend of many years – why wouldn’t he even question things before taking Luo Lingyu’s side?

Surrounded by the crowd, all came to criticize. Chen Xiu’s head was buzzing; she had never faced such a situation before. She watched as those young lords and ladies actively spoke up for Luo Lingyu, while Luo Lingyu stood delicately among them, appearing weak and wronged. When Chen Xiu tried to speak, Luo Lingyu seemed too distressed to utter a complete sentence. The beauty’s eyes turned twice, tears welling up like ripples on a clear lake.

Lu Er Lang rushed over to join the crowd: “What’s wrong, what’s wrong? What happened?”

The Prince of Hengyang stared at Luo Lingyu’s eyes, dark yet bright, even smiling broadly: “This technique is impressive – not saying a word, just a beauty with glistening tears.”

Lu Er Lang observed the Prince of Hengyang’s gaze. Not understanding the truth of the matter, he became more convinced that the Prince had fallen for Luo Lingyu. While others were concerned about the dispute between Luo Lingyu and Chen Xiu, Lu Er Lang alternated between joy and sorrow: if the Prince truly fancied Cousin Luo, then his dream must be prophetic; but if his dream was true, wouldn’t that mean his third brother Lu Yun would…

Lu Er Lang gazed sorrowfully at Lu Yun.

He worried endlessly about his third brother.

But his third brother didn’t appreciate it, finding his gaze cloying. Standing in the crowd, Lu San Lang shifted slightly to the side, using others’ heads to block Lu Er Lang’s line of sight.

Lu Xian: “…”

In the crowd, Chen Xiu was being criticized most embarrassingly. She grabbed Luo Lingyu’s wrist forcefully, saying harshly: “I didn’t touch a single hair on your head, tell them yourself! You can’t just condemn me based on fragments of hearsay… Miss Luo, have you lost your ability to speak?”

Luo Lingyu, appearing extremely wronged, spoke slowly: “Very well, Sister Chen didn’t touch a single hair on my head…”

Her resentful, self-pitying tone made things worse than if she hadn’t spoken at all, as if Chen Xiu had forced her to say it. Chen Xiu was so angry she nearly fell backward. Meanwhile, the Han family lady who had just been slighted by Chen Xiu wasn’t about to let Luo Lingyu admit Chen Xiu had done nothing. Just as Luo Lingyu began speaking in that ethereal tone, the Han lady rushed in eagerly: “If you didn’t touch Sister Luo, how did she end up with ink on one hand and water on the other? Her sleeves are all dirty! We’re not blind, you should apologize quickly! How could you be like this, Sister Luo is a guest from afar, instead of welcoming her you bully her. What kind of noble lady of Jianye acts like this…”

The Han lady was very eager to argue with Chen Xiu.

As the Han lady rushed out to reason with her, while other lords and ladies nodded in agreement, Luo Lingyu kept her head down behind the crowd, struggling to conceal the cunning, triumphant smile at the corner of her lips. She was usually the one playing mind games with other ladies, with impressive results. Just then, Luo Lingyu’s other sleeve hanging at her side – her wrist was suddenly gripped.

She was both startled and delighted: had one of the young lords in the crowd secretly taken her hand amid the chaos?

She paused, raised her eyes, and glanced over coyly – only to see it was Lu San Lang, who had somehow moved from her left side to her right. While others were busy questioning Chen Xiu, Lu San Lang had reached out to grip her wrist.

When Luo Lingyu’s coy glance met Lu Yun’s smiling, playful eyes, she froze: her flirtatious look had been wasted on the wrong person…

She currently very much didn’t want to face Lu San Lang, unable to bear the shame and awkwardness she felt when confronting him. Even though he seemed to have helped her just now, Luo Lingyu didn’t want to make a sound. However, Lu Yun tightened his grip on her wrist, using his eyes to signal her: Cousin Luo, take it easy, you’ve played enough.

Chen Xiu was being condemned by thousands, and from the corner of her eye, she saw Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu standing shoulder to shoulder, heads lowered in intimate exchange – her mind immediately exploded. Lu San Lang, Lu San Lang actually… Chen Xiu was filled with resentment, her chest heaving, most unable to bear seeing Lu San Lang defend another woman in front of her. The usually dignified and composed Miss Chen suddenly shouted: “I didn’t do anything, I won’t apologize!”

Her voice was so fierce that the crowd was stunned silent for a moment, with no one stepping forward to speak.

Chen Xiu grabbed the inkstone and threw it at Lu Yun. With people gathered so closely together and the distance so short, Lu San Lang had nowhere to dodge. With the inkstone flying straight at his face, if he stepped back, Luo Lingyu behind him wouldn’t be able to avoid it. Lu Yun’s expression remained unchanged as he faced the incoming inkstone. Hearing Chen Xiu’s utterly resentful voice “Lu San Lang I hate you,” in the blink of an eye, the inkstone and thick black ink, like a black dragon turning over, proudly lunged together toward Lu San Lang.

The surrounding people gasped, especially the ladies who cried out in distress: “Lu San Lang!”

Before their very eyes, the inkstone grazed Lu Yun’s chin, caught by his free hand as he raised it. His chin was cut and bleeding, while ink dripped down, following the lord’s chin and neckline. For a moment, everyone stared in shock as they saw Lu San Lang’s chin was both injured and his neck stained with black ink.

After throwing the inkstone, reaching up to touch his chin, feeling a few drops of blood and a handful of ink, Lu Yun’s expression became extremely dark.

Behind him, Luo Lingyu hypocritically showed concern, moving only her mouth but not taking action: “Third Cousin, are you alright… uh!”

Before she could finish speaking, Lu San Lang’s cold eyes met hers, his gaze containing suppressed cold fire as he warned her: Don’t push me too far.

Realizing she had overdone her act, Luo Lingyu closed her mouth, focusing on playing the role of a melancholic, pitiful white lotus.

After glaring at them, having thrown the inkstone, Chen Xiu turned and pushed through the crowd, walking away. Two ladies who often played with her hesitated for a moment before following her. Chen Xiu walked quickly, her eyes rimmed in red, holding back tears. What upset her most wasn’t Luo Lingyu’s schemes, but that Chen Xiu had seen Lu San Lang glance at her before firmly supporting Luo Lingyu. Even though Chen Xiu was a woman, condemned by thousands – she had always been proud and aloof, never getting along particularly well with the other lords and ladies. But for the lord, she loved to not only fail to support her but to show such obvious favoritism…

What had she been persisting for all these years? Was Lu San Lang’s heart truly as cold as iron, impossible to warm?

Chen Xiu walked while crying, unable to hold back her tears no matter what. So many years, so many years…

Under everyone’s eyes, Lu Yun had been hit in the chin with an inkstone, his neck stained with ink, even worse than Luo Lingyu’s ink-stained hand and sleeve. The young lord’s appearance was somewhat disheveled. Looking at Lu Yun’s expression, no one knew what to say for a moment. But then they saw Lu Yun’s face darken, one hand still gripping Luo Lingyu’s wrist while the other grabbed an inkstone from the table, striding off to pursue Chen Xiu.

Lu Yun said coldly: “Stop.”

Luo Lingyu: “Ah!”

If you’re going to chase someone, why are you still holding onto me?

But immediately after, Luo Lingyu was dumbfounded. Lu Yun was after all a man, he walked like the wind, not only forcing Luo Lingyu to jog along as he gripped her wrist, but he quickly caught up to Chen Xiu. Releasing Luo Lingyu’s hand, Lu Yun caught Chen Xiu’s sleeve, turning her around. Chen Xiu’s eyes were red-rimmed as she stared proudly at Lu San Lang: “If you’re trying to make amends for something, it’s already too late…”

Lu San Lang said flatly: “I don’t want to make amends for anything. I’ve shown many times – I don’t provoke you, so don’t provoke me. What grievance do you have with me that you throw an inkstone at me? Should I just accept that?”

Chen Xiu’s eyelids trembled, her eyes slightly rigid.

The next moment, she saw Lu Yun raise his hand, and the ink from the properly held inkstone was directly splashed over, drenching Chen Xiu’s neck and collar. Chen Xiu stood dumbfounded, feeling the coolness on her neck, her face alternating between pale and flushed. In front of everyone, Lu Yun had directly splashed her with ink.

Chen Xiu: “Ah!”

Lu Yun looked down at her: “I won’t indulge any of your faults. Don’t throw tantrums or act willfully with me. I have no responsibility toward you.”

Tears welled up in Chen Xiu’s eyes, threatening to fall, but she was extremely strong-willed – even being treated this way by the young lord, the tears in her eyes didn’t fall. She suddenly raised her sleeve to wipe her tears, not realizing that her sleeve was also stained with ink, and in wiping her tears, her eye corner was smeared with a patch of black.

Lu Yun remained utterly cold.

Luo Lingyu started to speak but stopped: “Sister Chen, your eye corner…”

Chen Xiu’s voice trembled as she shouted at Luo Lingyu: “I don’t need your pity!”

Luo Lingyu shut her mouth, while secretly glancing aside, examining Lu Yun with fresh eyes. She was somewhat frightened by Lu Yun’s ruthlessness – he had known Chen Xiu for many years yet showed no consideration at all. Noble ladies had always been fierce, and in pursuing Lu San Lang, he had seen all sorts of tactics. He was weary of ladies’ schemes, while also lacking gentlemanly grace…

Luo Lingyu once again recalled her actions toward Lu San Lang when they first met, and she quietly stepped sideways, moving a bit further from Lu Yun. If he treated Chen Xiu this way, then for a poor cousin like her with no power or influence…

While they were entangled in this situation, the crowd hesitated, unsure whether to approach, as there seemed to be romantic complications between Lu San Lang and Chen Xiu, making it awkward to intervene. Only the Prince of Hengyang looked left and right, watching the romantic entanglements among Jianye’s noble families with amazement. While Chen Xiu was rather bored, that Miss Luo, Miss Luo Lingyu, the Lu family’s cousin from Nanyang, had impressed him… Just as he was hesitating, nearby, a servant leading a horse came to ask questions of the lords and ladies. The horse had been properly led, walking slowly, but when passing by the various small tables, since none of the lords and ladies were there, the horse stretched out its head and licked some strong wine.

The servant anxiously called out: “Hey! You beast, how dare you drink the master’s things!”

The servant desperately pulled at the reins, trying to lead the horse away, but the horse wouldn’t budge, stubbornly keeping its head in the wine jar, licking continuously. As the servant was working up a sweat, the horse on the reins let out a long neigh and raised its head. After smacking its lips a couple of times, the horse stumbled two steps, then kicked out its black hooves and galloped forward wildly, the reins slipping from the servant’s hands. With glazed eyes, the horse charged at full speed directly toward where Luo Lingyu, Lu Yun, and Chen Xiu stood.

From a distance, the lords and ladies all gasped.

Lu Er Lang immediately rushed to save them, crying out in anguish: “Third Brother—!” Was his third brother so ill-fated that, having not died on the battlefield, he would now be trampled to death by a horse?!

Then came Princess Pingning Liu Tang’s anxious call: “Sister Luo, be careful!”

The horse was closest to Luo Lingyu, who had been observing the dispute between Lu Yun and Chen Xiu from the side. Feeling the strong wind behind her and hearing Liu Tang and Lu Er Lang’s simultaneous calls, Luo Lingyu turned her head to see the tall horse charging straight at her. Luo Lingyu screamed in terror and, without thinking of anything else, grabbed Lu Yun, who was like ice and snow beside her. Though she usually pretended to be pitiful and weak, at this crucial moment her strength was not small, and she managed to pull Lu Yun.

Luo Lingyu pushed Lu Yun forward to shield her from the horse’s hooves, while she jumped backward, frantically leaping behind Lu Yun, pressing against his back, directly planning to make Lu Yun the first victim.

Lu San Lang: “…”

His face turned blacker than the ink on his neck. But with the horse right in front and Luo Lingyu’s hands firmly pushing from behind, he had no choice but to face it.

The crowd behind them: “…”

They were shocked by Luo Lingyu’s maneuver!

Then everyone tried hard to make excuses for Luo Lingyu, with Qi San Lang Qi An hesitantly saying: “Sister Luo must have been too frightened… that’s why she hid behind Lu San Lang.”

Everyone hurriedly agreed: “Yes, yes, yes, that must be it.”

After all, Luo Lingyu was a delicate lady – when facing danger, it was perfectly natural for her to cower behind her only familiar cousin. Otherwise, why didn’t she grab Chen Xiu?

Luo Lingyu didn’t grab Chen Xiu because Chen Xiu was far from her – she had someone right beside her, and with one reach she grabbed Lu Yun, pushing him out first to shield her. Only after the wind was blocked by Lu Yun, and her instinct for self-preservation had subsided, did Luo Lingyu remember that she couldn’t leave people with the impression that she was selfish.

Lu Yun leaped forward, flipping through the air, drawing the decorative sword at his waist, slashing horizontally at the reckless horse with a presence that could devour mountains and rivers!

After coming to her senses, Luo Lingyu shouted harshly at the stunned Chen Xiu and the other two ladies beside her: “Quick, run!”

The tall horse was pulled upward by Lu Yun yanking its reins – they could almost feel the horse’s hot breath on their faces. The ladies were so frightened their legs went weak. Though Chen Xiu and the two ladies with her wanted to flee, their feet seemed rooted to the ground, without the strength to move a single step.

“Thud!” One lady collapsed in fright.

She pulled Chen Xiu down with her.

Luo Lingyu: “Run!”

All three ladies had fallen and were shaking, not knowing how to escape. Luo Lingyu directly kicked out, first landing a kick on Chen Xiu. Chen Xiu’s face was deathly pale, too scared to care about anything else, and Luo Lingyu’s kick sent her out from under the shadow of the rearing horse’s head. Then, the other two ladies were also pushed and kicked by Luo Lingyu – their appearances utterly disheveled as they escaped the horse’s clutches.

Luo Lingyu didn’t leave herself, still anxiously worried. The wind wrinkled her clothes as she lifted her face, tears in her eyes: “Third Cousin!”

The young lord stood tall and graceful, moving like lightning, his figure in mid-air majestic and dazzling. Faced with Luo Lingyu’s anxiety, Lu Yun’s lips twitched with disdain, not wanting to say a word – as if she would care about him.

His hand struck fiercely, the long sword creating a bright white light as it slashed down, and the horse let out a sharp cry of agony. Lu Yun leaped back to the ground, gripped Luo Lingyu’s wrist, and pulled her into his embrace as he dove outward. Being yanked into the young lord’s arms in that moment of panic, smelling his clean, sharp fragrance – this wasn’t the first time. Her nose bumped against his chest, and Luo Lingyu felt dizzy, sensing hot fluid flowing down from the top of her head.

There was a huge “bang” beside them as Luo Lingyu, held by Lu Yun, rolled twice on the ground, avoiding the falling horse. The horse had been cut in two, and the lord and lady fell together, with the lady protected in the lord’s arms, neither getting up for a long while.

The people over there, now that the danger had passed, hurriedly rushed over: “Lu San Lang, Miss Luo!”

Prince Chen Liu Shu’s expression also changed as he anxiously called out: “San Lang!”

Luo Lingyu was dizzy as people helped her up with many hands, her cheeks slightly stained with ink from Lu Yun’s collar, but at this moment, no one paid attention to that. Lu Er Lang Lu Xian was the busiest, looking left at Lu Yun with a heartbroken: “Thank goodness you’re alright.” Then looking right at his dazed cousin, another pained: “Cousin, you’ve suffered.”

Luo Lingyu’s head still hurt, and her whole body still trembling. From the corner of her eye, she saw the fallen horse nearby, then looked at the teary-eyed, shocked Chen Xiu and the other ladies in the crowd. Still kneeling on the ground beside Lu Yun, who was slowly sitting up with his hand supporting his forehead, Luo Lingyu was still frightened herself, yet actively maintained her image, concernedly asking Chen Xiu and the others: “Sister Chen, are you alright? Just now I had no choice, but to save people I could only…”

Chen Xiu’s bottom still hurt from being kicked.

She stared at Luo Lingyu in horror.

Seeing everyone recalling what happened, they began praising Luo Lingyu: “Miss Luo, you’ve worked hard.”

“Miss Luo is truly kindhearted, thinking of saving others even at such a moment.”

Chen Xiu: “…”

She stared at Luo Lingyu, unable to hide her horror, her heart already afraid: terrified, truly terrified.

She couldn’t outmaneuver Lu San Lang’s poor cousin from the countryside.

The Luo lady’s tactics were too formidable, with everyone on her side. Such hypocrisy – Chen Xiu had received such a shock today that she wouldn’t dare confront Luo Lingyu again for some time…

Chen Xiu quietly told her crying maid who had rushed over: “Let’s go!”

She cast one final terrified glance at Luo Lingyu, who was still being surrounded with praise, and at Lu Yun, who was rubbing his temples after having splashed her with ink: they were too formidable, too formidable.

If I can’t handle you two, at least I can avoid you, right?

The matter ended there, concluding with Chen Xiu’s utterly humiliating flight. The others were quite confused – why was Miss Chen running away? Miss Luo was such a good person, why couldn’t Miss Chen appreciate Miss Luo’s kindness? Little did they know that Chen Xiu thought they were all blind, but she was now afraid of Luo Lingyu and didn’t dare say anything more. She had only spoken a few proud words at the start, and in the end, was nearly trampled by a horse and got a bad reputation… if she continued to tangle with Luo Lingyu, would she even be able to leave alive?

After Miss Chen left, the banquet had to continue, though everyone’s spirits were somewhat dampened, their enthusiasm gone. Luo Lingyu and Lu Yun each left to change clothes and fix their appearances. Before leaving, Lu Yun gave Luo Lingyu a deep look, his eyes ferociously saying “Just you wait,” causing Luo Lingyu to fearfully turn away and hurriedly leave with her maid.

She wouldn’t have any more interaction with him in the future anyway, so what did it matter if she provoked him a bit more? After they left, the lords and ladies discussed their beloved’s gallant bearing, arguing heatedly-

“San Lang is truly extraordinarily valiant. His martial arts are so outstanding, much better than many men who are all looks and no substance!”

“Miss Luo reacted so quickly, and even saved Miss Chen… how many of us Jianye ladies could have done that? She didn’t know at the time that Lu San Lang would kill the horse. How dangerous! True character is revealed in dangerous situations!”

Princess Pingning Liu Tang’s eyes sparkled with admiration for Luo Lingyu as she joined the crowd. Unlike the other ladies who were discussing Lu San Lang, while the men discussed the Luo lady, Liu Tang specifically joined the men’s group to hear them praise how wonderful the Luo lady was.

Prince Chen Liu Shu saw his sister behaving this way and shook his head. On his beautiful, gentle face, his eyelashes trembled slightly as he caught sight of Prince Hengyang Liu Mu leaving, with Lu Er Lang Lu Xian following.

Prince Hengyang Liu Mu, having watched all this excitement, was left alone. Carrying a jar of wine, he wandered about before jumping onto a wall. The youth flipped onto the wall and then leaped again onto the eaves. Sitting cross-legged, Liu Mu took a drink of wine, and then satisfyingly smashed the wine jar against the roof tiles. Liu Mu looked down at Lu Er Lang Lu Xian who struggled to follow him up, mockingly asking: “Lu Er Lang, why do you keep following me today?”

Lu Xian hesitated.

After a long while, he squeezed out: “What does Your Highness think of my cousin Luo?”

Luo Lingyu?

Liu Mu’s lips curved as he broke into a smile. When the young lord smiled, he was handsome and striking; thinking of the lady’s tactics, he was both shocked and charmed. Then he thought for a moment, somewhat puzzled by Lu Xian’s intention. Liu Mu laughed heartily: “Miss Luo is naturally excellent, capable of both aggression and restraint and quite skilled. In my view, she’s the most vibrant beauty among Jianye’s ladies.”

Lu Xian showed a hint of a smile.

Then Liu Mu continued: “It’s just that she’s too ruthless, not a good person.”

Lu Xian froze: “Your Highness must have misunderstood…”

Liu Mu rubbed his chin: “But for a beauty, having some temper is normal.”

Lu Xian sighed in relief: “Yes, yes, yes!”

But then Liu Mu added: “But who dares to deal with a venomous beauty?”

Lu Xian: “My cousin isn’t…”

Liu Mu: “Actually, I’m not afraid of her. If Lu San Lang isn’t afraid, how could I be inferior to Lu San Lang?”

Lu Xian: “…”

Feeling something strange.

“What a pity,” Liu Mu took another sip of wine, and after joking for so long, he looked down at Lu Er Lang Lu Xian standing below with full hostility, casually saying: “I won’t be forming any marriage alliances with your Lu family.”

Lu Er Lang Lu Xian: “…”

He looked up at the Prince of Hengyang, confused. Lu Xian’s lips trembled twice, then he shook his head, flicked his sleeve, and walked away like a lost soul, muttering things like “Could I have been wrong again” “Does he actually like Cousin Luo or not” “Why will they get married after all”… Prince Hengyang Liu Mu thought: I just said that casually, yet Lu Er Lang is thinking so much… Has someone in the Lu family finally gone mad?

How delightful!

…

After the details of the Flower Goddess Festival were settled at this banquet, Luo Lingyu could go back and prepare her dance and music composition with peace of mind. She naturally didn’t know that after her Third Cousin changed clothes and returned to the banquet, he actively sought out the elderly gentlemen who had previously asked for his help. Lu San Lang, with his red lips and white teeth, spoke in a subtle tone:

“I’ve thought about it again just now, and I’ve come to understand. For this Flower Goddess Festival, I should also contribute my part. Regarding the position as one of the five distinguished gentlemen to select the ‘Flower Goddess’ that you sirs previously urged me to take, I am willing to accept.”

Lu San Lang was full of anger, thinking: he would properly restrict that dear cousin of his!