Luo Lingyu’s face flushed with alternating patches of green and red as she stepped back two paces, crossing her arms to cover her chest while exclaiming in a sharp voice: “Lu Xuezhen, where are you looking?!”

Lu Yun: “…”

He was staring at her chest.

For a young lady approaching fifteen, most people noticed her increasingly beautiful face first. Even Lu Sanlang would occasionally feel startled when he looked at her, for her appearance was truly… Sometimes Lu Sanlang thought, no wonder she not only wanted to marry into a noble family but aimed for a top-tier aristocratic household. With looks like hers… ordinary gentry families simply couldn’t protect her. Not to mention her younger sister who, though still small now, would likely also attract attention when she grew up.

On this night, Lu Sanlang noticed Luo Lingyu’s fine figure for the first time. The lake was clear and the breeze cool, with reeds swaying like tidal waves behind them. The lantern lay cast upon the reed ground, while the willowy dancer Lian Qinian drooped her shoulders and retreated, falling silent after bowing alongside the two young lords. Prince Chen Liu Shu rarely spoke in front of others, standing quietly like an invisible person.

Wave after wave of lantern light and water reflections washed over them, the young lady’s skin gleaming like jade and water with a soft radiance. Her neck, shoulders, chest, waist… looking down bit by bit in the darkness, Lu Yun could hear his fierce heartbeat.

Like fresh bamboo shoots, spring had arrived, and she grew more delicate with each passing day.

Her figure was better than other young ladies her age… Lu Yun’s eyelids cast shadows beneath his long lashes as he deliberately averted his gaze from Luo Lingyu’s embarrassed state. In his mind, however, he suddenly recalled several previous times when she had intentionally thrown herself into his arms, and what he had felt then…

Luo Lingyu shot a glare at Lu Sanlang, only to see him lowering his head as if smiling.

Luo Lingyu: “…”

This person must have a brain illness.

Indeed, nothing good ever came from encountering Lu Sanlang.

But the young lord beside Lu Sanlang… was Prince Chen Liu Shu.

Luo Lingyu looked toward the quiet Prince Chen. Liu Shu stood in the dim light, his features delicate, eyes clear and dark, with an austere and solemn bearing – truly a young lord whose brilliant demeanor was completely overshadowed by Lu Sanlang’s dazzling charm. Walking alongside Lu Sanlang, few people would notice there was another young lord beside Lu Yun… Luo Lingyu felt conflicted, having heard that Prince Chen had always been close with Lu Sanlang. Did this person… truly not mind that ladies only looked at Lu Yun, never at him?

Meeting Luo Lingyu’s gaze, Liu Shu gave a slight nod in greeting.

Luo Lingyu: “…”

Hmm, this Prince Chen was also strange, barely speaking – those who didn’t know might think him mute. But Luo Lingyu had seen Liu Shu at Prince Hengyang’s banquet before, where Liu Shu did speak, his voice clear and pleasant. Why did he so rarely open his mouth?

But this wasn’t the time to wonder about such things.

Luo Lingyu stared at Prince Chen Liu Shu, her beautiful eyes flickering slightly. In two days would be the “Flower Goddess Selection,” which, based on different talents and number of participants, would take five days to complete. After the ladies competed, the young lords and ladies would each cast their vote of support. Additionally, five distinguished scholars would provide commentary, with each scholar’s vote worth twenty times that of ordinary lords and ladies. Who these five scholars would be each year wouldn’t be known until the end. But to gain more votes, the various families’ young ladies typically began seeking nominations before the “Flower Goddess Selection” began.

Liu Shu’s sister, Princess Pingning Liu Tang, was also participating in this year’s Flower Goddess Selection.

Luo Lingyu’s scheming thoughts arose, and she playfully asked the Prince: “Has Princess Pingning been begging you to help her with votes these past few days? You’ll help her, won’t you? I imagine all those with royal family nominations will vote for the Princess… How wonderful, this way the Princess might surpass Miss Chen this year and become the ‘Flower Goddess.’ After all, Miss Chen has won three years in a row.”

Prince Chen Liu Shu gave a wry smile and shook his head. These past two days he had indeed been pestered relentlessly by his sister, begging him to seek out participating scholars for information, such as Lu Yun…

The Prince’s expression confirmed that Princess Pingning was indeed actively seeking nominations. Luo Lingyu thought that Miss Chen must surely be doing the same. But royal princes and noble young lords – their identities often overlapped. The Southern royal family and Jianye noble families had marriage ties; a single young lord might be both Princess Pingning’s brother and Miss Chen’s cousin or have interests to seek with other ladies’ families… At such times, deciding who to vote for was everyone’s most troublesome matter.

Luo Lingyu spoke enviously: “How wonderful, I wish I had an older brother too. If I had one, his vote would certainly go to me at this time. But alas, living under others’ roof, I can’t ask too much of others.”

Liu Shu was startled: “…”

His inquiring gaze swept toward Lu Sanlang beside him: What? Your cousin doesn’t know that this year you’ve taken some unknown interest and secured one of the five distinguished scholar positions at the “Flower Goddess Selection”? You’re not going to give your cousin any advantage?

Lu Yun remained composed, though his phoenix eyes lifted slightly, their brilliant lustre dazzling everyone’s eyes. With some mockery and teasing, he cast a light glance at Luo Lingyu.

Their eyes met, and Luo Lingyu was stunned by the flowing radiance, her heart skipping a beat in amazement. Her cheeks flushed red as she inwardly fumed: why did he deliberately cast such a glance at her when everything was fine?

Luo Lingyu suppressed the strange feeling in her heart and struggled to tear her gaze away from Lu Yun, forcing herself to act as if she couldn’t see Lu Sanlang. She smiled at Prince Chen Liu Shu with sincere feeling, carrying a hint of girlish innocence and coquettishness. Luo Lingyu said sweetly: “Lian Qinian and I have practiced dancing for quite some time, I’m not bad… My lords, shall I show you? When you’re undecided later, will you consider me?”

Lian Qinian focused on being invisible, watching from the corner of her eye as the young lady’s skirts swirled and long sleeves spread like crane wings. Luo Lingyu closed her eyes in recollection, and as she did so, the light and water shadows seemed to support her. The Prince stared at her, while Lu Sanlang’s previously averted gaze returned once more, fixing on her… chest.

The young lady’s waist sash flew as she danced, and when she opened her eyes again, her hands slowly rose. She turned her body, her waist swaying, head tilting slightly, while one hand lifted high above her head. When the movement froze, the young lady’s opening pose concluded. Her hands opened like lotus flowers, her waist as soft as reeds, casting a coquettish glance. Luo Lingyu deliberately pointed her jade-like fingertip toward Prince Chen before her…

The Prince remained motionless.

Just as the young lady’s fingertip was about to touch him, robes rustled from the side as Lu Sanlang stepped forward, reaching out to grasp Luo Lingyu’s extended wrist.

The Prince: “…”

Luo Lingyu: “…”

Lu Sanlang looked down at his hand gripping the young lady’s hand, his mind freezing: What am I doing? Why did I step forward?

The three remained silent, no one speaking for a long while. Luo Lingyu trembled whenever she saw him, and with her hand in his grip, her cool fingers touching the young lord’s burning hand, she shuddered and tried to withdraw. Lu Yun held her hand firmly, causing Luo Lingyu’s cheeks to gradually burn. Seeing his stern expression, her smile became somewhat stiff, her lips pressed together, her expression awkward. Luo Lingyu glared at Lu Yun: Let go of my hand! Don’t pull and grab at me in front of other young lords!

Lu Yun’s eyes were dark as he continued his silence: …

Lu Yun had rashly stepped forward, now standing before Luo Lingyu, perfectly positioned to look down at her. He felt somewhat embarrassed, secretly startled at why he had suddenly walked over. Being met with Luo Lingyu’s gaze that seemed to find him superfluous, Lu Sanlang’s irritation rose, the string in his mind “snapping,” emptying his rationality. Lu Sanlang naturally never let others mock him, so he had to find a perfect excuse for grabbing Luo Lingyu’s hand. Thus he said: “Cousin naturally dances very well, but is still missing one thing.”

Lu Yun took out a glass bracelet from his robes, and under Prince Chen’s suddenly constricted gaze and Luo Lingyu’s delighted eyes, Lu Sanlang lowered his eyes and lifted the young lady’s sleeve. The young lady revealed a section of her slender white arm, and Lu Sanlang stared for two beats before unhurriedly personally fastening the glass bracelet for Luo Lingyu. His fingers touched her cool, unsweat-dampened, delicate jade-like skin, and unable to resist, his movements in fastening the bracelet for her grew slower and slower, nearly coming to a stop…

Luo Lingyu suddenly withdrew her wrist from his hand, looking up and down at the beaded bracelet Lu Yun had fastened for her. Her gaze at Lu Yun was different from before: Glass! It was truly glass!

Though Luo Lingyu’s family had declined, she had once lived the comfortable life of a noble lady. She knew how precious glass was, and although the glass beads on her arm were somewhat cloudy in color, even cloudy glass was still glass… How expensive this must be.

Seeing her eyes brighten, Lu Yun felt his heart soften for some unknown reason. Lu Yun clasped his hands behind his back, watching the young lady joyfully touching the bracelet repeatedly, his eyes tinged with a smile: “Do you like it?”

Luo Lingyu looked up: “I love it! Third Cousin, you’re so good to me!”

Though his heart smiled with her, Lu Yun outwardly coughed and turned his face away to avoid her burning beautiful eyes: “Just something to play with. It’s not worth much.” His averted gaze caught Prince Chen Liu Shu’s meaningful look.

Liu Shu’s eyes were saying: What happened to give it to Zhou Yangling? What about your interests? What about keeping it first? Your cousin barely danced, perhaps hadn’t even started, just made an opening gesture, and you excitedly gave away the glass bracelet? Do you still say she’s not your lover?

Lu Yun somewhat awkwardly looked away, calling to Prince Chen: “Don’t we have other matters? I’ll see you out of the manor. Luo Lingyu… you, you continue with your activities.”

Luo Lingyu now smiled at him with exceptional sweetness and docility: “Yes, Third Cousin.”

Lu Yun and Prince Chen left just like that, Lu Sanlang’s steps up the stone bridge were somewhat hurried – as if something were chasing him from behind – while the Prince followed slowly behind. Prince Chen Liu Shu pondered thoughtfully, recalling Lu Yun’s recent rejection of marriage arrangements. At that time he had said he wouldn’t sacrifice his marriage, but now it seemed Lu Sanlang had another love. The Prince’s eyes showed interest: If Lu Yun had found Luo Lingyu full of flaws… and then fell for her, wouldn’t that make him appear quite foolish?

After the two young lords left, Luo Lingyu still couldn’t stop admiring the bracelet Lu Yun had given her. She had always felt Lu Yun disliked her, and after the truth was revealed, she became even more self-destructive, believing her impression in Lu Yun’s heart had reached rock bottom. But now it seemed that wasn’t the case… Lu Sanlang didn’t hate her that much. Glass was so precious, yet he had given it to her so casually… Even wealthy noble families like the Lu family wouldn’t be so extravagant.

What made Luo Lingyu happiest was that glass was truly valuable. Very valuable…

She had a thought in mind and couldn’t be bothered to force Lian Qinian to practice dancing anymore. The two young ladies hurriedly returned to their courtyard carrying lanterns, where maids were already waiting at the courtyard gate. After instructing the maids to attend to Lian Qinian’s rest, Luo Lingyu rushed back to her room.

Closing the door, she lit all the lamps in the room, sat down and immediately removed the glass bracelet from her arm. Examining the bracelet carefully in the bright lamplight, she saw the beads were somewhat uneven in shape and size, the color not quite pure, though they were polished very smooth. Under the lamplight, the beads reflected rainbow-colored light, dancing in her palm.

Luo Lingyu could now see clearly that given the bracelet’s material quality, this glass was very crude, not worth as much as she had thought.

Yet this made her even more delighted!

Covering her violently beating heart, she pulled the lamp closer and bent to look even more carefully, not missing any marks on the bracelet. After studying it for half an hour, she was completely relieved: she had guessed correctly! A glass bracelet of such crude quality must have been somewhat defective, so there were no marks left on it.

No marks from the Lu family or any noble family.

This meant… she could take this glass bracelet out to sell for money! Such a crude thing might not be needed by noble families, but Jianye had many wealthy merchants.

The family resources that would have been emptied for the “Flower Goddess Selection” suddenly seemed like they could all be earned back, with plenty to spare…

Patting her heart to calm herself down, Luo Lingyu called for her maid Lingxi with a trembling voice. Lingxi had been with her for a long time; she didn’t dare have Lingyu, the maid sent by Old Madam Lu, do this – she only trusted the maid who had been through things with her. Whispering in the terrified Lingxi’s ear, Luo Lingyu stuffed the glass bracelet into Lingxi’s arms: “These next few days when you go out, ask around and sell this bracelet. You must be careful, absolutely don’t sell it to gentry families.”

Lingxi was afraid: “What if… what if Third Young Master finds out… Young Lady, we’re living as guests in the Lu family, we shouldn’t anger Lu Sanlang. He even gave you the bracelet, you shouldn’t…”

Luo Lingyu steadied herself: “Don’t worry, he won’t find out.”

“Someone as lofty as him, his social circle isn’t just among the gentry, but the top aristocratic families. As long as you’re careful and don’t sell the bracelet to Jianye’s elite families, Lu Sanlang won’t know. And even if he accidentally discovers it, it doesn’t matter – I’ve checked carefully, and there are no marks on the bracelet. He’s used to handling fine things; with beads this crude, he couldn’t possibly recognize it.”

Lingxi was nearly crying: “What if he asks you to wear the bracelet he gave you…”

Luo Lingyu raised an eyebrow: “On what grounds? Once given to me it’s my thing, it’s not a token of love – why should I wear it every day? I’m not from a poor family, I have plenty of jewelry, why should I wear the same piece every day?”

Luo Lingyu gave a hard push to the timid Lingxi’s waist, frustrated: “Just sell the bracelet and raise the money! Don’t worry about Lu Sanlang, I’ll handle him.”

Luo Lingyu was confident: It was just a crude glass bracelet, Lu Sanlang probably didn’t even like it, which was why he gave it to her so casually. There was a high chance he wouldn’t even remember it… Last time he’d said he didn’t remember giving her Scholar Xunmei’s painting.

Sell it, sell it! Once she sold the bracelet she’d have money, have time to endure a few more days until she found a good husband!

While Lingxi was forced by Luo Lingyu to go out daily, secretly asking wealthy merchants if they wanted to buy a glass bracelet, Lu Sanlang indeed didn’t come to check where Luo Lingyu had put the bracelet he’d given her. And because Luo Lingyu now had a source of money, her heart was lighter, and she watched Lian Qinian’s dance practice even more diligently.

With Luo Lingyu working so hard, over the next few days, all the young lords of the Lu family encountered Luo Lingyu and Lian Qinian to some extent, and knew how much importance Luo Lingyu placed on this “Flower Goddess Selection.” Setting aside whether they could marry her, young lords all liked beautiful and clever young ladies. Luo Lingyu practiced dancing by the lake before dawn every day, and after watching from the bridge for two days, the young lords all agreed to give their nominations to her. Luo Lingyu was delighted, satisfied that her daily pre-dawn excursions outside had yielded results.

But while the Lu family’s branch young lords were easy to handle, the two direct-line young lords were both peculiar. During the same early morning dance practice, she again encountered Lu Sanlang heading to court. Thinking he must have some goodwill toward her after giving her the glass bracelet, Luo Lingyu used the same coquettish manner she used with other young lords, acting cute with Lu Yun, hoping he would give her his nomination.

Lu Sanlang, busy heading to court, stood on the bridge and looked at her deeply for a long while, then said meaningfully: “My nomination – you can’t afford it.”

The nomination of one of the five distinguished scholars could almost determine who would ultimately become the “Flower Goddess,” and Lu Yun naturally wouldn’t give it to her.

Luo Lingyu: “…”

Sick.

She knew this Third Cousin was hot and cold, giving her glass one moment, then not even giving her a nomination the next.

She snorted, having not held much hope anyway, and just let Lu Sanlang leave like that.

Never mind, if not Lu Sanlang, there was still Lu Erlang. Lu Sanlang was unpredictable and difficult to talk to, but Lu Xian… Luo Lingyu thought that given Second Brother Lu’s approachability, he almost always granted her requests. If not for Lu Erlang’s mother, Madam Lu, having such deep prejudice against her, Luo Lingyu felt Second Cousin would be the best marriage candidate… Yet when she looked up from beneath the stone bridge and spoke softly to Lu Xian, who was leaving the manor, Second Young Master Lu Xian’s expression was very strange.

Lu Xian rested his hand on the stone bridge railing, staring at her in surprise: “What? You want to participate in that ‘Flower Goddess Selection’?”

Luo Lingyu: “…Yes.”

She was puzzled – hadn’t she registered long ago? Wasn’t Lu Xian there that day? What was he finding strange now?

Lu Xian’s heart suddenly twisted, the light in his eyes flickering, his hand on the stone railing curling within his sleeve. He recalled the details he’d noted from his dream – at this time, Luo Lingyu and Prince Hengyang hadn’t yet returned to Jianye, while Lu Yun, who had left Jianye to receive Scholar Zhou’s daughter, had already returned to Jianye.

Lu Sanlang had returned to Jianye in poor spirits, and in the dream, Lu Xian hadn’t seen him for a long time.

But when the “Flower Goddess Day” came, Jianye’s annual “Flower Goddess Selection” would certainly not be missed just because Lu Sanlang was in a bad mood. In the dream, because Lu Sanlang was troubled, he hadn’t taken up one of the five distinguished scholar positions. That year, Luo Lingyu hadn’t returned to Jianye in time for the “Flower Goddess Selection,” and Lu Yun also hadn’t gone to judge at the “Flower Goddess Selection.”

That year’s “Flower Goddess” was also no longer Chen Xiu.

Instead, it was Scholar Zhou Tan’s daughter, Zhou Yangling.

In the dream, Second Young Master Lu also had the fortune to attend the “Flower Goddess Selection.” The Zhou young lady hadn’t participated from the start, but only appeared on the last day, alongside Prince Chen Liu Shu. The Zhou young lady had the figure of Xi Shi and the beauty of a celestial maiden, stunning everyone. With Prince Chen as her escort, she drew even more attention.

But becoming the “Flower Goddess” – she achieved it entirely through her genuine talents, without a trace of falsity.

That year’s “Flower Goddess” was Zhou Yangling, and it wasn’t until the following year when Zhou Yangling didn’t participate again and Luo Lingyu had returned to Jianye, that the “Flower Goddess” title would fall to Luo Lingyu. But by then, Luo Lingyu was already Empress, and whether she was “Flower Goddess” or not no longer mattered at all.

By that time… Lu Sanlang was already gone. Without Lu Sanlang, the Lu family no longer had beautiful young cousin ladies visiting daily, and the Luo daughters who had sought refuge from Nanyang never returned here again.

“Xuexu Court” stood empty, and “Qing Court” was also without people.

His third brother had missed every possibility with Cousin Luo…

In the sunlight, waves rippled on the lake as Lu Xian’s eyes seemed filled with mournful sadness, staring dazedly at the beautiful young lady smiling up from below the bridge. Everything was different, everything seemed so wonderful. Third Brother had firmly expressed his willingness to appear at this “Flower Goddess Selection,” Cousin Luo was also in Jianye, confidently ready to compete.

Moreover, because Lu Xian constantly paid attention to his dream, he had already learned – it was said that Young Lady Zhou, Zhou Yangling, had also arrived in Jianye.

But unlike in the dream, in reality, Prince Chen Liu Shu seemed to have… lost Young Lady Zhou.

It was truly puzzling: how could one fail to receive someone they were meant to meet?

Below, Luo Lingyu said disappointedly: “Second Cousin? What’s wrong? Are you like Third Cousin, unwilling to give me your nomination?”

“Ah, no, I can give it to you,” Lu Xian hurriedly said, though he hesitated, “Cousin, do you want to participate? Why not wait until next year? This year there are many outstanding young ladies, but the chances of winning are too slim, and you’re not very familiar with Jianye’s young lords and ladies – why not wait another year? Wait until you have more confidence to go?”

He said sincerely: “Cousin, you will become ‘Flower Goddess.’ But this year, I’m afraid…”

This year there was Zhou Yangling.

Although the dream and reality seemed completely different, and Lu Xian still hadn’t figured out if there was any connection between the dream and reality, at least in some places, the dream could give Lu Xian hints. For instance, Lu Xian knew about Zhou Yangling and Luo Lingyu’s prepared pieces for the “Flower Goddess Selection.” In the dream, Luo Lingyu had chosen the “Chang’e Flies to the Moon” dance, and in reality, it was the same. Then the Zhou young lady would likely be the same as well.

Although Lu Xian felt closer to Luo Lingyu in his heart, he had to admit: at least in the “Flower Goddess Selection,” Cousin Luo was no match for that Zhou young lady. If she competed in the same year as that Zhou young lady, Cousin Luo would lose badly. Because that young lady won not just with talent, but with breadth of mind and integrity… These were what the scholars of old had always loved.

These things, Luo Lingyu didn’t have.

Lu Xian urged: “Cousin, wait until next year to compete, alright?”

Wait until next year, and it would all be too late. Luo Lingyu dismissed this: “No… Cousin, it’s just for fun. Are you afraid I’ll lose? It doesn’t matter if I lose, I don’t mind. Cousin, just give me your nomination when the time comes.”

She didn’t believe she would lose to Chen Xiu and Princess Pingning Liu Tang. Besides these two ladies, Luo Lingyu felt no one could threaten her, confident in her methods. She was determined to become a “Flower Goddess,” have the scholars paint her portrait, and appear in the scholars’ “Ladies’ Portraits.” Even Scholar Xunmei Lu Yun… might be greatly surprised and paint her portrait.

She was filled with determination, wanting Lu Sanlang to think highly of her. She wanted to show him that she was much, much better than he thought… He was the one who couldn’t measure up, not her.

Lu Xian couldn’t persuade Luo Lingyu, and in the end was even convinced by the quick-witted Luo Lingyu to help her gather votes, to win over more young lords for her. When Second Young Master Lu thought about it, he naturally included Prince Hengyang Liu Mu in his targets. Liu Mu originally had no intention of getting involved in their “Flower Goddess Selection” business, but who would have thought Second Young Master Lu would be so obsessed, running to his manor every day, telling him how wonderful Cousin Luo was… Liu Mu cursed behind people’s backs: “Has Second Young Master Lu gone mad? If he likes his Cousin Luo so much, he should court her himself, why keep chasing after me?”

Master Kong was clever but equally puzzled.

…

The “Flower Goddess Selection” lasted five days, with music and dance on the third day. After eating breakfast at home, Luo Lingyu took Lian Qinian and rode in a long-eaved carriage to “Hualin Garden.” Hualin Garden was originally a royal garden, but for the “Flower Goddess Selection,” the royal family had specially lent the place to these noble young lords and ladies. Since coming to Jianye, Young Lady Luo Yunwan has been going out with her sister for the first time. Sitting in the ox cart, nestled against her sister, Luo Yunwan lifted the curtain to curiously look at the scenery outside, secretly reminding herself to be careful not to cause trouble for her sister.

Because it was still very early, when their ox cart left Wu Yi Lane, there weren’t many pedestrians on either side of the street. Luo Yunwan couldn’t help lifting the curtain to look outside, and Luo Lingyu also excitedly joined her in occasionally taking a peek. Suddenly, Luo Lingyu saw her sister staring in one direction for a long time, her small face’s big eyes filled with conflict – Luo Lingyu leaned over, following her sister’s line of sight, and saw the bank of the Qinhuai River, a young lord’s slender figure kneeling prostrate on the ground, motionless for a long while.

Luo Yunwan bit her finger: So pitiful… want to save him… but afraid of causing trouble for sister…

Luo Lingyu’s eyes brightened: Looking at that young lord’s clothing, and the bearing revealed by his back view… must be a noble family’s young lord!

Her heart stirred, and Luo Lingyu hurriedly said: “Stop the cart, quickly go see that young lord…”

Luo Yunwan turned her head with widened eyes in surprise, watching her sister busily order the cart to stop and send someone to the Qinhuai River bank to rescue the young lord. After bringing him into the cart, Luo Lingyu looked down and saw his long lashes black as crow’s wings, lips red and skin white, bearing like orchids and bamboo – he was a handsome youth with delicate features, and she was even more relieved. Noble young lords were always good-looking with outstanding bearing, and this lord’s appearance… must surely be from an aristocratic family without doubt.

The Luo daughters’ dream of marrying into nobility had never ended.

“Young Lady, this young lord seems to have fainted from heatstroke?” Maid Lingyu hesitated, opening the window lattice to look at the sun outside: The sun had just come out, it wasn’t hot, was it? How could one get heatstroke already?

Luo Lingyu didn’t care about that, only staring at the handsome youth they had brought into the cart: “Never mind that quickly give him some water to drink. The young lord must have suffered…”

Luo Yunwan: “…”

The ox cart continued slowly forward, and after a long while, the young lord they had rescued finally slowly regained consciousness. His eyelashes trembled lightly, like a rain swallow awakening. When his eyes opened, one could see their clear bright pupils, brilliant eyes shining. The youth leaned weakly against the cart wall, struggling to sit up, his long hair scattered messily over his face, disordered yet beautiful. With such looks, everyone who was used to seeing beauty, including Luo Lingyu, was stunned for a moment.

After sitting up, the young lord smiled at them somewhat embarrassedly: “Thank you for your kindness… I’ve been weak since childhood, please excuse my rudeness.”

The beautiful youth sat leaning against the cart wall, while outside light filtered through the curtain, spots flowing like water, illuminating him. When speaking, the young lord kept his head slightly lowered, his voice soft and low, his eyes glowing, possessing an androgynous beauty.

The delight in Luo Lingyu’s beautiful eyes grew stronger and stronger, and she bent down even further, taking the bowl from the maid’s hands to personally feed the young lord water: “How should we address the young lord?”

The youth said gently: “My surname is Zhou, given name… Zibo.”

Luo Lingyu: “So it’s Young Lord Zhou!”

How handsome Young Lord Zhou was!