Lu San Lang was a hypocrite, falsely aloof.

He had pressed Luo Lingyu against the corridor pillar, saying he would withdraw if she was unwilling. But he withdrew so slowly, and almost as soon as Luo Lingyu hooked her arms around his neck, he turned and pressed forward, his lips meeting hers. The fragrance was like crushed flower juice, even more intense than when they had accidentally touched that day during archery at Mount Zhong. Just as he had occasionally remembered and imagined at night, she was soft and sweet, stirring the hot blood throughout his body, concentrating it at the point where their lips met.

The young master’s eyelashes touched the lady’s, her eyelashes trembling rapidly. As the young master held her waist and drew her into his embrace, her fingers resting on his neck trembled violently, her snow-white face flushed red, her eyes not daring to open.

Precisely because her eyes were closed, her other senses became extraordinarily keen, fully feeling Lu Yun’s aggressive kisses. It was a complete kiss, not just lips touching, his tongue also entering, intertwining with hers. Luo Lingyu’s whole body was uneasy and afraid, but the young master’s scent enveloped her, and when he kissed her, he was forceful and unquestionable, yet didn’t completely overwhelm her. He gave her a chance to resist—

Luo Lingyu’s hands trembled as they clutched his collar: at this point, she absolutely would not resist.

With such an entangling, breathless, soul-stirring kiss, both their hearts beat faster and faster. Teeth and tongues inexpertly rubbed together, sometimes colliding, causing some pain, but more often creating a spine-melting sensation. He kissed her until her waist went soft and her limbs grew numb, and when she couldn’t breathe, she slid down the pillar. Even then, Lu Yun wouldn’t let her go.

The lady sat collapsed on the steps, still held in the young master’s embrace. His sleeves blocked the faint light from outside as he held her softened body. Luo Lingyu’s face was impossibly red as she was forced to tilt her face up, enduring his lingering, passionate kiss. He kissed her so deeply and ardently that Luo Lingyu’s heart pounded thunderously, and at one moment, she almost believed Lu Yun loved her deeply.

Otherwise, why would his emotions be so unstable?

Above their heads, magnolia and peach trees’ petals, pink and jade-white, clustered heavily on the branches. When the night wind blew gently, flowers fell like rain, showering down onto the young man and woman, one kneeling and one sitting beneath the corridor. Petals covered their shoulders, hair, and sleeves, with more flowers drifting down toward where their lips and teeth were entangled.

Fresh, fragrant flowers caught between their lips, Luo Lingyu opened her eyes to see that even then, Lu Yun didn’t withdraw. His eyelids lowered, his eyes naturally carrying a gentle tenderness when looking down, and she stared at the flower petal caught between his teeth. He moved his teeth and tongue, and the petal, following their embracing kiss, fell between Luo Lingyu’s lips and teeth, and she swallowed it. On the long cold night, the flower petals were sweet, crushed between their lips and teeth, truly like lovers in a secret affair.

Thrilling, forbidden!

Luo Lingyu: “Mmm…”

Her whole body trembled!

Melting in his embrace!

Suddenly, she heard footsteps from the rooms behind, the sound of a maid getting up in the night. Luo Lingyu was startled, and Lu Yun lifted her, hiding her in the shrubbery beneath the corridor. Her face pressed against his violently beating heart, held in the young master’s embrace, her body taking on his scent. Luo Lingyu’s eyelashes trembled, carrying a misty dampness. When the maid’s sounds faded, she lifted her head to see Lu Yun’s dark eyes, suppressing desire.

Lu Yun gazed at her for a long while, then said hoarsely: “It’s late, you should go back.”

Luo Lingyu lowered her head, her mind in chaos, not knowing what to say. The lady’s face was still blood-red: “…mm.”

Lu Er Lang Lu Xian had already left silently, like a lost soul, when the two were deeply absorbed in their kiss.

He had been sick for several days and was even more unsettled about his dreams. The matter of two men competing for one woman, he had never noticed before. He couldn’t help but come to seek his cousin Luo, wanting to ask her, to probe a little. He hadn’t asked a single question before he saw Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu embracing and kissing, and he already understood.

Lu Xian walked in the cold dew of the deep night, trying hard to remember every detail of his dreams. Some fragments of words, some things that had occasionally leaked out… He bit his cheek, seeming to both cry and laugh: “So that’s how it is… so that’s how it is… Third Brother, you’ve been hiding it all along…”

If Luo Lingyu and Lu Yun had developed feelings this early in reality, it wouldn’t be much different from the dream, right?

Up until now, the variables in his dream were just how early he had woken up from his first fever, and how early the Prince of Hengyang had met Luo Lingyu. That meant in that world of his dreams, at this time, his third brother Lu Yun, and Luo Lingyu were already having a secret relationship.

In the world of his dreams, Lu Er Lang was eventually appointed as Zhongsan Dafu. After Lu San Lang died at the border, Lu Xian sorted through Lu Yun’s belongings. With their master gone, the servants of “Clear Court” had no one to rely on. The maids and attendants were either sold or arranged to serve other masters. When Lu Xian went to his brother’s “Clear Court,” he saw only a garden in ruins, the servants gone, with only one maid, Jinyue, remaining to sort through Lu San Lang’s old possessions.

Jinyue had married before Lu San Lang went to the border, and she returned to the Lu family specifically to help Lu Er Lang organize his third brother’s old things. Jinyue took out a letter from a hidden compartment in the study and gave it to Lu Er Lang: “This is an unfinished letter Third Lang wrote before… he wrote it when he was leaving, but later wanted to burn it. I snatched it from the fire basin when he left. I thought this letter might be useful someday… I didn’t expect this letter would be his final farewell.”

Jinyue’s eyes filled with tears as she covered her mouth and turned away sobbing—”Our Third Lang has nothing left, His Majesty won’t let people mention him, all his old writings and paintings were burned, and no one dares keep anything. Only this letter remains… Second Lang, if you remember our master, please keep just this tiny bit of his things.”

Lu Er Lang took out this letter, which had been mostly burned, a black mass. Jinyue hadn’t rescued it in time, unable to completely save the letter, and what Lu Xian saw of this letter had handwriting different from Lu Yun’s usual unrestrained style. Lu San Lang had changed to a different hand, elegant, restrained, and heavy. Each character was written in thick ink as if every word had been pondered for a long time before being written. In this letter that Lu Xian saw, only the last few characters remained—

“My heart for you, the sun and moon bear witness. The paper is short but feelings long, yet feelings do not last. If, if…”

Even this half-burned letter was unfinished.

The Lu Er Lang in the dream looked up and asked Jinyue: “…Who was this letter written to? Why wasn’t it finished? When exactly did he write it?”

Jinyue could not speak through her tears, only shaking her head, unwilling to tell Lu Er Lang the answer. How could she tell Lu Er Lang that the relationship Lu San Lang had wanted to salvage… was already beyond recovery? That person had already become the Son of Heaven, and even though the Lu family was powerful, there was no precedent for competing with His Majesty for a wife.

In that dream world, Lu Er Lang only vaguely knew that his brother had, in life, seemed to have loved a lady. But he didn’t know who that lady was, or to whom those final “ifs” were written…

And now, as dream and reality mirrored each other, Lu Xian’s heart ached terribly—the paper was short but feelings long, yet feelings did not last.

So in the dream, that letter of Third Brother’s had been written to Cousin Luo. Then everything made logical sense—in the dream, when Lu San Lang went to the border, Luo Lingyu had already been designated as the Prince of Hengyang’s future princess, though not yet married. While Lu San Lang was at the border, the old emperor passed away, the new emperor ascended the throne, and overnight, Luo Lingyu went from future princess to future empress. The new emperor was impatient, and as soon as he ascended the throne, he held a grand wedding. Not long after came Lu San Lang’s death.

Even when leaving Jianye for the border, Lu San Lang had still thought of winning back Cousin Luo. He was extremely proud, and wrote a letter, but didn’t send it. Perhaps he wanted to wait until he was calmer until she was calmer. But once he left, it became completely irretrievable…

Lu Xian covered his face, his shoulders trembling slightly. Shaking with pain, as if feeling it himself, he finally knew the secret his third brother had been hiding all along. Slowly, he gritted his teeth and staggered back up, supporting himself against a tree. He swayed under the cold moonlight, swearing in his heart—

Regardless of whether the dream was true or false! He could not let the events of the dream happen in reality!

Even if the Prince of Hengyang might become emperor… if Cousin Luo was his third brother, he would help his third brother. His third brother had lost his parents young, people had come and gone around him, and though many seemed to admire the Plum-Seeking Recluse, Lu San Lang had never really had anyone close to his heart. If his third brother had finally come to love a lady, even if heaven fell and earth cracked, Lu Xian would help his third brother fulfill that unfinished wish!

Lu Xian felt he needed to think carefully: the dream had given him so many warnings, he needed to figure out where to start to change all the outcomes from the dream.

…

Luo Lingyu had been particularly pleased lately.

Her glass bracelet had finally sold, and Lingxi brought back a large sum of money. After covering their shortfall, there was still plenty left over, making Luo Lingyu delighted. At the same time, her “Flower God Selection” evaluation was moving in a good direction. While Princess Pingning and Lady Chen Xiu were locked in fierce competition, the somewhat weaker Luo Lingyu stood out by contrast. Many who were at their wits’ end about whether to give Princess Pingning or Lady Chen higher scores simply gave their votes to Luo Lingyu instead.

Moreover, with Lu Yun taking her to meet the other four notable figures… even if she didn’t become the Flower God, getting even brief evaluations from the notable figures, and being praised by them, would be beneficial.

Sitting before her dressing mirror in the early morning, combing her hair, Luo Lingyu held her cheeks. The reflection in the clouded bronze mirror showed a lady of flower-like beauty, her smile somewhat cunning and pleased. Luo Lingyu supported her cheeks, thinking bashfully: besides those good things… she felt that her marriage prospects had become particularly clear.

Lu Yun had kissed her.

Even if it was to negotiate conditions, even if he might have just been momentarily bewitched, if he could be bewitched for a moment, he must have been bewitched many times before this… Perhaps Lu San Lang liked her in his heart?

That would be wonderful.

Among all the young masters of Jianye, after considering all options, Luo Lingyu truly felt that Lu San Lang Lu Yun, whom she had favored from the start, was the best. Lu San Lang lived alone in his courtyard, without a father or mother, and after marrying him, she would share such great power and wealth with him while not having to navigate the world’s most difficult mother-in-law relationship; Lu San Lang was also a notable figure, and whether in the southern or northern countries, even if they left the Lu family to travel the mountains and waters together, a notable figure’s reputation would let them live quite comfortably; finally, Lu San Lang was her cousin. Her aunt Lu Ying was Lu Yun’s aunt, adding kinship to kinship.

The Luo family of Nanyang’s prestige was practically worthless in Jianye, and if she married another young master, with her family lacking influence, if there were any conflicts between husband and wife after marriage, with no one to rely on behind her, Luo Lingyu would need to bow her head again and again. But Lu Yun was different. Although her aunt didn’t care much about her, she was still her relative, and if Lu San Lang bullied her after marriage, she could still tell her aunt and have her aunt stand up for her…

If she could marry Lu San Lang, then young masters like Zhou Lang, whose background she hadn’t yet fully explored, would be removed from Luo Lingyu’s list.

It was truly unexpected that after all the twists and turns, by chance and circumstance, the times she had embarrassed herself in front of Lu Yun, the times she had discovered his incredible secrets… and still he could like her… She wondered what Lu San Lang liked about her.

Her beauty?

At this thought, Luo Lingyu stirred, reopening her cosmetics box to once again apply rouge and powder, carefully grooming herself. She ground the silvery-white powder in her hand, made according to a beauty recipe she had found in a medical book a few days ago, and when applied to her hands, they indeed became delicate and smooth. Luo Lingyu lowered her head, carefully working the powder in her hands, while taking out paper and brush to patiently write out comparisons between different types of powder. Luo Lingyu was not only naturally beautiful, but her dedication to maintaining her beauty was unmatched by most.

Outside the window, birds chirped as Luo Yunhuan rubbed her eyes, opening her mouth in a small yawn, kicking off her shoes to enter the room barefoot, mumbling: “Sister, I’ve got small pimples on my face, do you still have any of that fragrant powder you put on me last time?”

Lingyu was tidying the room nearby and frowned upon hearing this. Having followed the young lady for over a month, even someone as slow as Lingyu knew that this young lady’s family resources were thin, unable to support large expenses in Jianye. The powder the little miss was asking about now had rather expensive raw materials. Just as Lingyu was about to advise the little miss not to ask for things carelessly, she saw Luo Lingyu respond in very good spirits: “Lingyu, find some for her. When it’s used up, ask me again, and I’ll make new ones.”

Luo Yunhuan’s eyes widened.

She had just woken up and was still confused. Right after speaking, she realized she shouldn’t have asked, how could they have money to buy powder for her? Luo Yunhuan was about to take back her words when she saw her sister, who was bent over the desk writing with her back turned, cheerfully agreeing. Luo Yunhuan pattered over, bringing her little head close to peer for a long while. Her sister’s eyes contained spring, her beauty incomparable.

Luo Yunhuan whispered: “…Sister, have you changed your marriage prospects again? Is your new prospect treating you extremely well, sending you money?”

Luo Lingyu: “…”

Giving her sister a reproachful look, she warned: “Don’t speak nonsense about this. I’ve been constant from beginning to end, never changing. No matter who asks, you must remember this.”

Luo Yunhuan’s eyes grew even wider, hugging her sister’s neck, her bright eyes sparkling with joy: “…So you’ve switched your target back to Third Cousin? Did Third Cousin give you hints? Did he, did he?”

Having saved Lu San Lang before, Luo Yunhuan had always felt fondly toward him. She had been sad that her sister couldn’t find a suitable husband she liked, and she wished the two adults she liked could be together. Now… Luo Yunhuan clung to Luo Lingyu, asking questions in a small voice without stopping. Luo Lingyu felt like her bones would fall apart from being shaken so much, yet the pleased satisfaction in her eyes couldn’t be hidden.

Luo Lingyu modestly: “Oh my…”

As they were playing around in the room, a maid called from the courtyard: “Young Lady, someone has come from Third Lang with a message.”

Luo Lingyu gave Luo Yunhuan a dignified look, and the little miss immediately straightened up, returning her sister a “leave it to me” look before bouncing out. Through the curtain, Luo Lingyu heard her little sister sweetly calling “Sister Jinyue.” Luo Lingyu pricked up her ears, hearing Jinyue exchange some casual conversation with Luo Yunhuan before getting to the main point: “Our master has gone to court, before leaving he asked me to relay a message to the young lady. Third Lang says the young lady should not go out today, but wait for him. After he returns from court, he will take the young lady to Mount Xiaowei to meet a notable figure.”

Luo Yunhuan obediently: “Alright! I’ll tell my sister… ah, my sister is writing, she’s busy.”

Since the young lady was busy, Jinyue didn’t disturb her. She gazed deeply at the bamboo curtain, faintly seeing the young lady’s slender silhouette behind it. Previously it had always been the young lady asking their Third Lang out, this was the first time Third Lang had taken the initiative to invite the young lady. The young lady was indeed as she had thought, full of potential.

Behind the curtain, Luo Lingyu heard Jinyue’s words, and her heart immediately began to beat heavily. She could no longer write, getting up to pace the room, her cheeks gradually warming: her Third Cousin seemed very busy. Since that night he had kissed her, he hadn’t appeared before her. He had said he would introduce her to notable figures but had let Lu Er Lang keep her company in conversation. Only today did he have time.

Luo Lingyu twirled around, returning to her dressing table to pick up the bronze mirror and groom herself again: “Lingyu, Lingyu! Have the measurements for my new clothes this month been adjusted? Don’t save them, I want to wear them today. Flower God Day? There are other new clothes for Flower God Day. Oh, has Huan’er been secretly using my black pigment? How has so much gone missing? Huan’er…”

“Snow Tracing Court” became busy again, centered around the young lady’s grooming and dressing.

By the time Lu Yun finished court and returned to his courtyard to change clothes when he arrived at his cousin’s courtyard, Luo Lingyu still hadn’t finished her grooming. Lu Yun calculated the time: “Two hours… I’ve finished court, and she hasn’t finished her makeup?”

Lu San Lang was incredulous, recalling his cousin’s face. She was already born that beautiful… excessively so, how much more beautiful did she need to be? Was it necessary to spend so much time?

However, Luo Lingyu still refused to come out, making him wait.

Lu Yun was both amused and helpless, having no choice but to go to the main room to drink tea while waiting for the lady. He had barely drunk two cups when he unexpectedly heard the announcement of Lu Er Lang coming to visit their cousin. Why did his second brother keep coming to find Luo Lingyu? Lu San Lang frowned slightly, turning his head to see his second brother already entering through the curtain. Seeing him sitting there, Lu Xian’s eyes showed joy: “Third Brother, you’ve finally finished your business and are taking Cousin Luo out to play?”

Lu Yun: “…”

Second Brother’s attitude was strange.

Lu Yun: “I’m not done with business, just taking her to meet someone in passing.” He maintained his composure, raising his brow slightly, “Was Second Brother planning to take a cousin out? Did I make an appointment at the wrong time?”

“No, no, no,” Lu Xian hurriedly waved his hands, smiling at his third brother, “Your timing is very good, very good indeed. With you accompanying Cousin Luo, I can rest assured.”

Lu Xian looked at him, sighing softly: “Third Brother, you must cherish the bonds between people. Know that deep feelings don’t last long, and paper is too short for long feelings. If you miss this chance, it will be a lifelong regret.”

Lu Yun: …Second Brother was even stranger now.

He put down his tea, his expression becoming slightly solemn: “…Second Brother, have you found a lady you like, to be so deeply moved? It’s not… Luo Lingyu, is it?”

His face quietly sank, his eyes narrowing.

Lu Xian: “…”

Utterly stunned!

Meeting his third brother’s faint gaze, Lu Xian realized that his behavior these past days of finding excuses to talk with their cousin had probably led to his third brother’s misunderstanding. Lu Xian hurriedly clarified: “What are you thinking? Between Cousin Luo and me as siblings, there is absolutely no private relationship. I just… having been sick these past days, I’ve become more sentimental.”

Lu Yun said coolly: “Second Brother is truly a sensitive person.”

Lu Xian: “…”

Thinking to himself, if it wasn’t for you, would I go to such lengths? You ungrateful boy, still mocking me, not appreciating my intentions…

“Both cousins are here?” Just as the brothers were becoming unable to sit still, Luo Lingyu finally arrived fashionably late. Her voice was clear and slightly sweet, her tone bright, like sunlight entering the dim room, causing both kneeling young masters to look up at her simultaneously.

The lady wore her hair in a high cloud-like style, her black hair thick as clouds. Her willow eyebrows were long and fine, her eye corners slightly upturned, and the beauty with snow-white skin and red lips wore a dress of red flowers on snow-green. She entered gracefully, her gaze only lightly sweeping over the two of them once, and even though Lu Xian had no private feelings for Luo Lingyu, he couldn’t help but be stunned for a moment, lowering his head uncomfortably with a red face.

Lu Xian laughed twice: “Cousin is dressed so nicely to go out with Third Brother? Very good, very good.”

Luo Lingyu’s cheeks reddened at his laughter, though she didn’t know what Lu Xian was laughing about.

Lu Xian was truly strange, insisting on following Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu, accompanying them out of the Lu family compound, and seeing them onto the long-roofed carriage. Lu Yun lowered his eyes, asking his second brother with a half-smile if he wanted to come along with them, and only then did Lu Xian cough: “His Majesty is unwell, I’m looking for a physician to enter the palace to examine His Majesty, so I won’t trouble you. You two, enjoy yourselves and relax, no need to hurry back home.”

Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu were dumbfounded: “…”

Second Cousin’s words sounded as if they were eloping.

After earnestly instructing the two at length, watching the ox cart leave Black Clothes Lane, Lu Xian finally felt relieved. In his dream, there had been this segment too. Lu San Lang went to visit a notable figure, chatting with an old friend… but at that time, the Lu Er Lang in the dream didn’t know that Lu Yun had gone together with Luo Lingyu. Now that he knew, the feeling in his heart was strange, Lu Xian felt as if he had witnessed the entire secret between his third brother and Cousin Luo—

What he hadn’t known in the dream, in reality, made him suddenly understand: so at that time, Lu Yun had been together with Luo Lingyu again!

They were always together!

Lu Xian returned satisfied, preparing himself before entering the palace to see His Majesty. He recalled that in the dream world, the old emperor had died from cinnabar poisoning, and now he still couldn’t determine if the Prince of Hengyang was suitable to be emperor. But the first thing that needed to be addressed was a warning about His Majesty’s health… as long as His Majesty lived a few more days now, there would be time to consider things slowly.

Little did Lu Xian know that his running around for Lu Yun’s sake appeared quite different in others’ eyes. Lady Lu received worried secret information from her maid Lvyao: “My Lady, these past days, we servants have often seen Second Lang going to find the young cousin. But Third Lang also seeks the young cousin. Just now Third Lang and the young cousin went out, and Second Lang reluctantly escorted them out of the compound. Looking at it, Second Lang seemed to want to go himself…”

Lady Lu maintained her composure: “Second Lang has told me about Third Lang’s admiration for Lady Luo. Second Lang said he doesn’t admire Lady Luo, he wouldn’t lie to me.”

Lvyao became even more worried: “But this servant not only feels that Second Lang has feelings for the young cousin, looking at it, it seems… Second Lang has unrequited love. The young cousin prefers Third Lang… isn’t this a situation of two men competing for one woman? What if Second Lang and Third Lang fight over the young cousin? What if Second Lang likes the young cousin, but she doesn’t like him, and Second Lang suffers in silence?”

Lady Lu’s lips trembled: “…”

Her son Lu Xian not only admired Luo Lingyu but was the one suffering in dejection, unable to compete with his brother?!