In the Prince of Hengyang’s mansion, tensions were at a breaking point.

Prince Chen Liu Shu, knowing Prince Hengyang Liu Mu’s proud nature, came personally to persuade him, hoping Liu Mu would consider his position and allow the Lu family to search the mansion. The advisor who came with Prince Chen spoke until his mouth was dry: “Your Highness, the Lu family can’t find Second Young Lord Lu now and are nearly mad with anxiety. They’ve targeted several suspicious households, and unfortunately, the Prince of Hengyang’s mansion is one of them. Please understand the Lu family’s feelings and let them search. For such a small matter, it’s not worth escalating the conflict, intensifying contradictions, making both the royal family and noble families lose face…”

Liu Mu stood before the main hall, his youthful figure towering like a mountain, like a sword. His mansion’s attendants had already densely surrounded this area. Liu Mu coldly watched Liu Shu, who dared to enter his mansion as a mediator, his thick eyebrows shadowing his eyes, a storm brewing: “The Lu family daring to search my mansion already shows they don’t take me seriously, yet from your mouths, it becomes me deliberately provoking enmity between both sides?”

The advisor was anxious, sweating profusely: “This… this… Second Young Lord Lu has been missing for four or five days, feared to be in grave danger, the Lu family can’t wait any longer…”

Liu Mu spoke harshly: “If they can’t wait, they just come to search my mansion? I know you’re all afraid of the noble families, leaving yourselves without backbone, completely lacking royal dignity. But I’m different from you, without my consent, let’s see who dares to search my mansion!”

As his words fell, guards on all sides drew their swords with a swish, cold light gleaming, killing intent palpable.

The advisor finally remembered that this young Prince of Hengyang had also crawled his way up from the battlefield. His bloodthirstiness was indeed different from the ordinary young lords of Jianye.

Just as Liu Mu was about to order the killing of this loose-tongued advisor, Liu Shu slowly said: “The Lu family wants to search your mansion because there is some evidence.”

Liu Mu’s gaze flashed like lightning, piercing coldly toward Prince Chen standing before the hall, who appeared gentle and refined yet showed no fear under his sword’s cold light. Liu Mu narrowed his eyes, and before he could speak, Prince Chen’s words reminded his advisor. That advisor came back to life, nodding repeatedly: “Indeed! The Lu family wants to search the Prince of Hengyang’s mansion because they discovered some things. Second Young Lord Lu indeed kidnapped the Taoist priests you were originally sent to Taichu Palace, those priests have indeed disappeared now. It’s also true that your mansion suddenly changed its guard. The Lu family suspects people in your mansion have mysteriously disappeared… Naturally, we don’t believe it! But to clear Your Highness of suspicion, we must let the Lu family search.”

Liu Mu’s heart skipped a beat.

It was precisely this slight pause, this subtle change in his eyes that Prince Chen Liu Shu caught. Liu Shu spoke softly: “If this matter reaches Father Emperor, he will also blame you.”

Liu Mu felt as if struck heavily in the heart, his face tightening, muscles contracting until his whole face twisted. He looked coldly at Prince Chen—Liu Shu had touched upon his most irritating concern. He now knew the Emperor wanted to kill him, so if this matter reached his royal brother, who knew if his brother wouldn’t use this excuse to hand him over to the noble families?

Liu Mu felt contempt in his heart, but he knew the current old Emperor could maintain his throne precisely because of the noble families’ full support. Royal power was a complex thing; the old Emperor would appropriately give face to the noble families, keeping both sides at peace. And naturally, he, Liu Mu, would be the one sacrificed.

Liu Mu spoke flatly: “Prince Chen comes to my place just to persuade me to lay down a prince’s dignity, let the Lu family search my mansion, casually fabricate some crimes, and convict me?”

He mocked: “Could this be my royal brother’s intention?”

Liu Shu’s eyebrow twitched slightly, detecting the dissatisfaction with His Majesty in the Prince of Hengyang’s words. This left a mark in his mind, he would ponder it later, but for now, he wouldn’t expand on it. Liu Shu said: “I am here precisely to mediate between both sides. Little Royal Uncle, please be at ease, with me watching here, the Lu family cannot wrong you; you also cannot wrong the Lu family.”

Liu Mu remained silent.

In this short period, he wavered—the Lu family couldn’t possibly find any trace of Second Young Lord Lu in his mansion, because that person was already dead. What he feared was only the Lu family fabricating crimes against him. Moreover, as a prince having his mansion searched by subjects, even knowing the noble families’ power, Liu Mu’s pride couldn’t be accepted.

He despised the noble families in his heart.

But he also understood Prince Chen’s character. Among his royal brother’s many sons, Prince Chen was very low-key. He did much but spoke little. Moreover, what he did was only settle refugees, arrange positions for commoner officials, and build water conservancy projects, having nothing to do with succession struggles, thus earning his royal brother’s trust. Though this person didn’t compete for the throne, he was purposeful in his actions; Liu Shu usually wouldn’t appear for useless matters. Conversely, Liu Shu’s appearance here meant this matter had to proceed, and resistance was futile.

Currently, Liu Shu just wanted to ensure that within certain limits, both the Lu family and the Prince of Hengyang’s mansion would pass through safely.

While Liu Mu was still hesitating whether to trust Liu Shu, outside his wide-open mansion gates, troops had already poured in with a rush. A Lu family young lord stood at the front, wearing a tall crown and loose robes, calling out loudly: “Have the two Your Highnesses not concluded? The Lu family cannot wait any longer.”

This uncle and nephew pair, Liu Mu and Liu Shu, both looked over to see a Lu family member who held office in court leading troops, surrounding the Prince of Hengyang’s mansion. This Lu family young lord’s expression carried the unique pride and restraint of noble family children, nodding slightly at the displeased Prince of Hengyang: “Of the several mansions the Lu family suspects, we’ve searched the others and found no suspicious evidence. Now only the Prince of Hengyang’s mansion remains. Please, young lord, step aside and let people in to search, to clear your name.”

Liu Mu spoke flatly: “And if nothing is found?”

The Lu family young lord said carelessly: “If nothing is found, the Lu family will come another day to apologize to the young lord.”

Liu Mu was enraged by this innate arrogance flowing in the Lu family’s bones. Beside him, Liu Shu was too inarticulate to stop him, and Liu Mu had already laughed in extreme anger: “Search the wrong prince’s mansion, and in the end, just an apology to dismiss it. The Lu family indeed has great nerve, not taking my Liu family’s royal name seriously at all. Treating me like this today, perhaps someday when you suspect His Majesty, you’ll also want to search the palace court?”

The Lu family’s young lord’s expression changed subtly.

The relationship between royal power and noble families was very delicate, everyone tacitly understood, striving to maintain friendliness. But this friendliness was extremely fragile because the noble families wouldn’t yield benefits, the royal family wanted to seize power, so the contradiction between both sides would eventually explode. The Prince of Hengyang pointing out this contradiction made this Lu family young lord who came to search his mansion momentarily flustered and regretful.

Finally, this Lu family young lord decided to stop circling with the Prince of Hengyang and directly signaled to the troops behind him: “Search!”

The Prince of Hengyang raged: “You dare!”

The troops from both sides immediately clashed, the troops the Lu family brought fighting with the Prince of Hengyang’s attendants. Liu Mu also drew a long sword, charging into the enemy formation. Prince Chen Liu Shu’s eyelids twitched, his heart secretly sinking, and when the fighting began, he promptly retreated with his advisor to avoid being caught in it. Liu Shu secretly sighed, thinking his little royal uncle’s temperament was too violent to endure humiliation, and with the Lu family wanting to search the Prince of Hengyang’s mansion, the situation had finally spun out of control.

The advisor beside him stuttered with chattering teeth: “F-f-fighting has broken out… what should we do, young lord?”

Liu Shu: “No matter for now. I, already had, our people watching here. Won’t be discovered, for now. Both sides need to stop, quickly, or… or it will reach, His Majesty.”

In the current scene, who won or lost didn’t matter. What was worse was, that Liu Shu swept his eyes over the battlefield, sensitively detecting that the Lu family’s troops were all for show, no match for these people from the Prince of Hengyang’s mansion who had been truly bloodied on the battlefield… The Lu family would lose.

If his father emperor learned of this, the Prince of Hengyang wouldn’t fare well. Moreover, Liu Shu glanced at the young prince fighting in the crowd, frowning, wondering if he was overthinking it. Liu Mu’s intense reaction… made him truly couldn’t help but suspect the Prince of Hengyang regarding Second Young Lord Lu’s disappearance.

Liu Shu thought darkly: This was the worst.

The carefully balanced relationship between noble families and royal power might lose its balance because of this small matter. The court’s commoner forces weren’t stable, the noble families hadn’t peaked, royal power hadn’t peaked, and outside, the northern country’s cavalry was watching like a tiger eyeing its prey… At this time, the royal family shouldn’t fall out with the noble families, wearing each other down to benefit enemies.

To avoid internal strife, the most likely action His Majesty would take was sacrificing the Prince of Hengyang. Liu Shu pondered, feeling it wasn’t worth sacrificing a prince for such a small matter.

Liu Shu was anxious, struggling because he needed to conceal his stuttering habit, unsuitable for saying much. He looked at his advisor, hoping the advisor could call out, weigh the pros and cons, get both fighting sides to stop, and have everyone sit down to calmly discuss how to resolve this matter.

But Liu Shu looked at his advisor, and the advisor looked back at him very innocently, even blinking stupidly.

Liu Shu: “…”

His heart felt blocked.

How he missed having Third Young Lord Lu by his side.

Unfortunately, Third Young Lord Lu was probably sleeping right now…

Fighting broke out instantly in the Prince of Hengyang’s mansion, growing increasingly fierce, seemingly about to become a bloodbath. Both sides had killed until their eyes were red, and Prince Hengyang Liu Mu’s face was splattered with several drops of blood, his features handsome and cold, killing gods who blocked his path, killing buddhas who stood in his way. In a brief moment, several Lu family troops already lay around him. That Lu family young lord who led them in met the Prince of Hengyang’s grim eyes, watching the Prince of Hengyang walking toward him with sword raised, and the usually noble young lord’s face turned pale, collapsing to the ground: “What are you doing? Don’t, don’t, don’t come over!”

Liu Mu coldly laughed, swinging his long sword: “I’ve long despised you noble family children who rely on your family status to idle away eating, drinking, gambling, and whoring all day! Since you’ve come to my door today, then stay—”

He knew in his heart the cold treatment he would soon suffer. Since he couldn’t avoid it, might as well kill with one sword—

Just then, from outside the door came overlapping shouts from a woman and a man: “Stop!”

The observing, anxious Prince Chen Liu Shu’s eyelids twitched heavily as he looked toward the people entering the door. Looking down, he was startled—pale-faced, weak Second Young Lord Lu whom they had been searching for many days appeared out of thin air, and beside him supporting Second Young Lord Lu was his sister, Princess Ningping Liu Tang.

Liu Mu heard the shouts, his heart jumping, but his hand didn’t tremble at all, the sword swinging down steadily in his hand. Just as the sword’s edge was about to touch the Lu family member sitting on the ground, Second Young Lord Lu Xian suddenly rushed over from the side, both hands together grasping the sword, stopping the possibility of the sword swinging down and killing that Lu family young lord.

Princess Ningping Liu Tang also rushed over, shouting: “Royal Uncle! Stop!”

Second Young Lord Lu suddenly appears…

He looked up, meeting the Prince of Hengyang’s gloomy, subtle, surprised, and finally determined eyes.

Blood dripped down Second Young Lord Lu’s hands from the sword, one drop after another, as Liu Mu looked down at this haggard young man kneeling at his feet, suddenly dazed, and his sword stopped applying force.

The Lu family young lord protected behind Second Young Lord Lu came to his senses, extremely excited: “Second Young Lord! Second Young Lord you’re still alive, that’s wonderful!”

Second Young Lord Lu turned back, his voice very soft: “I’m fine… have people stop, don’t fight anymore.”

The Lu family’s people stopped first, looking at them, and Liu Mu finally slowly, reluctantly opened his mouth, having his troops stand down. Standing in the killing field, everyone panted, looking bewildered at Second Young Lord Lu. Liu Mu, seeing Second Young Lord Lu alive, threw down the sword in his hand, laughing self-mockingly.

Second Young Lord Lu was alive.

So what was he fighting for?

His wolfish ambitions had been discovered by Second Young Lord Lu, and his attempt to kill Second Young Lord Lu couldn’t be hidden… This time he couldn’t escape his fate.

His Majesty already wanted him dead, and this time he had handed over the evidence himself. He blamed himself for not checking properly, for being soft-hearted toward Second Young Lord Lu, wanting to leave his body intact… Who would have thought this person hadn’t died at all?

Liu Mu’s face turned ashen gray as he noticed the gaze from beside him. He turned his head to see Prince Chen Liu Shu looking at him thoughtfully, his expression also unpleasant.

Liu Mu: “…” It seemed this overthinking nephew had also discovered something amiss.

Liu Mu lowered his eyelids, not wanting to speak or argue anymore. Things had come to this point, he had nothing to say, whatever punishment awaited— suddenly he heard Second Young Lord Lu’s weak breath but clear words: “You’ve all misunderstood. I just went on an excursion outside the city with Her Highness the Princess, without telling you. I merely saw the Prince of Hengyang before I left, he didn’t harm me.”

Liu Mu: “…!”

He suddenly opened his eyes, glaring fiercely at the pale-faced Second Young Lord Lu.

Princess Ningping nodded timidly beside him, saying softly: “…That’s right, I’ve been with Second Young Lord the whole time, I can testify that his words are true.”

Yet though she was gentle, in her heart she noticed Second Young Lord Lu’s attitude toward the Prince of Hengyang… Her heart was alarmed, thinking could it be that little royal uncle was the one who wanted to kill Second Young Lord Lu?

The Lu family’s young lord behind them sighed in relief and smiled: “Second Young Lord, really now. Leaving without saying a word to us, making everyone worried.”

Second Young Lord Lu coughed once, forcing a smile. Unwilling to waste energy on reminiscing with people, Second Young Lord Lu staggered to his feet, looking at Liu Mu, speaking softly: “You all go back, I have some words I want to discuss with His Highness the Prince of Hengyang.”

The atmosphere at the scene was quite strange, with everyone standing motionless, even Liu Mu not moving. Finally, it was Prince Chen who spoke up, both sides persuading, that made the deeply suspicious Lu family young lord lead his people away first. Following that, Prince Chen glanced at his obedient sister who was following behind Second Young Lord Lu, saying nothing, and he also left with his hands behind his back. In the end, after the Prince of Hengyang’s mansion withdrew its troops, only Liu Mu, Lu Xian, and Princess Ningping Liu Tang remained standing in the courtyard.

Liu Mu turned to walk away, Second Young Lord Lu followed for two steps, then stopped. He turned back, speaking gently to the princess: “Princess, please go back, I truly have something to discuss with him.”

Liu Tang: “But…”

Her face was slightly red, her clasped hands nervously twisting: “But…”

The little princess, weak and anxious: “…He wants to kill you!”

Liu Tang: “Let me stay with you. That way he won’t dare…”

“He won’t,” Lu Xian smiled slightly, facing this person who had saved his life, his voice unconsciously softening, patiently explaining to the princess, “Things have come to this point, he won’t kill me anymore. Princess, please don’t worry.”

Liu Tang pressed her lips together, not making a sound.

Second Young Lord Lu had to say helplessly: “Then would Your Highness wait for me outside, and after I finish talking with the Prince of Hengyang, we can leave together, alright?”

Liu Tang finally smiled.

She nodded, looking up at Second Young Lord Lu, then instantly became shy, turning her face away. Liu Tang said nervously: “Then I’ll wait for you here… Second Young Lord Lu, my little royal uncle is fierce, you must be careful.”

Not too far away, Liu Mu walked around the corner, looking back to see the young man bending down to speak gently with the young woman looking up at him. Liu Mu snorted in his heart, yet felt his feelings toward Second Young Lord Lu had become more complex.

Only after Second Young Lord Lu entered the room with him, after pondering for a while, did his first words come: “My cousin…”

Liu Mu: “…”

His pupils jumped violently.

Lu Xian asked humbly, his tone worried: “My cousin… she didn’t come looking for you today, did she?”

Liu Mu: “…?!”

He leaned forward, across the table, speaking darkly: “Your cousin, your cousin! Constantly talking about your cousin! I tried to kill you! With such a major matter before your eyes, your first words are to ask about your cousin. Is Luo Lingyu a celestial maiden or a female rakshasa, to have bewitched you so completely that you’ve lost your mind?”

“Second Young Lord Lu, has near-death not cured your brain illness?”

Second Young Lord Lu Xian: “…”

He was just afraid he had arrived too late and tragedy had already occurred.

…

Luo Lingyu was naturally with Lu Yun at this time, and it could be said that when she faced Fan Qingchen’s threats, though she had thought of many people for help, the Prince of Hengyang occupied very little weight among them. After all, in reality, after Second Young Lord Lu’s tireless efforts to prevent them from meeting, Luo Lingyu was not familiar with the Prince of Hengyang.

On Fan Qingchen’s side, he had naturally taken Luo Yunwan to his place.

The little miss had been unconscious for who knows how long, and when she opened her eyes, she felt wetness on her face, seeing Fan Qingchen’s magnified handsome features. Luo Yunwan discovered she was being held on a couch, and she hurriedly crawled up to hide back, only then seeing that Fan Qingchen was using a wet towel to wipe her face.

Fan Qingchen’s eyes darkened, yet he smiled lightly: “Such a little cat. Getting your face all muddy just playing in your courtyard… Wan’er is so playful, how is it that your sister doesn’t even want to walk around normally?”

Luo Yunwan watched him vigilantly, confused as she tried to remember what had happened, why she was there. Then she remembered herself falling asleep hazily, seeming to have been fed a bowl of water by him… How could she have known this person was so wicked?

Fan Qingchen stared at her, the nine-year-old little miss was even younger than when he first met Luo Lingyu. But his Luo sister was very clever then, having developed her beauty, able to properly handle adults’ questions. When looking at people, the little miss’s eyes were touching, beautiful like autumn waters. But compared to Luo Lingyu, Luo Yunwan had been raised by her sister to be completely childlike.

Fan Qingchen’s gaze changed subtly, carelessly putting away the towel in his hand, muttering: “No, you truly are sisters… the way you glare at me is the same. When Wan’er grows up, she’ll likely be like your sister, her beauty crowning the capital…”

Luo Yunwan couldn’t stand his strange tone, unable to help asking: “Why did you kidnap me?”

Fan Qingchen smiled slightly: “If I didn’t take you away, how would Luo’s sister come to celebrate her coming-of-age ceremony with me?”

Luo Yunwan was stunned: “Brother Fan… you, you did this just to celebrate my sister’s coming-of-age ceremony?”

Fan Qingchen: “Of course.”

He spoke darkly: “Fifteen years old, grown up, can marry me and return to Nanyang.”

Luo Yunwan immediately held back the grateful words that had reached her mouth, she frowned, thinking her sister was right. Just for a coming-of-age ceremony, he wanted her sister to go with him… Luo Yunwan’s eyes darted around anxiously, desperately thinking what to do, she didn’t want her sister to marry this bad brother to save her…

“Bang!”

The door was kicked open from outside.

Luo Lingyu’s tense voice came in: “Wan’er!”

The young lady and young lord appeared in the doorway together, the young lady immediately spotting her little sister who had shrunk to the innermost part of the sleeping couch, frightened by Young Lord Fan. Luo Lingyu let out a breath, her eyes only seeing her sister, immediately rushing over to embrace her sister. Luo Yunwan also smiled with joy, crawling up from the couch past Fan Qingchen: “Sister—!”

Fan Qingchen didn’t stop them, because he turned his head, standing up, seeing the young man standing in the doorway.

Both strange and familiar.

Third Young Lord Lu, having removed the gauze covering his eyes, had his features completely revealed, and though he was handsome even with covered eyes, his pair of peach blossom eyes was the most beautiful part of Third Young Lord Lu’s face. This young lord standing in the doorway slowly entered the room, graceful as a crane and phoenix. His gaze showed neither joy nor sorrow as he looked toward Fan Qingchen.

Fan Qingchen’s lips curved slightly: “Third Young Lord Lu?”

Lu Yun coldly looked at this person. This was his first time seeing Fan Qingchen, and while his face showed no expression, in his heart he felt strangely peculiar. He felt that Young Lord Fan’s bearing, elegance, nobility, and the strange look in his eyes… were very familiar.

As if he often saw them himself.

Lu Yun didn’t waste words with him, directly nodding toward Luo Lingyu: “Come here.”

The Luo sisters immediately ran toward their third cousin, Fan Qingchen laughed coldly, clapping his hands twice, and over ten people poured into the room, surrounding them. However, Lu Yun also glanced back, and the people he brought rushed in. The small room was packed full of the two groups of people.

Fan Qingchen raised an eyebrow: “It seems Third Young Lord Lu wants to take Sister Luo away?”

Lu Yun smiled slightly: “Not just that.”

He said: “I also want you to break off the engagement with her.”

Fan Qingchen narrowed his eyes, speaking coolly: “Oh, on what grounds do you demand this?”

Third Young Lord Lu spoke unhurriedly: “Because I intend to propose to the Nanyang family, asking to marry cousin Luo. Though I came later, I’ll compete fairly with the Fan family. Who do you think the Luo family of Nanyang will choose?”

Luo Lingyu was shocked, looking up at him: He… he said he wanted to marry her?!

Lu Yun didn’t look at Luo Lingyu, his handsome features as they were, sneering at Fan Qingchen: “The Luo family in Nanyang is severely oppressed by my Fan family. Where does Third Young Lord Lu get the confidence to think the Luo family would choose you, far away in Jianye? Does the Luo family not want to stay in Nanyang anymore?”

Third Young Lord Lu’s voice remained clear and cool, even carrying a hint of a smile: “Then what if, Young Lord Fan, your father is in Jianye?”

Fan Qingchen: “…Are you threatening me?!”

Lu Yun: “In my capacity as a contemporary famous scholar, I recommended your father to His Majesty for an official position. Young Lord Fan’s father is also a famous figure in Nanyang, with overwhelming power before him, I think he won’t give up the good opportunity to enter Jianye for the sake of one son.”

Fan Qingchen: “…!”

His gaze darkened, staring at Lu Yun as if wanting to devour him. In his peripheral vision, he saw Luo Lingyu staring at Lu Yun in shock, which made him even more displeased. After a long, long time, Fan Qingchen smiled slightly, speaking slowly, mockingly: “Third Young Lord Lu has calculated well… you want to marry Sister Luo, I’m not unable to step aside… but why do you want to marry her? Do you know, this Sister Luo of mine is no simple character.”

“You think she likes you? Making me laugh. My Sister Luo only loves your money, power, and influence. If Third Young Lord Lu didn’t have these things, do you think my Sister Luo would give you a second glance?”

Luo Lingyu: “Brother Xuehen!”

She nervously grabbed Lu Yun’s sleeve, seeing Lu Yun’s expression freeze for a moment, very subtly. His face showed no emotion, but waves had already risen in his heart, clearly he agreed with Fan Qingchen’s words. Luo Lingyu was anxious, desperately not wanting to be abandoned by Lu Yun, she racked her brain thinking of a solution.

But Fan Qingchen smiled, looking at the golden boy and jade girl before him, delivering another strike: “Ah, I spoke wrong, Sister Luo doesn’t just love your money, power, and influence. She also loves your face. But don’t you feel your temperament, and appearance, are of the same type as mine? Third Young Lord Lu, so you’re willing to be my substitute?”

Lu Yun’s face was expressionless, swung a fist—

The Luo sisters: “Lu Yun (Third Cousin)!”