Greenwoods cast their shadows, and mountains and waters formed a screen. Beneath the eaves, all were pools and groves.
Chen Xiu followed at a distance, watching Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu walk and stroll. Among Jianye’s many temples, Kaishan Temple was not small, and the couple was patient, entering every Buddha hall they saw to pray, making wishes before every bodhisattva. Such greed made Chen Xiu, trailing behind, press her lips together in a downward curve.
She had always been proud and aloof, never seeing people like this before. Previously, Third Young Master Lu had been just like her, but now he had changed—it must be because of that cousin of his.
Chen Xiu thought further about how Lady Jiang, Jiang Wanyi, had also gone to stay at the Lu residence, yet how was Luo Lingyu still so proud and pleased with herself? Even with Lady Jiang being so favored by the Lu family elders, she couldn’t suppress Luo Lingyu.
This woman was truly frightening.
Chen Xiu silently criticized Luo Lingyu at length, believing Third Young Master Lu had been bewitched by a calculating vixen who only had beauty. But looking more closely, she saw the pair being led into a master’s residence by a young novice monk. Before entering, the novice was so flustered looking at Luo Lingyu that he accidentally bumped a rose plant by the door, making the thorny branches sway toward them. Lu Yun immediately reached out, his sleeve falling, to shield Luo Lingyu from the approaching thorns. Neither Luo Lingyu nor the novice noticed.
The beautiful lady stepped over the threshold, smiling and talking with the novice, unaware of what Lu Yun had done for her on the other side.
The thorny branch hadn’t scratched Luo Lingyu as she entered the inner hall. Chen Xiu watched Lu Yun brush his right hand with his left, with faint traces of blood visible on his right fingertips. But the distance was too great for Chen Xiu to see clearly. When she tried to look more closely, Lu Yun had already carelessly shaken his hand, his robe falling, his tall figure disappearing through the doorway.
Chen Xiu grew more heartbroken: in all her years knowing Third Young Master Lu, when had she ever seen him take such care of a lady?
Usually, when ladies tried to care for him, he avoided them like a plague.
Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu stayed inside for about half an hour before emerging, with Luo Lingyu holding a sachet. Chen Xiu quickly hid behind a tree, watching the pair walk along the single-sided corridor by the wall. Tree shadows flickered and danced, casting patterns on the colorful window lights. The light floating over the handsome couple flowed like water plants, rippling beautifully.
A talented man and beautiful woman, the young lord tall and straight, the lady graceful and elegant—how perfectly matched they were.
At the corridor’s end was a pond not far away. Two days after the Double Seventh Festival would be the Ghost Festival, extremely important to Buddhism, with traditions of floating lanterns on water and praying for the deceased. Kaishan Temple had already begun preparations for the upcoming Ghost Festival—by the pond’s edge were neat rows of exquisite flower lanterns. Most were lotus lanterns, with a few other designs. These lanterns were arranged in rows, prepared for the devotees who would come to Kaishan Temple on the Ghost Festival.
At the corridor’s end, there was no path forward. Lu Yun lowered his head, lost in thought, while Luo Lingyu clutched her sachet nervously. Seeing the lanterns by the pond, she found a topic of conversation, pointing at them and telling Lu Yun: “Did you know that Second Cousin seems to believe in past and present lives, often visiting temples? These past days I heard from his maid that Second Cousin wants to take refuge in Buddhism and become a lay Buddhist. Aunt is nearly going crazy. I think during the Ghost Festival in a few days, Second Cousin will come here to offer Buddha lanterns.”
Lu Yun didn’t speak.
Luo Lingyu secretly glanced at him, her beautiful eyes rippling, her voice growing softer: “At that time, shall we come here too?”
She reached out, gently tugging at Lu Yun’s sleeve.
Lu Yun looked down, his gaze slowly falling on her hand pulling his sleeve. His eyes wavered slightly, starlight falling, his lips moved but he remained silent for a long while.
Luo Lingyu frowned, puzzled in her heart: it was just going to the Ghost Festival together, why wouldn’t he agree? Did he dislike her? But he had spent Double Seventh with her, still wearing her five-colored thread on his wrist—surely that meaning was much deeper than the Ghost Festival? He would spend Double Seventh with her but not go to the Ghost Festival. Could it be that Lu Yun didn’t like Buddhism?
Oh, that was possible. After all, what Third Young Master Lu had studied deeply was metaphysics.
Having attributed Lu Yun’s silence to his being even less religious than her, Luo Lingyu let the topic go. By now, she had no other topics left to ramble about. The lady’s face flushed deeply as she turned her shoulders, facing Lu Yun. She glanced at him, and he looked down at her. Luo Lingyu gathered her courage, stepped forward, and with Lu Yun not objecting, tremblingly reached out to tie the sachet she had been carrying to his waist.
After coming out from the master’s chamber, solemnly placing the requested talisman in the sachet, now pretending to casually give it to him… Luo Lingyu’s palms were completely sweaty.
As she lowered her head to tie the sachet for him, from Lady Chen Xiu’s diagonal angle against the wall, it looked as if the lady had completely embraced the young lord, reaching around to hold his waist. The young lord stood motionless as the lady was so forward… Lady Chen, with her deep family learning, felt jealous and bitter, spitting out: Shameless!
As Luo Lingyu tied the sachet for Lu Yun, her gaze inevitably fell on the young lord’s waist. Famous for his refined manner, elegant and dignified, Lu Yun’s clothes were consistently loose and casual, not revealing much of his figure. As she lowered her head to tie the sachet, her hand unconsciously touched his waist, only then feeling its firm leanness, hiding majestic strength.
Usually, she only thought of him as a refined jade lord.
Lu Yun chuckled: “Did you feel anything?”
Luo Lingyu: “…”
Her face burning, quickly withdrawing her hand, she exclaimed: “Hmph, there’s nothing…”
As her hand tried to retreat, Lu Yun raised his to grasp it. Lu Yun held her sweaty hand, raising an eyebrow, his peach blossom eyes dancing as he gave her a meaningful look. Luo Lingyu was extremely annoyed, wanting to explain that she was just nervous about her sachet, not at all what he was thinking… She struggled hard, but Lu Yun held her slender hand, bringing it to his lips and gently kissing it.
His eyes still watched her.
His gaze was pure, but his actions were not at all proper! This was the aloof scholar in others’ eyes!
Luo Lingyu’s mind exploded, her face red and her heart hot, but she forced herself to appear calm, telling herself she couldn’t lose to Lu Yun. Third Young Master Lu’s flirtatious, frivolous manner permeated through Luo Lingyu’s entire being. His presence surrounded her, consuming her, tangling into threads that pulled her into his embrace, then devoured her completely. Lu Yun bent down to her ear, his lips touching the hair by her cheek, successfully making her more rigid: “Couldn’t feel anything? Could it be little sister Lingyu is hinting that I should take off my clothes and let you feel to your heart’s content?”
Luo Lingyu pushed him away, righteously accusing him: “This is a Buddhist place of cultivation, Lu Yun, please mind your words and actions, be a good person! Don’t blaspheme against Buddha!”
Lu Yun curved his lips in a smile. He wasn’t particularly religious, but being in a Buddhist temple now, such words naturally couldn’t be spoken carelessly.
He was about to speak again when suddenly temple bells began to ring. The bell sounds were clear and lingering, ringing through the mountains, rolling outward like waves. The devotees staying in Kaishan Temple all listened reverently to the bells at this moment, stopping to hear them.
Luo Lingyu also looked toward the direction of the bells, closing her eyes to listen.
Lu Yun stood behind her side, watching her vermillion lips and ruddy cheeks, her clear and beautiful features. Gorgeous charm flowed through her features, but due to her young age, it wasn’t yet too clear. If she were a few years older… all the young lords in Jianye City would probably go mad for her.
Beauty has bewitched people since ancient times. Moreover, a beauty like Luo Lingyu never relaxed in her self-cultivation—he had hardly ever seen her slack off.
How could she always be so full of energy?
Lu Yun gradually noticed what made Luo Lingyu different from other women, gradually understanding what he was looking at, and what he was hoping to see when he stared at her. Hoping she was a brilliant painting, hoping every aspect of her was richly colored and unique. He didn’t love delicate little beauties, he appreciated such a vibrantly colorful lady…
The bells stopped, and Luo Lingyu opened her eyes. Lu Yun calmly shifted his gaze, pretending he hadn’t been staring at her while her eyes were closed. When Luo Lingyu looked at him, she only saw Third Young Master Lu calmly viewing the scenery. Luo Lingyu’s gaze lowered to his waist where she had just tied the sachet, and the lady said joyfully: “I just prayed to Buddha, and Buddha agreed. I said this talisman should be worn by you always, to bless Brother Xuecian with safety and good fortune at the border.”
Lu Yun’s eyes jumped, catching the key point. His voice tightened, speaking slowly: “Who told you I was going to the border? Didn’t I tell Second Brother I wouldn’t go?”
Luo Lingyu said melancholically: “You were lying to him.”
Lu Yun’s tone was strange: “…He doesn’t know I was lying to him, yet you know?”
Luo Lingyu took a couple of steps, sighing sadly: “That’s because Second Cousin is pure-hearted, not knowing you’re such a scheming person.”
Lu Yun hadn’t tried to hide it particularly, doing whatever he needed to do. It was just that Lu Xian was foolish, believing whatever his third brother said. But Luo Lingyu didn’t easily trust people, and this wasn’t her first day knowing Lu Yun’s independent style. Seeing so many books about the Northern Kingdom and Southern border in his study, Luo Lingyu had confirmed her suspicions.
At that moment, the shock in her heart was indescribable.
Luo Lingyu looked up: “Why do you never tell me you want to go to the border? Are you afraid I’ll try to stop you like Second Cousin, and argue with you?”
Lu Yun stepped forward, wanting to explain: “Lingyu…”
Luo Lingyu gestured that he needn’t say more, her face holding a smile as she tried to appear magnanimous and understanding. Luo Lingyu smiled brightly: “I’m different from Second Cousin. Second Cousin doesn’t want you to go to such harsh places, afraid you’ll suffer. But while I might not support you in other things, when it comes to going to the border to fight, for country and family, in such matters, I will stand on your side.”
After all, her relatives had died in the war.
Ruyang was right on the border between the Southern and Northern Kingdoms.
No matter how many faults she had, on this point, she stood with Lu Yun.
Luo Lingyu looked him over again and again, saying softly: “I know Third Young Master Lu is the only son of the Lu family’s second branch, and the Lu family doesn’t want you on the battlefield. But I’ve also heard that Third Young Master Lu’s father was a great general, who also protected the country at the border before. Brother Xuecian, perhaps your father and my parents even met before. Perhaps you even came to our Ruyang with your parents when you were young.”
Lu Yun stared at her steadily, his voice hoarse: “…I don’t remember…”
Of course, Luo Lingyu’s meaning wasn’t to try to force a connection with him, she just wanted to appear thoughtful and virtuous for him: “…Anyway, I stand with you. I give you this talisman, give you this sachet, you must keep them well. Later when you’re at the border, you must take good care of yourself, and protect yourself. You’re a noble young lord, without servants and maids attending you, you won’t be used to living there. But it doesn’t matter, after staying a while, you’ll get used to it. Don’t worry about Elder Madam Lu and the others, they naturally won’t agree to you leaving, but I will help persuade them.”
“Brother Xuecian, a good man’s ambition lies in all directions, lies in the world. I understand you in my heart!”
She said many things, her heart already turning sour, feeling terrible, yet her face had to appear understanding of Lu Yun. Luo Lingyu did truly understand, she genuinely supported Lu Yun going to the border. Yet at the same time, like Elder Madam Lu and Second Young Master Lu, she didn’t want Lu Yun to leave. She wanted to marry him, wanted to become his wife… if he left if he didn’t come back… she was like his family, hoping he would stay.
But if she argued with him too… then Lu Yun would have no one supporting him.
Luo Lingyu endured her unease, forcing down her concerns, wanting to be different from others in Lu Yun’s eyes, to be his only supporter—moreover, she wasn’t exactly lying.
Just give her more time, let him at least dissolve her betrothal before going to the border, at least become engaged to her… She was dependent on others, never knowing where she belonged, only a marriage contract could settle her. She wanted family, wanted to marry.
Luo Lingyu’s eyes held a smile as she looked up at Lu Yun ardently.
Lu Yun remained silent, quietly watching her.
His eyes were clear and black, and as he gazed at her, his pupils grew darker and darker. Like an abyss consuming everything.
But he didn’t speak.
His attitude of neither agreeing nor refusing, just quietly watching her, made Luo Lingyu’s forced smile gradually stiffen. Suspecting he had once again seen through her insincerity, thinking her hypocritical… Luo Lingyu turned her face away, biting her lip, feeling awkward for a moment. Even if she didn’t truly feel that way in her heart, she had at least pretended to support him outwardly, what more did he want from her?
Did he want her to be genuinely virtuous?
But she had never been virtuous!
Tears welled in her eyes, grievance rising in her heart, yet unwilling to let Lu Yun laugh at her. Just then, the corridor’s iron horse chime rang lightly as a gust of wind blew past. With a crash, the lotus lanterns piled by the pool toppled, many floating onto the water, drifting away in the wind. Luo Lingyu turned and stepped down the stone stairs to retrieve the lanterns from the pool, speaking anxiously to cover her discomfort: “The lanterns fell, I’ll help pick them up…”
She almost fled from Lu Yun’s side, lifting her skirts awkwardly.
Luo Lingyu reached the pool’s edge, gritted her teeth, and stepped into the water, which came up to her knees. She rolled up her sleeves, reaching out to retrieve the flower lanterns that had blown to the center of the pool. After retrieving several, she walked further toward the center, the water gradually rising higher. Luo Lingyu deliberately didn’t look back at Lu Yun behind her, throwing herself completely into retrieving the lanterns. The lantern light shone dimly on the water’s surface, and perhaps because she was too focused on retrieving the lanterns, when she turned around, a dark figure standing before her gave her a sudden fright.
The lanterns in the lady’s arms fell back into the water as she stumbled backward, nearly falling sitting into the water.
Lu Yun reached out, pulling her into his embrace.
His face showed no emotion, but as she looked up, the dark shadow pressed down as Lu Yun bent to kiss her lips.
Luo Lingyu kept backing away until she finally lost her balance, falling and sitting down. Lu Yun fell with her, kneeling before her, his arms still embracing this lady sitting in the water. He reached out to brush away water droplets on her cheeks, closed his eyes, and kissed her, kissing with particular passion.
Passionate and emotional.
It was oppressive, somewhat forceful, not allowing her to refuse. As her shoulders shrank back, his lips and teeth entangled with hers more intensely. Luo Lingyu struggled, but Third Young Master Lu didn’t restrain her at all. His hands didn’t press her down, he just closed his eyes and kissed her. Luo Lingyu was full of resentment, about to forcefully push away this presumptuous man who was humiliating her, when the lanterns hanging in the corridor entrance swayed in the wind, casting light over them.
Luo Lingyu sat with bent knees on the muddy ground in the water, and in the firelight, she saw Lu Yun’s jade-white face, long black eyelashes, and straight nose. Perhaps because she rarely saw him so emotional, when he closed his eyes with such deep feeling, holding her hand, water droplets trembling on his eyelashes, her heart softened.
Luo Lingyu was dazed, and at this moment, seeing his enlarged face, her heart thumped as if fireworks were exploding.
She heard the sound of her heart beating uncontrollably… she was naturally drawn to such a young lord.
As Luo Lingyu’s hands relaxed, the young lord’s arms loosely encircling her waist tightened as Lu Yun held her close. He raised his eyes to look at her. Third Young Master Lu always gave her chances to escape, but when she didn’t run, he became forceful. This time was more intense than ever before… He usually kissed with tenderness and gentleness, but this time was passionate and unrestrained.
Conquering territory!
His tongue swept across every inch of her mouth.
Exchanging saliva, breathing heavily, and tongues going numb.
Luo Lingyu’s knees trembled as the kiss sent tingling sensations up her spine. He was just kissing her, yet with such passion, he was intoxicated, pulling her with him into the abyss. Gasping, moaning, the more she trembled, the deeper his passion. Deep passion, deep passion… she had never seen him like this, as if mad.
Lu Yun opened his eyes, black and shining like obsidian, meeting the lady’s moist, warm eyes.
Lu Yun said softly: “I’m very grateful for the talisman you gave me, and I’m grateful for your support. No one in the Lu family supports me, Lingyu, you are the only one. I’ve worn countless sachets since childhood, but I never looked at who embroidered what I wore daily. They were all from maids, and I didn’t even know what was inside the sachets. This is the first time I’m wearing a sachet given by a lady.”
Luo Lingyu murmured: “Brother Xuecian…”
Lu Yun’s fingertips rubbed the cool skin of her wrist, his expression still that calm. Neither the arrogance he showed in public nor the flirtatiousness he showed in private. This calm appearance of his made Luo Lingyu unable to look away. She listened as Lu Yun continued: “…It’s all firsts, from now on, I will always wear this sachet. Until I see you again.”
Doubt arose in Luo Lingyu’s heart: What did he mean by “until I see you again”? Wasn’t he right beside her?
Lu Yun said no more, and before Luo Lingyu could think too much, he kissed her again. The lady gave a soft moan as Lu Yun pressed against her lips, asking tenderly: “What gift would you like in return?”
Luo Lingyu caught her breath, craftiness rising in her eyes as she boldly gave him a look, saying half-truthfully: “I don’t want anything else, I want Brother Xuecian.”
She wanted Lu Yun.
As long as Lu Yun was there, everything else would come. Why should she ask for other benefits when she could have the person himself?
Her answer moved Lu Yun deeply.
He kissed her again, their lips and tongues meeting as she felt his burning heart. Lu Yun’s other hand reached behind the lady’s neck, massaging it with moderate pressure, making her tremble and fall gasping into his embrace. His technique was incredibly effective—he was only kissing her, not touching anywhere else, yet her eyelashes trembled, her lips grew moist, and her whole body lost strength.
She could only whimper softly.
Luo Lingyu: “Don’t… stop kissing… me…”
Lu Yun said gently: “Lingyu, Xuecian Brother has you in his heart.”
She suddenly froze, looking up at him.
…
Just this one sentence made her completely fall apart.
Made her willing to fall.
Made her keep falling, keep falling.
Made her not want to ask anything anymore, only willing to spend this wonderful night together, intoxicated in his embrace.
But she had already realized—Lu Yun was likely about to leave.
…
Lu Yun closed his eyes.
He didn’t want to tell Luo Lingyu tonight.
His arrangements with Prince Chen were almost complete, tomorrow the documents would arrive, and in three days, he would leave Jianye, truly going to the border, to Nanyang, even to her hometown of Ruyang.
She spoke and smiled warmly, asking how he would spend the Ghost Festival, asking if he liked the sachet she gave him.
How could he answer her?
On Double Seventh Night, he didn’t want to say unhappy things. He neither wanted to argue nor make her cry. He wanted her to be happy tonight, to remember this best night between them…
…
Lu Yun repeated: “Xuecian Brother has you in his heart.”
Luo Lingyu said softly: “…mm.”
…
In the darkness, stumbling away, Lady Chen’s eyes filled with tears as she finally left.
She had seen Lu Yun truly emotional.
She had lost completely.
Perhaps it couldn’t even be called losing. He probably had never liked her at all.
Third Young Master Lu truly liked his cousin, didn’t he?
Some people have known each other for over a decade yet remain destined to be apart; some people meet only a few times, yet can’t forget each other.
And how could Chen Xiu bear it: she had moved herself, stubbornly staying in Jianye. Her parents and relatives had all gone elsewhere to escape the summer heat, yet she alone stayed in Jianye! She couldn’t even face her parents… She had disgraced herself so thoroughly!
What should she do in the future?
…
Second Young Master Lu had pressed Elder Madam Lu all evening, receiving a fairly satisfactory answer. Elder Madam Lu agreed to write to Old Lord Lu, asking Lu Xian’s grandfather’s opinion. Even being pressed urgently by Second Young Master Lu, Elder Madam Lu simply wrote the letter on the spot.
Only then did Lu Xian feel relieved.
When he left, he knew his grandmother and mother had both given him several disapproving looks.
But it didn’t matter.
He thought with relief: As long as my younger brother and sister are happy, I’m satisfied.
Yes, I still need to watch over Third Young Master Lu. Keep an eye on Lu Yun, don’t let this troublesome third brother run off to the border! The border is too dangerous—that dream of Third Young Master Lu being pierced by countless arrows still makes one’s heart tremble to think of it even now.
…
The satisfied Second Young Master Lu, having resolved to guard Third Young Master Lu, went back to wash up and sleep. After falling asleep, he dreamed again. Perhaps his efforts in reality had finally set the direction of his dream future. This dream that Lu Xian had again was no longer vague and unclear, he could finally stand beside them and see many details.
In the dream, Second Young Master Lu stood like a wandering spirit before the wedding hall, smiling broadly as he watched his third brother and Cousin Luo bow at their wedding ceremony.
Lu Xian was delighted in his heart: They got married! Everything worked out!
He could relax now…
Just as he thought this, the dream scene suddenly shifted. How deeply in love Third Young Master Lu and Cousin Luo were after marriage no longer mattered, because Jianye’s city gates were blown open, and the Northern army attacked. Because the northern war hadn’t been relieved, the situation grew increasingly fierce, and after many court refusals, by the moment in Lu Xian’s dream, millions of troops came south.
Jianye’s city gates crashed down!
The whole city was shrouded in fire and smoke!
The royal family fled south, and the Lu family and other noble houses fled south. Enemy troops watched like tigers, attacking wave after wave.
Rolling like a mudslide, the situation grew worse and worse. The Southern Kingdom fell, the Lu family fell, Lu Yun and Cousin Luo died, most of the Lu family met with disaster, and Lu Xian himself fled with great difficulty.
…
Second Young Master Lu woke from the nightmare, dazed: …This dream, was it wrong?