If Third Young Master Lu goes to the border, he will die, but the Southern Kingdom will be saved; if he doesn’t go to the border, the Southern Kingdom will fall, and not just Third Young Master Lu will die.

Either choice leads to death.

…

Startled awake from his dream in the middle of the night, Second Young Master Lu poured himself wine and drank, his heart heavy with worry.

Though the Southern Kingdom was known for its fine wine and tea, Lu Xian wasn’t one to indulge. Tonight was the first time this refined scholar had drunk jar after jar of wine.

Ever since he started having these dreams, no matter what changes he made in reality, Third Young Master Lu either died from countless arrows piercing his heart, died in battle, or died due to the Southern Kingdom’s fall. This northern war between the Southern and Northern Kingdoms seemed impossible to delay. Even without Lu Xian’s intervention, after the Southern Kingdom’s defeat in the northern campaign, Jianye City still fell at this time next year. If this conflict couldn’t be resolved, the Southern Kingdom’s future was truly worrisome.

In his hazy state, Lu Xian guessed that his third brother Lu Yun faced a deadly calamity in his twentieth year.

With only about half a year left, the deadly calamity was so severe that even though Lu Xian had already changed many things in reality, it was still uncertain whether Third Young Master Lu could survive the next six months.

Lu Xian’s heart was filled with anxiety and sorrow: his third brother had lost both parents at a young age, possessed extraordinary talent, and had someone he loved – how could he leave this world at just twenty years old?

He had to find a way to save everything.

Yet the dreams told him that whether or not his brother went to the border, this deadly fate couldn’t be avoided. Second Young Master Lu was currently troubled, not knowing what he should do.

…

Second Young Master Lu wasn’t skilled at strategic planning.

He didn’t possess such keen insight into the bigger picture. Standing in the midst of it all, analyzing his dreams back and forth, he remained confused. He hadn’t even figured out why Third Young Master Lu would lose the battle… In his dreams, he only saw snow-sealed mountains, thick fog blocking the sky, and desolation everywhere. He only saw the war’s beginning, its end, Lu Yun’s death, and the Southern Kingdom’s victory. He couldn’t see the cause and effect.

And without understanding cause and effect, he didn’t know what he could do.

But Third Young Master Lu couldn’t wait for him. Lu Xian didn’t have much time to ponder his dreams – in three days, it would be time for Lu Yun to join the army and set out. Second Young Master Lu’s feelings grew more complex: Prince Hengyang had also told him about going to the border, and Third Young Master Lu was going to the border as well. Yet while Liu Mu’s border-deployment procedures weren’t complete and were still being held up by the Sima Manor, Lu Yun’s were already finished.

This showed that Lu Yun had been keeping this secret for a long time!

…His third brother was practically rushing to his death.

The night before Lu Yun’s departure, Second Young Master Lu hesitated for a long while but finally decided to give some advice to his third brother. All the Lu family elders had already said what needed to be said, and his third brother had been scolded for several days. This would be Second Young Master Lu’s first heart-to-heart talk with his third brother since learning of Third Young Master Lu’s planned departure.

In Lu Yun’s courtyard, Lu Xian encountered Prince Chen and Liu Shu.

Under Jin Yue’s instructions, servants and attendants were helping their young master pack his military gear. Miss Jin Yue leaned dejectedly against a courtyard pillar, staring at the shadows of the two young masters cast by the window. Though all the courtyard maids and servants followed her orders, she would occasionally wipe away tears, not even noticing when Second Young Master Lu arrived.

Jin Yue’s heart was naturally sorrowful. Third Young Master Lu was leaving, and delicate maids like them naturally couldn’t accompany the army. If they went, wouldn’t it be laughable? Though Third Young Master Lu had grown up at the border as a child, he had returned to Jianye at a young age, followed by more than ten years of privileged life as a noble young master. He would only drink the finest tea and wear the finest silk… Jin Yue worried that with such a sudden change from this refined lifestyle, Third Young Master Lu would suffer at the border.

He would also be looked down upon by those rough military men.

While Jin Yue was lost in her worries, Third Young Master Lu and Prince Chen came out of the room. Prince Chen kept his eyes lowered, his thick beautiful lashes and soft quiet voice making him appear as gentle as moonlight, revealing nothing. As Liu Shu put on his shoes at the doorway, he spoke his final words to Third Young Master Lu while descending the steps: “…I’ll do my best to look after affairs in Jianye. Xuecin, take care of yourself.”

Liu Shu had many words of concern to express, but he had a stutter and didn’t want others to know about it. Catching sight of Second Young Master Lu from the corner of his eye, Liu Shu spoke even less: “…Take care of yourself, nothing else matters.”

Such earnest words, spoken slowly by Liu Shu, always carried a sense of detachment. Lu Xian was no longer sure whether Third Young Master Lu’s friendship with Prince Chen was good or bad, and could only put aside such thoughts for now. In Second Young Master Lu’s view, if he hadn’t known about the deep feelings between his third brother and this Fifth Young Master, Liu Shu’s cold expression would have appeared completely indifferent and uncaring about his third brother.

But Liu Shu had come personally, which naturally showed his concern for Lu Yun.

Regarding his friend’s unspoken words, Third Young Master Lu said: “Aman, you’re being so earnest, just like my mother.”

Liu Shu glanced at him with slight anger.

Third Young Master Lu’s smile faded, and after a pause, he reached out to clasp hands with him, saying softly: “Don’t worry, I know my limits.”

Second Young Master Lu thought: …What limits do you know? If you knew your limits, would you still die? Troublesome brother, making him worry so.

After seeing Prince Chen out of the courtyard, the rest of the way was led by maids. Third Young Master Lu turned back and said to his second brother who was standing dazed in the courtyard: “Second Brother has come to advise me too, right? Come inside, you should be the last wave of visitors today. Please be quick, I still need to prepare some things for tomorrow’s departure.”

His tone was teasing, mocking Second Young Master Lu’s hesitation and indecision, but Second Young Master Lu didn’t laugh.

Lu Yun’s eyes flickered for a moment.

Having entered the room together with him, Lu Xian sat down heavily, not noticing his third brother leaning against the wall thoughtfully studying him. Lu Xian rubbed his face, pushing down the weight in his heart, putting on a show of pulling himself together before beginning to give Lu Yun the usual advice. Lu Yun never sat down, continuously observing his second brother searchingly. Lu Xian’s instructions were all the common things everyone would say to someone traveling far from home, such as staying warm, adding clothes, not charging to the front when facing enemies…

Third Young Master Lu felt warmth in his heart, thinking that though he had always felt lacking in family affection, there were still people like Liu Shu and Second Brother in the world who cared for him, speaking of such small matters. True feelings were revealed in small things. In the Lu family, the symbol that Third Young Master Lu represented was more often “that brilliantly talented legitimate third son who completely overshadowed the family’s young masters,” and true care was quite rare.

After finishing a section of advice, Lu Xian fell silent for a long while, then casually asked as if it just occurred to him: “There are mountains in Nanyang, aren’t there?”

Lu Yun had already studied the border region’s topography: “Mm. Mount Funiu extends eight hundred li, Mount Tongbai three hundred li, the two connect, crossing the Huai River south to Nanyang.”

Lu Xian feigned shock and joy: “There are mountains? The Great Master is truly a living Buddha in our time, he predicted correctly!”

Lu Yun stared at his second brother’s exaggerated performance expressionlessly.

With his third brother being so uncooperative, Lu Xian felt slightly embarrassed. His third brother had an extremely sharp perception, and as Lu Yun remained silent, Lu Xian also realized he had overreacted. His face burning, Lu Xian tried to salvage his unreliable impression in front of his third brother: “Because I was worried about you, I specially asked a Great Master at Jianchu Temple to divine your fate. The Great Master said you face a deadly calamity this year. The way to break it is to stay away from mountains, remember this well.”

Jianchu Temple was currently Jianye’s premier Buddhist temple, its reputation no less than that of Zhongshan Kaishan Temple which Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu had previously visited. Though strange, it was still somewhat reasonable for Lu Xian to say he went to Jianchu Temple to ask a Great Master for divination.

Third Young Master Lu tilted his head, glancing at his second brother, and said teasingly: “Divination? For me? What’s going on lately, everyone’s either asking for talismans or fortune-telling?”

Buddhism had come from India, and Buddhist disciples originally didn’t need to learn divination and fortune-telling; however, to adapt to local customs, for the sake of followers in both the Southern and Northern Kingdoms, Buddhist masters had all learned the excellent skill of reading heaven’s will and telling fortunes.

Luo Lingyu was better, not believing too much, and mostly seeking peace of mind. But Second Young Master Lu’s current fervent manner… in Third Young Master Lu’s view, these monks were just there to deceive fools like his second brother.

Lu Xian grew anxious and scolded with a stern face: “Third Brother, don’t take this lightly! Better to believe it exists than not! The Great Master said your fate clashes with mountains, telling you not to go near them. You should listen to me.”

Lu Yun’s expression remained calm.

After a long while, as Lu Xian still wouldn’t change his words, Third Young Master Lu sighed and said slowly: “My name and surname belong to fire, and adding my birth time and eight characters, it shows my fate is yin fire. Fire burning wet wood produces thick smoke but no form, suppressing itself within. Appearing calm on the surface but with stormy waves inside, suffering daily breaks but not breaking. This fate lacks emotional bonds, if not weak in health then lacking in parent-child fate, and my parents died early, matching this reading exactly. My fate has many twists and difficulties, but power and wealth are ordinary things to me, and I shall never lack them.”

Lu Yun raised an eyebrow: “Second Brother, am I right?”

Lu Xian: “…”

Second Young Master Lu was completely stunned, staring at Lu Yun in shock. He had used the Great Master as an excuse, naturally to persuade his third brother to stay away from any mountains. Before Lu Xian could think of a better method, he could only consider the minor details. However according to experience, if one difficulty was avoided, another would arise. But in Lu Xian’s mind, in his dreams, Lu Yun met with disaster when heavy snow fell. Even in Nanyang, it was still several months away from the time when heavy snow would fall… In these few months, Second Young Master Lu had time to figure out how to solve the problem.

It was just that he felt uneasy and hoped that by staying away from the mountains, Third Young Master Lu wouldn’t die.

Who knew Lu Yun would come out with such a long discourse?

Only then did Lu Xian belatedly realize – oh no, he had forgotten that Lu Yun was a current famous scholar, well-versed in metaphysics. For him to talk about fortune-telling in front of Lu Yun was making himself a laughingstock.

Third Young Master Lu saw his second brother’s face turning from green to white, and he gave a soft laugh. Standing by the wall entrance, under sparse starlight, half the young man’s face was illuminated while half remained in shadow, his features appearing deep-set. Second Young Master Lu heard this troublemaker continue in a soft, leisurely voice: “And the mountains Second Brother speaks of belonging to the earth. In the five elements, fire generates earth, how could there be any clash?”

Lu Xian said gravely: “Fire generates earth? Indeed, you benefit others, but who benefits you? I only care about my brother’s wellbeing, and how the mountains are, whether good or bad, why would I care about that? Third Brother, do you think I’m just talking about mountains?”

Lu Yun paused, lowering his eyes: “…Ah, I was narrow-minded. Second Brother’s teachings are correct.”

Third Young Master Lu lowered his brow and immediately listened seriously to Lu Xian’s education. However, Lu Xian’s words grew increasingly strange – not only did he warn him to stay away from mountains, but he also said he clashed with water, telling him not to go out on snowy days while in the north. Third Young Master Lu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry – clashing with earth, clashing with water, how had he survived all these years? The young man lifted his eyelids, watching Lu Xian ramble on, his words becoming increasingly complicated: “…When you reach the border, whether you’re in Nanyang or elsewhere, you must write to me daily, telling me what you’re doing. Remember, one letter every day, not a single day can be missed! If you miss even one day, I’ll immediately head to the border to find you. Third Brother, you wouldn’t want me following behind you all the time, would you?”

Lu Yun rubbed his nose, giving an embarrassed smile. In a sense, he was indeed somewhat afraid of this second brother of his.

Lu Yun tried to argue for himself: “Writing letters every day, that’s not necessary…”

He walked out from the shadows, his pace leisurely, his robes flowing elegantly, radiant like snow on a clear night. Second Young Master Lu looked up at him, about to continue his earnest advice, when he suddenly spotted something on Lu Yun that made his expression change slightly. Lu Yun followed Lu Xian’s gaze and looked down, seeing that what Lu Xian was staring at was a sachet visible among the jade pendants hanging at his waist.

Lu Xian’s voice trembled: “This sachet, this sachet… you’re wearing it now?! When did you start wearing it?”

He remembered clearly that in his dream when Lu Yun died, he was clutching this sachet. When Cousin Luo saw this sachet, her face changed… This feeling terrified Lu Xian as if everything, in reality, was truly heading toward the outcome of his dream.

Lu Yun thought for a moment, then removed the sachet from his waist, saying: “Is there something wrong with the sachet? This was given to me by Lingyu, she embroidered it herself.”

Lu Xian didn’t know the sachet’s secret.

He only remembered the words Lu Yun had written in blood—

“Through the ages, I return to you one word: love, unchanging as mountains.”

Each word pierced the heart, like magnified death, mixed with wind and snow, striking his face, making Second Young Master Lu’s expression fearful.

After a long while, having barely collected himself, Lu Xian finally said: “The sachet, you should keep wearing it, there’s no problem…”

Lu Yun observed his second brother for a while but didn’t believe Lu Xian’s words anymore. Lu Yun lowered his head, playing with the sachet in his hands, his fingertips tracing every thread on it. He felt it for a while, his fingertips lingering on the fragrant orchids embroidered on the sachet as if he had discovered something. From Second Young Master Lu’s view, he saw his third brother think for a moment, then open the sachet.

Lu Yun took out some slightly wrinkled yellow talismans that had been folded neatly inside the sachet, but that wasn’t enough – Lu Yun directly turned the sachet over.

When the sachet was turned over, the other side of the double-sided embroidery that Luo Lingyu had hidden with her excellent needlework was revealed. There was a line of elegant small characters—

“Through the ages, I ask of you one word: may love be unchanging as mountains.”

Lu Yun’s expression changed slightly, his pupils suddenly contracting as he gripped the sachet tightly.

This was double-sided embroidery, and there were things hidden inside the sachet.

Second Young Master Lu saw it too, his expression dazed: “…So that’s what it was.”

This ancient poem, he had seen Cousin Luo write it before. At that time, he regretted that Cousin Luo wouldn’t express her feelings to Lu Yun, but now, now… Cousin Luo had finally spoken her heart at this moment. She had embroidered a sachet for Lu Yun, hiding her heart within it. But if Lu Yun hadn’t examined the sachet, and hadn’t looked carefully, he wouldn’t have discovered it.

Lu Yun was a normal man; he wouldn’t keep staring at a sachet constantly.

In the snowy mountains at that time, Lu Yun must have already discovered the lady’s feelings hidden in the sachet. At that time, Lu Yun must have played with this sachet daily, looking at it so many times that he finally discovered its secret.

And now, in reality, thanks to Second Young Master Lu’s strange gaze, Lu Yun had discovered the words embroidered in the sachet.

Lu Xian felt slightly pleased: “…Third Brother, you will love her, won’t you?”

Lu Yun slowly glanced at his second brother: “Should I?”

Lu Xian: “…”

In half a year, the love didn’t seem to have reached that depth… Lu Xian felt awkward, then uneasy – had he once again harmed while trying to help? The “may love to be unchanging as mountains” that should have deeply moved Lu Yun, now seemed to not stir his emotions as much as imagined.

But Lu Yun had become lost in thought.

He certainly didn’t love Luo Lingyu as deeply as when he died in Lu Xian’s dream, but when he saw Luo Lingyu’s true wish hidden in the sachet, he indeed began to drift in spirit, began to stop hearing Second Young Master Lu’s words, began thinking about Luo Lingyu. Wondering what she was doing now, whether she liked him, to what extent she liked him, what she was thinking while embroidering the sachet.

Thinking that he would leave tomorrow, yet hadn’t seen her.

Thinking about her wish for love unchanging as mountains, whether he could live up to it…

Lu Yun clutched the sachet tightly in his hand, and under Lu Xian’s continued stream of reminders, the young master suddenly looked up, interrupting Second Young Master Lu’s words: “I have something to do. My apologies, Second Brother.”

He turned to leave immediately.

Lu Xian immediately stood up, saying anxiously: “Where are you going? I haven’t finished giving you instructions. The border is such a dangerous place, how can you not listen to everything I have to say? Third Brother, Third Brother… Lu Xuecin!”

Lu Xian hurriedly chased Lu Yun out of the room, only to see his third brother’s robes flying like a crane in flight, walking extremely fast. The evening wind blew past the long windows. As Lu Xian’s socked feet touched the carpet outside the room, he hurriedly slipped on his shoes, but Third Young Master Lu had already passed through the courtyard’s glistening bamboo and banana leaves, casually waving his hand— “If Second Brother has any more instructions, just write them in a letter. I’ll read it when I return.”

Second Young Master Lu: “…”

…

His third brother was right here at home.

If he wanted to talk to his third brother, he had to write a letter.

What kind of behavior was this?

…

Lu Xian’s forehead veins throbbed with anger at his brother’s behavior, and he sent a servant to see where he went. The servant returned panting, reporting that Third Young Master had gone straight to the farthest courtyard. That far direction would be where Young Lady Luo Lingyu resided.

Suddenly shifting between sorrow and joy, Lu Xian couldn’t blame his third brother anymore.

Second Young Master Lu’s lips curved in a faint smile as he leisurely returned to Third Young Master Lu’s room, lifted his robes to sit by the window, and began writing a letter to his third brother—writing his long, mountain-like pile of instructions.

…

His heart surged, emotions like the sea!

Gripping the sachet in his hand, only wanting to see her immediately, talk to her immediately, ask her immediately!

Lu Yun arrived at Luo Lingyu’s courtyard to find maids sitting in small groups playing. The maids were startled to see Third Young Master Lu suddenly appear, and all rose to greet him. But before they could complete their bowing ceremony, Third Young Master Lu, who couldn’t see them in his eyes, had already brushed past them, walking toward the closed doors of the building.

Lingyu and Lingxi from the courtyard chased after him: “Third Young Master, what are you doing?”

Third Young Master Lu didn’t waste time with them, his steps like flowing clouds, seeing the main room’s lights were on, suggesting the occupant was still awake. Lu Yun directly pulled open the door, his voice tense: “Lingyu…”

He only called two syllables before closing his mouth, his eyelid twitching slightly.

Because when he opened the door, what he saw was a group of beautiful young ladies. The ladies were either sitting or standing, playing drinking games composing poetry, and appreciating art. When Third Young Master Lu suddenly appeared in the doorway, his elegant figure like a startled swan, immediately attracted all the young ladies’ gazes. The ladies exclaimed in delight: “Third Cousin, you came?!”

Third Young Master Lu’s gaze swept over them, meeting with the young lady in a corner of the room. Luo Lingyu was kneeling on a small square couch, with a row of porcelain bowls arranged before her. The young lady held chopsticks in her hand, with her sister Luo Yunwa crouching beside her, resting her chin in her hands. Miss Luo had been about to perform chopstick percussion, with the visiting young ladies all waiting to appreciate it when Third Young Master Lu appeared.

Luo Lingyu looked up, also slightly dazed.

Third Young Master Lu: “…”

Lu Yun said slowly: “I’m leaving tomorrow, yet you’re here seeking pleasure and entertainment?”

Luo Lingyu stood up with a slightly dazed, slightly embarrassed expression. Luo Lingyu’s gaze was somewhat evasive, her cheeks bitten slightly, and she mumbled: “No… why did Third Cousin come?”

These words were a bit strange. Lu Yun looked at her again and asked: “What exactly are you all doing?”

Nearby, Jiang Wanyi spoke with a somewhat peculiar, sour tone: “We’re holding a farewell banquet for Third Cousin. Sister Luo is the host and sends a maid to invite Third Cousin. We all said Third Cousin was too busy with affairs and never attended our banquets, so surely wouldn’t come. We made a bet with Miss Luo. Unexpectedly, we lost – Third Cousin came.”

Jiang Wanyi held back for a long time but still couldn’t resist adding sourly: “…Third Cousin is so good to Sister Luo.”

Lu Yun thought: …Is that so?

He looked at Luo Lingyu, wondering how he hadn’t known about being invited to any banquet. Jingyue shouldn’t have the courage to hide it from him, right? Jingyue should know that he would usually accept Luo Lingyu’s invitations. Now that he knew nothing about it, and seeing Luo Lingyu’s guilty, evasive gaze, Lu Yun naturally knew the problem lay with Luo Lingyu—

She had told the young ladies she had invited him to the banquet, but in reality, she hadn’t invited him at all.

Just going through the motions, pretending she had already invited him.

Finally reaching a regretful consensus with the young ladies: none of them were special to Third Young Master Lu, and he wouldn’t give a face to any of them.

Luo Lingyu’s outstanding beauty gave her natural advantages in interactions with young men. But interacting with young ladies required some careful thought. If she aroused others’ jealousy daily, it wouldn’t do any good for her as a dependent cousin. That’s why she used completely different approaches when speaking with the young ladies versus with him.

Lu Yun lowered his eyes, realizing that he could now stand in her position and consider things from her perspective.

He gripped the sachet in his hand again: …Was this what “may love be unchanging as mountains” meant?

…If he truly loved, his love would naturally be unchanging as mountains.

While Lu Yun was lost in thought, Luo Lingyu had already walked over. She was somewhat embarrassed but didn’t want him to expose her pretense. She looked up at him pleadingly, and with her back to the young ladies, she asked with a gentle smile: “I didn’t expect I would succeed in inviting Third Cousin. Third Cousin is so busy, are you willing to play with us?”

Luo Lingyu’s scalp tingled, her eyelashes trembled, and her cheeks flushed red as she waited nervously. Her fingers in her sleeve kept twisting together.

She felt ashamed, thinking that she had let him catch her again.

What would Lu Yun think of her… While she was feeling uneasy, the young master’s warm hand raised to brush her shoulder. The young lady’s shoulders stiffened as the young master’s breath brushed past her cheek. Hearing no reproach or disgust in Lu Yun’s tone, he said softly: “I came naturally to add to Cousin’s enjoyment. What was Cousin doing just now?”

Luo Lingyu was somewhat surprised: “…Singing while striking chopsticks.”

Lu Yun made an “oh” sound, then said slowly: “Then may I accompany the xun?”

Luo Lingyu suddenly raised her head.

Their eyes met.

Feelings flowed like water.

Endless tenderness.