Compared to the neighboring Grand Marshal’s mansion, the Minister of Works’ residence was considerably more relaxed. After all, even among the Three Excellencies, there were distinctions. With the Minister of Works overseeing water conservancy and sacrificial matters, few people paid attention during the current northern campaign. Such leisure meant that Liu Mu, the Prince of Hengyang, merely made a brief morning visit to the office before leaving. When Liu Mu returned, he brought with him a newly acquired treasure sword. The young lord sat carelessly beneath the office quarters, meticulously polishing his new sword with silk cloth.

The sword gleamed like fresh snow, reflecting the youth’s sharp and cold features.

As Liu Mu lovingly polished the sword, unexpectedly, its surface reflected an elegant young man’s face peering over. That youth curiously examined his sword, as if studying what was worth appreciating about such a seemingly ordinary blade.

Liu Mu lifted his eyelids, offering an insincere smile: “What are you doing here?”

Lu Xian coughed once: “As colleagues, I’ve come to check on the young lord.”

The actual situation was that the office clerks had complained to him about how since the Prince of Hengyang arrived at their Minister of Works office, he hadn’t done any work. The mountains of documents in the office hadn’t received even a glance from this young provincial prince. Why did Liu Mu need to idle at the Minister of Works? Wouldn’t any office without real duties suit him better? However, the Prince of Hengyang was violent, and His Majesty still doted on him. The clerks didn’t want to risk being scolded by Liu Mu. Since Second Young Master Lu was said to be on good terms with the Prince of Hengyang, the clerks nominated Lu Xian to probe the prince’s intentions.

As Lu Xian had his plans, he came directly to find Liu Mu.

Lu Xian probed indirectly: “Will the young lord soon leave Jianye for the frontier, like my third brother? Are you also going to Nanyang?”

Liu Mu responded lazily: “The situation in Nanyang isn’t so dire that just anyone can go there. I’m headed to Yingchuan.”

Second Young Master Lu immediately praised: “Yingchuan is a wonderful place!”

Liu Mu: “…You think I’m going there for sightseeing?”

Lu Xian coughed dryly.

After much idle chat, Second Young Master Lu sat below the Prince of Hengyang, continuously probing indirectly. Though Liu Mu gave him several cold looks, he remained oblivious. The youth maintained a warm smile, leaving Liu Mu privately puzzled and frustrated – this Second Young Master Lu truly never could read the atmosphere. After talking for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea without reaching the point, Liu Mu impatiently put down his sword: “What exactly did you come to see me about? Didn’t I tell you earlier that I’m only temporarily staying at the Minister of Works? I don’t plan to do anything here.”

Second Young Master Lu was very understanding: “I don’t blame you for looking down on our office, a man of ambition should set his sights far and wide. I’m the same… let me tell you something in confidence, I’m studying my father’s work, I also plan to go to the frontier.”

Liu Mu: “…You?!”

He looked Second Young Master Lu up and down – graceful as jade, refined and gentle, the typical image of a frail scholar. Noble young lords were typically outstanding in appearance, and this youth had a fair complexion and slender fingers. Such a person should stick to wielding a writing brush at most, yet he was thinking of going to the battlefield.

Second Young Master Lu said thick-skinnedly: “I wanted to discuss this with you since we’re acquainted after all. Someone like you will become a general fighting on the battlefield. I certainly won’t make it to the front, but following my third brother’s example, how about I serve as your military advisor? With both you and my father helping, when you leave the capital, I could go along.”

Liu Mu was extremely surprised, examining this mentally unsound Second Young Master Lu once again. Emulate Third Young Master Lu, Lu Yun? Although it was later proven that it was his imperial brother who wanted to kill him, Liu Mu had always suspected that the assassin who came to probe his Prince of Hengyang residence that day was Lu Yun. Lu Yun was not just a scholar… Second Young Master Lu and Third Young Master Lu were just too different, weren’t they?

Liu Mu: “Are you serious?”

Lu Xian nodded.

He had certainly thought it through. After his third brother left, he worried day and night about that inauspicious dream, thinking about it with extreme anxiety. His dreams had always been fragmented, as if only when something happened in reality, or when something was different, would it stimulate the dream to continue. Recently, after Lu Yun left, everything was peaceful in Jianye, and Lu Xian no longer dreamed.

Without dreaming, he couldn’t figure out what else would happen in the dream, and he didn’t know how to prevent his third brother’s death.

After much consideration, Lu Xian believed the best solution was to simply go to the frontier himself. If he could watch over and take care of his brother at all times, surely nothing could go wrong?

But the Lu family only had two young masters in the main line, and his brother had already gone to the frontier. It was almost impossible for the Lu family to send him as well. Lu Xian’s father would not agree to let his son risk danger in such a place. Lu Xian had no choice but to seek Liu Mu’s help. However, though he spoke at length, Liu Mu showed little interest and politely declined, clearly not wanting to work with him.

Liu Mu thought, what use would I have for a frail scholar as a military advisor? Moreover, one with a mental illness? Why wouldn’t someone with a mental illness just stay home and treat their condition, instead of running around everywhere?

Seeing the young Prince of Hengyang unmoved, Lu Xian had to use his trump card: “…If I go with you to Yingchuan, being under your watch daily, then you won’t have to worry about me staying in Jianye alone, accidentally revealing your secret about wanting to commit regicide.”

Liu Mu: “…?!”

Storm clouds gathered in his eyes as Liu Mu kicked over the table before him with a bang. He stood up, speaking sinisterly: “You’re threatening me?”

Second Young Master Lu was forced back several steps by the youth’s storm-like presence, his face pale. Seeing murderous intent rise and fall in the Prince of Hengyang’s eyes, Second Young Master Lu hurriedly said: “I want to go to the frontier with you! I’m on your side!”

Liu Mu’s cold gaze fixed on him for a long while: “You truly only want to go to the frontier, with no other purpose?”

Second Young Master Lu smiled bitterly: “Any other purpose would only be to look after my third brother, nothing to do with you. Please help me this once, young lord.”

Liu Mu stared at him.

Slowly, the young lord withdrew his murderous aura, speaking with slight bewilderment: “…You treat that fairy-like cousin of yours so well, to go this far for her.”

Second Young Master Lu was confused: “Ah?”

…Indeed, everything he did was aimed at keeping his third brother alive, letting him win his beloved. But how did Liu Mu know?

Liu Mu lowered his eyelids, his pupils dark and clear, looking at him with complex emotions: “I know you love your cousin, that’s why whatever you do, you always mention her. I also heard about Third Young Master Lu’s drunken episode at the dock that day… being pulled aside and entrusted to help look after some cousin… your heart must be very bitter, right? Even though you’re the one who loves your cousin, in the end, you have to help your third brother succeed. If you didn’t love her so much, how could you go to such lengths?”

Lu Xian: “…”

Lu Xian was dumbfounded, never imagining such terrible misunderstandings could exist in this world, and that he had changed so much of the plot – Liu Mu thought he loved Cousin Luo!

In his dream, the Prince of Hengyang married Cousin Luo, largely using her. The Prince of Hengyang feared Luo Lingyu would reveal his secret, while Luo Lingyu used various means to please him, making him reluctant to kill her. The Prince of Hengyang simply married her, binding her to his side. Yet even so, Liu Mu must have loved Luo Lingyu. If he didn’t love her, why would he kill Luo Lingyu first at the Jianye City slope before committing suicide?

He loved her too but feared she would be humiliated after the city fell, so he simply let her die before his eyes.

He resented her devotion to Lu Yun, feeling both hatred and jealousy, yet she remained his empress.

…In the dream, the Prince of Hengyang Liu Mu loved Cousin Luo so deeply. In reality, through Lu Xian’s constant efforts, the Prince of Hengyang and Cousin Luo had no connection, and Liu Mu’s slight affection for Luo Lingyu had been forcibly reduced to almost nothing by Lu Xian’s actions. He no longer liked her, and in the future would not be heartbroken, haunted until death by the fact that she loved another.

This was for the best. Although Lu Xian stumbled and struggled, unfamiliar and unpracticed with these matters, he ultimately guided things in a better direction. Lu Xian had succeeded once, so now in saving his third brother, he should be able to succeed again.

Thinking of this, Lu Xian sat on the ground, smiling slightly.

The youth’s smile was warm and gentle, but Liu Mu who watched him grew more worried: See, this fool Lu Er was smiling for no reason again. Could he take someone to the frontier whose mental illness already seemed this serious?

Liu Mu felt some resistance, but he truly didn’t trust Lu Xian and feared his staying in Jianye would tell His Majesty about his disloyal heart. After much consideration, Liu Mu had no choice but to hold his nose and agree to help Lu Xian this once. When he left Jianye, he could take Lu Xian along.

Lu Xian stood up, wanting to high-five the Prince of Hengyang with great excitement: “You see, you don’t need to always treat me as an enemy? We could follow the example of my third brother and Prince Chen! I used to dislike how my third brother was always with Prince Chen, but now that I’ve started handling political affairs, I realize how rare Prince Chen is among the princes.”

Rare in that he didn’t constantly struggle with the other princes, competing for who could seize the throne, and win the position. Prince Chen was a very practical person, didn’t do useless things, and his daily work, in the short term, had little use for seizing power.

Liu Mu shuddered: Prince Chen and Lu Yun? He and Lu Xian?

Liu Mu hurriedly said: “No no, not necessary, not necessary. Just treat me as a normal person, no need to seek friendship, we’re not suitable.”

He would not be friends with someone like Lu Xian!

Fortunately, Lu Xian had only mentioned it casually, and seeing the young provincial prince’s rejection, he changed the topic.

Who knew that when he changed the topic, Liu Mu’s face would darken again, blaming Lu Xian for using him? Some people were always hard to please, resenting both intimacy and distance. Lu Xian found curry favor extremely difficult.

…

While Lu Xian was busy finding various connections to help him go to the frontier as he wished, the army that left Jianye had traveled for ten days, switching from water routes to land routes. When the troops reached the post station, the officers stayed at the station while the soldiers camped in the wild, everything in good order.

All these matters were arranged by Third Young Master Lu, Lu Yun.

After leaving Jianye and boarding the ship, he had slept groggily for half a day before waking up. After waking up on the ship, Lu Yun felt somewhat confused. He couldn’t quite remember what had happened between seeing the young ladies at Luo Lingyu’s place that night and now sitting on the ship. He had originally wanted to take that embroidered pouch to find Luo Lingyu to explain.

Now he didn’t even know if he had explained.

He couldn’t remember anything that happened that night at all.

Lu Yun felt uneasy, not entirely confident in his character… He rubbed his forehead, sighing. However, he didn’t have much energy to think about Luo Lingyu, because after spending just one night on the ship, the typically very perceptive Third Young Master Lu discovered that this General Wei Cong he was following seemed to have some prejudice against him. As above, so below – the entire army held prejudice against him. Everyone was very respectful toward him, but it was the kind of fawning concern that came from currying favor.

“Young Master, someone as noble as you shouldn’t be doing such trivial things! Let me handle it!”

“Young Master is reading… how impressive, we can’t even recognize characters, hehe.”

“Young Master, someone like you, why go to the frontier to fight? What’s there to gain? Could it be for military merit? Does someone like you even need military merit?”

Lu Yun responded perfunctorily while trying to find the general to discuss matters. However, in the past few days, he hadn’t seen General Wei once.

After switching to land routes, when Third Young Master Lu finished arranging accommodations for the officers and soldiers at the post station and returned to his quarters, he found two beautiful maids kneeling by his door to welcome him. He leaned against the doorframe, raising an eyebrow, silently thinking this matter was getting interesting. The two maids knelt with lowered heads, catching glimpses of the young master’s elegant shadow floating on the ground from the corners of their eyes. The young master was so handsome that they blushed at their fantasies, but after waiting and waiting, they only saw Military Advisor Lu standing at the doorway continuously giving orders to his following soldiers, never entering the room.

One maid boldly raised her head to look, seeing Third Young Master Lu staring at them, his eyes slightly curved, somewhat alluring. The maid’s heart trembled, her body going soft under the young master’s naturally amorous gaze, tremblingly calling out: “Third Young Master…”

Lu Yun asked: “Your general is quite interesting. Leading an army to war, yet still provides maids?”

The maid hurriedly replied: “We two were specially sent by General Wei to serve the young master! The general said the young master wasn’t used to following the army, so he sent us two to serve the young master. We two should take good care of the young master, and ensure the young master’s satisfaction.”

Lu Yun looked at her, the smile in his eyes now gone. He spoke languidly: “Oh… is that meant to include serving me in bed? Then he’s behind the times – who still plays with women these days? We upper-class nobles now play with young boys.”

The two pitiful and innocent maids: “…?!”

Was Third Young Master Lu joking? Had General Wei sent the wrong people?

Seeing Lu Yun glance at them: “If you don’t serve me well, and I reject you, won’t General Wei kill you both, hmm?”

The maids, terrified by his strange gaze, turned pale and immediately spilled all of General Wei’s schemes like scattered beans. The hook-like glimmer that had been flickering in Third Young Master Lu’s eyes completely disappeared, and the two maids watched him turn cold, noble, and dignified, not to be trifled with.

Third Young Master Lu said mockingly: “I see General Wei intends to keep me from interfering in military matters, just lying on top of women to pass the time, waiting for him to finish fighting and give me military merit, right?”

The maids didn’t understand such things, naturally shaking their heads saying they didn’t know.

Lu Yun tugged at the corner of his mouth, speaking somewhat arrogantly: “You two go back and tell General Wei that I don’t lack military merit. Since he knows I come from a noble family, he should know military merit is useless to me. I’m different from him – if I want official positions, they’re mine for the taking, there’s no need to make a trip to Nanyang. He acts for profit, I act for reputation, our paths differ.”

Lu Yun paused, and as the maids were about to retreat, they heard him add playfully: “Take another message to General Wei. Those of humble origins truly have limited vision. Indeed, they can’t compare to the nobility.”

The maids: “…”

This was provoking General Wei! Wouldn’t the general be furious hearing these words?!

Who didn’t know General Wei came from common origins, and his current position was achieved step by step with Prince Chen’s support? Both being people by Prince Chen’s side, Third Young Master Lu immediately took a stance of wanting to infuriate General Wei to death… The maids retreated with pale faces – the struggle between general and military advisor might be bloodless, but the killing intent was no less fierce.

Since ancient times, generals led battles on the battlefield while military advisors managed affairs behind the scenes. When generals and military advisors coordinated well, victory was assured; when they didn’t, both sides suffered. Now in this army heading to the frontier, the struggle between General Wei Cong and Military Advisor Third Young Master Lu, sharp as swords and daggers, was just beginning.

Extremely fascinating.

…

Let’s not discuss how Third Young Master Lu teased General Wei, or how fiercely they fought in Nanyang, but after this army reached Nanyang, it did indeed relieve some of the pressure facing the north. Nanyang’s noble families welcomed this army, while also welcoming Nanyang’s new governor, Third Young Master Lu, Lu Yun. Lu Yun wasn’t just Nanyang’s governor, but also the army’s military advisor. Holding two positions, all of Nanyang’s noble families wanted to test him.

Nanyang’s largest noble family was the Fan clan of Nanyang.

Fan Qingchen, the fourth young master of the Nanyang Fan clan, was sent by his father to welcome the new governor on Lu Yun’s first day in Nanyang. In Nanyang, Lu Yun and Fan Qingchen met again. Fan Qingchen’s gloomy eyes fixed on this person, his heart full of irritation – Third Young Master Lu was like a lingering ghost, making him uneasy.

Fan Qingchen gave a cold laugh: But it’s nothing more than that, the marriage agreement between Sister Luo and me still hasn’t been dissolved. Now that Third Young Master Lu has come to my territory, what do I have to fear? Let’s see how I can create some trouble for this new governor.

He darkened his eyes as Lu Yun cast a light glance his way. Sparks flew between the two young masters’ eyes, crackling in midair, each believing they would be the victor in love.

Both military and political circles wanted to give Third Young Master Lu a hard time. Lu Yun dealt with both sides while also traveling through mountains and waters, investigating the local environment, climate, and common people’s conditions. After a continuous month, apart from becoming much thinner, Lu Yun hadn’t been forced by General Wei and Nanyang’s noble families to flee back to Jianye. The Nanyang side began to take him more seriously: Third Young Master Lu was quite interesting.

Time passed to August when Jianye was already very hot. In mid-August, while the main Lu family continued staying in Danyang Prefecture to avoid the heat, one day, their cousin Miss Luo Lingyu held a small banquet for her sister, celebrating her sister growing a year older, now being a ten-year-old young lady.

The family’s cousin ladies like Jiang Wanyi all came to join the celebration. Since Third Young Master Lu left, the Lu family’s cousin ladies got along much more harmoniously.

As young lady Luo Yunhua grew a year older, her sister no longer kept her confined at home as usual but seriously decided to lead her little sister into Jianye’s social circles, introducing her sister to Jianye’s ladies and young masters. Luo Yunhua’s eyelids twitched slightly as she resisted: “…Isn’t this unnecessary? Going out to socialize costs a lot of money.”

Luo Lingyu: “It’s fine, we’re not that short on money anymore. The cosmetics shop has started making a profit, and I have some land rental income that your third cousin gave me. Although he said it was to help refugees, I can use the excess. Lu Yun typically says one thing but means another. Hmph, he must have wanted to give these to me but wouldn’t say it directly, having to use such methods.”

Luo Yunhua hesitated: “…I still don’t want to go…”

Luo Lingyu patted her sister’s shoulder, reproaching: “Hua’er, I’m going to stay in Jianye in the future, how can you not make some friends in Jianye when you’ve grown up? I’m so utilitarian, that I haven’t made any true friends. But you’re different, Hua’er is so lively and kind, many people should like you… help sister build a good reputation here in Jianye.”

Luo Yunhua’s eyes widened. She didn’t mind her sister wanting to use her kind heart to build a good reputation, but asked in surprise: “Why are you so certain you’ll stay in Jianye in the future? Is it, is it…”

She had a bold guess, joy gradually rising in her eyes.

Luo Lingyu couldn’t contain her inner satisfaction.

Though matters weren’t settled, she couldn’t boast everywhere, fearing it would fall through and she’d become an object of ridicule. But facing her dear sister, Luo Lingyu covered her heart, holding back her excitement and shyness, nodding: “…Yes, Brother Xuecheng personally said he wants to marry me.”

Luo Lingyu’s cheeks flushed red: “In the future, I’ll be the Third Young Madam of the Lu family.”

“I’ll stay here for a long, long time, how can you not go out to socialize? Hmph, sitting at home doing needlework all day, that’s not our style.”

Only then did Luo Yunhua excitedly agree. Though she often found her sister’s constant changing of favorite young masters tiresome, picking and choosing like selecting goods without knowing who she truly loved. But with her sister speaking like this… she must have at least ninety percent certainty. Her sister just loved power and wealth, and among the powerful and wealthy, if Third Cousin Lu got together with her sister, that would likely be the best outcome.

No wonder sister had been in such a good mood lately!

The third cousin left, but the young lady wasn’t sad at all, eating, drinking, and playing, teasing the Lu family’s young ladies. Luo Lingyu’s current life was so pleasant.

But perhaps joy breeds sorrow – Luo Lingyu had just agreed to distribute porridge to the poor at the edge of the city with Zhou Yangling, but after returning in the evening, she fell ill.

The young lady lay sick in bed, vomiting and having diarrhea. Zhou Yangling personally sent her back, instructing her to rest well. The next day, Second Young Master Lu heard about their cousin’s sister’s illness. Since his third brother asked him to look after Cousin Luo before leaving, Second Young Master Lu naturally couldn’t let anyone bully their cousin while his third brother was away. Second Young Master Lu went to visit Luo Lingyu before morning court.

It was breakfast time, and Luo Lingyu lay weakly on the couch, having just drunk a bowl of porridge only to vomit it all out.

This made Second Young Master Lu’s expression change slightly as he just entered the door.

Luo Lingyu had never liked letting people see her in a haggard state. Catching sight of Second Young Master Lu from the corner of her eye, she used her sleeve to cover her face, speaking softly and weakly: “Second Cousin, my appearance is unsightly, I can’t properly receive you, you…”

But Second Young Master Lu didn’t leave.

Instead, he first had the maids leave, and before closing the door, he carefully looked around.

Luo Lingyu pulled down the bed curtains, refusing to see Second Young Master Lu.

But Second Young Master Lu didn’t give up, pacing to the outside of the curtain, pondering for a long while. After a long while, he endured his blushing face and bent down to ask the beautiful young lady lying sick behind the curtain in a low voice: “Cousin, tell me the truth. With you vomiting and having diarrhea like this, could it be, could it be… you’re pregnant?”

Luo Lingyu jolted violently: “…?!”

Second Young Master Lu forcefully held back the worry and joy in his voice, reaching through the curtain to grasp her wrist, reproaching: “How could you not tell us? Does Third Brother know? He got you pregnant yet still hasn’t married you, leaving you alone… If I hadn’t discovered this, what would become of you? That scoundrel Third Brother, he must marry you!”

Luo Lingyu: “Second Brother… I’m not…”

But Second Young Master Lu thought she was just being shy.

Not listening to his cousin’s explanation, and with servants calling from outside, Second Young Master Lu left after giving a meaningful look. That day after court, he first wrote a letter to Lu Yun, telling Lu Yun this happy news while reproaching him.

…

It wasn’t until ten days later when Lu Yun received his second brother’s letter that he was left completely bewildered – could it be that night, he had actually… let his bestial nature take over and taken advantage of Luo Lingyu?