A beauty under the moonlight, equally enchanting whether frowning or smiling, possessing countless charms. As she grew older, her allure became increasingly bewitching. She did not attempt to conceal it, naturally flirtatious and habitually pleasing to others, unconsciously enticing… only slightly better than Lu Yun, who maintained a facade of noble aloofness despite constantly being surrounded by young ladies.

Lu Yun enjoyed watching Luo Lingyu’s various expressions and graceful demeanor, while simultaneously resenting how she was always surrounded by different young men. Sometimes it irritated him – why couldn’t she be more wooden? Wouldn’t it be better to just be a simple beauty with nothing but looks?

Wouldn’t it be better to entice fewer men?

Yet Lu Yun knew well that if Luo Lingyu were a wooden beauty, he wouldn’t like her either. He probably liked her exactly as she was.

When Third Young Master Lu received word that his second brother said the Prince of Hengyang had brought her here, he was already unsettled. Early in the morning, upon receiving a letter from Yingchuan stating that the Prince of Hengyang personally escorted her to Nanyang, Third Young Master Lu’s unease instantly amplified to the extreme. This discomfort was accompanied by concern for her physical condition—in her current state, could she endure such a long journey? Hadn’t the physicians advised her against traveling?

Thus, he rode out dozens of li to welcome her, personally escorting her to Nanyang.

Who would have thought that in his eagerness, he would witness—under flowers and moonlight, a young lord playing the xun flute, with a beauty keeping him company?

A poetic scene, with budding emotions, enough to make one sick with jealousy.

…

Setting aside how Third Young Master Lu perceived “budding emotions” between Luo Lingyu and Liu Mu when Luo Lingyu suddenly saw Third Young Master Lu, she initially thought it was an illusion. Upon realizing it wasn’t, Luo Lingyu felt a surge of joy and unconsciously stood up. Her silk ribbons fluttered, her waist in the Luo-style dress resembling plum blossoms in snow, the young lady’s heart filled with countless emotions—seeing him was far more than just joy. Her heart was full of concerns, thinking about his impending death, Second Young Master Lu’s dream, and how she hadn’t been able to see him… Just as tears began to well up in the young lady’s eyes, Lu Yun’s reaction proved even more dramatic.

In front of the standing Prince of Hengyang Liu Mu, he displayed deep affection.

Third Young Master Lu walked to Luo Lingyu’s side, looking down at her, his usually contained passionate eyes now flashing, black as midnight, smooth as warm jade. With Liu Mu watching from the side, Lu Yun’s lips curled into a smile as he extended his jade-like fingers, tenderly brushing away the strands of hair that had fallen by her cheeks.

Lu Yun: “Ying-Ying has traveled so far, just to find me, you must be exhausted.”

Liu Mu’s face slightly stiffened: …Who was “Ying-ying”? Surely not Luo Lingyu?

Luo Lingyu felt an electric sensation from his cool fingers that had lightly touched her cheek, instantly making her face flush red. She glared at him reproachfully: why did he have to touch her face while brushing away her hair? Such intimacy?

Lu Yun’s eyes spelled out exactly that—intimacy.

Not only did he brush her hair and touch her face, but he also circled Luo Lingyu once, examining her figure. Third Young Master Lu was puzzled internally about why her figure hadn’t changed much; if there were any changes, it was that her chest was more prominent and fuller, her waist and shoulders more slender… Was this how pregnancy worked?

Though thinking this, on the surface Lu Yun only smiled absent-mindedly: “Little sister has grown up, becoming even more beautiful.”

Luo Lingyu secretly delighted, cast him a glance. Her heart was joyful; seeing him, she had forgotten her worries about his life and death, and felt that—with such a graceful jade-like young man standing before her, teasing her, flirting with her, how could he die? Perhaps Second Young Master Lu’s dream was nonsense.

Lu Yun spoke softly, unusually saying many tender, affectionate words. He rarely asked questions like “Are you tired?” “Have you suffered?” “how long do you plan to stay?” in front of others, or perhaps because Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu’s courtship was still relatively new, he had hardly had the chance to show his caring side. When he suddenly expressed himself this way, Luo Lingyu was secretly pleased, while Liu Mu gave Lu Yun a deep look.

There was a sense of rivalry between the young lords. The young prince sneered: acting as showy as a courtship display, wasn’t he just trying to show dominance? Yet he didn’t know that Liu Mu had already heard enough about Luo Lingyu’s love life from Second Young Master Lu.

He was sick of hearing about Luo Lingyu and Third Young Master Lu’s affairs, was there any need for constant reminders?

Lu Yun, however, remained unhurried, saying everything that needed to be said. By the end, Luo Lingyu was almost floating, under the illusion that Lu Yun loved her deeply. Just as she was about to float away, she saw Lu Yun change the subject, turning to ask Liu Mu about the war situation in Yingchuan Prefecture. Since Yingchuan, Nanyang, and Ruyang were all neighboring areas, war in one place would affect the surrounding regions, and Lu Yun was very concerned about the situation here.

Liu Mu collected himself and said flatly: “Having just arrived, I don’t know either.”

Lu Yun then said: “We can discuss it another day.”

Liu Mu responded with an “mm,” but thought to himself: Who wants to discuss with you another day? I don’t want anything to do with any of you from the Lu family! This prince detests you aristocratic sons!

After the meandering conversation, Lu Yun casually chatted with Liu Mu for quite a while, asking many questions about the current situation in Jianye. When Luo Lingyu was almost tired of waiting, Lu Yun finally bid farewell to Liu Mu. Without even saying it explicitly, Lu Yun assumed an attitude of “this is how it should be,” gesturing for Luo Lingyu to say goodbye to Liu Mu as he led her away.

Liu Mu hesitated, stepping forward: “I have a carriage…”

Lu Yun turned back, giving him a gentle look: “…No need to escort us. Knowing that Sister Yu was coming, I also prepared a carriage. I just arrived earlier because horses are faster than carriages.”

Sure enough, as they spoke, the few people standing on the hillside heard the sound of carriages approaching from below. Liu Mu’s expression immediately darkened, while the quick-witted Luo Lingyu, not waiting for Liu Mu to speak, took the initiative to say she would help her maid move the luggage, thanking His Highness for escorting her all this way.

Liu Mu looked at Lu Yun, then at Luo Lingyu with her slightly cautious expression, and fell silent.

After a while, Liu Mu nodded, speaking loudly: “Then until we meet again.”

He gave Luo Lingyu one more look: “…Since I promised Second Young Master Lu to escort you to Nanyang if you encounter any difficulties on this journey, you can seek my help at any time. A gentleman keeps his word and doesn’t fail his trust.”

Luo Lingyu responded sincerely: “Your Highness is truly a good person.”

Lu Yun’s lips twitched.

Both Luo Lingyu and Liu Mu pretended not to notice.

…

Although Lu Yun said he had ridden ahead on horseback, the carriage that followed was quite nice. Moreover, Lu Yun was so considerate of Luo Lingyu that when she showed the slightest intention to help her maid move luggage, he prevented her from exerting herself. Luo Lingyu’s heart tightened with a subtle suspicion. But she wondered if Second Young Master Lu hadn’t explained clearly to Lu Yun, or how could he, being the person involved, not know? Full of doubts, but with servants present, Luo Lingyu could only maintain a sweet smile and act like a docile bird seeking shelter, saying nothing more.

Even when Lu Yun caringly asked about her three daily meals, after she answered, she gave him a shy, grateful look in return.

Lu Yun was startled, a flash of genuine amusement crossing his eyes. Watching the servants busy themselves, he reached out and, through his sleeve, grasped her wrist: …After knowing each other for so long, clearly aware that he wasn’t susceptible to such acts, she still persistently tried to enchant him with her glances; Sister Yu was truly mischievous.

A moment later, Luo Lingyu finally sat in Lu Yun’s carriage. Just as the carriage was about to move, Luo Lingyu leaned against the carriage wall, about to take a nap, when her closed eyelids sensed a slight brightening of light, and her body felt the carriage sink slightly. Luo Lingyu opened her eyes to see the carriage door open and Lu Yun leaning inside. Seeing her raise her eyes in surprise, he smiled and raised an eyebrow, while reaching out to tap the wooden shaft of the carriage door: “Let’s go.”

Luo Lingyu: “Hmph, all the fine young lords nowadays don’t ride in carriages anymore, they’ve switched to horseback.”

Lu Yun: “With a beauty sharing the carriage, who but a fool would ride a horse?”

When he praised her as a “beauty,” Luo Lingyu pressed her lips together, immediately lowering her head with a shy smile, saying nothing more about him.

Her smile was so beautiful yet affected, like a rose bud about to bloom, as enchanting as evening dew, stirring one’s soul. Lu Yun’s heart trembled, his body moving slightly, and Luo Lingyu turned her head to see him bending and stepping across the narrow carriage to sit beside her. Lu Yun reached out his hand, and Luo Lingyu thought he was going to pull her into his embrace. Her heart fluttered, extremely nervous, as this had never happened before. Reuniting with Lu Yun again, she felt there were certain boundaries as if the limits had become lower.

Though she was worried about his life, now was not the right atmosphere to speak of it.

However, as Luo Lingyu waited nervously, Lu Yun’s extended hand wasn’t directed at her waist but rather reached straight out to touch her lower abdomen. Luo Lingyu froze, watching this handsome and elegant young lord crouch before her knees, his face also drawing close to her belly. The young lord tenderly reproached her: “Not even three months along, yet you’re traveling about. What if you harm the child?”

Luo Lingyu: “…?!”

The young lord’s warm palm pressed against her flat belly, and as she lowered her eyes, she saw the lantern light from outside the carriage illuminating his face, highlighting his thick black eyelashes and beautiful features. His appearance not only amazed Luo Lingyu with his good looks, unblemished by wind and sun but also created a sense of unreality as if she were pregnant. She even wanted to go back and reread the medical books to check if she had misunderstood how pregnancy worked.

…But truly nothing had happened between them.

Was Lu Yun testing her? Testing her with such genuine emotion?

Luo Lingyu hesitated before asking: “Didn’t Second Cousin explain this matter to you later?”

“Hmm?” Lu Yun responded carelessly, his eyes focused on studying her abdomen, speaking casually, “Explain what? Second Brother sends so many letters every day, mostly trivial matters. I’m usually very busy and don’t have time to read every letter. What is it?”

He keenly raised his eyes.

Luo Lingyu held his gaze for a while: “…Do you like children very much?”

Lu Yun was taken aback, then smiled: “…I only like yours.”

Thinking she was jealous, he considered for a moment, then sat up and pulled the slightly stiff young lady into his embrace. As the carriage swayed along the mountain road, the young lord steadily held her shoulders, drawing her into his arms. He kissed her temple, causing the lady in his arms to tremble slightly. Lu Yun sighed softly, his lips touching her brow in a gentle kiss.

Third Young Master Lu lowered his eyes and spoke from his heart: “You know my parents died early, leaving me with many shadows. There are many things I don’t like, but I know that what I don’t like, you do like. For example, marriage, for example, love… That way, you’ll feel secure. I don’t want to leave you, don’t want to be left behind by you.”

He kissed her brow again, saying softly: “So I’ll try to like them.”

He smiled again: “Besides, a child between Sister Yu and me, regardless of gender, would be so beautiful, wouldn’t they? To be honest with you, when I first saw you just now, I was already thinking about what name we should give our child.”

“The war situation in Nanyang is volatile, and there are many official duties, so I’m usually very busy. But in my spare moments, I think about our child. I’ve bought many gifts for them, ones you’re sure to like.”

Lu Yun liked to ramble when speaking privately with her, but the more he spoke, the more uncomfortable Luo Lingyu became. By the end, when he kissed her brow and eyes, she had already raised her hand to stop him. Luo Lingyu leaned her upper body backward, saying cautiously: “I haven’t done anything with other young lords behind your back.”

Lu Yun was startled, then said: “I believe you. I wouldn’t underestimate myself like that.”

He didn’t believe she could mess around under his nose when he was present; when he wasn’t around… Lu Yun thought to himself, wasn’t she carrying his child anyway?

Lu Yun reached out, repeatedly caressing her lower abdomen, making Luo Lingyu feel queasy. At her limit of discomfort, Luo Lingyu suddenly pushed Lu Yun away, retreating from his embrace. Lu Yun’s back hit the carriage wall from her push, and he frowned in pain, his expression darkening slightly, unable to understand what she was doing.

Luo Lingyu pressed herself against the opposite wall of the carriage, closing her eyes and speaking urgently: “I’m not pregnant at all!”

Lu Yun: “…”

Luo Lingyu noticed the silence and looked up to see his stunned expression. She immediately questioned: “I’m not pregnant, Second Cousin made a mistake, and he said he would write to tell you. Something went wrong in between, maybe his letter wasn’t delivered properly, or maybe you didn’t read it, I don’t know. But don’t you know whether you’ve done anything or not?”

“Lu Xuezhen, is it that you have no experience and don’t know what’s involved, or that you have too much experience to the point where you can’t remember whether you’ve done anything with me?” Miss Luo was on the verge of tears, “Could it be that while you were courting me, you were also fooling around with other ladies behind my back? Who is it? Tell me!”

Having such a suspicion, she immediately wanted to kill that woman!

Lu Yun’s face turned pale.

Then it cycled through red and blue, his expression becoming extraordinarily colorful. After a while, he asked hoarsely: “I… haven’t been intimate with you?”

Luo Lingyu looked at him, beginning to worry. She slowly came over, no longer joking, and reached out to feel his forehead: “Brother Xuezhen, what’s wrong with you? Have you lost your memory? Do you remember who I am? Don’t scare me.”

Lu Yun was dumbfounded.

He thought blankly: her reaction meant that… she wasn’t pregnant.

He no longer needed to carry that heavy burden in his heart.

Since learning of her pregnancy, he had been constantly uncomfortable, full of anxiety, not knowing if he could be a good father. Wanting to share the joy with others, yet simultaneously fearing this huge responsibility. He had constantly worked on mentally preparing himself, just to be able to face her, to think that having a child wouldn’t be so bad.

He had finally convinced himself… yet she said there was no child.

For a moment, Lu Yun was filled with tremendous disappointment, even more than the fear he had felt when first learning of her supposed pregnancy.

Lu Yun sat there motionless, while Luo Lingyu kept guessing until she had a flash of insight, “…Could it be that you forget what happens when you drink? You don’t remember what you did that night?”

Lu Yun was suddenly flustered.

He let out a cold snort.

He was utterly embarrassed.

Two disappointments in one night, first seeing her flirting with the Prince of Hengyang, then learning her pregnancy was false… Lu Yun’s face darkened, and he couldn’t even pretend to look at her favorably anymore. Third Young Master Lu suddenly stood up and pushed open the carriage door, jumping out, causing the coachman outside to cry out in alarm. Sitting in the carriage, hearing the commotion outside, Luo Lingyu burst into laughter. She covered her mouth as she laughed, most enjoying seeing Lu Yun in such a defeated state.

At the same time, Miss Luo wrinkled her nose at his retreating figure: throwing another tantrum. Lu Xuezhen and his terrible temper!

But she was no longer the Luo Lingyu who used to try to please him. She would wait for him to come back and try to please her… showing her his temper on their first night of reunion, Brother Xuezhen was too interesting.

…

The next day, Lu Yun directly escorted Luo Lingyu back to the Luo family. Because they had quarreled the night before, neither would speak to the other, making the Nanyang Luo family curious, constantly looking at Lu Yun: Hadn’t Third Young Master Lu previously come to their house saying he wanted to marry Luo Lingyu? Luo Lingyu didn’t know about it yet, so why wasn’t he saying anything today?

Lu Yun now felt extremely awkward whenever he saw Luo Lingyu, reminded of his embarrassment.

He made excuses about being busy with official duties and left the Luo family. On his way back to the military camp, Third Young Master Lu walked along the street where the early morning market had already begun, with vendors calling out their wares constantly. Stopping at one stall, Third Young Master Lu lowered his eyes to see children’s rattles being sold. As he stared absently at the rattles, full of disappointment, he suddenly heard an angry roar from behind: “Third Young Master Lu!”

He turned around to see Fan Qingchen, the Fourth Young Master of the Nanyang Fan family, with a face like frost, shaking off his servants and striding toward him menacingly—

“You forced me to break off the engagement?!”

“You wish!”