—Always crying and putting on an act, do you know my heart’s true feelings for you?

Lightning flashed through the window lattice and swaying tree shadows, bearing down from above. Rain poured from the heavens like a deluge, flooding waves filled the view, flowing light in the night rain. After the wind and rain forced open the windows, the pitch-black shrubbery outside and the cold light from the sky enveloped them together, the all-encompassing raindrops and moisture rushing toward the man and woman in the room.

Half an arm was dampened by the rain, causing a slight shiver, and the lord embracing her immediately noticed. His wide sleeve lifted, shielding the side of her that the rain had invaded. She only felt the flowing light before her eyes, alternating between bright and dark. His hands cupped her face, his eyelashes like crow feathers caressing the delicate skin of her face.

She trembled once, and he kissed her more tenderly.

Like a sigh but not quite, like pity but not quite. If a man truly cares for a woman, even his kisses can convey it.

Tears fell from Luo Lingyu’s eyes, splashing onto his face. Her eyes were misty, held by Lu Yun in an intimate kiss, his tender affection and love made her heart ache with bittersweetness. She was already moved by him; he was the most refined, most mercurial, yet most outstanding lord she had ever met. The lord who surpassed others by far naturally had some flaws of arrogance and dismissiveness. Lu Yun displayed these flaws perfectly, making her very angry and defiant. She was often embarrassed, only because her unfavorable side kept being exposed by him.

Many times she thought, if it were another lord, he certainly wouldn’t treat her this way.

She could have a better lord who loved her deeply.

But feelings often follow the heart, yet not by choice. For whom the heart moves, whom one likes, there’s always some destiny, as if struck from the first glance. The bloodshed that followed was also destiny… Luo Lingyu trembled and wept, her eyes reddened, making her even more distressed.

Her fingers clutched his sleeves, fingertips tracing the cloud patterns on them.

He kissed her with such passion… which made her more afraid of losing him. She had dreamed of a world without him; even just imagining it made her numb to life and death.

The lady in his arms no longer struggled, but her eyes were like falling rain. His kisses were tender and gentle, yet he only tasted her tears. Lu Yun let out a soft sigh, raising his eyelashes. He held her from behind, face turned sideways, gazing into her watery, reddened eyes.

Luo Lingyu pushed against his chest: “You really will die, don’t disbelieve me.”

Hearing again that he would die, the lord’s heart slightly wavered. Forcing himself to calm down, Lu Yun was silent for a moment: “…Your makeup is smeared.”

Luo Lingyu: “…?!”

She immediately broke down, scolding him: “How can you be like this? I’m dying of worry for you, and you’re still joking. What’s so funny? You mention my makeup is smeared thinking I’ll go look for a mirror?”

But she did indeed tense up, her eyes anxiously darting around, wanting to find a mirror to fix her makeup…

A beauty who valued appearance above all, so different from other gentle and graceful beauties… With complex emotions, Lu Yun smiled.

He stopped teasing the beauty, taking the lady’s hand and sitting down together. Sitting before the dressing mirror, Luo Lingyu secretly glanced at Lu Yun, seeing him looking down at her, his expression hard to read as good or bad. Luo Lingyu hesitated, but her eyes still couldn’t resist peeking at the beauty in the bronze mirror. Lu Yun remained silent behind her for a long time, so Luo Lingyu pondered whether her makeup was smeared… Suddenly, Lu Yun spoke from behind: “Tonight the Northern Princess’s people were caught spying on military intelligence during General Wei’s patrol. The Northern Princess probably thought men should be captivated by her beauty; she was defiant toward General Wei, refusing to provide information. In his fury, General Wei was about to swing his sword to kill her, but I stopped him.”

Lu Yun stood up and closed the windows. The carpet on the ground by the window was soaked through. Lu Yun paced back, speaking calmly: “He comes from common origins, without backing. General Wei cannot bear the consequences of killing a princess meant for a marriage alliance. Luo Lingyu, I usually don’t say anything about your schemes, but this time, you’re harming General Wei. Haven’t I told you not to harbor thoughts of harming others?”

Luo Lingyu lowered her eyes, trembling slightly at his calm words, somewhat flustered. She cared too much about Lu Yun’s opinion of her, constantly worried he looked down on her. Thus, every time he saw through her dark side, she felt uncomfortable. But she had no other choice—letting Lu Yun die, she could take the blame, or General Wei could take the blame.

Of course, it would be General Wei.

Luo Lingyu pressed her lips together: “I’m not wrong.”

“You are wrong,” Lu Yun said softly, “Wrong is wrong, don’t quibble. But Lingyu, I believe you’re not that kind of person… You must have your reasons…”

Luo Lingyu suddenly raised her eyes to look at him, still tearful, but her expression shocked: “You believe I’m not that kind of person?”

Lu Yun smiled, reaching out again, this time using his sleeve to wipe away her tears. He said softly: “If it’s jealousy, this jealousy is too frightening. My beloved wouldn’t distrust me to this extent, right?”

Luo Lingyu stared at him dazedly with tear-filled eyes. Emotions flickered in her eyes, and after a long while, she nodded: “Yes, I have my reasons. Because I don’t want to harm you or get myself involved. And I think General Wei won’t die for this, because with you here, you won’t let him retreat from battle. And the reason I’m being so wicked is because I think that princess will cause your death.”

Lu Yun’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

He remained calm in expression, listening as she continued.

Luo Lingyu then took a deep breath and slowly explained to him. She had wanted to tell him long ago, but that princess had always been between them, and she was always half-genuinely, half-falsely angry with Lu Yun. Moreover, Second Young Master Lu said that the dream was on a day of heavy snow and fog, still some time away, so Luo Lingyu thought she would have a better chance to convince Lu Yun.

Second Young Master Lu could foresee his future; he said he had two dreams, and in both dreams, Lu Third Young Master faced certain death. The deadly fate was difficult to resolve, but it had to be resolved. Second Young Master Lu’s dreams must be true; his half-year of manic state wasn’t fake, he was nearly driven mad by his dreams.

So Luo Lingyu traveled thousands of li to find Lu Yun; she had struggled with this, and this was already the result of her struggle.

Luo Lingyu: “…So, that princess will cause your death, and I can’t watch you die. Rather than that, it better to let her die from the start.”

Lu Yun remained silent for a long time.

Luo Lingyu carefully observed his expression, anxious and afraid he wouldn’t believe her. Luo Lingyu felt frustrated because she hadn’t believed Second Young Master Lu’s dreams at first. If Lu Yun also didn’t believe, and Second Young Master Lu wasn’t here, how could she convince him… Lu Yun forced himself to calm down, not letting the news of his death in the dream affect his emotions, and said: “Impossible.”

Luo Lingyu’s heart sank: Sure enough, he didn’t believe it at all.

She felt anxious and quickly stood up to speak. Lu Yun slowly said: “Even if this dream were true, the logic doesn’t quite add up. How could there be such prophetic dreams?”

Luo Lingyu anxiously said: “You’re just arrogant! There are all sorts of strange things in the world, why couldn’t there be prophetic dreams? Would your second brother harm you, would I harm you? Are we going to all this trouble just to play with you for fun? Logic doesn’t add up, logic doesn’t add up… what logic is there in dreams, of course, the logic doesn’t add up! I knew you would be hard to convince, you probably still think I want to kill that princess out of jealousy. Fine, think that if you want, just consider me a villain!”

Lu Yun’s eyes held laughter as he listened to her rapid-fire response. Lu Yun smiled: “I said one sentence, and you gave me such a long reply. Even using crude words… being so anxious, you must love me deeply.”

Seeing his thick skin, Luo Lingyu immediately: “Pah!”

Lu Yun reached out to pull her to sit down again, laughing so hard his shoulders shook, but under Luo Lingyu’s furious glare, he contained his joy and pleasure, saying: “…I said the logic doesn’t add up because even if I believe the dream is true, how could Second Brother possibly have prophetic dreams about you and me?”

“Whether we love or hate each other, what does that have to do with him? How would it affect him? Impossible. A dream that has nothing to do with himself, you tell me he dreams this dream daily… I don’t believe it,” Lu Yun chuckled, “Could it be from a past life, where I died and became a vengeful spirit, seeking Second Brother to avenge me?”

Luo Lingyu paused for a moment, slowly calming down. She had always felt something strange about Second Young Master Lu’s dreams, and now she knew what it was. It was this part that had nothing to do with Second Young Master Lu… She and Lu Yun were ultimately selfish, unable to understand how someone could dream about things unrelated to themselves. But since it concerned Lu Yun, Luo Lingyu insisted: “How could it be unrelated? You’re his most beloved brother; if you died, he would certainly be devastated. Isn’t that a connection? For his peace of mind, and to avoid his guilt, he wants to change fate! But I don’t believe it’s about a past life, I think it’s just prophecy… because his dreams change. He can’t explain it clearly, can’t understand it.”

Lu Yun shook his head.

What he was denying, he didn’t say.

Usually, when people dream, it has more or less something to do with themselves. Even if it’s about past and present lives, it would be about one’s past and present lives. Even if not about one’s past and present lives, it must be sensing someone else’s needs. Luo Lingyu said Second Young Master Lu’s dreams always revolved around Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu, but Lu Yun never believed this point. Lu Yun didn’t believe in ghosts and spirits, but if there were ghosts and spirits, if he had a past life he really would be wrongfully killed… Lu Yun felt he wouldn’t seek Second Brother for vengeance either.

Second Brother was a naive person; if Lu Yun needed to find someone, he would choose Liu Shu. Even if he chose Luo Lingyu, Second Brother wouldn’t be among his considerations.

So why did Second Young Master Lu have dreams about Lu Yun?

There must be something they had overlooked.

Lu Yun kept his thoughts to himself, and under Luo Lingyu’s disagreeing gaze, he spoke again about the dream’s content: “…And you say I’ll be killed by the Northern Princess, I don’t believe that either.”

Luo Lingyu: “…”

She stood up angrily: “How can you not believe it again?! You don’t believe anything, do you? You don’t believe anything I say, what do you believe?!”

Lu Yun smiled: “Why are you angry again? Won’t you allow others to have their thoughts?”

Luo Lingyu snorted, sitting down and glaring at Lu Yun, thinking to herself: Fine, let me hear what thoughts you have.

Lu Yun said gravely: “I’ll admit to being arrogant, but I couldn’t possibly be killed by an enemy princess’s words. The Northern Princess doesn’t have that much power.”

Luo Lingyu, jealous that he would speak for that princess, said hatefully: “Of course, her words aren’t the main factor. Rather, she happens to speak at the right time, happens to make the court abandon you.”

Lu Yun countered: “Whose court is it? How could the court possibly abandon me?”

Luo Lingyu was suddenly stunned.

She had meant to say the court naturally belonged to His Majesty, but then she remembered that court officials were all from noble families. How could the noble families abandon Lu Yun? The noble families held great power and could influence court politics. They played tug-of-war with the royal family… However, in Second Young Master Lu’s dream, the noble families did indeed waver, but they were concerned with their interests – they didn’t want to kill Lu Yun, they wanted him to return to Jianye.

Abandon Nanyang.

Lu Yun unraveled it thread by thread, leading Luo Lingyu: “If the dream is true, why don’t I return to Jianye in the dream? If I had returned, wouldn’t I have avoided death?”

Luo Lingyu’s heart trembled, her pupils constricting, thinking it wasn’t necessarily so. Second Young Master Lu had dreamed of Lu Yun’s death twice; Lu Yun’s death seemed like an inevitable fate, how could it be easily avoided… But Luo Lingyu dared not admit this, she forced a smile and said: “It must be possible. As long as that princess dies, you will…”

Lu Yun looked at her, and she grew increasingly uncomfortable, falling silent, speaking no more.

Lu Yun sighed.

He was always sighing in front of her as if she always made him worry. Luo Lingyu internally criticized Lu Yun, her lowered gaze catching the flowing hem of her lord’s robes rising, a dark shadow descending over her head. She looked up to see Lu Yun crouching before her, holding her hands that rested on her knees.

The lord crouching before her looked up at her, speaking softly: “Lingyu, if I stay in Nanyang instead of returning to Jianye in the dream, I must have my reasons. Those reasons must be more than just the Northern Princess. I couldn’t suddenly lose my wisdom, become a fool in the dream, and be framed. If I am to die, I must have unavoidable reasons… What those reasons are, I don’t know yet, but I will eventually know. I still firmly believe an enemy princess’s words aren’t enough to kill me – she can influence His Majesty, but she can’t influence everyone. And the Southern Kingdom isn’t just His Majesty’s. In places we don’t know about, other things must be happening. Unknown dangers are more unsettling than known ones, wouldn’t you agree?”

Luo Lingyu guessed what he was going to say, reluctantly twisting her mouth.

Lu Yun: “Let the Northern Princess go to Jianye. I need to correspond with Second Brother, need to understand this matter thoroughly… But for known dangers, I have my ways of dealing with them, don’t you think?”

Luo Lingyu lowered her head, looking down at her lord’s hands resting on her knees. She said softly: “Do as you please. But no matter what you do, I just won’t let you die. No matter what your reasons are, if I discover it, if I see it, if you can’t avoid it, I will use my methods. Even if Brother Xuecen hates me.”

Lu Yun’s grip on her hands tightened.

She heard his breathing grow heavier.

Showing his emotional fluctuation.

Luo Lingyu kept her head down, and after a long while, finally heard Lu Yun say: “I will never hate you… Lingyu, we will get through this difficulty.”

Lu Yun paused, his voice softening: “But such matters, why didn’t you tell me earlier? If you had told me directly, General Wei wouldn’t have almost killed the princess tonight. You didn’t tell me, instead acting on your own, though it was to protect me, but deep down, isn’t it because you don’t trust me? You usually rely on men so much, why don’t you rely on men at crucial moments? Lingyu, why don’t you trust me? In the future if there are such matters, can you discuss them with me, can you trust me?”

Luo Lingyu’s heart raced.

They gazed at each other, their eyes meeting, unwavering. Like an unspoken duel, with sword glints and blade shadows all hidden beneath. Those soul-piercing questions made one flustered, made one face one’s own heart, left nowhere to hide. The vague feelings, the ambiguous atmosphere, the lightning outside, the empty city in dreams… all came rushing back again and again.

Luo Lingyu suddenly stood up.

Lu Yun immediately stood up too!

Gripping her wrist, blocking her retreat, his fingers rubbed against the pulse in her wrist. Gentle, firm, brooking no refusal. He stepped forward, and she felt somewhat anxious, somewhat afraid, continuously backing away. Seeing his outstanding features yet cold expression, the lord’s eyes were dark as night, consuming her soul, stealing her spirit.

Watching him press her against the wall, lowering his head seductively repeating: “Why don’t you trust me? Can you trust me in the future?”

Luo Lingyu was finally forced to speak: “…That’s very difficult!”

Lu Yun’s eyes changed color.

Watching this lady’s eyelashes flutter, her snow-white face lifted, her eyes showing a tough and ruthless intent— “You ask why I don’t trust you? Fine, I’ll tell you, because I’m suspicious, I’m afraid of getting hurt. I have nothing, lack everything, but my heart must be unbreakable, tough, and unyielding, only then can I protect myself, protect my sister. My body can be hurt, but my spirit cannot be injured… So at crucial moments, I dare not rely on others.”

Tears glistened in her eyes as he took her into his embrace.

She said tremblingly: “I’m especially afraid… especially afraid you’ll abandon me, afraid that after I’ve given so much, you won’t marry me in the end, won’t want me. What would I do then? I want you to always be good to me, always believe in me, always stand on my side. But even you can’t guarantee such things, how can I…”

Lu Yun interrupted her: “I can guarantee it.”

Luo Lingyu was stunned.

Watching him lower his eyes: “If I care for you, I can guarantee it. If I decide to be with you, I must have thought about it many times before. I trace back to the source of these feelings, I also question all of this. You fear having no stable home, I fear feelings without reason will slip away in an instant.”

“I’ve always wanted to understand why, any feeling for me isn’t just saying ‘I admire you’ ‘I like you’ ‘I want to marry you’. For me, it’s never-ending, ever-flowing, lingering endlessly, impossible to take back.”

He held her hand tightly, their fingers intertwined.

His eyes looked at her, the brightness in them startling. Just his gaze made Luo Lingyu’s face slowly redden. Her heart beat wildly; she strongly sensed what he was thinking at that moment, what he wanted. Luo Lingyu stared unblinkingly, under this strong premonition, watching Lu Yun hold her hand and gently kiss her hand’s back.

Lu Yun said calmly: “Through the ages asking for one word from you, willing that love be as unmovable as mountains… This answer, I will give you.”

…

Luo Lingyu trembled, eyes widening.

So he knew!

He had seen it! He had seen the secret in her sachet!

Her lips quivered, not knowing what to do. She was at a loss, only knowing how to stare blankly as he took her into his embrace.

He had seen through her heart, and he said he would give her an answer… Luo Lingyu closed her eyes, feeling immense joy in her heart.

…

After Lu Yun returned, he discussed the Northern Princess’s matter with General Wei. Not sleeping all night, he listened to General Wei’s curses for the entire night. The next morning, when Wei Cong’s anger had subsided somewhat, he went to question the princess from the North again. Lu Yun returned to his tent, finding the letters from Second Young Master Lu that had piled up half a person’s height. Second Young Master Lu’s letters were too numerous; previously Lu Yun had thought them useless, but this time he took them seriously.

He began to reply to his foolish Second Brother and began to ask about the Second Brother’s dreams.

He wasn’t afraid of heavenly secrets being revealed, he just wanted to understand what was happening.

After taking matters into his own hands, Lu Yun didn’t say much to Luo Lingyu, fearing she would worry more. But he had a suspicion that what he faced wasn’t just one death. Second Young Master Lu and Luo Lingyu were currently fixated on some day of heavy snow and fog, full of anxiety. But Lu Yun thought of Second Young Master Lu’s first dream, where he died from countless arrows piercing his heart.

Second Young Master Lu had been vague about this dream, not mentioning specific circumstances. But Lu Yun had a faint guess.

He sensed this was also a deadly fate.

…

In Nanyang’s tribulation, if they avoided death by countless arrows, there would be death on the snowy day. Now they hadn’t even avoided the first one, it was too early to speak of what came after.

Lu Yun paced in his tent, lost in thought.

In Second Young Master Lu’s first dream, he told Luo Lingyu that when the new emperor ascended the throne, Lu Third Young Master went to the border, a great battle broke out in Nanyang, and Lu Third Young Master died.

Lu Yun guessed that this so-called new emperor certainly wouldn’t be Prince Chen Liu Shu.

Death by countless arrows suggested a general’s death. If Liu Shu ascended the throne, he would know Lu Yun wasn’t meant to be a general; even if he sent Lu Yun to the border, he wouldn’t make him a general. Rather, Second Young Master Lu’s second dream seemed more realistic.

Lu Yun pondered deeply – then who would be the new emperor? Whoever became emperor didn’t make much difference to Lu Yun. But Lu Yun suspected Liu Shu would be harmed, otherwise he wouldn’t die. Liu Shu was practical; he wouldn’t fight for the throne, and when a new emperor ascended, nothing would happen to him. But if nothing happened to him, how would Lu Yun get into trouble at the border?

Moreover, when would this great battle about to break out in Nanyang occur?

…

Second Young Master Lu, Lu Xian, must have concealed some parts.

Or rather, Lu Xian himself didn’t know how important the parts he concealed were.

Or perhaps, Lu Xian’s dreams were still one-sided.

Lu Yun even keenly noticed that the timeline of Lu Xian’s dreams was continuously moving forward. This meant that the problems waiting ahead weren’t just his death. There were more serious issues that alarmed Lu Yun but were overlooked by both Second Young Master Lu and Luo Lingyu.

…

After contemplating for half a day, Lu Yun went out to inspect the troops. He rarely went out of the city with Wei Cong, examining the surrounding terrain, inquiring about the situation of Nanyang’s troops, and wondering where that hidden Northern army using the Northern envoy group to buy time would be concealed.

That day he returned and wrote letters to the surrounding prefectural cities, while also writing to Liu Shu. Lu Yun’s Second Brother Lu Xian wouldn’t know much about the situation in Jianye, but Liu Shu would certainly know. Lu Yun needed to understand just how many factors would lead to his death.