She didn’t want to accept a repeated approach, no matter how beautiful the colored glass lamp was.

The five-colored glass lamp rotated before them, in the darkness, layers of bright light floated up, like their overlapping memories. Leaning back, the young master kneeling with her looked at her profile, his eyes bright, appearing especially black in the night. Lu Yun gazed intently, as Luo Lingyu’s face tilted slightly, the gold and jade earrings against her cheeks swaying gently, complementing her autumn-water-like eyes, spirited and charming.

Luo Lingyu sat up straight, refusing: “I won’t marry… ah!”

Her shoulders trembled, and her collarbones contracted, because Lu Yun suddenly leaned forward, and as she was about to speak her refusal, Lu Yun’s mouth captured her earlobe. His hot breath from his nose wafted across her cheeks, like lighting a fire, immediately burning Luo Lingyu’s face hot and red.

Her fingers in her sleeves, resting on her knees, curled unconsciously, trembling.

The young master’s lips and tongue caressed, tender yet intense. When she shook while trying to escape, he still only kissed her earlobe. The lady’s jade-white ear was sucked until it was like blood jade, her breathing rapid, barely withstanding that wild desire that seemed to pour from the heavens.

Like a volcanic eruption.

Like a torrential rain falling on one’s face.

Patient, repeated; soft tongue, smooth kisses. When she turned her face, he again rubbed faces with her, such tender affection.

Luo Lingyu’s breathing grew increasingly heavy, her voice hoarse, as if about to collapse into his embrace: “Xue-, Xue-, Xue-…” His lingering suction, the fire he lit on her ear, made her dazed, forgetting what she wanted to say.

The lady clenched her teeth, and straightened her back, trembling uncontrollably!

Yet finding it increasingly difficult to resist!

He corroded her will, pulling her down with him. He was only kissing her earlobe, holding her earring. But his breath on her cheeks, his breathing that had grown hot, everything was seducing her.

Yet without any obvious movement.

Lu Yun’s eyes burned with emotion, ready to ignite at any moment. Swaying, like duckweed on water. He entangled with this lady intimately, his breath merely floating over her ear and face. From beginning to end, he hadn’t kissed those vermillion lips that would make them both fall, Third Young Master Lu’s wide sleeves didn’t move. He hadn’t even reached out his hands, still maintaining restraint, still observing her, giving her chances to resist—

Luo Lingyu cursed in her heart: This scoundrel! He hadn’t done anything yet, but she was already aroused to the point her legs were weak and couldn’t move.

Yet when she glanced at him, Third Young Master Lu’s appearance when showing deep emotion was enough to seduce anyone, making one want to push him down.

Lu Yun raised his eyebrow slightly as if to bewitch her.

Luo Lingyu breathed heavily: No, no, no more… if he kept sucking her ear, she would lose her life…

The lady finally broke into a sweat on her forehead, her body softly falling backward. Only then did the young master reach out his hands, embracing her in his arms. Third Young Master Lu’s lips still against her burning ear, his voice muffled and hoarse, seeming to speak while sucking: “Marry me, sister Yuer?”

The beauty in his arms made a trembling sound like a demon cat: “Marry, marry, marry… I’ll marry you! Stop torturing me!”

…What a demon! The same approach didn’t matter, as long as it was Lu Yun, she couldn’t resist the temptation!

Lu Yun sighed somewhat regretfully, the darkness in his eyes deepening. How he wished his sister Yuer would stubbornly resist a while longer, how he wanted to lay her down, not just rub faces with her… However, it couldn’t be. Not touching her before leaving Jianye was because he was uncertain of his feelings, afraid of hurting her in the end; now not touching her in Nanyang was because Nanyang was at war, he could welcome her into his home anytime, what he feared was her becoming pregnant.

If she became pregnant, with the continuous warfare in Nanyang, if anything happened, he might not be able to protect her well.

Moreover… there was his second brother’s dream that she spoke of. In the dream, Lu Yun died. Even though in reality Lu Yun was confident, deep in his heart, he worried about such a dream becoming a reality.

He couldn’t let Luo Lingyu become pregnant… the best method was simply not to touch her.

Lu Yun sighed repeatedly.

Beauty before him, skin and bones all fragrant, he was tempted to hunger, constantly swallowing. This person was usually so proud, looking down his nose at ordinary beauties, disdaining them. He only yearned for Luo Lingyu, it was manageable before, but when she came to Nanyang to find him, his yearning reached its peak, seeing her daily, starving terribly…

While Lu Yun was lost in thought, Luo Lingyu wept in his arms: “Good brother spare me, I’ll marry you!”

Such sweet words, yet unknowingly provoked something else in Lu Yun. Hearing Third Young Master Lu sigh, his hand pressed on her shoulder, pushing her away with waning interest. Luo Lingyu was surprised, cursing inwardly at how this person’s mood could change so suddenly for no reason. But when Lady Luo raised her beautiful eyes and met Lu Yun’s tasteless gaze, she paused, and then the lady’s lips curled up.

After reading many medical books, she could guess somewhat about Third Young Master Lu’s regret… men…

Since he couldn’t taste the beauty and had already obtained the permission he wanted, Lu Yun exchanged a few more words with Luo Lingyu, then made excuses about busy official business and prepared to leave. Luo Lingyu glanced at him, humming indifferently, not stopping him. Only when the door was pulled open, the young master’s tall figure casting shadows in the trees outside, as Lu Yun bent to put on his shoes, did he hear the lady in the room make an amused “Ay” sound.

Luo Lingyu’s hand caressed half her lotus-like face, smiling coquettishly. Her other hand pointed at the still-rotating lamp, Luo Lingyu’s voice gentle: “Can I sell this colored glass beauty lamp?”

Lu Yun: “…”

She tilted her head, the blush on her cheeks reaching her eyes, her eyes clever, full of life, clearly teasing him.

Half of Lu Yun’s body went numb, he pointed at her from afar: “…Not allowed to sell. You’re not allowed to sell anything I give you!”

…

Around the same time that Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu were flirting, a thousand miles away in Jianye City, Second Young Master Lu was still troubled about replying to his third brother’s letter. He had two difficulties: first, he truly couldn’t remember the specific time of the Nanyang battle, and second, he didn’t want to let his third brother know that in his first dream, Luo Lingyu had originally married Prince Henyang Liu Mu.

Lu Xian was haunted by the memory.

He had a deep impression of how Third Young Master Lu had been angered into leaving for the frontier in the dream.

He vaguely realized that his third brother was a jar of vinegar. Usually, Cousin Luo and their third brother were always arguing, like bickering lovers, one moment fighting as if heaven and earth were falling apart, the next moment as close as glue. If it was already like this normally, if the third brother took the dream seriously, wouldn’t he be angered to death?

However, without mentioning Prince Henyang, Second Young Master Lu couldn’t come up with a more appropriate lie. His third brother always looked at things differently from him, and Lu Xian feared his lies would be seen through at a glance by his third brother, who would then doubt whether his dreams could be matched with reality.

Difficult either way, Second Young Master Lu was so worried he tossed and turned at night, unable to sleep. The next day he woke up with a splitting headache, remaining dazed even until court. In the morning, hearing at court about the Northern Princess soon entering Jianye and the Northern envoy group’s marriage alliance, Second Young Master Lu’s eyelids kept twitching. On his way back in a daze, while reading in his study and looking at the lush green outside the window, Second Young Master Lu suddenly froze, remembering—

The date of the Nanyang battle in his first dream, wasn’t it around this time?

The South is still green, the North already full of red maples.

At this, Second Young Master Lu broke out in a cold sweat, no longer caring about whether to lie or not. He immediately found his half-written letter and quickly finished writing the rest. Then Second Young Master Lu hurriedly went out to call a servant, sending the letter by express horse. Lu Xian prayed in his heart: It must arrive in time!

Although the battle in the second dream didn’t seem to cause Lu Yun any accidents, because Second Young Master Lu hadn’t dreamed about it, he didn’t know the specific circumstances of this battle… he could only pray the letter would arrive in time, letting third brother guard against accidents in advance!

Second Young Master Lu called out, and the courtyard servant responded, running over quickly, but as Lu Xian went out holding the letter, walking too fast, he bumped into someone. The person was about to fall backward, and hearing a lady’s cry of pain, Lu Xian quickly reached out to help. It wasn’t enough to cause a fall, but with his reaching out like this, he ended up embracing the unsteady lady in his arms.

Second Young Master Lu concernedly: “Princess? Why… why are you here…”

The little Princess Liu Tang in his arms immediately blushed red as blood, stammering: “It’s, it’s the Madam, who had me bring wonton to Second Young Master…”

After being held for so long, Liu Tang only realized after finishing speaking, she made an “Ah!” sound and suddenly pushed away from Second Young Master Lu. Liu Tang was blushing terribly, and before Lu Xian could react, the princess who said she was bringing him wonton turned and ran out of the courtyard. Leaving the princess’s maid at the door holding the food box, expressionless, staring at Second Young Master Lu.

Lu Xian was stunned for a long while before a smile floated into his eyes: This princess, was she too timid?

He stood at the door, handing the written letter to the servant again, but as he was giving instructions, he saw the princess who had run away had returned. Liu Tang lingered at the courtyard gate, taking a long while to gather courage before leaning in: “Second Young Master Lu, are you sending a letter to Sister Luo? I miss Sister Luo too, could you wait a moment and let me send a letter to Sister Luo?”

Second Young Master Lu was originally in a hurry to send the letter to his brother, afraid of wasting time. He hesitantly looked at the princess’s expectant bright eyes, and after a while, still nodded: “I’ll give you one hour.”

Liu Tang smiled: “That’s enough!”

She was invited into the study by Second Young Master Lu, who personally ground the ink, serving Princess Ningping as she wrote her letter.

Meanwhile, Madam Lu, who had been waiting and couldn’t see the princess return, grew restless, worried that her son might have offended her chosen daughter-in-law, and personally came to Second Young Master Lu’s courtyard to look. She was led by servants to outside the study window, and through the window saw the young master bending over, the lady writing, and several leaves floating to the window, a picturesque scene. Such a scene of “red sleeves adding fragrance” made Madam Lu delighted.

Not disturbing the two further, Madam Lu left silently but went directly to Old Madam Lu’s place, eager: “Mother, tonight after discussing with my husband, let’s propose marriage to Princess Ningping. The Lu family marrying into the royal family, a hundred years of friendship, two families’ good relations, the royal family hopes for it too. Second Young Master should marry first, then it would be more proper for Third Young Master, wouldn’t it?”

Discussing marriage with Princess Ningping had an obvious problem—Princess Ningping was Prince Chen’s blood sister, and the Lu family had previously not taken sides in the crown prince succession struggle.

Old Madam Lu used the excuse of having a headache from dealing with her grandsons’ marriages to deflect: “Third Young Master is in Nanyang, and Lady Luo has also gone to Nanyang. I don’t even know how to arrange their marriage now… And we haven’t received Lady Luo’s letter breaking off her engagement? Should we prepare or not?”

Madam Lu: “Then let’s start with Second Young Master! There won’t be any problems with him… All happening in this season, naturally, the elder brother should go first. But if there’s not enough time, if the two brothers marry together, wouldn’t that also be a beautiful story?”

Old Madam Lu gave Madam Lu an unexpected look: her usually rigid and proper daughter-in-law only showed such a lively side when discussing her sons’ marriages. It seemed the daughter-in-law was truly very satisfied with her future daughter-in-law.

Madam Lu was afraid of complications arising with time… no matter what, better to get the bride to Second Young Master first.

Second Young Master Lu’s marriage was being studied as a political event by the family elders before he was even aware of it.

…

At the same time, Prince Chen was organizing troops and grain supplies. Third Young Master Lu’s letter made him cautious, and Liu Chu began consciously stockpiling grain for emergencies. Moreover, Liu Chu hesitated but still took the extra precaution of separating the national treasury from private holdings.

Then there was sending beauties into the palace, making His Majesty dizzy with desire.

The Emperor usually only remembered Liu Chu when he needed something done, treating this son as invisible in ordinary times. This time, because Prince Chen had done well in sending beauties, the Emperor praised Chen Prince several times during court. This action alone made the other princes suspicious, their gazes at Liu Chu becoming extremely vigilant.

What was Prince Chen’s intention? Did he want to join them in competing for the heir apparent?

Previously, because Liu Chu was too silent, too invisible, and never showed any intention of competing for succession, the various princes’ attitudes toward him were not bad. When Prince Henyang bullied Prince Chen, several princes would even join forces to help. But if Prince Chen wanted to compete for succession—based on Liu Chu’s demonstrated ability to handle matters, several princes became aware of the crisis.

Prince Zhao Liu Huai returned to his mansion, and while playing with his beloved wives and concubines, a steward came to report that the Fifth Prince had been extensively collecting grain and organizing troops. Prince Zhao, caressing the delicate breasts of the beauty in his arms, sneered at the mention of this Fifth Prince: “…We were all deceived by him before, turns out he’s a dog that bites without barking. In the future, we must be more wary of this brother.”

Liu Huai narrowed his eyes: “Organizing troops, preparing grain, does he think being in the Sima mansion means all will be well… This has the appearance of preparing for rebellion, I must help Father Emperor watch him. Old Five’s ambitions are too great, we can’t let him succeed!”

A capable brother could help himself. A capable crown prince, however, couldn’t put one’s mind at ease. Among the Southern princes, they had finally driven away one Prince Henyang, was it all for Prince Chen? Liu Huai was the first to disagree. Sitting among his beauties, Liu Huai played with them while absentmindedly beginning to plan how to deal with this brother. After all, Liu Chu had obvious weaknesses: his maternal clan was weak, and he had to rely on the Lu family’s support behind Third Young Master Lu. But the Lu family didn’t originally favor Prince Chen; if not for Third Young Master Lu, how could the Lu family possibly care for Prince Chen?

Without a doubt, to care for the distant Third Young Master Lu, Prince Chen Liu Chu had put himself in a dangerous position. Though his brothers’ view of him had changed, but now anything he said or did wouldn’t be believed, Liu Chu could only slowly endure this period.

Rumors spread continuously, and when court officials from humble backgrounds discussed Liu Chu’s recent unusual behavior at night, these words inevitably reached Zhou Yangling’s ears. Still helping all of Jianye’s refugees plan for winter, Zhou Yangling dressed as a man under the name “Zhou Zibo,” gaining great fame in Jianye. This was exactly the aspect her father Zhou Tan had greatly hoped for—pity she wasn’t a son.

Zhou Yangling heard such rumors, her beautiful eyes flickering thoughtfully.

The next day at Prince Chen’s mansion, he received Zhou Yangling’s pledge of allegiance—asking His Highness to wait, regarding the grain further south of Jiangnan, she had some reputation and perhaps could assist His Highness.

Liu Chu was puzzled about where Zhou Zibo’s reputation came from, not knowing Zhou Yangling meant her father Scholar Zhou Tan’s reputation, not knowing Zhou Yangling intended to borrow her father’s influence… but Young Master Zhou’s help in time of need, sitting in his study, Liu Chu held the letter, his heart warmed, suddenly standing up: “He-he, he per-per-personally delivered it?!”

Liu Chu: “I-I-I didn’t ask him! He came to me?”

The subordinate was already used to the prince’s stuttering when excited: “Yes, Young Master Zhou personally came to the mansion to find Your Highness, Your Highness wasn’t present, Young Master Zhou left the letter and left.”

Closing the door, collapsing into his seat. With doors and windows tightly shut in the room, sitting dazed in the study for a very long time, His Highness Prince Chen pressed his hand to his forehead. Thinking of that gentle jade-like, proper beautiful youth, thinking of that youth standing in the wind, bowing with sleeves flying, thinking of that person’s eyes and brows, slender figure, even thinking of the slightly helpless “Young Master” in their voice when calling him… hands trembling, Liu Chu’s eyes grew hot, nearly crying—

Young Master Zhou’s regard was a fortune of three lifetimes.

…Whenever he had time he found excuses to seek Young Master Zhou, help with their affairs, arrange people to assist, finally earning one glance from Young Master Zhou.

One glance from Young Master Zhou was already sweet as honey, knowing his kindness hadn’t been wasted.

…What more could he ask for?

He was willing to remain silent like this, continuing to help along the way. If Young Master Zhou wanted fame, he would give it; if Young Master Zhou wanted power, he would lend it. He couldn’t ruin Young Master Zhou’s future, he just… wanted to be friends with Young Master Zhou.

Even better friends than he was with Third Young Master Lu.

People with strong objectives were always like this, when wanting to befriend someone, they would invest a hundred, thousand times in what that person liked. Liu Chu had grand designs; when he determined to make Young Master Zhou consider him a close friend, countless plans already surged in his heart.

Unfortunately, this plan went wrong from the start.

Blame Zhou Yangling’s too-perfect disguise, and timely collusion with her father. Liu Chu never knew the person he admired was not a young man, but a young lady.

…

It was not a peaceful time, everyone had their schemes. Jianye’s heart was unstable, the unstable elements gradually tilting toward what Second Young Master Lu had dreamed. Though Second Young Master Lu’s political sense wasn’t keen, not immediately detecting the possible results these factors might lead to, similarly because of his stumbling attempts, he changed many trajectories. The changed trajectories collide with what should have happened, gradually pulling things away from the dream Second Young Master Lu had.

For example in Nanyang, at this time, Luo Lingyu originally shouldn’t have been there.

If Luo Lingyu wasn’t there, then the pleading of the Fan family’s Fourth Young Master Fan would have been completely useless.

But now it was useful.

The Fan family submitted, unwilling to offend the new governor, Master Fan readily agreed that the Fan family would break off their engagement with the Luo family. Just one Luo Lingyu, Master Fan didn’t like her to begin with. Initially agreeing to a proper marriage was only looking at Fourth Young Master’s liking. Since this woman didn’t give Master Fan a face, carrying another young master’s child, breaking the engagement was fine.

But Fan Qingchen knelt outside his father’s quarters, kneeling for several days straight.

Not touching a drop of water, kneeling rigidly straight. After fainting, the doctor came to feed him some medicine. After waking, Fan Qingchen ignored everyone’s persuasion and again knelt at his father’s door. He didn’t make a sound, but his request, no one here didn’t know. Those supporting Fan Qingchen weren’t many, but when Fan Qingchen had knelt like this for half a month, almost to death, Fan Qingchen’s mother could no longer bear it.

Mother Fan wept, telling her husband: “I know you don’t like Lady Luo, I don’t like her either. But in my view, if Fourth Young Master continues like this, he will die. He loves that lady so much, are we not going to fulfill his wishes? Would you rather lose Fourth Young Master than let him marry?”

Speaking within their own home, not afraid of outsiders hearing, Master Fan was extremely angry, saying hatefully: “Women’s views! Fourth Young Master was spoiled rotten by you! What do you know, that Lady Luo is carrying another family’s child… how could my Fan family let such a woman enter our door?”

Mother Fan heard this saying for the first time, but seeing her son’s still kneeling figure out of the corner of her eye, her heart softened again. Mother Fan said: “Fourth Young Master treats her like this, yet she would rather carry another young master’s child than marry Fourth Young Master. This woman is hateful! But my son is about to die… even if she carries another’s child, what harm is there in the Fan family raising it? We can’t force Fourth Young Master to death, can we?”

Fan Qingchen ranked fourth among his siblings, with three older brothers, and he was the youngest legitimate son. Spoiled by his parents since childhood, developing his stubborn temperament. The child was spoiled, and grown up, it seemed there was nothing to be done about him.

Could they force him to death?

When Fan Qingchen fainted and woke again, lying weakly in his sick bed, he unexpectedly saw his father’s tall figure. His father had come to see him standing in silence. Fan Qingchen struggled to call out “Father,” but now he couldn’t even make a sound. In the dim yellow lamplight, Master Fan looked at his youngest son’s haggard, thin face, feeling an involuntary surge of pain in his heart.

Master Fan said in a deep voice: “Must it be her?”

Fan Qingchen’s eyes were extremely bright, his cheeks gaunt from hunger, making his eyes appear frighteningly large. The originally distinguished young master had, in just half a month, tortured himself into this neither human nor ghost appearance. However, facing the huge family, without such stubborn resistance to the end, what else could be done?

Master Fan: “Do you know the Third Young Master of the Lu family in Jianye wants to marry her, that’s why they’re rushing us to break the engagement? Even if my Fan family delays breaking it off, as long as Third Young Master Lu has his eye on her for one day, you still can’t marry her… The Fan family can’t possibly break with the Lu family, go to war with the Lu family for your sake. Third Young Master Lu has forced you into this position, you don’t have many paths left. The Fan family cannot support you in opposing the Lu family, so if you must have the Luo family’s daughter, it can only be your matter, unrelated to the Fan family.”

Fan Qingchen’s eyes lit up, supported by servants, he heavily kowtowed to his father from the bed—the Fan family not obstructing was already the greatest fortune!

Master Fan saw his son like this and felt even more pained. After a long silence, Master Fan still told Fan Qingchen one piece of news: “Half a month ago, the Luo family’s daughter returned to Nanyang.”

Fan Qingchen sharply raised his head.

But his father’s hand pressed on his shoulder, not letting him rise. His father’s steady voice in his ear: “The Northern army’s attack on Nanyang could come at any time, Third Young Master Lu and General Wei are busy investigating this matter, they will leave the city soon. This is your only chance.”

“You are my youngest son, how could I let you die? The Fan family cannot help you, if you truly love her to the point of not caring about your life… then take this chance, take her and leave, never return. I will pretend not to know.”

“Just one woman, how many beauties are there in the world? Someone like Third Young Master Lu, if not for the child in her womb, how would he marry someone of her background? Thus, though the Fan family and Lu family will have a rift, it won’t reach breaking point… I will just… have no son.”