Lu Hong’s innermost feelings, which he had believed he was concealing so well, were in fact perfectly transparent to everyone around him.

In terms of family background, a match between Ling Jingshu and Lu Hong might have been considered somewhat beneath him. Yet Ling Jingshu possessed peerless beauty, exceptional talent and refinement — one in a thousand. And since Lu Hong himself was devoted to her, the match was not without its merits.

Out of certain obscure and unspoken thoughts lurking in the depths of his heart, Lu An was not averse to forming a marital alliance with the Ling family. The four of them were speaking at this moment with no outsiders present, and Lu An had no inclination to be subtle — his question was entirely direct.

Lu Hong’s handsome face first flushed deep red, then drained to white, his color shifting and unsettled.

Lu An had little patience, and frowning, he asked again: “You have no feelings for Shu Jie’er?”

The poor Lu Hong — his pride and self-esteem as a young man had been shredded to pieces by Ling Jingshu yesterday, then torn open again by Lu Qian’s probing questions. And now Lu An had come to press him as well…

Lu Hong could not bring himself to speak the truth, so he simply hardened his heart and said: “I regard Cousin Jingshu only as I would a sister — I harbor no other feelings toward her.” Before Lu An could respond, he pressed on: “Father, my only desire right now is to work hard at my studies and attain a position worthy of the effort before I consider marriage. I beg Father to permit this!”

“Nonsense!” Lu An’s expression darkened. “You only passed the prefectural examination last year. It will be several more years before you can sit the provincial examination, and after that comes the Metropolitan Examination and the Palace Examination. By the time you have official standing and prospects, heaven only knows when that will be. Are you saying you won’t marry until you have passed the imperial examinations at the highest level? You have no feelings for Shu Jie’er — then this match is off. When we return to Jizhou in time, I will find you another suitable arrangement.”

With Lu An’s expression darkening like that, everyone in the room was on edge and treading carefully. None of his wives, concubines, or children would ordinarily dare to defy him openly.

Much as Lu Hong resented this inwardly, he did not dare to contradict him, and simply kept his head lowered in silence.

The Ling woman was startled for a moment, then quickly came to her senses and hurried to smooth things over with a smile. “Please don’t be angry, my lord. A’Hong is diligent and ambitious in his studies — there is nothing wrong with not wanting to marry too early. Since A’Hong and Shu Jie’er are not fated for each other, there is no point raising the matter of this match any further. Fortunately, I have never mentioned any of this to Fifth Brother, so there is no awkwardness to speak of…”

A voice suddenly rang out: “Mother, I want to marry Cousin Jingshu!”

The Ling woman: “…”

Lu Hong: “…”

Lu An: “…”

Six pairs of eyes snapped simultaneously toward the one who had made this startling declaration — Lu Qian.

All three of them stared as though they had just swallowed a whole egg — each one looking more thunderstruck than the last. Lu Hong in particular wore an expression of pure, dumbfounded disbelief.

Lu Qian seemed entirely unaware of how astonishing his words were, and repeated them once more: “Elder Brother has no feelings for Cousin Jingshu and does not want this marriage. I like Cousin Jingshu. I want to take her as my wife.”

The Ling woman’s mind went into complete disarray, and she blurted out before thinking: “Outrageous! How old are you? You’re still a child who doesn’t know anything about the world. What do you know about liking someone? Even if it came to marriage, that would still be years away…”

“I am twelve. That is only two years younger than Cousin Jingshu.” Lu Qian drew his slight frame up straight, and on his fair, delicate face there appeared a stubbornness and resolve that seemed out of place for his age. “I know what it means to like someone. I like Cousin Jingshu, and I want to spend my life by her side. I’m not of age yet, but we can settle the engagement first. Four years from now, I’ll be sixteen and Cousin Jingshu will be eighteen — I’ll come to take her as my bride then.”

Lu Qian was not joking. Every word was earnest and sincere.

The Ling woman drew in a sharp breath. She was just about to speak when Lu An’s voice, sharp with displeasure, cut through. “Marriage is no trivial matter — it is not something you can make a mockery of! There is a proper order among brothers: as long as your elder brother has not yet settled an engagement, it is not your turn to step forward.”

In the Lu household, Lu An was an imposing father figure, whose word was law and brook no challenge. His wives, concubines, and children were all on their guard in his presence and would never dare to speak back to him without great care.

Seeing Lu An flare up, the Ling woman’s heart gave a frightened lurch. She cast Lu Qian an urgent look. Why aren’t you quickly bowing your head and admitting your mistake?

Lu Qian paid no attention to the Ling woman’s anxious signals. He held his head up and said: “Elder Brother has been sharp and talented from childhood, and is extraordinarily gifted in his studies. That is why he does not wish to marry early and divide his attention. Elder Brother will undoubtedly pass the examinations with great distinction in the future and bring honor to the family name. I am the younger son, and my natural ability is far inferior to Elder Brother’s. I will likely achieve little in my studies going forward. It would be better for me to marry early and have children, carrying on the Lu family line.”

“Furthermore, even though I am not yet of age, I know my own heart clearly. When I encounter a young woman whom I admire and care for, I naturally wish to take her as my wife. What is wrong with feeling that way?”

This twisted logic, when laid out, somehow sounded not entirely unreasonable.

Lu An was being defied by his younger son, and was inwardly quite irritated. But he did not allow his anger to cloud his judgment. He composed himself and thought it through, and could not entirely refute what Lu Qian had said.

As long as Ling Jingshu could be brought into the Lu household — whether as the wife of the eldest son or the younger one — there was, in truth, little practical difference…

The moment Lu An’s expression softened even slightly, Lu Qian’s heart leapt with excitement. He turned to address the Ling woman with an imploring look: “Mother, she is the first person I have ever truly felt this way about in all my years. If I could take Cousin Jingshu as my wife, I would want for nothing else in this life, and have no regrets.”

The face was still that of a child. The expression was that of someone far beyond his years.

It gave one an oddly disconcerting feeling of incongruity.

The Ling woman steadied herself and shot Lu Qian a fond but reproachful glance. “You are only twelve years old. Your whole life stretches ahead of you. What do you mean by talking about ‘this life’ already? Isn’t that rather absurd!”

“Marriage is no small matter. It must be thought through carefully before you open your mouth. You keep saying you like Shu Jie’er — but perhaps it is only an impulse of the moment, or perhaps it is simply the affection of cousins. Once the engagement is truly settled, you will not be able to take it back.”

The Ling woman’s tone had shifted and softened considerably.

Lu Qian’s heart soared inwardly. He answered without hesitation: “Mother, rest assured — I will never take it back.”

To spend his life with Ling Jingshu by his side had been the greatest obsession of his previous life. Reborn as he was, his love for her had not diminished in the slightest — if anything, it burned fiercer than before. How could he possibly take it back?

The Ling woman and Lu An exchanged a glance. After a moment of consideration, she said: “This is not a small matter. Allow your father and me a few days to think it over and discuss it before we make any decision.”

Lu Qian reined in the excitement surging inside him and resumed his usual docile manner. “Thank you, Father and Mother.”

Lu Hong said nothing.

He could only stare at Lu Qian in stunned disbelief, as though seeing him for the very first time.

The words Lu Qian had spoken to him yesterday were still fresh in his ears, as was the careful and attentive way Lu Qian had consoled him… Why was it that by the next morning, everything had changed to this?

When had Lu Qian developed these feelings for Ling Jingshu?

And he had been completely unaware of it?

Afterward, the two brothers accompanied Lu An and his wife to Yonghe Hall as usual, where they paid their morning respects and exchanged pleasantries with the crowd of cousins. Then, as the birthday guests began arriving once more, the noise and festivity were no less lively than the day before.

Lu Hong’s mind was in turmoil, his thoughts a churning mess. He drifted numbly through the day.

Only in the evening did Lu Hong finally find a moment to speak with Lu Qian alone: “Second Brother, come with me. I have something to ask you.” His expression was not pleasant, and his voice carried a flat, suppressed quality.

Lu Qian had anticipated this, and was not the least bit surprised. His demeanor was perfectly composed as he nodded and followed Lu Hong into the room.

That composure only deepened Lu Hong’s brooding agitation. A nameless fire blazed up inside him, and his handsome face darkened. “Second Brother, did you mean everything you said this morning? You truly want to marry Cousin Jingshu?”

Lu Qian looked up, and instead of answering directly, turned the question back on him: “Elder Brother, do you think I would joke about something as serious as marriage?”

Those four words — as serious as marriage — struck with a particularly jarring edge.

Lu Hong stared fixedly at Lu Qian’s still-boyish face, then gave a self-mocking laugh. “I am truly foolish. We live side by side, and you know my every thought as clearly as if you had read it yourself — yet I had no idea you had also fallen for Cousin Jingshu.”

No wonder Lu Qian had been so unusually attentive and concerned about everything involving him and Ling Jingshu!

No wonder Lu Qian had pressed so anxiously for answers yesterday!

He had not been caring about Lu Hong at all — he had been making sure that Lu Hong had been thoroughly broken by Ling Jingshu’s rejection and had given up entirely!

This feeling, something akin to betrayal, left Lu Hong deeply pained. And when he spoke, the usual gentleness was gone from his voice. “Second Brother — Father and Mother had originally intended to propose a match on my behalf. If I had agreed then and there, what would you have done?”

There was a sharp edge of bitter sarcasm in his tone.

Lu Qian’s expression did not change. “Elder Brother has already declined. What point is there in wondering about what might have been?”

How could he not wonder?

“Cousin Jingshu should have been my wife!” Lu Hong glared at Lu Qian, grinding out the words through clenched teeth. “What you are doing is nothing less than taking something that belongs to me.”

The word taking struck directly at the most vulnerable place inside Lu Qian.

Lu Qian’s expression shifted. His voice turned cold. “Elder Brother, those words are hardly fitting. Neither party is yet married — where is there any question of taking anything? Furthermore, you were the one who gave up this match first. Only then did I step forward and appeal to Father and Mother. Are you saying that because you didn’t marry her, no one else may?”

Lu Hong: “…”

Lu Hong had never expected Lu Qian’s words to be so pointed and cutting. His handsome face flushed and drained in rapid succession. The fury inside him burned ever higher. “Lu Qian! I gave up the match because she does not like me — because I did not wish to force her into something against her will. But you — knowing full well that I care for her, you still went and pleaded with Father and Mother to press this engagement. If this isn’t stealing another man’s love, what is it?”

A terrifyingly cold gleam flashed through Lu Qian’s eyes. His expression darkened. “Think whatever you like. I will marry her — that much is certain.”

Lu Hong’s face had gone entirely pale with rage.

Lu Qian did not look at Lu Hong any further. He turned to leave.

“Wait!” Lu Hong swallowed down his fury and called him back. “You are determined to marry Cousin Jingshu — I can say nothing against it. But I want you to promise me one thing.”

Lu Qian stopped and turned his head. “What thing?”

“Promise me this: before any proposal is made, you must first declare your feelings to Cousin Jingshu and obtain her own agreement.” Lu Hong drew in a slow breath and pressed on: “If she is unwilling, you must not force her.”

Lu Qian thought about it for not even a moment before agreeing outright: “Very well, I promise. Once Maternal Grandmother’s birthday celebrations are over, I will go and speak with her.”