Alas! Young Master Yang’s unfortunate early death! Remembering yesterday’s meeting fills me with extreme sorrow. Pitying your great talent, I shed a thousand lines of tears. Mourning your departure from this world, my heart is filled with a hundred knots of sorrow. If your soul has spirit, it must tell of the vicious madmen. Alas! What pain! I humbly pray you are still greedy for this world!

It was said that after Yang Suguan was shot and fell into the river without a trace, the Liu faction deployed troops for several consecutive days to search. Lu Yun, Wu Dingyuan and others also labored to salvage for several days, but they never found any trace of Yang Suguan. After three more days, seeing there was still no news, everyone remembered they received court salaries—no matter how deep their friendship with the Yang family, they couldn’t continue this endlessly. So they elected Lu Yun to go out and inform Grand Secretary Yang of their intention to abandon the search.

When Lu Yun found Yang Yuan to speak with him, he had barely begun when Lady Yang was already heartbroken with grief. Yang Yuan said nothing, still maintaining that calm, inscrutable appearance without the slightest loss of composure. Since he remained so composed and showed such extraordinary self-control, what could Lu Yun say? After conveying his meaning, he could only leave dejectedly.

For some reason, Lu Yun always had a feeling that Yang Suguan had not actually died. Perhaps it was because this colleague had always been so clever and formidable—to say he would die so mysteriously was truly hard for him to believe. Perhaps he was still living well in some corner of this world, just waiting for the right moment to appear and descend like the “Romantic Division Secretary” of old, appearing and disappearing mysteriously.

Idle time passes easily. Setting aside Yang Suguan’s matter, it was time to think about his own wedding. With Lu Yun’s great wedding imminent, it was no longer convenient for him to lodge at his father-in-law’s house these days, so he moved back to his own residence.

For this wedding, the groom was a top scholar and the bride a beautiful lady. Lu Yun was learned in literature and Gu Qianxi was skilled in painting. The two were well-matched families, both elegant people—truly a rare match made in heaven. But the fly in the ointment was that their new home was truly dilapidated. What Lu Yun was using to welcome his bride-to-be was exactly the small house he had bought when he achieved top scholar ranking years ago. This house had two major flaws: first, the wooden door faced the main entrance in a cramped layout—upon entering one immediately saw a kang; second, it was narrow and crowded with just a poor table by the window where all eating and writing took place. Using such a shabby house to welcome a beautiful woman was truly unseemly. Sure enough, after Second Concubine came to inspect, she was so angry she nearly fainted, taking a feather duster to Lu Yun’s head and almost causing an incident.

Second Concubine was huffing angrily while Gu Siyuan smiled cheerfully. The old father-in-law had such insight—as the saying goes, “Mountains need not be high; if there are immortals, they have spirit.” Whether the bridal chamber was luxurious was secondary; what mattered was that the man be honest and the woman virtuous, and that the two love each other. Gu Qianxi was naturally an opinionated girl. After seeing the bridal chamber these days, she smiled like her father, not minding at all. Lu Yun also put his heart at ease—after all, he was an official in Changzhou and would take his wife away from the capital at month’s end. Making do for a few days, he could still manage.

Today was already the tenth of the eighth month. In five more days there would be the great wedding. Gu Siyuan had long ago instructed his steward to oversee everything and permit no mistakes.

Betrothal gifts, matchmaker, wedding banquet—all were secretly arranged by Minister Gu. Unless Lu Yun fled at the last moment and disappeared, this wedding would definitely proceed smoothly. But thinking about it, such a money-losing business was already too much—fortunately he only had one precious daughter. If he had four daughters all marrying at once, he’d probably lose his entire coffin savings.

With Gu Siyuan taking care of major matters and the steward helping with minor ones, the groom had nothing to do these days and could only pick up trivial tasks. This evening after dinner, he first cut some “double happiness” characters, then spread out bright red mandarin duck embroidered bedding. Lu Yun sat on the kang looking at the red gauze tent, happiness characters pasted at the bedhead, and red candles on the table, imagining the wedding night scene in his mind—his heart was endlessly warm and incomparably joyful.

But warm as it was, his heart couldn’t help but feel like a young deer running wild. That deer was quite good at jumping, seeming to crash and charge up, down, left and right. Thinking there were still five days to endure, if the deer kept jumping like this, it would surely jump itself sick by then. Lu Yun coughed and thought: “Of life’s four great joys, I’ve already experienced three. On this auspicious occasion, let me substitute tea for wine and have a cup.” He immediately prepared hot water to brew tea and taste it, to calm his spirit.

What were life’s four great joys? Exactly: “Sweet rain after long drought, meeting old friends in foreign lands, wedding night in the bridal chamber, achieving top ranking on the golden list.” Lu Yun held his teacup with a smile on his lips. He had already tasted the flavor of achieving top ranking—indeed it was great sorrow and great joy, sweet, sour, bitter and spicy all complete, and he had nearly had his pants stripped off at Chengtian Gate. As for old friends and sweet rain, he had fully experienced life’s hardships and felt them keenly. There remained only this last wedding night in the bridal chamber—a spring evening worth a thousand gold—but he didn’t yet know what that flavor would be like.

Thinking this, his whole body burned with fire again. Lu Yun had reached the age of thirty and usually read medical books, so he naturally understood matters between men and women—he was certainly no ignorant youth. But when it came to personal experience, this was his first time. Although Qin Zhonghai had repeatedly dragged him into brothels in the past, Lu Yun relied on his decent lightness skills and excellent foot-oiling techniques to always escape at the last moment without being corrupted. Thinking of Gu Qianxi’s flower-like beauty and charming manner, this wedding night would surely be memorable. Lu Yun’s heart swayed and his spirit wandered—the hand holding the teacup involuntarily trembled, spilling tea on himself.

Just as he was lost in wild thoughts, suddenly he heard a laugh from outside. That voice was quite deep—one could tell at a listen that the visitor was a big man. Lu Yun exclaimed and knew a guest had come, quickly asking: “Who’s outside?”

That voice laughed heartily: “It’s me.”

Lu Yun was greatly delighted and hurriedly opened the door. Indeed, before him stood a man as tall as a tower—seeing his truly robust build and square, righteous face, it was Wu Dingyuan.

Wu Dingyuan had been busy with official duties these days and hadn’t come to see Lu Yun. It was rare for him to steal time from his busy schedule, so Lu Yun naturally wanted to treat him well. He hurriedly took the teapot and filled a large cup for Wu Dingyuan, somewhat flustered. Wu Dingyuan sat down himself, looking around with a smile: “Your house is quite unique—I haven’t been here before.”

Lu Yun sat beside him and coughed twice: “Anyway, I won’t be in the capital much longer. Making do is fine.”

Wu Dingyuan smiled: “Right, after you marry you’ll return to Jiangnan. Having a place to stay these days is enough. Indeed no need for great extravagance.” As he spoke, he untied a bundle from his back and opened it, revealing a brocade box inside. Wu Dingyuan presented it with both hands to Lu Yun—it was a pair of male and female jade lions. Lu Yun was a famous jade connoisseur. At one look, seeing the male lion stepping on the universe and the female lion playing with cubs, he immediately knew this was “Night-Bright Brocade Jade Lions” with Tang Dynasty workmanship, finely textured and made of the finest Hotan beautiful jade.

Wu Dingyuan smiled: “Brother Lu, I’ve received much kindness from you over the years. You’ll be getting married in a few days—this is a small token of my feelings.”

Lu Yun hurriedly waved his hands: “This gift is too valuable—I can’t accept it.” He pushed the brocade box back with a very firm attitude.

Wu Dingyuan wasn’t in a hurry to argue with him, only grasping Lu Yun’s hand and saying gently: “How is the wound on your chest? Better now?”

Lu Yun saw him changing the subject and how could he fall for it? He still stubbornly refused: “Dingyuan, we have a life-and-death friendship. If you give such an expensive gift, when you and Miss Yan Ting have your happy occasion in a few days, won’t I have to make a grand effort and spend heavily? Please do me a favor.”

Hearing the name Yan Ting, Wu Dingyuan’s expression suddenly dimmed slightly and he said quietly: “If there is such a day, I would die without regret.”

Lu Yun saw his expression was strange and immediately made a sound of surprise. On the day Yang Suguan disappeared, Yan Ting happened to be accompanying him—there were some suspicious aspects to this. Remembering what he had seen and heard at Changzhou City God Temple, he couldn’t help feeling worried and said quietly:

“Dingyuan, are you and Yan Ting still well?”

Wu Dingyuan smiled slightly. That strange expression flashed by, and in an instant he was calm as usual again. He stared at Lu Yun and pushed the brocade box over again with a smile: “Brother Lu, of the Liu faction’s four generals—Guan, Hai, Yun, Yuan—now only you and I remain. With your upcoming wedding, even the heaviest gift should be accepted.”

Lu Yun was about to refuse again when Wu Dingyuan shook his head: “Brother, don’t rush to decline. I have something else here—after you see it, you’ll have to accept it.” Lu Yun was somewhat puzzled—how could there be gifts in the world that one had to accept? Just as he was about to refuse everything, Wu Dingyuan had already bent down to take out an item: “Nine Revolutions Vital Energy Pills—I begged the Marquis for them.”

Hearing this medicine name, Lu Yun thought solemnly that this must be a sacred healing product. He just made a sound and shook his head: “My chest wound is almost healed—why such great effort?” Wu Dingyuan grinned and whispered in his ear: “Brother, you misunderstood. This isn’t for treating chest knife wounds.”

Lu Yun said blankly: “Not for the chest? Then what is it for?” Wu Dingyuan smiled mysteriously, his gaze scanning downward, then smiling without speaking.

Lu Yun’s whole body trembled as he said in shock: “What Vital Energy Pills? What… what exactly is this thing?”

Wu Dingyuan smiled: “Haven’t you heard? The Marquis had a son in his old age—the seventh wife bore him a young master. All this is thanks to the great power of ‘Nine Revolutions Vital Energy Pills.'” Seeing Lu Yun stammering, he pushed the medicine jar over and said quietly: “Nine Revolutions Vital Energy Pills nourish essence and supplement vitality. Carefully selected from nine precious medicinal materials, cooked in a Eight Trigrams furnace for eighty-one days, with orioles singing nine revolutions, the vital energy doesn’t dissipate. Being most correct and most yang, it’s named ‘Vital Energy.’ If I hadn’t begged the Marquis desperately, he wouldn’t have given it.”

Hearing about this great power, Lu Yun couldn’t help hesitating. He held the medicine jar in his palm and asked quietly: “How should it be taken?”

Wu Dingyuan’s face glowed with the appearance of an old horse knowing the way, saying quietly: “Take it half an hour beforehand. Remember, the medicine is very strong—don’t eat too much or there will be great disaster.” Lu Yun was shocked: “What great disaster?” Wu Dingyuan pretended to be mysterious and said quietly: “I also heard this from others. It seems once the Marquis took too much, causing his seven wives to complain repeatedly. You’ll know once you try.”

Lu Yun took a deep breath, speechless with amazement for a moment. Wu Dingyuan added another warning: “Brother, if you return the ‘jade lions’ to me, I can’t give you this ‘Vital Energy Pills.’ Fish and bear’s paw must both be obtained. Understand?”

Lu Yun’s eyes widened, his heart tormented with indecision. Thinking that the Lu family had been a single line for three generations, if he wanted many sons and grandsons in the future, he would definitely need this treasure’s help. He sighed deeply: “For the ancestors, I can only accept it.” He immediately tucked the medicine jar into his bosom with great care.

Wu Dingyuan looked at Lu Yun’s embarrassed state and suddenly smiled. Lu Yun looked back at him, also quite embarrassed. The two men’s eyes met and suddenly felt amused, momentarily unable to suppress their laughter and burst into hearty laughter together.

Wu Dingyuan had originally been somewhat gloomy, but now all his worries dissipated. He laughed heartily: “Brother Lu, next time I return to the capital, you must be holding a son to show me. Otherwise don’t blame me for forcing medicine down your throat.” Lu Yun also laughed and was about to respond when suddenly his heart turned cold and he said in bewilderment: “Next time returning to the capital? Dingyuan, you… are you leaving Beijing?”

Wu Dingyuan sighed: “That’s right. I leave early tomorrow morning. Brother Lu, I came tonight to bid you farewell.”

Lu Yun was shocked and hurriedly asked: “Why leave so urgently?”

Wu Dingyuan’s gaze turned to the ground as he said quietly: “Court documents have been urging for days, wanting me to take up the post at Juyong Pass early. I’ve been delaying these days, wanting to drink the wedding wine before leaving. But the northern border pass can’t be without a general stationed there. In a few days Jiang Chong will send people to investigate again—I can only leave first.”

Hearing this, Lu Yun immediately became dejected. Yang Suguan was shot, Qin Zhonghai rebelled, and the Liu faction members had left or scattered one by one. Now even Wu Dingyuan was leaving the capital. Lu Yun turned his head away sadly: “Dingyuan, I had wanted to ask you to be my best man.”

Hearing this, Wu Dingyuan didn’t know what to say either. The two faced each other, both speechless.

After a while, Wu Dingyuan slowly stood up: “I leave early tomorrow morning. Yan Ting was too shocked and has been… somewhat mentally disturbed these days. I need to go back and check on her.” Lu Yun sighed: “Is she going with you too?”

Wu Dingyuan made a sound of agreement: “I’ll be there for at least a year and a half this time. Not only her, but Chong Qing must come with me too.”

Lu Yun escorted him all the way to the door. At this time the weather had turned cold, with heavy frost and dew at night. Wu Dingyuan saw Lu Yun’s thin clothing and said: “You sleep early. These days with no one to help you arrange things, you’ll have to work hard yourself.”

Lu Yun sighed and said blandly: “I understand.”

Wu Dingyuan stared at Lu Yun, seeming to want to speak but hesitating, also seeming reluctant to leave. After a long time, he suddenly walked over and embraced Lu Yun, saying quietly: “Brother, big brother is leaving. Take good care of yourself.”

He said nothing more and turned to leave.

Lu Yun stood alone at the alley entrance watching Wu Dingyuan’s departing figure. Thinking that from now on one would be transferred to the northern frontier and one would be far away in Jiangnan, when they would meet again was unknown—he felt somewhat moved and couldn’t help sighing.

Suddenly hearing footsteps, Lu Yun looked up and saw a child’s figure running into the alley. He heard a childish voice calling: “Uncle Lu!”

Lu Yun smiled slightly, knowing this rosy-cheeked child before him was Wu Dingyuan’s adopted son Chong Qing. He bent down and smiled: “Good child, your father just left. Are you looking for him?”

Chong Qing shook his head: “No, I came to find uncle.”

Lu Yun blinked and smiled: “You’re looking for me? Want to learn reading with uncle?” Suddenly hearing about reading and writing, Chong Qing immediately made a sound of disgust as if shuddering. Lu Yun laughed heartily and rubbed his head: “Alright, what do you want Uncle Lu for? Did your father forget something?”

Chong Qing shook his head: “It’s not father dropping something—auntie wants to give something.”

Lu Yun pretended not to understand: “Auntie? Who is auntie?”

Chong Qing made a face and smiled: “Uncle Lu is pretending to be dumb. Auntie is auntie—you’ve seen her.”

Lu Yun slapped his forehead and made a long sound of understanding: “That auntie? Sorry, I thought that was your mother.”

Hearing this, Chong Qing first laughed as if very happy, but after a while he lowered his head and remained silent.

Lu Yun squatted down and smiled: “Does Chong Qing like auntie to be mother?”

Chong Qing said sadly: “Chong Qing likes it, but it’s useless—auntie has to like father for it to work.”

Hearing this, Lu Yun’s heart immediately turned cold, thinking: “Yan Ting isn’t warm toward Dingyuan—even the child can see it.”

He had thought that with Yan Ting living in Wu Dingyuan’s house, their feelings would grow closer day by day. Who would have expected that after more than a month, there was still no major progress? He sighed and pinched Chong Qing’s cheek: “Alright, children shouldn’t meddle in adult affairs. You just said auntie has something to give me—what is it?”

Chong Qing made a sound and quickly took off his outer garment. Though it was only mid-autumn, the child was already wrapped in thick cotton padding. Lu Yun couldn’t help smiling: “It’s just early autumn—why are you already wearing winter clothes?”

Chong Qing said: “Auntie saw I was afraid of cold, so she dressed me like this.” Speaking, he took out a jade box from his bosom and handed it to Lu Yun.

Lu Yun asked curiously: “For me?”

Chong Qing said: “No, it’s for grandfather’s little brother.”

Lu Yun asked strangely: “Grandfather’s little brother? Who is that?”

Chong Qing sneezed and said confusedly: “Auntie said to ask uncle to help her go to grandfather’s house to give a gift—give this box to grandfather’s son, a little brother.”

Lu Yun laughed despite himself. In these few sentences there were grandfathers and uncles and a little brother mixed in—it was completely confusing. Lu Yun shook his head and smiled: “What grandfather? Which grandfather?”

Chong Qing said: “That Old Master Liu! Auntie said Grandfather Liu had a little brother and wants to invite everyone to drink wine, but we’re leaving early so she asks uncle to help deliver the gift.”

Lu Yun made a sound of understanding and thought: “It’s Marquis Liu’s full-moon wine.” He was about to ask more when suddenly cold wind blew and Chong Qing shivered, snot shooting out again and nearly hitting Lu Yun.

Lu Yun hurriedly dodged and was about to scold when suddenly he heard Chong Qing make a sound and spit phlegm on the ground. Lu Yun was horrified, thinking: “This child has the Nu Cang style.” Seeing the child had no one to teach him from small, he was indeed extremely crude. He pulled Chong Qing over and instructed: “Listen well—from now on you must learn manners and not spit anywhere.”

The speaker was earnest but the listener indifferent. Chong Qing just made a sound and pulled up Lu Yun’s clothing to wipe his nose on it, then yawned as if somewhat tired and left.

Lu Yun smiled bitterly and shook his head—truly “good people are bullied by others.” Seeing how Chong Qing usually revered Wu Dingyuan like a god but was so casual with Uncle Lu showed that he usually needed to play the cold-faced magistrate more to restore his authority and make people know to be cautious.

Returning to his room, Lu Yun casually put away the jade box, seeing it was decorated with gold lacquer. Presumably the contents were quite valuable. Lu Yun began to worry, thinking: “The Marquis is my marriage officiant. Tomorrow is his young son’s full-moon wine. With courtesy requiring reciprocity, I must also prepare some gifts to take.”

For this wedding, although it was during troubled times, Liu Angtian still took care of things in many ways. Not only did he generously promise to officiate, but he also privately sent many gifts to the Gu mansion, seemingly taking the role of the groom’s family head. With such care from his elder, Lu Yun was naturally infinitely grateful and wanted to prepare precious items as gifts.

As Changzhou magistrate, Lu Yun had rarely come to the capital and naturally brought back many local products, the largest category being tea. Remembering that Liu Angtian quite loved tea tasting, he took out all the tea canisters from his luggage to select the finest tea varieties as gifts.

Although tea wasn’t any expensive item, Jiangnan famous teas also had expensive rarities like Jin Xiang Yu, Bi Luo Chun, Lu An Gua Pian, Mei Wu Long Jing and others known for their “green, fragrant, sweet, beautiful” four excellences. Priced by the tael, they were famous far and near and not easy to buy in the capital. Lu Yun’s purpose in bringing back tea this time was naturally to promote Changzhou’s reputation. If those princes and great ministers found it good, the villagers could get the glory of “top-grade imperial use” and earn more business in the future, not letting other places monopolize the beauty.

Lu Yun opened his luggage and took out the tea canisters one by one, intending to select the precious ones among them for tomorrow’s gift. He searched around, opening the canisters one by one to smell the fragrance, when suddenly he saw a thin booklet rolled up in a tea canister. Lu Yun was slightly surprised—he saw the pages were old and yellowed, with no characters visible on the cover, not knowing what it was. If it was mistakenly placed by servants at Changzhou prefecture, it didn’t seem like it either.

Lu Yun was full of doubt and immediately went to the table to hastily flip through it by candlelight.

Looking at this made him even more surprised—he saw the inner pages were completely blank without half a character, like a wordless heavenly book.

Lu Yun was stunned for a while, unable to guess the origin of this book or who had placed it in his luggage. He looked for a long time but couldn’t make out any sense of it, so he casually placed the ancient book on the windowsill and paid it no more attention.

After this disturbance it was already deep night. The autumn night was cold. Although Lu Yun had internal energy to protect him and wasn’t afraid of catching cold, a cold bench couldn’t compare to a warm quilt. He stretched several times and quickly removed his outer clothing to go to bed and roll up in the cotton quilt.

Before getting into bed, he suddenly smelled a fragrance in his nose. That scent wasn’t like Buddhist hall sandalwood or tea fragrance, but rather like faint garden fragrances at night—smelling it was refreshing to the heart and intoxicating to the soul, making one’s heart give birth to strange thoughts.

Lu Yun was slightly shocked and quickly sniffed his own clothing, immediately frowning and shaking his head. He hadn’t washed before sleeping last night, and though it wasn’t stinking to high heaven, it didn’t have any good smell either. This scent was so fragrant and mysterious—it definitely wasn’t his body odor.

He sniffed again and suddenly felt there was a fragrance in the cotton quilt. Listening carefully, it seemed someone was under the quilt, muffling their breathing sounds.

Lu Yun was greatly shocked, thinking: “There’s an assassin in the quilt?” Afraid that Hu Mei’er might suddenly appear, he hurriedly rolled backward and assumed the “Peerless Consecutive Fists” stance, saying sternly: “Who are you, honored one? Why disturb someone’s sleep by hiding in the quilt?”

The cotton quilt trembled slightly as if laughter came from it, then a corner of the quilt revealed crystal-clear skin. Looking closely, it was a pair of bare feet.

Lu Yun snorted and thought: “The assassin’s feet are very small.” He waved his fists and feet: “If you don’t come out, don’t blame me for being impolite!”

Just then the quilt was pulled down, revealing a face laughing delicately and beautifully. He heard her laugh: “What ‘honored one’ or not—look how scared you are.”

Lu Yun looked carefully and saw a beautiful woman lying on the kang—it was Gu Qianxi. Lu Yun’s face flushed red: “You… how did you come to my bed… kang?”

Gu Qianxi opened her wonderful eyes and smiled: “Lu Lang, I want to sleep with you. Is that alright?”

Lu Yun didn’t know why she had come here or why she was pleading to share a pillow. For a moment his face turned purple: “Al… alright… no… not alright…” His speech was incoherent, words not reaching their meaning. A hot current rushed out of his brain, and in addition to his red face and thick neck, he even began trembling.

Gu Qianxi saw him standing there speechlessly and said quietly: “I managed to sneak out with great difficulty. I’m quite tired. If you don’t come over, I’m leaving.”

Speaking, she got up and was about to crawl out the window. Seeing the window wasn’t tightly closed, presumably she had most likely snuck in through the window.

The autumn night was cold. As soon as Gu Qianxi poked her head out from the cotton quilt, she immediately shivered. Lu Yun was afraid she’d catch cold and stammered: “Don’t… don’t go back. You… you can sleep in my room. I… I’ll sleep at the table…”

Gu Qianxi’s voice was charming as she said softly: “How can that work? Wouldn’t I be taking the magpie’s nest? You come over.”

Lu Yun turned his head away, his mind dizzy: “What’s wrong with Qianxi? In a few days we’ll be married—why would she suddenly come looking for me? Could it be… could it be…”

Gu Qianxi couldn’t wait long and couldn’t help saying coquettishly: “I know this isn’t proper. If you don’t like it, I’ll go back now.”

Since it was someone’s sincere feelings, how could he refuse to accept them? Lu Yun twisted and turned, for a moment looking and listening in all directions. Hearing no unusual sounds within a zhang radius, only then did he feel at ease. He lowered his head and hung his hands, appearing respectful as he shuffled toward the bedside. Just as he was about to bow in salute, he suddenly saw Gu Qianxi smile warmly and gently, slightly lifting the cotton quilt to reveal a pair of beautiful legs, smiling: “Lu Lang, come here.”

Lu Yun was greatly shocked, his blood surging as he stumbled back three steps, knocking over two tea canisters on the spot. Another clang was heard as the “Nine Revolutions Vital Energy Pills” fell out of his bosom.

Tea canisters rolled around the room—suddenly more than ten had fallen over. Gu Qianxi was slightly surprised: “Why are there so many tea canisters lying around for no reason?” Speaking, she picked up the “Vital Energy Pills.” Seeing the jar was black and quite crude, she said again: “What new kind of tea is this? The jar is so ugly.”

Lu Yun hurriedly said: “That’s medicine, not tea.”

Gu Qianxi made a sound and examined the jar herself. Smelling the medicine pills had a spicy scent, she immediately frowned: “What a terrible-smelling thing—is this really medicine?” She casually returned the jar to Lu Yun. Lu Yun was about to take it when he suddenly touched her smooth wrist. His heart jumped and hands trembled, causing the jar to overturn and immediately spill more than ten pills that rolled in all directions.

Lu Yun was greatly shocked. The miraculous medicine was hard-won and absolutely couldn’t be lost. He immediately displayed long-absent fist and foot techniques—only seeing him grab the jar, dodge his shoulder, turn his hand and pounce to the ground, immediately catching seven or eight pills in succession. Seeing three pills by his feet about to fall to the ground and get dusty, he pressed his right palm on the ground and pushed, his body shooting out backward and catching two more on the spot.

Lu Yun breathed a sigh of relief and opened his mouth: “That was close—this medicine is very precious and can’t be missing any…” The word “thing” hadn’t left his mouth when a pill rolled off the table and fell directly into his throat.

Lu Yun’s heart was greatly shocked. He quickly stood upside down and desperately tried to vomit, but that medicine dissolved upon entering his mouth and immediately disappeared without a trace. Lu Yun was both afraid and panicked, only crying bitter complaints. He immediately sat cross-legged in meditation, planning to use internal energy to drive out the medicine’s power from his body.

Gu Qianxi saw him suddenly sit cross-legged and begin meditating for no reason. She hurriedly got out of bed: “What’s wrong? Is that medicine poisonous?”

The beauty came toward him like a lotus emerging from water, her body leaning against his shoulder, warm and soft. Lu Yun stole a glance and saw his lover’s pair of fragrant shoulders so smooth, her bright beautiful eyes blinking, making her doubly charming and moving.

Poisonous qi surging up—he was about to die. Lu Yun struggled to use his internal energy to resist, thinking: “Heaven above, earth below! I, Lu Yun, am well-read in poetry and books, able to sit unmoved with a woman in my lap. Even the charms of Daji and Yang Guifei cannot seduce me, the beauty of Xi Shi and Wang Zhaojun cannot bend me. I swear to follow ritual law and teaching, heaven and earth…” His heart felt slightly more comfortable, so he opened his eyes again.

This opening of eyes was terrible! He saw Gu Qianxi standing timidly before him, her skin crystal clear and luminous, her exquisite delicate body close at hand—if only he summoned the courage, warm fragrant soft jade could fill his embrace. Lu Yun’s mouth trembled, his whole body convulsed, when suddenly his heart was inspired and he took out a copper coin from his bosom, silently praying as he threw it to the ground.

Gu Qianxi asked curiously: “What are you doing?”

Lu Yun didn’t answer, only crawled over to look at the copper coin and immediately exclaimed: “It’s heads!” His eyes showed strange light as he boldly stood up.

Gu Qianxi stared blankly as she heard Lu Yun muttering incantations: “The Master taught me—yin earth and yang heaven, when two feelings are mutual they naturally grow together. The Classic of Filial Piety says having no heir is the greatest unfilial act. The Rites of Zhou say descendants filling the hall… Today the time, place, and people are all favorable. Heaven above, earth below, ancestors and parents bless me, Lu Yun, to complete this great undertaking… Excellent, excellent…”

Like an old woman reciting kitchen scriptures, he strode toward the door and quickly locked it, then hurriedly went to the window and swiftly fastened the shutters. Seeing the shutters secure as Mount Tai and the room door locked airtight, he suddenly turned around with bright eyes looking at Gu Qianxi as if transformed into a different person.

Gu Qianxi pretended to yawn and said awkwardly: “I came with good intentions to see you, but you keep acting strange. I don’t care about you anymore.”

Speaking, she returned to bed, rolled up in the quilt facing the inner wall, and went to sleep.

The room was pitch dark as if deep night, with fragrant scents assailing the senses and the beauty already snoring in sleep. Lu Yun saw the door and window shutters were already locked—even if the emperor brought people to attack, they probably couldn’t break in. The medicine’s power attacked his heart, passing through his intestines. Gu Qianxi had already pinned up her hair, revealing her white, tempting nape. Lu Yun’s blood surged up and with a whoosh he flew onto the bed, sharing pillow and bed with his fiancée—the two were separated by three and five-tenths inches.

Being near fragrance made him timid. Coming to the beauty’s side, Lu Yun became afraid again. He said hoarsely: “Qianxi, Qianxi, are you asleep?”

Hearing deep breathing from the pillow, Gu Qianxi seemed to have fallen into deep sleep. Lu Yun swallowed and tremblingly reached out his hand, wanting to embrace her body.

Three and five-tenths inches was only a palm’s distance, reachable by hand, yet at this moment it seemed like thirty-five thousand zhang, impossible to cross.

Lu Yun relied on the great power of the Vital Energy Pills to forcefully reach out. Just as he touched her fragrant shoulder, he felt Gu Qianxi’s body move slightly as if about to wake. In great shock, Lu Yun quickly withdrew his hand and lay flat, staring at the ceiling.

After a while, Gu Qianxi didn’t turn over and remained sleeping? Lu Yun dared not move again. In his great confusion, he could only pray to heaven again: “Ancestors above, the Lu family’s flame must be passed down through generations—the incense must never be extinguished. Father’s spirit in heaven, bless your child to complete this mission today and not fail this trust.” Then he bowed three times to the ceiling and prayed quietly.

Just as he was praying, suddenly he heard a soft laugh by his ear: “What are you worshipping? Is there a god at the bedhead?”

Lu Yun made a sound of surprise and hurriedly turned his head, only to see the beauty beside his pillow supporting her head with one hand, looking at him with a smile. All of Lu Yun’s flames were extinguished as he said awkwardly: “I… my hand was sore and I wanted to put my palms together and move them. Look, just like this.” He put his hands together and began chanting “Amitabha” again.

Gu Qianxi looked at him with a smile, motionless. Lu Yun laughed dryly: “See? Just bow a few more times and the hand won’t be sore anymore, and the spirit gets better and better. Do you want to try?”

With her lover restlessly moving on the bed, Gu Qianxi wasn’t angry either. Her large eyes were wise and bright, very understanding. After a while, she suddenly laughed softly: “Lu Lang, you want to hold me, don’t you?”

Lu Yun was startled and waved his hands: “Wrong! Wrong! How could I be lustful? I have no choice! A gentleman corrects his qi and stops at the pill—even nine revolutions and eight wastelands cannot compare…” In his complete nonsense, he heard Gu Qianxi smile slightly and say sweetly: “Lu Lang, if you really dare abandon propriety and come kiss me, I’ll definitely comply with you.”

Lu Yun made a sound of surprise, both shocked and delighted, and reached out to embrace her. Gu Qianxi leaned against his chest, her face full of shyness, saying softly: “Is your wound healed?”

Lu Yun was overjoyed: “Healed, long healed.”

He turned to face his lover, seeing Gu Qianxi’s beautiful hair scattered on the pillow, her cheeks tinged with fire-red. Lu Yun was so happy he nearly cried out, and was about to lean in for a kiss when—speaking of quick timing—he heard Gu Qianxi sob and start crying first.

Lu Yun said miserably: “What’s wrong with you? I… I haven’t molested you yet.”

Gu Qianxi ignored him, only embracing Lu Yun and continuously weeping and sobbing. In his panic, Lu Yun didn’t dare misbehave anymore and quickly lay still, then gently stroked her hair and softly comforted: “Tell me what’s making you unhappy.”

Gu Qianxi stared at Lu Yun and sobbed: “Lu Lang, I’m so afraid… I’m so afraid… My eyelids keep twitching. I always feel something big is going to happen…”

Lu Yun’s heart turned cold and he immediately came to his senses. He sat up straight, his left hand around Gu Qianxi’s waist, and kissed her cheek: “You’re afraid I’ll also have an accident, aren’t you?”

Gu Qianxi leaned against his chest, her delicate body trembling slightly, and nodded.

Lu Yun understood and sighed deeply. In chaotic times, there were constant life-and-death struggles. Yang Suguan had extensive good connections, with city management and methods all reaching first-class level. With his knowledge and character, he was still assassinated at the Yongding River bank—what about upright and unyielding himself? If he encountered desperate circumstances, how could he escape? Presumably Gu Qianxi was afraid in her heart, so she violated propriety to come be with him.

Gu Qianxi looked up at him and said softly: “Promise me you’ll never leave me in this lifetime, all right?”

Lu Yun smiled slightly and shook his head: “Qianxi, you really shouldn’t say such things.”

Gu Qianxi panicked, couldn’t help her face trembling and tears bursting forth. Her small hands tightly grasped Lu Yun’s arms as she said frantically: “Lu Lang, are you… are you going to do something foolish again?”

In her shock and fear, she suddenly felt warmth on her face as Lu Yun’s palm gently caressed her, as if comforting her.

Gu Qianxi held back her tears and looked up at her lover. She saw him looking down, his hand gently stroking her head, his eyes full of tender compassion.

Lu Yun smiled: “A year ago, also in this Beijing city—do you remember where we first met?”

Gu Qianxi sighed: “In a small tea shop.”

Years ago they parted in Yangzhou with no chance to meet again until they encountered each other in the tea shop the year before. Who knew that proud scholar didn’t treasure their fate—after sitting together briefly, he flicked his sleeves and left arrogantly, leaving her to Yang Suguan. Gu Qianxi still felt heartache thinking of this and turned her face away, tears nearly falling again.

Lu Yun shook his head and smiled: “Qianxi, oh Qianxi, you always think that was our first meeting, but actually I had seen you long before.”

Gu Qianxi made a sound of surprise and said quietly: “You came looking for me? I… how did I not know?”

Lu Yun laughed gently: “You wouldn’t know. If I didn’t tell you, you’d never know.”

Gu Qianxi saw him smiling without speaking and immediately pleaded: “Tell me! Don’t be mysterious.”

Lu Yun shook his head: “It’s not glorious at all—I don’t want to mention it.”

Gu Qianxi kissed his face: “I won’t let you be evasive. The less glorious it is, the more I want to hear.”

Unable to resist her persistence, Lu Yun couldn’t help laughing. He gently caressed Gu Qianxi’s cheek: “When I first came to Beijing, I thought of you day and night but didn’t dare see you. The only thing I could do was go to the small tavern across from your house to wait, hoping to catch a glimpse of your figure.”

Gu Qianxi, a dignified minister’s daughter, had no idea there was a filthy small tavern near her home. Hearing this, she was stunned.

Lu Yun continued: “At that time, every evening when the lanterns were first lit, I would go to the shop to wait and watch. When your house’s windows lit up one by one, I would sit there foolishly watching the shadows move back and forth inside, guessing who was who and imagining the scenes inside. Until deep into the night when those lights went out one by one and I was drunk, only then would I go home alone…”

This was the first time he revealed his past. Speaking of it, he actually became somewhat choked up. Gu Qianxi was deeply moved—she had always thought Lu Yun was such a proud scholar who came and went freely in matters of love, never knowing he was actually so deeply affectionate.

Her heart was stirred and she only held him tightly.

Lu Yun gently caressed his beloved’s cheek and said softly: “After leaving Yangzhou, without you my heart died. I wanted to get close to you but feared harming you. I wanted to turn and leave but my heart felt so difficult… I was like a walking corpse, as if living in hell, until I met someone who awakened me and I came back to life.”

Gu Qianxi wiped her tears and asked: “Who was he?”

Lu Yun said gently: “You know him—it was Qin Zhonghai.”

Gu Qianxi covered her mouth in surprise, not expecting Qin Zhonghai to be so important in her lover’s heart. Lu Yun sighed: “Dingyuan is a brother through hardship, Suguan could also be considered somewhat friendly, but they all can’t compare to Zhonghai’s understanding. When he was imprisoned, my heart was bitter. Knowing it was very difficult, I still had to gamble. You know, if he… if he died alone on the execution ground, I… I would never forgive myself in this lifetime…” Speaking to this point, though the matter was long past, his eyes still reddened.

Gu Qianxi heard him speak with such righteousness and couldn’t help sighing, saying quietly: “Even if you never saw me again, you wouldn’t care, would you?”

Lu Yun shook his head: “If Zhonghai died, I would avenge him and raise his son. If he went far away to raise troops in rebellion, I would silently pray for him. But you’re different—if I can’t see you, I’ll keep thinking and remembering. No matter where you go, I must find you. Even if I have to hide in corners and secretly watch you, being mocked and scolded, I’m willing.”

Gu Qianxi exclaimed and said tremblingly: “You… you’re telling the truth…”

Lu Yun nodded. He embraced his beloved, burying his face in her hair and saying quietly: “How bitter lovesickness is! In this life I’ve encountered countless hardships and troubles, but I’ve never missed someone like this… thinking when asleep, thinking when awake. Back then, loving you, others always laughed at me for wishful thinking. When I was dejected and decadent, Qianxi, no matter how they looked at me, I didn’t care at all…” His lips lightly touched Gu Qianxi’s ear as he said softly: “Lu Yun’s love for you will never change until death.”

Gu Qianxi was both sad and happy, suddenly embracing him forcefully and kissing him.

Also tired from the night, the two lay face to face, both peaceful and joyful in their hearts. Gu Qianxi used her lover’s chest as a pillow, letting him hold her shoulders. In a few days they would be husband and wife—they had no reservations with each other, so they embraced with hands and feet and slept peacefully.

Inside the room was pitch dark with tender feelings everywhere, but on the windowsill a faint blue light appeared. The ancient book glowed faintly like a night pearl, with several seal characters floating up.

Ghostly phosphorescent light drifted up as if the Sword God had revived, guarding the lovers in this chaotic world…

This sleep was very comfortable, sleeping soundly until dawn. But Lu Yun had taken the pills without dissolving them—the “Vital Energy Pills'” medicinal properties turned to hibernation, waiting for the explosive moment. Sure enough, after sleeping for who knows how long, a quiet fragrance drifted to his nose, making his heart and soul drunk. Lu Yun’s heart stirred, his mind confused and unclear about where he was. Suddenly the “Nine Revolutions Vital Energy Pills'” medicinal power activated and exploded completely. In his dream, without time to open his eyes, he hurriedly turned over and reached toward the person beside his pillow.

Just as he was excited, suddenly he heard delicate laughter from beside the bed: “What are you doing hugging the pillow? Are you sleep-confused?”

Lu Yun woke up and realized he was grasping the pillow and gnawing on it—quite a ridiculous sight. He coughed twice and quickly sat up.

Sunlight filled the room—it was already mid-morning. He saw Gu Qianxi sitting by the bed, looking at him with a smile. Lu Yun’s face reddened: “You’re up?”

Gu Qianxi nodded slightly and said gently: “Seeing you sleep so deeply, I couldn’t bear to wake you.”

Lu Yun made a sound and was about to get up when he saw Gu Qianxi’s mouth corner smile as she beckoned: “Even hugging pillows—look how pitiful you are. Come here, elder sister will love you.”

The Vital Energy Pills’ power exploded again. Lu Yun’s figure flashed and he was already sitting beside Gu Qianxi, saying happily: “You want to love me? How will you love me?”

Suddenly seeing Gu Qianxi’s pretty face turn stern, she shouted: “Love you like this!” Instantly feeling coolness at his throat, he was shocked to see Gu Qianxi’s right hand grasping a knife already at his throat.

Lu Yun said miserably: “Quickly put down the knife! Don’t murder your husband!”

What Gu Qianxi held was a razor. She smiled as she brought over a basin of water: “One small knife would take Lord Lu’s life? Come, sit obediently—elder sister will help you shave. If you behave well, maybe I’ll reward you with something fragrant.” She tied a cloth around Lu Yun and waited eagerly to use the knife.

Gu Qianxi held the sharp blade and rolled up her sleeves, revealing crystal jade arms. She laughed delicately: “I’ve wanted to try this for so long. Every time I see auntie shaving father’s face, it always seems quite fun. Today this young lady will try too.”

Man is the fish on the chopping board. Lu Yun’s heart was hairy, deeply fearing today was an unlucky day when he’d suffer the disaster of having his neck cut. He lowered his head and hands with a bitter face, not moving, letting her slaughter him at will. But strangely, Gu Qianxi was naturally gifted with the knife—not only did his face not hurt, but her delicate hands touching his cheek felt even more gentle and comfortable. Lu Yun was simple by nature—he had carried loads and wielded hoes. When had he ever enjoyed such tenderness? For a moment his eyes half-closed, nearly falling asleep. Unfortunately, as a pale-faced scholar, he didn’t have much beard—a few strokes and he was clean and fresh without leaving half a whisker.

After shaving came changing clothes. Gu Qianxi was having fun and insisted Lu Yun put on court dress. This time the round-collar shirt and colorful crane robe were put on one by one, taking another half hour. Gu Qianxi looked Lu Yun up and down and nodded: “Actually, seeing your face square with some beard makes you more handsome. In a few years when we have children, we’ll grow a beard.” Looking at her pretty nose slightly tilted, her eyes full of joy as if contemplating what kind of beard her husband should grow—she really treated Lu Yun like a doll.

After dressing was complete, it was past noon. The two weren’t very hungry and only made tea. Lu Yun pushed open the window—cool wind blew into the room, creating a more refreshing feeling. In the past, the book boy and young lady felt improper even eating at the same table. Now these lovers had broken through heavy barriers of background and finally could stay together. The two looked at each other silently, both feeling satisfied.

Lu Yun looked at his beloved wife, his heart both joyful and comforted. He grasped Gu Qianxi’s white, smooth little hand and smiled: “Qianxi, will you sleep here again tonight?”

Gu Qianxi’s face flushed red as she spat: “You go ask father yourself. If he permits me, I’ll stay.”

Lu Yun saw her shy appearance and couldn’t help laughing heartily. His question just now was meant as a joke—Gu Qianxi would leave her family in a few days, and who knew how many formalities were still waiting for her? He smiled slightly: “If you get scolded by father for not going home last night, just push it all on me—I’ll take responsibility.”

Gu Qianxi’s beautiful eyes moved as she glanced at him charmingly: “What can you take responsibility for? Won’t you just get beaten along with me?”

Lu Yun laughed: “Young lady, this statement is greatly mistaken. I have thick skin and tough flesh—I can endure better than you. If father is cruel enough to break my right leg, I’ll offer this left leg anytime for him to beat to his heart’s content.”

Gu Qianxi giggled: “I’m going to tell father and let him hear how brutal you make him sound.”

The two were laughing when suddenly the door knocked—someone had come. Lu Yun’s face trembled, all his previous calm flying away as he said frantically: “Terrible! Father-in-law has really come for someone. What should we do?”

Gu Qianxi smiled: “This matter doesn’t trouble Lord Magistrate. The visitor is friend, not foe—one of this young lady’s beloved generals.”

Lu Yun was slightly curious, not knowing when Gu Qianxi, a minister’s daughter, had learned to form gangs like martial world people. Just as he was about to ask about the details, he heard Xiao Hong’s voice outside: “Miss, it’s about time—we should go back.”

Lu Yun smiled with understanding, finally knowing what Gu Qianxi meant by “beloved general.” Gu Qianxi blinked and smiled: “Last night mother spent the night at the temple and father went to the palace for audience—no one was home, so this young lady got the chance to come serve Lord Lu.”

Lu Yun breathed a sigh of relief but suddenly thought of Second Concubine—if that tigress didn’t see the young lady, it would be a deadly disaster. Just as he was about to ask, Gu Qianxi had already spoken, laughing: “Don’t worry about auntie—her relatives moved to Beijing. Last night auntie was busy settling them in—where would she have time to pay attention to us?”

Lu Yun felt slightly relieved: “Auntie has relatives? Do I know them?”

Gu Qianxi pouted: “How could you not know? The one who nearly had you beaten away back then.”

Lu Yun exclaimed: “You mean Pei Shengqing and his father?”

Gu Qianxi frowned: “Exactly, that dandy young master. Lord Lu, if you don’t hold grudges, I’m still waiting to help you get revenge.”

Lu Yun quickly waved his hands: “The past is the past, now is now. Things have changed—don’t stir up trouble.”

Gu Qianxi was about to say more when Xiao Hong outside was getting impatient. She sighed: “Miss, please hurry! If you’re later than auntie getting home, this poor maid will have to recite the manual again.”

Lu Yun heard her speak strangely and couldn’t help laughing: “What manual?”

Gu Qianxi gracefully went out and said loudly: “This is a late-return dictionary created by this young lady, specially teaching those who don’t return at night how to save themselves. If Magistrate Lu needs to use it someday, feel free to borrow it for study. We can exchange notes.”

Before leaving, the two looked into each other’s eyes and smiled simultaneously.

The sunlight outside was brilliant—this moment seemed so eternal and unforgettable.

Gu Qianxi returned home with Xiao Hong while Lu Yun continued laughing. Seeing how Gu Qianxi was managed by her mother all day—if she wanted to go out, she’d have to fabricate countless excuses. Presumably after years of this, she must have countless insights. Lu Yun laughed, then suddenly his face twitched—his wife was a master at fabricating reasons. If he wanted to not return home at night in the future, he didn’t know how he’d escape punishment.

Just then the door knocked again. Lu Yun said with a smile: “Qianxi? Why did you come back?”

A man’s voice came from outside, laughing: “Qian Xi? Is the magistrate playing majiang?” At that time majiang was divided into East, North, West, South and Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter colored tiles for games, similar to majiang tiles that spread a hundred years later. That person speaking like this was naturally teasing. Lu Yun’s face reddened as he stood up: “Who is it?”

The man laughed: “Don’t you recognize my voice? I’m Wei Zizhuang. Tonight the Marquis is hosting a drinking party—I specially came to bring you along.”

Liu Angtian had a son and was hosting a full-moon wine tonight—Lu Yun naturally knew about this. He quickly went to open the door and indeed saw a big fat man standing outside—it was Liu Angtian’s top guard. Wei Zizhuang looked into the door and, seeing no one else, couldn’t help being somewhat puzzled: “Weren’t you playing paper tigers? How are you talking to yourself alone?”

Lu Yun smiled: “I was sleep-confused. Don’t mind me.”

Wei Zizhuang stretched and yawned awkwardly: “Dingyuan came to see you last night, right?”

Lu Yun sighed: “Yes. He left so urgently he couldn’t even drink my wedding wine.”

Wei Zizhuang spat: “Like rushing to reincarnation—he reported to the Marquis the day before yesterday that he wanted to leave. Who knows what that boy is thinking? No one’s chasing him away, really.”

Lu Yun’s heart was slightly curious. Last night Wu Dingyuan claimed the court had issued documents, but hearing Wei Zizhuang speak like this, there seemed to be other inside information. Just as he was about to ask, he heard Wei Zizhuang say:

“I heard Dingyuan say Changzhou’s Ouyang Nan gave you a famous sword called ‘Cloud Dream Marsh.’ Is this true?”

Lu Yun saw him rubbing his hands and scratching his face, his heart itching unbearably—he knew he definitely wanted to borrow it for appreciation. He immediately smiled: “Guard Wei’s information is truly well-informed—nothing can be hidden from you.” He immediately took out the precious sword from the wardrobe and casually handed it over.

Wei Zizhuang was stunned and cursed: “You’re supposed to be a martial artist! Actually keeping a divine sword in a wardrobe—aren’t you afraid it will secretly cry at night?”

Lu Yun laughed dryly: “I don’t understand swordwork anyway. If this sword has spirit, it should have been crying tears of pain long ago.”

Wei Zizhuang snorted and received it with both hands. Immediately feeling the long sword’s weight, he saw “Cloud Dream Marsh” was entirely black-brown like a piece of black wood. He nodded: “Remarkable—really not an ordinary thing.” He slowly drew the sword blade. When the sword left the sheath only halfway, he heard continuous humming sounds. Wei Zizhuang’s heart turned cold as he said in shock: “It… it’s sensing my internal energy!”

Lu Yun had been playing with this sword these days and knew its mysteries. He immediately smiled: “The frightening part is still ahead. Draw the sword out.”

Wei Zizhuang dared not be negligent and immediately drew the sword from its sheath. Suddenly the hall became brilliant with flowing water light, as if a large pond had appeared in the room, leaving Wei Zizhuang dumbstruck.

Although Wei Zizhuang wasn’t a great sword expert, he had practiced Wudang’s Two Extremes Sword Method and had some accomplishments in swordwork. He had never seen such a strange weapon and couldn’t help exclaiming: “This light is so strange—what’s happening?”

Lu Yun took the long sword and placed it on the table. Slowly the light faded and it became an unremarkable gray, dull piece of raw iron.

Wei Zizhuang was even more puzzled but couldn’t guess. He wanted to ask Lu Yun but saw this pedantic scholar smiling without speaking. Wei Zizhuang knew he was being mysterious and whetting his appetite. He immediately said hatefully: “Alright, let’s go to the Marquis’s house first—any later and we’ll be late.” He hung “Cloud Dream Marsh” at his waist and glanced sideways at Lu Yun, cursing: “If you don’t explain this sword clearly to me, I’ll never return it!”

Lu Yun laughed heartily and locked the room door. Before leaving, he suddenly saw the wordless book still on the windowsill. Lu Yun thought: “I don’t know who lost this at my place—could it be Dingyuan? I might as well ask around when there are many people later.” He immediately tucked the book into his bosom.

Lu Yun turned back to lock the door. His last glance showed sunlight illuminating the happiness characters on the wall—golden belt and red waist, festively glorious, reflecting so bright and eye-catching that the image lingered in his eyes for a long time.

Walking toward the Liu mansion together, both were chatting and laughing. Wei Zizhuang was an old hand in the martial world—if he really wanted to entertain someone, he could naturally perform, teach, tease, and sing everything. Lu Yun also gained considerable knowledge.

As they walked, they suddenly saw a horse carriage approaching on the road ahead, surrounded by some men dressed as scholars. On the carriage sat a dignified elderly man who looked very familiar. Lu Yun looked several times and suddenly recognized him, saying quietly: “Isn’t this Duke Qiong?”

Wei Zizhuang smiled: “Magistrate has good eyes—exactly Duke Qiong.”

Lu Yun saw no avoidance or respectful signs around, nor officials or soldiers, and couldn’t help being somewhat surprised: “How does imperial royalty go out without sedan chairs and ceremonial processions?”

Wei Zizhuang sighed: “I heard the Marquis say this Duke Qiong isn’t what he used to be. After Consort Qiong caused trouble last time and then disappeared without trace, the Empress Dowager angrily had all the ceremonial processions around the Duke removed. Look—the people around him are all disciples of Purple Cloud Pavilion, not even one official.”

Duke Qiong was Qiong Wuchuan—a descendant of meritorious officials who founded the study Purple Cloud Pavilion and was father to the late Wuying Emperor’s favorite consort, always trusted by the Empress Dowager. But the Eastern Depot disaster the year before implicated Consort Qiong, unexpectedly harming her own father.

Lu Yun saw another fair-skinned youth beside Duke Qiong, thirteen or fourteen years old, wearing purple shirt and robe with a purple headband—noble bearing with a touch of handsomeness. He couldn’t help being curious: “This boy is quite pretty—who is he?”

Wei Zizhuang laughed: “What boy? Brother, your eye for women is really terrible. This child is called Qiong Fang—Duke Qiong’s granddaughter. Because grandfather raises her as a boy, she always dresses as a man.”

Lu Yun was amazed—such hen-ruling-the-roost affairs he had only seen in books, never expecting to see with his own eyes. He couldn’t help widening his eyes.

That young girl had clear eyes with distinct black and white pupils. Sitting upright in the carriage, though only a girl’s age, she was old-fashioned and serious. Seeing Lu Yun staring at her, she returned a smile. The sunlight flashed, making the purple headband even more eye-catching.

Lu Yun’s mind stirred slightly—he had remembered. Several years ago when he and Wu Dingyuan were being pursued and fled desperately to the capital, they had encountered Purple Cloud Pavilion disciples at an inn. At that time a young girl repeatedly teased the Huashan Twin Monsters—presumably it was this pretty girl disguised as a man.

Their eyes met for only an instant before the carriage procession passed. Lu Yun asked: “Is Duke Qiong coming to tonight’s banquet too?”

Wei Zizhuang smiled: “That’s for the day after tomorrow’s great banquet. Today we have a family feast—only inviting our own people.”

Lu Yun made a sound of understanding and was about to speak when he saw great dust rising behind them. Duke Qiong’s carriage moved slowly, blocking the road. A long line of carriages urgently crowded up behind with strange cries one after another—ox-pulled four-wheel carts, mule-dragged high-chair carts, man-pushed two-wheel carts, peddlers and runners all rushed up in a mass, creating an uproar that made Lu Yun dizzy.

After a while the road gradually cleared, and Lu and Wei exchanged glances before leaving one after the other.

Reaching Wangfu Alley, they were near the Liu gate. Servants had hung lanterns and decorations, the entrance was crowded with vehicles and horses. Zuo Congyi and others had already arrived—the Grand Commander’s mansion was as usual, still noble and imposing.

At the entrance, Zuo Congyi waved and smiled: “Isn’t this Magistrate Lu? You’re the last one to arrive. You should be fined two cups.”

Wei Zizhuang quickly stepped forward with a smile: “What kind of talk is that? The man was injured at Shaolin—what a meritorious deed. Yet you want to fine him.”

Zuo Congyi laughed: “Fine for not drinking is the same as drinking a toast—no difference.”

Wei Zizhuang spat but didn’t respond.

While everyone was talking and laughing, Lu Yun fell behind. He saw several servants lined up at the gate, all waiting for him to enter.

Lu Yun fanned himself with his hand—the sun was a bit hot, his official robes were thick, and he was sweating. He yawned and slowly stepped through the gate. Before entering, he took one last look back—today in the capital, blue sky and white clouds, young girls playing happily across the street. This moment was so peaceful and serene it unconsciously brought a smile to his lips.

Bang.

Finally, the Liu family’s great gate closed. What remained before his eyes was only a stretch of blood red—that was the color of the great gate.