Les Belles Recap, Plot, Synopsis

Les Belles Synopsis

Both prideful individuals gradually develop feelings for each other, but neither is willing to admit it first. At this time, the "refugee incident" erupts, intensifying the conflict between the noble families and commoners at the court. To promote equality between the two classes, Lu Yun risks his life to investigate the issue. During her efforts to help him, Luo Lingyu realizes that a woman's fate should not rely on marriage or dependence on a man, but rather on striving to fulfill her own potential.

She rises above the competition and earns the title of "Flower Goddess," opening her own flower business and creating a career for herself. At the same time, she helps Lu Yun resolve numerous crises and clears up his misunderstanding of her. Through her independence, strength, righteousness, and bravery, she wins Lu Yun's love and respect. Together, they face their challenges and ultimately find happiness.

Les Belles Recap

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Luo Lingyu's family, the Luo family of Jingyang, has always been a prestigious family in the city. Especially the orphaned daughter, Luo Lingyu, who, at a young age, was already known for her beauty. Her looks were so captivating that people from a hundred miles around came to the Luo residence on the day of her Flower Letter Ceremony just to catch a glimpse of her. As a noblewoman, Luo Lingyu was not content to be just a beautiful figurehead.

Although she had inherited vast family wealth after her parents passed away, according to the laws of the time, this wealth was under the management of the government until she married. Only after her marriage would she regain control of her family fortune. So, she didn’t oppose marriage, but she had one condition: she would only marry a man who would be willing to join the Luo family, in order to help restore the once-thriving Luo family.

After the Flower Letter Ceremony, Luo Lingyu was supposed to visit her uncle and aunt. Sitting in the palanquin, she saw the excited crowd of admirers eager to see her and the gifts in their hands. Luo Lingyu smiled brightly. Among all the precious gifts, she chose the least valuable one—a wooden bracelet given to her by a young girl from a temple who had prayed for her safety.

As the palanquin made its way down the road, her younger sister, Hua’er, asked in confusion why Luo Lingyu had not chosen the East Sea tribute pearls, which were extremely valuable and of course, worth far more than the simple bracelet. Luo Lingyu patiently explained to her sister, “If I had chosen the expensive tribute pearls, people would think I am greedy for money, and in the future, I would be looked down upon.

The pearls, no matter how valuable, still have a price, but this bracelet is different. It’s not just a gift, it’s the sincere intention of a little girl. The gift may be small, but the sentiment behind it is priceless. ”When Luo Lingyu arrived at her uncle's house, the entrance was already piled with gift boxes tied with red ribbons. Fan Qingchen, the man her parents had promised her to since childhood, had come again.

Every year on her birthday, this man would visit her, and now, after the Flower Letter Ceremony, he could hardly wait to bring the marriage gifts, preparing to marry her. Luo Lingyu’s parents had passed away, and her uncle was now the one to arrange the marriage. Her uncle and aunt were clearly money-minded, grinning widely as they looked at the generous dowry. Luo Lingyu knew there was no avoiding this marriage, but suddenly, an idea struck her.

When it came time to sign the betrothal agreement, she deliberately asked her uncle if they would give her the jewelry her mother had previously sent. Her aunt, eager to take the dowry for herself, immediately fetched an expensive set of headpieces from the guest room. After Luo Lingyu inspected them, she signed the betrothal agreement.

Her uncle and aunt, seeing that the document was signed, couldn't wait for the ink to dry and quickly handed it over to Fan Qingchen, as though the matter was already settled. Back at home, Luo Lingyu, along with her maid and sister, had already made plans to escape the marriage. She brought out a map she had prepared in advance and discussed with her maid, Lingxi, about the need to prepare a boat at a certain location.

She would escape from Fan Qingchen’s residence. They packed their gold, silver, and other valuables, as well as provisions, and made plans to carry out the escape the following day. That night was destined to be sleepless. In addition to Luo Lingyu, Lu Yun was also busy with his subordinates planning to capture the northern Chujian people’s hideout. They had already discovered that the northern Chujian people were hiding in Fan Qingchen’s residence.

The guards were strict, and there was no opportunity to search the place. However, Lu Yun learned that Fan Qingchen was going to marry the next day, which was perfect timing for him. He could take advantage of the chaos to search for the northern Chujian people. Lu Yun and his guards quietly entered Luo Lingyu’s courtyard, hiding inside the gift boxes that were to be delivered to Fan Qingchen’s house the next day.

The next day, everything proceeded according to plan. Luo Lingyu and her younger sister climbed over the wall and saw several horses tied up at the entrance. She quickly chose a strong, well-fed horse and rode off, thinking that Lingxi had a keen eye for horses. In reality, it was Lu Yun who had prepared the horse for her.

Lingxi was anxiously waiting by the dock. They were already an hour late from the scheduled time, and she had no idea how Miss Luo was doing. Lingxi was beside herself with worry. Fortunately, the horse was strong and managed to reach the dock with great effort. Because Luo Lingyu was so stunningly beautiful and was also dressed in her wedding gown, the boatman quickly recognized her. Fearing trouble from Fan Qingchen, he hurriedly pushed the boat away and fled.

Before leaving, he even returned the silver Lingxi had just paid. Seeing that Fan Qingchen's servants were almost upon them, Luo Lingyu was determined to escape her marriage. She immediately grabbed Lingxi and her sister and ran. Just as they were rushing, they encountered a handsome scholar. Upon seeing their panic, the scholar immediately understood what was happening and helped them flee. To divert the pursuers, the scholar even put on Luo Lingyu's wedding gown.

When the servants saw the bright red gown, they quickly followed after him. Meanwhile, Luo Lingyu, holding the jade pendant the scholar had given her earlier, boarded a boat and successfully escaped. Fan Qingchen's family, being a powerful household, split their forces into two. One group chased after Lu Yun, while the other pursued Luo Lingyu. Since Luo Lingyu had taken the horse Fan Qingchen had prepared, Lu Yun faced numerous difficulties.

His horse was slow, and after being pursued for a long time, he was eventually shot by an arrow. In his dazed state, he fell off a cliff, and his fate was uncertain. Upon hearing the news, Fan Qingchen slammed the table in anger, blaming his subordinates for their incompetence as they hadn’t captured anyone. Hearing that Luo Lingyu’s aunt was still waiting, he immediately went to meet her.

Luo Lingyu’s aunt, knowing that Luo Lingyu had escaped, quickly returned the dowry money she had received earlier. However, Fan Qingchen smiled and refused the money, saying that he and Luo Lingyu had already become husband and wife in a way, and now she was considered a part of the Fan family. Fan Qingchen had his own plans. With Luo Lingyu's unparalleled beauty, how could he throw away such a prize? His family didn’t lack money.

He then asked Luo Lingyu’s aunt if she knew where she might have gone. The aunt guessed that she might be heading to Yuezhou, where there was another relative. As it turned out, just as her aunt had guessed, Luo Lingyu was indeed on her way to Yuezhou. There, she had a kind aunt who had treated them well when their father was still alive.

Luo Lingyu wasn’t sure if the aunt would still remember her kindness, but for now, she decided to go there to find a place to stay. Her sister hadn’t eaten for several meals and was starving. She couldn’t swallow the flatbread the boatman had given her. Luo Lingyu decided to try fishing and make some fish soup for her sister.

After a few tugs, it seemed that she had caught a big fish, but when she tried to pull it in, it turned out to be a person. To her surprise, the person had arrows in his body, wore a night outfit, and a mask. Clearly, he wasn’t someone with good intentions. Luo Lingyu, already on the run, didn’t want to take in a mysterious stranger.

Her sister, however, couldn’t bear to leave him, and persuaded Luo Lingyu to show compassion. She reminded her that when their father fought in battles, if someone had come to help in time, he wouldn’t have died. Luo Lingyu, moved by her sister’s words, quickly called Lingxi to help pull the stranger onto the boat. The man wore a mask, and Luo Lingyu didn’t want to get involved, so she didn’t try to remove it.

Since there were no doctors or medicine on board, Luo Lingyu herself took out the arrowhead from his wound and used the last bottle of healing ointment her father had left them to treat his injury. Every day, Luo Lingyu would bring a meal for the injured man. He wore a mask, so she couldn’t tell who he was. In fact, this person was Lu Yun, who had fallen off the cliff.

Fortunately, he had landed in the river, and his strong swimming skills helped him survive. Seeing the red wedding gown Luo Lingyu had left on the table, he immediately recognized it as the one who had stolen his horse. If his horse hadn’t been swapped, he would have escaped by now. But now, heavily injured, he had no choice but to hold his tongue and focus on healing. The boat was nearing the shore, and Yuezhou was almost in sight. After several days of rest, Lu Yun’s injury had mostly healed. To avoid suspicion, Luo Lingyu asked Lu Yun to disembark early and swim ashore.

Luo Lingyu still remembered her aunt, the kind English aunt, from her childhood. Back then, the aunt would often hold her and play with her. But after so many years of separation, Luo Lingyu figured that the aunt might have forgotten about her. Now, in her desperate escape from marriage, Luo Lingyu had no choice but to rely on this aunt for shelter.

When they arrived at the Lu family’s residence, Luo Lingyu and her sister were left speechless by the grand and spacious courtyard. They had never seen such wealth and luxury before. Fortunately, this English aunt was easygoing. Upon hearing their names and seeing the two relatives, both tearful and in need, she kindly settled them in for the time being. Her younger sister asked Luo Lingyu about her future plans, but Luo Lingyu had no specific plans.

For now, she could only take things one step at a time. If she met someone she liked at the Lu family, perhaps she could marry him and bring him back to help her regain her family’s fortune. With this thought, Luo Lingyu became eager and decided to investigate the Lu family’s sons. According to the English aunt, there were many young men in the Lu family, but fewer women.

Luo Lingyu was secretly pleased to hear this, as it meant she still had a chance. She paid close attention to the Lu family’s sons. The most impressive was Erlang Jun, Lu Xian. He was handsome, well-educated, and well-mannered. However, the third son, Lu Yun, was a born bastard, his mother had passed away early, and he had no one to rely on. Although he had a very handsome appearance, he was notorious for his flirtations and scandals.

Luo Lingyu carefully analyzed the situation. Erlang Jun was the Lu family’s pride and joy, so it would be difficult to convince him to marry into her family. However, Lu Yun had no one to control him, and it seemed that he was more likely to fall under her charms. Luo Lingyu decided to focus her attention on the third son. The next day, Luo Lingyu went with her English aunt to appreciate the flowers.

There, they happened to meet the matriarch of the Lu family. The old lady was plump, kind-hearted, and spoke very pleasantly. She was quite pleased to meet Luo Lingyu. That evening, Lu Yun heard from his subordinates that there would be a banquet and that a young lady from afar was visiting the Lu family. When he heard where she was from, he became very curious.

Was she the same girl he had encountered on the boat a few days ago? Intrigued, he decided to attend the banquet. What a coincidence—at the Lu family, he encountered the very person who had locked him in the cabin during their earlier meeting. Remembering how, in such heavy rain, Luo Lingyu had kept him locked outside in the downpour while he was severely injured, Lu Yun felt both angry and resentful.

It was also because of her that he had fallen off the cliff and nearly lost his life. At the banquet, Lu Yun deliberately asked Luo Lingyu if she truly didn’t remember him. When she shook her head, he handed her the fish soup he had been holding. Luo Lingyu was puzzled by his actions.

She never expected that the seemingly refined young man in front of her was the same man who had fallen into the water a few days ago, drenched and in a pitiful state. That night, Lingxi, the maid, and Luo Lingyu’s sister had gathered all the details about the Lu family’s sons. They all agreed that the second son seemed to be the most suitable candidate. He was adored by everyone, loved by all, and his family was wealthy.

With a bit more effort to pass the exams, he would undoubtedly secure an official position and have a bright future. However, Luo Lingyu shook her head. At the banquet, the second son’s mother had specifically instructed him to sit across from Luo Lingyu, clearly trying to keep them apart. Moreover, from the way the second son’s mother looked, she seemed to be quite a harsh and demanding woman, which could lead to a difficult mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship.

After careful consideration, Luo Lingyu decided that the third son, Lu Yun, was the most suitable. For this reason, Luo Lingyu even wrote a list of criteria for selecting her husband, one by one. The first and most important condition was that he had to be handsome. Although she didn’t mind whether he was fond of chasing women, it was important that he be good-looking, since they would be spending a lot of time together.

Luo Lingyu, being intelligent, took the time to check the residences of the various sons. Wanting to be close to her target, she decided to prepare some pastries to please the old lady. Then, she casually suggested that she might need a place to stay, hoping to secure a residence closer to Lu Yun’s quarters.

Luo Lingyu spent the early morning wandering around Lu Yun’s residence. She had brought a map with her, planning to pick out a perfect spot for a romantic tryst—somewhere close to Lu Yun’s quarters and with a serene environment. However, Luo Lingyu’s subtle intentions didn’t go unnoticed by others. Some young women, secretly infatuated with Lu Yun, began to grow jealous and kept a watchful eye on where she might choose to set up her spot.

But Luo Lingyu, being someone who had seen much of the world, was undeterred. The more they tried to compete for his attention, the stronger her resolve became. She feigned ignorance and successfully fooled these women. By chance, Lu Yun overheard the conversation between Luo Lingyu and the other women and realized that she had deep plans. He decided to deliberately make things difficult for her. Approaching her, he claimed that he would help her choose the best courtyard.

But in reality, he was leading her further away from her intended spot. Fortunately, Luo Lingyu was quick-witted. She used a butterfly as a distraction, pretending to chase it, and in the process, returned to the original spot. There, she discovered a courtyard called Xuewu Yuan and immediately decided that it would be her new residence. Despite Lu Yun’s small trick to ruin her appearance by making her makeup smudge, hoping she would back out, Luo Lingyu remained resolute.

She reported to the matriarch, declaring her intention to live in Xuewu Yuan. The matriarch, though disappointed by the poor condition of the place—dilapidated and overrun with insects—reluctantly agreed after Luo Lingyu insisted she didn’t mind. When the maidservants opened the door to the courtyard, Luo Lingyu and her sister were stunned. What the matriarch had said was true—this place was indeed in bad shape, with no decent furniture to be found.

However, since she had already made her decision, Luo Lingyu chose to put the greater good first. She rallied the maidservants and began tidying up the courtyard. Meanwhile, the other young women, knowing that Luo Lingyu had chosen Xuewu Yuan, were furious and decided to take action. They sent over some old, unused furniture to the courtyard, hoping to make things more difficult for her. When Luo Lingyu saw all the broken items, she quickly understood their intentions.

She comforted her sister and assured her that there was no need to worry. She selected a small vase from the pile of junk and placed flowers she had just picked inside, instantly transforming the scene into a lovely little arrangement. Everyone’s spirits were lifted. There was no bed, but Luo Lingyu used this to her advantage.

She went to a neighboring courtyard to borrow some tools, and with each trip, she dressed up anew—one time inserting a pink rose by her hair, the next time a white rose, each time adding a fresh touch. Lu Yun noticed her persistence. He had never thought highly of her, but as he watched her tirelessly knock on the door, trying so hard to be accommodating, he found it amusing.

However, after dozens of interruptions, he started to feel some dread, even hearing her knocks in his dreams. Unable to bear it any longer, Lu Yun gave his subordinates orders. He planned to have Jin Chuan dress up as a ghost and scare the women, knowing that women were terrified of ghosts. He thought that after tonight’s scare, Luo Lingyu would never dare to disturb him again. Jin Chuan wrapped himself in a white cloth, and initially, it worked.

The women screamed in terror, but Luo Lingyu’s sister was oblivious to the trick and started playing with the “ghost. ” Luo Lingyu quickly figured out it was Lu Yun’s scheme and decided to turn the tables on him. She hurriedly knocked on the door of the opposite courtyard, claiming she needed to protect Lu Yun from the ghosts. At that moment, Lu Yun was applying medicine to his wounds, his upper body exposed.

Luo Lingyu felt her heart race and her cheeks flush. She left quickly, feeling flustered. That night, Lu Yun decided to change his approach. He realized that confronting Luo Lingyu head-on only fueled her determination. Instead, he opted for a more subtle strategy, letting the situation play out and responding in kind. The next morning, Luo Lingyu returned to his residence, this time bringing him a delicate folding fan.

Lu Yun happily accepted the gift, and after she left, Jin Chuan asked what kind of return gift should be given. Lu Yun casually instructed him to send over something inexpensive. Jin Chuan, being straightforward, ended up giving the original sketches of Lu Yun’s latest painting to the neighbors.

Jin Chuan delivered the painting to Luo Lingyu, which was painted by Lu Yun himself. It depicted a sparkling river with a woman dressed in white, fishing alone. The boat’s graceful lines mirrored the woman’s tranquil demeanor. The entire painting felt like a natural masterpiece, which delighted Luo Lingyu. It seemed that Lu Yun still had her in his heart. When Lu Yun heard that one of his paintings had been given to Luo Lingyu, he was furious.

He had specifically instructed his subordinates to choose something inexpensive, yet they had selected the painting. Luo Lingyu misunderstood Lu Yun’s feelings and began to think about her next steps. If she wanted to stay at the Lu residence long-term, she needed a careful plan. She realized that moving into Xuewu Yuan had upset many of the young women, so she decided to put some effort into improving her relationship with the Lu family’s sisters.

She called her sister and Lingxi to make several artificial flowers. The next time she saw the other young women, she planned to give them these flowers as gifts. Although he was not the eldest son of the Lu family, Lu Yun naturally attracted countless admirers because of his elegant demeanor. Luo Lingyu wanted to earn some pocket money, so she put some thought into her own courtyard.

When she heard that many of the young women had arrived at her door, she opened it to greet them and invited them into the courtyard. She explained that her courtyard had three levels of seating, each priced based on the proximity to Lu Yun's position. The closest seats cost three hundred coins, the next ones cost two hundred, and the farthest ones only cost one hundred. With this pricing system, everyone chose what they could afford.

Luo Lingyu had Lingxi provide free fruit and flower tea, making it a very profitable arrangement. Lu Yun’s courtyard was usually quite peaceful, but this time, the noise started in the morning and continued until nightfall. He called Jin Chuan to see what was going on. Jin Chuan reported that women were gathered all around outside the windows. Lu Yun, curious, lifted the curtain and saw that it was true.

It seemed Luo Lingyu was scheming again, using his charm to make money without his consent. It was shameless, but Lu Yun seemed to have no choice but to accept the situation. Among the many admirers, there was one with a sharp mind who could not tolerate Luo Lingyu’s attention-seeking behavior. This person secretly reported what Luo Lingyu had been doing to the head matriarch. Soon, the matriarch arrived with a servant and knocked on Luo Lingyu’s door.

All the young women jumped up in fear when they saw the matriarch. The matriarch was furious when she saw how the young women were acting without decorum. She berated them for not learning proper conduct and publicly humiliated Luo Lingyu. Luo Lingyu had long been prepared. She pretended to know that the matriarch liked orchids, as their elegance resembled the matriarch herself.

She also claimed that she had taught the other young women how to make silk flowers, and when they grew tired of making them, they took a break and looked out to relax. Luo Lingyu feigned looking like a delicate, rain-soaked pear blossom, as if she had been deeply wronged. The matriarch was half-convinced, but without solid evidence, she could only admonish them briefly before leaving.

Later that day, the money Luo Lingyu earned from the young women was used to buy bouquets and a beautiful folding screen. She decorated a pavilion with fresh flowers and exquisite ornaments, hoping that in such an ambiguous environment, she would be able to pursue Lu Yun. She invited him to come visit her that evening. As promised, Lu Yun arrived. Luo Lingyu had already dressed up and was sitting quietly.

When she heard her maid’s reminder, she quickly fixed her hair. Luo Lingyu knew very well that her profile was particularly charming, so she made sure to present her best side to Lu Yun. As Lu Yun became captivated by her beauty, he reminded himself not to be swayed by her looks. He deliberately moved closer to her, their faces less than ten centimeters apart, but Luo Lingyu showed no intention of pulling away.

Unable to resist, Lu Yun whispered in her ear, accusing her of "seducing him with her beauty. " In that era, such a remark was likely the greatest insult, and Luo Lingyu, in reflex, slapped him hard across the face. She then stormed off angrily. Lu Yun had been scheduled to meet with Prince Chang Yi that evening to share some recent investigative findings.

But after receiving a slap and with a red mark on his face, he was left speechless. Prince Chang Yi, hearing about the incident, couldn’t help but laugh. It was clear that Luo Lingyu had acted impulsively. After returning to her residence, she regretted her actions more and more and, feeling helpless, decided to go back and apologize to Lu Yun.

King Hengyang had just returned victorious when he was suddenly ambushed on his way back at night. The assassins came at him fiercely, aiming to take his life with deadly precision. It seemed they were determined to kill him. Fortunately, the rescue arrived in time, and after all the assassins were eliminated, King Hengyang ordered a search for their identities. However, these men had come well-prepared: they carried no identifying items, not even poison to silence them.

King Hengyang was puzzled. His only confidant about his movements was Lu Yun, so how could anyone else have known his route? He began to suspect that the leak had come from Lu Yun. Luo Lingyu had returned again, apologizing in a roundabout manner and hoping Lu Yun could overlook her earlier actions. Lu Yun was talking with the prince when he saw her approach, and immediately signaled for the prince to hide.

He stepped out and mocked Luo Lingyu, accusing her of returning with ulterior motives. At this point, Luo Lingyu, once again acting the part of the wronged woman, claimed her earlier actions were unintentional and that she regretted hurting him. Lu Yun was both angry and amused. He pointed to the red mark on his face and asked her if she had forgotten about it.

Luo Lingyu had thought that after apologizing, he would let it go, but little did she know, returning again only led to her own humiliation. As Luo Lingyu looked into the pavilion behind him, she noticed another unfamiliar face, and seeing Lu Yun trying to conceal something, she guessed that he had a secret. Wanting to make amends, she offered to help keep his secret, but it seemed that he was growing more wary of her.

Feeling disheartened, Luo Lingyu turned to leave but got her foot stuck in the mud, unable to move. Lu Yun deliberately watched without intervening. Enraged, Luo Lingyu pulled her foot out of her shoe and sulkily walked off. On her way back, she walked barefoot along the rugged path, feeling very uncomfortable. Luckily, she ran into Liu Tang, who, being simple-hearted, didn’t make fun of her and accompanied her back.

Late at night, Luo Lingyu began to think about her future path. She was eager to use a marriage alliance to regain the property that belonged to the Luo family, but it seemed that her efforts had been futile. Forcing things would not lead to good results. Luo Lingyu was not one to stubbornly push ahead, so she quickly decided to change her goal.

After discussing with King Chang Yi, Lu Yun learned that the king had failed to meet Zhou Yangling when he went to pick her up. He had sent a boat to bring her, but she seemed to have gone missing. Lu Yun was not in favor of King Chang Yi’s approach of trying to form a connection with a noble family through marriage and advised him to reconsider his plans carefully.

King Chang Yi, however, was still intent on finding Zhou Yangling. He had portraits made of her and posted them in busy public areas. As fate would have it, Zhou Yangling passed by one of these notices. Though there was some resemblance, she was disguised as a man, so no one recognized her, not even King Chang Yi. Zhou Yangling saw that Fan’s residence was recruiting teaching assistants, so she decided to apply, hoping to find a place to stay.

As luck would have it, she ran into Luo Lingyu, who was on her way to meet Lu Xian. Luo Lingyu had been helped by Zhou Yangling before, so their unexpected meeting in a foreign land made them naturally close. Luo Lingyu even volunteered to guide her. Originally, Luo Lingyu had planned to meet Lu Xian, but to her surprise, Lu Yun was there as well.

Seeing that Luo Lingyu had brought along another handsome man, Lu Yun immediately assumed that she was once again scheming to have one of her accomplices infiltrate Fan’s residence. His dislike for Luo Lingyu deepened. However, when Lu Xian heard Zhou Yangling’s name, he was delighted. He had heard that Zhou Yangling’s literary talents were exceptional, ranking among the best of young scholars. He quickly decided to offer her the position.

As Lu Xian took Zhou Yangling to familiarize her with her new duties, Luo Lingyu and Lu Yun began to bicker again. Lu Yun found Luo Lingyu to be clever, cunning, and deeply calculating, while Luo Lingyu was also no fan of Lu Yun. She thought he was arrogant and incredibly annoying. After seeing Luo Lingyu and Zhou Yangling leave, Lu Xian turned to Lu Yun and scolded him for not being ambitious.

He reminded him that a man’s proper path was to pass the imperial exams and pursue an official career. Lu Xian, who had long been frail and unable to fight on the battlefield, often worried about his younger brother and hoped he could enter the government. Lu Yun casually dismissed this advice, claiming he had no interest in the exams, brushing off his youthful vows as nothing more than a naïve promise from when he was young.

Fan Qingchen had arrived in Yuezhou, still with business to attend to, but he couldn’t stop thinking about Luo Lingyu. He had his servants look for her, and by coincidence, he encountered her while she was out shopping for cloth, along with her maid, Lingxi. They met in the street.

Fan Qingchen happened to run into Luo Lingyu on the street, which was a complete surprise to her. She tried to remain calm and openly confessed that she was looking for a husband who would be willing to marry into her family. If he agreed, she would immediately return with him.

Fan Qingchen sincerely promised that he would treat her well in the future, but reminded her that the Fan family in Shuozhou was a prestigious family, and marrying into it would bring much public gossip. Since she did not want to be married off, Luo Lingyu decided to lay her cards on the table. However, Fan Qingchen stubbornly grabbed her wrist and reminded her that once they had exchanged vows, she was now considered a daughter-in-law of the Fan family.

He tried to forcefully take her with him, but just then, Lingxi ran over, grabbed Luo Lingyu's hand, and helped her escape. Lu Yun and Jin Chuan were nearby, observing in secret. They realized that Luo Lingyu and Fan Qingchen were not in cahoots and learned that she had indeed fled a forced marriage. With this, they decided to offer their assistance. Soon, Fan Qingchen caught up with Luo Lingyu and Lingxi.

Lu Yun pulled Luo Lingyu aside and warned Fan Qingchen that they were not in Shuozhou and that he should behave properly and not force anyone against their will. He then took Luo Lingyu and Lingxi with him and left. In the carriage, Lu Yun asked her in confusion why she had rejected the wealthy Fan family. Luo Lingyu, grateful for his help earlier, honestly explained the reason for refusing the marriage.

This cleared up the doubts in Lu Yun's mind. He had been cautious of her background and identity, but if she was just trying to escape an unwanted marriage, it was more understandable and forgivable. Back in her courtyard, Lingxi showed Luo Lingyu a box of clothes that Jin Chuan had sent. The box contained fine satin fabrics, and Luo Lingyu had wanted to buy such cloth earlier that day but had been short on money.

Now, someone had sent them to her. Luo Lingyu was confused about Lu Yun's intentions. She had already warned him in the carriage not to judge her through colored glasses or with pitying eyes. At that time, Lu Yun had resumed his mocking tone, so it was strange that now he was sending her gifts. Jin Chuan excitedly informed Lu Yun that he had delivered the fabrics and jewelry to Luo Lingyu’s courtyard. Lu Yun was very surprised.

These items were originally meant for his aunt, so why had Jin Chuan sent them to Luo Lingyu's courtyard without permission? Jin Chuan, however, felt that Lu Yun was being stubborn. He believed that Lu Yun had feelings for women but refused to admit it. Luo Lingyu went through the clothes and fabrics in the box, and thinking about the events earlier that day, she began to feel that Fan Qingchen was very meticulous.

Although Lu Yun had helped her out of a tight spot, Fan Qingchen would not give up easily. She feared that the next day, she would be forced into marriage again. Sure enough, early the next morning, a servant rushed to report that someone at the gate claimed to be Luo Lingyu's husband and was planning to take her back to Shuozhou. Fan Qingchen was very crafty.

He deliberately made a scene at the gate of the Lu residence, claiming that he had already married Luo Lingyu and that he was there to bring his wife back. Luo Lingyu watched helplessly as he continued to play the role of a loving husband, garnering sympathy from passersby. She had no choice but to brace herself for a battle of wits with him. The matriarch of the Lu family stepped in to mediate.

Fan Qingchen presented the marriage certificate for everyone to see, but luckily, Luo Lingyu had been cautious. She had asked Lingxi to find cuttlefish ink, which, when fresh, could be seen clearly, but would fade over time. So, the evidence Fan Qingchen had was already gone. To protect Luo Lingyu, Liu Tang revealed her hidden identity. It turned out she was none other than Princess Ningping of Nanyuezhou, a woman of high rank.

With the princess’s support, the matriarch stood by Luo Lingyu, and Fan Qingchen had no choice but to leave in defeat. After Fan Qingchen left, some of the people who had been waiting to see Luo Lingyu’s downfall felt that Liu Tang should not have revealed her identity. Now, with an unyielding fiancé from Shuozhou in the picture, everyone silently watched, curious to see how things would unfold.

A few days later, Fan Qingchen once again visited the Lu residence. Lu Yun was preparing to drive him away when, at that very moment, the Prince of Hengyang arrived. Lu Yun and the prince had been close friends years ago, and after several years, they unexpectedly met again. Lu Yun was greatly surprised and immediately stepped forward to greet him with cupped hands.

Fan Qingchen, hearing Lu Yun refer to the man as the Prince of Hengyang, wanted to ask the prince to intervene and mediate the situation. However, the prince did not give him the face he expected and followed Lu Yun into the Lu residence instead.

Luo Lingyu, who was nearby, saw how respectful Lu Yun was toward the visitor, and since Fan Qingchen was also being very polite, she guessed that the prince must be a person of great power and influence. If she could align herself with him, it seemed likely that Fan Qingchen would no longer dare to cause trouble for her. With this in mind, Luo Lingyu began to think hard about how she could get close to the Prince of Hengyang.

Yinchuan was brewing tea outside the pavilion where Lu Yun and the Prince of Hengyang were talking. Luo Lingyu excused herself, saying that she wanted to brew tea in gratitude for the ornaments Lu Yun had given her the day before. Yinchuan kindly stepped aside to give her space.

The Prince of Hengyang had come to test whether Lu Yun had revealed his plans to anyone, but since Lu Yun did not confirm this, his mood lightened, and he began to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery around the pavilion. It was a warm April day, with gentle winds and the scent of tea filling the air. The Prince quickly noticed the woman brewing tea, and since Luo Lingyu was naturally beautiful, she instantly captured his attention.

Lu Yun also noticed Luo Lingyu. As peach blossoms fluttered down from a tree, Luo Lingyu, surrounded by falling petals, appeared even more graceful. Lu Yun wondered why she was brewing tea, but the Prince of Hengyang, already captivated, was completely absorbed in watching her. Lu Yun then called for Luo Lingyu to come over and serve them. Luo Lingyu tried her best to act gracefully and gently.

Lu Yun had originally intended to introduce her and Fan Qingchen’s relationship to the prince, but Luo Lingyu quickly found an excuse to deflect, realizing that staying any longer would raise Lu Yun's suspicions. She thanked them and left in a hurry. Meanwhile, Luo Lingyu’s younger sister had gotten into an argument with one of the young men of the Lu family. Lu Xian rushed to mediate, but the two children accidentally knocked him into the lotus pond.

Fortunately, Luo Lingyu arrived just in time. Without hesitation, she jumped into the water and saved the non-swimmer, Lu Xian. When the eldest madam heard that her son had fallen into the water, she was extremely distressed. Without asking for any details, she immediately ordered Luo Lingyu to go to the ancestral hall and kneel as punishment. Luo Lingyu obediently complied.

She knew that if Lu Xian’s fall was connected to her younger sister, the Lu family would likely expel them both. So, without complaining, she went to the ancestral hall to accept her punishment. That night, a cold, rainy wind blew, and the spring chill made the night feel especially bitter. Luo Lingyu was still wearing wet clothes and was shivering from the cold.

Lu Yun, hearing Luo Lingyu’s younger sister, Hua’er, crying next door, found out the cause and couldn’t help but go to check on the situation at the ancestral hall. Luo Lingyu was kneeling without daring to move or go rest. Lu Yun, understanding her precarious situation, stayed by her side to watch over her. He remained there until Luo Lingyu fainted from a fever, at which point he quickly carried her back to his room for medical care.

When Luo Lingyu woke up, she found herself in Lu Yun’s room, with dry clothes placed at her bedside. Lu Yun had brought her some medicine and urged her to change out of her wet clothes. Though Lu Yun was usually very critical of her, today he was surprisingly considerate. Luo Lingyu, feeling grateful, changed her clothes and, after thanking him, asked if he could check on Lu Xian.

She also reminded him not to mention Hua’er’s name when Lu Xian woke up. The next morning, Lu Yun visited Lu Xian’s room. The doctor said there was no major harm, and he would wake up soon. A young woman who secretly admired Lu Xian saw this as an opportunity to get rid of Luo Lingyu. She exaggeratedly spread rumors about Luo Lingyu’s behavior in front of the eldest madam.

Lu Yun overheard and couldn’t help but clarify, but the eldest madam was clearly not going to let this go. She angrily declared that she would investigate the cause of Lu Xian’s fall into the water.

In the early morning, Luo Lingyu went to the ancestral hall. Last night, Zhou Yangling had stayed in for her and misled the eldest madam’s spies. Luo Lingyu heard the eldest madam calling for her presence and quickly splashed some water from the basin onto her clothes, pretending to have been kneeling there all night. The eldest madam questioned Luo Lingyu about Lu Xian’s fall into the water.

Since this incident involved her younger sister, Luo Lingyu seemed reluctant to speak about it. At that moment, Lu Chang, who had been playing with Hua’er, rushed in and recounted the entire event. Luo Lingyu also reported the oily substance on the pebbles, explaining that it had been intentionally placed there by the girl who was always causing trouble.

With both eyewitnesses and physical evidence, the girl who had oiled the pebbles knelt and begged for forgiveness, but she was still kicked out by the eldest madam. At first, the eldest madam had forgiven Luo Lingyu, but then another scheming woman took the opportunity to frame her. She told the eldest madam that it wasn’t Luo Lingyu who had been kneeling in the ancestral hall last night and that she had been flirting with Lu Yun.

The eldest madam, who despised women with ulterior motives, immediately ordered Luo Lingyu to be expelled from the Lu family. Lu Yun wanted to intervene, but the eldest madam was even angrier. Luo Lingyu, tears streaming down her face, begged not to implicate Hua’er, and the eldest madam agreed to this request. Outside the Lu residence, Fan Qingchen was waiting. Luo Lingyu, upon hearing Zhou Yangling’s report, was shocked.

Being expelled now would definitely play into Fan Qingchen’s hands, so she knew she couldn’t leave at this moment. She calmed herself down and thought hard about a solution. Fortunately, she still had the Prince of Hengyang as an ally, so she immediately asked Zhou Yangling to help by finding the prince.

Zhou Yangling, uncertain of what to do, followed Luo Lingyu’s instructions and told the Prince of Hengyang that it was Lu Yun who wanted him to come personally to discuss important matters. The prince was somewhat skeptical, but hearing that it was an urgent matter, he rode over. Lu Yun, contemplating how to resolve the situation, decided to ask the elderly matriarch for help.

He explained in detail how he came to know Luo Lingyu, mentioning how she had saved both him, the third young master, and Lu Xian, the second young master. Given that Luo Lingyu had saved their family twice, and that she was also the daughter of a martyr, the matriarch, moved by her background, spoke with the eldest madam to convince her to give Luo Lingyu another chance. Meanwhile, the Prince of Hengyang arrived on horseback.

Zhou Yangling deliberately pushed Fan Qingchen, who had been waiting at the gate of the Lu residence, into the prince’s path. The prince hurriedly pulled the reins to stop, but the horse was startled and began to charge. Seeing that the prince was about to be thrown off, Luo Lingyu rushed to protect him in a dramatic “heroine saving the hero” moment. The Prince of Hengyang was deeply moved, and his feelings for Luo Lingyu grew stronger.

Lu Yun, having already convinced the eldest madam and the matriarch, was just about to go outside to find Luo Lingyu when he saw her standing beside the Prince of Hengyang, looking like a bird nestled close to him. If he didn’t act quickly, it seemed likely that the prince would take her to the palace.

Lu Yun hurried over to remind Luo Lingyu that the matriarch had already agreed she could stay, and Luo Lingyu was pleasantly surprised, thinking it was her younger sister’s doing. The Prince of Hengyang was very impressed with Luo Lingyu and specifically mentioned that there would be a banquet at the palace soon, inviting all his friends and their families to attend. Luo Lingyu understood his meaning but simply nodded and smiled without saying anything.

Initially, the Prince of Hengyang had come because Lu Yun mentioned that there was something important to discuss. The prince then asked what the matter was, and Lu Yun was somewhat taken aback. Luo Lingyu immediately signaled to Lu Yun to step in and save the situation, so Lu Yun had no choice but to welcome the prince into the Lu residence.

The Prince of Hengyang was chatting with Lu Yun in a pavilion at the Lu residence when, at that moment, the Prince of Changyi also arrived. As soon as the Prince of Changyi entered the courtyard, he casually called out Lu Yun’s name. There was some tension between the two princes, and as they met, the unspoken meaning in their eyes was palpable.

The Prince of Hengyang asked if they had been involved in an assassination attempt on him late at night. Both Lu Yun and the Prince of Changyi immediately denied it, but the Prince of Hengyang, displeased, brushed his sleeves and left. Luo Lingyu, feeling grateful for Zhou Yangling's previous help, arranged a time to meet her for a small gathering. During their conversation, Luo Lingyu discovered that Zhou Yangling was actually a woman.

The two of them had already shared a bond, and this time, they began calling each other sisters. Luo Lingyu cheerfully promised that if Zhou Yangling ever faced difficulties in the future, she should not hesitate to ask for her help. In addition to Zhou Yangling, Luo Lingyu also remembered Lu Yun’s kindness.

That evening, she sent him two crab-shaped lanterns, explaining that her small courtyard was quiet, but without lights at night, it would be hard to see the path. Moreover, she had made these lanterns with her own hands. When Lu Yun saw the lanterns, marveling at how lifelike they were, with the crab claws even moving, he was thrilled.

However, he quickly asked if she had given similar lanterns to anyone else, repeatedly confirming that she had only given them to him, which finally put his mind at ease. Liu Tang came to visit Luo Lingyu at the Lu residence, and Luo Lingyu shared some recent events with her, including the Prince of Hengyang’s recent actions. Liu Tang was very surprised. In her impression, the Fifth Prince was someone who generally disliked meddling in others' affairs.

Yet this time, he had treated Luo Lingyu with such courtesy, leading her to guess that the Prince of Hengyang might be interested in Luo Lingyu. She jokingly called her “Fifth Sister-in-law. ” Luo Lingyu didn’t dare to think too highly of herself, but since she was eager to rid herself of Fan Qingchen, she asked Liu Tang about the Prince of Hengyang’s usual hobbies, hoping to find a way to facilitate things.

The Prince of Hengyang had originally invited Luo Lingyu to a welcome banquet, and after waiting eagerly, he had been in the mansion early that day. When his servants reported someone was at the gate, he hurried out to greet them, only to find it was a vendor selling apricots. The Prince of Hengyang scolded his servants for being careless in their duties.

Meanwhile, the Prince of Changyi arrived at the Lu residence to find Lu Yun, and by chance, met Zhou Yangling. At that time, Zhou Yangling was still dressed as a man. The Prince of Changyi, noticing the teaching tools in her bamboo basket, became interested and decided to join her for a lesson. Zhou Yangling had previously met the Prince of Changyi when she came to Yuezhou, and she quickly guessed his identity.

Despite his royal status, he was approachable and gentle, with a calm and humble demeanor, which made her think him to be an extraordinary person. The Prince of Changyi followed Zhou Yangling to attend a class, and that day’s lesson happened to be about identifying different grains. The Prince of Changyi had never seen leek seedlings before, and naturally, he couldn’t tell the difference between crops and weeds.

Zhou Yangling watched as he clumsily but earnestly tried to learn, with mud on his face, and found it quite amusing. Luo Lingyu went to the Prince of Hengyang's mansion to express her gratitude. The Prince had previously mentioned that he was looking for someone skilled in organizing banquets, and Luo Lingyu had offered her services, presenting some of her innovative ideas.

The Prince of Hengyang was very pleased with her suggestions and was about to invite her to join the evening banquet when, unexpectedly, Lu Yun arrived uninvited, urging Luo Lingyu to return home for dinner. The Prince of Hengyang was very displeased by Lu Yun's impromptu interruption, especially since he always seemed to be standing next to Luo Lingyu, like a rival. After attending the lesson with Zhou Yangling, the Prince of Changyi found it very beneficial.

He felt that Zhou Yangling was highly knowledgeable and had a broad perspective, developing an inexplicable fondness for her after their first meeting. He planned to attend more of her lessons in the future. Back at the Lu residence, the Prince of Hengyang was in a good mood, practicing his swordsmanship late into the night, feeling invigorated. Even his subordinates noticed that the Prince seemed fond of Luo Lingyu.

One of his strategists asked if Luo Lingyu had deliberately risked her life to save him that night, suggesting she might have done it intentionally. The Prince of Hengyang dismissed this, but secretly, he didn’t mind if it had been a well-thought-out move by Luo Lingyu. He found it possible that his own courage had caught her attention. Regardless, no other woman had ever left such a lasting impression on him.

Later that night, Fan Qingchen came to visit, claiming to report on the Fan family’s contributions on the military front. The Prince of Hengyang, however, noticed something unusual: Fan Qingchen had a “tail” following him. This person had no identifiable markings on their clothes, resembling the group that had attempted to assassinate the Prince that night.

The Prince of Hengyang was eager to know if this person was a spy sent to assassinate him, so he deliberately kept the individual alive, hoping to draw out more information. In fact, the person who had been caught that night was Zhao Yuan, a spy sent by Lu Yun.

Originally, Zhao Yuan had been tracking Fan Qingchen, but the cunning Fan Qingchen had noticed the surveillance and, taking advantage of a moment when they were not paying attention, had gone to the Prince of Hengyang's mansion late that night. Lu Yun, knowing that Zhao Yuan had been caught, was desperate to rescue him. The Prince of Changyi advised him not to act rashly, as this would only arouse suspicion from the Prince of Hengyang.

Instead, he suggested that Lu Yun stay calm and come up with a more detailed plan. Lu Yun, taking the advice to heart, realized that the Prince of Hengyang's banquet was approaching, and decided to use the opportunity to save Zhao Yuan.

Luo Lingyu had promised the Prince of Hengyang that she would organize a wonderful welcome banquet, but as she began preparations, it unexpectedly started raining. To her surprise, Lu Yun immediately volunteered to help her, saying he would assist in the effort to save his subordinates. Luo Lingyu secretly rejoiced, thinking that Lu Yun was truly helping her. Lu Yun carefully assessed the surrounding environment and devised a plan for rescue.

He instructed Yin Chuan to assist with covering their tracks outside. That evening, they infiltrated the Prince of Hengyang’s mansion. The Prince, ever cautious, had set up many small bells at the entrance. When Lu Yun pushed open the door, the bells rang loudly. The Prince of Hengyang, noticing the sound, immediately dispatched his men to guard the courtyard and search for the intruder. Meanwhile, Luo Lingyu was in a pavilion preparing fruits for the banquet the next day.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her chest and had to return to her room to rest, accompanied by Lingxi. Lu Yun had been shot in the back, and the Prince of Hengyang ordered his men to leave a live prisoner, hoping to find the mastermind. Luo Lingyu, feeling uneasy, went to the riverside for some fresh air and unexpectedly encountered a wounded man wearing a mask.

The mask looked familiar to her, like the one worn by the person who had come to Yuezhou. The gaze of the injured man seemed familiar as well, and Luo Lingyu quickly realized that this man was the same person Lu Yun had rescued from the river. She hurriedly brought Lu Yun back to her room, bandaged his wound, and began to settle old scores.

The two of them exchanged words, recalling the various incidents—how Lu Yun had sneaked into her bridal chest, stolen her horse when she tried to escape, been caught in the rain outside the boat, and had even been ordered to leave the boat and swim away. Each event tangled their fates together, and neither could clearly say who owed the other more.

Luo Lingyu realized that from the very beginning, Lu Yun had known her secret, yet he had played dumb for over half a year without exposing her. It was clear he had allowed her to save face, but now the damage was done, and she had wasted so much time. When the Prince of Hengyang captured the assassins, he immediately recognized the figure of the person behind the attack as Lu Yun.

Having grown up together, they were very familiar with each other’s silhouette. Therefore, the Prince did not strike immediately but simply sought clarification. The soldiers surrounded the house, so Lu Yun could not escape that night. He had no choice but to hide temporarily in Luo Lingyu’s room. As he gazed at Luo Lingyu, who was peacefully asleep on the other side of the curtain, Lu Yun couldn’t help but wonder about the nature of his relationship with this woman.

He became irritated whenever he saw her flirt with other men, and his heart would race every time he was near her. Upon hearing that her ultimate goal was to successfully marry and reclaim her family’s inheritance, he began to hesitate. The next morning, Luo Lingyu carefully dressed herself in front of the mirror. Lu Yun, curious, approached her and couldn’t resist mocking her for no longer bothering to put on an act now that they knew each other’s secrets.

When he saw her tinkling hairpins, he intentionally took one of the hairpins from her head. At the welcome banquet hosted for the Prince of Hengyang, every detail was meticulously arranged, reflecting Luo Lingyu’s thoughtful intentions. When the Prince of Hengyang saw Lu Yun, he deliberately patted his shoulder in a concerned manner, giving it an extra hard tap.

They shared a tacit understanding, and Lu Yun realized that the Prince was surely aware of the unexpected visitor from the previous night. Luo Lingyu, noticing the injury on Lu Yun’s shoulder, hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to ask the Prince of Hengyang to begin the banquet. Meanwhile, a crucial account ledger had been lost by the Fan family. Fan Qingchen reported the situation to his superior, who was very displeased with their family’s actions. Since Wang Yangming had resurfaced, the superior ordered Fan Qingchen to leave Yuezhou immediately.

At the banquet, the Prince of Hengyang pretended to casually ask Lu Yun where he had been the previous night. Lu Yun knew that if he lied and there were no witnesses to back him up, his story wouldn’t hold up, so he deliberately claimed that he had been admiring the moon with Luo Lingyu the night before. Luo Lingyu broke into a cold sweat upon hearing this.

She had planned to attach herself to the Prince of Hengyang, yet here Lu Yun was pulling her into the conversation. In a moment of panic, she quickly came up with an excuse, saying that she and Lu Yun had been discussing the details of the banquet. Zhou Yangling suddenly spotted King Changyi at the event venue. A few days ago, she had wondered why he hadn't handed in his assignment, so she called him over to ask.

Just then, someone nearby saluted King Changyi, and Zhou Yangling realized his true identity. Her face turned red with surprise—this was the man her father had personally chosen for her to marry. Fortunately, King Changyi didn’t recognize her as a woman disguised as a man. During the drawing game, Lu Yun had originally drawn the lot for the "Tossing Pot" event, but the Prince of Hengyang’s subordinates wanted to test if Lu Yun had been the assassin from the previous night.

They deliberately changed the event to archery. Despite the fact that Lu Yun had been shot in the shoulder the night before and the wound was still bleeding, archery required arm strength, so this would inevitably expose his injury. Lu Yun quickly used Luo Lingyu as a shield, claiming that she had often asked him to teach her archery, so he could use the occasion to show her. Luo Lingyu was caught in a difficult spot.

Now that Lu Yun knew her secret, they were in the same boat, so she reluctantly agreed. The Prince of Hengyang, who had long been fond of Luo Lingyu, was more than happy to take over the teaching, but since she had claimed that he was the main guest today, he had no choice but to step back. The Prince took the lead, impressively shooting a bullseye at 100 meters.

Lu Yun quietly instructed Luo Lingyu to help him draw the bow. The two worked together flawlessly and managed to hit a pigeon flying in the sky. While it wasn’t as accurate as the Prince's shot, they managed to cover up the situation. However, the Prince of Hengyang, seeing the force behind their shot, began to suspect that Lu Yun might not have been the assassin from the previous night after all.

During the day, everyone was laughing, riding horses, and shooting arrows. Luo Lingyu was paying attention to every detail. Suddenly, she noticed that the fireworks prepared for the evening had been soaked by water. Although the rain had stopped earlier in the day, the fireworks were inexplicably wet. Someone was clearly sabotaging the event. Luo Lingyu observed the expressions of the ladies around her, and noticed that only Madam Chen’s eyes were evasive.

She immediately guessed that Madam Chen must be behind it. Madam Chen had always secretly shown interest in Lu Yun, and now that she saw him teaching Luo Lingyu archery in front of everyone, jealousy had likely taken over. Luo Lingyu warned Lingxi to cancel the fireworks display for the evening, and then quietly went to Madam Chen’s room to ask what was going on. Although Madam Chen had often been critical of Luo Lingyu, she was meticulous in her thoughts.

The incident with the fireworks had been caused by one of her maids acting without permission. The maid’s poor execution had angered Madam Chen, who scolded her harshly but decided to take responsibility for the matter, considering the maid’s loyalty. Luo Lingyu, being straightforward, reminded Madam Chen that if they were to compete, it should all be out in the open, following their hearts. Since Madam Chen still valued their master-servant relationship, Luo Lingyu didn’t press the matter further.

With no fireworks, Luo Lingyu quickly came up with an alternative—"Leaving Fire and Stepping to the Song. " She applied oil to the blades of two swords, and after intense friction, sparks flew as the swords danced, creating a spectacular effect that blended with the songs of the soldiers, giving a powerful and imposing atmosphere. The Prince of Hengyang, accustomed to fighting on the battlefield, had never seen such a delicate woman who could combine softness with strength.

Watching Luo Lingyu wield the sword with grace and power, he was even more enamored with her. Lu Yun, watching from the side, quietly realized that Luo Lingyu was quite extraordinary. Even when put in a tight spot, she could come up with creative solutions, and there seemed to be nothing that could challenge her. Meanwhile, Fan Qingchen felt a pang of pain in his heart.

He saw how carefully Luo Lingyu tried to present her most perfect side, clearly doing it to win the Prince of Hengyang’s favor, and not for him. It seemed she had truly fallen for someone else.

That evening, the Prince of Hengyang took Luo Lingyu to admire the lanterns. He was very satisfied with the banquet and allowed Luo Lingyu to request any reward she desired, something he could grant. Seeing the perfect moment, Luo Lingyu openly admitted that she did not want to marry Fan Qingchen of the Fan family. She revealed that it had been her uncle and aunt who had sold her to the Fan family.

Upon hearing this, the Prince of Hengyang was deeply shocked, realizing that such a beautiful woman had been betrayed by her own family. He immediately promised to help her break the engagement. The next day, Lingxi rushed in, flustered, to report that Luo Lingyu was missing. Given her usual behavior, it was impossible for her to leave without a word. Both the Prince of Hengyang and Lu Yun quickly deduced that Fan Qingchen was behind it.

They found wheel tracks at the entrance, suggesting the culprit had not gone far. Lu Yun immediately mounted a horse to pursue. Luo Lingyu woke up from unconsciousness and found herself tightly bound to a chair, wearing a bright red wedding dress. Fan Qingchen walked over lecherously, holding the marriage contract and demanding that she sign it. Luo Lingyu tried to stay calm, attempting to negotiate, but Fan Qingchen had no intention of being deceived.

He took her hand and placed it on the contract, forcing her to sign. The room was sealed off, and everywhere she looked, there were red wedding decorations. Fan Qingchen held the contract and told her to wait a moment—another wedding ceremony would take place soon. Lu Yun followed the wheel tracks and arrived in the busy market. There were many people, and the tracks gradually disappeared.

He carefully searched the area and detected a familiar fragrance in the air—this was the same scent of perfumed oil he had once smelled on Luo Lingyu. He followed the scent to locate her. In the house where Fan Qingchen had taken her, Luo Lingyu quietly untied the ropes around her wrists. She was planning to escape when Fan Qingchen arrived. She struggled, but she was no match for him.

In the struggle, he accidentally shoved her to the ground, but she managed to stab him in the shoulder with her hairpin. Despite this, Fan Qingchen didn’t back off and even intended to use force. Luo Lingyu was injured, but she held herself up, determined not to fall. She inched towards the door, constantly urging herself to escape. Just as Fan Qingchen was closing in, the door opened. In a flash of white light, Luo Lingyu saw a familiar figure.

Lu Yun picked up the unconscious Luo Lingyu in his arms, and the Prince of Hengyang drew his sword, pointing it at Fan Qingchen, warning him not to move. Luo Lingyu was finally safe. The Prince of Hengyang called for the most famous imperial physician to treat her and sent Fan Qingchen away, ensuring that he would never step foot in Yuezhou again. Three days and nights later, Luo Lingyu slowly regained consciousness.

She hadn’t eaten in several days and now craved a particular kind of noodle from Yuezhou. It was already midnight, and Lingxi hesitated, about to go make the noodles. But Lu Yun quickly spoke up, saying it was no problem. He took Luo Lingyu to a noodle shop on the street. The shopkeeper was yawning and preparing to close when he suddenly saw a gold ingot. Immediately, he rushed to prepare the noodles.

In the quiet of the night, Luo Lingyu and Lu Yun sat across from each other. As they discussed her kidnapping, Luo Lingyu was still shaken by the experience. She couldn’t help but mention how she had tried so hard to escape from Fan Qingchen, but still fell victim to his schemes. It seemed that fate was impossible to escape. Lu Yun, having watched Luo Lingyu’s escape attempt, admired her courage.

He encouraged her not to give up, even asking if she had found anyone for the "prosperous marriage" (a type of formal arrangement). Luo Lingyu was grateful for Lu Yun’s help when he had saved her before. She no longer harbored any ulterior motives or thoughts. She told him that their past was over and that they should go their separate ways. Hearing this, Lu Yun became anxious.

He subtly hinted that if she didn’t find someone for the "prosperous marriage," she wouldn’t be able to inherit the Luo family’s property.

Zhou Yangling saw that Luo Lingyu was in good health and invited her for a small gathering. During their conversation, Luo Lingyu mentioned how she had been feeling lighter and freer ever since her engagement was called off. She even felt like the air around her was easier to breathe. Zhou Yangling couldn’t help but bring up her own marriage situation.

It was then that Luo Lingyu realized her best friend was planning to break off a marriage that had been personally arranged by the emperor, and that the fiancé was none other than the current Prince Changyi. Luo Lingyu widened her eyes in disbelief. Since ancient times, imperial decrees were not to be defied, and Zhou Yangling was going against the emperor’s order.

Ever since the girls in Yuezhou had heard that the Lu family had a learned master, they had flocked to see him. Sure enough, his demeanor was impressive, and he was elegant and polite. Zhou Yangling’s refined temperament also attracted a large group of admirers. A group of young women gathered together, chatting excitedly about the upcoming Flower Goddess competition in Yuezhou. Any girl with excellent singing, dancing, or other skills, and from a suitable family background, could enter.

Unintentionally, someone mentioned the competition, and Luo Lingyu, who had been looking for ways to acquire the Luo family’s wealth, heard that the winner of the Flower Goddess contest would receive an imperial reward. She immediately became eager to participate. Although, because of her family’s status, she wasn’t eligible to enter just yet, she was determined to find a way to get in. Liu Tang admired Luo Lingyu’s boldness.

Seeing her always so unconcerned with others, Luo Lingyu encouraged Liu Tang not to envy others so much. She, too, was a free person and could definitely sign up for the competition if she wished. Luo Lingyu quickly sought help from Ying Shun, hoping to gain eligibility for the Lu family’s support in entering the competition. Ying Shun admitted that the Lu family’s women weren’t all under her control, but Luo Lingyu managed to persuade her with her silver tongue.

Ying Shun took Luo Lingyu to meet the matriarch of the Lu family. At that moment, Lu Yun was also with the matriarch, and together with Ying Shun, they helped Luo Lingyu make her case. In the end, the matriarch agreed. The list of participants for the Yuezhou Flower Goddess competition was submitted to the emperor. When the emperor saw that a member of the Lu family was participating, he was intrigued upon learning it was a new contestant.

At the time, Prince Hengyang was also present and couldn’t help but mention that Luo Lingyu was his favored person. The emperor had not yet seen her, but he decided then and there that the winner of the competition would be awarded to Prince Hengyang as his future princess.

Prince Hengyang feared that Luo Lingyu might not win and thus lose the opportunity to marry her, but the emperor believed that only someone with real ability could marry into the royal family. Since Luo Lingyu’s engagement had been called off, she and Lu Yun had had little contact, but Lu Yun could no longer sit idle.

Jin Chuan suggested they could use the method Luo Lingyu had previously employed, and Lu Yun began frequently visiting the neighbors’ homes to borrow various things—pens, ink, paper, inkstones, and scrolls—hoping to win Luo Lingyu’s favor. Lingxi, tired of this, simply shut the door on them. Lu Yun then had Jin Chuan visit shops in the street, hoping to gather information about Luo Lingyu’s preparation for the Flower Goddess competition, and offering some help since she didn’t have much money.

To assist Luo Lingyu, Prince Hengyang personally selected several exquisite pieces of jewelry and sent them to the Lu family. He asked Luo Lingyu if she was facing any difficulties, and if she needed a teacher to guide her, he could arrange for the palace’s dancing girls to help. Luo Lingyu declined his offer, insisting that she wanted to prepare for the competition herself. As for finding a teacher, she already had someone in mind.

Seeing how eager she was to participate, and knowing how hard-working Luo Lingyu usually was, Prince Hengyang encouraged her to prepare well. Luo Lingyu went to find Qiniang from the music hall to become her teacher. At first, Qiniang was dismissive of Luo Lingyu’s small fee, but Luo Lingyu cleverly played on Qiniang’s desire to promote her work and promised that she could help Qiniang become famous overnight. With shared ambitions, Qiniang agreed without hesitation.

After Fan Qingchen was ordered by Prince Hengyang to break off the engagement, Lu Yun saw an opportunity and suggested to Prince Yi that they search Fan’s residence. They might discover something new. Sure enough, when they searched the Fan residence, they found a large stash of unshipped nitrate. Fan Qingchen’s father, fearing that his secret would be exposed, committed suicide.

Lu Yun and Prince Changyi suspected that the Fan family must have close ties to high-ranking members of the Northern Army. In order to find evidence quickly, they ordered their subordinates to locate Fan Qingchen. Fan Qingchen rushed back to the Fan residence, unaware of what had happened at home. Suddenly, a masked figure in black arrived, killing his subordinates and leaving Fan Qingchen lying in a pool of blood.

Lu Yun and Prince Changyi invited Prince Hengyang to Xunmei Residence to discuss matters regarding the Fan family. In the past, Prince Hengyang had suspected that Lu Yun and Prince Changyi had leaked his whereabouts, which nearly led to his downfall. Now, Lu Yun had discovered that the Fan family was involved with the military, and the person responsible for the leak was likely someone close to Prince Hengyang. However, Prince Hengyang refused to listen. He believed that all his aides were trustworthy and loyal.

Prince Hengyang openly stated that he had never intended to compete for the throne with Prince Changyi. Prince Changyi had also said the same thing—since neither of them had any interest in the throne, they should live peacefully together. Yet, Prince Hengyang stubbornly refused to trust Lu Yun and Prince Changyi.

As Lu Yun was leaving Xunmei Residence, he happened to run into Luo Lingyu. Seeing her and Lingxi coming out of the residence, he was puzzled, wondering what brought her there. In fact, Luo Lingyu had gone to Xunmei Residence to visit a teacher. Lu Yun quickly approached her and tried to be friendly, seeing that she was standing at a candied hawthorn stall. Without hesitation, he bought a large amount of candied hawthorns, but Luo Lingyu didn’t appreciate the gesture. Lu Yun anxiously asked her to accept his gift, but in the end, Luo Lingyu and Lingxi just ignored him and walked away.

Afterward, Luo Lingyu found a few outfits from Xunmei Residence to try on. Wanting to see the effect, she invited Zhou Yangling to come and try them on as well. It had been a long time since Zhou Yangling had dressed as a woman, and when she changed into women’s clothes, she looked stunning. Just at that moment, Prince Changyi arrived to see Zhou Yangling. Upon seeing her standing tall and graceful, he almost froze, his mind going blank. Zhou Yangling was struggling with how to explain the situation, but to her surprise, Prince Changyi mistook her for the younger sister of Luo Gongzi. Relieved, Zhou Yangling realized that Prince Changyi, who had no sense of romance, had never once suspected that Zhou Gongzi was actually a woman.

On the other hand, Lu Yun was more observant. The last time he had casually seen Luo Lingyu and Zhou Yangling walking together with their arms linked, he had guessed that the two were very close, and both of them were women. Although Prince Changyi was somewhat slow, he was not foolish. During a meal, he noticed how Zhou Yangling delicately chose her food and realized that the woman before him resembled the description of Zhou Laoshi. The more he thought about it, the more suspicious he became, so he ordered his subordinates to fetch the portrait that had been drawn of his future fiancée.

Luo Lingyu practiced her dance for the competition day and night. One day, Lu Yun noticed that she had injured her foot and secretly sent her some medicinal ointment. Worried that she might refuse it, he even asked the dance teacher to pass on the gift. That evening, Yin Chuan secretly sent a message to Luo Lingyu, asking her to come next door. Lu Yun proudly presented the appointment letter for the Flower Goddess judge. There were three judges in total, and the backgrounds of the other two were deeply intertwined. Luo Lingyu had no connections with them, so her chances of winning were slim. The only person who could help her was Lu Yun.

Lu Yun then proposed a deal: if Luo Lingyu gave him a kiss, he would help her. He thought that Luo Lingyu would certainly object or try to negotiate, but to his surprise, she simply stood on tiptoe and kissed him. The happiness came so suddenly that Lu Yun was overjoyed. However, he then asked her why she was so unreserved. Luo Lingyu clearly stated that it was just an exchange and that since Lu Yun was handsome, it wasn’t a loss for her either. She then smiled and left. Watching her leave, Lu Yun worried that others might think he was a "flower thief(ladies' man)".

Lu Yun had made meticulous preparations for the Flower Goddess Festival judging and carefully selected his clothes and accessories. However, just before he was about to leave, Yin Chuan hurriedly ran in, saying that Wang Yangming had been found—he was in the outskirts of Yuezhou. Since everyone had been searching for clues about Wang Yangming, now that they had one, Lu Yun immediately stood up and decided to focus on the case.

He visited Luo Lingyu before leaving, unsure if he could make it back in time for the Flower Goddess Festival. Luo Lingyu wasn’t upset at all; instead, she encouraged Lu Yun to focus on his work, saying that even without his vote, she could still succeed. Before he left, Lu Yun gave her a glass bangle he had prepared for her. Luo Lingyu put it on, admiring the bangle in the sunlight. It sparkled brightly, and she felt immense joy.

Luo Lingyu, along with her sister and Lingxi, went to the competition venue. It was the first time she had visited such an elaborate place, and she was filled with excitement. Prince Hengyang also came to support her. She saw that many people had placed bets on Chen Niangzi, but Prince Hengyang publicly bet fifty taels of silver on Luo Lingyu’s name. He personally inspected Luo Lingyu's dressing room and found it to be rather simple.

He immediately arranged for her to be moved to a more spacious and well-lit room, which had many exquisite pastries and fruits on the table. Even her sister noticed how well Prince Hengyang treated Luo Lingyu. Luo Lingyu gently touched the glass bangle on her wrist, her thoughts complex. Liu Tang, as Princess Ningping, also participated in the competition.

Though she only selected a short dance, Liu Tang, who was usually obedient and afraid of making any mistakes, was brave enough to try something new this time. Next was Chen Niangzi’s chessboard dance. When Luo Lingyu and Lingxi saw her performance, they were shocked. The Seven Niangzi had taught Chen Niangzi the dance that was originally customized for Luo Lingyu, and even the costumes were the same. To make matters worse, Chen Niangzi was performing before Luo Lingyu.

If Luo Lingyu performed afterward, she would definitely not score as well. Lu Yun had not arrived in time yet, and Lingxi anxiously asked Luo Lingyu what to do. Luo Lingyu remained calm and composed, deciding that since she had come to participate, she would go ahead with the competition. She asked Zhou Yangling to help, and before preparing for the performance, she suspected that Seven Niangzi might have made some changes.

Thus, she ordered a new set of costumes to be made. Lu Yun and Zhao Yuan went to find Wang Yangming, but they encountered an ambush along the way. Lu Yun was injured by arrows, and his clothes were soaked in blood. Fortunately, Wang Yangming had already provided him with important clues. Gao Yuan managed to rescue Lu Yun, but due to being poisoned by mist, Lu Yun’s vision was blurry, and the situation was critical.

They had originally planned to go to a medical hall, but Lu Yun insisted on being taken directly to the Flower Goddess Festival. Luo Lingyu had prepared two dances for the competition. Since the chessboard dance had already been performed by someone else, she had to choose an alternative. She quickly changed the theme to "Carp Dance" and asked her friends to dim the lights in the hall.

Then, she opened a window and hung her glass bangle in the center of it. As the sunlight passed through the bangle, it created a dazzling, neon effect in the venue, making it feel as though everyone was standing on a shimmering sea. The visual effect was stunning. Zhou Yangling began to strike the chime bells, accompanying the beautiful dance. Luo Lingyu first set up a layer of gauze in front of her, giving a mysterious and hazy feeling.

Then, she danced forward, half-hidden, as if holding a pipa, her movements elegant and dreamlike. Luo Lingyu’s and Chen Niangzi’s performances were both exceptional, but the unique stage design and choreography made Luo Lingyu's performance stand out. Anyone with a discerning eye could tell who had performed the best. Prince Hengyang happily informed the Emperor, confident that he would win this time. Although Luo Lingyu’s performance was outstanding, the judges’ initial scores were not favorable.

Luo Lingyu gathered her courage and explained the process behind the choreography and the touching story behind it, hoping for a fair judgment. Just then, Lu Yun stepped forward. Struggling to reach the stage, he began to rally votes for Luo Lingyu.

Lu Yun publicly commented on Luo Lingyu’s dance, giving it high praise. He said her movements were graceful and extraordinary. However, Chen Niangzi, sitting in the audience, questioned him, asking if he had watched the entire performance or just caught part of it. She argued that giving a hasty judgment might be unfair. Lu Yun acknowledged her concern and decided to let the audience vote instead. In the audience, the Emperor also gave a fair evaluation.

He invited the viewers to choose their favorite Flower Goddess, and with the Emperor's support in gathering votes, many people cast their ballots for Luo Lingyu. In the end, Luo Lingyu won the title of Flower Goddess. The Emperor asked her what her wish was. Luo Lingyu respectfully performed a deep bow and then explained that her father had died while defending the country, leaving only herself and her sister behind.

According to the law, the Luo family’s assets were under government management, and she now wished to request permission to withdraw them as an unmarried woman. This request was easy for the Emperor to grant, and he immediately agreed. He also publicly betrothed Luo Lingyu to Prince Hengyang as his future wife. Luo Lingyu and Lu Yun were both deeply upset.

Lu Yun had believed he still had a chance in the competition with Prince Hengyang, but now that the Emperor had arranged the marriage, he knew there was little room for change. After the competition, Lu Yun offered to take Luo Lingyu home, but Prince Hengyang immediately stepped in, insisting that, as her fiancé, he would escort her back. In the end, Luo Lingyu still chose to go with Lu Yun.

Watching the two leave, Prince Hengyang could tell that Luo Lingyu's heart didn’t seem to be with him. However, he was a seasoned warrior and had long cultivated the courage to fight for what he wanted, which only fueled his determination to win her heart. Back at Lu Yun’s residence, the doctor diagnosed his eye condition. It had been caused by a special poison, so there was no telling when his vision would fully recover.

Yin Chuan nervously begged the doctor to do his best in treating him. Only Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu were present, and Lu Yun seriously asked Luo Lingyu if she had feelings for Prince Hengyang. Luo Lingyu helplessly responded that the marriage had been arranged by imperial decree, and ordinary people wouldn’t dare to defy such an order. Although Lu Yun understood the situation, he was still unwilling to accept it. Meanwhile, Chang Yiwang escorted Zhou Yangling home.

They were alone in the same carriage, and Luo Lingyu felt a little awkward. Chang Yiwang was usually easygoing, but he seemed a bit reserved when faced with Zhou Yangling, which was strange since they were both men. Suddenly, Chang Yiwang noticed that Zhou Yangling didn’t have an Adam’s apple, which struck him as odd. The carriage wheels got stuck in the mud, and Zhou Yangling got out to help the driver push it out.

Chang Yiwang eagerly joined in, but he ended up falling into the mud. Zhou Yangling invited Chang Yiwang to wash up in his room. Chang Yiwang, covered in mud, felt the bathwater was a bit too cold and asked Zhou Yangling to bring some hot water. Zhou Yangling was hesitant to enter Chang Yiwang’s room since it was a man and a woman alone, but when she heard Chang Yiwang sneezing, she reluctantly brought in the water.

However, she accidentally spilled the hot water onto him, causing him to jump up in the bath in pain. Zhou Yangling screamed in shock and quickly ran out. Chang Yiwang, seeing her flustered reaction, had already guessed that Zhou Yangling was a woman. However, given the awkward situation, he decided not to reveal her secret of cross-dressing for now. The next morning, Lu Yun sat up in bed and was astonished to find that he could see again.

The day before, Luo Lingyu had shown great concern for him, speaking in a much gentler tone than usual. Not wanting to miss the opportunity, Lu Yun asked Yin Chuan to bring him some cloth strips so that he could continue pretending to be blind. Soon after, Luo Lingyu came to visit. She helped him out of bed and guided him to the courtyard for some fresh air. At that moment, Prince Hengyang also arrived and immediately took Lu Yun by the arm, leading him to a table in the pavilion.

Prince Hengyang noticed that Lu Yun had been eyeing Luo Lingyu for some time, so he seized the opportunity to put pressure on him. Under the pretense of offering help, he poured tea into Lu Yun’s cup and mentioned that he would soon be taking Luo Lingyu out to shop for wedding items. Lu Yun awkwardly responded that there was still more than a month before the wedding and that many things could change before then.

Luo Lingyu, pretending to be unwell, declined Prince Hengyang’s invitation. After he left, she read aloud to Lu Yun to help pass the time. When she made a few mistakes while reading, Lu Yun immediately pointed them out. Luo Lingyu was somewhat skeptical about his blindness, but since he had helped her in the past, she took great care in looking after him. Chen Niangzi came to visit Lu Yun with a gift and was surprised to see Luo Lingyu there.

She didn’t feel angry, although she was reminded of the awkwardness caused by taking Luo Lingyu’s chessboard dance. If that fact became known, it would certainly be embarrassing. After chatting for a while, Chen Niangzi left. Luo Lingyu accompanied her out, and Chen Niangzi gave her a candid warning. She reminded Luo Lingyu that the Emperor had already arranged her marriage, and such an imperial decree couldn’t be rejected.

There was no need for her to linger around Lu Yun all the time. Luo Lingyu acknowledged the importance of the Emperor’s decree but also said she wasn’t bound to Lu Yun forever. As they walked, Luo Lingyu’s independence and decisiveness impressed Chen Niangzi. However, Chen Niangzi knew that going against imperial orders was extremely difficult for an ordinary person to handle. At midnight, Lu Yun was still reading diligently at his desk.

He recalled that he had learned from Wang Yangming that the connection between the Beichu people and the Northern Army was hidden in a poetry collection. He couldn’t yet understand the secret within it. The next day, Luo Lingyu came to visit again. She saw the books spread out on his desk and began to wonder if he was pretending to be blind.

Frustrated, she decided to go out with Prince Hengyang, and Lu Yun, secretly anxious, immediately sent Yin Chuan to find a doctor who might be able to prescribe something for temporary blindness. Lu Yun’s older brother, Lu Yuan, came to visit. Though Lu Yuan cared for Lu Yun deeply, he wasn’t sure if his older brother agreed with his views. He was also involved in dangerous work, and the less Lu Yuan knew, the better.

Lu Yuan suspected that Lu Yun was still investigating Wang Yangming’s case, and his injury might have been a result of this. Lu Yun didn’t admit it and advised Lu Yuan not to worry too much. Prince Hengyang invited Luo Lingyu to join him on a trip. They visited the widows of soldiers who had fallen on the battlefield. As a prince, Prince Hengyang often helped these widows by repairing their homes and providing financial assistance to those in need.

Seeing how warmly the widows greeted Prince Hengyang, Luo Lingyu kept the words she had planned to say to herself. She had initially wanted to express that she only saw him as a friend, but now it seemed best to wait a few more days before bringing it up. Chang Yiwang arranged to meet Lu Yun at an inn. He brought several versions of the poetry collection for Lu Yun to decipher.

Regarding Lu Yun’s feelings for Luo Lingyu, Chang Yiwang advised him to let go, as Lu Yun was in a weak position and couldn’t fight against it. However, Lu Yun knew that the situation would need to be broken, and he understood there was someone who could change Chang Yiwang’s mind. His priority now was to quickly decipher the key to the puzzle that Wang Yangming had left him.

After several sleepless nights of intense study, Lu Yun finally uncovered the secret in the poetry collection. It turned out that his father, General Lu Jie, had already died on the battlefield many years ago. The situation was even more complex—there was a conspiracy involved. It seemed that General Lu Jie had learned of some military secrets, and the Northern Army surrounded their entire camp.

General Lu Jie and a small unit of soldiers had secretly tried to break out, planning to attack from the other side. But the Beichu forces had found out and had silenced him. At that moment, Luo Lingyu arrived and saw that Lu Yun’s eyes were red. She immediately asked what had happened. Lu Yun admitted that his father’s death had more to it than he had initially known, and it seemed to be connected to the Northern Army.

Lu Yun was determined to investigate the truth behind his father's unjust death in battle, no matter how dangerous it might be. Luo Lingyu noticed his resolve and, at that moment, felt that she and Lu Yun were very alike—both of them willing to face adversity head-on. Lu Yun had previously obtained a list, and he believed that if he could get hold of the Beichu J detailed list, his suspicions would be confirmed.

In this moment, Lu Yun desperately wanted to confess his feelings to Luo Lingyu. She paced under the grapevine, deep in thought. After some consideration, she didn’t stop him from speaking. When Lu Yun confessed his deep affection for her, Luo Lingyu didn’t hesitate. She firmly responded, revealing that she shared the same feelings. There was someone she cared for deeply as well.

The atmosphere became charged with romantic tension, and under the grapevine, the two of them shared a sweet kiss. Luo Lingyu sent word to request a private meeting with Prince Hengyang. This was the first time she had ever made such an invitation, so Prince Hengyang was thrilled. He immediately ordered his attendants to prepare his clothes for the meeting.

His attendants cautiously reminded him that Luo Lingyu had often been hesitant and vague whenever marriage was mentioned, suggesting there might be some hidden concerns. Prince Hengyang reflected on the changes he had noticed in Luo Lingyu recently and mentally prepared himself for the worst. Still, he decided he wanted to try again, no matter what. Prince Hengyang arrived at the Lu residence, where Luo Lingyu had already been waiting.

Before she could speak, he immediately remarked that their first meeting had been at the gates of the Lu residence. He recalled how she had bravely stepped in front of him to block a startled horse that day. From that moment, her image had lingered in his heart. Prince Hengyang went on to recount all the details of how he had come to know Luo Lingyu, clearly revealing his deep affection for her.

Becoming a royal consort was a dream come true for any woman, and Luo Lingyu knew that Prince Hengyang was an upright man with a kind heart and would make a good husband. However, she also knew that matters of the heart couldn’t be forced. She honestly confessed that her feelings for him were not romantic. She had hoped to avoid saying these words, but in the end, she had no choice.

Prince Hengyang, upon hearing this, couldn’t help but sigh. If only Luo Lingyu had met him earlier, perhaps she wouldn’t have fallen for Lu Yun first. Luo Lingyu responded earnestly, explaining that matters of the heart were not simply a matter of timing. Even if they had met in the northern frontier, it was possible that someone like the noble Prince Hengyang would never have encountered her.

She was rejecting an excellent marriage prospect, and while it was regretful, she did not regret her decision. They parted ways at the gates of the Lu residence, and just then, fireworks suddenly went off behind Prince Hengyang. The sound caught Luo Lingyu's attention, and she turned to look at him. She smiled at him, still as beautiful as when they had first met. Lu Yun went to see the Emperor in person.

He had decided to enter the government, something he had previously rejected. Now, he was willing to step forward again to investigate the truth behind his father's death and to ask the Emperor to annul Prince Hengyang's marriage contract. The Emperor was puzzled and questioned whether Lu Yun was trying to use this request as an exchange for something.

The Emperor reminded him that a monarch’s word is sacred and that one man’s plea could not represent the will of Luo Lingyu. The Emperor immediately summoned Luo Lingyu to the palace. When Luo Lingyu entered the palace, she presented the same stance as Lu Yun. The Emperor became angry. He had never expected anyone to ask for an annulment of a marriage, especially since his son, Prince Hengyang, was a great warrior who had been undefeated in battle.

The Emperor felt that someone was being ungrateful. Luo Lingyu, however, calmly explained her reasoning, citing the Flower God Festival as an example. She said that one couldn’t always act according to their own wishes but should also consider the feelings of others. At the same time, Prince Hengyang also entered the palace. His love for Luo Lingyu was deep, and he didn’t want her to suffer.

If the Emperor punished her, it might cause her to be caught in the crossfire. Prince Hengyang also used his military achievements to appeal to the Emperor, hoping that he would reconsider his decision. The Emperor respected their opinions, but Luo Lingyu suggested they keep things low-key for now. She proposed that, for the time being, she could secretly assist Lu Yun in his investigation while using her position as a royal consort.

In Qingyuan, King Changyi brought Lu Yun a list. Among the names on the list, one person stood out as suspicious: Mr. Kong. This Mr. Kong had been in the Northern Border Army before and fought alongside Lu Yun's father. At the time, he had little power, but because Prince Hengyang trusted him, his career had flourished.

The new emperor of Beichu had ascended to the throne, and the third prince, who had previously kept a low profile, directly claimed the title of emperor. Under his rule, there was also a traitor from Nanyue. The secret orders reached Yuezhou, and Prime Minister Chen was speculating about which traitor from Yuezhou it might be. That evening, Chen Xiu saw a person dressed in black carrying secret orders entering the house. She was very surprised.

She had suspected before that her husband had dealings with people from Beichu, and now it seemed her suspicions were confirmed. Prince Hengyang and Luo Lingyu once again helped King Changyi make connections. When they met Zhou Yangling, who had changed into women's clothing, she appeared pure and graceful, delicate and charming. King Changyi was both moved and saddened. He hadn't known that Zhou Yangling was the same person he had been engaged to before.

He had thought he had fallen for someone else, but after the engagement was broken, he realized the one he truly cared for was Zhou Yangling. Now that the annulment request had already been submitted to the house, it was too late to turn back. King Changyi sighed, and all he wanted now was for Zhou Yangling to have a happy life. Luo Lingyu had heard that the Luo family had some property.

After much hardship, she finally obtained the Emperor’s approval to retrieve it. She hired people to bring several carriages to the government office. When the officials presented the Luo family's assets, Luo Lingyu, along with her sister, went to inspect them, only to find a wooden box. Lingxi reminded Luo Lingyu that perhaps her mother had been thoughtful and hidden silver notes inside.

Luo Lingyu opened it with hope, but to her surprise, it only contained a scroll with the words "A lifetime of strength" written on it. Seeing the thin scroll, Luo Lingyu remained strong, but once she returned home, she couldn't hold back her tears. She cried together with her sister, and as her tears fell on the scroll, she noticed that under the four words, faint writing began to appear on the paper.

Luo Lingyu immediately used water to evenly dampen the scroll, and soon, the layers of the scroll began to separate. Underneath, a hand-drawn map appeared. It seemed like a treasure map. Luo Lingyu and her sister were thrilled, but when they realized that the location marked on the map was Jingyang, they couldn't help but feel a sense of despair. Jingyang had already been occupied by Beichu. When would they be able to reach it and retrieve the treasure?

It seemed like yet another fleeting hope. That evening, Lu Yun brought a bag of silver to give to Luo Lingyu. Upon hearing that she had only received a family instruction and had returned home, he guessed that she must have been upset. Luo Lingyu showed Lu Yun her new discovery. After carefully examining it, Lu Yun was shocked. This was not a treasure map at all; it seemed to be a secret passage.

He immediately told Luo Lingyu that she should meet Zhou Yangling tomorrow, and he would gather Prince Hengyang and King Changyi to discuss the matter at the inn. Lu Yun shared their important discovery with Prince Hengyang. The secret passage had Lu Yun's father’s seal from when he was a child. It was clear that the seal belonged to Lu Yun's father while he was still alive.

Luo Lingyu's father, as a county governor, had fought bravely alongside Lu Yun's father and must have learned some sensitive information. This is likely why he had carefully placed the map in the family instruction. Prince Hengyang was incredulous. After all, Mr. Kong, who had been by his side since childhood, was one of the suspects. However, Lu Yun had proof.

Lu Yun’s father had discovered two Beichu spies infiltrating the army, and just as he was about to capture them, he sacrificed his life. Now, they had to find a way to confirm the identities of these two spies—one being Mr. Kong and the other being General Chen Hao.

In order to gather evidence, Luo Lingyu entered the residence of King Changyi under the guise of being his fiancée. She quietly observed Mr. Kong's every move. King Hengyang gathered his subordinates under the pretext of discussing military plans, secretly buying time for Luo Lingyu’s investigation. Mr. Kong began to grow suspicious. When he heard that Luo Lingyu had gone to the study, he hastily found an excuse to leave. Mr.

Kong entered the study, immediately locked the door, and took out a sharp blade from his sleeve. Several scrolls were placed on the desk, one of which was particularly important. Mr. Kong carefully inspected the scroll and noticed that it had not been tampered with. He then carefully returned it to its original place. Returning to King Hengyang's residence, he saw Luo Lingyu distributing pastries to everyone.

King Hengyang looked at her with a gentle expression, as though nothing had happened. Mr. Kong couldn't help but wonder if he had overreacted earlier. While Luo Lingyu was at King Hengyang's residence assisting with the investigation, Lu Yun also began to take action. He deliberately pretended to be drunk in front of Chen Hao’s carriage. However, it was not Chen Hao who got out of the carriage but Chen Xiu, who had long admired Lu Yun.

Seeing him drunkenly lying in the marketplace in such an undignified state, she immediately ordered her servants to help him into the carriage. Inside the carriage, Lu Yun warned Chen Xiu not to cover up for those who were guilty of corruption, as doing so would only add to the crime and lead to disastrous consequences. In the afternoon, when they returned home, King Hengyang had just dropped Luo Lingyu off at the gate of the Lu residence.

At that moment, the Lu family carriage also arrived, and Lu Yun, accompanied by Chen Xiu, got out. Luo Lingyu, seeing their close interaction, couldn't help but feel jealous. King Hengyang, aware of the situation, took the initiative to hold Luo Lingyu's hand, subtly applying pressure. Seeing the man she cared for holding hands with the prince, Lu Yun felt a surge of jealousy. That day, Luo Lingyu had indeed seen a list in the study.

She wrote down the four names from it. When King Changyi saw the names, they seemed familiar to him. He quickly remembered that these individuals were candidates for the imperial censor. The people from Beichu had already set their sights on the court’s internal affairs. If these candidates for the imperial censor were replaced with Beichu spies, it would be much easier to attack Yuezhou with internal and external cooperation.

These individuals had only just submitted their answers for the preliminary selection. Zhou Yangling suggested reviewing their exam papers, as there might be some clues to uncover. The next day, the emperor announced new candidates for the imperial censor during the morning court. Many ministers were surprised that the usually frivolous Lu Yun had entered government service. The emperor openly stated that he had recently heard rumors of someone secretly engaging in the sale of official positions.

In order to uncover the truth, he tasked Lu Yun with investigating the matter. Chen Hao, eager to establish his own internal connections, saw that Lu Yun had gained the emperor's trust and had become an imperial censor. After the court session, he took the initiative to contact Lu Yun. He mentioned that Chen Xiu and he had grown up together and suggested that if they worked together, he could help Lu Yun rise through the ranks.

Lu Yun did not immediately respond. He needed to carefully consider any suggestions related to Chen Hao. He knew that this old fox must have many hidden cards. That evening, Chen Hao shared his thoughts with Mr. Kong. Mr. Kong simply mentioned that he had seen Luo Lingyu and King Hengyang together that day. Although there had been no intimate gestures, the two of them seemed to be getting along well.

There were rumors that Luo Lingyu did not want to marry King Hengyang, and he was unsure who was in the right. As for Chen Hao's suggestion of making Lu Yun his son-in-law, Mr. Kong felt it was a bit rash. However, Chen Hao was frank, stating that he was just keeping a backup plan. By bringing Lu Yun into his camp, he could more easily monitor his movements.

If one day the affair with Beichu was exposed, he could deal with Lu Yun, having his own people take care of it, and shift all the blame onto him. After discussing with King Changyi, Lu Yun concluded that the marriage proposal might be part of Chen Hao's scheme. Rather than passively waiting, they decided to turn the tables and draw the enemy out.

Lu Yun asked Luo Lingyu for her opinion, and she fully agreed, emphasizing that the investigation into the truth was their priority. Lu Yun then summoned Chen Xiu to ask her opinion. With tears in her eyes, Chen Xiu agreed to cooperate, even though it was her own father. As a citizen of Yuezhou, she could not allow her father to harm the people.

A few days ago, Luo Lingyu discovered a list of people involved in selling official positions while investigating at Mr. Kong’s place. This revealed that Mr. Kong had been plotting treason for a long time, and many of these schemes had been supported by Chen Hao. After further discussion, Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu decided to investigate Chen Hao’s residence for more clues. After all, Chen Hao had secretly been colluding with Mr.

Kong to betray the country for over ten years, so there were likely many traces left behind. The next morning, Luo Lingyu went to Chen Hao’s mansion with some gifts, claiming that she had come to congratulate Chen Xiu. Although Chen Hao was wary, he saw that she had only brought small gifts such as lipstick and rouge, things typically used by women, which made it difficult to refuse her.

Not long after, Lu Yun arrived, bringing several boxes of betrothal gifts. Luo Lingyu had not yet left, and it seemed like they casually ran into each other. Neither of them liked the other, and they even mocked each other in front of Chen Hao. The more they clashed, the more at ease Chen Hao became.

At least, he thought, he could now be sure that Lu Yun no longer had feelings for Luo Lingyu, and that he would be able to live a good life with his daughter. Luo Lingyu went to find Chen Xiu, while Lu Yun claimed he needed to take the betrothal gifts to the back courtyard. They split up to search for clues. Lu Yun first went to the study, but after searching through many scrolls, he found nothing.

He was caught by Chen Hao, who, though Lu Yun tried to explain that he was simply looking for ancient books, was already suspicious of his intentions. Realizing he could no longer use Lu Yun, Chen Hao decided to implement his plan early. He immediately accused Lu Yun of being a spy from Beichu and also claimed that Luo Lingyu had come from the northern borders. Chen Hao's persistent pressure caught Lu Yun off guard.

However, thinking that Luo Lingyu was still in the back courtyard searching for clues, Lu Yun began to stall for time for her and Chen Xiu. Yet, it seemed that Chen Hao had lost his patience and was willing to take a drastic step. Left with no other choice, Lu Yun drew his sword and threatened Chen Hao to silence him. More soldiers began to appear, all of them Chen Hao's guards.

Meanwhile, in the study, Luo Lingyu and Chen Xiu found no clues. Luo Lingyu asked Chen Xiu to think carefully about any other places in the house that might have been overlooked. Chen Xiu then remembered that her mother had recently been visiting the ancestral hall often, staying there for long periods of time. Normally, her mother would stay in her own room, so this change in location puzzled her.

Luo Lingyu immediately deduced that something important might be stored in the ancestral hall. She quickly followed Chen Xiu there, where they finally discovered a Beichu token. Having found physical evidence, Luo Lingyu immediately reunited with Lu Yun. However, Chen Hao stubbornly continued to deny the significance of the token, claiming it was just a token and he didn't know where it had been found. At that moment, Mr.

Kong arrived and defended Chen Hao, but he hadn't anticipated that King Hengyang would follow closely behind. Both Mr. Kong and Chen Hao were arrested and taken for questioning. Chen Hao’s mansion was sealed, and Luo Lingyu placed Chen Xiu temporarily in Xunmei Residence for safekeeping. Even though Chen Hao was imprisoned, he still refused to repent. Secretly, he continued to use underhanded tactics, claiming that the token was just a frame-up by Lu Yun.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yun knew that Chen Hao wasn’t giving up. He bluntly informed him that all the scholars who had secretly assisted him in his rise to power had already confessed, and the emperor had no interest in hearing his defense. The drink he had just consumed was poisoned wine. For Chen Hao, those words were like the final blow. He had just drunk the wine, thinking he was doomed to die.

In retaliation, he shot back, saying that Lu Yun was now acting just like his father, Lu Jie. Lu Jie had led a group of soldiers to break through enemy lines, but Chen Hao had secretly ambushed him, delivering a fatal blow while Lu Jie wasn't paying attention. Chen Hao recalled how Lu Jie’s blood splattered all over his face that day.

Feeling no more restraint, Chen Hao spoke freely, not realizing that among those who had come with Lu Yun was a clerk from the Dali Temple, who had been carefully recording his confession. This was soon presented to the emperor for review. Even though Chen Hao knew he had been tricked, it was too late to undo the damage.

Through his hard work, Lu Yun finally helped clear his father's name. The emperor posthumously honored General Lu Jie as the Marquis of Zhenbei. Lu Yun respectfully moved his father's memorial tablet to the ancestral hall, kneeling in front of the Lu family ancestors. In his heart, he swore to follow in his father's footsteps and continue serving Yuezhou. Outside the hall, Luo Lingyu watched Lu Yun kneel for a long time.

Her father, Governor Luo, had also died in the same ambush, and she deeply sympathized with Lu Yun's feelings. King Hengyang visited the prison to see his teacher, Mr. Kong. Over the years, Mr. Kong had been a mentor and had fought alongside him in battles, entrusting his life to the king. Now, learning that his mentor had been a traitor hiding among them, King Hengyang was unable to accept the truth.

Out of respect for past kindness, he wanted to help his teacher once more, but Mr. Kong had already ingested poison. In his final moments, Mr. Kong expressed deep regret and hoped to repay the king's kindness in the next life. King Changyi brought Zhou Yangling to see the emperor. Upon reviewing Zhou Yangling's examination papers, the emperor was greatly impressed, praising her writing as exquisite and her insights profound.

When the emperor heard Zhou Yangling’s name, he recalled that she was the one he had once promised to King Changyi, and he was sure he hadn't made a mistake. The daughter of a great scholar like Zhou was truly exceptional. However, at that moment, King Changyi knelt before the emperor, pleading for the cancellation of the engagement. When the emperor asked why, King Changyi explained that he didn't want to hold Zhou Yangling back from achieving her full potential.

He also felt unworthy of her talents. The emperor was surprised by this reason, and Zhou Yangling did not seem to lack affection for King Changyi either. The emperor could see that they were well-suited to each other, so he deliberately declared that the imperial decree could not be overturned and forbade them from breaking the engagement. As they left the palace, under the blooming peach trees, King Changyi earnestly asked Zhou Yangling if she had ever had feelings for him.

Zhou Yangling gently stood on tiptoe and kissed King Changyi, her feelings clear. Though they had once been strangers when the engagement was first arranged, after everything that had happened, their hearts had already become closely bound together. King Changyi gently pulled Zhou Yangling into his arms, and the two shared a deep and passionate kiss. Lu Yun decided to finish his father's unfinished business.

Beichu had been causing trouble on the borders for years, and his father had died in the Battle of Jingyang. Now, Jingyang had been occupied by Beichu for many years, and Lu Yun decided to take it back personally. He told his uncle his plans, but his uncle disagreed, and even the Lu family matriarch was troubled by the idea. However, Lu Yun was determined. A man’s ambitions are meant to reach far and wide.

His uncle tried to persuade him for a long time, but seeing that Lu Yun had made up his mind, he finally relented. As Lu Yun prepared to leave with King Hengyang for the campaign in Jingyang, he met with Luo Lingyu. By this time, Luo Lingyu had already heard that Lu Yun was going to war. She understood his intentions and didn’t say much, only encouraging him to return alive.

She had even embroidered a sachet for him, symbolizing her hopes and wishes. With her expectations in his heart, Lu Yun felt even more determined and fierce in battle. Early in the morning, the Lu family gathered to send Lu Yun off. However, Yin Chuan, the young master, was reluctant to part with him. He left before dawn, quietly. The matriarch watched the path Lu Yun took as he departed, feeling a deep sense of loss.

Yin Chuan secretly brought something to Luo Lingyu: an exquisite box containing all of Lu Yun’s life savings. Yin Chuan explained that it was Lu Yun’s wish, as he was concerned that Luo Lingyu might not have enough resources for daily life, and that she could take whatever she needed from the box in the future. Luo Lingyu was moved to tears.

The fact that her beloved entrusted her with all of his savings before going to war showed how much she meant to him. On the battlefield, Lu Yun and King Hengyang worked in perfect harmony, achieving victory after victory. Beichu began to panic, and Fan Qingchen volunteered to personally lead the charge against Lu Yun.

Since Lu Yun left for Jingyang, Luo Lingyu had been in a state of deep worry at the Lu residence every day. Although Lu Yun often sent her letters, Luo Lingyu never dared to open them. The journey was long and treacherous, and she couldn’t bring herself to read the contents of the letters. Each day, she would inquire about the situation from Zhou Yangling and King Changyi.

While King Changyi always brought good news, despite capturing Jingyang, Lu Yun and King Hengyang had not returned. This indicated that the military situation was still complex. King Changyi explained that reinforcements and supplies were slow, and they were facing some resistance in their operations. One day, during her rest, Luo Lingyu had a nightmare. She dreamt that Lu Yun and many generals were surrounded, attacked from all sides.

Luo Lingyu herself was shot with arrows, her body covered in wounds. She awoke crying from the nightmare. Afterward, she quickly packed her things, comforting her sister that she was going to retrieve her inheritance from home. She set off for Jingyang, taking only the bare essentials, determined to help in any way she could. Upon arriving in Jingyang, Lu Yun was overjoyed to hear of Luo Lingyu's arrival. King Hengyang had never seen Lu Yun so excited.

Lu Yun lifted Luo Lingyu in his arms and spun around with her several times. He then took her to see the military camp. Though the soldiers were out fighting, their food was simple, and the rice porridge was so thin it barely filled the stomach. Luo Lingyu couldn’t help but feel concerned. She took the map her father had left for her and closely observed the surroundings. Her father’s family motto was “Always be strong.

” Luo Lingyu, remembering the motto, found a hidden mechanism in the wall. Inside, she discovered fifty thousand taels of gold. Luo Lingyu and Lu Yun walked into the secret passageway her father, Luo Junshou, had set up. On a table, they found an envelope containing a jade pendant belonging to Lu Yun’s father. In the letter, Luo Junshou expressed his sorrow upon hearing that General Lu had perished. He pledged to defend Jingyang to the death.

After a long search, he had finally found Lu Yun’s father’s remains and had carefully preserved his belongings. Luo Lingyu and Lu Yun’s eyes filled with tears. Both their fathers had fought bravely for the country, and now their children were walking the same path, united in love and fighting side by side. Having found the family inheritance her father left her, Luo Lingyu immediately used the money to buy military rations.

With the supply of food, the morale of the army was greatly boosted. The soldiers raised their arms and shouted, determined to completely defeat Beichu. That day, everyone was filled with excitement. Lu Yun led his men to cautiously search the places that Fan Qingchen often designed to lure them into. They discovered a large cache of saltpeter nearby.

No wonder the Beichu army had been feigning surrender—they were trying to buy time, wear down their strength, and lure them into a trap surrounded by explosives, ready for a decisive strike. Lu Yun revised the battle plan, changing the initial strategy of swift victory to a more cautious approach. He decided to investigate how much saltpeter Beichu still had in reserve and use it against them. That evening, Lu Yun visited Luo Lingyu's tent.

It had been several days since they had seen each other, and now their brief separation felt like a fresh honeymoon. Lu Yun couldn’t help but kiss Luo Lingyu. But in the heat of the moment, he restrained himself. The battle was imminent, and he wanted to ensure he succeeded, so he could marry her properly and honor her as she deserved. Lu Yun temporarily stayed in King Hengyang’s tent.

After Luo Lingyu’s great contribution, Lu Yun intentionally told King Hengyang that he planned to repay her by offering himself. King Hengyang, who already had a close relationship with Lu Yun, saw how well the two were getting along and no longer objected. Fan Qingchen was pleased as he looked over the battle map. At that moment, one of his subordinates reported that Lu Yun’s camp had received reinforcements.

A large shipment of grain had arrived in Jingyang, and it seemed that a young lady was the one who had brought the reinforcements. Fan Qingchen confirmed that Luo Lingyu had indeed arrived in Jingyang. He cried out in disbelief, thinking that Luo Lingyu should have still been longing for him. However, he had underestimated the situation. In Luo Lingyu’s heart, there was no place for him anymore.

Fan Qingchen confirmed that Luo Lingyu had used the Luo family's inheritance to support the front lines in the war. Enraged, he immediately changed his battle plans, deciding to use all of his saltpeter to prepare for a fire attack on Lu Yun. The situation in Jingzhou continued to change, and Lu Yun spent all his time in the military camp, leaving him no time to worry about his appearance.

When Luo Lingyu came to see him, she was taken aback by his unkempt beard and couldn't help but shave him herself. Under Luo Lingyu's gentle care, Lu Yun focused all his energy on finishing the war as soon as possible. With the large battle imminent, neither of them had time for romance. As soon as Lu Yun heard reports of a surprise attack from Beichu, he immediately donned his armor and mounted his horse to fight.

While Lu Yun was away on the battlefield, Fan Qingchen secretly sent another group of men into the military camp to abduct Luo Lingyu. She was poisoned and fell unconscious. When she woke up, she found herself locked in a delicate cage. Upon seeing Fan Qingchen's face, Luo Lingyu was shocked. She had heard from Lu Yun that Fan Qingchen had been killed, but for some unknown reason, he had appeared in Beichu.

Remembering the vile things Fan Qingchen had done to her in the past, Luo Lingyu was terrified. It seemed like he was a demon, always haunting her, never leaving her alone. Now, he still had delusions about her. He believed that since Luo Lingyu had been captured by Beichu, she was now under his control. He had created a golden cage to trap her like an object of amusement. Lu Yun, determined to rescue her, charged into Beichu's camp alone.

He had already suspected that Fan Qingchen was the one who had abducted Luo Lingyu. The situation was urgent, so he ordered King Hengyang to stay in the camp and oversee things. Lu Yun rushed to Beichu’s main camp, killing anyone who stood in his way. He finally reached Fan Qingchen’s tent and saw a wedding invitation on the table, alongside a portrait of Luo Lingyu. In a fit of rage, Lu Yun smashed the portrait.

After all these years, Fan Qingchen still had not let go of his obsession with Luo Lingyu. Seeing the address on the invitation, Lu Yun immediately mounted his horse and sped toward the destination. The surroundings were covered in a blanket of white snow, and there was no one around. After a long ride, Lu Yun saw a large cage in the middle of the snowy field, covered in red wedding cloth. It seemed that Luo Lingyu was trapped inside.

Lu Yun’s heart raced, not knowing what her condition was. When he pulled back the cloth, he saw that Luo Lingyu was still alive. Her feet were shackled with iron chains, and her body was covered in bloodstains. Lu Yun immediately cut the iron lock of the cage with his knife, but as the cage shook, he fell straight into a trap. Fan Qingchen laughed shamelessly.

He tied Lu Yun to a pillar, intending to make him pay for all the suffering he had endured over the years. Fan Qingchen took out a match and told Luo Lingyu to set Lu Yun's body on fire. Luo Lingyu knew she couldn’t light the match, but if she didn’t comply, Lu Yun would be in danger. Seeing the two of them in tears, Fan Qingchen laughed maniacally.

Lu Yun, carefully observing, noticed that Luo Lingyu was trying to break free from her shackles. In order to buy her some time, he kept talking to Fan Qingchen. Luo Lingyu’s feet were badly injured, but she finally managed to break the chains. Taking advantage of Fan Qingchen’s moment of distraction, she swiftly drove a sword into his chest. When Fan Qingchen was gravely wounded, Luo Lingyu quickly walked over to help Lu Yun remove his shackles.

At that moment, Fan Qingchen grabbed a match from the ground, intending to kill all three of them. To protect Luo Lingyu, Lu Yun knocked her unconscious and placed her on a horse. He then rode in the direction of the military camp, with the unconscious Luo Lingyu on the horse. While riding, Lu Yun tried to extinguish the burning fuse. Meanwhile, Fan Qingchen desperately grabbed onto Lu Yun’s hand.

When Luo Lingyu woke up, she immediately began searching for Lu Yun. King Hengyang’s face was grim as he informed her that the area where Lu Yun had been during the avalanche still had no news of him. Luo Lingyu’s heart broke, and she immediately stood up to search for him. King Hengyang, along with many soldiers, rushed up the mountain to continue the search. In the vast snowfields, Luo Lingyu began digging through the snow with her bare hands.

She finally found the pouch that Lu Yun had carried with him. Knowing he must be nearby, she continued to dig, her fingers numbing from the cold. Eventually, she managed to find Lu Yun just in time—had she not found him, he would have frozen to death there. After several days of careful nursing, Lu Yun finally regained his strength. King Hengyang tied a red silk ribbon on their tent to celebrate Lu Yun’s miraculous survival.

Now that Beichu’s power was in decline and no longer as arrogant as before, King Hengyang reminded Lu Yun that it was time to return. He had also prepared generous wedding gifts for Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu. Witnessing their deep affection for one another, King Hengyang, who was fond of both, wished them an early wedding.

When the news reached the Lu household that Lu Yun had returned victorious and that Luo Lingyu had made significant contributions on the front lines, they began preparing for the wedding. Lady Lu called the family together to discuss the arrangements. However, several days passed without hearing from the couple. Unable to wait any longer, Lady Lu called them in front of everyone.

Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu merely said they weren’t in a rush, and neither was clear about the other's feelings. Lady Lu urged them to marry soon, but Lu Yun only said he needed to make proper preparations. In the end, Lady Lu decided to follow their wishes. After leaving his grandmother’s room, Lu Yun couldn’t help but stop Luo Lingyu. He, too, wanted to marry, but he wasn’t sure of Luo Lingyu’s feelings.

At this point, Lu Yun struggled to find the right words. He asked Luo Lingyu if she had seen any wedding dresses lately and if there was one she liked. Luo Lingyu, realizing that Lingxi had been the one to reveal this, felt irritated and purposely asked Lu Yun what he had been busy with. She heard from Yinchuan that Lu Yun had calculated all the auspicious days for this year.

Neither of them was willing to take the first step, so the matter was postponed. Lu Yun sought advice from a few close friends, who suggested he pick an appropriate time and create a romantic atmosphere, perhaps a gentle walk and some flowers. Meanwhile, Luo Lingyu and her girlfriends were also brainstorming ways to make the men take the initiative. Zhou Yangling was also troubled.

Although the emperor had arranged her marriage with King Yi, King Yi had never personally proposed. The group drank and got a bit tipsy, with Chen Xiu still able to walk, so she decided to head home early. Lu Yun and King Yi both went to find their respective women. Zhou Yangling, who rarely drank, was also quite drunk. Lu Yun took Luo Lingyu away, leaving King Yi to escort Zhou Yangling home.

Zhou Yangling asked King Yi if he was willing to marry her. King Yi was confused, thinking their marriage had already been settled, but Zhou Yangling was concerned whether King Yi had agreed out of obligation or genuine affection. When King Yi understood her feelings, he couldn’t help but laugh. He had fallen for her the first time they met, feeling like his heart had been struck by a deer’s antlers.

Later, he witnessed her talent and intelligence, so of course, he was more than willing. Under the blooming flowers and the moonlight, King Yi kissed Zhou Yangling. Meanwhile, Luo Lingyu and her girlfriends were planning to create an opportunity for Lu Yun. Originally, they had planned for artificial rain and fireworks, but Lu Yun’s team had also prepared Kongming lanterns and flower petals.

Both sides had the same idea, and with Chen Xiu and Lingxi’s help, Luo Lingyu set up the artificial rain, just as Lu Yun’s team extinguished the lanterns. Seeing each other’s preparations, Luo Lingyu and Lu Yun finally understood each other’s feelings. With the blessings of their many friends, Luo Lingyu brought forward the carefully crafted wedding crown to ask Lu Yun for marriage. Lu Yun pretended to hesitate for two seconds before eagerly agreeing. Lu Yun’s proposal was successful.

He immediately suggested that they return to Jingyang in a few days. All these years, Lu Yun had remembered Luo Lingyu’s wish to marry into the Luo family, and now he was determined to help her fulfill that dream.

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