Nan Yang felt she must be dreaming.
The large contingent of light cavalry under the Huaiyang Marquis, which had departed yesterday evening, suddenly emerged like phantoms from the wild forests all around.
Even the two-horse carriage had returned, parked once more by the roadside.
The second fleet of fast carriages that arrived galloping through the night was even more ghostly.
She watched as dozens of swift horses surrounded a carriage that came to a halt. From it stepped a young lord with a calm expression and a tall, slender build like a bamboo stalk, dressed in wide-sleeved robes—the typical attire of a scholar.
From the side, his profile bore a striking seventy percent resemblance to the young Lu Che.
Nan Yang sat in the dirt ditch, the shadows of the tree canopy covering the entire area. The young lord who looked so much like her eldest cousin Lu passed by her, surrounded by seven or eight attendants holding torches, yet none of them noticed her by the roadside.
Nan Yang wondered if she was dreaming.
Grandma had mentioned her eldest cousin Lu during the day, and now she was dreaming of him at night?
But dreaming of him wasn’t particularly noteworthy. They truly hadn’t seen each other in a long time.
Just as she thought this, Grandma stirred in her sleep.
Nan Yang gave Grandma some water to drink and continued to quietly observe.
The two groups met.
On one side, led by the young lord who resembled her eldest cousin Lu, and on the other, Mr. Ming stepped forward.
The young lord who resembled her eldest cousin Lu spoke with polite detachment, “We meet again, Mr. Ming. Is Marquis Xiao present?”
Ming Wenhuan bowed with a smile, “To think it is Prefect Lu himself who has come. This humble official thought I had mistaken you. This area has long since left Shanyang Commandery. For Prefect Lu to lead troops across boundaries, directly into the Capital Region… heh, you’ll face impeachment by the censors.”
Nan Yang: ??
This person who looked so much like her eldest cousin Lu Che from the Lu Family… Prefect Lu of Shanyang Commandery??
She rubbed her eyes in confusion, looking more closely.
The young Prefect Lu from Shanyang Commandery revealed an unfamiliar, tall silhouette under the torchlight, and his voice was unrecognizable from the youthful tones she remembered.
His profile still bore a seventy percent resemblance to her eldest cousin Lu. The more she looked, the more alike they seemed.
Nan Yang grew bewildered. Was she still dreaming?
But this unfamiliar voice mentioned her name.
Lu Che said, “Numerous reports from Shanyang Commandery have already reached the capital, causing shock in both court and country. The one who should face impeachment is likely not this official.”
“Wei Er Niang of the Yongxing Earl’s Wei Family is recuperating from illness in Ping An Town, and I hear she is traveling with Marquis Xiao? I, Lu, am a cousin of the Wei Family, entrusted by them to look after Wei Er Niang on their behalf. I ask Marquis Xiao to release Wei Er Niang.”
【Cousin of the Wei Family】
【Entrusted by the Wei Family to look after Wei Er Niang…】
Was this truly her eldest cousin Lu? Nan Yang stared in shock at the figure ahead for a long while.
Grandma happened to wake up groggily, though it was unclear how much she had heard. Her hand clutching Nan Yang’s sleeve tightened abruptly, her expression turning agitated.
Nan Yang looked down at Grandma, who seemed breathless with emotion, and quickly gave her more water.
Grandma stared fixedly at Lu Che’s back ahead, her voice too hoarse to shout, whispering with a strained breath:
“Lu Dalangjun, it’s really him… Quick… go out… let Lu Dalangjun save us…”
Nan Yang whispered, “Marquis Xiao hasn’t given the order. I don’t know if the two sides will come to blows. Cousin Lu’s men clearly can’t win a fight. If we go out, we’ll just get caught up in it. Grandma, rest a bit. Let’s focus on getting you better first.”
Grandma grew frantic, pushing her desperately, “Go out, go out!”
Nan Yang refused to go.
“If Cousin Lu is indeed Prefect Lu of Shanyang Commandery, he’s known we were in Ping An Town all along. Grandma, why hasn’t he come to visit us even once in all these months?”
Grandma pushed her hand and stopped in place.
In the deep night, torchlight illuminated the official road as the two sides continued their standoff.
Lu Che’s words began to carry a firm edge beneath their softness: “Since Marquis Xiao is here, why not show himself? Where is Wei Er Niang? Wei Er Niang is a female member of the Yongxing Earl’s Mansion, a daughter of a noble family, not to be lightly insulted. I ask Marquis Xiao to show mercy.”
Where is Wei Er Niang?
Including Mr. Ming, many pairs of eyes silently turned toward the roadside ditch shrouded in the shadow of a massive tree canopy behind Lu Che…
The Wei Family’s Second Miss sat quietly in the ditch, her dark, round eyes blinking.
Not far away, by the edge of the wild forest, a tall black horse leisurely swished its tail.
Xiao Chengyan sat beneath the shadow of a huge tree canopy, wiping his long blade with a cloth, occasionally glancing at the commotion in the distance.
As he watched, he raised an eyebrow.
General Di muttered beside him: “Prefect Lu was entrusted by the Wei Family to look after the Wei women, and they are also cousins. He should be familiar with Wei Er Niang. Why isn’t Wei Er Niang moving? It seems they aren’t very close.”
“Send someone,” Xiao Chengyan ordered. “Ask what exactly the relationship is between Lu Che and Wei Er Niang.”
Nan Yang watched helplessly as the torch stopped before her.
The flickering torchlight burning in the darkness illuminated the area within two feet clearly.
A personal guard holding the torch relayed the message: “The master asks Wei Er Niang: Prefect Lu claims to be a cousin of the Wei Family, to have known Wei Er Niang for many years, and to have been entrusted by the Wei Family to look after Wei Er Niang. Are these statements true?”
As the torch moved, the many eyes of those who had pursued from Shanyang Commandery turned toward the roadside.
They finally noticed the figure in the ditch.
Under dozens of unconcealed, shocked gazes, Nan Yang had no choice but to rise from the ditch, brushing off the thick layer of dust on her clothes.
“The Lu Family and the Wei Family are indeed cousins through marriage…”
Nan Yang said slowly, “But I am not very familiar with Prefect Lu himself.”
The torchlight passed through the crowd again as the personal guard hurried back to the wild forest to relay the message.
Darkness fell around the ditch, and the light cavalry who had pursued from Shanyang Commandery grew restless.
After a long silence, Lu Che finally realized the identity of the dusty young lady sitting in the ditch.
Nan Yang tried to help the weakened Grandma up from the ground but couldn’t pull her up after several attempts. Just as she was worrying, a tall, bamboo-like figure appeared before her.
Lu Che’s voice carried a hint of suppressed anger: “Wei Nanyang!”
Nan Yang replied flatly: “Yes.”
The distant torchlight illuminated the two of them, revealing only vague outlines. Nan Yang faced the slender figure that was seventy percent unfamiliar to her, and she imagined he felt similarly unfamiliar looking at her.
When Lu Che spoke again, he had clearly restrained his anger.
His second sentence sounded much calmer.
“You knew I was looking for you. Why didn’t you show yourself?”
Lu Che’s gaze toward her was also unfamiliar.
Following his gaze, Nan Yang looked down at her dust-covered, grimy dress, the color obscured by dirt, and her fingers coated in dust. She raised a hand to touch her hair, smoothing back a few stray strands.
Grandma spoke up hoarsely and nervously in her defense:
“Second Miss was frightened. Lu Dalangjun, the Huaiyang Marquis is extremely fierce. Since falling into his hands, Second Miss hasn’t eaten or slept well, terrified—”
Nan Yang shook her head, signaling Grandma to stop.
The Huaiyang Marquis was indeed difficult to get along with, but not to the point of frightening her into not eating or sleeping well. To tell the truth, the meat and vegetable porridge cooked by the personal guards was quite tasty.
“Not wanting to show myself… simply means I didn’t want to.”
If not pressed directly, Nan Yang actually didn’t want to say it.
It had been too long since they last met, and the sudden encounter felt so unfamiliar that she didn’t know how to address him.
Eldest Cousin Lu, Lu Che, Prefect Lu, brother-in-law?
“So Eldest Cousin Lu is Prefect Lu of Shanyang Commandery. I heard Magistrate Yang mention it a few times before, but I truly never expected it. Congratulations on your youthful talent and soaring success… Last year, I heard from home that Eldest Sister and Eldest Cousin were about to have a joyous occasion, well, congratulations…” Nan Yang trailed off awkwardly.
Whether Lu Che felt awkward or not, she didn’t know.
In any case, Lu Che stood silently facing her for a moment, then turned and left.
Into the night wind, he tossed a sentence, “Since I have accepted the Wei Family’s request, even if it costs me my life, I will take you back to the capital.”
Grandma’s eyes were red, as if she were both crying and laughing: “Second Miss, Lu Dalangjun still holds some affection for you. After all, you were childhood sweethearts for many years, Second Miss, you should fight for him. You can’t just give him up so easily…”
Before Grandma could reveal more of the Wei Family’s secrets, Nan Yang quickly stopped her, “Mr. Ming is listening.”
Grandma abruptly fell silent.
Ming Wenhuan chuckled as he stepped out of the shadows, waving his large palm-leaf fan before turning to report.
“The Wei Family’s Second Miss is indeed interesting.”
Ming Wenhuan sighed, “Last night, my lord said she was interesting, and this humble servant couldn’t quite grasp it. But now, hahaha, the childhood sweetheart Lu Family’s eldest cousin has become a brother-in-law. The Wei Family has many interesting things indeed.”
“Prefect Lu said he would give his life to take Wei Er Niang back to the capital. Yet Wei Er Niang would rather lie in a ditch than meet Prefect Lu. Hahaha, the more I think about it, the more interesting it becomes.”
Xiao Chengyan leisurely wiped his blade, a smile on his lips as he listened, looking equally intrigued.
But the “interesting” he found was clearly different from Mr. Ming’s “interesting.”
“Mr. Ming, tell me. For the sake of one Wei Er Niang, would Lu Che truly be willing to give up his life?”
Ming Wenhuan was about to answer when he suddenly sensed something amiss, gasping sharply, “Marquis Xiao!”
What are you planning to do now!
“Prefect Lu and Magistrate Yang are different! Magistrate Yang comes from a humble background; if Marquis Xiao kidnapped him, so be it. But Prefect Lu is from a prominent family in Shanyang Commandery, highly talented and renowned, the youngest commandery prefect in the dynasty! At his age, governing an entire commandery, he is even known by name before His Majesty!”
“So what.” Xiao Chengyan’s voice was indifferent. “Can’t he be killed?”
The blade gleamed brightly as he wiped it with a soft cloth. He flicked the blade with his finger, and it emitted a clear, resonant hum.
A growing ferocity, mixed with a surging killing intent, spread unrestrained.
The long blade echoed with a hum.
Like the first flickering flames of a raging mountain fire, once ignited, it would spread like wildfire, difficult to extinguish.
“It took six days of hard riding to intercept Wei Er Niang. Whether she returns to the capital or not is up to me.”
Xiao Chengyan said coldly, “What kind of thing is Lu Che? Who allowed him to take Wei Er Niang away?”
Ming Wenhuan: “…”
“Mr. Ming, go ask Wei Er Niang if she is willing to leave with Lu Che.”
If Wei Er Niang is unwilling, then so be it. But if she boards the Lu Family’s carriage…
Xiao Chengyan continued wiping his blade slowly: “Forty-eight light cavalry from Shanyang Commandery, six Lu Family attendants, one carriage driver, plus Lu Che himself. Fifty-six people, all sent to be reborn, fulfilling Prefect Lu’s willingness to sacrifice his life.”
Ming Wenhuan felt a chill run down his spine.
Less than a hundred li from the Capital Region, fifty-six people were killed, including Lu Che, the Prefect of Shanyang Commandery, whose name and background were known to His Majesty!
He was wrong. Just moments ago, he had been laughing at the Wei Family’s misfortune. But tonight, if they failed to stop Marquis Xiao, he and the other officials under Marquis Xiao would become the biggest joke of all…
Ming Wenhuan broke into a cold sweat, leaping to his feet to frantically advise Wei Er Niang—no matter what, she must not be allowed to board the Lu Family’s carriage!
But this lord’s thoughts shifted far too quickly.
Xiao Chengyan’s gaze sharpened, and he suddenly added, “Wait, look at Wei Er Niang again. Why has she lain back down?”
Nan Yang stood beside the Lu Family’s carriage, watching Grandma board.
“Grandma hasn’t been well lately. Please drive slowly on the return journey and make sure to escort her right to the Wei Family’s gate. I’ll trouble you, Elder Cousin, to look after her.”
Grandma was helped into the carriage by two Lu Family attendants, turning back repeatedly. “Second Miss, you should board too.”
Lu Che stood aloofly by the carriage, saying nothing, only nodding slightly to indicate he had heard. He then made a gesture of invitation, urging Nan Yang to board.
Nan Yang shook her head and took a few steps back.
Amidst the astonished looks of the crowd, she turned and walked back to the roadside, feeling along the dirt ditch a few times until she found the cloak spread on the ground.
By the light of the torches, Nan Yang tidied the cloak, brushed off the dust, and laid it out again in a slightly cleaner section of the ditch.
Under the stunned gazes of everyone, she once more peacefully settled into the roadside ditch.
“I won’t be returning to the capital with the Lu Family’s carriage.”
Nan Yang wasn’t actually throwing a tantrum; she spoke much as she usually did. Having slept poorly all night, her reactions were a bit slow, and her tone seemed even more unhurried.
Judging by the stars overhead, it was around the beginning of the fourth watch. She could still sleep for another hour before dawn. Relaxed, she closed her eyes…
Only to be pulled out of the ditch by her arm.
Lu Che’s expression was far from pleasant. For a moment, his eyes held a chill, as if he were furious but forcibly suppressing it.
He released her arm as soon as he pulled her from the ditch, stepping back two paces to maintain a proper distance.
“Why must you act like this!” Lu Che’s voice was as cold as ice.
“Wei Nanyang, remember your status as a daughter of the Wei Family. Throwing tantrums and rolling on the ground is the behavior of rustic village women. You come from a noble family—where is your upbringing? Why must you imitate those wild, unruly women?”
Nan Yang blinked in confusion. “Huh?”
Who was throwing a tantrum and rolling on the ground? She was just exhausted and wanted to lie down for a nap. Was that not allowed?
She turned to lie back in the ditch.
Before she could settle, her arm was grasped again. “Wei Nanyang!”
“There’s no need for this.” Lu Che repeated these four words, as if having realized something, suddenly growing completely calm.
“I don’t know how your birth mother has taught you over the years, leading you astray. But the Wei Family must not lose its proper dignity.”
“Whatever you want, whatever you demand, you need not resort to undignified, rustic methods to force or demand it. You can speak your requests directly. As long as they are not overly unreasonable fantasies, I will do my best to fulfill them for you.”
Lu Che finished speaking in an utterly calm tone, then let out a low sigh:
“Grow up, Nan Yang. Board the carriage.”
Nan Yang looked down at her grasped arm and thought for a moment. “First, let go.”
Lu Che released her and stepped back two paces.
Satisfied, Nan Yang made her second request: “You may leave now.”
“…” Lu Che pressed his lips together.
Not only did he not leave, he took a step closer.
And so, inexplicably, the two stood by the roadside, locked in a standoff.
This sudden standoff might have seemed like a silent insistence in the other party’s eyes;
But for Nan Yang, it only meant losing another quarter of an hour of sleep tonight…
As both sides remained deadlocked, Nan Yang swayed drowsily, feeling an unusual sense of unease and restlessness.
Just as she wondered how to end this, a blinding white light flashed ahead.
The dazzling glow of Glazed Lamps illuminated the night sky.
Eight Glazed Lamps led the way, illuminating a spacious and luxurious double-horse carriage that slowly approached through the darkness and stopped before Nan Yang.
Ming Wenhuan sat at the front of the carriage, waving a large palm-leaf fan with apparent ease, though his palms were damp with cold sweat.
He had timed his arrival to pick up the person. Fifty-six lives were at stake!
Pointing the large fan toward the carriage door, Mr. Ming tentatively asked, “Wei Erniangzi, shall we board the carriage?”