Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Yun Wan’s teacup clattered onto the carpet, its dull thud shattering the room’s tranquility.

Her eyes instantly reddened, and she froze: "You... Your Highness... what are you saying?"

Lu Yu looked weary as he repeated, "Yesterday was the first day of the month. Why didn’t you come to me?"

Yun Wan’s heart swelled with grievance, her eyes welling with tears. She wrung her hands and whispered, "Don’t you... don’t you dislike me? I didn’t want to bother you."

Lu Yu frowned, deep in thought.

He raised his slightly glazed eyes, shook his head with a cold expression, and stated formally: "I don’t dislike you."

Realizing Lu Yu was truly drunk, Yun Wan began to timidly list her accusations, counting them off on her fingers.

"Then if you don’t dislike me... why do you always seem unhappy when you see me? You won’t let me serve you, you avoid me at meals, and you won’t let me help you change clothes. Why are you so harsh with me?"

Lu Yu tilted his head, pondering for a long time before saying something that made Yun Wan’s cheeks instantly flush crimson.

"Because you're too fragrant."

Though it sounded like something a flirt would say, Lu Yu sat properly on the edge of the bed, hands on his knees, his voice low and earnest, like a student answering a teacher’s question in a classroom.

Yun Wan’s cheeks burned crimson. "Do... do you know what you’re saying?"

Lu Yu nodded firmly.

"Will you answer whatever I ask?"

"Yes."

Yun Wan asked the question buried deepest in her heart, urgently pressing, "Do you truly not remember me?"

Lu Yu shook his head. "I’ve never seen you before."

As expected, it was still the same.

Yun Wan rubbed her tear-filled eyes and whispered, "It’s late. Let me take you back to your room."

Lu Yu’s broad-shouldered figure remained seated on the bed. Yun Wan could barely suppress the urge to throw herself into his embrace, to listen to his heartbeat and feel the warmth of his body.

But for now, she could only gently support his arm and help him rise from the bed.

"I’m not going back. I’m staying here."

Lu Yu coldly pulled his arm back, though his voice carried a faint, almost imperceptible note of complaint.

Yun Wan asked in disbelief, "Really?"

Lu Yu, likely impatient, didn’t respond.

Yun Wan’s emotions tonight were like waves in a storm, rising and falling unpredictably. Now, it felt as if she had stepped into a wonderful dream.

She looked up cautiously into Lu Yu’s eyes and said softly, "Shall I fetch your sleeping robes?"

Lu Yu nodded, watching as Yun Wan left the room.

He sat quietly by the bed, waiting for her return, his eyes fixed on the doorway. Suddenly, something behind him seemed to grab the pouch hanging from his waist.

He slowly turned his head to find a baby who had woken up at some point, lying on the bed, fingers hooked around his ornamental tassel. The little one’s round face broke into an excited smile, drooling and cooing excitedly.

What a messy little one.

Lu Yu pried Xiao Bao’s fingers off the ornamental tassel on his pouch. A playful urge struck him, and he poked the baby’s forehead with a finger, making the little one topple over onto the bed.

Instead of crying, Xiao Bao chuckled happily.

Lu Yu ignored him and continued sitting properly by the bed, waiting for Yun Wan.

But the little one behind him wouldn't allow it.

After that, the two fell into a cycle: Xiao Bao crawling to grab Lu Yu’s ornamental tassel, and Lu Yu pushing him away with displeasure.

When Yun Wan returned, she was met with this touching scene of father and son bonding.

Xiao Bao, likely in a phase of needing his mother, looked up at Yun Wan and instantly burst into loud, plaintive wails that filled the room.

Yun Wan hurried over, about to pick up the little one.

Lu Yu called out loudly toward the door, "Yuan Yuan, take the child away."

Yuan Yuan appeared almost instantly before Yun Wan, took the whimpering Xiao Bao, bowed respectfully to Lu Yu, and left the room.

Silence fell instantly.

Yun Wan peered in the direction the child had been taken and muttered with dissatisfaction, "Xiao Bao is still crying."

As she turned her head, she saw that Lu Yu had already changed into his sleeping robes. He still sat upright on the bed, his eyes looking at her with confusion, the small mole under his left eye enhancing his innocent appearance.

Well, it must be that she owed debts to this father and son in her past life.

Yun Wan prepared a warm cloth and slowly walked over to Lu Yu, saying gently, "Close your eyes, Your Highness. Let me clean your face."

Lu Yu didn’t speak. Yun Wan assumed he agreed and was about to start when her arm was suddenly grabbed by Lu Yu.

Before she could react, she was pulled against the man’s solid chest.

"Lu... what are you doing?"

Before Yun Wan could process it, the room was suddenly dark, and she was securely enveloped in Lu Yu’s embrace.

Her body trembled slightly. Remembering Lu Yu’s earlier accusations, her eyes reddened as she whispered, "Today isn’t the first or the fifteenth..."

Lu Yu’s low voice sounded above her head: "Sleep."

After a moment, Lu Yu added, "Remember to come find me on the first and fifteenth next month."

Yun Wan pressed her lips together, containing her happiness, and quietly murmured in agreement.

Soon, Lu Yu’s steady breathing filled the room.

It all felt like a dream.

Though they had been close many times in the northwest, tonight Yun Wan felt tense throughout.

She didn’t dare move, even her breathing became quiet, afraid of waking Lu Yu.

She tilted her head slightly, nestling against Lu Yu’s neck, secretly breathing in the blend of orchid scent and alcohol on him, feeling the warmth of his body.

Yun Wan was too excited to fall asleep. Only after Lu Yu had fallen into a deep sleep late at night did she gently lift her numb arm and softly trace his lips.

This was her beloved—her A-Yu, whom she hadn’t held in her arms for eleven months.

Yun Wan dug her nails into her palm to stay awake, feeling like a little mouse stealing oil from a lamp, unwilling to close her eyes.

As drowsiness finally overcame her, she snuggled closer into Lu Yu’s arms, stole a kiss on his jaw, and whispered with a smile, “A-Yu, I’m so happy today. Goodnight.”

The next day, in the study.

Lu Yan, the personal guard, glanced at the hourglass, then turned to look at Lu Yu.

The young master hadn’t moved for two full hours. He hadn’t even practiced his swordsmanship today, instead holding a woman’s hair ribbon the entire time.

On the paper spread across the desk, a line of powerful, bold calligraphy read: “Nurturing the heart requires few desires.”

Earlier, when Lu Yan went to pour tea, he noticed the books on the desk were all works like the *Book of Rites* and the *Analects*.

Could something have happened last night...

Suddenly, Lu Yu moved. He picked up a brush, and Lu Yan hurried forward to prepare the ink and pour tea.

But then, as if struck by some sudden trance, Lu Yu froze again. The ink dripping from the brush in his hand had already seeped into the paper.

Lu Yan cautiously asked, “Did you not rest well last night, Young Master?”

Thud—

Lu Yu didn’t respond, but the brush in his hand fell onto the desk.

A chill ran down Lu Yan’s spine, and sweat beaded on his forehead. He was considering whether to kneel and beg for mercy when Lu Yu finally spoke.

“What time did I return last night?”

Lu Yan wiped the sweat from his brow. “Around 10:45 PM.”

“Did I walk to the bedchamber on my own?”

“Yes, I couldn’t stop you. You said...”

Lu Yan hesitated, too afraid to continue.

Lu Yu’s voice deepened. “Speak.”

“You said you wanted to ask Miss Yun... why she hadn’t come to find you.”

Lu Yu’s typically stern expression instantly shattered.

He felt as though he had lost his mind, especially when he woke up in the morning to find Yun Wan sleeping soundly in his arms, with no memory of what had happened the night before.

As Lu Yu grew increasingly silent, the atmosphere in the room turned frosty.

Suddenly, a soft knock came from outside the door.

“Your Highness, it’s time to dress. His Majesty has summoned you for a meal today.”

Lu Yan watched as Lu Yu strode out of the study and let out a quiet sigh of relief.

---

In Chenggong Palace.

“Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty.”

“Chengyu, rise quickly. Tell me, how does this painting of mine look?” the emperor said with a smile.

Three years ago, during a meal with Lu Yu, the emperor had been inspired to bestow upon him the courtesy name “Chengyu.” An elder’s gift could not be refused, especially when it came from the emperor himself, so Lu Yu had accepted it gladly.

Lu Yu looked up and saw the emperor holding a portrait of a beauty—one without a face.

The emperor, likely due to his advancing age, no longer appeared as thin as he had in previous years. He had grown healthier, but a hint of melancholy always lingered between his brows.

Today, however, holding the painting, he seemed unusually joyful.

Lu Yu replied respectfully, “Since Your Majesty likes it, why not paint the beauty’s face?”

The emperor chuckled and patted his shoulder. “Naturally, everyone sees beauty differently. No one can capture the beauty I envision.”

Seated at the round table, the emperor brought up Nanny Yao. “Chengyu, you’ve truly grown up. When Nanny Yao reported to me, she mentioned how full of energy you are. I think it’s time to consider your marriage plans.”

Lu Yu’s expression remained calm. “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty,” he said, though his fingers fidgeted with his thumb ring.

The emperor smiled like a kindly elder. “I remember when I was learning swordsmanship at your mother’s family home, your mother was my young senior sister. In the blink of an eye, you’ve grown so much.”

“You look so much like her,” the emperor said, his eyes filled with nostalgia as he gazed at Lu Yu, as if seeing a departed loved one. But his tone suddenly turned harsh. “I just don’t understand why she had to join Lu Yizhi in death.”

Hearing his own father spoken of with disdain, Lu Yu fell silent for a long moment before saying, “My mother was a gentle person.”

The emperor shook his head and continued, “How is your stepmother treating you? After your mother passed away, we had to appoint a new lady of the house to raise you. Lady Wang, who also has a son, seemed like a suitable motherly figure.”

Lu Yu nodded. “Lady Wang has treated me well.”

Just then, the chief eunuch, Li Hua, brought in several brocade boxes.

Lu Yu looked puzzled as the emperor gently patted his shoulder.

“These are the impeachment letters and account books from the Northwest Province. All the evidence is here. Depart for the Northwest immediately and quietly escort the accused back to the capital.”

---

After the midday meal, the emperor watched Lu Yu’s retreating figure before turning and entering a secret room.

As candlelight illuminated the room, a portrait of a beauty on the wall came into view.

The emperor’s eyes filled with obsession and longing as he whispered, “Little senior sister, my Nuo Nuo, our son has grown up.”

---

“Can I... also go to the Northwest with... His Highness?”