Chapter 103: Meeting After Dusk

Lu Ying looked at him, blinked once, then said calmly and matter-of-course, "That's right. I have also accepted another suitor."

Her words took everyone by surprise.

Everyone thought that even a princess from the previous dynasty would hardly utter such shameless words so brazenly.

For a moment, the steward’s face turned blue with confusion as he looked at Lu Ying, his eyes filled with doubt. He thought in shock: Could it be that the suitor has not fully grasped this young lady’s background? If this woman’s character is improper, fickle and untrustworthy, how could she be worthy of entering the Zhang family’s household?

With that thought, he considered going back to clarify the matter.

Seeing the steward’s constantly changing expression, Lu Ying lowered her gaze and said deliberately, "Please take these things back with you. Kindly tell your suitor that if there was ever any agreement between us in the past, I truly do not remember it..."

At this, Lu Ying gave Lu Yun a subtle signal. Lu Yun stepped forward, waved his right hand at the steward without any courtesy, and said, "Gentlemen, we are about to dine. Please leave!"

It was an outright dismissal.

The steward, who had managed the Zhang family’s affairs for many years, had never been treated with such disregard by commoners. He snorted heavily and said, "Let’s go."

Thus, the group departed in a grand procession, carrying those chests away with an imposing air.

Watching the steward leave, Lu Yun turned back to his sister and asked curiously, "Sister, who are they?"

"I don’t know either," Lu Ying replied with a bitter smile. "I really have no idea who this Zhang Feng is."

The matter was indeed strange.

Lu Yun was puzzled.

Lu Ying, uninterested in such irrelevant affairs, turned to Lu Yun with a smile. "You did well today, Ah Yun. Sister will go buy some meat to have a good meal."

Remembering his success earlier, Lu Yun nodded repeatedly, his eyes crinkling in a smile.

Carrying a basket, Lu Ying stepped out of the room.

She had walked only fifty or sixty paces, not yet reaching the street, when she suddenly turned to look at an ox-drawn cart parked about a hundred paces ahead.

After exchanging a glance with the owner of the cart, Lu Ying approached it directly.

Standing in front of the ox cart, she bowed slightly and said, "Master, how are you? Since arriving in Chengdu, Lu Wen has been busy with various affairs and has failed to report to you, which is truly impolite..."

The lean scholar in the cart raised his head and fixed his gaze on Lu Ying.

He seemed momentarily taken aback.

In fact, it was quite difficult for him to react. His ox cart had just arrived and had been parked there for less than a quarter of an hour. Neither the cart, the driver, nor himself was noticeable in any way.

It was understandable that this young lady would not recognize him.

After staring at Lu Ying for a moment, the lean scholar suddenly understood why the master would be interested in her.

He smiled and said, "Young lady, you are indeed exceptionally clever... How about we go see the master together?"

Lu Ying stared at the scholar for a moment, then suddenly asked, "May I ask how the master’s mood is?"

The scholar laughed heartily. "The master is in a good mood. What do you think, young lady? If the master is not in a good mood, what then?"

Lu Ying replied seriously, "If the master is in a good mood, then Lu Wen will go seek an audience. If not, it can wait for another day."

The scholar said happily, "The master is indeed in a very good mood."

With that, he stepped out of the ox cart and said earnestly, "Young lady, your attire is not appropriate for a grand hall. Please wait a moment."

Her current clothes were not only simple but were female garments, hardly fitting the identity of "Lu Wen."

The scholar sized her up and said, "The master's residence has various robes for you, suitable for all seasons, both male and female attire. Just get on the cart—everything will be arranged by the master. Please!"

His tone was resolute this time, clearly unwilling to let Lu Ying refuse.

So, this was someone sent to fetch her!

Lu Ying nodded at him. "Then I will trouble you."

She climbed onto the ox cart.

Since Lu Ying was a young lady, and one chosen by the master himself, the lean scholar had to call for another ox cart to follow behind.

At this time, the sun had not yet begun to set, still shining brightly in the west, radiating warmth.

Sitting in the ox cart, Lu Ying watched the bustling crowds quietly, lost in thought.

After about half an hour winding through the busy traffic, Lu Ying saw before her a place surrounded by high walls.

Looking at the walls, at least three or four meters tall, and the deep, interconnected alleys on both sides, as well as the courtyard houses clearly belonging to the powerful and wealthy, Lu Ying lowered her head.

Soon, the ox cart entered through a side gate.

Passing several gardens, the cart stopped.

The lean scholar called to Lu Ying, "It’s getting late; we shouldn’t delay the master’s important affairs. Let’s go."

Lu Ying did not move immediately. She waved to summon a maid and smiled, "Where are my robes?"

Her tone was that of someone accustomed to this place, speaking with natural authority.

The scholar looked at her for a moment, then summoned another woman. "This is Lu Shi. Take her to change."

"Yes."

Within a quarter of an hour, Lu Ying reappeared.

This time, she wore a pale blue scholar’s robe and a gauze hat.

The lean scholar said, "Let’s go."

Lu Ying followed behind him.

Unexpectedly, after winding through several turns, the scholar led her out through another side gate.

Outside that gate stood a magnificent, spacious carriage.

Four guards in plain clothes stood beside it.

The scholar brought her to the carriage and said, "Please."

Lu Ying looked at him. "Aren’t you coming?"

"The master did not summon me," the scholar smiled at her. "Do you recognize this residence, young lady? The master said that if you have matters in the future, you may come here to seek him."

He bowed to Lu Ying. "I shall see you off here. It’s late; don’t keep the master waiting too long. Please."

Lu Ying pursed her lips, returned the bow, and got onto the carriage.

The carriage was not only spacious but luxurious.

The curtains were made of a gauzy, dreamlike fabric, and the walls were inlaid with three priceless luminous pearls.

The wood used for the seat exuded a faint, subtle fragrance—not sandalwood, but something else altogether.

As Lu Ying looked around, the carriage began to move, heading into the dimming twilight.

After a while, the carriage arrived beside a large lake.

Willows hung low by the water’s edge.

Along the lake stretched a long, winding corridor, curving all the way to the opposite bank.

In the center of this corridor, floating on the lake, was a huge area shaped like a Taiji yin-yang symbol, brightly lit and fragrant with the scent of flowing silk sleeves.

Countless exquisitely dressed men and women strolled about.

Under the glow of the setting sun and lantern light, small paper and wooden boats drifted gently along the two sides of the lake.

These boats were laden with all sorts of fine wines and delicacies.

At this moment, red clouds like burning fire stretched across half the sky, releasing nature’s eternal, unchanging passion upon the world.

Before Lu Ying’s eyes, the large lake, barely visible from afar, was a riot of lights, colors, and scents of rouge and perfume.

Such a scene—Lu Ying had never seen anything like it before; not even in the books of sages was it mentioned.

Getting down from the carriage, Lu Ying nearly stared straight ahead.

Only her usual calm composure prevented her from showing any surprise.

At that moment, a deep, resonant voice sounded, "Let us go."

It was the voice of the nobleman.

Lu Ying quickly turned around.

Behind her, unknown when he had arrived, stood the nobleman, also wearing a gauze hat and a very plain black robe.

His face and eyes were hidden, and he looked like an ordinary young aristocrat.

Though still striking, he no longer exuded that overwhelming presence that made it hard to breathe.

Seeing Lu Ying look at him, the nobleman smiled gently from behind his gauze.

He reached out and took Lu Ying’s hand.

At the touch of his fingers, Lu Ying suddenly stiffened.

She struggled hard to keep herself from showing any abnormal reaction.

Since childhood, she had only held the hands of three men: her father, her brother, and Zeng Changzhi.

Sensing Lu Ying’s stiffness, the nobleman smiled slyly.

Although behind the gauze, Lu Ying could feel his mockery.

She forced a faint smile and said lightly, "Two husbands walking hand in hand might cause people to think of ‘the cut sleeve.’ I think it’s better not to hold hands."

She was truly afraid of losing control, so this excuse was necessary.

The nobleman chuckled softly, "‘Cut sleeve’? That’s a good phrase."

Lu Ying was momentarily stunned.

Then she realized that this man probably never cared about others’ opinions and would not be swayed by a single sentence from her.

While Lu Ying pondered, the nobleman lazily fixed his gaze on her.

His posture was relaxed, casual, yet carried an unmistakable and unyielding persistence.

Lu Ying understood his determination.

Gritting her teeth, she slowly extended her hand and willingly, as he wished, took his hand.

At the moment their fingers intertwined, Lu Ying’s body stiffened again.

She struggled to suppress a tremor.

Feeling the warmth of his palm, she pushed aside distracting thoughts and squeezed his hand firmly.

At that moment, the nobleman let out a mocking laugh and said slowly, "So Lu Ying does know fear after all..."

He admitted she was too clever, always sensing his moods without him needing to say a word.

He once thought she had no respect for him, only boldness.

He leaned close without effort, allowing Lu Ying to smell the faint dragon’s musk on him, mixed with his personal scent—both fresh and intense, distinctly masculine.

This masculine aura was so unfamiliar to Lu Ying, so unsettling...

Swallowing her unease, Lu Ying lowered her gaze and replied, "My lord’s appearance is extraordinary, his bearing majestic, like the sun itself. Only plants and trees remain unmoved by him."

She said once again that he was "extraordinarily handsome," knowing full well he would not like those words, yet she continued to provoke him.

The nobleman stared at her, then suddenly stretched out his arm, pulling Lu Ying’s body close to his.

His other hand gently encircled her waist.

Holding her, he lowered his head and whispered softly into her ear, "Ah Ying, you’ve thrown yourself into my arms... What am I to do now? Your reputation is gone!"

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The month is almost over. Everyone should be casting their pink votes, right? Hehe, I just hope you all help me keep second place in the new book fan votes. You know, rankings often flip at the end of the month, so please help me widen the gap. RQ()