Mo Zhao thought of that elegant young man beneath the peach tree, and her face suddenly flushed.
"Mr. Lu is charming, dignified, and refined—nothing like what people say about him outside!"
"Yes, yes! His smile is truly captivating!"
After the flower-viewing banquet ended, she dared not conceal anything and immediately reported every detail of the event to her parents. Upon hearing it, her mother flew into a rage, ordering the immediate dismissal of all the maids serving her third sister and banishing the sister to their ancestral home in Jianning. Only after their grandmother pleaded tearfully was the punishment reduced to a year of secluded reflection in the family temple, as a warning to others. No one could utter a word in her defense.
Once everything was settled, her mother hugged her tightly, murmuring with lingering fear, "Thank heavens we discovered it early. If your sister’s scheme had succeeded that day, no respectable family in the capital would dare marry you. Your entire life would have been ruined."
Alas, Mr. Lu was already betrothed, so Mo Zhao could only suppress the ripples in her heart.
The group of young girls chattered away about the rumors circulating in town.
"Mo Zhao, why is your face so red? Did you take a fancy to some young master at the banquet?"
"Nonsense! Watch me pinch your mouth for that!"
The girls' playful voices drifted over, but Xiao Zheng remained expressionless as she sipped her tea.
She had always known that his smile was captivating.
Beside her, her guards Li Tie and Wang Qing exchanged glances, frowning.
"General, what does Mr. Lu think he's doing? The Emperor has already arranged his marriage, yet he still attends that blasted flower-viewing banquet, flirting left and right! He clearly has no respect for you. Let me go teach him a lesson!"
Xiao Zheng raised her hand.
"Mind your manners. My affairs with him are my own to handle. Stay out of it."
"Fine."
Even a blind man could see how protective the general was of Mr. Lu.
These past few days, a few stubborn young officers from the imperial army had dared to challenge her, only to be dragged onto the training grounds by the general. Their agonized screams sent chills down everyone’s spines, and rumor had it they still couldn’t leave their beds. Some officers even tried forming factions to isolate the general—ridiculous. The moment she dangled a small reward, infighting broke out among them.
In their eyes, the general was both brave and brilliant, deserving the finest man in the world! Mr. Lu might be handsome, but he was all looks and no substance. How dare he flirt behind the general’s back? Utterly ungrateful!
Xiao Zheng shook her head, pushing aside the chaotic thoughts, and focused on the sounds from the neighboring room.
The compartment to her right had been silent the entire time. The woman inside no longer stepped out, having only ordered a pot of tea before falling quiet again, with no signs of visitors.
Half an incense stick later, a veiled woman hurriedly left the private room.
Xiao Zheng frowned, instructing her guards to continue tailing her before entering the tea room herself. The setup was identical to the others, with only one cup on the table—no evidence of another guest.
Had the mastermind behind this sensed something and avoided showing up?
To avoid alerting anyone, Xiao Zheng took a few detours through the streets after leaving the teahouse, ensuring no one followed before slipping back into the general’s residence.
---
The next day, Mr. Lu received news of Xiao Zheng’s return. He sent Liu Yao to deliver a note, inviting her to meet at the Wanhua Pavilion in the city.
"Liu Yao, have you been slacking in your duties? Why do I only have these few sets of clothes?"
Liu Yao scratched his head, puzzled. As far as he remembered, his master had never cared much about attire.
"We left in a hurry, so we only packed these. Should I call a tailor to make new ones?"
Mr. Lu coughed lightly.
"Never mind, this isn’t your expertise anyway. Matron Yang will arrive in ten days—she must have prepared new clothes for me. Liu Yao, don’t you think I’ve grown just a little taller? My sleeves seem shorter."
Liu Yao stepped closer, measuring their heights with his hand before shaking his head honestly.
"I don’t see it."
Mr. Lu shot him an exasperated look.
"Then you must be blind!"
---
The next day, the sky was overcast, but it did nothing to dampen Mr. Lu’s spirits.
He arrived early at Wanhua Pavilion with Liu Yao. He had visited this restaurant once with Zhou Qingyuan—the dishes were quite good, and he hoped Xiao Zheng would like them too.
Just as the appointed time approached, Xiao Zheng rushed in. Dressed in a crisp men’s outfit, her movements were swift and assured, though her hurried pace had left strands of hair clinging to her sweat-dampened cheeks.
"My apologies for keeping you waiting."
Her face burned as if on fire, the heat spreading to her ears. Fortunately, her naturally tanned skin masked the flush of embarrassment.
Mr. Lu stood, offering a handkerchief from his sleeve.
"No need to apologize. Here, wipe your sweat. Have some tea—was there urgent business at the barracks?"
Xiao Zheng cleared her throat.
"Yes, but it’s all settled now."
Outside, Xi'er fidgeted anxiously, peeking into the room, her heart aching for her general.
Ever since receiving Mr. Lu’s invitation, the general’s mood had been as unpredictable as June weather—bright one moment, gloomy the next. At first, upon hearing the news, her lips curled into an irrepressible smile, her eyes sparkling with joy. But soon, like the moon obscured by clouds, she grew restless, pacing back and forth until the floor tiles nearly bore her footprints.
The maids watching her knew—the general had fallen for him. After much coaxing, they finally convinced her to change into women’s attire. Xi’er eagerly styled her hair into an elegant updo, applying rouge to highlight her features and a touch of vermilion to her lips. But when Xiao Zheng saw the poised, radiant woman in the mirror, hesitation flickered in her eyes. At the last moment, she abruptly washed off the makeup and changed back into men’s clothes, her hair still damp at the temples.
Xi’er could only stomp her foot in frustration, muttering to herself, "Why must the general torment herself like this? Who knows if Mr. Lu will mind? This is truly maddening!"
Inside the private room, an inexplicable tension lingered. Though the two were no strangers and had always gotten along well before, today, an awkwardness hung in the air.
Mr. Lu’s fingers twitched unconsciously at his sides. He turned his head slightly, avoiding her gaze in an attempt to hide his discomfort.
"So… I asked you here today to discuss our… engagement."
Xiao Zheng closed her eyes. The memory of that woman’s playful voice made her heart skip a beat before sinking like a stone. Steeling herself, she cut him off.
"I understand this marriage isn't what you truly desire, but it was decreed by His Majesty's golden words. By reason and propriety, we must at least maintain appearances for now. In the future, if you take a liking to any lady within this estate, just say the word—bring her in without hesitation. I won’t stand in your way."
Xiao Zheng's words felt like a bucket of icy water, ruthlessly dousing the fervor in Lu Chao's heart. The coming-of-age ceremony he had swallowed back in his throat now sank deeper, replaced by a surge of frustration rising to his lips. So this was all just his own wishful thinking.
He stood up to leave, pausing at the doorway before reason made him turn back.
Xiao Zheng's lonely silhouette stood rigid, his knuckles whitening around the teacup from sheer tension. Lu Chao thought of the roasted rabbit leg they'd shared that night in Yingchuan, then of the jar of honey. Taking a deep breath, he walked back.
Damn these feudal shackles and this arranged marriage! She had every right to love someone else—he couldn’t blame her for that.
Gulping down half the tea in one go, he spoke coldly.
"Who is it?"
Xiao Zheng stared at him blankly, bewildered.
"Who’s the one you love? Someone from the military camp? Deputy General Li? Staff Officer Qin? Or—"
Xiao Zheng cut him off again. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
"If you’re truly in love, I’ll beg Prince Kang to grant your wish. You don’t need to pretend it’s for my sake by pushing concubines on me."
Lu Chao’s brows knitted tightly, as if tangled in a thousand unspoken thoughts, his voice laced with unwillingness.
