Lu Meng had no idea that Wu Dagou was about to catch up and bite her again. She had enjoyed herself thoroughly but was also utterly exhausted, lying on the bed and sleeping so deeply that day and night seemed to lose all meaning.
Before heading to court, Wu Linxuan had planned to confront Madame Meng, but after the morning session, he tucked his tail and returned to the prince’s residence.
At today’s morning court, Emperor Yan’an unleashed his fury on the Sixth Prince, Wu Linjing. Thanks to Wu Linxuan’s relentless efforts, some issues had arisen with people in a distant province under Wu Linjing’s watch, and to make matters worse, part of the palace had collapsed the previous night.
Wu Linjing initially tried to pin the blame on Wu Linxuan, but since the collapsed section was built after Wu Linjing took over, there was no way to fault Wu Linxuan.
Originally, this was a perfect opportunity to smoothly hand the project back to Wu Linxuan, but the Minister of Works, that fool, stepped forward and spoke up. The emperor instantly felt betrayed and foolishly played by his sons. Coupled with recent troubles among the imperial consorts, he exploded in rage in the Dragon Court.
In the end, the task was handed over to the Fourth Prince, Wu Lincheng.
Wu Linxuan was furious at the Minister of Works, but seeing Wu Lincheng’s smug face, his mind quickly turned, and he devised a new plan.
A house that wasn’t properly built could collapse once, and it could collapse twice just as easily.
Wu Linxuan had no intention of taking on the palace project anymore. Letting it become a grave for the Fourth Prince wasn’t a bad idea at all.
Bearing the brunt of Emperor Yan’an’s wrath, Wu Linxuan “tucked his tail” and returned to the prince’s residence. Of course, he avoided visiting General Zhennan’s mansion—going there now would be too risky, as someone with ill intentions might catch him and accuse him of forming factions or harboring sinister motives.
His passion had been completely extinguished by the emperor’s scolding. How could he lose his focus over a woman?
He had already been with her; there was no need to dwell on her in his dreams. Besides, the world was not made up of just one Zhangsun Lumo. Wu Linxuan himself kept a harem of beauties in his own mansion.
One of them was even an unblemished maiden who had never bled on her wedding night—did Wu Linxuan really care that much?
He ordered Chen Yuan to put away the prepared gifts, spread out a sheet of drawing paper, and carefully sketched a landscape painting. His heart immediately calmed to a tranquil stillness.
This was what he truly desired.
As if he had truly slept it off, Wu Linxuan completely forgot about Madame Meng and focused entirely on his affairs at the residence, preparing for the autumn hunt, never once mentioning her again.
It was as if, for others, a smile upon meeting could wash away old grudges, but for them, a single night together meant they would forget each other forever.
Even Chen Yuan and Xin Ya felt that Madame Meng had missed her chance to strike while the iron was hot—now the prince’s side had truly cooled off.
Meanwhile, Lu Meng slept for a whole day and night, waking refreshed the next morning. After breakfast, she let her hair down and leisurely fed the fish, holding fish food in her hands. She looked as carefree as a retired old gentleman.
Zhangsun Xianyun and Feng Beiyi were set to depart in a few days, and all their belongings were ready.
With some extra time on her hands, Zhangsun Xianyun stayed to keep Lu Meng company. The two sisters closed the door behind them and spoke in hushed tones—words that no outsider was meant to hear, words that would make anyone’s jaw drop.
Several days passed without the slightest stir from the Jian’an Prince’s Mansion, and Zhangsun Xianyun began to worry about her younger sister.
“You said you consummated your marriage with the Jian’an Prince that night… so why hasn’t he sent anyone over these past few days?”
After all, he was the illustrious Jian’an Prince. If he had taken a concubine, surely there would be gifts, or at least a word sent her way?
A few days ago, Zhangsun Xianyun still thought the Jian’an Prince might not be indifferent to her sister—after all, he had even gone to the Wenhua Tower to find her. But now, it seemed he didn’t care about her at all.
Lu Meng responded with a hum, then smiled.
She said, “Sister, this is exactly what I was telling you—most men are like this by nature.”
“Not all men are as deeply devoted as your husband, who falls head over heels after just one night. The Jian’an Prince may have everything in his mind, but women aren’t one of them.”
“And even if he wanted a woman, he wouldn’t be lacking me.”
“Sister, there’s no need to worry about me. I don’t care about this.”
Lu Meng smiled and said, “You know about the night I consummated with the Jian’an Prince and then drank the contraceptive soup, right?”
Such matters were impossible to keep hidden in the General’s Mansion, and Lu Meng never intended to hide it from Zhangsun Xianyun anyway.
Zhangsun Xianyun was about to ask the very question she and Feng Beiyi had been pondering: they both wanted children but couldn’t have any. She couldn’t understand why her sister, who didn’t have to go to war, refused to have a child.
Could it be, as Feng Beiyi suggested, that her sister didn’t really like the Jian’an Prince?
“I know,” Zhangsun Xianyun said. “But why? You… don’t like the Jian’an Prince?”
Was she planning to ask for a divorce later by refusing to bear his child?
“I do like him,” Lu Meng said. “He’s so handsome—you’ve seen him yourself, haven’t you?”
Zhangsun Xianyun was speechless—describing a man as “handsome” felt a little odd to her.
Lu Meng continued, “I like him a lot. The Jian’an Prince is not only good-looking but also wealthy, noble in status, and in bed…”
Lu Meng wanted to say he was good in bed. She was still a virgin and worried about getting hurt, but even though he was inexperienced, he knew how to follow instructions.
However, no matter how ‘progressive’ Zhangsun Xianyun was, some things were still hard to accept.
So Lu Meng said, “I like him, so don’t worry, sister.”
“But I don’t want to have a child yet—I’m still young.” Lu Meng stuck her tongue out at Zhangsun Xianyun. “I haven’t even grown up myself. What would I do if I had a child now?”
“Besides, sister, I can’t protect myself.”
Lu Meng added, “I still need you and your husband to protect me. If I had a child, would I expect you two to protect me then?”
“If you had a child, would the Jian’an Prince treat you badly? You’re the only woman in the mansion. This is the eldest son…”
“Illegitimate eldest son,” Lu Meng corrected.
“Maybe even the illegitimate eldest daughter.”
There was also the risk of giving birth to a deformed little monster—missing limbs or with a twisted face—or even a child with brain damage.
In ancient times, there were no prenatal screenings; these risks were no joke.
Most importantly, childbirth was life-threatening, and Lu Meng wasn’t willing to risk her life.
But she had no intention of imposing this kind of mindset on Zhangsun Xianyun, because for Zhangsun Xianyun and Feng Beiyi, having a child born from their love was a wonderful and happy thing. Zhangsun Xianyun wasn’t the type to just stay at home, eating and sleeping all day. She was active, and even if the child was born from a concubine and the birth was difficult, it wouldn’t be so severe as to be unbearable.
So Lu Meng seized upon the fact that being born to a concubine was something everyone in ancient times could accept and said, “Look at Zhangsun Dou Dou—she still can’t shake off her status as a child born to a concubine. Which of the young ladies in the city would even play with her?”
“Zhangsun… Dou Dou?” Zhangsun Xianyun looked confused. “Are there other Zhangsun families in the city?”
Lu Meng smacked her forehead and said, “You know, that Zhangsun…”
Oh my god, Zhangsun Dou Dou isn’t really called Zhangsun Dou Dou, what’s her real name again?
“The child born to Madam Chen, our father’s daughter from a concubine.”
“Zhangsun Lingling?” Zhangsun Xianyun smiled helplessly. “How could you forget her name?”
“Anyway, it’s like this—legitimate and illegitimate children are different, just like slaves get branded with marks.”
Lu Meng thought to herself: Damn it, I’m busting my ass to have a kid, and yet that kid gets branded like a pig as “lowly,” struggling to rise all their life. What kind of incurable disease makes someone want to suffer like that and even bring another kid into this world to share the burden?
“But the Prince of Jian’an hasn’t taken any other women as wives yet. There’s still a chance he might legitimize you.”
Zhangsun Xianyun wasn’t just talking nonsense; she said earnestly, “With me and your brother-in-law around, you don’t have to be afraid.”
“I’m not afraid,” Lu Meng said. “And I don’t care about titles or status.”
“Sis, haven’t you realized after all these days, I don’t actually want to be anyone’s woman—I just want to live freely and carelessly.”
Of course, Zhangsun Xianyun saw through her. She had never met a woman whose thoughts were so revolutionary, whose attitude toward life was so calm yet so wild.
She couldn’t imagine what her sister had been through all these years to become like this, and the more Zhangsun Xianyun thought about it, the more her heart ached.
But if you don’t fight or compete, doesn’t that mean you’re just suffering abuse?
She felt her sister was too naive. If she had a child, even if the child was born to a concubine, the Prince of Jian’an wouldn’t treat her the way he did now—letting his concubines leave the palace for days without sending anyone to check on them.
Lu Meng looked at Zhangsun Xianyun and knew exactly what she was thinking. Her scalp tingled; the clash between ancient and modern mindsets was truly explosive.
She patiently explained, “The Prince of Jian’an married me because he was competing with the Fourth Prince, not because he liked me.”
“He will marry other women sooner or later, like other women, and like them better. Don’t you understand, sister? I don’t want to fight for any position in his heart or have children for him. The best, most comfortable life for me is to be one of his concubines, but not be taken seriously.”
“That way, I have you and my brother-in-law, I have freedom, and I have his promise: ‘Take whatever gold and silver you want from the mansion, live a life of honor and ease.’ That’s the life I want.”
“I just want to live like this—raising fish, rocking in a chair, carefree and at peace.”
Even after all these days of Lu Meng subtly instilling her “laid-back ideal” into Zhangsun Xianyun, hearing this still left Zhangsun Xianyun stunned and speechless.
It’s like being born into this world with no choice but to run endlessly, chasing fame and fortune, searching for a good place to belong. Everyone does this. But her own younger sister? She chased nothing at all. She just rolled over to the side and started playing with ants.
“All right, sister, stop worrying about me. In a couple of days, you and brother-in-law will set off. Have you packed everything you need?”
Zhangsun Xianyun always felt that her sister’s mindset was wrong in every way. But if Prince Jian’an was truly destined to marry many women, then her sister couldn’t possibly be as emotionally in sync with him as she was with Feng Beiyi… Not falling in love, not bearing children—maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing.
Zhangsun Xianyun grasped Lu Meng’s hand and said, “Yinyin, I still think your way of thinking is off. If you really don’t like Prince Jian’an, once he marries the woman he fancies, you can always ask for a divorce.”
Lu Meng hugged Zhangsun Xianyun, deeply touched. Even though Zhangsun Xianyun could never truly understand her thoughts, she was still trying her best to consider her feelings.
But this was a romance novel where the female lead and male lead were supposed to quarrel and divorce?
That would only pique the male lead’s interest. Who knew what kind of drama would unfold then? Even if a divorce was allowed, it would just be jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
In this world, whichever man she married, it was like leaving one den of wolves only to enter a tiger’s lair.
But Lu Meng said no more, afraid she’d fry Zhangsun Xianyun’s brain with her strange ideas.
She agreed, “Okay, I’ll keep an eye on things. I’ll keep my options open. Once he’s married, if I find someone I like, I’ll just kick him to the curb.”
Zhangsun Xianyun chuckled, “You really don’t know how Madam Chen has treated you all these years to make you so reckless and carefree.”
She didn’t say outright that Lu Meng was already resigned to her fate, but it was a gentle way of putting it.
“Madam Chen has been trying to get in good with the town’s ladies, to find a good match for Zhangsun Doudou… Ah, you’ve already led me off track.”
Zhangsun Xianyun said, “She’s trying to find a good marriage for Zhangsun Lingling. Once I help you get justice, they’ll be left disappointed.”
Lu Meng couldn’t be bothered with such things. She remembered that in the story, the female lead’s younger half-sister was wholeheartedly set on marrying Prince Jian’an, the big bad wolf.
What happened next… she couldn’t recall.
Anyway, it didn’t concern her much, so she just humored Zhangsun Xianyun with vague responses.
After hearing her sister’s explanation, Zhangsun Xianyun stopped worrying about her sister’s unhappy marriage and instead began discussing with Feng Beiyi what kind of match would be suitable for her sister after she and Prince Jian’an divorced.
Lu Meng knew nothing of this. She was enjoying herself at the general’s mansion and couldn’t have been more comfortable.
Meanwhile, Wu Linxuan, the one “planned to divorce,” was also living peacefully within the mansion. He was convinced, “I absolutely will not let myself be blinded by lust!”
He never asked a single question like, “Has Madam Meng returned yet?”
But!
No matter how hard he tried to act tough, it didn’t compare to how hard his body tightened whenever he thought of Madam Meng.
He often found himself lost in thought, staring at his book, then pressing his fingers against the throbbing veins at his temples, trying to push them back in.
Writing characters while distracted, recalling that wild, crazy night, he felt as if even the strokes on the paper had become sensuous, almost as if the characters themselves were lying down like jade bodies, “yin. lascivious.”
Once you get a taste of something like this, only then do you truly know.
Abuse—whether physical or emotional—is like domestic violence: it only exists as zero times or countless times. Especially for someone like Wu Linxuan at his age, who takes a bath twice a day without fail, switches all his tea to iced water, and even when the temperatures begin to drop in late August, insists on keeping the windows open at night, forbidding the maids from closing them—none of this could ease the restless heat inside him. One day, in a sudden fit of frustration, he slammed down the brush he was using to paint a landscape scroll.
The rivers and mountains he had been carefully sketching, which together resembled the face of a beautiful woman, crumpled as he tossed the scroll onto the floor.
He asked Chen Yuan, “When will the General of the Southern Garrisons depart for the southern border?”
Chen Yuan’s eyelids twitched. These days, the prince’s brooding temperament weighed so heavily on him that he often felt short of breath.
At this moment, it felt like the looming sword hanging over his head had finally fallen.
“Death” is tragic, but worrying about “death” all the time is even more exhausting.
Chen Yuan quickly stepped forward and answered, “At dawn tomorrow.”
Wu Linxuan nodded solemnly, then spread out a fresh sheet of paper and began painting again—this time, a farewell scene for the departing army.
“September 2nd is an auspicious day for travel,” Feng Beiyi said at dinner that evening to Lu Meng. “Your sister and I will set off for the southern border tomorrow.”
“If you can’t get up in the morning, then don’t bother coming to see us off,” Zhangsun Xianyun said, knowing full well her sister’s habit of sleeping until the sun was high in the sky. Getting her up early was like trying to kill her.
“Right, there’s nothing worth seeing off for. Tomorrow, your sister and I will leave at first light,” Feng Beiyi replied.
None of the court officials dared to come to see them off. Even Feng Beiyi’s closest friends kept their distance, intimidated by the military power he wielded and fearing the emperor’s suspicion.
Feng Beiyi said, “After dinner, I’ll introduce you to the personal guards your sister and I have arranged for you.”
Lu Meng nodded, his expression heavy with reluctance.
The days he had spent at the General’s residence were the happiest and most relaxed since he had transmigrated.
Even the fates themselves seemed to have been cowed by Feng Beiyi and Zhangsun Xianyun—two fearsome warriors of the battlefield—retreating before them.
If only life could always be like this.
Lu Meng’s genuine reluctance showed in the droop of his eyes. After dinner, Zhangsun Xianyun stayed close to her sister, her heart filled with sorrow.
In just these few short days, Zhangsun Xianyun had experienced a closeness with her sister that had eluded them for over a decade.
To Zhangsun Xianyun, having a family member was as important as marrying a good man.
Seeing her sister so heartbroken, Zhangsun Xianyun said, “From now on, every festival, I’ll petition the emperor with your brother-in-law to ask for permission to come back.”
Lu Meng, who had been leaning on Zhangsun Xianyun in a playful manner, immediately shook his head. “Forget it, sister. You and brother-in-law have special positions. If you keep petitioning to return, the emperor will suspect you of harboring rebellious thoughts.”
“Although I miss my sister and brother-in-law, I’m not a child anymore.”
Lu Meng rubbed his face, no longer letting his emotions show so openly.
“I’m really fine. It’s just that mother died too early. Otherwise, how happy we would be if our family could be together.”
This was the first time Lu Meng had voluntarily mentioned his original body’s mother, and for the first time, he felt a deep sense of regret.
According to Zhangsun Xianyun’s description, their mother was an exceptionally gentle and virtuous woman.
Her mindset was as progressive as Zhangsun Xianyun’s—believing firmly that if you marry, it should be someone you truly love.
Unfortunately, her eyes didn’t keep pace with her mind’s development. She stubbornly went against the grain and ended up falling for an effeminate man.
“Your brother-in-law went to fetch the personal guards assigned to you—there are ten of them in total,” Zhangsun Xianyun said. “They’re all top-notch fighters, though most aren’t exactly easy on the eyes. The Du Long you saw that day is their leader, and his appearance is relatively better than the others…”
“If you’re worried, just have them stay hidden in the shadows and not come too close.”
Zhangsun Xianyun put her arm around Lu Meng’s shoulder and said, “The bottom line is, you don’t have to worry about them at all. They’re still on the general’s payroll, so when you go out in the future with them by your side, both your brother-in-law and I can feel more at ease.”
Most importantly, even if your own sister returns to the prince’s mansion with these men accompanying her, I’m sure Prince Jian’an will think twice before bullying anyone.
These men are in constant contact with the Southern Frontier, and they have a set of secret communication methods unknown to outsiders.
“What’s there to be afraid of?” Lu Meng said. “I think if Du Long hadn’t lost an eye, he’d be leagues ahead of those noble sons in the imperial city.”
That was what she said.
But when Lu Meng actually saw this group of battle-hardened ruffians who had retired from the front lines, standing shoulder to shoulder inside the room, she genuinely felt a suffocating pressure on her chest.
This kind of aura was not something ordinary people could possess. The only thing she could compare it to was the time she once stumbled upon a group of armed police escorting hardened criminals down a narrow alley.
The way those men glanced sideways at her back then—their eyes—was exactly the same as the look those criminals gave her now.
At that moment, Lu Meng had wanted nothing more than to melt into a puddle of mud and disappear into the wall.
Now, these men gave her exactly that same feeling!
Each one bore various degrees of injuries. Some had visibly impaired legs, others were missing arms entirely. Even missing a few fingers was considered one of the “better” cases among them.
They all looked fierce and menacing, exuding the aura of desperate outlaws freshly escaped from prison.
Lu Meng did feel overwhelmed, but she was not afraid of them.
They deliberately restrained themselves, stepped forward one by one, greeted her as “Second Young Mistress,” and introduced themselves.
Lu Meng tried her best to remember, but just looking at them was such a visual shock that she couldn’t recall what they said.
The only thing she remembered was that the bearded, armless brute was called Xiao Hong—though she didn’t know which characters made up the name Xiao Hong.
Other than that, she only remembered Du Long.
“Just get familiar with their faces. It’s okay if you don’t remember their names, just remember Du Long,” Feng Beiyi waved his hand, and they all left.
Lu Meng nodded absentmindedly. Feng Beiyi asked, “Scared? They only look fierce; they’re all good people.” Some of these wounded men are now maintained by the court—they’ve all earned merits in the past.
Lu Meng shook her head again, still dazed.
It felt like she now had her very own miniature mercenary.
Would that mean the drama wouldn’t so easily find her whenever she went out on the streets from now on?
Thinking of this, Lu Meng felt genuinely happy and sincerely thanked Feng Beiyi and Zhangsun Xianyun.
Zhangsun Xianyun had originally planned to sleep with Lu Meng that night, but Lu Meng had sent her back.
They were rushing all the way to the southern border, with no time for any lovey-dovey moments. Before leaving, they couldn’t possibly interfere with the normal married life of the couple.
Lu Meng went to bed especially early that night and specifically instructed Xiu Yun and Xiu Li to wake her up.
No matter how much she usually loved to sleep in, she wouldn’t dare be lazy at this hour. Since Feng Beiyi and Zhangsun Xianyun cared so much about her, Lu Meng was more than willing to get up bright and early.
Pulled out of bed by Xiu Yun and Xiu Li, she washed up quickly and hurried to catch up with the group before they left the General’s Mansion. She wrapped her arms around Zhangsun Xianyun.
“I told you not to get up,” Zhangsun Xianyun said, smiling as she gently stroked her sister’s face.
The cold made Lu Meng shiver. It was already late autumn, and Zhangsun Xianyun was dressed in light chainmail armor—dashing and dignified, but it felt chilly against her skin.
“You’re not dressed warmly enough.” Feeling Lu Meng shiver, Zhangsun Xianyun nudged her gently. “Go back inside.”
“No, I want to see off my sister and brother-in-law.”
Lu Meng turned to Xiu Yun and said, “Go get me a cloak, something thick.”
Zhangsun Xianyun and Feng Beiyi were indeed heading to the southern border without anyone escorting them outside the city, but inside the city, their carriage had been stopped several times.
Each time, it was friends secretly opening their doors to offer some gifts.
The sky was still dimly lit at dawn, and among the food they brought were even some warm pancakes.
Lu Meng, having gotten up early and already hungry, could smell the delicious aroma inside the carriage. She poked her little face out the window and sniffed. Feng Beiyi then handed some food through the window to her.
She felt like such a little puppy—her nose especially sharp whenever there was food around.
“Eat up. The new dry rations aren’t hard yet.”
Lu Meng hugged the food without the slightest embarrassment. But after biting into the pancake, she thought to herself that it smelled better than it tasted.
Zhangsun Xianyun couldn’t help but laugh, “They’re quite choking to eat, but when you’re hungry, you just have to choke them down with some hot water. If you really can’t eat it, then forget it.”
On their journey to the southern border, they wouldn’t have to survive on these dry rations alone—there would be proper warm meals along the way.
But it was a custom: when family members went off to war or on a campaign, they made these dry ration cakes.
They might not actually eat them, but carrying them symbolized hope for a safe return.
These had been specially made and sent by friends of Feng Beiyi and Zhangsun Xianyun—a small gift with deep meaning.
Lu Meng didn’t know this. She nibbled a few bites and then put it down, feeling drowsy from waking so early and the gentle rocking of the carriage.
But she kept pinching her thigh now and then, forcing herself not to fall asleep.
Soon they reached the city gates, the sky fully brightening. A few people had come to see them off, though Lu Meng didn’t recognize a single one.
They all dressed modestly, arriving swiftly and leaving just as quickly, never lingering long. Lu Meng stepped down from the carriage, barely noticing the chill as she clung tightly to Zhangsun Xianyun, unwilling to let go.
“When will you come back next time, sister?” Lu Meng’s reluctance was genuine and heartfelt.
Such a wonderful sister and brother-in-law were a rarity in her real life.
Zhangsun Xianyun couldn’t make a promise, so she could only stroke her younger sister’s head with tear-filled eyes.
Finally, Feng Beiyi, seeing how distressed his wife was, spoke up: “Alright, alright! I’ve arranged for the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to calculate the auspicious time for our departure!”
Lu Meng released Zhangsun Xianyun, her eyes red-rimmed as well.
Feng Beiyi felt some reluctance too. He had no close family himself—only this wife and her sister. She wasn’t troublesome and was sensible, just a bit of a hearty eater.
He patted Lu Meng’s shoulder twice, but with too much force, almost knocking her to her knees.
Lu Meng staggered slightly, and the three of them burst into laughter.
“Go now. If you miss your sister, just write her letters! If worse comes to worst, I’ll petition His Majesty during the New Year to have your sister come back and celebrate with you!”
Zhangsun Xianyun swung herself onto her horse, and Feng Beiyi did the same.
Both were accustomed to riding, and although a carriage followed behind, neither of them took a seat in it.
The dawn was breaking, and it was a perfectly clear day.
As the horses and carriage faded into the distance, Zhangsun Xianyun looked back twice, while Lu Meng kept waving.
Wrapped in her cloak, her small face flushed by the autumn wind, tears glistened in her eyes—like pear blossoms kissed by rain, fragile against the breeze.
A wave of sorrow at parting surged within her.
More than that, she worried whether the few “mercenaries” left in the story could hold their ground now that these two formidable warriors had left.
Lu Meng truly didn’t want to be caught up in the plot…
But when their figures disappeared down the road, no matter how reluctant she was, Lu Meng turned and climbed back into the carriage, preparing to return to the mansion.
She was heading back to the General’s residence. In theory, since the Southern General had already taken his deputy back to the southern border, it was improper for Lu Meng, as the secondary consort of the Prince of Jian’an, to remain there.
Yet Lu Meng had no intention of returning home. She’d cling on for as long as she could, and if things got bad, she’d figure it out then.
After all, life isn’t that long—maybe she could just endure it until it passed.
With this mindset, Lu Meng sat inside the carriage. To her left, Xiuyun was massaging her temples to ease the headache brought on by the early rising.
To her right, Xiuli was kneading the tight muscles in her legs, sore from the intense pedaling on the aerial bicycle the night before.
As the carriage rolled into the heart of the city, the bustling main street was already waking up, filled with floating aromas.
Lu Meng’s stomach rumbled loudly.
The food at the General’s residence was indeed delicious—hearty, large-portion dishes that reminded her of the feasts at her grandmother’s house during Lunar New Year when she was a child.
But after days of eating the same fare, she was growing tired of it.
The fragrant smells from the street revived her appetite, and even her headache began to fade.
Sitting up, she lifted the carriage curtain, her expression conflicted.
She shouldn’t be going out alone—after all, she was the heroine of a tragic romance.
Without anyone to keep order, Lu Meng might run straight into trouble around the next corner.
But the scent was just too tempting. She wasn’t sure whose steamed buns they were—pork and scallion, it seemed…
Moreover, Lu Meng recalled Wenhua Pavilion. The last time she and Zhangsun Xianyun went there, they had already eaten at home—too many fruits and snacks had spoiled their appetite for a proper meal that day.
Places like Wenhua Pavilion surely had an abundance of delicious dishes. After all, among those gilded and esteemed nobles, who wasn’t picky about their food?
Thinking of this, Lu Meng felt that pork and scallion buns simply wouldn’t satisfy her—or rather, they weren’t worthy of her!
Peering out the carriage window, Lu Meng saw no suspicious figures on the street.
Besides, the plot had already diverged quite a bit from the original story by this point. What would happen next? Lu Meng had no idea!
She had to stay alert.
But as her gaze swept around, she suddenly spotted Du Long driving the carriage!
Of course! Even though the two infamous killers who usually maintained order had left, Lu Meng now had her own small “mercenary” team!
Each of them was a seasoned killer retired from the battlefield; surely they could handle things just fine.
Lu Meng decided to give it a try—after all, she occasionally wanted to stroll the streets and enjoy some fresh delicacies.
So she asked Du Long, “Are all the brothers here?”
Du Long was momentarily taken aback but quickly realized that the young lady was asking if they were all present to guard her.
“They’re split into two groups. The ones who arrived this morning are counted among the subordinates,” he replied.
Du Long then asked, “Miss, do you have any orders for the subordinates?”
Swallowing nervously, Lu Meng said, “Tell all the brothers to come out. Turn the carriage around and head to Wenhua Pavilion. It’d be best if someone could go fetch the others too. Today, I’m treating you all to a feast.”
This was, after all, the mercenaries’ first day on the job. It was only natural for Lu Meng, as their boss, to treat them to a meal!
Fortunately, Du Long and the others weren’t traditional bodyguards and didn’t quite know how to interact with wealthy young ladies. Lu Meng was easygoing, so they were naturally happy to relax.
Besides, Vice General Zhangsun had specifically instructed them not to be shocked by any strange requests from the young lady.
So, early that morning, after sending Feng Beiyi and Zhangsun Xianyun off, Lu Meng turned the carriage toward Wenhua Pavilion.
Yuehui knelt halfway on the ground, reporting to Prince Jian’an, “Madam Meng has gone to Wenhua Pavilion, accompanied by a group of… guards from the General’s residence.”
“What guards?” Wu Linxuan stood by the window of his room, arms folded behind his back. The window was open, and the leaves outside had already begun to yellow.
Yuehui replied, “They’re the same guards who fought against our men at the General’s residence—likely the personal guards of General Feng and Vice General Zhangsun.”
“Ha…” Wu Linxuan chuckled softly, but in his heart, he thought, “This Madam Meng is becoming more and more untouchable. Even the Southern Commander has left his personal guards to serve her.”
“Keep watching from a distance. Don’t get too close, and avoid any conflict.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Yuehui quickly slipped away inside the building and disappeared.
Wu Linxuan sat down at the table, opening a book. He appeared calm, but he didn’t turn a page for a long time, lost in thought.
Chen Yuan poured him some tea quietly and whispered, “Your Highness, are you planning to visit Wenhua Pavilion today? The shopkeeper sent word that there are new dishes on the menu…”
“Why would I, the king, go to Wenhua Tower?”
Wu Linxuan looked like a dog that had been peacefully lying down and suddenly stepped on—his fur bristled instantly.
He snapped, “You’ve been talking nonsense nonstop lately, becoming more and more unruly! How much of the king’s thoughts do you think you can truly understand?”
“Get out!” Wu Linxuan smashed his teacup straight onto the floor.
Chen Yuan rolled out very smoothly, and after closing the door, he started to pout.
He also glanced at the hourglass once more.
But this time, even if Wu Linxuan had a sore on his backside, he wasn’t planning to go to Wenhua Tower.
Being “humiliated” when something was handed to him on a silver platter was enough—was he really going to make the same mistake twice?!
Wu Linxuan sat steadily in the room, skipping breakfast.
He just couldn’t believe that with the Southern General already having left the General’s Mansion, Lady Meng still hadn’t returned! And Lu Meng had initially only intended to have breakfast at Wenhua Tower, yet she brought her entire mercenary team into the place.
A group of rough soldiers were utterly shocked, but at the same time, they found it amusing and started teasing each other. This kind of establishment was a place they’d never have entered even if they had never left the battlefield.
Who would've thought that in their twilight years, they would still come to such a place for leisure?
They chattered noisily, their voices booming. On their way in, they’d even seen high-ranking court officials, which was definitely worth discussing.
Lu Meng didn’t sit with them to eat; treating them to a meal was just a “boss’s” hospitality. After all, men and women dining together would be inappropriate.
Lu Meng sat beside the rowdy group, listening to their loud banter, finding it rather lively.
She said to Wen Xuecheng, “The newest and best dishes... bring some for the gentlemen next door, yes, bring some over.”
Rough old men like these could eat anything, and Feng Beiyi usually consumed almost two large bowls worth of food per meal.
Wen Xuecheng had never served guests like those at the neighboring table in his life. Hearing Lu Meng’s order, his eyelids twitched.
But since Lu Meng had come last time, he dared not offend her. This time, even more so—last time, the Prince of Jian’an had personally come to Wenhua Tower, secretly disguised as a qin player, replacing his twin... and spent the night with Lady Meng on a pleasure boat.
Clearly, Lady Meng was the apple of the Prince of Jian’an’s eye—she was the real mistress of this place!
“All right! I’ll have the kitchen bring out the dishes right away. They’re all the latest creations,” Wen Xuecheng bent over and asked Lu Meng, “What would Lady Meng like to eat?”
“I’ll just order ten dishes,” Lu Meng said. “No restrictions, I love meat—just bring whatever you like.”
Then Lu Meng’s sixty dishes made the kitchen, which usually wouldn’t even get flustered when hosting high-ranking officials, start bustling early in the morning.
All of them were hearty dishes.
When Lu Meng saw a platter nearly as big as a washbasin, she suddenly realized she might have ordered too much.
But then she thought, no worries—if there were leftovers, she could pack them up to take back. The General’s Mansion had a small ice cellar; though not large, it was more than enough to store leftovers.
After such a breakfast, Lu Meng’s belly was full and round. Halfway through the meal, she even went over to the neighboring table to give some instructions on the “service principles” for those by her side.
Lu Meng’s exact words were: “If anyone suspicious comes near me, I’ll show resistance and drive them away—no exceptions, whether man or woman. If they don’t leave, I’ll beat them up.”
With that kind of attitude, no one could dare get within half a foot of her.
The brothers had been drinking, and were in high spirits. Upon hearing her words, they all responded in unison, “We obey the Second Miss’s orders!”
After finishing the meal, Lu Meng instructed the servants to pack up the leftovers, which startled Wen Xuecheng quite a bit.
How could nobles eat leftovers?
He had originally planned to redo all the dishes for Madam Meng, but Lu Meng refused.
She even told him, “The food was delicious. I’ll decide what to do. Also, every time you see me, stop trying to bend your head down to your feet like that—doesn’t your stomach hurt?”
Lu Meng raised her hand and gently helped Wen Xuecheng straighten up from his bent posture.
“That kind of act won’t fly here.”
Wen Xuecheng looked a bit stunned, but soon smiled and tried to bow again. Halfway through, he forced himself back upright.
Who said his stomach didn’t hurt?
But the nobles who came to Wenhua Tower all had that kind of taste.
Lu Meng had originally planned to return to the General’s Mansion, but after packing up the dishes to be sent back, she felt there was no point going back…
Besides, this meal had been peaceful—no unexpected drama had come her way. Her “mercenary team” was right next door, so maybe they had kept things under control?
There were so many interesting things in Wenhua Tower. If no drama came looking for her, she wasn’t in any hurry to leave.
So, with a “let’s see what happens” mindset, Lu Meng started to enjoy herself inside Wenhua Tower.
Wherever she went, she brought her mercenary team along. The whole day passed without a single ridiculous plot falling on her head.
Lu Meng even began to feel she might have finally shaken off the “tragic heroine” aura.
She played until nightfall, listened to two acts of opera, then a musical piece called “Wind, Flowers, Snow, and Moon.”
The mushy, sentimental stuff was just not to Lu Meng’s taste. It felt mediocre—less attractive than Wu Dagou’s playing, and the music wasn’t as wild as his either.
After she’d had enough and was ready to return to the General’s Mansion, her small team followed closely behind—not needing to hide anymore. Their outfits were now uniform, resembling the nightwear style of Yuehui’s world: understated yet luxurious.
This brings up Wenhua Tower’s owner—Wen Xuecheng was truly a master at flattery.
Even someone like Lu Meng, who saw the world from a completely different angle, couldn’t help but be impressed by his smooth-talking. The mercenary team’s clothes were all provided by Wen Xuecheng.
Supported by two maids, Lu Meng slowly descended the largest room upstairs. Night had fallen, and all around Wenhua Tower, lanterns were lit. The stone steps along the long corridor were softly illuminated—bright enough to see, yet not too dark—imbued with a poetic atmosphere.
Lu Meng walked slowly, glancing at the continuous flower boats drifting on the river below, mentally calculating how she should come by to collect the earnings sometime soon.
The building was nominally hers, so the profits should, in theory, belong to her as well. At the very least, she deserved a share.
Xiu Yun and Xiu Li looked around curiously, while the mercenary team kept a discreet distance behind.
Everything was absolutely perfect.
Then, suddenly, around a corner, a man dressed in elegant attire appeared.
He grabbed Lu Meng's wrist firmly.
His features, illuminated by the flickering lantern light, were refined and gentle.
Without hesitation, he called out Lu Meng's nickname: "Yinyin..."
