Chapter 21

Yu Lianjiang pondered for a moment before finally speaking, “You young people are daring and willing to act; I will support you.”

After saying this, he walked inside with his hands behind his back. Turning his head, he added, “But that lacquer box will be an exception.”

Despite this, the old man returned to the dinner table and, in the blink of an eye, arranged for the guards to prepare a gift, sending it to Huo Xingyuan’s house.

He then glanced at Lu Yongzhang and asked Lu Boshi, “Little Lu, your kid is quite good. Does he have a girlfriend? If not, does my eldest granddaughter want to meet him?”

The noisy dinner table fell silent.

The Yu family flourished the most in their circle, with its base in the capital. It was well known that Yu Lianjiang’s eldest granddaughter was a renowned star of the cultural troupe and could write beautifully. Many leaders had their eyes on a potential marriage alliance.

The implications of Yu Lianjiang’s words were clear.

Even Lu Boshi, who usually preferred to stay out of trouble, felt his heart race a little faster. He could not hide the excitement in his eyes as he looked at his son.

He then heard Lu Yongzhang articulate clearly, “Thank you for your appreciation, Uncle Yu. However, the younger generation already has someone they admire, and our relationship is stable. I am currently striving to marry her.”

Yu Lianjiang laughed heartily, “That’s good; establishing a family before building a career is also acceptable.”

He wore an expression of complete indifference, and everyone else at the table laughed along in recognition of the situation.

Yet, in Yu Lianjiang’s heart, there was a sense of regret. If he was not mistaken, this young man clearly shared some kind of bond with Huo Xingyuan. The way he instantly saw through the earlier situation and made such a seamless response indicated that his future was limitless.

As the topic shifted, Lu Boshi withdrew his wine cup, looking helplessly at his son. Half-jokingly and half-curiously, he asked, “Is it that you really like her? Not even interested in letting someone else meet her?”

Lu Yongzhang’s smile vanished in an instant, and the pressure that made Lu Boshi feel unfamiliar and alarmed became evident.

“Dad, I’ve said it before: I will only marry her in this lifetime.”

Lu Boshi opened his mouth, finally saying helplessly, “Then let’s find a time to invite her over for dinner.”

“That’s exactly what I wanted to discuss with you and Mom. Please make some preparations at home. I’ll set a time for her to come. Also, are there any customs for proposing…”

Lu Yongzhang paused for a rare moment, a faint blush rising on his face. “I’d also like for you and Mom to get ready.”

Lu Boshi, having been young himself, could guess what was happening from his son’s demeanor. Feeling awkward, he patted his son’s shoulder. “Be mindful of your limits… and stay safe.”

He struggled to voice further reminders, as the lost years in between made it difficult for him to bring up what should ideally be discussed by a father.

“It’s not what you think,” Lu Yongzhang said, noticing Huo Xingyuan’s gesture from a distance and walking toward him with a wine glass in hand.

Lu Boshi watched his son’s back and sensed a mixture of determination and an awkward hint of… shyness… from his words?

It was contradictory. His son, who seemed to have grown up and often surprised him, still had this shy side.

Lu Yongzhang raised his glass and exchanged a knowing look with Huo Xingyuan before they moved to sit in the corner of the private room. Around them, people came and went, toasting and chatting, and no one paid them any mind.

The two clinked their glasses lightly, and by this point, Lu Yongzhang had arranged his expression perfectly, showing no signs of anything unusual as he sat gracefully, exuding charm.

Huo Xingyuan, having just received the long-awaited acknowledgment, felt entirely relaxed. After a few drinks, he became even more loose-limbed and waved his glass, his voice slightly slurred. “You’ve known who I am for a long time, haven’t you?”

Lu Yongzhang smiled faintly. “Brother Huo, in Luo Xing’s eyes, you are nothing more than a piece of unadorned meat. Whether you get carved up by him or rescued by me, isn’t that a multiple-choice question you can figure out?”

The conversation easily veered off course.

With a new focal point in front of him, Huo Xingyuan followed the diversion and asked, “How did you know what I wanted from Uncle Yu?”

Lu Yongzhang tossed the copper coin lightly in his hand and spread it out for the other person to see. “Of course, it was calculated,” he said. 

The things he investigated in secret and the methods he employed were so unbelievable that even if he explained them, no one would believe him. It was better to attribute everything to the mysterious world of metaphysics. 

As expected, Huo Xingyuan became captivated by the concept of hexagrams and shifted his attention entirely toward them, eagerly asking Lu for guidance.  

Lu Yongzhang gave a simple explanation of some introductory knowledge, and Huo clung to it like a treasure. After a few exchanges, he no longer sees Lu as just a peer but treats him as a mentor. 

Lu Boshi, observing this interaction, felt deeply gratified. With peace of mind, he turned to socialize with his colleagues, raising his glass without care. Little did he realize that his capable son, with just a few words, had managed to extract from Huo the entire integration model and operational scale of the beverage factory over in Hong Kong. 

Lu Yongzhang did not return to Sanzhu Town until nine o’clock that night. 

By habit, he looked up toward the window facing his direction, only to catch an unexpected glimpse of Zheng Xiaorou lifting a corner of the curtain. 

In the moonlight, his dark eyes lit up at once. 

Perhaps it was the alcohol he had drunk earlier that clouded his rationality, but he thought of nothing else—he just wanted to see her. 

Putting down his briefcase, he climbed up the protruding wall decorations, scaling the wall in just a few quick steps until he reached her window. 

Zheng Xiaorou, watching his every movement as he approached, was startled and immediately stood up from the bed. 

Knock, knock, knock—three soft taps sounded against the glass window. 

Zheng Xiaorou stared at the face appearing outside the window, her heart a whirl of mixed emotions. But one thing was clear—she had been thinking about him these past few days. This feeling was strange as if a switch had been installed inside her, allowing her emotions to shift easily between joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. 

For instance, at this very moment, as she clenched her teeth, watching his face through the window, uncontrollable ripples surged in her heart, tinged with a sour sense of grievance. 

It had been several days since they last met, yet he looked full of energy without the slightest trace of fatigue. 

Lu Yongzhang was delighted to see her, but he was far from satisfied with merely gazing at her through the glass. He raised his hand and knocked again. 

With a *thud*, it sounded as though Zheng Tianlei, lying in the other room, had turned over and kicked the wooden partition. 

The small pavilion room had only this one window, divided by the wooden board in the middle. If Lu Yongzhang continued knocking, it would certainly wake Zheng Tianlei. 

Even without considering Zheng Tianlei, the neighbors weren’t far away. 

With these thoughts in mind, Zheng Xiaorou opened the window slightly. “What are you—” 

“I’ve missed you so much,” Lu Yongzhang interrupted. 

In the darkness, his bright eyes sparkled like stars. 

That one sentence melted all the complicated emotions swirling within Zheng Xiaorou. A sweet, gentle atmosphere began to surround them, and the scent of each other’s presence lingered in the cool night air. She caught a hint of alcohol on him and asked, “Have you been drinking?” 

Lu Yongzhang nodded, a bright smile filling his eyes. “An elder had a birthday, so I had a couple of drinks. Xiaorou, I’m really happy. On the way back, I thought I’d have to wait until tomorrow to see you. I didn’t expect you’d still be awake—and you even looked at me.” 

He rested his hand on the windowsill, his eyes shimmering like they were full of stardust, and his smile radiated with unprecedented brightness. 

“You’ve had too much to drink,” Zheng Xiaorou whispered, her hand grasping the latch. “Go back and get some rest.” 

“I’ll take you to work tomorrow, Xiaorou. I’m really happy today.” Lu Yongzhang’s enthusiasm remained unyielding, and his expression carried an unusual intensity that he rarely showed. “Xiaorou, trust me, things will only get better from now on.” 

That genuine fervor struck a chord in Zheng Xiaorou’s heart, making pushing him away as she originally intended difficult. She gave a soft hum, hesitating for a moment before murmuring, “Let’s talk about it tomorrow.” 

Her face remained in the shadows, with faint light from a distant streetlamp casting a soft glow across her features, lending her an air of elegance and dignity. 

Suddenly, Lu Yongzhang reached through the window and took hold of her hand. His palm faced upward, with his thumb slightly curved, gently cradling her hand. Then, he lowered his head slightly and said with a playful grin, “I accept the decree.” 

After saying that, he let go of her hand, climbed back down the way he came, and returned to his room. 

Ever since their fateful encounter involving the falling bricks, this was the first time Zheng Xiaorou had seen such a playful, childlike side of him, and she couldn’t help but laugh. 

Watching the door across from her close and the light in his room flick on, she finally felt at ease and lowered the curtain. 

The room fell back into silence, but Zheng Xiaorou found herself unable to sleep. She reached under her pillow and pulled out a small velvet pouch, carefully removing the rhinoceros horn cup from the inside.

A sliver of faint light seeped through the gap in the window. Once Zheng Xiaorou’s eyes adjusted to the darkness inside, she lifted the rhinoceros horn cup into the light. 

The pair of cups was plain, with no patterns engraved on them. The only thing etched at the bottom of each cup were the words: “To my beloved wife, Jiang Wan.” 

Her entire body flushed with warmth as she recalled what Lu Yongzhang had said when he gave her the cups. How could this man say something as suggestive as “Our hearts beat as one” with such ambiguity? 

Yet, it was undeniable that those words had stirred emotions within her, leaving her heart in a state of turmoil like never before. 

Just then, Zheng Tianlei kicked the wooden partition again, startling Zheng Xiaorou. Her hand slipped, and the cup dropped directly onto her chest. 

Luckily, the cup was light, so it caused no harm. She wiped away the smudges left by her fingers, carefully put the cup back into its pouch, and tucked it beneath her pillow. 

After tidying everything, Zheng Xiaorou finally lay down and quickly drifted off to sleep. 

However, tonight’s dreams were unlike any she had experienced before. They played out like a drama series, linking together fragments of her past dreams. 

The figure who had just appeared outside her window now wore a familiar embroidered robe, lowering his head as he gently held her hand. “Empress, mind your steps,” he said softly. 

She raised her head in a daze, only to realize she stood atop a high platform. A figure in bright yellow robes turned to look at her as if waiting.

On both sides of the platform, palace attendants and officials smiled warmly at her. 

Her feet seemed nailed to the ground, and she didn’t know what to do. Her gaze drifted to her hand, and she thought in confusion, ‘Wasn’t this exactly how Lu Yongzhang had held my hand earlier?’

As Zheng Xiaorou looked at the crowd gathered on both sides of the red carpet, her heart pounded wildly. 

The sensation of being fully aware that she was dreaming felt incredibly strange. 

She heard herself whisper in a trembling voice, “Brother Yong, I’m going.” 

Lu Yongzhang stiffened slightly, his head bowed without looking up. “Empress, I will guide you,” he murmured. 

He applied a bit of pressure with his hand, leading Zheng Xiaorou step by step toward the high platform. Their pace was slow, each step heavy with meaning. 

On both sides, musicians played a grand and majestic tune. The person standing atop the platform wore a solemn expression, extending a hand as though waiting for her arrival. 

As they reached the platform’s first step, Lu Yongzhang paused momentarily. In a voice so soft it was barely audible, he whispered, “Empress, walk forward. Don’t look back, and don’t be afraid.” 

Zheng Xiaorou looked ahead at the figure waiting for her and ascended steadily, step by step. 

However, as she stood at the top, receiving the reverent bows from everyone below, her gaze involuntarily drifted toward a man kneeling among the crowd. Unlike the others, his back remained straight, and his posture was upright. 

The wind blew gently, and tears welled up in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks. 

An attendant by her side noticed and offered a cheerful remark. “The Empress is moved to tears by joy!” 

“Your Majesty,” the attendant continued with a smile, “as the star of fortune foretold by the Imperial Observatory, all of this is your rightful destiny.” 

Zheng Xiaorou could feel the overwhelming despair and sorrow of that “woman” with surprising ease. She shook her head, unsettled by how strange it felt to consciously experience all of it—fully aware that she was dreaming. 

Her vision shifted abruptly, and she found herself no longer on the high platform but at the city gates below. 

Flames raged fiercely around her. Lu Yongzhang held a black cloak and wrapped her tightly in it, covering her completely so that even her eyes were hidden. “Empress, go! Leave now!” 

“Brother Yong, I can’t go alone!” Zheng Xiaorou cried from within the cloak, unable to see what was behind her. “You have to come with me!” 

The scorching heat seemed to draw closer, licking at their backs. Suddenly, she felt a hard shove from behind, causing her to stumble forward a few steps. 

When she pulled the cloak from her face to look back, she saw Lu Yongzhang lying on the ground, his eyes wide open, staring at her. 

A gut-wrenching wail erupted from Zheng Xiaorou’s mouth, filled with agony and sorrow. 

“Sis! Sis! Wake up!” 

Zheng Xiaorou awoke to find her pillow soaked with tears.

Zheng Tianlei was beside her, shaking her urgently with a worried expression. 

Still trapped between dream and reality, Zheng Xiaorou couldn’t fully detach from what she had just experienced.

Overwhelmed with emotion, she burst into loud sobs.