Chapter 12: Calamity Strikes in Haste

The maid entered the inner chamber, balancing a wooden tray with a steaming bowl of fresh soup, and was immediately taken aback by the scene before her.

Both people on the kang were fast asleep. Li Dong lay on the inside, while Lu Rou had fallen forward at the edge of the kang, her head resting on her own arm. A satisfied smile graced her face, clearly lost in a sweet dream.

Blushing prettily, the maid dared not disturb them. She set the soup down gently and slipped quietly back outside. Soon she returned, bearing a thin blanket, which she softly draped over Lu Rou before tiptoeing away once more.

Li Dong had no idea how long he had slept before waking at leisure. Rubbing his eyes, he realized he was lying in a strange place. Supporting himself on the kang, he hurriedly sat up.

Seeing Lu Rou sleeping beside him, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: What a situation this is. We haven’t even exchanged formal words, yet here we are, sharing a bed. Is there some destined bond between me and Lu Rou? Ah, it’s all my fault—if I hadn’t let my guard down, I’d never have fallen asleep. If Lu Rou had meant me harm, my life would already have taken flight—even without wings.

Then again, perhaps it was because I’d spent so long leading the troops in secret by White Cloud Lake deep into the night, and then endured a fierce battle by day, that exhaustion finally overcame me. It might also be the wine—but I only had a few cups. On any other day, that would never have sent me into such a deep sleep.

But Lu Rou is the daughter of the county magistrate—a proper lady. How could she sleep like this? Why didn’t a maid come to wake her? What if she caught a chill?

Wait...

Li Dong’s mind filled with doubts. When he’d first arrived, the sounds of drinking games and laughter had rung out clearly. Now, there was nothing but silence. Perhaps, after feasting, the guests had dispersed and the tables had been cleared away.

But… why hadn’t anyone awakened me? Where had they all gone? Li Dong slipped quietly off the kang, put on his shoes and coat, and walked from the inner chamber.

When he reached the outer room, it was completely deserted. The floor was spotless, showing no sign that a dozen people had been reveling here earlier, so raucous the roof nearly lifted. So many people had come and gone without a word to him?

A sense of foreboding welled up in his heart. I need to ask Miss Lu Rou what happened. Uncertain of his own suspicions, anxiety drove him quickly back to the inner chamber.

But when he arrived, Li Dong was stunned. In the brief time he'd been gone, Lu Rou had vanished. He was utterly perplexed; the inner and outer chambers were only five or six steps apart. Even if she had awoken, there should have been some sound. Where could she have gone?

As he hesitated, hurried footsteps sounded from the outer room. Li Dong rushed out, only to see his father, Li Hun, hurrying in from outside, his face anxious as he scanned the empty room.

“Oh, you rascal, you’re still here! You nearly scared me to death,” Li Hun wiped the sweat from his brow, panting with relief.

“I’m perfectly fine. What happened? Why are you so flustered?” Li Dong asked.

Li Hun gave a wry smile. “Barely escaped with my life. If I hadn’t spoken up earlier before the governor, you’d be in prison by now. It’s a good thing I was farsighted enough to scratch Li Lier’s itch at just the right moment.”

“Prison? What on earth are you talking about?” Li Dong was utterly confused.

Li Hun shook his head. “You’re still young, only knowing how to charge and fight at the front lines. You have no inkling of the twists and turns in the minds of officials.” Thereupon, he recounted how, while Li Dong was defending the city, Lu Lier had kept him under guard.

“How could Lu Lier treat me so?” Li Dong was furious to learn his father had been detained. Though he was now safe, the whole episode left him uneasy.

He brooded: I risk my life on the battlefield only to prevent Zhangqiu from being overrun, yet Lu Lier pulls the rug from under me, likely fearing I’d lead troops to counterattack, so he holds my father hostage to force my hand.

Lu Lier, you underestimate me. If I’d wanted your life, why bother deceiving you about those three thousand soldiers? I’d have simply let Zhi Shilang take the city and then finished you off in the chaos. Pettiness like yours is unfit for great responsibility.

Li Hun continued, “I can understand the governor’s actions. Were I in his position, I might have done the same. But… but…” He hesitated, not revealing that Du Fuwei and Zhang Junke had been thrown into prison, as if there were deeper secrets he couldn’t share with Li Dong just yet. After a moment’s thought, he asked, “Did you see the young lady from the Lu family?”

“I did. She’s beautiful, gentle, and attentive. Earlier, we even…” At this, Li Dong blushed, unwilling to confess to his father that they had shared a bed. Though nothing truly untoward had happened, telling his father would only delight him—likely to the point of insisting he marry her at once.

In ancient times, marriages were decided by one’s parents, not like the freedom to marry for love as before I came here. Even though Li Hun wasn’t his real father, Li Dong didn’t wish to fall out with him over this. After all, in name at least, he was still his son.

Besides, he didn’t want to antagonize Lu Lier further. Judging by what happened during the banquet, Li Lier already regarded him as a prospective son-in-law. With his father still working under Lu Lier and subject to his control, any falling out would benefit no one.

In truth, even Li Dong couldn’t quite believe it himself, but after spending time with Lu Rou, he found a sliver of affection for her growing in his heart. Yet, his longing for his former girlfriend, Tang Yuqian, from his previous life kept him from accepting another woman.

Li Hun’s face lit up with delight, and he eagerly asked, “Well, what happened between you and Miss Lu Rou just now?” His eyes gleamed with anticipation as he scrutinized his son, desperate not to miss even the slightest hint.

“Nothing, really. We just had a brief conversation. Don’t overthink it,” Li Dong replied, deciding it was best not to say more and stir up further trouble. Now that Lu Rou had vanished and he didn’t even know where she lived, he turned to his father for help. “Where does the governor live?”

Li Hun beamed, thinking his son meant to visit the Lu residence by night, perhaps to climb through a window and rendezvous with Lu Rou. He sidled closer to Li Dong, baring his teeth and rolling his eyes, and whispered, “Just make her your woman. Once you’ve crossed that line, she’ll be yours for good—there’ll be no turning back.”

Li Hun’s uncharacteristic behavior startled Li Dong, who took two steps back and stared at his father as if seeing a stranger. The old man had clearly lost his mind, obsessed with finding a wife for his son—even if it meant resorting to base tactics.

If such a ploy backfired, Lu Lier would hate them both to the core—not only would Li Dong be doomed, even Li Hun’s head would be at risk.

“Absolutely not!” Li Dong refused outright, waving his hands in protest. He didn’t even know if Lu Rou was still at the Lu residence; he only wanted to find out what had happened, not do anything rash.

Li Hun, seeing his son’s obstinacy, was beside himself with worry. With Du Fuwei and the others already imprisoned, and the threat of implication looming, only Lu Lier could protect his son now. But why would the governor bother to shield an outsider like Li Dong? The only way was to have Lu Rou bear his child, forcing Lu Lier to protect his future grandchild and, by extension, Li Dong.

At this moment, Li Dong was still troubled by Lu Rou’s sudden disappearance and unaware that Du Fuwei and the others had been imprisoned, or that danger was closing in with every breath.

Frustrated by Li Dong’s lack of understanding, Li Hun snapped, “Du Fuwei secretly brought the bandit Zhang Junke into Zhangqiu, plotting trouble. You can’t escape responsibility. Just because you’re free now doesn’t mean you won’t be punished in the future.”

Thank you for reading. Have a pleasant weekend!