“But the people around him all disagree,” he said.
Xie Miao’er was startled, and in an instant, she understood what he wanted to ask.
What “friend”? It was clearly himself.
Xie Miao’er’s heart suddenly began to pound uncontrollably in her chest.
The future renowned General Lu, before stepping onto the battlefield for the first time, was actually seeking her opinion.
Of course, the history books could never record the turmoil and uncertainty that Lu Huaihai experienced deep in his heart when making each decision.
So, he hesitated, and he wavered too.
Amidst her excitement, Xie Miao’er felt a sense of fear.
Would her words affect the path he chose to take?
At this moment, she finally deeply realized that she wasn’t living a century later; she was truly, genuinely living by Lu Huaihai’s side.
Beneath her sleeves, Xie Miao’er secretly clenched her fists. After some deliberation, she opened her mouth and said, “Then… your friend, what does he think?”
Her eyes were bright and clear, and with one glance, Lu Huaihai knew that she had seen through the paper-thin facade.
Xie Miao’er was exceptionally intelligent; the “friend” narrative was nothing but a flimsy excuse that couldn’t fool her.
Yet, Lu Huaihai still followed this pretense and slowly said, “He really wants to go. But he doesn’t know if his decision is the right one.”
During this time, his interactions with Xie Miao’er had been very… pleasant. She always seemed to find the right way to get along with him, which was why Lu Huaihai wanted to ask her.
Besides, there weren’t many others he could ask.
At this moment, he was still a commoner. He had friends of the same age, of course, but most of them were sons of military households in the city. Years of lax governance had long eroded the bravery of these military families, and their descendants had naturally become idle and aimless. Asking them for advice was no better than flipping a coin—heads, go; tails, don’t.
Xie Miao’er heard the determination in his words and responded, “If you don’t take the first step, how will you know whether the decision is right or wrong?”
Lu Huaihai stared into her eyes and pressed further, “And what if it’s wrong?”
His tone was almost aggressive, but Xie Miao’er showed no intention of retreating or saying something merely to please him.
She replied, “So what if it’s wrong? A man, a true man, shouldn’t he have the courage to bear the consequences of his own decisions?”
Her words were almost spoken in a tone of challenge.
Seventeen-year-old Lu Huaihai fell silent.
Yes, so what if it’s wrong?
Seeing the increasingly profound look in his eyes, Xie Miao’er, who had just mustered the courage to deliver her spirited argument, felt her confidence deflate. She nervously rubbed the hem of her clothing and said, “My words are just for your reference. You don’t have to relay them to your friend.”
Hearing this, Lu Huaihai suddenly wondered if he was overthinking it. Maybe she hadn’t realized that the so-called “friend” was actually him?
Having been surprised by her unconventional thinking in the past, Lu Huaihai wasn’t entirely trusting of her reasoning. He decided to be direct: “What if I told you, there’s no friend? It’s me who wants to ask.”
Xie Miao’er cooperated with a big “Ah?” and immediately feigned ignorance. “What? Shaoye, are you planning to join the army?”
Alright, maybe she wasn’t that clueless. Lu Huaihai unconsciously rubbed the base of his thumb, a habitual gesture when he was deep in thought.
Xie Miao’er noticed this and tentatively asked, “Do you plan to tell your family?”
Lu Huaihai said nothing, merely glancing at her casually.
Xie Miao’er thought to herself, she shouldn’t have asked that question at all.
But then Lu Huaihai spoke, “I won’t let Grandmother worry.”
Xie Miao’er understood. He would inform the Old Madam about this matter, but as for the others, that wasn’t guaranteed.
However, they hadn’t known each other for long, and yet he was willing to share this with her. Xie Miao’er was a bit puzzled. “Aren’t you afraid I might tell on you?”
This made Lu Huaihai ponder for a long while.
Come to think of it, while she was his concubine, the matters of the inner courtyard were all managed by Madam Su. It wasn’t like he could keep her tied to him at all times. If she were to report him, it would actually be a very reasonable thing to do.
Yet, for some inexplicable reason, he trusted her.
Lu Huaihai suddenly said with a serious expression, “Xie Miao, you must have cast a spell on me.”
Seeing Xie Miao’er’s utterly confused look, he realized he’d just told a poor joke. He turned his head away.
It was a clear night tonight. The sky was deep and dark, with stars shining brightly as stars, and the moon glowing distinctly as the moon, their brilliance clearly delineated.
Beneath the night sky, a question lingered in Xie Miao’er’s heart that she very much wanted to ask him.
She said, “Shaoye, if I were to say I don’t want you to go, would you still go?”
“Yes.”
Lu Huaihai answered almost without hesitation.
No matter others’ opinions, he would still pursue what he was determined to do.
So, rather than seeking her opinion tonight, it was more accurate to say he wanted to find some affirmation from her, someone who would support his decision.
After all, her gaze toward him was always filled with admiration. He knew she would be his unconditional supporter.
That resolute “yes” was his true thoughts. Even though Lu Huaihai knew this response might upset her, he didn’t bother to hide it.
It was he who sought her opinion, and it was also he who disregarded her thoughts. Yet Xie Miao’er, upon hearing it, was not angry at all. Instead, she smiled, her eyebrows curving into arcs.
Xie Miao’er thought to herself that she had been overthinking. She had actually worried that her few words might influence his decision.
After all, he was Lu Huaihai.
He might hesitate, might waver.
But he would walk forward with unwavering determination.
Seeing her smile with a thoughtful expression, Lu Huaihai found it intriguing and asked, “What are you so happy about?”
Happy that you’re such a person. Happy that I can be by your side, Xie Miao’er thought.
She picked up her teacup and, mimicking the manner of a toast, raised it in front of her and said to Lu Huaihai, “I’d like to toast to you, Shaoye.”
General Lu.
Her gesture was as playful as a child pretending to be an adult. Lu Huaihai slightly lowered his head, hiding the smile that curled at the corner of his lips, and solemnly raised his own cup to clink it against hers in mid-air.
The crisp sound of porcelain colliding was pleasant to the ear, and the two of them drank their tea in one go.
For some reason, the invisible, intangible barrier that had once existed between them—elusive like moonlight—dissolved like water after they shared this unspoken secret.
After chatting briefly, Lu Huaihai got up to fetch his sword. Xie Miao’er called for Yue Chuang to tidy up the table and chairs. She returned to the window and buried herself in organizing the account books that Cheng Yuandao had first delivered.
They didn’t exchange so much as a glance, yet the faint moonlight that lingered between them seemed to transform into a misty veil, soft and romantic, adding an air of subtle intimacy.
—
The next day.
Lu Huaihai, as always, rose early to practice swordsmanship. Xie Miao’er, who had recently found it difficult to sleep in, got up to flick her abacus beads.
In the afternoon, she planned to visit Lu Baozhu, so she had to spend extra time organizing the accounts at other times.
In truth, Madam Su was a reasonable person. She wasn’t forcing Xie Miao’er to help with Lu Baozhu; it was Xie Miao’er’s own decision to spend more time with her.
Suddenly, the small courtyard’s gate was knocked on with urgency.
This was a rare occurrence in such a secluded place.
Lu Huaihai and Xie Miao’er exchanged a glance from a distance. He sheathed his sword and asked, “What is it? Come in and speak.”
Qingzhu, one of Madam Su’s trusted maids, hurried in with a face full of worry. She said, “Young Master, Madam, someone from the yamen has arrived and issued a summons for you.”
Even rarer. Lu Huaihai raised an eyebrow and asked, “Do you know what it’s about?”
Qingzhu, flustered, replied, “The Third Madam is currently in the front courtyard trying to deal with them! From what I overheard, it seems that Qian Qianhu’s younger sister, Madam Zhang, is accusing you, Young Master, of forcibly seizing a commoner girl and expropriating civilian property.”