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The north wind whipped through the air, carrying with it a flurry of goose-feather snow, causing his cloak to flutter loudly. The sound of hooves crunched through half a foot of snow, leaving a trail of red against the pale backdrop of the world.
In his youth, clad in fine clothes and riding a spirited horse, Lou Yu made his way through the snow, draped in a crimson cape.
The bamboo curtain trembled as snowflakes struck it. As Ye Chen lifted the curtain, ice crystals clung to his eyelashes and fell in delicate drops. He gazed at the familiar figure on horseback, his pupils narrowing sharply as he pressed his delicate hand against the snow on the carriage window, leaving five pale fingerprints.
Lou Yu was well. Quickly, he composed himself and smiled at Lou Yu, saying, "What’s wrong? Don’t you recognize me?"
Lou Yu scratched the back of his head and grinned foolishly, "How could I not?"
After saying this, he dismounted and approached Ye Chen's carriage. Just as he was about to board, he was stopped by one of Pei Guanjing's hidden guards.
Lou Yu's expression turned icy as he glared at them. Sensing the tension in the air, Ye Chen quickly said, "It’s nothing. Since that’s the case, I’ll come down and walk with you for a bit."
Upon hearing this, Lou Yu nodded eagerly. "Alright."
No sooner had he spoken than a gust of wind completely blew open Ye Chen's carriage curtain. The young man wrapped in a fox fur coat swayed in the storm as he stepped down from the carriage.
He looked at Ye Chen’s eyes, reddened by the cold wind, and a faint smile tugged at his lips.
In the snowy landscape, two figures crossed paths under the watchful eyes of those around them.
This route had been arranged solely by Pei Guanjing; logically, it should not have passed through Lou Yu's territory. However, for some unknown reason, Ye Chen insisted on changing their course. Unable to refuse him, they took this path.
As expected, it wasn’t long after entering that Lou Yu received word and rushed over.
Seeing this, the guards protecting Ye Chen kept their eyes fixed on him and Lou Yu, silently thinking that the rumors were indeed true: the lady was having an affair with Lou Yu and hadn’t forgotten to pay him a visit on her way home.
In truth, Ye Chen took this detour simply because Pei Guanjing's recent methods were too ruthless. He could not be sure that when they met again, either he or Lou Yu would still be alive; thus, he came with the intention of seeing him one last time.
Lou Yu had heard about the rebellion in the capital, but who could truly say what was right or wrong in this world?
He and Ye Chen had been chatting by the roadside for quite some time. Lou Yu had watched this youthful boy grow up; the once unclear features had now opened up, and his delicate and handsome face would draw glances wherever he went. Yet, his figure still appeared frail, indicating he was still too thin.
As they talked, the conversation suddenly shifted to the matter of Pei Guanjing killing Chef Wang.
At that time, Lou Yu had not yet returned to Cangzhou and was still in Lan Prefecture. Why hadn’t he spoken up to the Regent on behalf of Chef Wang? Did Chef Wang truly have to die?
Hearing Ye Chen's words, Lou Yu lowered his gaze, expressionless as he stared into the distance. "This matter is governed by national law and military regulations. Chef Wang made a mistake himself; his negligence led to Muer poisoning He Mu Ming. Even if I wanted to plead for him, I couldn't."
Ye Chen unexpectedly laughed at that moment and continued to ask, "Lou Yu, tell me honestly, is it that you and Pei Guanjing don’t want to save him, or is it that you can’t? A mere cook wouldn’t collude with a Wolf Clan member. Even if you needed someone to take the blame for He Mu Ming’s death, there are so many death row inmates. Why must it be Chef Wang? He once took care of both you and me and prepared so many of your favorite dishes. Don’t you have even a single thought of pleading for him?"
Lou Yu opened his mouth but ultimately fell silent.
Back then, the military situation was delicate. With He Mu Ming dead and no one available to take charge of major affairs, when the Regent's decree arrived, along with Pei Guanjing’s long-standing service in treating soldiers, they naturally gave him face. And Lou Yu had no authority to speak.
If he were to plead for Pei Guanjing now, given his suspicious nature, he would surely think Lou Yu had secretly done something wrong as well. In that case, he wouldn’t be able to explain himself, and his father and cousin could also be implicated.
Yet when he recalled Chef Wang’s disappointed eyes as he faced death—his head severed and displayed on a spear for all to see—his heart ached. He didn’t understand why he had become this way; it felt terrifyingly unfamiliar.
Meanwhile, Ye Chen continued to pierce his heart with words. "Lou Yu, is it because Chef Wang doesn’t have a father like mine who is a prince? I too violated military discipline; I even fabricated Lu Ying’s age and disguised my identity to enter the Military Camp. But why is no one blaming me? Is it simply because my current status has become noble, so I cannot be easily offended?"
Ye Chen's eyes were filled with rage; Chef Wang's death had revealed the coldness of these two individuals. They were no longer the Lou Yu and Pei Guanjing he once knew.
One had changed; the other was unrecognizable.
Ye Chen turned away, wiping away tears from the corners of his eyes as he walked toward the carriage, wanting to leave this place. He had come only to see Lou Yu one last time; now that he had done so and expressed what lay buried in his heart, there was no reason to stay.
As Ye Chen walked away, Lou Yu reached out in an attempt to stop him. "Ye Chen, I..."
Ye Chen did not stop his steps and continued forward. The hidden shadow guard, watching this scene from a corner, quickly reported the news and sent someone to inform Pei Guanjing.
He wanted to keep him but couldn't find a suitable reason.
At this moment, Ye Chen had truly parted ways with him.
His heart ached painfully. Trembling lips betrayed the joy he had felt just moments ago, now replaced only by tears in his eyes and a feigned stubbornness as he turned away, moving in the opposite direction from Ye Chen. The boy was trying to hide his vulnerability from others.
Lou Yu listened as the carriage gradually faded into the distance, recalling the moment he learned in the Military Camp that Ye Chen was Kun Ze's.
That day, he had been so happy that he immediately wrote a letter to his cousin, asking her to help him propose. He wanted to marry Ye Chen as his Consort He.
But on the same day, he discovered that Ye Chen liked Pei Guanjing and was engaged to him. It seemed that their more than six months of friendship meant nothing compared to Ye Chen's affection for Pei Guanjing.
That night, when General Xiao Lou returned, his hair was disheveled and his mood was low, as if he had suffered some blow.
Lou Yan saw him swaying slightly, seemingly unaware of her presence, as he bypassed her and returned to the tent.
Lou Yan furrowed her brows, her delicate features tinged with confusion. What could have happened between Ye Chen and him that left this carefree person so deeply hurt?
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