Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I dreamed of the final days I spent with Chenglu.

He had returned from the border after a victorious campaign. The young general sat atop a tall horse, high-spirited and unrestrained.

Women cheered for him, and men shouted his praises.

I squeezed through the crowd to catch a glimpse of him. Our families were old allies, and we were childhood sweethearts; our parents had long ago arranged our betrothal.

He spotted me and gave me a brilliant smile.

That night, he climbed over the wall to see me, bringing a wolf’s tooth from Northern Liang as a gift.

He pulled me into his arms and said, “Wanshu, once my father, my brother, and I reclaim Yanzhou, we will marry.”

He also mentioned that he had encountered a Northern Liang youth at the border who looked remarkably like him, a boy as fierce as a wolf.

He had ripped the wolf’s tooth from that youth during their struggle.

He hung the tooth around my neck, and then we drank White Falling Spring together. He spoke of the northern scenery, while I told him of the southern charms.

The aroma of the wine was like a spring day descending upon us, warm and mellow.

Finally, he kissed me.

It was as light as a dragonfly skimming the water, yet it set both our hearts racing.

After that night, he was hung from the city walls of Southern Tang on charges of treason and collaboration with the enemy. I do not know if anyone has since collected his remains for burial.

When I woke up, my face was wet with tears.

Tuoba Lu was still beside me.

It seemed he had been deeply hurt this time; previously, he would always rise early for the morning court and never lingered like this.

I traced the lines of his brows and his eyelashes with my hand.

When he was asleep, he looked even more like Chenglu-quiet, with a hint of boyishness.

There was a faint scar on his chin, though. Chenglu didn’t have one.

My Chenglu was highly skilled; no one could have ever wounded him.

Tuoba Lu’s eyelashes flickered, but he didn’t wake. His brow was furrowed, as if he were trapped in a heavy dream.

“Your Highness, it is time to rise,” I called out softly.

The Northern Liang Emperor was currently bedridden, and most of the state affairs had been handed over to Tuoba Lu. He had to attend to the government.

I didn’t dare let him stay long. The court officials were already dissatisfied with me, a Southern Tang tribute maiden. They believed I harbored malicious intent and were constantly looking for an excuse to kill me. I couldn’t afford to give them any leverage.

I absolutely cannot die yet.

Tuoba Lu slowly opened his eyes. He looked at me, his gaze gradually turning cold and sharp.

I was not his beloved. I was merely a lowly Southern Tang tribute maiden.

Fortunately, he didn’t lose his temper. Unlike when I first entered his palace, when he would ruthlessly throw me out of bed.

As I served him while he dressed, a palace attendant brought the contraceptive tonic as usual.

However, he poured the medicine into a flowerpot instead.

I was somewhat surprised. I guessed that he probably wanted me to bear a child, so it would be as if his beloved had given him one.

But I wasn’t certain; in these three years, I had never truly seen through his mind.

Yet, over the next half month, he either came to my quarters or summoned me to his bedchamber, and he no longer made me drink the contraceptive tonic. This confirmed my suspicion.

But before I could even conceive, his beloved returned.