Crossdressing, Young Man

In the room, Lu Yuesheng was laughing delightfully.

Her melodious giggles escaped from her half-covered crimson lips, falling into the ears of a crestfallen Lu Chang’an.

“Can you stop laughing?”

“You’ve been at it for ages.”

Lu Chang’an’s voice sounded weak.

Every time he recalled that awkward staring contest with the naive little girl, he felt nothing but shame, wishing he could crawl into a hole.

Strictly speaking, this was his own fault.

Who told him not to investigate thoroughly and to assume that the one seeking marriage must be a marriageable young woman?

Right, who could he blame?

“Alright, alright, don’t be mad.”

“Didn’t you achieve all your goals today?”

Lu Yuesheng lounged lazily in her chair, her long red dress clinging to her body, revealing her exquisite figure—not a fraction too much or too little, just perfect.

“No, there’s still one step left.”

“Now we just need to spring the trap.”

“Then our plan can truly begin.”

Speaking of serious matters, Lu Chang’an momentarily forgot his earlier embarrassment.

A faint smile curled at the corners of his mouth, confident and composed.

Everything he had seen today was enough to make Liu Yang’s decision.

Lu Yuesheng stared absentmindedly at Lu Chang’an’s profile.

She realized she rather liked it when he wore that confident smile; that expression was endlessly captivating.

Of course, that wasn’t the expression she liked most.

“After this, we’ll have to properly thank your little wife, won’t we?”

Lu Yuesheng teased him again.

Lu Chang’an couldn’t stay any longer.

He put on a stern face and waved his hand.

“Alright, I’m leaving.”

“I need to go next door and hear Liu Yang’s decision.”

He fled from Lu Yuesheng’s room, and behind him, the beauty laughed freely, her eyes crinkling with mirth.

Lu Yuesheng loved seeing Lu Chang’an confident, but she loved even more seeing him flustered—especially when she was the cause.

She only teased him about Yanyan.

That child was far too young, and Lu Yuesheng didn’t see her as any threat.

Returning to his own room, Lu Chang’an closed the door behind him, shutting out Lu Yuesheng’s laughter.

“Have you made your decision?”

He sat by the table, poured himself a cup of water, and moistened his dry throat.

Liu Yang sat across from him.

Instead of answering immediately, he asked, “Why did you investigate the Zhang family and Liantian Manor?”

“Based on the information you gave me and what I saw today, they do seem suspicious, but what made you notice them?”

Hearing this, Lu Chang’an knew the real talk had begun.

He perked up and smiled.

“Of course, it wasn’t without reason.”

Liu Yang leaned back in his chair, waiting for Lu Chang’an to continue.

After a moment’s thought, Lu Chang’an organized his words and said truthfully, “A friend of mine seems to have been wronged.”

“I just wanted to find an answer for myself, nothing more.”

Liu Yang gave Lu Chang’an a deep look.

Wrongs involving Liantian Manor were no small matter.

But he didn’t ask further.

Perhaps because, despite being captured, Lu Chang’an had treated him with courtesy, Liu Yang had formed a good impression of him.

“I can agree to help, but only if it doesn’t involve doing anything heinous.”

Liu Yang relented and accepted Lu Chang’an’s request, but with a condition.

“Agreed.”

Lu Chang’an smiled faintly and accepted the condition.

“Before we celebrate our cooperation, may I ask you something?”

“What?”

“You haven’t answered before: why did you target me?”

Lu Chang’an was genuinely puzzled—this question had bothered him for two days.

“You’re a man of principles, known for robbing the rich to help the poor.”

“Why target me?”

At this question, Liu Yang was taken aback, as if stunned by it.

“Why wouldn’t I target you?”

He scratched his head in confusion.

“Who can afford to take wives and concubines?”

“Only the rich.”

“W-wives and concubines?”

Lu Chang’an stammered, nearly dropping his teacup.

Seeing his reaction, Liu Yang grew even more puzzled.

Why was Lu Chang’an reacting like this?

“Are… are you okay?”

“I’m fine, fine.”

Wiping his cold sweat, Lu Chang’an waved his hand and continued, “Why do you think I have wives and concubines?”

“Don’t you?”

Liu Yang frowned and counted on his fingers.

“The woman driving the carriage seems very close to you, and you’re usually affectionate.”

“As for the one inside the carriage, though you treat each other with respect and seem distant, if she weren’t your wife, why would a proper woman share a carriage with a man?”

Liu Yang’s reasoning was sound and convincing.

Lu Chang’an almost wanted to nod.

But there was one issue: Lu Yuesheng was one thing, but Wen Qingying… she had nothing to do with him.

Hmm…

Liu Yang’s remark about ‘proper woman’…

Glancing toward the adjacent room where Wen Qingying was, Lu Chang’an estimated the wall’s thickness—thin enough that if Wen Qingying wanted to, she could easily overhear his conversation with Liu Yang.

But as a famous fairy, she probably wouldn’t eavesdrop, right?

And even if she did, she wouldn’t bother with a small fry like Liu Yang.

Yes, definitely not!

“Why… did you suddenly close your eyes and bow your head toward me?”

Liu Yang felt uneasy, his heart inexplicably nervous.

“This gesture is called a moment of silence—a kind of etiquette.”

“Moment… of silence?”

“Ahem, forget about that.”

“Let’s get down to business.”

Clumsily changing the subject, Lu Chang’an cut to the chase.

“I’ll be blunt.”

“I want you to disguise yourself as someone and infiltrate Liantian Manor to investigate some things.”

“Disguise as someone?”

After a brief thought, Liu Yang nodded.

“That’s not hard.”

“I know some basic disguise techniques, and I have some experience in playing a role well.”

Lu Chang’an couldn’t help but size up Liu Yang.

Who knew this self-styled knight-errant also had a knack for acting?

“That’s even better.”

Lu Chang’an beamed.

He had been worried about Liu Yang failing to impersonate the Second Manor Lord’s wife.

With this skill, things would be much easier.

“Now, can you tell me who I need to disguise as?”

Liu Yang was curious.

To infiltrate Liantian Manor, one would need at least a mid-level identity, right?

“The Second Manor Lord’s wife.”

Lu Chang’an smiled slyly, quietly moving his chair a bit farther from the table.

Liu Yang was just drinking water when he heard this.

He immediately spewed it out.

“Who?”

“The Second Manor Lord’s wife?!”