“What did you call me?”

No, that’s not right.

“What did you say about us?”

Bai Fanlu thought he had misheard. That sentence was way beyond his understanding, so he must have heard it wrong.

Mu Yunhe chuckled softly in response. This was Yun Zhan’s voice, naturally carrying a majestic quality. When deep, it was like a gust of wind through the pines; when clear, it was like gentle ripples on a jade sea. It had an undeniable impact on the ears.

Even though Bai Fanlu had been in this world for a while and had developed an immunity to the voice, hearing it now in the dark, combined with that sudden chuckle, made him feel a bit weak. His whole body didn’t go numb, but at least one side of his ear did.

“I said, let’s get married.” Mu Yunhe repeated, this time with a smile, doubling the impact.

So he hadn’t heard wrong.

Bai Fanlu felt like his recently recovered composure had crumbled, and his whole being was turning to stone.

Married? Was it the kind of marriage he was thinking of?

Even though in the novel’s cultivation world, same-sex couples could become Daoist companions, the mortal world hadn’t yet reached the point where it was normal for two men to talk about marriage so casually.

Did he misunderstand this “game instance”?

“Brother Mu…”

“Aren’t you supposed to call me Ah Zhan, Senior Brother?”

Bai Fanlu frowned. “Why are you calling me that?” Could it be that Yun Zhan actually remembered him and recognized him?

“I thought you might like it if I called you that. Don’t you like it?”

Mu Yunhe smiled at Bai Fanlu, one hand resting on the back of his wicker chair, his fingers quietly playing with a strand of Bai Fanlu’s hair, wrapping and twisting it around his fingertips.

“I think it sounds nice, more intimate. In my dreams, that’s what I called you. Shouldn’t you call me Ah Zhan too?”

So it was because of the dream.

Bai Fanlu felt like he had dug a hole for himself and fallen into it. He really shouldn’t have lied about the dream earlier. But how could he have known that Mu Yunhe had actually dreamt the same thing?

“…We just had similar dreams, that’s all. Dreams aren’t real. Besides, you’ve never seen my face, so how can you be sure it was me?”

The subtle, affectionate movements behind him made Bai Fanlu’s heartbeat inexplicably unsteady.

But Mu Yunhe didn’t let go. Instead, he brought the strand of hair closer to his nose, gently brushing it.

“No, I haven’t seen your face. But I know it was definitely you.”

“…” Bai Fanlu shifted slightly, forcing himself not to be influenced. “Forget about that for now… What exactly did that Daoist say? You… You were joking earlier, right?”

“How could I joke about something like this?”

Mu Yunhe replied calmly, without minding that Bai Fanlu was trying to distance himself. It was only now that Mu Yunhe realized that, despite Bai Fanlu’s usually composed and distant demeanor, he was quite flustered when it came to matters like this.

In the past, Mu Yunhe hadn’t thought much of it, but now, with just a little initiative on his part, Bai Fanlu seemed more shy than he had been at the Jiang Tian Yi Se Pavilion, even cuter.

“The Daoist said the person who shares a jade pendant with me is my destined spouse. I am to marry them and remain faithful, sharing a lifelong bond. Only by doing this can I overcome my misfortune and ensure peace and safety.”

A lifelong bond with only one person?

So this was the second storyline that the system had mentioned, the one Bai Fanlu had spent five fragments to unlock. It really was a “reader’s imagination” plot—bizarre, to say the least.

Bai Fanlu regretted his impulsiveness. But now, what was he supposed to do?

“The Princess Consort said you’ll face a calamity on your twenty-second birthday, and that’s why the Daoist suggested this method. When is your birthday?”

“It’s less than a month away.”

“…You’re lying to me, right?” Bai Fanlu was highly skeptical.

“If you don’t believe me, you can ask my mother. Why else would she be so eager to come to you?”

Bai Fanlu felt a headache coming on.

Mu Yunhe continued, “I admit it’s a bit much to ask, so I originally suggested to my mother that we spend more time together and build our relationship before bringing up marriage.”

“Hold on!”

Bai Fanlu took a deep breath. “This… isn’t about building a relationship. That’s not the issue.”

“Then what is the issue? Just tell me, and I can fix it. If you need formal proposals, matchmakers, or anything else, I won’t let you be wronged.”

Bai Fanlu tried to keep his patience. “You realized the first time you met me, right? I’m a man.”

From Mu Yunhe’s astonished reaction back then—when he misunderstood Bai Fanlu for the Fifth Prince and was shocked by rumors of the prince’s preference for men—it was clear that their world still had relatively conservative customs.

Even those maids, upon seeing Mu Yunhe bring Bai Fanlu back to his prized courtyard, only dared to gossip about him being a male concubine.

But now, Bai Fanlu understood why Mu Yunhe had been so willing to let him stay here.

Regarding Bai Fanlu’s emphasis on his gender, Mu Yunhe simply said, “You have the jade, which makes you my destined wife…”

“You!” Bai Fanlu, furious and embarrassed, wanted to cover Mu Yunhe’s mouth to stop him from saying anything more outrageous. “Does Hengchang County law even allow for male wives?”

“Well… It doesn’t explicitly forbid it.”

“Has it happened before?”

“No.” Mu Yunhe spoke firmly. “If not, I’ll set the precedent!”

“…You prefer women, don’t you?”

Bai Fanlu hadn’t forgotten how Mu Yunhe behaved at the Jiang Tian Yi Se Pavilion, just like the Yun Zhan in the novel. He reminded him, “If you follow the Daoist’s instructions, after this… you can’t have divided affections. You’d have to commit to one person for life.”

The last part came out awkwardly.

To his surprise, Mu Yunhe responded, “When did I ever say I liked women?”

Isn’t it obvious? Why else would you keep going to brothels?

But Bai Fanlu didn’t want to say that out loud—it would seem like he cared too much.

Mu Yunhe looked at him seriously. “I’ve always admired the person from my dreams. But every time I wake up, I forget everything except for the pear blossoms. It’s because of him that I created this courtyard.

“Because of these feelings, I’ve always scoffed at the Daoist’s prophecy about my destined marriage. I’ve never liked any other woman or man.”

“But you’re different. From the moment I met you, I felt a sense of familiarity. And ever since I met you, I can finally remember my dreams. Now I know that person was you.”

So it was Bai Fanlu who brought the dreams to life? Bai Fanlu suddenly thought, could this be the connection between their souls?

Seeing Bai Fanlu remain silent, Mu Yunhe added, “I just never imagined that the person destined to marry me would turn out to be the same person from my dreams.”

Realizing what Mu Yunhe was trying to express, Bai Fanlu asked, “What about your mother? If you marry so hastily, how will the Mu family bloodline continue?”

Especially since you can’t have multiple wives and concubines. How would the Mu family, with only one heir, accept that so easily?

“If my mother cared about heirs, she wouldn’t have come to you. When she gave birth to me, it was difficult for her, and my father said that if it meant losing the person he loved, he’d rather have no children and spend his life with her.”

General Mu was known for his strength and integrity, but Bai Fanlu hadn’t expected this softer side.

“My father always taught me that life is meant to be enjoyed to the fullest. So honoring my mother is something I do now. As for not having children, I don’t mind, and neither does she.”

“…You’re a member of the royal family. You should be cautious about making such shocking statements.”

“Is that really so shocking?” Mu Yunhe asked.

Bai Fanlu fell silent, his thoughts in disarray. He cursed the Daoist for his prophecy, but what if Yun Zhan really couldn’t survive the calamity without following the Daoist’s advice?

At that moment, Mu Yunhe asked, “Linqiu, do you not want to marry me?”

Of course not! How could he? The idea of marrying as a man, becoming someone’s wife—even if that person was Yun Zhan…

Alright, even if it was Yun Zhan, it still wouldn’t be right. But with the calamity looming, Bai Fanlu couldn’t help but hesitate.

After all, Yun Zhan’s life was on the line, and he couldn’t afford to gamble with that.

“If you truly don’t want to, I won’t force you. I was meant to die at twenty-two anyway. I was already supposed to meet the King of Hell when I was ten, so these past twelve years have been borrowed time.”

Hearing Mu Yunhe speak so dismissively about his own life, Bai Fanlu felt an odd pang in his heart.

Mu Yunhe stood up. “I’ll go tell my mother not to bother finding a good date.”

“Wait!” Bai Fanlu instinctively grabbed Mu Yunhe’s sleeve but accidentally caught his hand instead, brushing against the jade ring in his palm.

These two pieces of jade fit together perfectly—they were fated objects.

“…Fine,” Bai Fanlu made up his mind. “I’m not entirely unwilling.”

Mu Yunhe blinked in surprise, then suddenly realized, “You’re agreeing? You’ll marry me? You’re really agreeing?”

“…”

Bai Fanlu regretted his words immediately, feeling incredibly flustered. Saying that made his heart race.

And yet, this fool was still eagerly confirming it.

“…If you say one more word…”

Mu Yunhe wrapped his arms around Bai Fanlu. “I knew you’d agree.”

“Knew what?”

Bai Fanlu tried to push him away. “Hey, we’re not married yet.”

“So I can only hug you after we’re married?”

So cheeky. Bai Fanlu was speechless. Right now, he couldn’t even push Mu Yunhe away—his body seemed to betray him.

“I knew we were fated…” Mu Yunhe murmured, his voice filled with genuine happiness.

You knew, you knew—you seem to know a lot, Bai Fanlu thought. But do you realize how much I’m sacrificing?

But seeing Mu Yunhe like this made Bai Fanlu feel that this person might just be too easily pleased.

In the Tian Shu Sect, people always said he and Yun Zhan were Daoist companions, but Yun Zhan never reacted so strongly.

“To think you’d give up your life for a prophecy.” Bai Fanlu tried to conceal his own emotional turmoil with a cool tone.

“It’s not about the prophecy. It’s heaven’s blessing. I’ll be praying every day to thank the heavens.”

Bai Fanlu’s ears burned as Mu Yunhe’s breath brushed against them. How was this bumbling second-generation scion suddenly so good at flirting?

Then again, Bai Fanlu remembered that Yun Zhan had only been physically affectionate that one time at the spirit spring, and he had felt uncomfortable. Why did it feel so… okay now? Almost nostalgic, even.

It was as if some emptiness in his memories was now being subtly filled, bringing an inexplicable sense of comfort.

But Bai Fanlu wasn’t about to admit that it was because of being held by someone. “Even if you say that, I’m only agreeing because of the prophecy.”

“I understand. It’s because you care about me and don’t want me to die.”

Mu Yunhe smiled, not the least bit discouraged. Thick-skinned people do have their advantages.

What he said wasn’t wrong, actually. Bai Fanlu had to admit it was spot on.

“Yes, that’s it. I’m only concerned about your life and death. If you want to go to a brothel, I… I won’t stop you.”

Damn it, Bai Fanlu felt his face heat up. Why was he stammering?

No, wait! He meant to tease Mu Yunhe, but why did it feel so wrong once the words came out?

He quickly tried to fix it. “But looking at you, even if you went to a brothel, it’d be a waste.”

“…”

“……”

Why was this conversation getting more and more awkward?

Sure enough, the Princess Consort had someone calculate the auspicious date, saying that the sixth day of the month was ideal. When Bai Fanlu found out, it turned out that was only three days away.

“Isn’t that too soon?”

“Not at all,” Liu Xin said, teasing Bai Fanlu as she combed his hair. “You don’t have to do anything, just relax and wait. The Young Lord said that no matter how rushed it is, you won’t be shortchanged.”

“You little thing, always taking their side.”

“I’m not taking sides! It’s all the same now—soon enough, you and the Young Lord will be family.”

Bai Fanlu didn’t bother responding.

He was now staying in a northern villa, and Liu Xin had been brought over as well. When she first learned Bai Fanlu was getting married, she thought he was being forced.

But after meeting Mu Yunhe and hearing the story of their jade pendants, and realizing that her master was going to be the official consort with no concubines in the future, Liu Xin quickly switched sides, eagerly pushing for the wedding to happen as soon as possible.

“The next good date won’t be for another six months, so this really is the best time.”

How convenient that the moment Bai Fanlu entered this “instance,” there just happened to be an auspicious date. But he couldn’t question the Princess Consort.

Since he had already agreed, there was no point dragging it out, though it still felt awkward.

There was less than a month left before Mu Yunhe’s birthday, so this “fake” marriage would only last for that short time. Once they passed the calamity, they could leave.

“Master, you don’t know. Yesterday, Young Master Meng came by, saying you had disappeared, which scared me. And these past two days, some strange people have been coming to the house looking for you, all because of that day when Young Master Meng took you to the Lingbo Pavilion.”

“Oh? Is that so?” Bai Fanlu asked casually.

“That’s why I was worried about what would happen when you returned home. But now, with the Young Lord’s protection, those troublemakers won’t get another chance.”

Liu Xin giggled, tying up Bai Fanlu’s hair, and admired his reflection in the mirror. “Our master is so handsome. I used to wonder what kind of woman could be a match for you. But now, seeing the Young Lord, I realize that only someone like him, a true dragon among men, is worthy of you.”

It seems that in any world, looks are what people care about most. Bai Fanlu was about to say something when Liu Xin sighed, “The only thing is, from now on, you’ll have to live as a woman. I feel like it’s a bit of a shame.”

It wasn’t so bad until she mentioned that. Now Bai Fanlu felt utterly helpless.

But when Liu Xin said “from now on,” Bai Fanlu wanted to correct her. It was only for a month. He could endure it. A man can bend or stand tall when necessary, and he could bear it. But of course, he couldn’t explain that to Liu Xin.

Besides, he had already agreed to the wedding. Dressing as a woman wasn’t such a big deal, especially since he couldn’t see anything. To him, what he wore was more of a psychological issue. If Mu Yunhe hadn’t told him himself, Bai Fanlu wouldn’t have even known that he was about to enter the prince’s residence in female attire.

When they first talked about marriage, Bai Fanlu hadn’t considered this. It wasn’t until he moved into the villa that Mu Yunhe, through Liu Xin, informed him. He also said that if Bai Fanlu couldn’t accept the arrangement, he would go back and ask the Princess Consort for different terms.

Though Mu Yunhe was indeed fearless, given his status as a prince, openly marrying a man as his official spouse would certainly cause a stir in Hengchang County, possibly even reaching the emperor. After careful consideration, the Princess Consort had crafted an identity for Bai Fanlu, allowing him to pretend to be a woman when entering the prince’s residence.

Fortunately, Bai Fanlu had never revealed his true appearance in the Mu residence, so once he changed to a female identity, the servants wouldn’t recognize him.

To ensure everything went smoothly, Mu Yunhe found a reason to transfer the few servants who had previously attended Bai Fanlu to another estate. He also arranged for Bai Fanlu to be married from the northern villa, completing the identity switch without anyone noticing.

While Young Master Meng and the sons of the Lingbo Pavilion could pose a problem, Mu Yunhe wasn’t part of their circle, and the inner members of the royal family didn’t usually interact with outsiders, so the arrangement was relatively safe.

This was all information Liu Xin had learned from Mu Yunhe, as he was unable to meet Bai Fanlu in person due to the wedding customs. He had asked Liu Xin to pass along these details to ease Bai Fanlu’s concerns.

Bai Fanlu wasn’t particularly worried, as he planned to lay low for the next month anyway, avoiding any unnecessary attention.

But Mu Yunhe seemed genuinely intent on a long-term future with him. This unexpected thoughtfulness stirred something indescribable in Bai Fanlu’s heart, though it was not something he would openly admit.

Three days was a short time for wedding preparations, but for someone waiting, it felt like an eternity.

During the day, Mu Yunhe was busy and unable to break away, but at night, he lay awake, clutching the jade pendant, eagerly awaiting the most important day of his life.