"Mother, I need you to trust me. I have a plan to get close to Luo Yan and confirm whether she's truly Luo Ling'er."
"What kind of plan?" his mother asked carefully, suspicion creeping into her voice.
Long Chen smiled, but this time it was more reassuring than roguish. "A plan that won't start a war or cause an incident. I promise you, Mother—I'll be diplomatic and careful. But I need to know the truth. Ten years of searching, ten years of wondering... I can't let this opportunity pass."
Yue Lianxue studied her son's face for a long moment. She could see the determination there, the desperation hidden beneath his usual shameless confidence. She also noticed what he wasn't saying—that he was being deliberately vague about his actual plan.
"Chen'er," she said slowly, "you're not telling me everything."
"I'm telling you what matters," Long Chen replied. "That I believe Luo Yan is Luo Ling'er, that I have evidence to support it, and that I will do everything in my power to confirm the truth today. The rest... the specific details... Mother, please trust me to handle this my way."
"Your way usually involves causing chaos," Yue Lianxue said dryly.
"Controlled chaos," Long Chen corrected with a slight grin.
Long Lianyun suddenly grabbed Long Chen's arm, her amber eyes intense. "Chen'er, if you truly believe Luo Yan is Luo Ling'er... if you're going to approach the Sect Master of the Ice Cold Palace... you need to be absolutely certain of what you're doing. One wrong move and—"
"I know the risks, Aunt Yun," Long Chen said seriously. "But I've been preparing for this moment for six years. I've gathered information, studied her patterns, learned everything I could about Luo Yan. I'm as ready as I'll ever be."
Yue Lianxue stood up slowly and walked over to her son. She placed both hands on his shoulders and looked directly into his eyes.
"Chen'er, my son... if there's truly a chance that Ling'er is alive, that this Luo Yan is her... then you have my blessing to pursue the truth. But..." her grip tightened slightly, "promise me you won't take unnecessary risks. Promise me that if things become dangerous, you'll retreat. Your life is more precious than any truth."
"I promise, Mother," Long Chen said, meeting her gaze steadily. "I'll be careful."
"And Chen'er," she continued, her voice softening, "if you do confirm that Luo Yan is Luo Ling'er... bring her home. Tell her that her Auntie Yue never stopped hoping. Tell her that her room is still waiting for her, exactly as she left it."
Long Chen felt a lump in his throat but managed to smile. "I will, Mother. I promise."
Yue Lianxue pulled him into a tight embrace, and Long Chen could feel her trembling slightly.
After a moment, she released him and stepped back, wiping her eyes discreetly.
"Now then," she said, her voice regaining its usual composure, "we still have the matter of Bao'er's marriage to handle. That remains your priority, understood?"
"Yes, Mother," Long Chen nodded. "Bao'er's happiness comes first."
"Good," Yue Lianxue managed a smile. "Handle that properly, then... do what you must regarding Luo Yan."
A young maid entered and bowed. "Young Master, Miss Bao'er reports that everything is ready for your departure."
"Excellent," Long Chen stood up.
His six personal maids—Bai Wei, Zhu Rong, Xuan Yu, Hua Xin, Han Fei, and Long Xue Ying—who had been seated quietly at the table, also rose.
However, they would not be accompanying him publicly. The existence of these six extraordinary beauties was one of the Long family's most closely guarded secrets. To the outside world, Long Chen had no personal maids—only the household staff that served the entire family.
Long Xue Ying stepped forward and discreetly handed Long Chen the jade bottle containing the poison, her golden eyes meeting his with understanding. "Use this wisely, Master," she whispered so quietly that only he could hear.
Long Chen nodded slightly, tucking the bottle into his inner robe pocket.
"Chen'er," his mother called as he turned to leave, "take Liu Mei with you. She's experienced and can help coordinate with Bao'er during the marriage proposal."
"Of course, Mother," Long Chen agreed. It was normal for young nobles to travel with a senior household servant for important family business.
Liu Mei, the head maid, stepped forward and bowed. "Young Master, I'll ensure everything proceeds smoothly with Miss Bao'er's proposal."
As Long Chen walked toward the exit, his six personal maids remained behind, as they always did when he left the manor. To the world, they didn't exist. They lived in a separate, hidden wing of the manor, trained in secret, and only interacted with the four core family members. Even the household maids had no idea of their true identities—they assumed the six girls were distant relatives or special guests who preferred privacy.
This secrecy was by design. Duke Long had his reasons for keeping Long Chen's six extraordinary maids hidden from the world, reasons that not even Long Chen fully understood yet.
In the courtyard, Bao'er waited nervously by an elegant carriage. She was a beautiful woman in her early twenties with long black hair tied in a neat bun, wearing a formal blue robe. Behind her was a second carriage loaded with an elaborate dowry, though she seemed confused about why it was there.
"Young Master," she bowed respectfully, her cheeks already pink with anticipation.
"Ready for the most important day of your life, Bao'er?" Long Chen asked with a warm smile.
"I... yes, Young Master," she replied, clearly having no idea what he meant.
Liu Mei efficiently organized the servants who would accompany them, ensuring everything was in order for the journey to the Xue family manor.
As Long Chen climbed into the carriage, he took one last look at the Long family manor.
Somewhere in that hidden wing, he knew his six personal maids were watching from concealed windows, their extraordinary beauty and abilities kept secret from the world.
Inside his robe, the jade bottle of poison rested against his chest, and in his mind, the full details of his audacious plan played out.
He hadn't lied to his mother—he would be careful. But he also hadn't told her the complete truth about what he intended to do.
The carriage began rolling through the capital's busy streets toward the Xue family manor.
Bao'er sat across from him, nervous and excited, while Liu Mei sat beside her, professional and composed.
To any observer, it was simply the Young Master of the Long family going to visit the Xue family on business—nothing unusual.
They had no idea that Long Chen was about to attempt something that could either reunite him with his lost fiancée or start a war with one of the most powerful sects in the Central Region.
Long Chen smiled to himself as the city passed by outside the carriage window.
"Soon, Ling'er," he whispered quietly, so no one would hear. "Soon I'll know if you're really there. And if you are... I'm bringing you home. No matter what."
Back in the manor's hidden wing, six extraordinary beauties watched the carriage disappear into the distance.
"He's planning something dangerous," Han Fei said coldly, her hand resting on her sword.
"He always does," Xuan Yu replied with a mysterious smile.
"Should we follow him secretly?" Hua Xin asked worriedly.
"No," Long Xue Ying said firmly. "Master wants to handle this alone. We must trust him."
"But if he doesn't return by nightfall?" Zhu Rong's eyes blazed with concern.
"Then we go get him," Bai Wei said softly but with absolute conviction. "Even if we have to fight the entire Ice Cold Palace."
The other five nodded in agreement. Their Master might keep them hidden from the world, but they would never abandon him when he needed them.