Flying Ink was a warhorse, a steed of exceptional quality, and if Lu Zhuo forbade it from moving, even if sharp arrows shot toward it, Flying Ink would not dodge.
Under the shade of green foliage, the black stallion stood as still as a sculpture, its hooves firmly planted on the ground, its dark eyes calmly gazing ahead. It sensed no danger—its master had merely commanded it not to move recklessly.
On the horse’s back, Wei Rao felt as though she were melting under Lu Zhuo’s sudden, fervent kiss. In her heart, she knew this was wrong, yet sparks seemed buried within her, usually unnoticed but now ignited by Lu Zhuo, burning her body soft and sending waves of dizziness through her mind. The last shreds of reason made her want to push him away.
But her left arm was bound tightly to her waist by his, like a rope, while her right hand could lift from beneath the arm clasping the back of her head. She touched his sleeve, and beneath it, his arm was as unyielding as ancient vines—strong and iron-hard. Her hand rested there, unable to budge him in the slightest.
With the stirrups occupied by his feet, Wei Rao had no leverage, unable to summon the strength of her whole body to resist.
Forced to tilt her head back, one hand hung limply, clutching his leg, while the other futilely gripped his arm.
Lu Zhuo’s kisses grew more forceful with each one, and she felt like his prey, utterly at his mercy.
As breathing became difficult, Lu Zhuo released her lips. Just as Wei Rao thought it was finally over, his lips descended to her ear, blazing like wildfire down to her neck. The hand clasping the back of her head seized her shoulder, tugging at her collar to pull it aside.
The excessive act jolted Wei Rao back to her senses. She struggled free one hand and slapped the handsome face so close to hers.
Lu Zhuo’s lips still pressed against her snow-white neck, but his hand froze.
Wei Rao slapped him again.
Lu Zhuo lifted his head to look at her.
Her cheeks flushed crimson, her eyes blazing with anger. As he met her gaze, she glared and delivered a third slap.
Suddenly, Lu Zhuo laughed. In Wei Rao’s momentary daze, he kissed her again—this time more gently, like a tentative plea, like fine drizzle falling on delicate petals. That cautious tenderness made it impossible for her raised hand to strike again.
Lu Zhuo suddenly grasped her hand, while his other slid beneath her skirt. Just as Wei Rao, startled and misunderstanding, prepared to react, he lifted her and leaped off Flying Ink, pressing her against the trunk of a nearby poplar tree. Before she could steady herself, Lu Zhuo had pinned both her wrists above her head with one hand, his tall, straight frame enveloping her.
First her lips, then her earlobes and neck—he was silent yet relentless, burning with intensity.
Wei Rao weakly closed her eyes, her slender neck arching under his onslaught, soft murmurs escaping her lips.
In that moment, she was like a fragile vine, helplessly gnawed by a ravenous beast.
Lu Zhuo knew she would not resist anymore—and that made it even more dangerous. She enticed him with her allure, but if he truly overstepped, she might slap him again.
Before losing control, he released her hands and continued kissing her lips.
Flying Ink suddenly snorted loudly. Wei Rao trembled, her hands pressing against his chest to push him away.
Lu Zhuo did not persist, pulling his lips away slightly, breathing heavily as he gazed at her.
Wei Rao lowered her lashes, her heartbeat startlingly fast, her breath uneven, her rosy lips glistening with moisture.Lu Zhuo was the first to regain composure. He lifted her hand and interlaced their fingers, speaking softly when Wei Rao tried to pull away: "Wei Rao, before seeing you today, I had considered that if you truly didn't wish to marry me, I would respect your choice."
Wei Rao's hand stilled.
But his voice continued by her ear: "Yet upon seeing you, only one thought remains. You may refuse to marry me, but don't imagine wedding anyone else. Whomever you or the Noble Consort favor, I'll make them withdraw voluntarily. You know well I've never been a gentleman."
Wei Rao instinctively mocked him: "The heir speaks boldly indeed. Does the Lu Family truly believe they can act tyrannically through the capital?"
Lu Zhuo smiled: "No need to involve the Lu Family. I alone am sufficient."
Wei Rao fumed: "What of your sense of propriety and shame?"
Lu Zhuo looked at her: "Marry me, and I'll abide by all conventions."
Wei Rao turned her head away, crimson lips pressed tight.
When Lu Zhuo reached to touch the corner of her mouth, she slapped his hand aside. He chuckled ruefully, leaning shoulder-to-shoulder with her against the tree while maintaining a firm grip on her right hand. Gently he asked: "Did the Jujube Rice Dumplings for Dragon Boat Festival suit your taste?"
Wei Rao replied coldly: "They did not."
Lu Zhuo: "Is that so? Then I'll make them more frequently. One day they'll meet your satisfaction."
Wei Rao started—he had made those dumplings himself?
Lu Zhuo drew her small hand to his chest, glancing sideways at her: "Believe it or not, no man in this world understands you better than I. Nor is there any other man who'd indulge your every whim besides me."
Wei Rao found this laughable. The first claim might hold truth, but how could he utter the second with a straight face?
"When have you ever indulged my whims?"
"Not in the past. But henceforth, whatever you wish to do, I'll comply without uttering a single word of restraint."
Wei Rao disbelieved: "You wouldn't mind if I visited taverns with other men?"
Lu Zhuo: "So long as you marry me, I wouldn't care if you frequented brothels with them."
Wei Rao flushed with anger: "Who said anything about brothels? Are you implying something crude?"
Lu Zhuo explained: "Merchants often entertain in such establishments. You're simply unaccustomed to such practices."
Conceding his broader experience, Wei Rao gritted her teeth in thought before asking: "Then would you accept if I changed clothes outdoors?"
Lu Zhuo laughed: "So long as you ensure no one is nearby."
Wei Rao struggled to free her hand—of course she'd verify no onlookers! Did he think she'd undress before anyone?
Despite her efforts, Lu Zhuo held fast: "Marry me. Agree to marry me, and I'll release you immediately."
Wei Rao remained stubbornly silent.
Unhurried, Lu Zhuo leaned against the tree trunk, gazing serenely at the azure sky. The small hand in his palm filled the emptiness in his heart.
From the nearby lake came the sudden quacking of wild ducks.
Wei Rao smiled, watching the distance: "Without bow or arrow, without any tools—if you can catch a wild duck, I'll marry you."
Lu Zhuo's lips curved upward. If she would consent, what was a wild duck to him?
"One duck carries poor symbolism. I'd present the lady with two, hoping we may become an inseparable pair, growing old together."
Wei Rao scoffed: "Catch them first before boasting."
Lu Zhuo glanced at her and whistled twice.
Grazing nearby, Flying Ink approached. Moments later, Wei Rao's white horse, which they had abandoned earlier, also found its way back.
Mounting their respective steeds, they rode single-file toward the lake—Lu Zhuo to catch ducks, Wei Rao to supervise his attempt.On the way, they encountered Lu Changning, who looked sheepish and dared not meet Wei Rao’s gaze.
Lu Zhuo reassured her, "The fault lies with me. The princess does not blame you."
Lu Changning glanced nervously at Wei Rao.
Wei Rao smiled.
Lu Changning immediately brightened and urged her horse closer to Wei Rao. Glancing at her elder brother riding ahead, she asked curiously, "Princess, have you made up with my brother?"
Wei Rao snorted, "Not yet. I’m only giving him a chance. If he can catch two wild ducks barehanded, I’ll forgive him."
Lu Changning paused for a moment, then suddenly understood—the princess had already forgiven her brother! Catching wild ducks was just a playful trick to tease him.
Though she didn’t know how her brother felt about it, Lu Changning was overjoyed. She laughed and urged Lu Zhuo to hurry and catch the ducks.
Three fine horses emerged from the woods, revealing a shimmering lake ahead. About twenty wild ducks drifted leisurely across the water, gathered in small groups, all staying near the center of the lake.
"Without using any tools, how can he possibly catch them?" Lu Changning exclaimed in disbelief.
Wei Rao only smiled without answering, her gaze fixed on Lu Zhuo’s back.
Lu Zhuo rode his horse along the lakeshore. The ducks, perhaps sensing he was still far away, continued to paddle slowly.
Though Lu Zhuo was a skilled swimmer, he couldn’t outpace wild ducks in the water. Any movement would alert them if he got too close.
He looked toward Wei Rao.
She stood in the shade of a tree, her radiant face wearing a leisurely, amused smile.
Lu Zhuo rode his horse again, this time moving slowly along the shore. Just then, a red-headed wild duck emerged from the woods, leading a line of waddling ducklings.
Wei Rao’s expression shifted abruptly.
Lu Zhuo grinned and spurred his horse toward the duck family. The red-headed duck sensed danger and quacked loudly, herding her ducklings toward the water. But Flying Ink understood his master’s intent—with hooves flying, he dashed forward, intercepting the last three ducklings before they reached the lake. Lu Zhuo, with one foot in the stirrup and one hand gripping the reins, leaned so far from the saddle that he nearly left the horse’s back. With a swift scoop, he snatched up two red-headed ducklings.
As Lu Zhuo turned his horse and rode back, Lu Changning laughed, "Princess, this is heaven’s will! You’re destined to become my sister-in-law!"
Wei Rao, unwilling to let Lu Zhuo off so easily, turned her horse and galloped away.
Lu Zhuo gave chase, though this time he didn’t push his horse to its limit, maintaining a deliberate distance between them.
The sight of one white and one black horse racing across the open field soon drew attention.
Young noblewomen resting under the trees watched enviously as Wei Rao was pursued by Lu Zhuo.
Emperor Yuanjia and Little Zhou, who had been leisurely hunting, also spotted the pair.
The emperor glanced at Little Zhou, then led his party to intercept Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo. Little Zhou hesitated briefly before following.
With the imperial entourage ahead, Wei Rao slowed her horse, her cheeks flushed crimson.
She remained mounted as Lu Zhuo, upon seeing Emperor Yuanjia, dismounted with the two quacking ducklings in his arms and knelt on one knee.
Just then, Little Zhou arrived as well. Blushing, Wei Rao rode to her mother’s side.
Emperor Yuanjia demanded of Lu Zhuo, "Why were you chasing the princess?"
Lu Zhuo declared clearly, "Your Majesty, I have long admired the princess. Just now, I encountered her by chance and once again begged for her hand in marriage. She declared that if I could capture a wild duck without any tools, she would consent to marry me. Now that I have caught two, the princess refuses to accept them. I implore Your Majesty to uphold justice on my behalf."
Emperor Yuanjia turned to Wei Rao and asked, "Is what Lu Zhuo said true?"Wei Rao said angrily, "I asked him to catch wild ducks in the lake, but he took a shortcut by catching two ducklings on the ground. What kind of skill is that?"
Despite her anger, the maidenly shyness in her expression was unmistakable.
Emperor Yuanjia looked at Little Zhou, who snorted lightly and scolded Wei Rao, "How can you treat marriage so frivolously?"
Wei Rao then ran off in a huff.
Understanding the situation, Emperor Yuanjia coughed lightly and said to Little Zhou with a smile, "Consort, although Lu Zhuo took a shortcut, he did fulfill the princess's request. Considering Lu Zhuo's dignified appearance, his literary and martial talents, and his sincere desire to marry the princess, why don't I make the decision for them and issue an imperial decree for their marriage?"
Little Zhou replied coldly, "My daughter honors her bets. She will marry him, but when Your Majesty issues the imperial decree, you must add a clause stating that if Lu Zhuo dares to mistreat the princess, she may divorce him even if it was an imperial marriage."
Lu Zhuo immediately responded, "I would never dare. I will cherish the princess as my own life."
Little Zhou remained unmoved, "I don't believe your words. I only trust the imperial decree."
Emperor Yuanjia laughed, "Very well, very well. As the consort wishes, I shall add that clause to the imperial decree."
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