Wei Rao had been granted the title of Princess, and all matters concerning her marriage were handled by the Ministry of Rites. Her wedding date with Lu Zhuo was chosen by Emperor Yuanjia and Little Zhou from a full page of auspicious dates submitted by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau—the sixth day of the third month in the coming year.
It was already late July, leaving just over six months until the wedding.
Wei Rao thought the timing was good. She was willing to marry Lu Zhuo but not in any particular hurry. Moreover, the second young master, Lu Ya, was set to marry in August, and Lu Zhuo, as the elder brother who had already been through a divorce, certainly shouldn’t steal his cousin’s spotlight.
After the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau sent someone to take Wei Rao’s measurements for a new set of bridal attire befitting her status as a princess, she rode her horse to the Secluded Manor. With so much having happened at the temporary palace—her mother becoming a noble consort and her own engagement—her grandmother would surely want to know the details.
Wei Rao arrived at an opportune moment. Just as she reached the gate of the Secluded Manor, she saw a woman dressed as a matchmaker walking out.
"Oh, this humble woman pays respects to the princess!"”
Guessing Wei Rao’s identity, the matchmaker smiled and bowed.
Wei Rao was greatly surprised. Judging by the matchmaker’s demeanor, it seemed the marriage proposal had been successful. Was her grandmother arranging a match for her cousin Huizhu?
Nodding to the matchmaker, Wei Rao quickly dismounted and entered the Secluded Manor.
Shou An Jun and Wei Rao’s aunt, Wang Shi, were still seated in the Hall. Seeing Wei Rao, Shou An Jun smiled warmly, while Wang Shi pressed her lips together, forcing a smile.
Wei Rao paid her respects to both elders and then sat beside Shou An Jun, asking curiously, “Grandmother, on my way here, I saw a matchmaker. Was she here to propose a marriage for Cousin Huizhu?”
Shou An Jun smiled. “Exactly. The prospective groom lives in Yunwu Town. You might know his grandfather—Old Zhang from Zhang’s shop, the one who sells Sugar-coated haws.”
Wei Rao’s eyes widened in surprise. What a coincidence!
Shou An Jun went on to explain the Zhang family’s situation. The Zhangs were hereditary artisans of Sugar-coated haws. Northerners loved this snack, and the Zhangs’ skill was exceptional. Through their shop in Yunwu Town, they hadn’t amassed great wealth but lived comfortably and peacefully, free from want.
Old Zhang had one son and three grandsons. The eldest grandson had inherited the family’s Sugar-coated haws craft and would eventually take over Zhang’s shop and their hawthorn groves. The second grandson was skilled in farming, managing the family’s fifty acres of land. Both of these grandsons were already married. The one who had proposed was the youngest grandson, Zhang Xian.
Zhang Xian was twenty-four years old and had already passed the provincial imperial examination. He was set to take the metropolitan examination next spring, and both he and his mentor were confident of success.
In the past decade or so, Yunwu Town had produced only one successful candidate in the imperial examination—Zhang Xian. The Zhang family’s doorstep was nearly worn out by matchmakers, but Zhang Xian, dedicated to his studies, had declared he would only consider marriage after his first attempt at the spring exams. However, this year, Zhou Huizhu went to town for some fun and caught Zhang Xian’s eye. He fell in love with her at first sight and sent a matchmaker to propose.
Shou An Jun was straightforward. She first summoned Zhang Xian to the Secluded Manor to assess him personally. Zhang Xian had fair skin and a dignified appearance. When discussing livelihood issues, he showed considerable insight without resorting to empty scholarly rhetoric. Shou An Jun deliberately arranged for a beautiful maid to serve tea. Although Zhang Xian noticed the maid’s beauty, he did not pay her undue attention, demonstrating steadiness and integrity.
Shou An Jun was very pleased, and Zhou Huizhu, who had been secretly observing from a side room, was equally satisfied.
Today, the matchmaker had come to ask for Zhou Huizhu’s birth details, to be taken to the temple along with Zhang Xian’s for a compatibility reading."Grandmother's judgment is always sound. If you say Third Master Zhang is a good match, then he must truly be," Wei Rao couldn't wait to meet this prospective brother-in-law.
Shou An Jun smiled and tilted her chin toward her daughter-in-law.
Wei Rao then asked Wang Shi, "Aunt, is there something about Third Master Zhang that doesn't meet your expectations?"
Wang Shi twisted her handkerchief and whispered, "Huizhu isn't as beautiful as you girls. I never had high hopes for her marriage prospects. But now that Her Ladyship has been enfeoffed as Imperial Consort and returned to the capital in glory, and you've rekindled your relationship with Lu Zhuo, with Huizhen also able to help... I thought if we just wait a little longer, surely better families would come proposing. Why rush into this?"
Wang Shi genuinely felt the Zhang family's status was too humble. Since the old madam had listened to her regarding the elder daughter's marriage, for the younger daughter's match, Wang Shi felt she ought to defer to the old madam this time.
As this involved her mother, Wei Rao thought it improper to comment further.
Shou An Jun glared at Wang Shi: "Her Ladyship the Imperial Consort is Her Ladyship, our family is our family. Even if, as you say, someone comes seeking Huizhu's hand because of the Imperial Consort's status, do you think that family would genuinely care for Huizhu? When marrying a man, what matters most is marrying the right person. Besides, what's wrong with the Zhang family's humble status? Precisely because they're humble, they wouldn't dare mistreat Huizhu. Look at what Huizhen's life has become after marriage - even a concubine's daughter dares to challenge her. Aren't you heartbroken as her mother?"
Wang Shi lowered her head in embarrassment.
Wei Rao decided not to involve herself further in the elders' debate and went to find Zhou Huizhu.
"Cousin, congratulations!" Wei Rao teased with a smile when they met.
Zhou Huizhu shot her a bashful glare and continued embroidering with lowered head.
Wei Rao sat beside her, taking away the embroidery hoop, and whispered, "Quick, tell me what my future brother-in-law looks like!"
After some shy hesitation, Zhou Huizhu confessed honestly.
Zhang Xian certainly didn't possess the noble bearing of aristocratic young masters like Lu Zhuo or Han Liao, and his looks were far inferior. But in Yunwu Town, among ordinary commoners, Zhang Xian could be considered quite the refined gentleman - fair-skinned, polite, clearly a scholar. Moreover, Zhang Xian was tall and slender, looking particularly dashing in long robes. In short, Zhou Huizhu was quite smitten.
Unlike her sister, she had no extravagant expectations regarding a man's family background. Good looks, some talent, and most importantly - he must genuinely care for her.
Wei Rao also thought this match promising. Zhang Xian had passed the provincial examination at a young age. If he successfully passed the imperial examination next spring, whether he served in the capital or was appointed elsewhere, her cousin could become a proper official's wife. Her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law might not necessarily respect her, but at least they wouldn't dare bully her. Moreover, Wei Rao suspected the young couple would mostly live separately from the main family.
By the ninth month, Zhou Huizhu and Zhang Xian's marriage was formally settled, with the wedding scheduled for the fourth month after the spring examination results were announced the following year.
Because of Zhou Huizhu's engagement, both Wei Rao and Zhou Huizhen came to attend the banquet.
Zhou Huizhen could see her sister's happiness - that same joy she herself had felt before marrying Han Liao, though it became increasingly difficult to recall now. Each day she faced the Marquis household's women with their hidden daggers behind smiles. Though Han Liao was passionate at night, whenever she thought about how he only cared for her body without any regard for her feelings, Zhou Huizhen grew increasingly despondent.After the banquet, Zhou Huizhen returned to the Marquis Manor with Han Liao. Although Han Liao didn’t mind her staying longer at the Secluded Manor, Zhou Huizhen was eager to conceive a child quickly—hopefully a son—to gain respect in the Han family and had no intention of wasting time at the manor.
Wei Rao planned to stay with her grandmother until after the Double Ninth Festival before returning to the capital.
On the eighth day of the ninth month, Lu Zhuo came to the Secluded Manor to deliver festival gifts to Shou An Jun. Wei Rao did not show herself to meet him. Lu Zhuo shared a meal with Shou An Jun before taking his leave.
The Double Ninth Festival was a suitable day for mountain climbing. Early the next morning, as dawn broke, Shou An Jun took Wang Shi, Wei Rao, and Zhou Huizhu to hike Cloud Mist Mountain.
Thanks to their advantageous location, while the nobility in the capital might still be queuing to exit the city gates, the four women had already reached the foot of Cloud Mist Mountain. Occasionally, they encountered groups of local residents either climbing to enjoy the scenery or heading to Cloud Mist Temple halfway up the mountain to offer incense.
Given her advanced age, Shou An Jun refused to climb any further once they reached the temple. Wang Shi stayed behind to accompany her mother-in-law, while Wei Rao and Zhou Huizhu, along with their maids and guards, continued toward the summit.
With some distance still to the peak, Zhou Huizhu grew too tired to continue and stubbornly lingered in a roadside pavilion meant for travelers to rest. As Wei Rao took a sip of water and teased her cousin for lacking stamina, Zhou Huizhu glanced at the stone steps behind her and suddenly remarked, “Since you love climbing so much, Sister Rao, why not have your future husband join you?”
Wei Rao tapped her head with a round fan. “What future husband? We’re not married yet. Address him as the heir.”
Zhou Huizhu corrected herself, “Then let the heir accompany you, sister.”
Wei Rao suddenly sensed something amiss. Turning around, she was surprised to find Lu Zhuo already standing outside the pavilion. In the crisp autumn breeze, he wore a jade-white brocade robe and a jade crown, resembling an immortal descended to the mortal realm.
Wei Rao stared at Lu Zhuo in astonishment. What was he doing here?
Lu Zhuo smiled and approached, explaining, “When I delivered gifts yesterday, I thought Grandmother might come to Cloud Mist Temple to offer incense today. So, I stayed overnight in the town, planning to meet her at the temple.”
Understanding dawned on Wei Rao. She turned away, using her fan to shield her face, as unmarried couples were not supposed to meet according to propriety.
Lu Zhuo, however, showed no intention of observing such formalities. He casually sat on a bench in the pavilion and asked conversationally, “Has the Princess also come to climb the mountain?”
Wei Rao shot him a glare.
Zhou Huizhu chimed in cheerfully, “Yes, the elderly lady is here too, resting at the temple below. You’ve arrived just in time, Heir. Sister Rao still wants to reach the summit, but I’m too exhausted and was about to head down. Would you mind taking my place for the final stretch?”
Without giving Wei Rao a chance to object, Zhou Huizhu swiftly descended the mountain with her maid.
Wei Rao exclaimed in frustration, “You ran off so quickly—I thought you were out of energy?”
Lu Zhuo then instructed the two Princess Manor guards standing outside the pavilion, “I will accompany the Princess. Please escort the young lady.”
The two tall guards looked to the Princess for confirmation.
Wei Rao nodded.
Once the guards departed, Bitao teased from the side, “Princess, I’m too tired to climb any further. May I…?”
Wei Rao shot her a sharp glance.
Bitao chuckled and stepped outside the pavilion, facing the mountain path below as if keeping watch for her mistress.
Wei Rao adjusted the veil hat she had removed while drinking and glared at Lu Zhuo. “Since you’ve finished your climb, Heir, why haven’t you descended yet?”The veil was sheer, allowing Lu Zhuo to clearly see her dark, luminous, and enchanting eyes, along with her cherry-red, full lips. These two features stood out most vividly, while her delicate face remained hazy and indistinct.
The scene from the poplar grove in the hunting grounds flashed clearly in his mind once more. Gazing at her, Lu Zhuo said softly, "I guessed the princess might come to admire the autumn scenery from the heights today, so I came specifically to meet you.""
Wei Rao's face flushed crimson. The Lu Zhuo of today truly had no shame left.
"Who wants to meet you? Leave at once," Wei Rao retorted, turning her face away as she scolded him.
Lu Zhuo naturally knew his actions were improper, but it had been three months since he last saw Wei Rao after their parting in the poplar grove. Yesterday, when he went to the Secluded Manor, he anticipated she wouldn't come out, yet his desire to see her only grew stronger. Thus, he came early to Cloud Mist Mountain this morning, hoping to gamble on whether she would come for a climb.
If Wei Rao didn't come, Lu Zhuo would descend the mountain without pressing further. But if she did, it would be fate bringing them together.
Now that they had met, being scolded by her felt more exhilarating than drinking fine wine.
Since the princess is displeased, this humble subject shall take his leave."
With one last look at her, Lu Zhuo rose, bowed, and truly began his descent down the mountain.
"Young Lord is so pitiful, eagerly waiting for the princess on the mountain, only to be driven away after just a few words," Bitao exclaimed as she hurried into the pavilion, her tone a mix of sympathy and teasing.
Wei Rao glanced at Lu Zhuo's tall, straight retreating figure. Three parts annoyed with him, but perhaps seven parts pleased.
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