On their way out of the palace, Wei Rao smiled and asked Lu Zhuo, "Did His Highness reprimand you?"
Lu Zhuo also smiled. "His Highness is intelligent and astute, with deep affection for his sister. Since I have promised His Highness to treat the Princess Consort well, if I ever break my word in the future, His Highness will surely not let me off lightly."
Wei Rao lifted her chin proudly. "It's good that the heir knows this."
Anyone who had such a younger brother who knew how to cherish and protect his sister would feel proud.
However, Lu Zhuo's promise was only valid during the day. As soon as night fell, Wei Rao was bullied by him twice in a row, so much so that when she brought Lu Zhuo back to the Princess Manor for the customary post-wedding visit, Shou An Jun—who had stayed at the manor specifically for this day—took one look at Wei Rao's barely concealed allure and knew without even asking that Lu Zhuo was certainly no weakling.
"It hasn't been easy for the two of you to reunite. From now on, live well together. When disagreements arise, take time to calmly reflect before acting impulsently and regretting it later."
With no outsiders present, Shou An Jun looked at the two young people seated on either side of her and spoke from the heart.
Wei Rao glanced at Lu Zhuo, who returned her gaze.
Their eyes met, each with their own regrets. Wei Rao lowered her head in silence, while Lu Zhuo stood up and said to Shou An Jun, "Your grandson-in-law will heed your teachings."
Seeing that both were mature adults, Shou An Jun felt there was no need for further nagging and prepared to return to the Secluded Manor.
Wei Rao held onto the old lady's arm. "Why the hurry? At least stay and have lunch with us."
Shou An Jun replied, "Huizhu is getting married next month, and there's a lot to do at home. Do you expect me to only worry about you and not care for Huizhu?"
Wei Rao pouted; that wasn't what she meant.
Shou An Jun laughed. "Alright, alright. This is Shoucheng's first time visiting your Princess Manor. Show him around properly."
The young couple was newly married and had such a fine estate to enjoy—what was an old woman like her doing here getting in the way?
Shou An Jun cheerfully boarded her carriage.
As the carriage departed, Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo returned to the Princess Manor.
The Princess Manor was no smaller than the Duke of Yingguo's Manor, and with only Wei Rao living there, it clearly demonstrated Emperor Yuanjia's desire to compensate her—or perhaps his love for Little Zhou extending to her.
Under the brilliant spring sunlight, Wei Rao grew tired from walking and led Lu Zhuo into a Waterside Pavilion. Wei Gōnggong stood at a distance with Bitao and two palace maids.
"Would you like some tea?" Lu Zhuo asked.
Wei Rao was indifferent but still waved to Wei Gōnggong, gesturing for tea.
Wei Gōnggong immediately instructed the maids to bring tea.
Wei Gōnggong carried himself with the authority of a steward, though he was only around twenty years old, with delicate features, fair skin, and rosy lips.
Lu Zhuo's gaze shifted from Wei Gōnggong back to Wei Rao, and he asked with a smile, "Imperial consorts often prefer eunuchs for their cleverness and skill. During your stay at the Princess Manor, have you ever experienced Wei Gōnggong's abilities in your daily life?"
Wei Rao sensed an implication in his words and fixed her sparkling eyes on him.
Lu Zhuo then asked directly, "Has the Princess Consort ever allowed Wei Gōnggong to serve her intimately?"
Wei Rao understood and glared at him. "Of course not. Wei Gōnggong only manages the Princess Manor. I prefer using Bitao and the others for matters inside my chambers."
Wei Rao was not an imperial consort. In her eyes, Wei Gōnggong was not much different from other men. How could she possibly allow him into her private quarters?
Thinking of this, she shot Lu Zhuo another glare. Who knew what went through this man's mind all day?Lu Zhuo smiled without speaking, his gaze drifting to the scenery elsewhere. Thinking of the previous owner of this Princess Manor—a princess who had kept male favorites—and how Emperor Yuanjia had arranged for the handsome eunuch Wei Gōnggong to assist Wei Rao in managing the manor, the smile on Lu Zhuo's lips gradually froze.
Fortunately, Wei Rao was only a half-blood princess. If she had been born into the royal family, she might have been capable of keeping male favorites too.
After resting for a while and drinking some tea, the two continued their tour of the Princess Manor.
The former princess had been fond of pleasure, and several spots in the manor reminded Lu Zhuo of scenes depicted in certain booklets—scenes suitable for clandestine meetings between men and women. If it were Wei Rao and those nonexistent male favorites, Lu Zhuo would certainly be displeased. But if it were him and Wei Rao, his thoughts drifted further and further away.
Wei Rao had no idea that her esteemed Lu Lang was actually thinking of such things in broad daylight. After touring the manor, they returned home in the afternoon.
This was also Lu Zhuo's last day of marriage leave. The next morning, he would resume his duties at the Divine Martial Army camp.
That night, after their passionate entanglement, Wei Rao lay lazily against Lu Zhuo's chest, her consciousness finally drifting back from the clouds. Reflecting on their indulgence over the past few nights, she felt relieved that Lu Zhuo was returning to work. Poking him with a strand of her hair, she said, "Since you're resuming your duties, shall we stick to the previous arrangement? Unless it's a holiday, you'll stay in the front courtyard and come to the Back Residence once every three days?"
When they were a fake couple, Wei Rao had wished Lu Zhuo would never come to the Back Residence. But now that they were a real couple, she found his arrangement perfect—once every three days maintained their marital affection while giving her enough rest. If they indulged every night, she wouldn't be able to get up in the morning to practice swordsmanship.
Lu Zhuo's hand, which had just rested on her back, stiffened abruptly.
Visiting the Back Residence once every three days was indeed his idea, but times had changed, and Lu Zhuo no longer felt the same way.
Their intimate matters were no one else's business. Besides, would the servants of the Hall of Pine and Moon gossip about how many nights he spent in the Back Residence each month?
"That was when we were a fake couple. Now that we're real, we should sleep together every night," Lu Zhuo said, holding her close.
Wei Rao, who had been relaxed and content, suddenly lifted her head.
Lu Zhuo smiled at her. "What, you don't want me to accompany you every night?"
Without hesitation, Wei Rao replied, "No, I don't. You were the one who suggested once every three days. Are you going back on your word now? If you keep breaking your promises, how can I trust any of your assurances?"
Seeing her take it too far, Lu Zhuo had no choice but to concede. "Fine, I'll keep my word. We'll do as you say—I'll come to the Back Residence once every two nights."
Wei Rao was satisfied.
The next morning, Lu Zhuo had breakfast with Wei Rao before heading to the main gate of the Duke's Manor.
Lu Zhuo and his cousins were all at the age to start families and careers. Except for the fifth brother, Lu Che, who was still studying, and the sixth brother, Lu Bin, who was still a toddler, Lu Zhuo, along with the second brother Lu Ya, the third brother Lu Cong, and the fourth brother Lu Ze, all held positions in the Divine Martial Army. Thus, every morning, the four brothers would gather at the gate and set off together.
The Duke of Yingguo and Fourth Master also went to the Divine Martial Army camp and sometimes stayed there, so they did not travel with the younger generation.
"I haven't walked with Big Brother for days. I actually miss him," Lu Cong said mischievously, hiding behind Lu Ya.
Lu Zhuo paid him no mind and replied lightly, "When you take marriage leave, we'll miss you too."After Lu Ya got married, the weddings of the third son Lu Cong and the fourth son Lu Ze were already arranged, including Lu Changning, who was also betrothed. Lu Changning would marry in mid-May, and Lu Cong would marry in October, meaning the Duke of Yingguo's Manor would host three joyous events this year.
Lu Cong rubbed his nose and asked Lu Ya, who was closest to him, "Second Brother, tell me, how does it feel after getting married? You used to only have Mother nagging you, but now you suddenly have Second Sister-in-law too. Does your head ache from it?"
Lu Cong was most afraid of women's incessant nagging, especially from his mother, Second Madam, who constantly compared him to his eldest and second brothers. Lu Cong was almost fed up with it.
When asked about his feelings after marriage, Lu Ya's mind conjured the image of his wife, Qiao Shi. Qiao Shi was entirely different from his elder sister-in-law, Wei Rao. While Wei Rao was unrestrained and free-spirited, Qiao Shi was gentle and reserved. Though Qiao Shi's looks couldn't compare to Wei Rao's, she was still a beauty. Qiao Shi treated him with tender care and was never noisy. With such a wife, Lu Ya was very satisfied.
"It's hard to explain. You'll understand once you're married," Lu Ya said with a smile to his third brother.
At the same time, in the Duke of Yingguo's Manor.
Lu Ya's wife, Qiao Shi, was speaking with her mother-in-law, Second Madam: "Mother, Elder Brother's wedding leave has ended, and he's returned to his duties. Elder Sister-in-law is alone at home. Do you think I should go keep her company?"
Second Madam looked at her daughter-in-law. "What, are you very eager to befriend her?"
Qiao Shi detected a hint of something in her tone and quickly explained, "No, it's just... she's the elder sister-in-law, and I'm the younger sister-in-law. I'm afraid of being impolite."
Second Madam snorted and continued inspecting her daughter Changning's dowry. She lowered her voice and said to her daughter-in-law, "Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together. Remember, maintain surface-level politeness with her from now on. Keep your thoughts to yourself and don't let Old Madam notice. Beyond that, there's no need to interact too frequently."
As for Wei Rao, Second Madam, along with Third Madam, had never genuinely liked her.
It was just that Old Madam had taken a fancy to Wei Rao and insisted on proposing the marriage back then. He Shi didn't object either, so as aunts, why bother saying much? After all, Wei Rao was marrying Lu Zhuo, not their sons. After Wei Rao married into the family and actually managed to rouse Lu Zhuo back to consciousness, Second Madam and Third Madam felt a bit grateful toward Wei Rao. Thinking that Wei Rao indeed had a connection with the Lu Family, they treated her quite kindly.
But as Wei Rao grew increasingly willful, enchanting Lu Zhuo to the point where he dared not disobey her, losing the dignity he once had as the heir of the Lu Family, Second Madam and Third Madam grew more and more displeased with her. Still, as the saying went, Wei Rao was the daughter-in-law of the main branch, separated by a layer from the second and third branches. Since Old Madam was willing to tolerate Wei Rao, Second Madam and Third Madam continued to treat her with pleasant expressions.
Later, when Wei Rao divorced, Second Madam and Third Madam breathed a simultaneous sigh of relief, thinking Old Madam would surely find a proper lady for Lu Zhuo to marry and secure a competent matriarch for the Duke of Yingguo's Manor.
Who would have thought that, after all the twists and turns, Lu Zhuo ended up marrying Wei Rao again?
And it wasn't even that Wei Rao came back on her own—it was Lu Zhuo who exhausted all means to win her back. One moment he was personally escorting Wei Rao home, the next he was farming in Shou An Jun's fields, and then he jumped into the river to search for medicinal herbs. Wei Rao gained glory, and Shou An Jun, the Noble Consort, also gained face. But what about Lu Zhuo and the Lu Family?
A daughter-in-law like Wei Rao—Second Madam would rather die than have her.As an aunt, Second Madam would not overstep by meddling in the eldest branch's affairs. Though He Shi favored Wei Rao, Second Madam disdained stirring up trouble before her. However, she could not allow her own daughter-in-law to befriend Wei Rao. "Keep good men company and you shall be of the number" – what if her daughter-in-law learned Wei Rao's seductive tricks, inherited from the Zhou family women, and used them to torment her beloved son, Ya Ge?
Second Madam shot a warning glance at her daughter-in-law.
Qiao Shi truly had no intention of befriending Wei Rao. Among their circle of capital-bred gentlewomen, they admired refined ladies like Xie Hualou. Were it not for Wei Rao's fortunate circumstance of having a birth mother who became an imperial consort, and the Emperor's favor extending to Wei Rao, these gentlewomen would never deign to associate with her beyond maintaining superficial courtesy.
"Rest assured, Mother, I know how to conduct myself," Qiao Shi murmured in reassurance.
Second Madam smiled faintly.
Just then, a maid announced that the young lady had gone to the Hall of Pine and Moon.
Second Madam's brows furrowed. Had she known Wei Rao would grow increasingly unorthodox, she would never have agreed to let Changning learn swordplay and martial arts from her.
Fortunately, her daughter would soon marry – the intended groom being Third Madam's nephew, a thoroughly vetted match. Once married, her daughter would naturally drift apart from Wei Rao.
OpenNovel