Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo departed from the capital at the end of January and, after over a month of travel, finally arrived at Ganzhou City in early March.
Deputy General Meng Kuo of the Ganzhou Army led local officials to greet them outside the city walls.
Seated inside the carriage, Wei Rao peered through the window curtain and saw that Deputy General Meng Kuo was even more robust than Qi Zhongkai. His face, tanned dark with a reddish hue, made him look like a sturdy iron tower. As Lu Zhuo rode up to Meng Kuo on horseback, he appeared increasingly like a delicate, effeminate man who lacked physical strength. Though Meng Kuo’s expression was respectful, the military officers behind him could not conceal their skepticism.
Wei Rao frowned slightly. During the journey, Lu Zhuo had warned her that winning over the Ganzhou Army completely would not be easy upon their arrival. He also mentioned that local officials might send their female family members to probe her for information about Lu Zhuo—his character, conduct, and habits—so she should be prepared.
After the initial exchange of courtesies, the other officials dispersed. Meng Kuo rode alongside Lu Zhuo, personally leading the way to the General’s residence within the city.
With the men riding ahead on horseback, Wei Rao could neither see nor hear their conversation. Instead, she observed the common people on the streets.
Ganzhou City was a crucial frontier stronghold, its walls even taller and thicker than those of Jin City, which Wei Rao had visited before. Situated at the junction of three kingdoms, Ganzhou’s prosperity rivaled that of the capital. However, while the capital was predominantly populated by Central Plains people, in Ganzhou, foreign individuals with distinctly different hair and eye colors could be spotted at almost every turn.
Of course, Wei Rao also saw the Wuda People—not only Wuda merchants but also Wuda slaves bound by ropes, waiting to be sold.
Among Central Plains people, burly men like Qi Zhongkai and Meng Kuo were rare, one in a thousand. Yet nearly all Wuda men were similarly built—strong and powerful. Purchasing a few as household guards meant each could overpower three or four ordinary men. Moreover, the Wuda slaves sold were mostly orphans; as long as they were fed, they showed little inclination to escape. Additionally, their faces were branded with slave marks. Even if they managed to flee back to Wuda out of homesickness, their own people would view them as a disgrace, either killing or exiling them—making it more practical to remain with their Central Plains masters.
Among the various slaves, Wuda slaves were predominantly male, while female slaves were mostly from other foreign lands. Along the way, Wei Rao had seen female slaves with skin as white as milk, golden hair, and blue eyes exuding an exotic charm, or others with honey-brown skin and alluring figures, radiating a wild allure that invited taming.
As the carriage procession passed by a slave-trading shop, Meng Kuo’s booming voice suddenly rang out from ahead: "General, I’ve seen countless Persian beauties, but this one is truly exceptional even among them. How about I buy her for you as a welcoming gift?"
Upon hearing this, Bitao and Liuya widened their eyes in shock.
The Marchioness’s carriage was right behind them—how dare Meng Kuo speak so boldly? Was he disregarding the Marchioness entirely?
Wei Rao smiled faintly, signaling her maids not to take it to heart.
Ahead, Lu Zhuo glanced in the direction Meng Kuo indicated and replied calmly, "I appreciate your kindness, Deputy General Meng, but the Lu Family’s principles forbid men from indulging in feminine charms. Marrying one wife and raising children is sufficient. Our energy should be devoted to honing martial skills and defending our homeland."
Meng Kuo suddenly understood, cupping his hands in respect. "No wonder the Divine Martial Army has long ranked first among the Four Elite Armies. I am ashamed of my oversight and beg your forgiveness, General."Lu Zhuo smiled. "No offense taken in ignorance. Deputy General Meng, you're too courteous."
Meng Kuo glanced at Lu Zhuo, his mind turning with various considerations.
He had never dared to underestimate the Divine Martial Army. Had the Duke of Yingguo been present, Meng Kuo would have shown him the reverence due his own father. But Lu Zhuo was merely twenty-five, the same age as his eldest son, with the delicate features of a pretty boy. To think he had been promoted straight to commander of Ganzhou simply by virtue of being the Young Lord of the Duke's Manor, placed above him—Meng Kuo truly found it hard to accept.
After escorting Lu Zhuo's carriage and retinue to the general's residence, Meng Kuo took his leave, having arranged to host a welcoming banquet for Lu Zhuo at his own residence the following evening.
Once he was gone, Wei Rao finally alighted from the carriage.
The general's residence was a five-courtyard compound with heavy gates and walls, planted with some pines and cypresses but lacking any other gardens or flowers—rugged, much like the land of Ganzhou itself.
Inside the Back Residence, however, there were some potted plants and flowers, likely left behind by the previous general's wife.
"Let's settle in today. If there's anything you don't like inside, we can gradually make changes later," Lu Zhuo said as he accompanied Wei Rao on a tour of the residence, finally stopping before the northern-style heated kang in the inner chamber. As he spoke, he quietly observed her expression.
Wei Rao ran her hand over the waist-high heated kang and glanced around the inner chamber before smiling. "Very well. You focus on winning over your Ganzhou troops—I'll manage the household affairs." She certainly had no intention of suffering hardships; whatever needed adding or replacing, Wei Rao wouldn't overlook a single item. Barring unforeseen circumstances, she would be living here with Lu Zhuo for three years, and the general's residence would be their home.
"If you encounter any grievances, don't hesitate to tell me," Lu Zhuo said, taking her hand.
Wei Rao shot him a sidelong glance and sniffed lightly. "No grievances for now. But from what I've seen along the way, there are quite a few exotic beauties in the city. Today, Deputy General Meng thought to offer one to the Young Lord; tomorrow, other officials will surely follow suit. Young Lord, don't get so lost in a tender nest that you forget your real purpose in coming to Ganzhou."
Lu Zhuo chuckled, pulling her into his arms and lowering his head to kiss her earlobe. "The only tender nest in this world that could ever ensnare me is you, Raorao."
His breathing had already quickened, and Wei Rao's heartbeat fluttered slightly. Though they had quarreled countless times, in matters of marital intimacy, the two were remarkably compatible. Lu Zhuo delighted in it, and Wei Rao was equally captivated.
"Let's bathe first. There's so much dust here—even with a veil, my face feels coated in grime," Wei Rao pushed him lightly.
Lu Zhuo, being fastidious himself, immediately ordered servants to prepare hot water.
Naturally, bathing wasn't merely about cleansing. By the time the couple emerged from the bath chamber, dusk had fallen.
After the evening meal, Lu Zhuo went to his study, while Wei Rao met with the residence's servants. Each attended to their tasks for a while before retiring for the night.
Being newcomers, it was inevitable they would have a busy start.
The next day, Lu Zhuo set out right after breakfast, and Wei Rao took Bitao and eight guards to explore Ganzhou city.
In March, Ganzhou showed no signs of spring. Everyone on the streets, regardless of gender, wore thickly padded jackets. Most people didn't wear veils; only fastidious wealthy young ladies or daughters of officials took meticulous care of their delicate complexions.
Wei Rao focused mainly on visiting shops, selecting fine tea sets, exotic flowers and plants, silks, and satins that caught her fancy. She chose only the best quality, spending silver like snowflakes. Once she made her selections, she had the shopkeepers deliver them directly to the general's residence. By the time she had covered half the city, the wealthy merchants of Ganzhou already knew that the newly arrived general's wife was both affluent and generous with her spending.At noon, Wei Rao enjoyed a famous local specialty banquet at a restaurant, browsed through several more shops, and then returned to the general's residence.
Lu Zhuo was not at the residence. Before his departure, he had mentioned he would only return after attending the welcoming banquet at the Meng residence in the evening.
Wei Rao instructed Bitao and Liuya to organize the pile of items she had purchased while she took her afternoon rest.
By the time Wei Rao awoke, the two maids had already decorated the Back Residence, giving it a touch of grandeur befitting the residence of a noble lady.
As dusk fell and the red sun sank below the horizon, night quickly descended.
Wei Rao sat on the warm couch in the side room, reading by candlelight while listening for any commotion from the front courtyard.
Tonight, Bitao was on night duty, while Liuya had already retired to sleep.
"Young Mistress, that Deputy General Meng clearly doesn't seem like a good person. A powerful dragon is no match for a local serpent—could he cause trouble for the Young Lord?" Bitao refilled her mistress's cup with warm tea, expressing her concern.
Wei Rao closed her book and explained, "The Young Lord told me about Deputy General Meng's character. He's a fierce general in the Ganzhou army, loyal and unlikely to resort to underhanded tricks against someone from the Divine Martial Army. However, since the Young Lord is young and lacks seniority, Deputy General Meng will likely test his limits by setting small obstacles for him."
Though Lu Zhuo was attending the banquet at the Meng residence without any life-threatening danger, he would inevitably be pressured to drink by Deputy General Meng's subordinate officers.
At the Meng residence.
Lu Zhuo sat in the seat of honor alongside Meng Kuo, with senior officers of the Ganzhou army seated to their left and right. Over twenty men, all battle-hardened veterans, were present—the youngest among them older than Lu Zhuo, with about a dozen in their forties. As the banquet began, each took turns toasting Lu Zhuo with a full bowl of wine. Whenever the conversation grew lively, toasts were raised again. Zhao Song stood by Lu Zhuo's side, solely tasked with refilling his master's cup, having already emptied five jars of wine.
The wine was a strong northern brew, stored in the Meng residence, undiluted with a single drop of water.
Zhao Song maintained a stoic expression but was deeply concerned for his master. During the wedding banquet when the Young Lord married the Young Mistress, he had become heavily intoxicated even on diluted wine. After consuming five jars of this potent liquor, though he could still maintain appearances while seated, would the Young Lord be able to stand once the banquet concluded?
Zhao Song lowered his gaze, observing his master.
Lu Zhuo sat upright to the left of Meng Kuo, his handsome face flushed a rosy hue like rouge. Blessed with exceptional looks by nature, while other men turned red and disheveled when drunk, Lu Zhuo remained strikingly handsome even in his intoxicated state. Only his usual refined and noble demeanor had transformed into an alluring masculine charm.
This very quality only fueled the disdain of the rough-hewn generals in the hall.
A lieutenant named Zhang Tao, around thirty years old and known for his preference for male beauty, had been observing Lu Zhuo since the banquet began. Noting that Lu Zhuo responded with a smile even when his colleagues occasionally overstepped boundaries—whether out of magnanimity or timidity—Zhang Tao felt his desires stir. Fueled by excessive drinking and the festive atmosphere, he leered at Lu Zhuo's strikingly handsome face and suddenly joked with a fellow lieutenant named Cao beside him, "No wonder the Young Lord scorns the foreign beauties here. With his radiant face, more captivating than peach blossoms, which beauty could possibly compare?"
Lieutenant Cao, being more composed despite his own heavy drinking, ignored the remark.
However, Lieutenant Song, seated to Zhang Tao's right, spat out his wine upon hearing it.
Meng Kuo glanced over. "What are you discussing?"
Lieutenant Song busied himself wiping the spilled wine and remained silent.
Lieutenant Cao directly turned his gaze to Zhang Tao.
Having already spoken, if Zhang Tao avoided the topic now, wouldn't he lose face?So Zhang Tao repeated those words again in a joking manner.
Meng Kuo looked inquiringly at Lu Zhuo.
Lu Zhuo held a wine bowl in his hand, gently swirling the liquor inside, and calmly ordered Zhao Song: "Zhang Tao, as a lieutenant colonel, has publicly insulted his commanding officer—an act of insubordination. According to military law, he deserves execution. Drag him out and bind him. He shall be executed before the troops tomorrow."
Zhao Song, who had long been suppressing his anger, shouted in response: "I obey your command!"
With that, Zhao Song strode to Zhang Tao's seat, grabbed the stunned man, and began escorting him out.
After a few steps, Zhang Tao finally snapped out of his daze. Struggling to break free from Zhao Song's grip, he turned his head and pleaded with Meng Kuo to intervene on his behalf.
Even at this critical moment, he still sought Meng Kuo's protection rather than that of the newly appointed commander of Ganzhou's army.
The Hall had fallen completely silent. Lu Zhuo set down his tea bowl and glanced sideways at Meng Kuo: "Deputy General Meng, do you have any objections to my decision just now?"
His handsome face was flushed, and his drunken, bloodshot eyes radiated a chilling murderous intent.
Meng Kuo was deeply shaken.
The Lu Family had led the Divine Martial Army for over three hundred years, not relying on the legacy of its first commander, but on generations of ancestors willing to shed blood and sacrifice their lives for the court—including Lu Zhuo's father and two uncles, all heroes who had swept across battlefields and died wrapped in horsehide. As a son of the Lu Family and its next head, how could Lu Zhuo possibly be just a pretty-faced scholar?
Thinking this, Meng Kuo straightened his expression and said: "Zhang Tao's insubordination warrants death. Tomorrow, I am willing to carry out the execution myself."
Lu Zhuo smiled and raised his tea bowl to him: "I appreciate it."
As Meng Kuo lifted his wine bowl with both hands to drink, Lu Zhuo had already tilted his head back and downed the entire bowl of liquor.
Not long after Zhang Tao was dragged away, Meng Kuo took charge and dismissed the banquet.
Zhao Song moved to support his master, but Lu Zhuo pushed his hand away and stood up as if nothing were wrong.
From the Hall to the gates of the Meng residence, Lu Zhuo smiled and bid farewell to the military officers. Only after entering the carriage and letting the curtain fall did he suddenly lift his robe, cover his face, and vomit silently into it.
OpenNovel