In mid-June, Wei Rao received Emperor Yuanjia's reply, granting her permission to raise five hundred household troops.
When Lu Zhuo returned from his day off, Wei Rao, overjoyed, showed him the memorial stamped with the imperial seal.
With matters having reached this point, Lu Zhuo had no choice but to fully support his wife.
Lu Zhuo suggested that Wei Rao post notices through the local authorities to attract young men interested in joining the Princess Manor as guards. Having observed how he recruited for the Divine Martial Army, Wei Rao knew that while military training was important, the quality of the recruits was equally crucial. Thus, she arranged for Zhao Song and Zhao Bai to recruit soldiers from villages and towns in the Ganzhou area, following the Divine Martial Army's recruitment standards: select the best six hundred, and after a month of training, reduce the number to five hundred.
Lu Zhuo laughed and asked, "Does the Princess also wish to train a Divine Martial Army?"
Wei Rao replied, "I must at least try. I don't know how long this interest of mine will last, but if they prove capable, I can arrange for them to join the Divine Martial Army once I no longer wish to keep them, so their skills won't go to waste."
Lu Zhuo looked at her in surprise.
He knew how proud Wei Rao was. Since she had made such a statement in front of him, she must truly intend to train a small squad akin to the Divine Martial Army.
Wei Rao urged Lu Zhuo to return to the military camp while she discussed the specifics of the recruitment plan with Zhao Song and Zhao Bai, including matters of pay, military regulations, and so on.
Once everything was settled, Zhao Song and Zhao Bai set off to begin the recruitment.
"The summer here in Ganzhou isn't particularly hot, but the sunlight is too intense. The Young Lord has already gotten much tanner."
On the day Zhao Song and his brother departed, Bitao came in with a basin of water, muttering to herself.
Liuya, standing nearby, teased her, "Are you really worried about the Young Lord getting tanned, or are you concerned about Zhao Song and the others getting sunburned?"
Bitao's face flushed bright red.
Wei Rao had long noticed something between Bitao and Zhao Song. Seeing Bitao's bashful expression, Wei Rao joined in the teasing, "Before the brothers set off, I promised them that if they could recruit good soldiers, I would reward them upon their return. Zhao Bai just smiled, but Zhao Song seemed to want to ask for a different reward. Unfortunately, I couldn't guess what he might want from me."
Liuya glanced at Bitao and said, "The peaches are ripe around this time. Perhaps Guard Zhao wants the Princess to reward him with a peach..."
"Stop your nonsense!" Bitao could no longer stand it and lunged at Liuya to hit her.
Liuya quickly ran farther away to avoid bumping into the Princess during their playful scuffle.
Wei Rao watched them tussling and thought to herself that Bitao, with her full figure and flushed face, truly resembled a plump, juicy peach.
By early July, before Zhao Song and his brother had returned, the two matrons selected by the Duchess of Yingguo for Wei Rao finally arrived by carriage. Both matrons were long-serving members of the Duke's Manor: one, surnamed Sun, was skilled in caring for pregnant women, and the other, surnamed Ma, was adept at tending to newborns. Particularly, this Ma Momo had previously been caring for the Seventh Young Master born to Fourth Madam. It was Fourth Madam's concern for Wei Rao's first pregnancy that prompted her to send Ma Momo to look after Wei Rao.
Wei Rao felt deeply grateful and promptly wrote two reply letters to the capital.
With Matron Sun and Ma Momo's arrival, they naturally accompanied Wei Rao during the day.
Wei Rao adapted well, listening with great interest to Matron Sun's amusing stories from her time serving other households and to Ma Momo's tales of caring for infants—all topics relevant to her own situation. The only one who suffered was Lu Zhuo. Previously, without any senior matrons in the household, he had felt no restraint spending time with Wei Rao in the inner chambers during the day. But now, with the two elder matrons present, he had to exercise much more restraint.That day, the two of them stayed in the study. Under the pretense of explaining military texts, Lu Zhuo kissed Wei Rao passionately.
He only returned home once every ten days, so he naturally cherished these brief moments with Wei Rao.
"Hypocrite," Wei Rao pulled her thin garment up slightly, panting lightly as she chided him.
Lu Zhuo gazed at her watery eyes and increasingly radiant face, wishing their child could be born tonight.
Wei Rao pinched his chin, examining his left cheek then his right, comparing it to the skin inside his collar. He had indeed tanned since their time in the capital.
"After two more summers, will you become like Deputy General Meng?" Wei Rao asked with a laugh.
Lu Zhuo pressed his forehead against hers: "If I really become like that, would you still like me?"
Wei Rao tried to imagine it but couldn't. Even though she had seen him in a half-dead, ugly state, she had completely forgotten it now, only remembering his handsome moments: his dashing figure during the Dragon Boat Race, his elegant demeanor riding through the streets, and his calm composure overlooking battles between armies.
"I won't tell you," Wei Rao quickly pecked his lips and slipped out of his embrace with a laugh.
Lu Zhuo reached out but, realizing pulling her back would only torment himself, lowered his hand again.
By mid-July, Zhao Song and Zhao Bai returned with six hundred new recruits. Organized into units of one hundred, they stood neatly outside the general's residence.
Wei Rao appeared before these six hundred men without her maids, flanked only by Zhao Song and Zhao Bai as guards.
Dressed in women's attire, her stunning beauty would captivate even the noble youths of the capital, let alone these recruits selected from villages who had rarely seen refined ladies.
All six hundred recruits stared wide-eyed at Wei Rao, as if missing a single glance would mean never seeing her again.
Wei Rao smiled and declared to the recruits: "I am the Filial and Benevolent Princess. You are all now my manor guards. Follow me, and I will ensure you are well-fed and clothed. I can take you to the capital to broaden your horizons, and may eventually send you to the battlefield to achieve glory. But all this depends on your willingness to serve as my guards, to obey a woman's commands, to endure rigorous training, and to abide by the military rules I establish. Now, for the last time, I ask you: do you truly wish to become this princess's guards?"
The six hundred recruits exchanged glances before answering in unison: "Yes! We are willing to serve the Princess!"
Actually, when Zhao Song and Zhao Bai recruited them, they had explained all conditions clearly: serving as the Princess's guards could lead to joining the Divine Martial Army and potentially fighting on battlefields. Those seeking an easy life at the Princess Manor, the cowardly, or those unwilling to follow the Princess's orders shouldn't have applied.
Since the terms were clear and all six hundred had traveled far to stand before the Princess, who would back out now? Their real concern was whether the Princess would find them unworthy and dismiss them.
These six hundred recruits averaged around twenty years old, ranging from youths of sixteen or seventeen to robust men of twenty-three or twenty-four. Some came from poor families wearing patched cloth clothes, others wore fine silk. Some were completely illiterate, while others were educated and proficient in mathematics.The training ground capable of accommodating six hundred new recruits had long been rented by Wei Rao. Over the next month, these six hundred men would undergo selection under the leadership of Zhao Song and his brothers. After one month, the hundred with the poorest overall performance would be eliminated, leaving only five hundred.
In addition to eliminating the weakest, Wei Rao also established a reward system. Starting from the recruitment selection and continuing through the monthly martial arts competitions at the end of each month, the top three performers among the five hundred would receive double military pay.
Zhao Song barely rested at the general’s residence before immediately leading his men to the training ground.
Bitao felt a sense of loss.
Wei Rao was also curious about when Zhao Song would approach her to speak his mind.
It was again the day of Lu Zhuo’s return. Wei Rao had instructed the kitchen in advance to prepare a table of fine dishes. For a scion of a noble family like Lu Zhuo, the army’s simple meals were merely filling, with little regard for flavor.
Unexpectedly, before Lu Zhuo returned, Zhao Song came back and lingered in the front courtyard, speaking with A Gui.
At dusk, as soon as Lu Zhuo returned to the residence, Zhao Song intercepted him, kneeling before him and declaring his wish to marry Bitao.
Lu Zhuo said, “Bitao belongs to the Young Lady. You should plead with her directly.”
Zhao Song certainly intended to ask the Young Lady, but since the Young Lord was his master, he needed to seek his approval first.
Lu Zhuo went to bathe and change his clothes. When Wei Rao came to the front courtyard to find him, Zhao Song knelt before her once more.
Wei Rao smiled and said, “I understand your intentions. I will give you an answer after I speak with Bitao.”
Zhao Song retreated with a flushed face.
“Perhaps Zhao Song took a liking to Bitao during our journey to Jin City,” Wei Rao speculated as she entered the inner chamber and spoke with Lu Zhuo.
Lu Zhuo, fastening his belt, glanced over meaningfully and said, “He came to his senses earlier than I did.”
Wei Rao snorted, “It doesn’t matter who came to their senses first. What’s important is that Zhao Song is more likable than you and knows how to be considerate.”
Lu Zhuo was puzzled, “How has he been considerate?”
Bitao and Liuya were as close as sisters, sharing many little secrets. During their playful moments, Wei Rao had overheard snippets of conversation. Back when they were traveling to Jin City, Bitao had been sitting on a cart carrying trunks, exposed to wind and sun. Zhao Song had found a straw hat and “lent” it to Bitao to wear. When rations were distributed, Zhao Song had also given his share to Bitao.
None of these were grand gestures, but they were acts of consideration.
Lu Zhuo had, of course, been considerate to Wei Rao as well, but he disdained comparing himself to his subordinate in such matters.
That night, Wei Rao grew thirsty but didn’t want to move. She nudged Lu Zhuo, asking him to fetch water.
Lu Zhuo rose with a smile, poured a bowl of warm water, brought it over, supported her to sit up with one hand, and held the bowl to her lips with the other.
In the dim lamplight, she drowsily glanced at the position of the bowl, then closed her long lashes and parted her lips to drink.
Suddenly, Lu Zhuo moved the bowl away.
Wei Rao drank nothing and frowned in confusion, looking up at him.
Lu Zhuo chuckled, “Has your husband been considerate to you, my lady?”
Wei Rao: …
Just as she was about to complain about his teasing in the middle of the night, Lu Zhuo gently pressed the bowl to her lips, using the water to silence her.
After finally managing to take a sip of water, Wei Rao was lightly pressed down and kissed for a long time. Whenever he returned, his favorite “dish” was truly her.
The shorter the separation, the more lingering their reunion. The next day, only when Lu Zhuo went to the study to read did Wei Rao have a chance to speak with Bitao.
When the topic of Zhao Song’s marriage proposal came up, Bitao bashfully lowered her head, twisting the handkerchief in her hands over and over. Yet her reply was resolute: “I will marry him.”She had long fancied Zhao Song. When the princess and the Young Lord separated, she secretly cried over the thought of never seeing Zhao Song again. Later, when the princess remarried the Young Lord and became his true wife, Bitao would occasionally hear the sounds of their intimacy, making her heart itch with longing as she fantasized about one day nestling in Zhao Song's embrace.
Now, she had finally waited for this moment!
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