Watching Li Wei suddenly walk away, Wei Rao wore a bewildered expression. Then she remembered that Li Wei had seemed to glance behind her just now.
Who could make Li Wei abandon their lantern-viewing appointment with just one look?
Wei Rao didn’t dare turn around, tightening her grip on her daughter’s small hand.
A Bao was still watching Uncle Li San leave. Though she had a father now and didn’t need Uncle Li San anymore, Uncle Li San was handsome, and she didn’t dislike him. He had clearly smiled at her just moments ago before walking away, which puzzled A Bao greatly.
"Mother, why did Uncle Li San leave?" A Bao looked up and asked.
Wei Rao smiled. "Perhaps he had some business to attend to."
A Bao accepted this explanation. Holding her mother’s hand with one hand and carrying a lantern with the other, she happily continued walking forward.
Lu Zhuo stood right behind the mother and daughter, watching Wei Rao calmly accompany their daughter on their stroll. He had noticed early on that the lantern their daughter carried only depicted the two of them. Had she truly moved on from him? Did she no longer want him? Even though he had returned, was she determined to keep him outside their mother-daughter circle?
Lu Zhuo had never encountered such a heartless woman.
He knew how much pain Wei Rao must have felt when news of his death first spread—he never doubted her feelings for him back then. What Lu Zhuo wasn’t sure about was now, after these long three years, whether her feelings for him had faded to nothing. That would explain why she was considering other matches and why she had delayed seeing him.
A month—Lu Zhuo had been back for a month and had waited for her for a month.
But on this night when the capital was adorned with lanterns and decorations, Lu Zhuo could wait no longer.
He wanted to see Wei Rao. He wanted to ask her: Could she really forget?
"Father!"
A Bao, who had turned her head unintentionally, cried out in delight.
Wei Rao closed her eyes and released her daughter’s hand as the little girl prepared to run off.
A Bao threw herself into her father’s arms.
Lu Zhuo crouched down to embrace his daughter.
"Father, don’t you need to study tonight?" A Bao asked happily.
Lu Zhuo smiled. "Not tonight. Father will accompany A Bao to admire the lanterns."
A Bao was overjoyed. Nestled in her father’s embrace, she looked back at her mother.
Only then did Lu Zhuo stand up, holding their daughter, and direct his gaze forward.
While Lu Zhuo was speaking with their daughter, Wei Rao had taken a moment to observe him.
The three years Lu Zhuo had spent wandering the grasslands had become the talk of the capital since his return. Wei Rao had imagined Lu Zhuo would appear weathered and downcast, but the man before her wore a moon-white brocade robe and a black cap, revealing the same handsome face she remembered. True, there was a faint scar on his left cheek—it didn’t diminish his charm, but it pained Wei Rao to see it.
As Lu Zhuo stood up, Wei Rao averted her eyes, then looked back at him and nodded with a smile. "Has the heir also come out to admire the lanterns?""
Lu Zhuo returned her smile, glancing at the daughter in his arms. "Indeed. Might I accompany the princess and the county princess?"
Wei Rao also looked at their daughter. "Of course. A Bao has missed you dearly."
With that, Wei Rao turned her attention back to admiring the lanterns at the stalls.
Lu Zhuo withdrew his gaze as well, smiling as he asked A Bao, "Where would A Bao like to go?"
A Bao thought the way her father and mother spoke to each other was strange—not at all like other parents.
But she couldn’t pinpoint what exactly was odd.
She pointed toward a nearby lantern stall.
Lu Zhuo carried their daughter in that direction.
Wei Rao silently followed behind them.Having fun, A Bao quickly forgot her earlier doubts, directing her father to carry her wherever she fancied. Having a father was wonderful—he could hold her without ever growing tired, buy her delicious treats, solve lantern riddles, and shoot for decorative lanterns, giving all his prizes to her.
A Bao had an absolutely delightful evening.
Wei Rao followed along, witnessing Lu Zhuo's doting affection for their daughter and their daughter's adoration for her father. As for herself, aside from A Bao occasionally sharing treats or dividing her winnings with her, it seemed as if she were entirely invisible in Lu Zhuo's eyes.
Wei Rao wasn't unaffected by this, but having anticipated such an outcome, she had mentally prepared herself, sparing her from utter devastation.
As they strolled, A Bao fell asleep on Lu Zhuo's shoulder, her small hands loosening their grip and dropping the two lanterns she held.
One lantern was the one she and her mother had made together; the other was newly purchased by Lu Zhuo.
With a swift motion, Lu Zhuo caught the one he had bought, while the other lantern fell to the ground. The flame ignited the paper, and Lu Zhuo's black boots stamped it out in a few steps.
The fire was extinguished, but the lantern was beyond salvage.
Having crafted it together with her daughter, Wei Rao felt a pang of regret and couldn't help glancing at it repeatedly.
Lu Zhuo said indifferently, "I'll escort you back to the carriage."
Without waiting for Wei Rao's response, he strode off with their daughter in the direction they had come.
Wei Rao had no choice but to follow.
Lu Zhuo walked briskly, maintaining silence all the way, and they soon reached the Princess Manor's carriage.
Wei Rao boarded first, then turned to take A Bao.
Lu Zhuo lowered his gaze, attempting to hand over their daughter, but A Bao clung tightly to her father's neck, unwilling to let go.
Wei Rao tried coaxing her, "Come here, A Bao, let Mother hold you."
A Bao mumbled softly and burrowed deeper into her father's embrace.
If Wei Rao were to force A Bao away, the child would likely burst into tears.
Wei Rao finally looked at Lu Zhuo.
Since A Bao had fallen asleep, Lu Zhuo no longer concealed the coldness in his expression. Meeting Wei Rao's gaze, he glanced at their daughter and said flatly, "I'll see you back to the Princess Manor."
As a father doting on his daughter, Wei Rao had no grounds to object.
She shifted back, lifting the curtain for the father and daughter.
Lu Zhuo, holding their daughter with one arm and steadying himself against the carriage with the other, leaped aboard without a sideways glance and entered.
Wei Rao followed suit.
Once everyone was seated, Wei Rao instructed the coachman to depart.
As the carriage left the bustling East Street, the surroundings grew quiet.
Wei Rao leaned against one side of the narrow couch, closing her eyes peacefully, listening to the wheels rumbling over the frozen ground.
After an indeterminate amount of time, a cool voice suddenly broke the silence: "I've heard the Princess is selecting a consort. Has a suitable candidate been chosen?"
The familiar sarcasm made Wei Rao curl her lips into a faint smile.
She had known all along—what was bound to come would come. She had refused to remain a widow for him and openly considered other men; how could Lu Zhuo not resent and blame her?
"Still choosing. Once it's settled, the Duke's Manor will receive a wedding invitation," Wei Rao replied, opening her eyes to glance at him.
From her vantage point, she could see Lu Zhuo's flawless right profile—handsome yet icy, like a block of ice. Earlier, outside the carriage, they had been farther apart, but now, up close, Wei Rao noticed his face had indeed grown rougher than before. It was evident that during his turbulent days on the grasslands, he could no longer afford to be fastidious.
Wei Rao averted her gaze once more.Lu Zhuo instead turned to look at her: "A Bao doesn't know your plans. She kept begging me to come to the princess's residence to bring you both back. When do you plan to tell her the truth? I don't want to keep deceiving my own daughter."
Wei Rao didn't want to speak with him and replied indifferently, "Fine, I'll tell her tomorrow."
Lu Zhuo pressed his lips together.
A deathly silence filled the carriage.
They arrived at the princess's residence.
Wei Rao alighted first. When Lu Zhuo carried their daughter out of the carriage, Wei Rao reached to take her, but Lu Zhuo coldly avoided her hand and strode directly into the princess's residence.
Was he afraid their daughter wouldn't sleep soundly?
Wei Rao wondered silently.
A Bao was staying in Wei Rao's courtyard, where the eastern side room had been specially prepared for her.
Wei Rao signaled for Liuya to lead the way for Lu Zhuo. Exhausted both physically and mentally, she went straight to her own room.
Collapsing onto the bed, Wei Rao closed her eyes, her mind filled with images of Lu Zhuo's cold expression.
The tenderness he showed their daughter was matched only by the chill he directed at her.
Footsteps sounded outside—it was Liuya.
"Has he left?" Wei Rao sat up, covering a yawn as if weary.
Liuya replied anxiously, "Not yet. The Young Lord requests your presence, saying he has matters to discuss with you."
Wei Rao was taken aback. What did he want to talk about? Where their daughter should be raised?
Summoning her resolve, she tidied herself briefly and went out.
Lu Zhuo stood under the eaves, the moonlight blocked by the roof, casting his expression into shadow.
Wei Rao approached him, stopping three steps away, and asked toward the distant night sky, "What does the Young Lord wish to discuss?"
Lu Zhuo laughed at her dismissive demeanor.
He had much to discuss with her—why she had been so pained by his presumed death that she coughed up blood, yet could forget him in just three years; why, when he returned from the brink of death, she had been so heartless as not to visit him even once; what kind of prince consort she intended to find; whether she would consider letting him raise their daughter.
Each question had surfaced when he caught sight of her indifferent face while strolling with their daughter. Each question made his heart ache.
But this woman who had nearly driven him mad now stood before him. Between them, there was no endless warfare, no vast grasslands spanning thousands of miles, no three long years of separation, no new prince consort she had yet to choose! Lu Zhuo didn't want to discuss anything—he only wanted her!
Like a wolf that had lain in wait long enough, Lu Zhuo suddenly strode over, grabbed Wei Rao's shoulders, and pinned her against a nearby pillar.
Before Wei Rao could react, his scorching lips were already on hers, rough and punishing.
Tears rolled down as Wei Rao bit back!
Lu Zhuo paused for a moment, then pressed her even tighter against the pillar. Wei Rao's slender back ached faintly from the pressure.
The more it hurt, the more it confirmed that the man before her was real—not a dream. Lu Zhuo had truly returned, and he still wanted her.
Wei Rao clung tightly to Lu Zhuo, holding him so fiercely that his narrow waist ached from her grip.
Lu Zhuo finally tasted her tears.
So, she hadn't forgotten after all, had she?
As long as she remembered, nothing else mattered.
Cupping her tear-streaked face, Lu Zhuo kissed her deeply, wishing he could meld her into his embrace.
The pillar concealed their entangled figures. Liuya wiped the corner of her eye and quietly withdrew, leaving the moonlit courtyard to the reunited pair.
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