The news that Wei Rao had been brought back to the Duke of Yingguo's Manor by Lu Zhuo quickly spread throughout the capital.
No matter what reasons Lu Zhuo presented—whether it was that the marriage contract remained valid or that the two had reunited—the common people saw only one thing: Lu Zhuo was truly determined to have Wei Rao and no one else in this lifetime. Even though Wei Rao had believed him dead and prepared to remarry, Lu Zhuo did not mind. He had set his heart on Wei Rao and was resolved to be her lifelong partner.
For such a handsome couple, overcoming hardships to be together was no easy feat. As people discussed them, they gradually felt this outcome was for the best—a perfect reunion, like flowers blooming under a full moon, complete and harmonious.
The Duke of Yingguo's Manor selected an auspicious day to host a banquet for relatives and friends, both to celebrate the safe return of Lu Zhuo and his father Lu Mu, and to formally announce that Wei Rao remained the matriarch of the Lu Family.
As for the title of Young Lord of the Duke of Yingguo, while the Lu Family had believed Lu Zhuo dead, no one had raised the issue of appointing a new heir. Outsiders speculated it might fall to Lu Zhuo's fourth uncle, Fourth Master, as he was the Duke of Yingguo's own son. Others guessed it might go to Lu Ya, since Fourth Master had a leg ailment. Within the Lu Family, Fourth Master had no designs on the position, and Lu Ya, whose life had been saved by his elder brother, would never covet what rightfully belonged to him.
Once Lu Zhuo returned, the title of Young Lord naturally remained his.
In principle, the Lu Family could have passed the heirship to Lu Mu, but Lu Mu felt aged in spirit. He had no desire to rejoin the Divine Martial Army or take over the family affairs. Instead, he wished to devote himself to filial duties toward his parents, spend time with his long-separated wife, and focus on teaching martial arts to the younger generation—a responsibility originally belonging to the Duke of Yingguo. However, the Duke disliked disciplining his grandsons, so with his eldest son back, he gladly passed the tedious tasks to him and went off to enjoy himself.
The Duke of Yingguo's Manor held a lively banquet, which also served to address some questions from relatives and friends.
By mid-March, Shou An Jun was about to celebrate her seventieth birthday.
Reaching seventy was a rare feat in ancient times, and Shou An Jun's healthy longevity truly lived up to the title "Shou An" (Longevity and Peace) bestowed upon her by Emperor Yuanjia.
Wei Rao decided to set out a few days early so she could help with the preparations for the birthday banquet at the Secluded Manor.
On the morning of March 11th, Lu Zhuo accompanied Wei Rao and their daughter on the journey.
It was the perfect season for spring outings, with warm weather and blooming flowers. Many city dwellers had made plans to enjoy the countryside, and by the time the Duke of Yingguo's carriage reached the city gate, a long queue had already formed.
"Why are there so many people?" A Bao leaned out the carriage window to look, asking with curiosity.
Wei Rao smiled. "Because the weather is lovely, everyone wants to go flower-viewing and enjoy the spring scenery."
A Bao, crouching on her little bottom, was watching with great interest when a thunderous voice suddenly called from behind: "A Bao!"
The loud shout startled her!
A Bao turned her head and saw her cousin-in-law Qi Zhongkai, mounted on a tall horse with a quiver of arrows on his back.
"Cousin-in-law!" A Bao called out sweetly.
Qi Zhongkai urged his horse forward to the carriage.
Lu Zhuo lifted the curtain on his side.
Qi Zhongkai glanced inside and boomed to Lu Zhuo, "Where are you three off to?"
Lu Zhuo replied, "The Old Matriarch's birthday is approaching. We're going early to stay for a few days."
Qi Zhongkai understood and said heartily, "Which day is the celebration? I'll bring Wei Yu and the others along to join the fun."
Wei Rao laughed. "How could we trouble Second Master to spend?"Qi Zhongkai snorted, "We're all family here, what's this talk of extravagance? Your Highness, please don't mock me."
"Aunt's husband, are you going hunting?" A Bao asked curiously, eyeing the quiver on his back.
Qi Zhongkai patted his shoulder and shot a resentful glance at Lu Zhuo. "Yes, your father used to accompany me before, but now that he has you all, he can't be bothered with me anymore."
A Bao paid no mind to her aunt's husband's grievances, turning instead to bury herself in Lu Zhuo's embrace, pleading sweetly, "Father, I want to go hunting too."
Lu Zhuo stroked his daughter's head. "Alright, when we reach Secluded Manor, I'll pick a day to take you all."
A Bao was satisfied.
Qi Zhongkai glanced at the family of three in the carriage and suddenly recalled an old memory. Addressing Lu Zhuo, he said, "Shoucheng, do you remember ten years ago when you returned to the capital? I wanted to take you hunting, but we were stuck in traffic here too. The carriage ahead of us back then was Her Highness's, wasn't it?"
Lu Zhuo had remembered that scene from ten years ago the moment he heard Qi Zhongkai's booming voice.
Qi Zhongkai looked at Lu Zhuo with mischievous amusement. "Back then, Shoucheng, you had your nose in the air. When I told you the princess was the most beautiful maiden in the capital, you were so dismissive..."
Before he could finish, Lu Zhuo snapped the carriage curtain shut.
Qi Zhongkai burst into loud laughter outside.
Lu Zhuo turned his gaze to Wei Rao.
Wei Rao shot him a glare before turning to face the opposite window.
Ten years ago at this time, she and Lu Zhuo hadn't even met. Lu Zhuo had just become engaged to Xie Hualou back then - how could he possibly have cared about her when Qi Zhongkai praised her beauty?
Logically, Wei Rao shouldn't hold this old matter against Lu Zhuo. Yet Qi Zhongkai's words reminded her of all the disrespect Lu Zhuo had shown her in those days. Consequently, for the remainder of the journey, Wei Rao didn't give Lu Zhuo a single kind look. She chatted with their daughter as if nothing was wrong, but whenever Lu Zhuo tried to join the conversation, she ignored him.
Upon reaching Secluded Manor, Wei Rao had even less time to spare for Lu Zhuo.
Big Zhou's family, along with Zhou Huizhen and Zhou Huizhu sisters, had arrived earlier. From Huo Jue and Huo Lin to the Zhou sisters and Wei Rao herself - these five siblings who were once young teenagers now each had their own marriages and had brought their children. With the entire extended family gathered together, there was plenty to talk about.
It wasn't until after dinner that Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo, carrying A Bao, returned to Swallow Garden.
After putting A Bao to sleep in the side chamber, Wei Rao emerged from her bath to find Lu Zhuo sitting on the bed in his underwear, empty-handed, clearly waiting for her. True to his reputation as the former top young master of the capital, Lu Zhuo had excellent natural features. After several months of recuperation in the capital, his face had regained its jade-like luster. The faint scar on his left cheek merely added a touch of sharp dignity to his gentle demeanor, making him even more captivating than before.
Wei Rao quite liked Lu Zhuo's current appearance.
But she wouldn't show it, heading straight to the bedside and preparing to climb over Lu Zhuo to the inner side of the bed.
As she bent over, her sleek black hair cascaded from her shoulders. Lu Zhuo couldn't help but raise his hand, watching her hair slip through his fingers. "What, still upset about that old matter?"
Wei Rao chuckled lightly. "Why would I be? You didn't know me back then, so of course you'd be dismissive."These words sent a chill down Lu Zhuo's spine. He reached out to pull her into his embrace, but Wei Rao resisted, her delicate hands clutching the quilt at the corner of the bed. Yet how much weight could a mere quilt hold? With a slight exertion of force, Lu Zhuo drew her into his arms. Holding her from behind, he grasped her hands, leaving Wei Rao unable to struggle further. She lowered her head, letting her hair veil her face.
With one hand restraining her wrists, Lu Zhuo used the other to brush aside the strands of hair covering her cheek, revealing her flushed face after the bath. Her tender skin, radiant and vibrant, resembled a crimson peony blooming enchantingly in his embrace, exuding an intoxicating fragrance.
Lu Zhuo pressed his forehead against her cheek, his nose nuzzling her slender neck, as the memory of their first encounter surfaced in his mind.
While waiting in line at the city gate, he had only known she was in the carriage ahead. The first time Lu Zhuo truly saw Wei Rao was at Cloud Mist Mountain—amidst the snow-white landscape, she leaped down from a tree in crimson robes. At first glance, she appeared to be a slender, youthful nobleman yet to fully mature. But when she turned around, her exquisite brows and captivating red lips struck Lu Zhuo with silent awe.
"Do you remember our first meeting, Raorao?" Lu Zhuo whispered, planting soft kisses along her neck.
Wei Rao tilted her head slightly, annoyed yet fond of such marital intimacy.
As for their first encounter, Wei Rao remembered it clearly. His attitude toward her in the snow that day had been nothing short of dismissive.
"Had you been ordinary-looking, I might have faced you directly. But you were so strikingly beautiful—I feared that showing you kindness might lead to misunderstandings I couldn't clarify," Lu Zhuo explained with a light laugh.
Wei Rao frowned. "What do you mean? Are you suggesting that if you spoke gently to me, I'd develop improper intentions and try to seduce you?"
"Not at all. I'm not that conceited," Lu Zhuo replied. "But your beauty is extraordinary. If others saw us together and rumors spread, even if I declared my disinterest, who would believe me? When a man and woman appear well-matched, they easily attract suspicions of impropriety."
Wei Rao snorted. "Are you complimenting me or yourself?"
Lu Zhuo chuckled. "We are husband and wife. Praising you is praising me, and vice versa."
While weaving these sweet words, his skilled hands kindled flames across Wei Rao's body. She felt as though submerged in a pool of wine, drifting dizzily until he claimed her.
The next morning, Lu Zhuo left for the Divine Martial Army, refreshed and invigorated.
Wei Rao slept in slightly before rising to accompany her daughter and relatives.
For Shou An Jun's seventieth birthday, she herself had no desire for grand celebrations, but couldn't resist the sincere devotion of her younger relatives.
With Big Zhou handling the arrangements, Shou An Jun had nothing to worry about. Each day, she was surrounded by her juniors, enjoying the splendid spring scenery of the Secluded Manor.
Soon, the birthday arrived.
Shou An Jun wore a new eggplant-purple gown embroidered with five bats encircling the character for longevity, adorned with a red forehead band inlaid with jade symbols of fortune, prosperity, and longevity. Radiant with health, she received blessings from her family. At seventy, the elder lady retained a childlike complexion and vigorous spirit—her wrinkled face still bearing traces of her youthful beauty.
Near noon, three distinguished guests arrived at the Secluded Manor.
Emperor Yuanjia, Consort Little Zhou, and the Fourth Prince came together to celebrate Shou An Jun's birthday.
As Shou An Jun was both Little Zhou's birth mother and Emperor Yuanjia's wet nurse, the imperial couple's filial devotion toward her rivaled that of biological children.Shou An Jun saw both her daughters smiling, yet when Emperor Yuanjia personally presented her with birthday gifts, her eyes grew moist.
Meeting the tears in Shou An Jun's eyes, Emperor Yuanjia suddenly recalled his childhood—when the Empress Dowager was solely focused on strategizing for his elder brother, it was Shou An Jun who stayed by his side, attending to his every need with meticulous care.
But as an adopted son, he had not repaid Shou An Jun sufficiently. His only wish was for the elderly lady to live a long life, allowing him to continue fulfilling his filial duties.
A birthday banquet that stirred the capital concluded amid bustling festivities.
After the banquet, Big Zhou and others departed one after another, while Wei Rao and A Bao were in no hurry to leave.
At the end of the month, when Lu Zhuo had his day off, he kept his promise and took his wife and daughter to Cloud Mist Mountain.
It was A Bao’s first time wearing riding attire as she followed her parents deep into the old-growth forest. The little girl found everything novel, chattering away with endless questions.
"Shh." Wei Rao suddenly turned around, signaling her daughter to be quiet.
A Bao quickly covered her mouth.
Lu Zhuo carried A Bao and walked up behind Wei Rao.
A Bao looked up and spotted a creature covered in black fur.
She whispered to her mother, "What is that?"
Wei Rao glanced at Lu Zhuo and said with a laugh, "A wild boar. The first gift your father ever gave me was one of those."
A Bao’s eyes widened in disbelief. What kind of taste did her father have?
Lu Zhuo smiled without a word, watching as Wei Rao notched an arrow and drew her bow. In his heart, he felt immensely grateful—grateful for the severe illness that had confined him to bed years ago, grateful for that night when he awoke from unconsciousness to find her watching over him.
Author's Note:
Awooo, the main story is complete!
For the upcoming extra chapters, I plan to write some sweet daily moments of the couple, delve into the mutual dependence between Emperor Yuanjia and Shou An Jun, and explore the relationship between Emperor Yuanjia and Little Zhou. These will serve as supplements to the main plot. As for the rest, we’ll see after these are written!
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