Wei Rao's voice was so soft that only Old Mrs. Wei above her could hear it; even Cheng'an Marquis and his wife kneeling on either side of Wei Rao remained completely unaware.
Old Mrs. Wei looked at her granddaughter as if seeing a stranger.
Wei Rao answered with her gaze—she truly wished to marry.
Old Mrs. Wei's mind was in turmoil. She needed to understand what her granddaughter was thinking—surely she hadn't been moved to this by the Duchess of Yingguo's tears? When people seek favors, they naturally speak sweet words; who could know how much truth or falsehood lay in those honeyed phrases?
Grasping Wei Rao's hand in return, Old Mrs. Wei stood up, betraying nothing in her expression as she addressed the Duke and Duchess of Yingguo: "This matter concerns Rao Rao's entire lifetime. I must consider it carefully. Please wait here for a moment; I beg your pardon."
The Duchess of Yingguo immediately responded: "Of course, of course."
Her moist eyes gazed earnestly at Wei Rao. She had a feeling that whether this marriage would proceed depended entirely on Wei Rao's willingness.
Wei Rao remained impeccably composed, curtsying to the distinguished guests before following her grandmother away.
Cheng'an Marquis went to entertain the guests himself.
Guo Shi stared with complex emotions at the hem of Wei Rao's dress. For this seductress, such a marriage was already an incredible bargain—how dare she play hard to get?
Thinking of her own daughter Wei Chan who hadn't been chosen, Guo Shi's jealous eyes nearly turned red with resentment!
This was the Duke of Yingguo's Manor! Even if her daughter were to remain a widow there for life, the Wei Family would still profit enormously—think of how much benefit her son could gain!
Old Mrs. Wei brought Wei Rao all the way back to the Hall of Verdant Spring, dismissed the servants, and questioned Wei Rao privately in the room: "You want to marry? Do you know how much gossip this 'marriage to ward off misfortune' will provoke?"
Wei Rao knew. From the moment her grandmother first spoke with the Duchess of Yingguo, she had begun analyzing the pros and cons of marrying versus not marrying.
Helping her grandmother sit on the bed, Wei Rao settled beside the old lady and calmly explained: "With the Duke of Yingguo's Manor making such a conspicuous marriage proposal to our family, all of the capital will hear the news within days. If I don't marry, outsiders will call me cold-blooded and heartless—unwilling to save even a heroic man like Lu Zhuo who defends our nation. And it won't just be me—you and Uncle will also be criticized for lacking moral principles."
Old Mrs. Wei said sadly: "So, to spare us from criticism, you'd sacrifice yourself?"
Wei Rao smiled: "Not entirely. I want to marry because joining the Lu Family benefits me."
Old Mrs. Wei: "What benefits? If Lu Zhuo recovers, of course the marriage would be good. But what if..."
Wei Rao gestured for her grandmother not to worry: "Even if he doesn't wake up, this marriage still greatly advantages me. You understand, Grandmother—if I don't marry, I'll be criticized, but if I do marry, I can cleanse the stains on my reputation."
Old Mrs. Wei: "You're thinking too simply. Do you believe outsiders will praise you for this marriage to ward off misfortune? They'll say you couldn't marry before, and now you're taking advantage of the Duke of Yingguo's Manor's vulnerability to marry Lu Zhuo."
The same action performed by different people will always receive different judgments.
Wei Rao had her response ready: "My marriage comes with conditions. First, the Lu Family must provide a betrothal gift of one hundred thousand taels. Second, if the marriage fails to ward off misfortune and Lu Zhuo dies, I will return the entire betrothal gift to the Lu Family without keeping a single coin, and willingly observe widowhood for Lu Zhuo for five years. This way, outsiders will believe I agreed to marry solely to save a life, not to take any advantage of the Lu Family—completely silencing their criticisms."Old Mrs. Wei frowned deeply: "This way, you'll gain reputation, but you're losing too much. Why should a fine young lady like you enter a marriage to ward off misfortune and become a widow? Even if you remain chaste, you'll still bear the label of a remarried woman when you wed again."
Wei Rao smiled bitterly and lowered her voice: "Because what I seek is the status of a Lu Family daughter-in-law. I need the protection of the Duke of Yingguo's Manor. Grandmother, there's something I haven't told you - back in March when I went to the Secluded Manor to celebrate grandmother's birthday, that person from the palace actually sent assassins to follow me. Fortunately, I know martial arts and managed to escape unharmed."
Old Mrs. Wei turned pale with shock: "How... how could this be?"
After the initial shock, fear and anger overwhelmed the old lady, her eyes turning red: "That venomous woman! I curse her to die a miserable death!"
Having lived with this knowledge for some time, Wei Rao remained calm. She gently rubbed her grandmother's back and continued: "My original intention to marry into a powerful family was to make that person think twice. Think about it, grandmother - if I go to perform the marriage to ward off misfortune for Lu Zhuo, the Duke of Yingguo and the Duchess will surely feel grateful to me. Even if they don't, for the sake of the Lu Family's reputation, they won't allow that person to bully me. After five years, that person will likely be gone, and I can do whatever I want without fearing her."
Finally understanding her granddaughter's choice, Old Mrs. Wei pondered for a moment before asking: "Then... what if Young Master Lu wakes up..."
Wei Rao smiled: "The third condition - if Lu Zhuo wakes up and wishes to be true husband and wife, respecting and honoring me, then I'll gladly be his wife. If he still longs for Sixth Miss Xie or looks down on me, then we'll only maintain the appearance of marriage - appearing loving in public while sleeping separately in private. Within five years, he cannot find any excuse to propose separation or divorce. When the five years are up, I will naturally seek divorce. Of course, if we're lucky and that person in the palace dies early, I'll leave sooner. I'll take half of the hundred-thousand betrothal gift and return half to the Lu Family - a fair transaction."
Old Mrs. Wei worried: "What if we're unlucky and that person lives to a hundred?"
Wei Rao was quite confident about this: "That won't happen. Five years would already be a long life for her." The Empress Dowager's complexion showed no signs of longevity.
Old Mrs. Wei carefully considered her granddaughter's three conditions. The first and second must be made public, while the third must remain confidential, known only to herself, Rao Rao, the Duchess of Yingguo, and Lu Zhuo - not even the Duke of Yingguo could be told.
"Grandmother, do you agree?"
Old Mrs. Wei touched her granddaughter's beautiful face and said helplessly: "We have no choice for now. The Lu Family has left us no way out."
Wei Rao smiled slightly. Since both sides were getting what they needed, she didn't feel particularly wronged.
Having reached an agreement, Old Mrs. Wei asked Wei Rao to stay in the Hall of Verdant Spring while she returned with her maids.
"You two may leave now."
Reseating herself, Old Mrs. Wei said to her son Cheng'an Marquis.
Being very filial, Cheng'an Marquis suppressed his numerous questions and withdrew with Guo Shi without a word.
Old Mrs. Wei instructed her chief maid Emerald to guard the entrance together with the maid brought by the Duchess of Yingguo, allowing no one to approach.
The Duke of Yingguo and the Duchess glanced at each other, then turned their attention to Old Mrs. Wei, waiting for her to speak.
Old Mrs. Wei handed two copies of the written agreement to the couple.
The document stated the three conditions under which the Cheng'an Marquis's household agreed to marry their daughter to perform the marriage to ward off misfortune for Lu Zhuo:
First condition: Betrothal gift of one hundred thousand.Article Two: Should the marriage to ward off misfortune fail, Wei Rao voluntarily agrees to observe widowhood for Lu Zhuo for five years. After five years, she shall return to her family, leaving the full dowry of one hundred thousand taels and all other betrothal gifts from the Lu Family behind without taking a single coin.
Article Three: During Wei Rao’s time as a daughter-in-law of the Lu Family, the family shall not compel her to do anything against her will and must guarantee her safety.
The Duchess of Yingguo read the document word by word, her heart filled with shame. Old Mrs. Wei and Wei Rao were acting with such righteousness, yet she had worried they might refuse.
"Rao Rao is marrying into our Lu Family. The dowry and betrothal gifts are rightfully hers. Whether Shoucheng awakens or not, she may take them with her when she leaves—there is no need to return them," the Duchess said tearfully. She had only sought a good young woman to perform the marriage to ward off misfortune for her eldest grandson and never considered forcing the girl to remain in widowhood for life if it failed, let alone caring about material wealth.
The Duke of Yingguo grew furious, gripping the contract and glaring at Old Mrs. Wei. "Whether it’s a dowry of one hundred thousand or two hundred thousand, what is given to the Fourth Young Lady is hers. Our Lu Family will never demand it back!"
He viewed Old Mrs. Wei’s second condition as an insult.
Old Mrs. Wei sighed. "The amount of the dowry is not the issue. We must include these two articles and adhere strictly to the contract. Otherwise, outsiders will drown Rao Rao in slander—either accusing her of taking advantage of the Duke’s Manor or claiming we are greedy for power and desperate to form ties with the Duke’s Manor."
The Duke, unfamiliar with the capital’s gossip, looked puzzled at his wife. Why would the Fourth Young Lady be criticized for doing a good deed?
The Duchess understood the situation well. A young woman’s reputation, once deliberately tarnished, was nearly impossible to salvage unless she performed some extraordinary act of virtue. Otherwise, the rumors would only worsen. Even plucking a peach blossom for personal enjoyment, if seen by others, could lead to accusations of putting on a show to seduce. In short, everything would be deemed wrong.
Understanding Old Mrs. Wei’s predicament, the Duchess solemnly declared, "In that case, we must apologize for inconveniencing Rao Rao. Rest assured, Sister-in-law, no matter what happens in the future, Rao Rao will always be a benefactor of the Lu Family. Our Lu clan will never treat her unfairly." After speaking, she made the Duke pledge the same.
Old Mrs. Wei trusted the couple’s integrity.
Both parties pressed their fingerprints on two copies of the document. Old Mrs. Wei kept one copy, while the other was entrusted to the Duchess for safekeeping.
"Madam, there is one more matter I wish to discuss with you privately," Old Mrs. Wei said, looking at the Duchess.
Without asking any questions, the Duchess immediately sent her husband away.
The Duke glanced suspiciously at Old Mrs. Wei but obediently left.
Only then did Old Mrs. Wei lower her voice and present Wei Rao’s true third condition to the Duchess: If Lu Zhuo awakens, the two young people must either become a genuine, harmonious couple or live as a false couple sleeping in separate rooms for five years.
The Duchess’s face flushed crimson, and she hurriedly assured Old Mrs. Wei, "Sister-in-law, you worry too much. With me here, I will never allow Shoucheng to commit such foolishness. You may not know this, but Shoucheng’s previous engagement with the Xie Family was entirely my arrangement. He has never met the Sixth Young Lady and shares no personal feelings with her—it will be a clean break. Rao Rao is the granddaughter-in-law I personally selected, the future mistress of the Duke’s Manor, and she holds Shoucheng’s life-saving grace. If he awakens, he would never humiliate Rao Rao in such a manner."Old Mrs. Wei waved her hand and said self-deprecatingly, "I treat Rao Rao as a treasure, while outsiders see her as worthless. If the heir thinks the same way, then we should listen to Rao Rao—let them be a couple in name only, sleeping separately in private, so neither has to suffer. To be honest, the reason I insisted the heir must pretend to be deeply in love with Rao Rao for five years is that I want her to have a moment of pride—to make others envy and even resent her. Otherwise, if they separate as soon as the heir wakes up, outsiders will surely say she was driven out by your family, and she’ll have no face left…"
"Sister-in-law, please don’t say that—I’m utterly ashamed!" The Duchess of Yingguo could bear it no longer and interrupted Old Mrs. Wei. "Rao Rao is the one I chose. She will be my granddaughter-in-law for life. If Shoucheng dares to mistreat her, I’ll have my husband send him to the border, never to return!"
Old Mrs. Wei took this as mere politeness and replied with a faint smile, "Very well, I’ll say no more. I only ask that you agree to this one condition, or I truly cannot rest easy letting Rao Rao marry into your family."
Old Mrs. Wei was resolute: if the Duchess of Yingguo did not agree, there would be no marriage.
Left with no other choice, the Duchess could only consent in embarrassment.
Old Mrs. Wei’s smile faded, her gaze sorrowful as she looked into the Duchess’s eyes. "Gossip can be deadly. For Rao Rao’s sake, I beg you to swear on your grandson’s life that you will keep this promise and never reveal it to anyone, not even the heir. He too must guard this secret. Even if those serving him notice something amiss, they must be strictly disciplined to prevent any leaks."
The Duchess remained silent for a long while before slowly raising her hand to swear the oath.
She cherished her grandson; Old Mrs. Wei cherished her granddaughter. Both were acting in the best interests of their own treasures.
No matter what, the Lu Family owed Wei Rao a debt.
As soon as the Duke and Duchess of Yingguo left the Cheng'an Marquis Manor with the betrothal gifts, Third Miss Wei Chan received confirmation from her mother, Guo Shi.
"She’s going to marry Lu Zhuo?" Wei Chan murmured, unable to believe that someone as unattainable as Lu Zhuo had been won by Wei Rao.
Guo Shi, noticing her daughter’s envy, gritted her teeth and said, "So what if she marries him? Even the Xie Family refused to marry their daughter to him, which shows Lu Zhuo is truly beyond hope. If she fails to ward off his misfortune with this marriage and he dies, the Duke of Yingguo’s Manor might blame her for being useless and even demand the betrothal gifts returned. She’ll have gone to all that trouble for nothing, gaining no benefit at all."
Wei Chan’s heart was filled with bitterness. Unwilling to accept it, she asked, "But what if Lu Zhuo recovers?"
Guo Shi was taken aback. If he recovered, Wei Rao would not only gain a husband as handsome as a celestial being but also receive a hundred thousand in betrothal gifts!
Not only her daughter—even Guo Shi was jealous!
So, let Lu Zhuo die—he must not end up benefiting that little vixen!
In the palace, the Empress Dowager had naturally heard of this sensational marriage to ward off misfortune that had shaken the capital.
"It’s truly baffling. With so many noble young ladies in the capital, why did the Duke of Yingguo’s Manor specifically seek to marry the Fourth Miss Wei? Isn’t this tarnishing the esteemed reputation of Heir Lu?" The palace maids and eunuchs serving in Ciming Palace were well aware of the Empress Dowager’s dislike for Shou An Jun, Fourth Miss Wei, and others, so they deliberately sneered, "If something really happens to Heir Lu, with Fourth Miss Wei’s questionable upbringing, would she even be willing to remain a widow for him?"The Empress Dowager lowered her gaze to admire the rouge on her nails, her eyes gleaming with amusement as she remarked, "They're treating a dead horse as if it were still alive. Deep down, they know that a marriage to ward off misfortune is futile. Rather than bringing in a granddaughter-in-law who'd linger at home, eating their food for life and leaving them indebted to her family, they'd prefer someone who'll flee the moment death comes. It saves trouble."
"So the Duke of Yingguo's Manor is quite cunning too. Poor Fourth Miss Wei, exploited by both her marital and natal families. Without even consummating the marriage, she'll go through the motions only to become a widow and remarry."
"How can you be so sure it won't be consummated? Men, as long as they have a breath left in them, can still carry on the family line."
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