The Duchess of Yingguo had never believed in the concept of marriage to ward off misfortune, but when her eldest grandson lay beyond the reach of medicine and their only hope was such a union, he miraculously awoke on their wedding night. From that moment, the Duchess chose to believe. Perhaps it didn’t work for others, but it had worked for their Lu Family—Wei Rao was her grandson’s savior.
No matter what, it was fate that had brought her grandson and Wei Rao together, as if preordained by the heavens.
“Alright, Shoucheng has just taken his medicine and should rest early. We’ll come see you again tomorrow,” the Duchess said to Lu Zhuo with a smile, giving him a meaningful look to treat Wei Rao well. She then turned and whispered to Wei Rao that if Lu Zhuo needed any assistance during the night that she was uncomfortable providing, she should call for Mama Miao without hesitation. Mama Miao would remain nearby until Lu Zhuo was completely out of danger.
A young girl newly married might manage serving tea or water, but some matters could be awkward for both newlyweds.
The Duchess had thought of everything.
Wei Rao understood the Old Madam’s meaning and lowered her head, feigning shyness. She escorted the Duchess and He Shi to the door and would have accompanied them further, but the Duchess insisted she return.
Mama Miao went to the side room, while Bitao and Liuya kept watch in the outer chamber overnight, just in case anything happened.
Wei Rao stood by the inner chamber door for a moment before lifting the curtain and entering.
As she rounded the screen, she met Lu Zhuo’s gaze. He lay on his side, eyes open, watching her coldly.
From Lu Zhuo, Wei Rao sensed no courtesy whatsoever. This meant either he didn’t believe his awakening was due to the marriage to ward off misfortune, or he resented her so deeply that his aversion to marrying her outweighed any gratitude.
“Has the Old Madam explained the marriage to ward off misfortune to you, sir?”
Wei Rao sat on the embroidered stool by the bed, speaking politely.
Lu Zhuo nodded. He had eaten a little and taken medicine. Though weak, he could now manage to speak.
He asked directly, “Why did you agree to the marriage to ward off misfortune?”
His voice was so hoarse and unfamiliar that Wei Rao almost thought someone else was speaking.
“Is this how you treat your savior?”
Wei Rao threw back the very words Lu Zhuo had used to question her that day on Cloud Mist Mountain when they encountered assassins, responding to his rudeness.
Lu Zhuo countered flatly, “You haven’t answered my question.”
On Cloud Mist Mountain, he had done nothing to save her, and this marriage to ward off misfortune wasn’t Wei Rao saving his life either.
They owed each other nothing.
Wei Rao smiled, realizing how she and Lu Zhuo would spend the next five years.
Since he had witnessed her killing someone and had never regarded her as a virtuous lady, Wei Rao saw no need for pretense. She retorted sarcastically, “Why did I agree? You, sir, are a hero who defends the nation. The Duke and the Old Madam came to the Wei Family with great fanfare to propose—there was no room for me to refuse. As much as I dislike acting against propriety, I wouldn’t let my family bear the stigma of being cold-hearted and selfish because of me.”
Lu Zhuo accepted her sarcasm. “Our Lu Family was in the wrong there. I owe you for that. Still, I’m curious—why would you be willing to widow yourself for five years for me, if I had died?”
Wei Rao raised an eyebrow. “If another girl had married you, would you wonder why she’d widow herself?”
Lu Zhuo chuckled softly. “Another girl probably wouldn’t widow herself for just five years.”The emaciated Lu heir, whose gaunt frame was barely recognizable, revealed a mocking smile that only intensified the sarcasm in his expression, appearing particularly grating in Wei Rao’s eyes.
Wei Rao responded with an exceptionally charming and coquettish smile: "The other young lady was entirely unwilling to risk marrying the heir only to become a widow."
Lu Zhuo’s eerie smile vanished instantly.
The frustration of being looked down upon dissipated from Wei Rao’s heart, replaced by a triumphant grin.
Lu Zhuo pressed his chapped lips together, his sunken eyes—made hollow by extreme thinness—staring coldly at Wei Rao. The marriage had been arranged by his grandmother, and it was his grandparents who had pleaded for Wei Rao to marry into the family. Lu Zhuo could not resent his grandparents, nor did he have any reason to resent Wei Rao. Yet, the thought of spending his life as her husband and allowing the Duke of Yingguo’s Manor to bear the risk of its reputation being tarnished by Wei Rao filled him with unwillingness.
His mother, second aunt, and third aunt had upheld their chaste reputations for years, mourning his father and two uncles. Their honor should not be sullied by Wei Rao or the Zhou sisters, big and small.
Wei Rao sensed Lu Zhuo’s reluctance and gradually stopped smiling.
She feared that if she continued laughing, she might provoke Lu Zhuo into fainting again.
Though Lu Zhuo was detestable, his survival was more advantageous to Wei Rao.
Rubbing her neck, still sore from the weight of the phoenix crown, Wei Rao kindly explained, "Alright, alright, given your severe illness, I won’t hold it against you. To be honest, I agreed to this Marriage to ward off misfortune partly because I was forced into it, and partly because I need to leverage the influence of your Lu Family to deter the person who sent assassins after me, so they won’t dare target me so easily again."
Wei Rao needed Lu Zhuo to feign a loving marriage with her for five years. For such a long collaboration, some truths had to be laid bare to prevent Lu Zhuo from suspecting ulterior motives and constantly guarding against her.
After a moment of thought, Lu Zhuo asked, "Why five years? Are you confident you can eliminate the threat within that time?"
Wei Rao shook her head repeatedly. "I wouldn’t dare eliminate her. I just want to avoid her. But given her advanced age, I estimate five years should be enough."
Lu Zhuo had long suspected the assassins were sent by the Empress Dowager. Hearing Wei Rao’s words, he suddenly recalled that during the Dragon Boat Race, the Empress Dowager had indeed appeared frail and unlikely to live long.
"Aren’t you afraid that by cursing the other party in front of me, I might guess their identity and report you?"
Wei Rao laughed. "Naturally, I’m not afraid. Firstly, though the heir may not be a complete gentleman, he is at least half of one and would disdain such petty, informer-like behavior. Secondly, I am now your lawfully wedded wife. Whether you are pleased or not, I and the Duke of Yingguo’s Manor are tied together like grasshoppers on a string. Exposing me would mean exposing the Duke’s Manor."
Lu Zhuo indeed had no intention of reporting her. He neither knew nor cared about the details of the enmity between the Empress Dowager and Shou An Jun, but given how deeply Emperor Yuanjia respected Shou An Jun, she surely had done nothing to wrong the Empress Dowager. That the Empress Dowager would plot against an innocent young woman like Wei Rao out of narrow-mindedness disgusted Lu Zhuo; had he encountered the situation, he would still have saved Wei Rao.
"Now that I’ve awakened, what are your plans?" Lu Zhuo scrutinized Wei Rao. Surely this woman didn’t actually intend to become his wife?
Wei Rao looked puzzled. "Did the Old Madam not tell you?"
Lu Zhuo: "Tell me what?"
Wei Rao understood—the Duchess of Yingguo genuinely hoped she and Lu Zhuo would form a happy union.
Unfortunately, Lu Zhuo looked down on her, and she had no patience for a hypocrite like him, who feigned gentleness while clinging to his sanctimonious pride.Wei Rao clearly articulated her third condition.
Lu Zhuo felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
It was a relief not to have to be a real couple with Wei Rao.
Wei Rao had been forced by circumstances to marry him in a marriage to ward off misfortune, and in this regard, the Lu Family had indeed wronged her. Therefore, Lu Zhuo was willing to play the part of a harmonious husband with Wei Rao for five years. Once the Empress Dowager passed away or the five-year agreement expired, they would find a suitable reason to divorce. By then, no matter how capriciously Wei Rao behaved, it would no longer concern him. He would then marry another virtuous and talented young lady from a noble family to assist his grandmother and mother in managing the household and raising children.
As for the betrothal gifts, Wei Rao could take them all without any objection.
"Very well, I will abide by the five-year agreement and cooperate with you," Lu Zhuo formally agreed.
Wei Rao said, "For this clause, the Old Madam has sworn an oath on your life. I trust the Old Madam, but words alone are not enough. I have prepared a written contract in black and white. In a couple of days, when the Young Lord has regained his strength, would you help me press your fingerprint on it?"
Lu Zhuo pursed his lips. "Agreed."
Wei Rao nodded and glanced at their new bed.
Lu Zhuo said, "Tomorrow morning, I will use the excuse that the Back Residence is inconvenient for receiving guests and have someone carry me back to the front courtyard. During the day, when visitors come, you can pretend to take care of me in the front courtyard. At night, you may return to the Back Residence to rest. I will have my trusted aides to attend to me. Once I am able to move freely, I will move to the west room in the Back Residence to sleep. Not even A Gui will notice anything amiss."
Wei Rao was more than pleased but reminded him, "Apart from the Old Madam and the trusted aides around you and me, no one else in the Lu Family, including your relatives and friends, should know the truth about this marriage. If you slip up and cause me to be ridiculed by the entire capital, don’t blame me for what I might do to you..."
"Men of the Lu Family always keep their word. If the truth about our marriage is exposed, the fault will lie solely with you."
Lu Zhuo impatiently interrupted her threat.
Wei Rao merely smiled without replying. She had written the penalties for breaching the contract in the Contract. As long as Lu Zhuo dared to sign it, she had no fear of him reneging.
"Alright, you should rest now. I’ll have Bitao come in to sleep on the floor. If you need anything, feel free to ask her."
With everything discussed, Wei Rao picked up her brocade quilt and pillow and went to the west room to sleep.
She felt no attachment whatsoever to Lu Zhuo or the scent of medicine on him. Even if Lu Zhuo were to regain his ethereal, gentlemanly appearance, neither he nor the title of the Duke of Yingguo’s Young Lord’s wife held any appeal for Wei Rao.
Not long after Wei Rao left, Bitao entered with her bedding. Timid and afraid of the Young Lord’s sickly appearance, she stopped behind the screen and said nervously, "This servant will sleep here. If the Young Lord feels unwell, just call for Bitao."
Lu Zhuo replied, "Mm, extinguish the Dragon and Phoenix Candles and all the lamps."
Bitao dared not disobey. She first put out several lamps and then hesitated before the Dragon and Phoenix Candles. "The wedding candles are supposed to burn through the night. This servant is afraid that when the Old Madam comes tomorrow, she might ask about it..."
"Move them to the washroom for now and bring them back tomorrow morning."
Lu Zhuo’s tone toward Bitao was relatively gentle.
Bitao felt no gratitude whatsoever. What kind of lousy Young Lord is this? He doesn’t show even a hint of gratitude after being saved by the young lady. Extinguishing the wedding candles must mean he doesn’t want to be a real couple with her, right?
Bitao was furious. The young lady had been forced by the Lu Family to marry him. It was fine if the young lady didn’t like the Young Lord, but if the Young Lord looked down on the young lady, he was utterly ungrateful.After moving the Dragon and Phoenix Candles away, Bitao lay down without a word. She secretly hoped the Young Lord inside wouldn't wet the bed and make her do the dirty work, yet also wished he would embarrass himself thoroughly so he'd stop putting on such airs.
To Bitao's disappointment, Lu Zhuo had eaten little, and aided by the medicine's effects, he slept soundly until dawn.
It was then that Lu Zhuo felt the need.
He called for Bitao.
Bitao woke groggily.
Hearing movement behind the screen, Lu Zhuo rasped, "Go fetch A Gui."
Bitao understood. Though she dared curse the Young Lord in her heart, when actually faced with such an opportunity, she didn't dare act recklessly and obediently went to find A Gui.
A Gui was sleeping deeply. Having worried himself sick over the Young Lord's condition these past days, now that there was hope for his recovery, he had fallen into a heavy slumber.
Hearing Bitao's call, A Gui scrambled out of bed, grabbed the pre-prepared chamber pot, and hurried to the rear courtyard.
Bitao didn't follow him inside, yawning as she waited outside.
In the inner chamber, A Gui deftly untied the Young Lord's trousers.
Lu Zhuo, who hadn't had the chance to ask earlier, kept his eyes closed and inquired, "Who has been caring for me during my unconsciousness?"
As the sound of flowing water filled the room, A Gui raised his voice slightly to ensure the Young Lord could hear: "The Imperial Physician changed dressings and treated the wounds, while all other tasks were handled by this humble servant. But yesterday, for the wedding, Old Madam worried the young mistress might not manage well and sent Mama Miao over. I didn't see you all day - Mama Miao probably assisted a couple of times."
The dim lamplight couldn't illuminate Lu Zhuo's expression. When the water sounds ceased and A Gui was helping him back into his trousers, Lu Zhuo asked another question: "Between the young mistress's arrival and my awakening - was there any incontinence?"
A Gui truly didn't know and whispered, "I'll go ask Mama Miao and report back to you later."
Lu Zhuo remained silent.
After a pause, A Gui comforted his master: "Don't dwell on it, my lord. Everyone appears undignified when ill. Once you've recovered your health and regained your former vigor, the young mistress will adore you too much to remember any of this."
Lu Zhuo: "Dismissed."
A Gui: "..."
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