After a delay of two or three quarters of an hour at the city gate, it was finally the turn for the Cheng'an Marquis's carriage to have its identity verified by the city guards.
Wei Rao had already put on her veil hat.
As the carriage came to a stop, Bitao lifted the curtain and handed the marquis's waist token to the approaching guard.
The guard carefully inspected the token, confirmed its authenticity, and then glanced inside the carriage. Bitao and Liuya's faces were clearly visible, and although the woman seated in the middle wore a veil hat, her figure unmistakably identified her as a young lady—certainly not one of the fugitives recently wanted in the capital.
"All right," the stern-faced guard said, returning the token to Bitao while signaling to the two soldiers blocking the path nearby.
The soldiers promptly cleared the way.
The coachman skillfully drove the carriage out of the city. The wheels crunched over the snowy ground, their sound muffling the guards' subsequent inquiries.
Wei Rao removed her veil hat once more and handed it to Liuya for safekeeping.
For noblewomen like them going out for leisure, presenting the waist token was usually enough to gain passage, unless there was a hunt for major fugitives.
"Miss, look! It's all snow outside!"
The city gate acted like a boundary: inside, one had to adhere strictly to rules, but outside, the constraints loosened considerably. Bitao, lively by nature, leaned to the side and lifted half the curtain. In the distance, a vast expanse of snowy scenery unfolded—distant mountains and nearby trees all blanketed in white, sparkling brilliantly under the sunlight.
With Bitao's head blocking most of the view from her window, Wei Rao smiled and lifted the curtain on her side. Before she could take in much of the scenery, two swift horses galloped past her, one after the other, like the wind. They moved so quickly that Wei Rao only had time to recognize Second Master Qi Zhongkai; the other rider was a blur, not even a corner of his clothing discernible.
The snow bore two fresh sets of hoofprints, mingling with the earlier footprints and wheel ruts of passersby.
Wei Rao did not lean out to look but listened to the fading sound of hoofbeats with a pang of envy. What was the fun in admiring the scenery from inside a carriage? Galloping on horseback was far more exhilarating—the wind refreshing the spirit, and the freedom to gaze wherever one pleased without the fuss of lifting curtains or craning one's neck.
Her cousin secretly envied her status as the fourth young lady of the marquis's household, but if given the choice, Wei Rao would have preferred to be a daughter of the Zhou family, raised by her grandmother where she could romp and play to her heart's content without restraint.
The carriage traveled steadily for an hour before finally arriving at Cloud Mist Town.
Cloud Mist Town derived its name from Cloud Mist Mountain.
Cloud Mist Mountain was the tallest peak within a hundred li of the capital's outskirts. Whenever it rained, the mountain would be shrouded in mist and clouds, resembling a celestial realm. In spring, pear and apricot blossoms bloomed profusely across the slopes, resembling vast, rolling clouds. It was the premier destination for young nobles from the capital for spring outings and autumn hunts.
Cloud Mist Town lay ten li away from Cloud Mist Mountain, and Shou An Jun's Secluded Manor was situated midway between the mountain and the town, offering a balance of tranquility and accessibility.
"Old Madam, the fourth young lady has arrived!"
A young maid had been eagerly waiting outside the manor. Spotting a familiar carriage in the distance, she hurried inside to announce the news.
Wei Rao, living farther away, had arrived somewhat late. Shou An Jun had already met with four estate managers who had come to offer birthday greetings and was now conversing with her daughter-in-law Wang Shi, her eldest daughter Big Zhou, and Big Zhou's husband Huo Jingchang. Also present were four younger relatives: Zhou Huizhen and Zhou Huizhu, Wang Shi's two daughters, and Huo Jue and Huo Lin, the children of Big Zhou and her husband.
"Sister Rao is here! I'll go greet her!"Zhou Huizhu was the first to jump up. With her almond-shaped eyes and peach-blossom cheeks, she resembled her mother Wang Shi more closely and was a delicate beauty.
"I'll go too." Huo Lin was the second to stand up.
Zhou Huizhen, sitting beside her mother, curled her lips and reluctantly followed her two younger sisters out.
Thus, as soon as Wei Rao alighted from the carriage, she saw her three cousins. Except for Zhou Huizhen, who was a year older than her, both Zhou Huizhu and Huo Lin were younger.
Wei Rao stayed at the Secluded Manor for a period each year and was very familiar with the Zhou sisters, often meeting them. However, Huo Lin, whose family was in Taiyuan City, might only come to the capital once every two or three years. Wei Rao genuinely missed this younger cousin. The last time they had met seemed to be when her mother was exiled to the West Mountain Imperial Palace, and her aunt and uncle, concerned about the situation, had brought her cousin and younger cousin for a visit.
"Linlin, you're almost as tall as me now. Look at this little face—could there be any girl in all of Taiyuan City more beautiful than you?" Taking Huo Lin's hand, Wei Rao praised her sincerely.
Huo Lin looked at Wei Rao's radiant and enchanting face and laughed. "Sister Rao, you're always joking. How could I compare to you, who outshines the entire capital? The beauties in Taiyuan are no less numerous than those here in the capital. Forget being first—I might not even make the top ten."
Wei Rao leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Then let's not compete with them in beauty. Let's compare wealth—Linlin would surely take the top spot."
Huo Lin burst into laughter. This time, she didn't humble herself anymore. The reputation of the Huo family as the foremost wealthy merchants in Jin was no exaggeration.
"Let's go. I'll first go wish Grandmother a happy birthday, and then we can go out to play together this afternoon." Wei Rao held Huo Lin's hand with her left and Zhou Huizhu's with her right, walking intimately inside. As for her older cousin Zhou Huizhen, who was looking at her with her chin raised, Wei Rao had no interest in catering to her haughty attitude. They were all sisters in the family—what was the point of competing?
Entering the Hall of Blessed Peace, Wei Rao smiled at her grandmother seated in the center and then rushed first into the arms of her aunt, Big Zhou. Initially, she had only intended to act coquettishly, but upon seeing her aunt's face, which closely resembled her mother's, Wei Rao's eyes welled up, and she couldn't help but redden. Though she hid it quickly, the tremulous "Aunt" the young girl uttered while nestled in her elder's embrace still betrayed her emotions.
Big Zhou knew her niece was missing her mother, but on such a joyous occasion, she deliberately misinterpreted the girl's meaning. Smiling as she held her niece, she said to her mother seated in the main position, "Look at Raorao. Of all the children in our family, she's the best at acting spoiled. Back when I followed her uncle on business trips, staying away for over half a year, even Linlin wouldn't behave like this when I returned home."
Shou An Jun chuckled. "Distance makes the heart grow fonder. The farther apart and less frequently you meet, the more precious the reunion becomes. Look at me—I dote on her like she's the apple of my eye every day, yet today, on my birthday, she rushes to you first. It seems I've spoiled her for nothing."
Hearing this, Wei Rao hurried to her grandmother's side, sitting close to the elderly lady and rubbing her forehead against her arm. "Grandmother, you always wrong me. The moment I entered, the first person I looked at was you."
Shou An Jun smiled and gently touched her little face, asking with concern, "You set out early in the morning, didn't you? Were you cold?"
Wei Rao shook her head, her eyes still slightly red, though the tears had already vanished.
Shou An Jun affectionately stroked her forehead again before pretending to scold her. "Don't just focus on acting spoiled. Go and pay your respects to your uncle."Wei Rao smiled, rose, and walked before Huo Jingchang, greeting him with respectful familiarity, "Greetings, Uncle."
Huo Jingchang nodded with a smile, "We're all family here, Raorao. No need for formalities."
Wei Rao glanced at her grandmother and chuckled, "I knew Uncle wouldn't laugh at me."
With that, Wei Rao approached the already standing Huo Jue and sweetly addressed him as "Cousin."
Two years ago, the sixteen-year-old Huo Jue had only been a fist taller than Wei Rao. Now, at eighteen, she had to tilt her head back to see his face clearly.
Huo Jue nodded, his expression warm and gentle as a spring breeze.
After these greetings, Wei Rao went to pay respects to her aunt Wang Shi.
Wang Shi gazed at Wei Rao, radiant as a pearl and tender with youth, and faintly recalled Little Zhou from over a decade ago. Back then, Little Zhou had been just as fresh and blooming as Wei Rao was now, always smiling as if convinced no troubles could ever befall her, living without a care in the world.
And so it had been: in the flower of her youth, Little Zhou first married the talented Master Wei the Second, basking in his devotion. After his death, when everyone awaited her downfall, she returned home only to catch Emperor Yuanjia's eye, swiftly entering the palace as a noble consort. Though disliked by the Empress Dowager, Little Zhou and her daughter were sent to the Western Hills, remaining there for over two years without returning to the palace, and though commoners doubted their prospects, Wang Shi privately believed someone like Little Zhou would never fade into obscurity.
Heaven had always shown favor to beauties when crafting mortals, and in this world, they continued to receive special treatment. Beauties like Shou An Jun, Big and Little Zhou, and Wei Rao were destined for a lifetime of privilege—from childhood to old age, without exception.
When Wei Rao returned to Shou An Jun's side, Wang Shi's gaze shifted to her eldest daughter Zhou Huizhen's face.
Fortunately, her eldest had also inherited Shou An Jun's beauty. At just sixteen, she was at the perfect age for marriage arrangements. If Wang Shi kept her eyes sharp and found her daughter a wealthy husband, as long as the eldest married well, the younger daughter's match would follow suit. With both daughters happily wed, what did it matter if she remained a widow?
She was nothing like Little Zhou, who pursued her own pleasures without regard for her daughter's future, even dragging down her nieces in the process.
At this thought, Wang Shi's anger flared anew. She held no grudge against Big Zhou, but Little Zhou had single-handedly tarnished both her daughters' reputations. At least Wei Rao bore the Wei surname, benefiting from Master Wei the Second's legacy of loyal fame and Old Mrs. Wei's frugal, diligent management of the household and upbringing of children. What did her own daughters have?
The Zhou name had long been ruined by Shou An Jun and her two daughters!
In her foul mood, Wang Shi found it increasingly difficult to maintain her strained smile.
Shou An Jun glanced her way several times.
"Grandmother, this is the prayer beads my grandmother sent you. She said they were blessed by Master Jingkong," Wei Rao instructed Bitao to present the birthday gift from her grandmother.
Shou An Jun had no faith in deities or Buddhism, taking no interest in such things. If Buddha truly answered devotees' prayers, the world wouldn't be plagued by so much poverty and suffering.
Noticing Wang Shi's envious gaze fixed on the prayer beads, Shou An Jun returned them to their box and ordered her maid to give them to Wang Shi. "Since you believe in Buddha, I bestow these beads upon you. Turn them several times daily, and with a calm heart, you'll surely live a long life."
Both Wang Shi and Wei Rao stared in astonishment, their mouths agape.Wang Shi was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor and stammered, "Mother, such a precious string of beads—are you truly giving it to me?"
Shou An Jun laughed. "With the children present, would I deceive you?"
Wang Shi was overjoyed—it wasn't merely receiving a string of prayer beads; it felt as if she had invited the Buddha himself into her home.
Seeing this, Shou An Jun inwardly rolled her eyes at her daughter-in-law.
Back when her son had passed away, she had called Wang Shi for a talk, expressing that if Wang Shi wished to remarry, she, as the mother-in-law, would not stand in the way and would even provide a dowry. But Wang Shi had wept as if being driven out, swearing she would rather die than leave. Two years later, feeling sorry for her daughter-in-law’s lonely widowhood, Shou An Jun gave her a fine jade trinket to amuse herself. Yet afterward, Wang Shi avoided her for days. To this day, Shou An Jun still didn’t know whether her daughter-in-law had liked that gift or ever used it.
Weren’t both those gestures far better than this wooden prayer bead bracelet?
Wei Rao quietly tugged her grandmother’s sleeve, her eyes filled with discontent—after all, it was her grandmother’s sincere intention!
Shou An Jun patted her hand and whispered, "Don’t worry. When your grandmother’s birthday comes, I’ll give her something even finer."
The prayer beads were of no use in her hands anyway. Since her daughter-in-law liked them, she might as well gift them to her now. For the sake of the beads, her daughter-in-law wouldn’t make sarcastic remarks or trouble Rao Rao these next few days.
Harmony in the family leads to prosperity in all endeavors. In old age, that was all one could wish for.
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