Wei Rao was particular about beds.
Though the bed at the courier station was clearly new, knowing she was in an entirely unfamiliar place, Wei Rao still tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
She lay with her eyes open, staring at the tightly shut window as she fantasized about reuniting with her mother.
Before their departure, Lu Zhuo had informed her that upon arriving in Jincheng, he would first be occupied with recruiting soldiers. Jincheng was merely a selection point. After settling in for a few days and briefing the local officials on conscription matters, Lu Zhuo would dispatch messengers to spread the news of the Divine Martial Army's recruitment across the counties under Qingzhou's jurisdiction. Then, he would lead his team to those counties for recruitment, eventually gathering all selected recruits at the military camp outside Jincheng for a month-long training period.
The training would weed out some candidates. Once the final selection list was confirmed, Lu Zhuo would grant them a five-day leave to reunite with their families before accompanying them to the capital.
During those five days, Lu Zhuo planned to set aside three to accompany Wei Rao to the West Mountain Imperial Palace.
Wei Rao had asked if she could go alone.
Lu Zhuo told her to carefully reread the imperial decree—Emperor Yuanjia had explicitly stated that Lu Zhuo and Wei Rao must travel together. If either was missing, the palace guards would not permit entry.
Wei Rao had no choice but to wait patiently. After all, it was a royal palace, and she dared not attempt a solo intrusion like in martial arts novels.
Her daytime thoughts seeped into her dreams, where she saw her mother sitting beneath a crabapple tree, combing her hair.
It was a real memory from her childhood—her mother loved styling her hair, praising its fine, soft texture and thickness, perfect for intricate updos.
Before the dream could fully unfold, Wei Rao was abruptly awakened by a soft knocking. She opened her eyes to find the sky already bright.
Pausing for a moment, she recalled her surroundings at the courier station. Smoothing her underwear, she slipped on her soft-soled sleeping shoes and walked to the inner chamber door.
Lu Zhuo's deep voice came from behind the door: "Time to get up."
He had woken before dawn and had been waiting for Wei Rao, but she seemed to be sleeping soundly. If he didn't rouse her now, the servants might mock the couple for lazing in bed.
Rubbing her temples, Wei Rao opened the door and lifted the curtain, her eyes half-closed as she prepared to speak. Suddenly, Lu Zhuo spun around like a whirlwind, his back to her, stirring a gust of air.
Wei Rao was momentarily stunned before realizing he was flustered by her state of undress.
She, however, was unbothered. Since they were pretending to be a married couple, and Lu Zhuo had already sat beside her in his underwear, it would seem odd if they were both fully dressed so early in the morning, especially with maids about to enter and assist. Besides, the underwear of this season was thick enough—even with Lu Zhuo's sharp eyesight, he couldn't see through the fabric.
"Bring your quilt in and spread it on the bed," Wei Rao yawned lazily, giving the order before dropping the curtain.
Had she observed more closely, she would have noticed the tips of Lu Zhuo's ears flushing crimson. Unfortunately, still drowsy from being abruptly awakened, she paid no attention.
Lu Zhuo's ears were burning red, and the heat in his face was intense. Though Wei Rao's underwear revealed nothing, her rosy sleepwear, disheveled hair, and flushed cheeks mirrored the image of her from his dreams almost exactly.
He had never seen a woman clad only in underwear before. The dream version of Wei Rao, even partially dressed, had been enough to startle him awake. Witnessing the real, languidly alluring figure in person left him utterly unable to look directly at her.Hearing the curtain fall, Lu Zhuo waited outside for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, assuming Wei Rao should have finished dressing. Once his expression returned to normal, he picked up the quilt from the daybed in the adjacent room and entered with lowered eyes.
To his surprise, Wei Rao was not standing on the floor. Through a screen, he could vaguely see a slightly raised quilt on the bed, with a cascade of jet-black hair spilling over the pillow.
Lu Zhuo paused behind the screen and frowned. "Aren't you getting up yet?"
Wei Rao replied drowsily, "I didn't sleep well. Since the magistrate's banquet is in the evening, why should I rise so early? You may attend to your own affairs—no need to mind me."
Lu Zhuo considered how she had traveled by horse and carriage all this way. Even though she knew martial arts, she was still a delicate young lady. It was natural for her to sleep in on their first day in Jincheng.
"I've come to make the bed," Lu Zhuo reminded her.
Wei Rao lazily hummed in response.
Lu Zhuo walked around the screen. A faint, elusive fragrance drifted from the brocade curtains, carrying a hint of allure that stirred a man's heart.
Lowering his gaze, Lu Zhuo spread the quilt he was carrying over the half of the bed Wei Rao had vacated.
After finishing, he went out to summon Bitao and the other maids to attend to their mistress. When he returned to the inner chamber, he sat on the bed with his back to Wei Rao, pretending he had just risen, draped in his outer robe and about to put on his boots.
Wei Rao could only be grateful that after a few days of such charades, Lu Zhuo would leave to recruit soldiers in other counties, sparing them the need to act out this play every day.
Lu Zhuo accompanied Wei Rao for breakfast before leaving the posthouse. He returned in the afternoon to escort her to the magistrate's banquet.
This was likely the most formal social event Wei Rao would attend in the capital. Bitao employed all her skills to dress her mistress, enhancing Wei Rao's natural beauty with minimal makeup and few hairpins. Yet, a single rare sapphire hairpin was enough to signify her status as the Young Lady of the Duke of Yingguo.
Lu Zhuo waited in the hall, pondering the evening's engagements. When the curtain was lifted, his casual glance settled on Wei Rao's face.
During their seven-day journey, Wei Rao had worn men's attire for five days. Now, suddenly adorned in splendid attire, her radiant beauty made Lu Zhuo's heart race once more.
Yet, he showed no outward reaction, his gaze as calm as water. Only after Wei Rao stepped out did he reveal a gentle smile.
The servants at the posthouse, seeing the striking couple, sincerely believed they were a match made in heaven.
The magistrate's residence was on the same street as the posthouse. The carriage soon came to a halt.
Lu Zhuo assisted Wei Rao in alighting.
At the magistrate's gate, the fifty-year-old magistrate had already led his family out to welcome them. His wife had brought along their most beautiful concubine-born daughter, Ling'er.
The magistrate understood his wife's intentions but did not approve. "The Lu Family has a rule against taking concubines, and the Young Lord doesn't seem to be that type of man. Don't make misguided suggestions—if we fail to please, we might earn the Young Lord and his lady's displeasure instead."
The magistrate's wife laughed. "You're a man—what man isn't fond of beauty? The Lu Family only forbids their men from taking concubines, but they haven't banned dalliances outside, have they? The Young Lord has already achieved military feats at such a young age. Even the Emperor arranged a Marriage to ward off misfortune for him, which shows his standing in the Emperor's heart. If our Ling'er can win the Young Lord's favor, wouldn't he owe you a favor in the future, should the opportunity arise?"The prefect, swayed by his wife's persuasion, decided to give it a try. If the Young Lord took a liking to their daughter during the banquet, there might be a chance; if he showed no interest, they could simply pass it off as their daughter merely accompanying the guests, with no ulterior motives.
When Lu Zhuo first stepped out of the carriage, both the prefect's wife and Miss Ling'er were struck by his presence. Not just Miss Ling'er, but even the middle-aged prefect's wife wished she could be thirty years younger, hoping for a chance to earn the favor of such an ethereal figure. Even if she couldn't stay by the Young Lord's side permanently, spending a month or two with him in Jincheng would make her life worthwhile.
It was like a rare piece of exquisite jade—even if one couldn't possess it, just touching it would be enough.
Though Wei Rao held no fondness for Lu Zhuo, in the eyes of other women, he occupied such a lofty status that they would willingly offer themselves to him without asking for anything in return.
However, when Lu Zhuo helped Wei Rao alight from the carriage, the prefect's wife froze, and Miss Ling'er stared in shock. Meanwhile, the prefect and his sons and grandsons could hardly tear their eyes away from Wei Rao.
Wei Rao's allure to men was even stronger than Lu Zhuo's appeal to women. After all, women tended to be more reserved, while men's hearts were often ruled by their baser instincts.
Fortunately, the prefect remained rational and stepped forward with his family to greet them with a smile.
Wei Rao followed behind Lu Zhuo, her gaze sweeping over the faces of the crowd, naturally noticing the strikingly beautiful Miss Ling'er.
The evening banquet was held in the Waterside Pavilion of the prefect's Back Residence garden. Two adjacent pavilions were arranged to host male and female guests separately.
Aside from the prefect's family, other local officials from the city had also brought their families. The civil officials were led by the prefect, while the military officials were headed by General Yang.
Wei Rao held no favorable opinion of the prefect's wife.
Whether Lu Zhuo fooled around outside was none of Wei Rao's concern, but the prefect's wife's attempt to offer a beauty to Lu Zhuo was a clear disregard for her, the legitimate wife.
Faced with the prefect's wife's overtures, Wei Rao responded with a faint smile. In contrast, General Yang's wife and her eldest daughter, Yang Yan, were straightforward and cheerful, finding common ground with Wei Rao in conversation.
Yang Yan was sixteen this year, the same age as Wei Rao, and still unmarried. While the prefect's daughter, Miss Ling'er, had skin as pale as snow and a delicate, fragile demeanor, Yang Yan was the complete opposite. Her complexion was honey-toned, with sharp eyebrows and phoenix-like eyes, and she stood taller than most women. When she appeared with General Yang's wife, she carried an air of heroic elegance, clearly someone trained in martial arts.
The women enjoyed discussing young girls' marriage prospects. When the topic turned to Yang Yan, General Yang's wife had nothing but complaints about her daughter—how she was solely focused on martial arts and the like. Yet, the look in her eyes was full of doting affection, showing that she had no intention of restraining her daughter to conform to the manners of a refined lady.
Wei Rao called Yang Yan to her side and asked what weapons she used.
Yang Yan practiced with blades, both long and short.
"Do you also practice martial arts, Young Lady?" Yang Yan guessed.
Wei Rao whispered to her, "I know some sword techniques. If you're interested, we could spar sometime."
Yang Yan was certainly interested. In all of Jincheng, she was the only young lady who practiced martial arts, and she usually only had the chance to spar with her brothers.
For the rest of the banquet, Wei Rao spoke almost exclusively in hushed tones with Yang Yan, while her interactions with the other female guests remained merely superficial.
When the banquet concluded, Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo boarded the carriage first.
As soon as the carriage door closed, the scent of alcohol emanating from Lu Zhuo filled the compartment. Wei Rao endured it for a moment before lifting the curtain on her side slightly.Seeing this, Lu Zhuo also mentioned his own situation: "General Yang is fond of wine. When he urged me to drink, I found it hard to refuse."
Wei Rao glanced at him. A lantern hung in the carriage, casting a soft glow on Lu Zhuo's handsome face, which was slightly flushed—a clear sign he had consumed quite a bit.
"At the banquet, I hit it off with General Yang's beloved daughter. She invited me to go hunting in the mountains the day after tomorrow," Wei Rao informed him. Since they were both outsiders here, far from the capital, and Lu Zhuo always kept her updated on his whereabouts, she felt it appropriate to share her plans as well, avoiding any unnecessary misunderstandings due to lack of communication.
Lu Zhuo looked over. "Just the two of you?"
Wei Rao shook her head. "The entire Yang family—brothers and sisters—are going hunting together, accompanied by their guards."
Lu Zhuo immediately thought of General Yang's three sons. The reason he had drunk so much tonight was entirely due to the efforts of the Yang father and his sons. The eldest Yang son was already married, but the second and third were still single. Both brothers were decent-looking, robust, and skilled in martial arts. If they went hunting with Wei Rao, even if she showed no interest in them, they might still try to impress her, much like Qi Zhongkai had.
"I'm free the day after tomorrow. I'll join you," Lu Zhuo said, leaning against the carriage wall and closing his eyes as if tired and needing a nap.
Wei Rao frowned. "Didn't you say you had plans these past few days?"
Lu Zhuo replied, "There's been a last-minute change. That day just opened up."
Wei Rao thought about how he had been following her throughout the journey, as if she would get lost or be kidnapped by ruffians without his protection. She couldn't help but frown. "You're not worried I might run into trouble during the hunt, are you?"
If Wei Rao were a delicate maiden, she might have been pleased by Lu Zhuo's close attention. But since he knew perfectly well that she was skilled in martial arts, yet still treated her like an ordinary, fragile woman, it made her uncomfortable. She saw it as a form of contempt—especially since she wouldn't be hunting alone but with the Yang siblings.
In the Jincheng area, the Yang family was practically untouchable. Their name alone might carry more weight than Lu Zhuo's Divine Martial Army. Who did he think he was looking down on?
Wei Rao glared at Lu Zhuo.
Even with his eyes closed, Lu Zhuo could feel her anger. He chuckled, opened his eyes, and looked at her. "It's been a long time since I last went hunting—I just have an itch to try my hand. There's no need for you to overthink it, miss. While I do have a duty to protect you, I don't spend every moment worrying about you or insisting on staying by your side."
His words made it sound as though Wei Rao's question had been implying he had feelings for her.
Wei Rao grew even angrier and retorted, "You're the one overthinking things, Young Master. With your striking looks, you attract admirers wherever you go. I only hope that out of respect for your grandmother's request to look after me, you won't let my hunting trip interfere with your own romantic pursuits."
Lu Zhuo asked curiously, "When have I ever had admirers?"
Wei Rao smirked sarcastically. "You really play the gentleman well, don't you? The prefect made a point of bringing his beloved daughter to greet you. Are you telling me you didn't notice?"
Lu Zhuo laughed. "If I am a gentleman, why would I pay attention to another man's female relatives? Tonight, aside from 'madam,' I noticed no other women."
Perhaps it was the wine, but as he lounged lazily, his gentlemanly demeanor faded, replaced by a hint of flirtatiousness.
For some reason, Wei Rao felt that Lu Zhuo's gaze at that moment was teasing her!
"You'd better not look at me either!" Wei Rao said through gritted teeth.
Lu Zhuo smiled and turned away, but his mind was filled with the image of her beautiful eyes illuminated by the lantern light.
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