A few days later, Huo Jue finished his fur business and prepared to leave Jincheng.
He came to the posthouse to bid farewell.
Lu Zhuo was at the military camp, so Wei Rao received her cousin in the front hall.
Though reluctant to part, they had all grown up. Her cousin needed to help his father with the family business and couldn't linger anywhere for too long.
After drinking a bowl of tea, Huo Jue prepared to depart. Wei Rao accompanied him all the way outside the posthouse.
"Raorao, don't be too impulsive from now on. Your path is different from ours - think thrice before acting in all matters."
These were Huo Jue's final words to Wei Rao before boarding his carriage.
Wei Rao understood her cousin was referring to her disguising herself in men's clothing to observe his business dealings.
She still believed those merchants wouldn't recognize her if they saw her again, but considering Lu Zhuo's perspective, his concerns were completely reasonable. At least before their separation, while she could still ride horses and hunt, she shouldn't make Lu Zhuo risk being mocked as a cuckold.
This matter was indeed her oversight.
After her cousin's departure, Wei Rao never went out alone again, nor did she wear men's clothing anymore. She either strolled in the posthouse gardens wearing a veil or accepted Yang Yan's invitations to visit the Yang residence.
During this period, Lu Zhuo remained at the military camp throughout.
April was finally coming to an end, with the Dragon Boat Festival approaching. According to information Zhao Song revealed to Bitao, the new soldier selection would conclude on the second day of the fifth month. Leave would begin on the third day, lasting five days, with all new soldiers returning to camp before sunset on the seventh day. They would depart for the capital early on the eighth morning.
Wei Rao's heart grew restless.
She had traveled all the way to Jincheng specifically to see her mother. After waiting two months, they would finally go to the imperial palace.
Now she was in Jincheng, only half a day's ride from the West Mountain Imperial Palace, holding an imperial decree bearing Emperor Yuanjia's seal. Everything was ready - all she needed was Lu Zhuo.
He had even honored his promise to host her cousin, so he probably wouldn't go back on his word about accompanying her to the imperial palace.
Wei Rao prepared three sets of clothing: one men's outfit she had never worn in Jincheng for the round trip on horseback, and two women's outfits for her stay at the imperial palace.
She also visited the stables to see her chestnut steed. The horse had been well cared for by the posthouse attendants, its coat glossy. Wei Rao stroked it repeatedly, as if already mounted and galloping toward the imperial palace.
On the evening of the second day, Lu Zhuo returned to the posthouse.
After a day of training, he was drenched in sweat. Without needing instructions, Zhao Song had already ordered water to be prepared.
Closing the inner chamber door, Lu Zhuo removed his robes and first stood outside wiping himself down with a wet cloth to remove the sweat odor before stepping into the bathtub. Leaning against the tub wall, he closed his eyes to rest.
His long, sturdy arms rested on either side, his jade-like chest and waist faintly visible through the water. Beads of water rolled down his slightly flushed face. After training with the new recruits under the sun for a month, his handsome face had darkened by three shades, with a clear tan line visible at his collarbone. Yet this coloring didn't diminish his handsomeness; instead, it added the stern dignity common among military officers, making the elegant and refined heir of the Duke of Yingguo resemble more his other identity - Deputy General of the Divine Martial Army.
He remained soaking in the water like this, as if asleep.
The water in the tub gradually cooled. As the sunset faded outside and night approached, Lu Zhuo opened his eyes and left the bathtub.
Shortly after, dressed in white robes with neat attire, he appeared in the Hall.
Both Zhao Song and Zhao Bai were waiting for his instructions.Lu Zhuo took a sip of tea and said, "Prepare the meal."
Zhao Bai immediately went to the kitchen to give the order.
Zhao Song looked at his master, unable to believe that the Young Lord had nothing else to say.
Lu Zhuo glanced at him: "Invite the Young Lady over."
Zhao Song then felt relieved—since the Young Lord was so fond of the Young Lady, how could he truly ignore her?
He slipped to the small gate of the rear courtyard and saw Bitao standing in the yard. Zhao Song beckoned to her.
Bitao immediately ran over.
Zhao Song smiled and said, "The Young Lord has returned and requests the Young Lady's presence."
Bitao had long given up hope for her mistress and the Young Lord. In the past, whenever the Young Lord offended the lady, he would find ways to coax her into forgiving him, which was why Bitao and Liuya had believed this false marriage might one day become real. But this time, for a whole month, the Young Lord had gone to the military camp without returning. Bitao could only be grateful that her mistress had never developed feelings for him; otherwise, how heartbroken would she be, treated with such cold neglect?
If not for her mistress instructing her today to watch for the Young Lord's return, Bitao wouldn't even have been pleased to see Zhao Song.
After hearing Zhao Song's words, Bitao didn't delay. She left him behind and went to the inner chamber to inform her mistress.
Zhao Song scratched his head, feeling as if an ant had crawled into his heart. Whenever the Young Lord and the Young Lady quarreled, even Bitao seemed to dislike him.
He didn't like this and only hoped the Young Lord and the Young Lady would reconcile soon.
Wei Rao had been waiting all day for news of Lu Zhuo, as tomorrow was the day they had agreed to depart.
Once Lu Zhuo returned, Wei Rao felt at ease. Lu Zhuo still owed her one thing, and if he tried to back out of their palace excursion agreement, she would use that to hold him to it.
Wei Rao arrived at the front courtyard just as the kitchen staff were bringing Lu Zhuo's meal and setting it on the table.
Seeing her, Lu Zhuo smiled: "My return was sudden. Have you eaten, Madam?"
His smile was so charming that the maid setting the table secretly glanced back and forth between the Young Lord and the Young Lady. Over the past month, almost all the servants at the posthouse had learned of the quarrel between the Young Lord and the Young Lady, speculating on when they would reconcile.
Wei Rao smiled and replied, "I didn't know the Young Lord would return, so I've already eaten."
Lu Zhuo nodded and signaled the maids to withdraw.
Zhao Song and Zhao Bai stood guard outside, one on each side.
Wei Rao stood in the middle of the Hall, patiently watching Lu Zhuo—neither smiling nor angry, neither anxious—simply waiting for an answer.
The way she looked at Lu Zhuo was as if he were merely someone she had traveled with for a while, as if nothing else had ever happened between them, as if once they completed this final journey, she would leave without looking back.
Lu Zhuo lowered his gaze and said, "Rest early. We depart before dawn tomorrow."
Wei Rao smiled, curtsied, and said, "Thank you, Young Lord."
Having received her answer, Wei Rao turned and left.
Lu Zhuo stared at the food before him for a long while before finally picking up his chopsticks.
Outside, Zhao Song and Zhao Bai exchanged glances—just two sentences. After a month apart, the Young Lord and the Young Lady had exchanged only two sentences, one of which was mere polite conversation.
Before dawn, Wei Rao rose. Bitao, having received instructions the previous night, got up to help her mistress with her hair.
"Miss, what exactly is going on between you and the Young Lord? You'll be gone for three days—I couldn't sleep at all last night," Bitao asked, dark circles under her eyes, because last night her mistress had suddenly packed a small bundle, saying she was going on a private sightseeing trip with the Young Lord alone, without bringing any servants.Bitao simply couldn't imagine the scene of her young lady touring with the Young Lord—each going their own way, ignoring one another?
Wei Rao laughed, "Don't worry, we'll be back on the evening of the sixth."
Unable to pry any information out, Bitao reluctantly gave up.
Wei Rao arrived at the front courtyard where Lu Zhuo was already waiting, dressed in a pale blue brocade robe that appeared almost white in the dim morning light.
Two fine horses had been led outside the posthouse by Zhao Song.
Mounting their respective horses, Wei Rao tightened her grip on the reins and looked down at Zhao Song. "Please take care of Bitao for me these three days."
Zhao Song respectfully accepted the order.
Wei Rao spurred her horse and galloped off with a laugh.
When they reached the city gate, it had just opened. The guards, already familiar with Lu Zhuo, let them pass without question.
Outside the city walls, the view suddenly expanded. Wei Rao slowed her pace and turned to Lu Zhuo, "Would the Young Lord please lead the way?"
She didn't know the route to the West Mountain Imperial Palace.
Lu Zhuo, having already made inquiries, took the lead on his horse.
Flying Ink ran swiftly, but Lu Zhuo deliberately slowed his pace so Wei Rao's steed could keep up.
Wei Rao quietly maintained a distance of two horse lengths behind him.
They rode from dawn until the sun climbed the treetops without exchanging a single word.
Passing by a stream, Lu Zhuo halted his horse and said, "Let's rest for fifteen minutes."
Continuous galloping had tired both riders and horses. Since the imperial palace was only half a day away, there was no need to rush.
Wei Rao patted her chestnut horse's neck, dismounted, and led it to the stream for water.
The summer sun was scorching. Wei Rao wore a veil to protect her fair complexion from tanning—she cherished her beauty and had no desire to become as sun-darkened as Lu Zhuo.
While her horse drank, Wei Rao, having ridden for over an hour and feeling uncomfortable, chose not to sit. Instead, she walked in the shaded area under the trees along the bank, her back to the sun. Wild grass grew along the shore, tall enough to cover ankles, dotted with small flowers of various colors. Wherever Wei Rao passed, grasshoppers would leap away.
This reminded her of her grandmother's Secluded Manor. She had come to visit her mother, but this was her first time away from home for so long. Wei Rao missed her grandmother and her maternal grandmother.
"Think thrice before you act."
Her cousin's words suddenly echoed in her ears. Wei Rao paused mid-step, her gaze drifting to the sparkling water surface.
She could quickly divorce Lu Zhuo and leave the capital to travel and enjoy the landscapes. But both her grandmother and maternal grandmother were aging—would they feel at ease with her wandering abroad? Her maternal grandmother might understand her perspective, but what about her grandmother? For years, her grandmother had favored and protected her, drawing resentment from her aunt. If she left the capital amid ridicule, what would her aunt whisper in her grandmother's ear? While she was out experiencing different customs, would her grandmother and maternal grandmother worry about her having enough to eat and wear?
Raised with the doting affection of both elders—her maternal grandmother aside—the one thing that had brought her grandmother the most joy in recent years was her becoming "true husband and wife" with Lu Zhuo. Before leaving the capital, she had even brought Lu Zhuo to perform an act before her grandmother. If she returned to the capital and immediately announced her intention to divorce, could her grandmother withstand such a blow?
Wei Rao tilted her head, catching Lu Zhuo in her peripheral vision. He faced the stream, leaning against a tree trunk, seemingly resting with his eyes closed.
Wei Rao felt like laughing. She had proposed the divorce—if she changed her mind so soon, who knew how Lu Zhuo would mock her.
Never mind. There were still over ten days before returning to the capital. Even if she were to reconsider, there would be time to regret it before entering the city.
Having rested enough, they remounted and continued their journey.The imperial retreat was built for emperors and royalty to escape the summer heat and rest. To avoid disturbance from commoners and mountain dwellers, it was constructed in a narrow valley, following the natural contours of the mountains. Thus, the closer one got to the retreat, the nearer they were to the mountains. The official road wound along the slopes like a serpent, with mountains on one side and a rushing river on the other.
By late morning, the sun grew more intense, yet the mountains remained refreshingly cool. Riding her horse up a slope, Wei Rao gazed downward and saw rows of palaces standing ahead—the imperial retreat was now in sight.
Beads of sweat rolled down her cheeks, and she wiped them away with a handkerchief.
"Shall we go now, or rest for a while?" Lu Zhuo turned his horse and rode up beside her to ask.
Wei Rao did not want to appear disheveled when meeting her mother.
Touching the bundle behind her, she pointed to the forest ahead and said, "Let's rest for a bit."
She needed to change into women's attire.
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