With her mother-in-law's permission, Wang Shi began preparing for the outing to Cloud Mist Mountain. The outfits for mother and daughter had long been prepared; what they lacked was a flawless pretext for an encounter with aristocratic young masters.
Wang Shi approached her mother-in-law again to discuss: "Mother, for tomorrow's outing, I plan to invite Huizhu and Linlin along. Three sisters enjoying spring together appears perfectly natural, and no one would speculate otherwise."
If she brought only one daughter, her intentions might seem too obvious.
Shou An Jun felt both exasperated and amused. This daughter-in-law appeared foolish at times, yet possessed a certain cunning—though her cleverness often backfired.
"You're taking Huizhen to fish for a wealthy suitor. No matter how hard you try to conceal it, your eyes and mannerisms will betray your thoughts. Anyone with discernment can see through it. I'm not stopping you because I know I can't persuade either of you. But Huizhu and Linlin understand propriety—they know what's proper and what's not. If you want to make fools of yourselves, do it alone. Don't drag them into this."
Shou An Jun never minced words with those who refused good advice.
Thoroughly chastened by her mother-in-law, Wang Shi dared not involve Zhou Huizhu or Huo Lin any further. As for Wei Rao—who resembled a captivating enchantress and consistently outshone Zhou Huizhen—Wang Shi would never consider inviting her along.
The next day dawned clear. After discreetly observing the carriages entering Cloud Mist Mountain and noting several outstanding young gentlemen among them, Wang Shi set out confidently with Zhou Huizhen, who was dressed like a celestial beauty.
Shou An Jun sent her attendant Liu Momo to accompany them.
She feared Wang Shi and her daughter might commit some outrageous act and bring utter disgrace upon themselves!
In the following days, Wang Shi and her daughter ventured into the mountains daily.
Wei Rao had no interest in hunting for wealthy suitors, but Cloud Mist Mountain in March and April offered splendid scenery, making it an ideal destination for spring outings.
Wei Rao visited the mountains every year and knew them intimately. She was familiar with both the crowded scenic spots and the lesser-known trails that offered pure, untamed mountain charm.
"Grandmother, are you certain you won't join us?"
After Wang Shi and her daughter departed that day, Wei Rao changed into men's clothing and brought Zhou Huizhu and Huo Lin to bid farewell to Shou An Jun.
Shou An Jun laughed, "I'd love to go, but I'm too old to deny my age. You all choose rugged paths and move as nimbly as young deer—these old bones can't manage such climbs anymore."
Cloud Mist Mountain was truly beautiful. Since leaving the palace, Shou An Jun had visited every spring and autumn—sometimes to admire flowers, sometimes to climb and watch the sunrise, occasionally to hunt game, or to offer incense at temples. Its proximity allowed her to visit whenever she wished. Her better health compared to Old Mrs. Wei might well be credited to these regular mountain excursions.
Now too old for climbing, she found contentment in daily strolls through her garden.
Shou An Jun was thoroughly satisfied.
With their grandmother staying behind, the three sisters—each accompanied by a maid—set out on horseback along their familiar trail.
The path ran parallel to the main road, separated by two or three li, yet visible when looking up.
While the main road teemed with continuous streams of visitors, the trail saw only local farmers busy with spring planting. The sudden appearance of several fine horses naturally drew attention.
Lu Zhuo, riding alongside his family's carriage, had been absorbing the spring scenery when movement on the trail caught his eye. Turning his head, he spotted the six horses carrying Wei Rao and her attendants.The small path passed near Shou An Jun's Secluded Manor. The first half of the trail had no riders, so these six must have departed from the manor.
Lu Zhuo immediately recalled his recent encounter with the fourth young lady of Cheng'an Marquis' household while hunting in the mountains.
Observing the "young men" on horseback—each with slender builds and riding postures betraying feminine caution—the sole exception was the white-clad "youth" leading the group. Their galloping figure rivaled any true young man in grace.
Lu Zhuo had a growing suspicion that the white-clad "youth" was Wei Rao.
This fourth young lady was truly untamed.
"Elder cousin, there seems to be another mountain path over there," remarked Lu Cong, Lu Zhuo's younger cousin, who had also noticed the activity on the trail. He envied how those youths could gallop freely. Today, the elderly madam and the household's women had come to Cloud Mist Mountain for leisure, assigning him and his elder cousin as escorts. Initially pleased, Lu Cong now regretted accepting the duty upon realizing they could only follow the carriage at a crawl. Had he known it would be this tedious, he would have preferred staying at the manor for martial training.
"What if there is?" Lu Zhuo replied with a light smile, having already averted his gaze.
Lu Cong rubbed his nose and whispered, "Elder cousin, Grandfather has been strict lately. It's been ages since I've taken a horse outside the city. This slow pace is no fun at all. How about you stay with Grandmother, and I take a quick detour? I'll meet you all at the mountain's base."
"Not appropriate," Lu Zhuo declined.
Lu Cong groaned, "Why not?"
Recalling Qi Zhongkai's obsequious behavior around Wei Rao, Lu Zhuo suspected Lu Cong would similarly fawn over her if they met.
"I've heard tales of fox spirits haunting these mountains. I fear you might fall under their spell," Lu Zhuo stated calmly.
Lu Cong was astounded to hear such superstitious talk from his refined and proper elder cousin, his jaw nearly dropping.
Lu Zhuo offered no further explanation. Without his permission, Lu Cong wasn't going anywhere.
Lu Cong indeed didn't dare. He feared this not-entirely-stern elder cousin might report him to their grandfather, who would then send him to the border for training—a stint that could last seven or eight years.
The carriage moved slowly. In the time it took to cover five or six li, Wei Rao and her companions had already vanished into the mountains, while the Duke of Yingguo's procession hadn't even completed half the journey.
The sluggish pace was understandably unbearable for Lu Cong, who fidgeted in his saddle as if afflicted with a rash.
Lu Zhuo, however, remained composed, serenely admiring the peaks of Cloud Mist Mountain.
His gaze occasionally swept over the commoners farming in the fields beside the official road. Shortly after Wei Rao's group entered the mountains, Lu Zhuo noticed two straw-hatted farmers rise from the field near the path and stride purposefully in the same direction.
Their movements were agile, and they communicated not a word as they blended among the other farmers like wolves amidst sheep.
Already close to Cloud Mist Mountain and moving swiftly, they disappeared into the forest in an instant.
Lu Zhuo maintained his calm demeanor. After proceeding a short distance, he approached the carriage window and tapped lightly.
A young maid lifted the curtain, revealing the Duchess of Yingguo's affectionate gaze.
"Grandmother, I have a matter to attend to and will enter the mountains ahead. I'll join you for flower viewing once I'm done," Lu Zhuo murmured softly.
A faint smile graced his lips, his eyes clear, as if merely addressing a minor affair.The Duchess of Yingguo cast a deep glance at her eldest grandson and nodded.
Lu Zhuo exchanged a few words with Lu Cong, then quickened his pace along the official road toward Cloud Mist Mountain.
Lu Cong gritted his teeth in envy. "You scoundrel, Lu Zhuo! You forbid me from galloping on horseback, yet you sneak off first!"
Wei Rao, Zhou Huizhu, and Huo Lin were none of them demure rule-followers. Whether through martial arts training or frequent outdoor activities, their stamina far surpassed that of sheltered young ladies confined to inner chambers. Thus, they climbed swiftly, reaching their destination in just half an hour—a secluded valley far from the main peak of Cloud Mist Mountain.
The valley featured a cascading waterfall feeding into a deep pool, its banks lined with soft white sand. Nearby thickets and forests bloomed with clusters of unnamed wildflowers.
Huo Lin, visiting for the first time, gasped in admiration. "It's so beautiful here—I don't even want to leave."
Wei Rao laughed. "If you truly mean it, we can return tomorrow with tents and invite Grandmother along for a night under the stars."
She had done such things with her master before, spending over a month at a time in the mountains.
Recalling those days, Wei Rao suddenly missed her master. Alas, her master possessed the heart of a wandering cloud and wild crane. Once Wei Rao’s health was restored and her sword skills reached mastery level, her master had bid farewell—a single sword, a lone horse, utterly untethered.
"Sister Rao, you’re so different from what I imagined," Huo Lin remarked, half-envious and half-reflective, watching Wei Rao remove her shoes and socks to tread barefoot on the soft sand. "Before coming to the capital, I thought you’d be like those official’s daughters I met in Taiyuan—more rule-bound than anyone. I even worried we wouldn’t get along."
Wei Rao stood at the boundary where the pool’s water met the dry sand, rolling up her pant legs as she smiled and asked, "And now? Will you scorn this cousin of yours for being too uncouth?"
Huo Lin burst into giggles, her gaze shifting from Wei Rao’s dazzlingly beautiful face to her exposed, snow-white calves. Her heartbeat inexplicably quickened. Though Wei Rao’s behavior in the mountains was indeed untamed, such beauty made every action graceful—utterly divorced from roughness.
"Come, I’ll teach you how to spear fish," Wei Rao called out cheerfully.
Zhou Huizhu and Huo Lin eagerly joined her.
Baichan and two other maids remained on the shore, chatting idly while keeping watch for any passersby. Ordinarily, no one would find this place, but precautions were still necessary.
Behind a cluster of waist-high bushes, two masked assassins hid cautiously. One had sinister triangular eyes; the other bore a black mole on his nose bridge.
The three young girls splashing in the pool resembled celestial maidens descended to earth—lovely in appearance, their laughter like music. But as assassins tasked with a do-or-die mission, neither man had the leisure to admire beauty.
They were waiting for the fourth young lady to separate from the group.
Farther away, Lu Zhuo concealed himself behind a tree. From this angle, he could see the two assassins but not the three girls in the lake.
He was curious why the assassins had trailed the young ladies for so long without making a move.
If they weren’t here to kill, Lu Zhuo had no reason to kill them either.
If they intended murder, Lu Zhuo would wait for them to strike before revealing himself—letting the girls first be terrified enough to learn their lesson, lest they continue venturing into the mountains alone without attendants.The young girls had caught several fish and handed them over to the maids to clean, preparing to start a fire for roasting.
The sunlight was rather glaring. Wei Rao removed the hat from her head, and as she tilted her head to adjust her hair, a patch of shrubs in her peripheral vision suddenly rustled before quickly falling still again.
Wei Rao continued to smooth the damp strands of hair at her temples, splashed by the pond water, then put on her shoes and socks. Standing up, she said to Zhou Huizhu and Huo Lin, "I need to relieve myself."
Zhou Huizhu wanted to go as well.
Wei Rao smiled softly and whispered, "Wait a moment. You can go after I return. I’d rather not see something I shouldn’t."
Zhou Huizhu’s cheeks flushed slightly. Why was Sister Rao becoming more and more mischievous?
Wei Rao patted the young girl’s head, then turned and walked into the woods, keeping a distance from that patch of shrubs.
Her gaze remained forward, but her ears picked up the sounds behind her—two people were following, and only two.
Wei Rao had left her sword by the shore, but she wore an emergency bracelet on her wrist.
In truth, she was confident she could handle a direct confrontation, but it would cause too much commotion and frighten her cousins.
Better to resolve this quietly.
Once she was far enough away, Wei Rao crouched down, deliberately leaving a conspicuous opening. The two assassins took the bait immediately, lunging at her like tigers pouncing on a lamb.
At that very moment, Wei Rao rolled to the side, pressing a mechanism on her left wrist bracelet with her right hand. Two silver needles shot out in quick succession, embedding themselves in the foreheads of the two men.
With that, the threat was neutralized.
However, as the two men fell to the ground with muffled thuds, a tall figure previously hidden behind them came into Wei Rao’s view. If not for Lu Zhuo’s strikingly handsome face—memorable to anyone who saw it—which allowed Wei Rao to recognize him instantly, her bracelet would have been aimed at him as well.
Stunned, Wei Rao remained frozen in her kneeling position.
Similarly, blocked by the bodies of the two assassins, Lu Zhuo had not witnessed Wei Rao’s hidden weapon attack.
Assuming both men had died by his own hand, Lu Zhuo saw Wei Rao as nothing more than a foolish beauty, paralyzed by fear and reaping the consequences of her own recklessness.
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