Lu Zhuo explained the divorce agreement to his mother He Shi exactly as he had written it.
Thus, He Shi firmly believed that Wei Rao had only returned home first to observe mourning, and once the mourning period ended, Wei Rao would come back to continue being her daughter-in-law.
While the Duchess of Yingguo was still seeing off guests, He Shi brought Wei Rao to her own courtyard, Chunhetang.
A maid served tea and then withdrew.
The chatter from the Zhaohuitang and Zhongyitang courtyards made this place seem even more tranquil. He Shi smiled warmly and said to Wei Rao, "Rao Rao, you look absolutely lovely in this outfit. One might even mistake you for a true princess of royal descent."
He Shi came from a humble background. Having no prestigious family herself, she held no particular expectations for her daughter-in-law’s lineage. What satisfied her about Wei Rao were her personal qualities: first, she had saved her son through the Marriage to ward off misfortune; second, she was beautiful, wealthy, and good-tempered; and third, Wei Rao was tall and slender, with a well-proportioned figure that suggested she would bring prosperity to both her husband and future sons.
Now that Wei Rao had been enfeoffed as a princess, any family that could have her as a daughter-in-law would truly be honored.
Wei Rao could sense He Shi’s affection for her, but it felt different from that of the Duchess of Yingguo or Fourth Madam. The way He Shi looked at her inexplicably reminded Wei Rao of the time He Shi had discreetly asked whether she and Lu Zhuo had consummated their marriage—that fervent hope, as if eager to tuck her into Lu Zhuo’s bed right away.
"You flatter me, Madam. May I ask why you summoned me here?" Wei Rao inquired with a smile.
He Shi explained, "It was Old Madam who wanted to see you. She’s busy bidding farewell to guests, so she asked me to keep you company for now."
Wei Rao understood and picked up her teacup.
He Shi chuckled, "Old Madam surely wishes to discuss with you when to send betrothal gifts and arrange the wedding."
Wei Rao choked on her tea upon hearing this, quickly setting the cup back on the table and turning away to cover her face as she coughed lightly, her cheeks flushing red.
He Shi’s smile grew even more affectionate. "Look at you, why be shy in front of me? Shoucheng has already explained everything to me—it’s just a temporary divorce, and you’ll ultimately be together. The last wedding was rushed and did you a disservice, but now that you’re a princess, we’ll hold a grand and perfect ceremony."
Wei Rao, well aware of He Shi’s naive and simple nature, guessed that Lu Zhuo had likely not told her the whole truth.
Seeing how happy He Shi was now, Wei Rao didn’t want to spoil her mood. Once she left, Lu Zhuo would surely clarify everything when he became engaged again.
"I see that Changning and Weiyu have both grown into young ladies. Has the manor arranged any marriage proposals for them?" Wei Rao cleverly changed the subject.
He Shi was indeed led along by her question, her expression turning worried. "Changning’s marriage is being handled by your Second Aunt and Old Madam—she’s sure to marry well. But as for Weiyu, although she’s beautiful and gentle, her family are commoners. I fear noble sons in the capital might look down on her. Yet, with her qualities and appearance, I’d hate to see her married off carelessly."
Wei Rao could empathize with He Shi’s dilemma; her aunt Wang Shi had felt the same way when arranging her cousin Zhou Huizhen’s marriage.
Apart from having a better reputation than Zhou Huizhen, He Weiyu’s circumstances were quite similar in other aspects. Even with He Shi’s connections, she remained merely a cousin of the Duke of Yingguo’s household.Wei Rao chatted intermittently with He Shi, moving from discussing He Weiyu's marriage to Second Young Master Lu Ya's wedding, then to Fourth Master and Fourth Madam's new life. Since Fourth Madam became pregnant, Fourth Master had suddenly shaken off his former despondency and resumed martial arts training. As a spear practitioner, he remained a formidable general once mounted—with wooden-and-iron prosthetics aiding his balance and mastery over horseback control—requiring only two guards to assist him on and off the steed.
With Fourth Master's renewed vigor, the Duke of Yingguo secured him a position in the Divine Martial Army again.
"When you marry Shoucheng, work hard to have a son. He could study and practice martial arts alongside his Sixth Uncle," He Shi abruptly circled back to the earlier topic.
Wei Rao had no response.
Fortunately, the Duchess of Yingguo finally sent someone to summon her to the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness.
He Shi beamed as she saw Wei Rao out of the Hall of Spring Harmony.
"Princess, while most mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law resent each other, the First Madam treats you like her own daughter," Bitao teased playfully.
Wei Rao shot her a glare.
Bitao immediately stifled her smile, though she still felt that during this visit to the Duke of Yingguo's Manor, the reception was no different from their trips to the Secluded Manor. The elders never treated Wei Rao as an outsider—even the Young Lord had eagerly rushed to the gate to welcome her.
Upon entering the Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness, the Duchess dismissed all maids, setting the stage for a private conversation with Wei Rao.
The door stood open, noon sunlight streaming in to illuminate Wei Rao's fair, flower-like face.
The Duchess truly couldn't comprehend how her grandson had ever failed to appreciate such beauty. Thankfully, after Wei Rao's departure, he'd finally gained sense—declaring to matchmakers his unwavering determination to marry only Wei Rao. Late realization was better than none at all. For her grandson's sake and her own fondness for Wei Rao, the Duchess resolved to assist him once more.
"Rao Rao, have you visited your grandmother? How is her health?" the Duchess first inquired about Shou An Jun's wellbeing.
Wei Rao: "Grandmother is quite well. She plans to plant melons when spring arrives."
"She still maintains melon fields? Watermelons?"
"Mm, Grandmother loves watermelons. She specially cleared a sandy patch—the melons grown there are wonderfully grainy and sweet."
"You're making my mouth water."
"When they ripen, I'll sneak two to offer you."
The Duchess burst into laughter. Wei Rao truly knew how to delight elders with her words.
In the western chamber, Lu Zhuo leaned against the wall. Though he refrained from peeking at Wei Rao, he could vividly imagine her expression. When speaking to him, her words carried barbs, yet before elders she became like sweet fruit—her presence and speech equally saccharine. No wonder all the family elders adored her.
Back in the hall, the Duchess didn't prolong the small talk. After brief pleasantries, she addressed the main issue: "Rao Rao, both Shoucheng's mother and I adore you and wish for your return as our Lu Family daughter-in-law—I believe you've noticed. But I'm also aware Shoucheng caused you much grief. Had he remained as stubborn as before, I'd never broach this subject. However, he knelt and begged me, confessing you've taken root in his heart—vowing never to marry anyone else. Thus I swallow my pride to invite you here and ask your thoughts. If you still hold affection for this old woman and would consent to be my granddaughter-in-law, may the Lu Family send matchmakers to your Princess Manor to propose anew?"
Wei Rao listened quietly with downcast eyes.Both the Duchess of Yingguo and He Shi wished for her return—Wei Rao believed that. But would Lu Zhuo kneel and declare he couldn’t live without her?
Wei Rao didn’t believe it.
Even if Lu Zhuo truly knelt, it might only be because the Duchess of Yingguo, unwilling to break her word, had demanded it of him, and he had knelt out of filial piety against his true feelings.
Moreover, even if Lu Zhuo genuinely wanted to marry her now, she would not agree.
"If another young lady had married into the family instead, would you have wondered why she became a widow?"
"Another young lady probably wouldn’t have remained a widow for just five years."
Wei Rao still remembered the time right after the marriage to ward off misfortune, when Lu Zhuo had just woken up. He was too weak to clearly see her face, but when he nodded to her, his gaunt face was gentle, his gaze soft. Yet once he learned the whole story and after the elders had left, Lu Zhuo’s eyes turned cold when he looked at her—as if Wei Rao had used some underhanded method to push aside his original fiancée and usurp her place.
So why should she happily nod in agreement just because Lu Zhuo wanted to marry her now, when he had once scorned her for not wanting to?
Wei Rao smiled faintly and addressed the hem of the Duchess of Yingguo’s robe: "Old Madam, I deeply appreciate your kindness. It was an honor to be your granddaughter-in-law for a year, and I will always remember the kindness you and the other ladies showed me. However, I have only just become a princess and have just begun to enjoy the carefree life of living alone in the Princess Manor. I truly do not wish to marry again so soon. The heir is not young anymore, Old Madam. It would be best to arrange another marriage for him quickly and not delay on my account."
Having said this, Wei Rao rose from her seat and bowed solemnly to the Duchess of Yingguo to take her leave: "Old Madam, you have been receiving guests all morning. I will not disturb your rest any further. May you take good care of your health, with blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea and longevity matching the Southern Mountains."
With these words, Wei Rao turned and left.
Her attitude made it clear to the Old Madam that this was not a case of playing hard to get—she genuinely had no desire to remarry Lu Zhuo, and the Old Madam need not waste any more effort on her.
Wei Rao walked away briskly, leaving a maid to see her out.
The Duchess of Yingguo sat back in her chair, disheartened.
She wasn’t angered by Wei Rao’s refusal, only regretful that such a fine granddaughter-in-law had been lost due to her own grandson’s foolishness.
"She’s already left. Why are you still hiding?" Remembering the one to blame, the Duchess of Yingguo glared angrily toward the side chamber.
Lu Zhuo emerged at the sound of her voice.
Seeing his calm expression, as if the rejection meant nothing to him, the Duchess of Yingguo laughed in exasperation: "So I’ve been making arrangements for you, while you yourself don’t even care?"
Lu Zhuo gave a wry smile and explained, "Why must you mock me, Grandmother? Truthfully, I expected her refusal. But before I go to her to apologize and make amends, I needed you to intervene first, to let her know I am sincere and that I have your and Mother’s support. Otherwise, if I went to see her rashly, how would I be any different from those frivolous playboys?"
This explanation soothed the Duchess of Yingguo’s anger, leaving only doubt: "Rao Rao was so resolute. Are you truly confident you can win her back?"
Lu Zhuo lowered his gaze. "I hurt her too deeply. All I can do is treat her with sincerity and do my best to make amends."The Duchess of Yingguo couldn't bear to see her grandson looking so dejected. Rubbing her forehead, she made a decision: "Your second and third brothers are no longer young, and Changning and Weiyu too—I will arrange their marriages in the next two years. As for you, you're not young either. You handle Rao Rao on your own. But let me be clear: I'll give you until twenty-five at most. If by then Rao Rao still refuses to forgive you, you'd better marry someone else. Your mother is practically desperate for grandchildren."
Lu Zhuo was twenty-three this year, leaving him exactly two years until he turned twenty-five.
Two years might seem long, but over the past two years, he had managed to offend Wei Rao in every possible way.
"Does Grandmother have anything else?"
"What do you plan to do?"
"I'll go see her off."
"...Go ahead."
By the time Lu Zhuo caught up on Flying Ink, Wei Rao's carriage had not yet turned out of the lane where the Duke's Manor was located.
The clip-clop of hooves was particularly noticeable on the street now empty of guests. Just as Wei Rao wondered who it was, Bitao called from below the window, "Princess, the Young Lord is following us!"
Wei Rao frowned. When the hoofbeats drew close to her carriage window, she stiffly lifted the curtain.
On horseback, Lu Zhuo wore a deep crimson brocade robe, his gentle handsomeness tinged with an air of romantic flair.
Seeing Wei Rao, he explained softly, "I'll escort the Princess back to her residence."
Wei Rao: "Unnecessary. Please return, Young Lord."
Lu Zhuo: "Does the Princess not wish to see me? Then I'll follow behind the carriage."
With a light tug on the reins, Flying Ink turned and trailed the carriage.
"Princess, shall I have the guards drive the Young Lord away?" Bitao blinked.
Wei Rao asked, "Is he ahead of or behind the guards?"
Bitao glanced back and said disappointedly, "Behind."
Since he was behind the guards, it couldn't be considered disturbing the Princess's carriage, and she had no grounds to send him away.
Wei Rao couldn't be bothered to figure out what game Lu Zhuo was playing. She dropped the curtain and let him follow.
At this hour, those with money and leisure were taking their midday rest, while commoners went about their busy lives. Soon, people noticed the strikingly handsome Lu Zhuo, Young Lord of the Duke of Yingguo, closely trailing a carriage like a guard. The emblem on the carriage belonged to the newly titled Filial and Benevolent Princess—his former wife before their divorce?
What was going on now?
With Lu Zhuo's gentle appearance, the commoners felt bold enough to ask, "Young Lord, why are you following the Princess's carriage?"
Lu Zhuo smiled. "Escorting the Princess back to her residence."
After a buzz of discussion, someone teased, "In the imperial city, under the Emperor's watch, with guards accompanying her, why would the Princess need your escort? Following so eagerly—do you want to reconcile with her?"
Lu Zhuo glanced at the carriage ahead and did not deny it. "I have the intention, but it's up to the Princess to grant it."
At these words, young girls and wives on the street immediately felt envious of the Princess inside the carriage.
Some men or women even called out to ask the Princess in the carriage if she would agree to the Young Lord's wishes.
Wei Rao had intended to ignore them, but if she did nothing, everyone might think she was secretly pleased!
Rummaging through the small cabinet in the carriage, Wei Rao grabbed a teacup, leaned out the window, took aim at Lu Zhuo who was looking up at her, and threw it at him with all her strength!
Her aim was true—the teacup flew straight at Lu Zhuo's face. He chuckled, caught it with one hand, and tucked it into his robe.A burst of laughter erupted among the commoners: "Is that the token the princess gave to the heir?"
Wei Rao only looked at Lu Zhuo, seeing him still sitting upright on his horse, his gaze fixed on her from afar. Wei Rao gritted her teeth, lowered the curtain, and sat back down.
She had underestimated Lu Zhuo—when it came to shamelessness, even a wild boar couldn't compare to him!
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