Wei Rao had originally intended to stay longer at the Secluded Manor with her grandmother, but in mid-April, the Empress in the palace decided to hold a peony banquet. Invitations had been sent out to the young ladies of prominent families at the beginning of the month. As the only princess in the entire capital, Wei Rao naturally received an invitation as well.
"In previous years, it seems there hasn't been such a grand flower banquet," Wei Rao remarked curiously as she handed the invitation to her grandmother.
Shou An Jun glanced at the invitation and smiled. "When you were too young to remember, the Empress Dowager held a few such events to help the Emperor fill the imperial harem. However, the Emperor refused to even show his face, so they stopped. Now that Prince Jing and Fu Wang have reached marriageable age, this flower banquet is likely intended to select their principal and secondary consorts."
Wang Shi, who was also seated nearby, felt a stir of excitement. "Could it be that our Rao Rao might become a princess consort?"
Shou An Jun shot her a sharp look. Which prince would marry a divorced woman as his principal consort? If she didn't know that Wang Shi lacked tact, she would have suspected her of deliberately trying to upset her granddaughter.
Wei Rao merely smiled. Regardless of whether she had been divorced or not, her elder cousin Wei Shu had already become the Princess Consort of Duan Wang. The other two positions of princess consort would never fall to her.
"Go ahead. You might even meet a few young ladies you can chat with," Shou An Jun said to Wei Rao in a light tone.
In the past, with the Empress Dowager's suppression, no one dared to openly befriend Wei Rao. But now the situation was different. With the Empress Dowager gone and Wei Rao enfeoffed as a princess, whether they genuinely admired her or sought to flatter and curry favor, young ladies would gravitate toward her.
Wei Rao stayed one more night at the Secluded Manor and returned to the capital the next day.
The Princess Manor finally welcomed back its mistress. After Wei Rao had rested and emerged from her inner chamber, Wei Gōnggong reported a piece of news he had just learned: "Princess, an imperial decree has been issued to the imperial palace. This year, the Emperor will go to the imperial palace to escape the summer heat and has ordered the palace to prepare early."
The Emperor would certainly not go alone; he would bring a group of consorts and officials. Thus, the palace staff now had to clean up the long-vacant halls and courtyards.
Wei Rao's heart raced. The Empress Dowager had been dead for a year and a half. Surely, during this trip to the imperial palace, Emperor Yuanjia would bring her mother and younger brother back?
"Has there been any mention of when they will go?" Wei Rao asked.
Wei Gōnggong replied, "It seems they will depart after the Dragon Boat Festival. This year, the palace will also host a Dragon Boat Race."
A Dragon Boat Race?
Wei Rao suddenly recalled the last Dragon Boat Race. Lu Zhuo, who had just returned to the capital, had showcased his skills and made a name for himself in the competition.
The palace's Dragon Boat Race was held once every three years. So, in the blink of an eye, three years had already passed?
This year, Emperor Yuanjia would go to the imperial palace to escape the summer heat. Once the decree was issued, all official families became aware of it.
In the West Mountain Imperial Palace resided Li Guiren, who had once been the most beautiful woman in the capital, and a prince.
On the surface, Emperor Yuanjia had neglected Li Guiren for four or five years. However, with the issuance of this year's decree to go to the imperial palace, no one doubted that Li Guiren would regain favor.
The officials were already divided into various factions. Emperor Yuanjia had delayed appointing a crown prince for a long time. Some ministers placed their bets on Duan Wang, others on Prince Jing, the Empress's legitimate son, and still others on Fu Wang. Now, with Li Guiren's imminent return to favor and her five-year-old fourth prince, and with Emperor Yuanjia still in his prime, the fourth prince was not without hope.
With one decree, the hearts of the officials and their wives were quietly thrown into disarray.Officials already favored by the factions of the Empress, Consort De, and Consort Xian naturally would not hastily switch allegiances. However, among the remaining officials, some sought to curry favor with Wei Rao, the daughter of Li Guiren, before Li Guiren returned to the capital. After all, showing goodwill now would appear more sincere; waiting until Li Guiren's return would diminish the perceived sincerity.
Thus, shortly after Wei Rao returned to the capital, she received invitations to flower parties from several noble families.
These families were not necessarily solely motivated by flattery; extending invitations at least conveyed goodwill.
Due to scheduling conflicts, Wei Rao had Wei Gōnggong send replies explaining the situation. She then took the initiative to host a flower-viewing gathering at her Princess Manor, inviting these young ladies for a shared enjoyment. Since she had invited unfamiliar noble daughters, Wei Rao naturally also sent invitations to her cousin the Princess of Duan, Qi Miaomiao (niece of Qi Zhongkai from the Marquis of Pingxi's estate), her maternal cousin Zhou Huizhen from the West Pavilion Marquis Estate, her younger cousin Zhou Huizhu from the Secluded Manor, as well as Lu Changning and He Weiyu from the Duke of Yingguo's estate.
The flower party was scheduled for the tenth day of the fourth month. On that day, the weather was clear, and the garden of the Princess Manor bloomed with vibrant flowers in glorious profusion.
The young ladies arrived one after another. Those stepping into the Princess Manor for the first time were invariably awestruck by its magnificence. Upon reflection, wasn't it Li Guiren's influence that prompted Emperor Yuanjia to bestow such a splendid residence upon Wei Rao? If he doted this extravagantly on the daughter from Li Guiren's previous marriage, how much more would he favor Li Guiren and her son once they returned to the palace?
Even if Wei Rao were arrogant and aloof, her peers would not dare snub her given the emperor's evident favor—let alone when she was actually beautiful yet unassuming, approachable and easy to get along with.
Lu Changning brought news of the Princess Manor's splendor back to the Duke of Yingguo's estate.
That very evening, the Duchess of Yingguo summoned Lu Zhuo again: "You stayed in Cloud Mist Town for so long—did you ever properly converse with Rao Rao? Now that Li Guiren and her son are about to regain favor, Rao Rao's status is rising rapidly. I suspect it won't be long before a stream of young gentlemen flock to court her favor."
The Duchess had long understood that her grandson was not Wei Rao's only option. With so many scions of noble families and promising young talents in the capital, Wei Rao—already blessed with striking beauty that easily captivated young men—now also enjoyed the approval of elders. Her pool of potential suitors had expanded considerably.
The Duchess genuinely worried her grandson might lose this contest. Having offended Wei Rao so deeply, his only remaining advantage was his handsome face.
Lu Zhuo found himself at a loss for words to his grandmother.
Standing woodenly, he received a sigh from the Duchess before being dismissed to rest.
Soon arrived the day of the palace peony festival.
Hosted jointly by the Empress, Consort Xian, and Consort De, the gathering required all young ladies to first pay respects to the three consorts upon arrival before dispersing to admire the flowers.
Wei Rao, of course, attended as well.
She wore a jade-green short jacket over a white underskirt embroidered with lotuses emerging from water. Her subtle, elegant makeup only enhanced her radiant beauty.
Before Wei Rao even approached the pavilion, the Empress, Consort Xian, and Consort De had already noticed her. For a moment, the three seemed to see a reflection of the young Zhou in her early palace days—carrying herself with similar nonchalance, seemingly indifferent to lavish adornments, yet brimming with confidence as if no matter what she wore, she would remain the most dazzling bloom among any floral splendor.
Later, when the young Zhou deliberately provoked the Empress Dowager and appeared in full regalia, even the most resentful Empress had to concede her brilliance.Wei Rao, being still young and unmarried, maintained a certain restraint. In contrast, Little Zhou of those years had been utterly uninhibited, wantonly flaunting her alluring and coquettish charm as a young married woman. The Empress, while jealous, secretly tried to imitate Little Zhou's expressions before a mirror. Yet no matter how she twisted her features, she could never replicate that woman's allure.
Such a woman, who appeared bonelessly seductive even in broad daylight—what man could withstand her in the bedchamber?
The only flaw one might find in such a woman's beauty was that her radiance burned too fiercely, unlike that of a proper lady.
Men might adore Wei Rao, but women—especially their elders—would never regard her favorably.
The Empress glanced beside her and smiled.
Even before entering the pavilion, Wei Rao had noticed the exceptionally beautiful woman seated beside Empress Xie. The woman appeared to be around her age, also wearing a white long skirt, though her overgarment was pale pink, lending her a more gentle and graceful appearance. Yet it was not the attire that drew Wei Rao's gaze, but the woman's face—skin like fine jade, eyes like autumn waters—sitting there with dignified elegance like a regal and refined peony.
She possessed striking beauty, yet carried a nobility that tempered its intensity.
Her bearing even seemed more fitting of a nation's mother than the Empress beside her. Even Wei Rao, upon seeing her, felt she was a kind and admirable beauty not to be profaned or offended.
"Wei Rao pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress, Consort De, and Consort Xian."
Entering the pavilion, Wei Rao smiled as she performed the customary greeting.
The Empress laughed. "Rise quickly! We've been waiting for you, Rao Rao. Everyone has been eager to witness your elegance."
Wei Rao modestly replied, "How could I speak of elegance before Your Majesty's peerless beauty?"
The Empress, accustomed to such flattery, paid it no mind. She beckoned Wei Rao closer and, pointing to the beauty beside her, said with a smile, "In the palace, I often hear praise of our capital's two peerless beauties—one hailed as the peony, the other as the peony's sister flower. Today, I've finally brought you both together. The rumors prove true—seated side by side, you outshine even the real flowers in the garden."
The peony beauty?
Only then did Wei Rao realize the woman opposite her was the sixth young lady of the Xie family, Xie Hualou.
Calculating the dates, it seemed the Xie household should have recently concluded their mourning period.
Hualou greets the princess." Xie Hualou first made a graceful bow to Wei Rao. Her voice, when she spoke, was melodious and pleasant.
Wei Rao returned the courtesy with a smile. "So it's Sister Hualou. I've long admired you, and finally we meet."
Xie Hualou replied humbly, "Mere empty reputation. The princess need not take it to heart."
After the exchange of pleasantries, the Empress signaled that the two young women could go enjoy the flowers in the garden.
Wei Rao and Xie Hualou departed together.
"Princess, I'm over here!""
A spirited call drew Wei Rao's attention upward, where she spotted Lu Changning.
Wei Rao then bid farewell to Xie Hualou and went to find Lu Changning.
Xie Hualou had met Lu Changning before. During flower banquets hosted by the Xie family, Lu Changning had attended and once been very fond of her, addressing her affectionately as "Sister Hualou" as if they were close sisters.
But now, Lu Changning merely nodded to her from afar, her eyes solely fixed on Wei Rao.
Xie Hualou's expression remained unchanged, though inwardly her heart ached with bitterness.
Last month, her family had concluded the mourning period. Her uncle had been reinstated to his official position, serving as a fifth-rank Langzhong in the Ministry of Justice.Her father and brothers had their official positions restored, and the family's life seemed unchanged from when her grandfather was alive. However, fewer ladies came to visit the manor, and for a time, no one showed interest in her marriage prospects.
Previously, when Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo separated, rumors spread through the streets and alleys that the Lu Family had grown tired of Wei Rao. Her mother then excitedly told her that she might still have a chance to remarry Lu Zhuo.
Not long after, Wei Rao was granted the title of Princess.
Her mother became less confident.
By this year, Wei Rao moved into the Princess Manor, and Lu Zhuo began pursuing her fervently. First, he followed her carriage to escort her back to the manor, then he moved to Yunwu Town to stay long-term. To please Wei Rao and Shou An Jun, Lu Zhuo, despite being the heir of the Duke of Yingguo, personally plowed fields and farmed.
Even with Lu Zhuo pleading so earnestly, Wei Rao was unwilling to marry him. Yet she and her mother had still deluded themselves into thinking the Lu Family would remember her again.
Before meeting Wei Rao, Xie Hualou had long heard of her reputation for beauty. However, other young ladies claimed Wei Rao was like a peony—her looks inferior to Xie Hualou’s—so Xie Hualou believed them. Only when she saw Wei Rao in person today did Xie Hualou suddenly realize: whether peony or herbaceous peony, though she herself was beautiful, standing beside Wei Rao, no man would notice her.
"Mother, forget about Young Master Lu. It’s impossible for him to remember me again," Xie Hualou said dejectedly to her mother upon returning home.
Third Madam Yang of the Xie family pressed her daughter about what had happened in the palace.
Xie Hualou smiled bitterly, "There’s no need to ask. When you see the Princess, you’ll understand on your own."
She hadn’t lost to Wei Rao’s noble mother, nor to Wei Rao’s status as Princess—she had lost to Wei Rao herself.
Yang didn’t believe it. No matter how beautiful Wei Rao was, she had already been married to Lu Zhuo once. Men crave novelty, and since Wei Rao had so disregarded Lu Zhuo’s pride, if Lu Zhuo saw her daughter, he would surely come to propose again. By then, outsiders would only mock Wei Rao for losing Lu Zhuo by playing hard to get, while praising her daughter Xie Hualou and Lu Zhuo as the true fated pair.
Regardless of Xie Hualou’s thoughts, the Xie family’s sixth daughter, who had been out of the public eye for three years, reappeared before people. Her reputation for beauty quickly spread once more, and her past connection with Lu Zhuo became a topic of public discussion again. Some, like Yang, even asserted that if Lu Zhuo saw Xie Hualou—a beauty more stunning than Wei Rao and still a chaste maiden—he would surely abandon Wei Rao and turn to pursue Xie Hualou.
For a time, the public anticipated Lu Zhuo’s marriage prospects more eagerly than those of the princes.
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