Duke Ying Mansion was one of the top noble families in the capital. To bring about more good luck through this auspicious ceremony, today’s wedding banquet had several dozen more tables than originally ordered before Lu Zhuo’s accident. They were all set up on the back street of Duke Ying Mansion, entertaining families from several nearby streets who weren’t usually familiar with them.

Such high-profile behavior was completely at odds with Duke Ying Mansion’s usual family tradition of strictly observing propriety.

The more they did this, the clearer it became to the guests that Young Master Lu Zhuo was probably truly beyond help. Otherwise, the Lu family would never be so ostentatious.

The wedding procession returned. Firecrackers crackled loudly, red firecracker paper scattered in rolling clouds of smoke and dust. The continuous earth-shaking clamor finally brought some of the proper joy this celebration should have. The adults among the guests clearly couldn’t smile genuinely, but they forced smiles to cooperate with the Lu family. Only the children, understanding nothing, darted through the crowd waiting to see the bride exit the sedan chair. The clever and mischievous ones secretly ran to the wall tops, peering about.

Wei Rao wore a red bridal veil, unable to see anything except the ground beneath her feet.

The imperial phoenix crown on her head was heavy. Wei Rao had worn it the entire journey, and her neck was nearly breaking from the weight.

Supported by female officials at the place for the wedding ceremony, the clamor finally died down. Guests smiled and spoke auspicious words, yet the hosts, guests, and even Wei Rao, the bride, all knew they were just saying them casually. If Lu Zhuo had even the slightest chance of recovery, the position of Duke Ying’s heir’s wife would never have fallen to the notorious Wei Rao.

First bow to heaven and earth, second bow to parents and elders. During the couple’s mutual bow, Wei Rao suddenly heard a rooster’s crow from across.

Wei Rao nearly laughed out loud.

The Lu family’s guests didn’t gossip, but Wei Rao had heard the roadside commoners discussing in the sedan chair, saying that today the Lu family’s Fifth Young Master Lu Che was standing in for his brother in the wedding procession, and Lu Che was holding a magnificent large rooster in his arms.

Wei Rao didn’t feel wronged by bowing to a rooster. In terms of loss of face, Lu Zhuo’s was greater than hers.

After the ceremony, Wei Rao was escorted by female officials to the bridal chamber.

Lu Zhuo’s courtyard was called Songyue Hall.

Songyue Hall had a layout of three courtyards with side courtyards. Lu Zhuo lived in the first courtyard, the lady of the house, Wei Rao, lived in the second, and the bridal chamber was set up there.

Because of Lu Zhuo’s serious illness, today Songyue Hall was probably the quietest place in Duke Ying Mansion.

The elaborate ceremonies ended here. Fifth Young Master Lu Che had completed his mission and retired, and the large rooster was also carried away to who knows where.

Duchess Ying arranged for her daughter-in-law, Fourth Madam, to receive Wei Rao here.

“Shoucheng is ill, so we’ll simplify all the bridal chamber ceremonies for now. Raorao, please bear with this temporarily. When Shoucheng wakes up, the family will hold a proper ceremony for you two as a young couple.” Looking at the fair and beautiful small hands resting on the bride’s knees, Fourth Madam said apologetically.

Wei Rao said softly: “They’re just empty ceremonies—it doesn’t matter. This nephew’s wife only hopes Young Master will recover soon.”

Her sweet and soft voice made Fourth Madam’s bones turn to jelly. She finally understood why there was so much gossip outside criticizing Fourth Miss Wei for being bewitchingly seductive. Just this voice alone made one’s heart flutter. She just didn’t know what Fourth Miss looked like.

Fourth Madam rarely went out and had never seen Wei Rao.

“There are no outsiders here. Let me help Raorao remove the veil and tidy up. The phoenix crown is so heavy—you must be tired.”

Wei Rao: “Then I’ll trouble Fourth Aunt.”

Fourth Madam smiled and reached out to help Wei Rao remove the veil. The red veil was handed to Bitao. When Fourth Madam turned back and looked down, she met a face of stunning beauty. Its brilliant charm even outshone the large red and blue gemstones at the front of the phoenix crown, like a phoenix suddenly flying into a garden of colorful flowers, its magnificence making all the flowers seem vulgar.

Fourth Madam just stared in bewilderment.

Wei Rao couldn’t very well hurry an elder along. As her gaze shifted, the Young Master, who was supposedly severely injured and unconscious for over ten days, suddenly entered her field of vision.

Wei Rao’s pupils contracted sharply, and her breathing stopped.

She had seen Lu Zhuo twice before. Each time, Lu Zhuo was graceful and refined like jade, his bearing undiminished even when carrying a wild boar up the mountain.

However, the Lu Zhuo before her eyes had a waxy yellow complexion, was skin and bones, and even his lips were grayish-white.

What difference was there between this Lu Zhuo and a dead person?

The strong medicinal smell was belatedly captured by Wei Rao. At this moment, Wei Rao suddenly understood that she had been overthinking last night. Lu Zhuo wouldn’t wake up—she was destined to spend five simple years of widowhood at Duke Ying Mansion.

This was precisely why it was Wei Rao. Having practiced martial arts, hunted wild beasts, and killed assassins—if it were any other young lady, any young lady pampered like a precious pearl by her family, she would have screamed in terror at this sight.

Wei Rao had been wearing the veil, but her accompanying maids, Bitao and Liu Ya, had already seen the young master on the new bed, each too frightened to make a sound.

Fourth Madam followed Wei Rao’s gaze and looked over. Her eyes teared up as she said with heartache, “Shoucheng, he wasn’t like this before.”

Fourth Madam was very young, only five years older than Lu Zhuo. Lu Zhuo had been at the frontier, and it was only when he returned to the capital at the beginning of the year that Fourth Madam truly met this eldest nephew. At that time, Lu Zhuo was gentle like jade and handsome like an immortal. Whether elders or young ladies saw him, they would like him and be conquered by his bearing.

Anyone who had seen Lu Zhuo before would feel heartache and regret seeing him like this.

It was like a precious piece of rare jade suddenly being smashed—who wouldn’t feel heartache?

“Fourth Aunt needn’t be sad. Young Master will get better,” Wei Rao said in comfort instead.

Fourth Madam immediately smiled: “Yes, yes! Raorao is so beautiful—when Shoucheng wakes up and sees you, he’ll surely smile.”

Saying this, Fourth Madam stepped forward and helped Wei Rao remove the phoenix crown.

The bridal chamber was quiet. After a brief rest, Fourth Madam called over a nanny and introduced her to Wei Rao: “This is Nanny Miao, the most trusted elder by Old Madam’s side. Originally, changing Young Master’s medicine and bathing him was handled by his attendants, but these past two days with Shoucheng staying here, it’s inconvenient for them to come over, so Old Madam arranged for Nanny Miao to serve Shoucheng.”

Nanny Miao was in her fifties with a kind and amiable face, respectfully greeting Wei Rao.

Wei Rao looked at Lu Zhuo with heartache and said to Nanny Miao very virtuously: “Young Master is so severely injured—I dare not rashly take over. Let me first learn from Nanny. Once I’ve learned, I’ll take care of Young Master in the future to spare Nanny the back-and-forth travel.”

Nanny Miao nodded with a smile. Whether sincere or not, this Fourth Miss was quite good at winning people’s favor.

That was all for now in Songyue Hall. Fourth Madam exchanged glances with Nanny Miao and went to report to her mother-in-law.

By this time, it was already dark. Duchess Ying truly had no heart for socializing and retired to rest early.

She was very tired but couldn’t sleep. Since her eldest grandson had collapsed, Duchess Ying hadn’t had a single good night’s sleep. She always had dreams—dreams of her three dead sons, dreams of her grandson being injured on the battlefield, dreams of the house setting up a mourning hall with her grandson gone too.

Just thinking about it made Duchess Ying unable to stop her tears.

“Mother, don’t cry. Fourth Miss has already married over—Shoucheng will get better soon.” Fourth Madam forced herself to be spirited, repeating words she had said countless times.

Duchess Ying wiped away her tears and looked at her daughter-in-law: “How was it? Was Raorao frightened by Shoucheng?”

Fourth Madam shook her head gratefully: “Mother’s eye for people has never been wrong. Fourth Miss indeed has exceptional courage—not only wasn’t she frightened, she comforted me instead. She’s so sensible, and with Nanny Miao looking after things, don’t think about it tonight. Sleep well and wait to drink your grandson’s wife’s tea tomorrow morning.”

Hearing this, Duchess Ying felt somewhat comforted.

Songyue Hall.

Not long after Fourth Madam left, Nanny Miao also went to rest in the side room, leaving the main room to the new lady.

Wei Rao glanced at Lu Zhuo, who was as sick as a dead person, found the medicinal smell around him too strong, and went to sit in a chair to rest.

“Miss, Young Master, he…” Bitao closed the door, and she and Liu Ya gathered around Wei Rao, speaking quietly with unconcealed pity in their eyes—pity for their miss. When their miss first decided to bring good luck, they had all hoped the ceremony would succeed, but now, having seen Young Master with their own eyes, neither Bitao nor Liu Ya dared to dream anymore.

Wei Rao said indifferently: “What nonsense—we predicted this before. You just focus on doing your duties well. Don’t think about anything else, and even if you do think, never say it out loud or let people see it.”

She had agreed to bring good luck. Duke Ying Mansion’s household didn’t know her other motives and were all grateful to her now. If the three of them showed flaws and let the Lu family see their disdain for Lu Zhuo, wouldn’t that needlessly offend the entire Lu clan?

Bitao and Liu Ya both understood.

“Alright, open the door.” For caution’s sake, Wei Rao returned to Lu Zhuo’s bedside to keep watch.

No one from the Lu family came again tonight. The kitchen sent dinner over, and Wei Rao ate until seven-tenths full despite the medicinal smell filling the room.

After dinner, Nanny Miao came over to change Lu Zhuo’s medicine and also turned him to lie on his other side—he had been facing outward before and was now changed to face inward.

Nanny Miao was very considerate, moving Lu Zhuo to the inside of the new bed so Wei Rao wouldn’t have to lie on the inside facing Lu Zhuo’s sickly appearance and be frightened.

“Madam should sleep early. Young Master might wet the bed at night—Madam just needs to call this old servant, and I’ll come in to clean up.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Nanny.” Wei Rao said gratefully without showing the slightest disgust on her face.

Nanny Miao took her leave.

Liu Ya went to see her off while Bitao, thinking of Nanny Miao’s words, stared at the bed in shock.

Wei Rao said quietly, “What’s so strange about it? He’s not an immortal. Since he needs to eat and drink, naturally, he’ll excrete.”

Bitao’s eyebrows were nearly knitted together, feeling sorry for her miss.

Wei Rao could accept it—after all, she was only sleeping beside Lu Zhuo and didn’t need to personally serve him. It was just that over time, when she truly took over changing Lu Zhuo’s medicine and bathing him, those dirty and tiring tasks would inevitably fall to Bitao and Liu Ya.

“Be prepared,” Wei Rao said with schadenfreude to the two maids.

Now Bitao and Liu Ya hoped even more that Young Master would wake up quickly.

After serving Wei Rao in washing her feet, the two maids carried the copper basin and withdrew.

The room was brilliantly lit with a pair of dragon and phoenix wedding candles as thick as wrists burning quietly.

In the depths of winter, with the heated floor below, the room wasn’t very cold.

Wei Rao lay with her back to Lu Zhuo. After all, newly married into a strange place, she couldn’t sleep.

Bringing good luck, bringing good luck.

Wei Rao still hoped Lu Zhuo would wake up, showing she was useful. Otherwise, if Lu Zhuo died and the good luck ceremony failed, those idle people outside would have more to gossip about.

Thinking this and that, it wasn’t until the second watch that Wei Rao finally fell asleep from exhaustion.

Beside her, Lu Zhuo, covered by a separate brocade quilt, maintained the side-lying position arranged by Nanny Miao. Just as the faint sound of the third watch wooden clappers came from distant streets, Lu Zhuo’s dry, cracked lips moved slightly.

After a moment, the man opened his eyes.

Author’s Note: Young Master Lu: Oh no, I need to pee.