Songyue Hall.

Nanny Miao led the maids from Wei Rao’s side to stand guard in the courtyard, everyone maintaining distance from the main room.

In the east side room, Duchess Ying sat in a chair while Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo stood before her, one on each side.

Wei Rao lowered her head, holding a snow-white silk handkerchief in her hands, occasionally wiping away teardrops sliding down from the corners of her eyes.

She made no sobbing sounds, yet this tear-stained appearance made her all the more pitiable.

“Shoucheng, is there even half a sentence that Raorao said that wronged you?” Duchess Ying could barely contain her anger as she glared at Lu Zhuo and questioned him.

Lu Zhuo pressed his lips together.

Everything Wei Rao had said was true, without a single word of embellishment.

However, when Lu Zhuo had spoken impulsively, it wasn’t because he worried she couldn’t afford to lose, nor was he afraid she would win silver from his family elders. He just felt that Wei Rao was deliberately using his mother to mock him. Actually, by the time Lu Zhuo caught up with Wei Rao, he had already begun to regret it. A dignified eight-chi tall man shouldn’t quarrel with a woman over words, but since he had already entered, Lu Zhuo could only ask about Wei Rao’s card skills.

He hadn’t expected Wei Rao’s reaction to be so strong, questioning him so aggressively. The more he spoke, the more wrong he seemed to be, so he simply turned and left.

Last night, Wei Rao had shown no unusual behavior, and Lu Zhuo thought the dispute was over. Who knew she would alarm grandmother?

Seeing Wei Rao frequently wiping tears from the corner of his eye, Lu Zhuo couldn’t help but reflect – perhaps he had overthought it, and her words were just unintentional?

“Grandmother, it was indeed I who misspoke first and was discourteous afterward.”

Lu Zhuo frankly admitted, then turned to apologize to Wei Rao before kneeling before Duchess Ying: “This grandson knows his wrong and asks grandmother for punishment.”

Duchess Ying looked toward Wei Rao.

Wei Rao looked at the old madam with tears in her eyes: “Grandmother need not punish the heir. I didn’t alarm you to come here to embarrass the heir. I just wanted to know why the heir said such things about me. I have a bad reputation, and I accept that the heir is unwilling to be my husband. But he surely cannot belittle me without cause, even questioning whether I can afford to lose at cards or whether I’m greedy for money. If that’s truly the case, I would rather be mocked by all of the capital and immediately request to return home than dare to shamelessly remain at the Duke’s mansion.”

Duchess Ying also wanted to know what exactly was going on in her grandson’s head, and scolded Lu Zhuo: “Speak!”

Lu Zhuo couldn’t possibly tell the truth – that would implicate his mother.

The path of staying silent was also blocked by his grandmother, so he could only lie.

Lu Zhuo lowered his eyes and said quietly, “Miss Wei performed the recovery marriage for me, so I already owe her a debt of gratitude. If she lost money at our mansion, I would feel even more guilty. Therefore, I suggested she find an excuse to decline the card gatherings. It’s just that this grandson is clumsy with words and spoke inappropriately, causing a misunderstanding between Miss Wei and me.”

What kind of nonsense was this?

Duchess Ying didn’t believe it. If his grandson truly felt he owed Wei Rao for the recovered marriage, he wouldn’t have chosen to be a fake spouse.

She was about to scold her grandson more when Wei Rao stopped crying and said shamefully, “So it was all a misunderstanding. Grandmother, please have the heir get up. When it comes down to it, I was also at fault. I should have asked the heir for clarification, but instead I just got caught up in my thoughts and unnecessarily disturbed my grandmother.”

Wei Rao wasn’t curious about Lu Zhuo’s reasoning because she was clear in her heart that Lu Zhuo simply looked down on her and thought she couldn’t afford to lose.

She had Bitao go complain because she wanted Lu Zhuo to remember that offending her came with a price – he shouldn’t expect her to suffer in silence. Duchess Ying was Lu Zhuo’s grandmother. If Lu Zhuo wasn’t afraid of troubling the old madam, Wei Rao could play this game with Lu Zhuo every day.

Now that Lu Zhuo was both apologizing and kneeling, regardless of whether it was sincere or not, Wei Rao’s anger had dissipated. Giving Lu Zhuo a way out at the right time also made her appear magnanimous.

Duchess Ying didn’t believe her grandson’s excuse, and she knew Wei Rao surely wouldn’t believe it either. But the young lady was so good – she would rather suffer some grievance herself than continue pursuing the matter.

Duchess Ying was very grateful for Wei Rao’s magnanimity, because her grandson had already lied. Continuing to interrogate might not yield any good words, and if things became too ugly, it would be difficult to resolve.

“Raorao need not plead for him. Even if it was a misunderstanding, he was the one with a bad attitude first.”

Duchess Ying snorted coldly and glared at Lu Zhuo, who was still kneeling: “You made a mistake, and grandmother must punish you. But you’re grown up now. If I beat you with a stick, it would be the Duke’s mansion losing face if word got out. If I punish you by making you write characters, that’s too light. Like this – you made Raorao cry, so I’ll punish you by having you grant Raorao one request. Whatever Raorao asks for, as long as her request doesn’t violate propriety and righteousness, you must agree to it without refusing.”

Wei Rao’s heart stirred – this compensation sounded quite good.

Just as Wei Rao was about to politely decline for show, Lu Zhuo agreed: “Good. Grandmother bears witness – this grandson owes Miss Wei one favor today.”

Duchess Ying immediately looked toward Wei Rao: “Raorao, have you thought of what to have Shoucheng do? Just say it – grandmother will back you up, and he wouldn’t dare go back on his word.”

Wei Rao said, embarrassedly: “Thank you, grandmother, but in such haste, I don’t know what to request.”

Duchess Ying: “No rush, think it over slowly. Better make it something big – can’t let him off easy.”

Wei Rao smiled gratefully.

Duchess Ying stood up, comforted Wei Rao some more, then took Lu Zhuo away.

Wei Rao glanced at Lu Zhuo inquiringly.

Lu Zhuo kept his eyes straight ahead, following behind Duchess Ying with an expressionless face as they left.

Arriving at the front courtyard, Duchess Ying interrogated Lu Zhuo alone once more.

Lu Zhuo refused to say anything.

Duchess Ying was helpless and heavily tapped her walking stick twice: “Stubborn mule! I won’t bother with you anymore, but remember this – she’s a young lady, and you’re a grown man. No matter how much you dislike her, you cannot be harsh to a young girl. How old are you? Even Che’er is more sensible than you!”

Only then did Lu Zhuo say: “Grandmother can rest assured, this grandson remembers.”

In the future, no matter what Wei Rao said or did, unless it concerned the entire Duke Ying mansion’s reputation, he would no longer interfere. Even if Wei Rao openly mocked him, he absolutely wouldn’t talk back, lest he give her another chance to complain to his grandmother.

This quarrel’s details were limited to Wei Rao and her servants and Lu Zhuo and his grandmother – no one else was disturbed.

Duchess Ying, wanting to help Wei Rao find diversion, told Lu Changning and He Weiyu that Wei Rao knew swordsmanship.

Lu Changning immediately pulled He Weiyu over, wanting to take Wei Rao as their master.

Wei Rao smiled: “Taking me as master is too much – I only know some basics. If you sisters want to learn, come to my place every morning to study for half an hour.”

Lu Changning rubbed her hands together excitedly: “Sister-in-law, could you perform some swordplay for us to see?”

Wei Rao: “What, afraid my martial arts aren’t good enough and I’m not qualified to teach you?”

Lu Changning’s small face turned red – this sister-in-law looked too much like a pampered lady, so she was indeed a bit worried.

Wei Rao smiled and had Liu Ya fetch the wooden sword she had used when first learning martial arts.

After limbering up, Wei Rao held the wooden sword and demonstrated a section of swordplay for Lu Changning and He Weiyu in the small courtyard of Yafeng Residence. This was only the first level of “Seven Star Sword,” but it already left Lu Changning and He Weiyu with their hands over their hearts, dazzled and truly admiring.

“Sister-in-law, you’re amazing! I want to learn, I want to learn!”

Lu Changning shouted so loudly that Lu Zhuo, who was reading in the study in the front courtyard, heard her.

What did the cousin want to learn from Wei Rao?

Lu Zhuo put down his book and walked over alone.

He wore a moon-white round-collared brocade robe, with a jade-inlaid belt outlining the narrow waist and broad shoulders of a young military officer. Lu Zhuo was eight chi tall, slender and upright yet with a gentle bearing, without any of the coarseness and recklessness common to military officers. Walking slowly through the corridor, Lu Zhuo was more like an elegant young gentleman who could compose poetry and paint romantic scenes with ease.

Wei Rao only glanced once before looking away. A hypocrite like Lu Zhuo could only fool those young ladies who didn’t understand him.

Lu Changning was focused on learning swordplay and had no interest in her eldest cousin’s graceful appearance.

He Weiyu’s heartbeat quickened, but she didn’t dare show it, looking at Lu Zhuo with some constraint.

Lu Zhuo was He Weiyu’s cousin, but when He Weiyu was brought to Duke Ying’s mansion to accompany He Shi, Lu Zhuo had already been sent to the frontier for training. Over all these years, He Weiyu had only heard about Lu Zhuo’s youthful exploits from her aunt and the Lu family members, but had never seen Lu Zhuo. It wasn’t until early this year when Lu Zhuo returned to the capital and became engaged to Sixth Lady Xie that He Weiyu finally met her cousin.

Like many other young ladies, He Weiyu fell in love with Lu Zhuo at first sight.

She just didn’t know if her cousin would like her.

He Weiyu knew her place – she never fantasized about being her cousin’s wife. Being able to become a cousin’s concubine would satisfy her completely.

He Weiyu had long known about the Lu family’s traditions, but she was different. She was Lu Zhuo’s cousin, and both Aunt and Duchess Ying liked her very much. As long as she was well-behaved and didn’t compete with Wei Rao for favor, she should have a chance to have her cousin make an exception and take her as a concubine.

“Are we disturbing the heir?”

Dislike him as she might, in front of Lu Changning and He Weiyu, Wei Rao still had to act, smiling brilliantly at Lu Zhuo.

Lu Zhuo smiled back and walked to her side, asking gently: “What are you doing?”

Lu Changning hugged Wei Rao’s arm and said excitedly: “Big brother, do you know sister-in-law knows swordplay? Sister-in-law just performed a section – it was like flowing clouds and water, even more beautiful than when you all practice with spears!”

Lu Zhuo looked at Wei Rao in surprise: “You know swordplay?”

Wei Rao thought to herself – she practiced sword twice daily, morning and evening. Did Lu Zhuo not know? He was acting quite convincingly.

Wei Rao nodded.

Lu Changning, worried that her cousin wouldn’t allow her to practice swordplay, quickly said: “Grandmother, aunt, and fourth aunt all know and support us learning from sister-in-law. Big brother, you wouldn’t object, would you?”

Lu Zhuo smiled: “I don’t object. What does the second aunt say?”

Lu Changning grinned: “Mother said as long as I’m not afraid of hardship, I can practice as long as I want.”

Lu Zhuo clenched his hands behind his back. Second aunt valued propriety most – she agreed too?

Wei Rao ignored him and called Lu Changning and He Weiyu aside, first checking both girls’ arm strength. If they couldn’t even hold a sword steady, they would have to start with the most basic horse stance and arm strength training.

Lu Changning was determined to learn martial arts and had secretly followed her brothers for several years. Her foundation was already solid, so she could start learning swordplay directly.

He Weiyu had no foundation at all – typical of someone without the strength to tie up a chicken. Wei Rao had her practice horse stance at the side of the courtyard.

Lu Zhuo observed silently for a moment, then walked over and said quietly to He Weiyu: “If you don’t want to learn, you don’t need to force yourself.”

He felt that his cousin was more like someone who had been dragged over by his younger cousin.

Being shown such concern by him, He Weiyu’s cheeks turned bright red. While trembling with her thin legs, she said shakily, “I want to learn. Cousin needn’t worry – I can endure hardship.”

Only by learning swordplay together with Lu Changning would she have opportunities to frequently come to Songyue Hall and have more contact with her cousin.

He Weiyu gathered her courage and looked up at her beloved.

Lu Zhuo saw determination in his cousin’s eyes. Since she wanted to learn martial arts so much, Lu Zhuo offered a few gentle words of encouragement and walked away.