Lu Cong and Lu Changning were stirring up trouble. Lu Zhuo held his left hand behind his back while playing with a short arrow in his right hand, smiling silently as he looked at Wei Rao, his manner suggesting that if Wei Rao accepted the challenge, he would gladly oblige.

Wei Rao recalled the Dragon Boat race when, despite the Shenwu Army having one man fall from his horse and lose his arrows, Lu Zhuo single-handedly pulled the Shenwu Army’s mounted archery performance from last place to second with his godlike skill. Wei Rao had been present then, personally witnessing Lu Zhuo like a brilliant red light, firing arrows in rapid succession, each one piercing through three targets.

No matter how much Wei Rao disliked Lu Zhuo’s hypocrisy, she had to admire his martial prowess.

Lu Zhuo had trained at the frontier for eight years alone, while she had only studied swordplay for four years. Regarding martial skills, Wei Rao still had this much self-awareness about who was stronger and who was weaker.

“Forget it. If I compete with your elder brother, losing is inevitable. Even if I won, it would only be because he deliberately held back.”

Lu Zhuo was skilled at putting on shows—if they competed, he would probably perform for appearance’s sake.

Wei Rao had no interest in that; she’d rather lose genuinely.

With no excitement to watch, Lu Changning was a bit disappointed.

Lu Cong moved away and winked at Lu Zhuo: “Elder brother, tell us—would you go easy on sister-in-law? You never show mercy when competing with us.”

Lu Zhuo smiled: “Since there’s no competition, what’s there to discuss about going easy? The wind’s picking up—let’s go inside.”

The pot-throwing ended, and Wei Rao went with Lu Changning and He Weiyu to find the various elders.

Even with many people around, by the time they made it to midnight for New Year’s arrival, Wei Rao was so drowsy she’d secretly yawned several times.

All the mansions set off firecrackers, and Duke Ying Mansion was naturally no exception.

Wei Rao stood beside Lu Zhuo in her cloak, her feet so cold they felt like ice. Only after the last string of firecrackers finished did Duchess Ying finally announce that everyone could return to their rooms to rest.

“All of you soak your feet before sleeping,” He Shi, wrapped up like a cotton ball, walked alongside them for a while. At the fork in the path, He Shi attentively instructed her son and daughter-in-law.

Lu Zhuo thanked his mother and watched as mother and cousin walked away for some distance before heading toward Songyue Hall with Wei Rao.

Once He Shi left, Wei Rao no longer needed to mind appearances. She abandoned Lu Zhuo and ran back to Songyue Hall with Bitao, master and servant, trotting along.

The water room always kept hot water ready. Liu Ya told Bitao to rest quickly while she served Wei Rao in washing her feet.

“The heir has returned. You go bring him water,” Wei Rao had just placed her feet in the basin when she heard movement outside. Holding her tea bowl, she instructed Liu Ya.

Liu Ya hurried out.

Lu Zhuo sat in the grand master’s chair and asked Liu Ya, “Has the young madam retired?”

Liu Ya bowed her head and replied: “She just started soaking her feet. Would you like to soak yours? This servant will fetch water.”

Lu Zhuo nodded and went to the west room.

Liu Ya carried in a foot-washing basin, placed the foot towel to one side, and prepared to withdraw, planning to return later to clean up.

Lu Zhuo instructed: “I have something to discuss with the young madam. Tell her to come to the main hall after she finishes washing.”

Liu Ya: “Yes.”

Leaving the west room, Liu Ya passed through the main hall and east side room, went around the screen, and stood before Wei Rao, who was soaking her feet: “Miss, the young master has something to discuss with you. He asks that you go out to see him after soaking your feet.”

Wei Rao yawned and pointed to the foot towel.

Liu Ya knelt on the cushion by the bed and carefully served her mistress in drying her feet. The mistress was beautiful, and her feet were also pale and lovely, with round and adorable toes.

“Go tell the young master that I know what he wants to ask about, but it’s too late now, and we still need to pay New Year visits tomorrow morning. I’m sleeping now—whatever he wants to discuss can wait until tomorrow.”

After giving these instructions, Wei Rao pulled back her now-dried feet and burrowed into the bedding to visit the Duke of Zhou in dreams.

Liu Ya quickly cleaned up the foot basin, extinguished the light, and carried the basin out. When she turned around, she was startled by the young master sitting in the grand master’s chair and nearly dropped the foot basin.

“You, you’ve finished washing?” Liu Ya asked with lingering fear.

Lu Zhuo hummed in acknowledgment—washing feet didn’t take much effort.

He looked behind Liu Ya.

Liu Ya nervously conveyed her mistress’s meaning.

Lu Zhuo clenched his hands. This Wei Rao—since she knew he cared about why Fourth Madam had cried, something that could be explained in a few sentences, she still wanted to delay until tomorrow morning.

Lu Zhuo was very displeased, but with Wei Rao hiding in the inner room, he couldn’t very well charge into her boudoir.

Having slept late on New Year’s Eve, Wei Rao didn’t rise early for sword practice at dawn but slept until awakened by firecracker sounds.

Liu Ya and Bitao came in to serve her.

Wei Rao rubbed her eyes and asked: “Has the heir risen?”

Bitao said with wonder, “He rose early. When I passed by the back, the young master was still practicing martial arts. It seems his injuries are completely healed.”

Wei Rao’s yawn stopped halfway. If Lu Zhuo wanted to practice martial arts while she practiced swordplay, how could one small courtyard be enough? She still needed to speak with Lu Zhuo, asking him to practice in the front courtyard in the future and have A’Gui attend to his washing and grooming, saving Bitao and Liu Ya some trouble.

This morning, the Duke’s mansion would hold ancestral ceremonies. Wei Rao dressed elaborately to show respect for the Lu family ancestors, which took considerable time.

Lu Zhuo sat in the main hall, already impatient from waiting.

Since moving to the rear courtyard, Wei Rao practiced swordplay daily, not even letting snow interfere. Lu Zhuo, eager to know what had happened with Fourth Madam, disregarded the imperial physician’s instructions and rose early to practice martial arts, hoping to meet with Wei Rao sooner and hear her explanation. Who would have thought that precisely when he had something urgent, Wei Rao would sleep late?

The door curtain on the east side was lifted again, and Lu Zhuo looked over.

Wei Rao stepped out with downcast eyes, dressed in a new bride’s red attire, wearing golden hairpins, her recently washed cheeks beautiful as flowers.

Lu Zhuo had grown accustomed to Wei Rao’s undisguised allure, but suddenly seeing her with a modified lip shape—cherry mouth, dignified and gentle—Lu Zhuo was momentarily stunned.

Wei Rao smiled at him lightly: “The heir rose very early. Happy New Year.”

Paying New Year visits on the first day was an established custom. Lu Zhuo suppressed his irritation and returned the greeting “Happy New Year.”

The properly dressed newlywed couple walked shoulder to shoulder toward He Shi’s Chunhe Hall.

Lu Zhuo gestured for Bitao to maintain distance, then approached Wei Rao, asking quietly: “Did you question Fourth Aunt last night?”

Wei Rao tilted her head slightly, as if harboring unspoken difficulties: “I did ask, but it involves Fourth Aunt’s secrets. I promised her I’d keep them confidential, so you needn’t inquire further.”

Wei Rao naturally hadn’t learned anything, but she couldn’t tell Lu Zhuo the truth—wouldn’t that be voluntarily providing ammunition for Lu Zhuo to mock her for being presumptuous?

Lu Zhuo frowned. Those were his fourth uncle and aunt, yet Wei Rao’s tone made it seem as if he were the outsider.

“Is there anything requiring mother’s or grandmother’s help?” After a moment of silence, Lu Zhuo asked.

Wei Rao smiled: “No need. Fourth Aunt can handle it herself.”

She acted so convincingly that Lu Zhuo couldn’t inquire further. If it involved women’s private matters, he indeed shouldn’t ask too much.

Wei Rao was the Lu family’s new daughter-in-law, so during New Year visits, elders from each household gave her thick red envelopes.

Lu Zhuo’s several younger cousins were all handsome youths now. To avoid suspicion between the uncle’s wife and the husband’s younger brothers, Wei Rao only prepared New Year money for Lu Changning and He Weiyu.

After breakfast, Wei Rao returned to Songyue Hall. Taking several red envelopes from Bitao, she removed the amount she’d given out and handed the rest to Lu Zhuo: “Our two families exchange festival gifts reciprocally. This money I have, but you don’t—I won’t take advantage of your Lu family. You take it. When we divorce, find an opportunity to return it to the various elders.”

Lu Zhuo looked at her coldly: “Our Lu family hasn’t fallen to such straits.”

Wei Rao smiled: “It’s not about wealth or poverty. You said it yourself—we’re spouses in name only, better to minimize financial exchanges. Money won from cards was at least earned through my skill, but if I took this freely given money, I’d never be able to hold my head up before you again in this lifetime. Why bother? Including the jewelry the elders gave me—I must occasionally wear it to show appreciation, but when I leave, those items will remain here, not one piece missing.”

Lu Zhuo had nothing to say. He collected those red envelopes, went to the west room with a dark expression, and soon returned to the front courtyard.

Wei Rao sat in the grand master’s chair, smiling as she watched his retreating figure, feeling enormously satisfied.

In the following days, Wei Rao accompanied Duchess Ying to various banquets and gatherings. With Duchess Ying supporting her, those officials’ wives who had once publicly mocked and scorned Wei Rao all restrained their attitudes.

After the eighth day of the first month, Duke Ying, Lu Zhuo, and Lu Ya all had to report for duty with the Shenwu Army.

On the evening of the seventh day, Lu Zhuo discussed with Wei Rao that in the future, he would only stay overnight in the rear courtyard ten times per month, once every three days. After all, past the newlywed period and with his return to leading troops in the Shenwu Army, staying in the rear quarters every night would inevitably give the impression of being lustfully indulgent. Once every three days was what Lu Zhuo considered a reasonable frequency.

Wei Rao thought this arrangement was good. The only regret was that Lu Zhuo would still need to return to the rear quarters for dinner.