The next day, Wei Rao came downstairs directly dressed in men’s clothing, though she wore a face veil.
Zhao Song and the others had all finished breakfast in the main hall. Hearing footsteps, the ten men looked up simultaneously and saw a youth and a maid following behind the heir. However, upon closer inspection, the exposed skin of that youth was as white and tender as snow, and a pair of phoenix eyes sparkled brilliantly. Everyone quickly lowered their heads, no longer daring to look at the heir’s wife.
Lu Zhuo observed this, stepped down the last step, and said gently: “Let’s depart.”
The carriage and fine horses were all prepared. At the very front were Lu Zhuo’s Fei Mo and Wei Rao’s newly bought chestnut horse.
When the two had bought the horse last night, dusk had already fallen. Even though lanterns were hung in the horse market, the colors weren’t very clear. Now, in the cool and bright morning light, the chestnut horse’s coat was truly red and glossy, looking exactly like a freshly ripened date, magnificent and imposing.
If Fei Mo was the king among horses, this chestnut horse could at least be considered a great general.
Wei Rao carefully admired her mount once more before mounting the horse.
The eight squad leaders behind saw her mounting posture and knew that the heir’s wife was skilled at horseback riding.
The pair of masters walked in front, while the others spontaneously maintained some distance.
The county town’s morning market was quite lively. Wei Rao looked left and right as they walked. Along the way, she spotted a pancake stall. Ordinary pancakes were golden brown on both sides, but this family’s pancakes had many black dots evenly distributed across them. Wei Rao found this strange and rode toward the pancake stall, wanting to see how the vendor made them.
Lu Zhuo gestured to Zhao Song and the others behind to continue forward, then came to Wei Rao’s side.
The chestnut horse wasn’t as tall as Fei Mo, and Wei Rao wasn’t as tall as Lu Zhuo. Therefore, Lu Zhuo could see the small woman on the chestnut horse with just a downward glance. She wore a face veil, revealing only a pair of sparkling, water-like eyes—charmingly seductive eyes, whether happy or angry, but now focused intently on an old man making pancakes.
“Would you two young masters like to buy pancakes?” The old man lifted two steaming hot pancakes from the charcoal brazier with tongs and greeted them with a smile.
Wei Rao nodded toward a row of pancakes nearby: “Uncle, what are those black things on the pancakes?”
The old man explained in heavily accented official speech: “These are pickled vegetables. They turn this color when dried. Young master, don’t let their black appearance fool you—they taste wonderful. If you don’t believe me, let me break off a piece for you to try. If it tastes good, then you can buy some?”
Wei Rao was somewhat interested.
The old man broke off a quarter from a freshly baked pancake and offered it to Wei Rao.
Wei Rao looked at the old man’s rough hands and hesitated.
A slender, fair hand suddenly reached over and took the pancake from the old man’s hands.
Wei Rao looked at Lu Zhuo in surprise.
Lu Zhuo broke off an even smaller piece from a spot the old man hadn’t touched and handed it to Wei Rao, his gaze gentle, as if looking at a younger brother.
Wei Rao quietly thanked him, took the pancake, lifted her veil with one hand, and brought the pancake to her mouth with the other. The thin, crispy pancake had just the right amount of saltiness—perfect whether as a staple food or as a snack on the road.
Lu Zhuo ate the rest.
Seeing this, Wei Rao thought of their group of thirteen people and smiled at the old man: “I’ll take fifty pieces, packed in five bags.”
The old man was overjoyed. For a small business like his, he loved encountering big customers.
The old man busily set to work with great enthusiasm.
Lu Zhuo was about to pay when Wei Rao had already taken out a small piece of broken silver and tossed it lightly, landing it accurately in the rough porcelain bowl where the old man kept his copper coins.
After waiting about two quarters of an hour, the old man tied five oil paper packages together with a beaming smile and presented them to Lu Zhuo.
He could tell that this tall young master was very attentive to the smaller one. Naturally, carrying things should be the tall young master’s job, even though the man looked like an immortal and didn’t seem like someone who should do such work.
Lu Zhuo thanked him warmly and smiled as he accepted the large bundle of pancakes.
After buying the items, Lu Zhuo wanted to speed up to catch the convoy. After walking some distance and sensing something was wrong, he looked back to see Wei Rao still leisurely strolling at her own pace.
Lu Zhuo stopped his horse and waited for Wei Rao to catch up. He said quietly, “The journey is important. Once we reach Jin City, you can browse as you please.”
Wei Rao said strangely “The carriage moves slowly. Even if I fall behind, I can catch up to them with a gallop after leaving the city. What’s the rush? If I catch up now and then guard the carriage like Zhao Song and the others without leaving its side, I might as well stay inside the carriage directly. Why would I bother buying a horse?”
Lu Zhuo pressed his lips together.
Wei Rao suddenly became curious: “If it weren’t for Bitao and me, would the heir ride in the carriage or gallop straight to Jin City on horseback?”
Lu Zhuo answered honestly: “I would ride.”
Wei Rao calculated that while the carriage journey would take seven days, galloping on horseback might take only two or three days.
“I’m delaying the heir from his important business.” Wei Rao put away her playfulness and seriously discussed with Lu Zhuo: “Why don’t you take a few squad leaders and go ahead, leaving Zhao Song and Zhao Bai to guide our way?”
Lu Zhuo looked at her: “You and I are husband and wife. Since I brought you out, if I abandon you halfway, what would they think? Besides, the Jin City trip isn’t urgent business—we just need to return to the capital by early June.”
Wei Rao understood, then smiled and teased him: “Then why does the heir keep urging me? As long as I can keep up with the convoy and don’t delay their speed, isn’t that enough?”
Lu Zhuo was once again speechless. Logically speaking, that was indeed the case.
Wei Rao had already moved past him and continued browsing the morning market.
Lu Zhuo watched her retreating figure and suddenly understood what was wrong.
The journey truly wasn’t urgent. Lu Zhuo was simply accustomed to following a set routine—going to Jin City meant going to Jin City, traveling along the way, and nothing else. Wei Rao was different. She was used to being unrestrained and couldn’t bear the monotony of single-minded travel. She preferred doing interesting things to pass the time, creating a disagreement between them.
Lu Zhuo looked down at the stack of pancakes in his hands.
These pancakes truly tasted good. Without Wei Rao, he might never have had the opportunity to try them.
Outside the city gates, the morning market disappeared, leaving only an endless yellow earth official road and the merchants and travelers bustling along it.
Wei Rao glanced at Fei Mo beneath Lu Zhuo and smiled: “I want to gallop. Would the heir like to compete?”
Lu Zhuo had no choice but to refuse. If he didn’t compete, she would run off by herself and disappear without a trace.
He nodded.
Seeing this, Wei Rao squeezed her legs against the horse’s belly, and the chestnut steed shot forward like the wind.
Lu Zhuo didn’t want to race; he only wanted to watch her to prevent any mishaps. So he merely maintained a certain distance, following steadily.
The two fine horses quickly caught up with the convoy.
Wei Rao didn’t stop and directly passed them.
Lu Zhuo helplessly tossed the pancakes in his hands to Zhao Song: “Keep one package in the carriage, divide the rest among yourselves. Just continue along the official road—no need to wait for us.”
Before his words finished, he was already chasing after Wei Rao.
Little did he know that, without the two masters accompanying them, Zhao Song and the others felt more at ease.
Opening the oil paper package, the savory aroma of the pancakes filled the air. Zhao Song counted—there were ten pancakes in one package. He opened two packages, rode back, and distributed two pieces each to Zhao Bai and the eight squad leaders. Two pieces remained, which Zhao Song handed over with the oil paper package to Bitao, who was sitting obediently on the cart.
Seeing him distribute the pancakes, everyone else got two pieces, and he gave her the last two. Bitao wondered if he wasn’t eating any himself.
“You eat them. I’m not hungry,” Bitao smiled and said.
Her small face was fair and white, as delicate as a camellia flower. Zhao Song’s face grew warm, and he continued extending his arm toward her: “I still have two large packages over there. Miss, please eat freely.”
Seeing his face redden, Bitao’s face grew hot. She embarrassedly accepted the oil paper package, quickly took out one piece, and called to Zhao Song, who was preparing to leave: “I’m not hungry. One piece is enough. Take this one.”
Zhao Song was about to be polite when a squad leader teased him: “When did Brother Song become so long-winded?”
Zhao Song immediately shot a knife-like glare at him. Seeing Bitao’s neck turn pink as she lowered her head in embarrassment, he quickly grabbed the pancake and rode his horse to the front.
Wei Rao had no idea that her maid’s face had been made to blush by Lu Zhuo’s subordinate. In the cool morning breeze, she galloped for over ten li in one breath. Only when a babbling brook appeared by the roadside did Wei Rao gradually slow down, turn her horse around, leave the official road, and head toward the stream.
Lu Zhuo followed like a guard—wherever Wei Rao went, he went.
The two dismounted, draped the reins over their horses’ backs, and let the fine steeds go to the stream’s edge to drink.
Wei Rao was also thirsty. She chose a spot upstream, removed her face veil, and placed it on a stone by the stream, then lifted her robe hem, crouched down, and cupped her hands to drink water.
The stream water was clear, and her hands showed a pure, ethereal pink color in the warm sunlight. A section of snow-white wrist was also revealed as her sleeves rolled up.
Lu Zhuo turned around to look toward the road they had come from.
After Wei Rao drank and washed her hands, seeing Lu Zhuo looking back at the official road, she teased: “In the county town, the heir complained I walked too slowly. Why aren’t you going to urge the cart drivers to hurry up now?”
Lu Zhuo turned his head. She was looking up with her small face, which was like a peony by the stream, incomparably beautiful and charming.
Lu Zhuo said nothing and moved upstream from her, kneeling to drink water.
The stream reflected rippling light. The grayish-yellow grass on the bank was quietly turning green again. A few willow trees grew scattered along the stream, their drooping branches swaying leisurely in the clear breeze.
Wei Rao was tired. She chose a willow tree, sat down with her back to the sunlight, and said to Lu Zhuo: “Let’s rest for a while. We’ll set off when they catch up.”
Lu Zhuo nodded. Seeing a convoy approaching on the official road ahead, he reminded Wei Rao to put on her face veil.
Wei Rao, afraid he would nag endlessly, leaned against the tree trunk and put it on with her eyes closed.
Lu Zhuo sat by the stream, observing the convoy. It appeared to be a merchant caravan—several cargo wagons accompanied by more than ten sturdy guards.
The guards glanced in their direction but quickly looked away and passed by at their original speed.
Wei Rao suddenly opened her eyes: “By the way, where are the pancakes?”
Lu Zhuo looked at the water’s surface: “Left them with the cart.”
Wei Rao sighed in disappointment.
Lu Zhuo glanced at her sideways: “Hungry?”
Wei Rao placed her hand on her abdomen and said listlessly, “Not hungry, just want to eat something.”
Lu Zhuo’s gaze quickly swept over the area above where her hand rested.
He had dined with Wei Rao many times and knew how good her appetite was. A woman who could eat so much should be quite plump, yet Wei Rao had a slender figure, with only two places from head to toe that were full and rounded.
As if possessed by a ghost, Lu Zhuo again thought of yesterday afternoon—Wei Rao’s figure lying sideways on the couch in the carriage.
Lu Zhuo stood up.
Wei Rao looked at him curiously.
Lu Zhuo walked to Fei Mo’s side and rummaged through a pouch on one side of the saddle, pulling out a package of dried meat.
This was a habit he had developed at the frontier—always carrying dry provisions on horseback.
“Here.”
Sitting back down by the stream, Lu Zhuo opened the oil paper package and tossed a piece of dried meat to Wei Rao.
Wei Rao caught it and lowered her head to smell it, asking him: “What kind of meat is this?”
“Pork.”
Wei Rao tore off a strip and put it in her mouth. It was a bit salty and very chewy.