After being scolded by Wei Rao, Lu Zhuo continued resting with his eyes closed.

Wei Rao endured the smell of alcohol emanating from him while silently calming her emotions.

Lu Zhuo had offended her several times, but had never engaged in frivolous or flirtatious behavior. His manner of speaking just now should be related to his drunkenness.

Wei Rao had pitifully few male elders on both her parents’ sides, but she had heard from others that men often acted wildly when drunk. Even the most refined and courteous gentlemen could engage in disgraceful behavior like insulting elders or being improper with women when intoxicated, let alone a hypocritical pseudo-gentleman like Lu Zhuo.

Thinking of this, Wei Rao shifted to sit further away, facing the carriage window while keeping a vigilant watch on Lu Zhuo from the corner of her eye.

They soon arrived at the guesthouse. Lu Zhuo still leaned there motionless, breathing steadily and deeply, as if already asleep.

The coachman, Bitao, Zhao Song, and Zhao Bai were all waiting outside. Wei Rao called to him quietly twice but couldn’t wake him, so she had to frown and tug at Lu Zhuo’s sleeve.

After three tugs, Lu Zhuo finally opened his long eyelashes and looked over with a dazed gaze.

Wei Rao said with disgust, “We’ve arrived at the guesthouse. Get out.”

Lu Zhuo seemed not to understand her words. After a moment’s pause, he sat up straight, lifted the curtain to look outside, then was the first to leave his seat and walk toward the carriage door. Seeing him seem to sway, Wei Rao feared he would fall and embarrass himself, which would also make her a laughingstock among the guesthouse servants, so she promptly reminded Zhao Song: “The heir has had too much to drink. Help support him.”

Zhao Song immediately hurried over and supported Lu Zhuo’s arms with both hands.

Once Lu Zhuo was steady, he looked back inside. Afraid he still wanted to act, Wei Rao quickly signaled for Bitao to come help her.

Thus, the couple each had their trusted attendants support them as they returned to the small courtyard the guesthouse had specially allocated to them.

Bitao instructed the kitchen to prepare sobering tea. Lu Zhuo drank two bowls in succession and appeared somewhat more alert.

Wei Rao was still uneasy and had Bitao take Lu Zhuo’s bedding out directly when she withdrew. Wei Rao immediately closed the door and even moved a chair to block it. This way, if Lu Zhuo acted drunkenly in the middle of the night and tried to pry open the door, as soon as he pushed it, Wei Rao would hear the commotion.

With any other man, Wei Rao wouldn’t fear being unable to defeat them in a fight. Only with Lu Zhuo had Wei Rao personally witnessed his martial skills.

He was a formidable military general but had the face of a top scholar. Enemy generals on the battlefield might suffer losses from underestimating Lu Zhuo.

Fortunately, Lu Zhuo didn’t go mad that night.

At dawn, Wei Rao got up, changed into practice clothes, took her sword, and quietly moved the chair to open the door. Inside and outside were still pitch black. Her eyes having adjusted to the darkness, Wei Rao saw Lu Zhuo lying motionless on the couch with his back to her.

Wei Rao passed by quietly and went to the courtyard. The servants hadn’t risen yet either. Wei Rao focused wholeheartedly on practicing her swordwork.

After practicing for half an hour, the black night sky had changed to gray-green, and early-rising birds flew to the trees, chirping.

Wei Rao completed her final sword technique, sheathed her sword, and exhaled deeply.

Turning around, she saw that Lu Zhuo had awakened at some point and stood under the corridor eaves wearing snow-white undergarments, his handsome face slightly pale and haggard.

In comparison, Wei Rao’s delicate cheeks were rosy, with fine beads of sweat on her forehead and nose tip, like a honey peach hanging with water droplets after rain, fresh and alluring.

Wei Rao couldn’t see her appearance and walked toward the entrance holding her sword.

Lu Zhuo stepped aside to let her in, and as Wei Rao crossed the threshold, he partially closed the door.

Wei Rao’s grip on her sword tightened. She had never been drunk and didn’t know whether one night could completely sober someone up. But if Lu Zhuo truly harbored ill intentions, Wei Rao would not show mercy.

Unable to see what Lu Zhuo was doing behind her, Wei Rao didn’t rush back to the inner room. She walked to the tea table in the main hall, stood sideways facing Lu Zhuo, and poured herself tea as if thirsty.

Lu Zhuo walked over, holding his forehead, his voice hoarse: “I was drunk last night and can’t remember much after the banquet ended. I only recall mentioning the Yang family’s hunting invitation with you, but I don’t know what I said afterward. You seemed to glare at me—could it be that in my drunken confusion, I spoke or acted inappropriately and offended you?”

After speaking, he sat across from Wei Rao and smiled bitterly: “If I did offend you, Lu should apologize. I only ask that you don’t take drunken words to heart.”

Wei Rao stared at him for a moment, then said with a stern expression: “The heir was indeed drunk. When I praised Miss Yang for being frank and forthright, the heir spoke improperly, saying you wanted to take Miss Yang as a concubine to keep me company. That’s why I severely reprimanded you.”

Lu Zhuo looked at her in shock.

Wei Rao asked in return: “Was the heir truly just speaking carelessly while drunk, or do you harbor some improper thoughts about Miss Yang?”

Lu Zhuo said solemnly, “I’ve never met or known Miss Yang. How could I be disrespectful to her? Words about taking concubines could never come from my mouth. Could it be that you’re taking advantage of my fuzzy memory from drinking to deliberately fabricate this story to slander my reputation?”

Wei Rao sneered coldly: “You came to ask me, and I’m simply telling the truth. If you don’t believe it, then forget it. It’s just that Miss Yang treats me with complete sincerity, yet I can’t determine how the heir views her in his heart. If the heir truly has no interest in Miss Yang, perhaps the heir should avoid suspicion regarding tomorrow’s hunt.”

Lu Zhuo finally understood Wei Rao’s purpose.

If Wei Rao truly wanted to take this opportunity to throw mud at him and slander him for offending Miss Yang, Lu Zhuo would be angry. But since Wei Rao was making up lies just to make him avoid suspicion and shake him off, Lu Zhuo wasn’t angry anymore.

Looking at Wei Rao’s challenging eyes, he suddenly smiled. While pouring tea for himself, he said openly and honestly, “If I avoid suspicion, it would appear guilty. Since you doubt my character, I’ll go with you and let you see with your own eyes what kind of person I am. The Lu family has no leeches. Even if Miss Yang had the beauty of a celestial fairy, Lu wouldn’t spare her an extra glance.”

Wei Rao’s provocation having failed, she immediately lost interest in continuing this nonsense with him and grabbed her sword to go inside.

Lu Zhuo heard footsteps in the courtyard and knew Bitao was bringing people to serve them. He immediately followed, carrying his bedding into the inner room.

Wei Rao still lay in the bedding with her back to him. As Lu Zhuo made his bed, she deliberately said: “It stinks.”

Hearing this, Lu Zhuo grabbed a corner of his bedding and sniffed it—there was no alcohol smell whatsoever.

How could there be any alcohol smell? Before sleeping last night, he had bathed, changed clothes, and rinsed his mouth. Wei Rao simply found him displeasing to the eye.

Lu Zhuo sat down and turned his head to her: “You don’t want me to go hunting with you?”

Lu Zhuo remembered all of last night’s carriage conversation, including his small flirtation with Wei Rao. Afraid she was angry, Lu Zhuo had wanted to use drunkenness as an excuse, not expecting Wei Rao to be cunning like a little fox, trying to turn the tables and shake him off.

Wei Rao said coldly, “If the heir truly wants to hunt, then come along. If it’s just fear that I’ll have an accident and you can’t account to Old Madam Lu, it’s completely unnecessary.”

Lu Zhuo looked at his hand supporting him on the bed and said quietly: “I am indeed afraid you’ll have an accident, but not solely because of Old Madam Lu. You were brought out by me, so I have the responsibility to care for you. Jin City is five hundred li from the capital. You have no relatives or friends here. If you go into the mountains alone with the Yang family siblings and something happens, even if Old Madam Lu doesn’t blame me, I couldn’t forgive myself.”

Wei Rao: “After all this talk, the heir simply looks down on my martial skills.”

Lu Zhuo didn’t mean that. Her swordwork was exquisite—in an open and honest competition, she could indeed defeat ordinary masters. But if she encountered multiple people attacking simultaneously or someone lying in ambush, she would have no choice but to surrender.

But she was angry, and reasoning probably wouldn’t get through to her. So Lu Zhuo went along with her words: “A young lady’s flowery fists and embroidered legs—I indeed look down on them. How about this: tonight you and I will have a match. If you can last three moves against me, tomorrow you can go by yourself.”

Wei Rao had always taken pride in her swordwork. For Lu Zhuo to humiliate her with three moves—how could Wei Rao not be angry?

She threw off the bedding and sat up, glaring at Lu Zhuo: “Let’s compete then! If I can take three of your moves, from now on, you must listen to me in all matters concerning me!”

Lu Zhuo smiled: “Agreed.”

During the day, Lu Zhuo went out while Wei Rao carefully prepared in the courtyard for her evening match with Lu Zhuo.

Angry as she was, Wei Rao didn’t dare underestimate him. Since Lu Zhuo was confident he could defeat her in three moves, he probably truly had that ability.

Regardless, having already accepted the challenge, Wei Rao had to give her all.

When night fell, Lu Zhuo returned. He seemed in good spirits and even brought Wei Rao a famous local sour plum cake from outside.

Having shared so many dinners with Wei Rao, he knew what flavors she liked.

Wei Rao indeed couldn’t refuse sweet and sour treats. When Lu Zhuo was called away by Zhao Song, she pinched off two pieces to eat.

The remainder, Wei Rao, wanted to give to Bitao.

Bitao smiled: “This was specially brought back by the heir for you, miss. I wouldn’t dare eat it.”

Wei Rao glared at her.

Bitao sheepishly closed her mouth.

After eating the pastry, Wei Rao soon felt drowsy, so tired that she realized something was wrong.

Wei Rao wanted to say something to Bitao, but collapsed softly.

Bitao was terrified. Just as tears were welling up in her eyes, Lu Zhuo returned.

“It’s fine. Your miss has trouble sleeping in unfamiliar beds and hasn’t slept well these two nights. I added something to help her sleep in her pastry. She’ll wake up naturally in the morning.” Lu Zhuo said with a gentle gaze.

Bitao was stunned. Could this be done?

Lu Zhuo signaled for Bitao to carry Wei Rao inside.

Unable to carry her, Bitao hoisted the unconscious miss onto her back and carried her into the inner room.

Lu Zhuo instructed: “Stay here to serve tonight.”

He didn’t want Wei Rao to suspect he had done anything to her while she was unconscious when she woke up in the morning.

Bitao slept on a floor mat, watching over her mistress all night.

The next day, just before dawn, Wei Rao indeed awakened. The room was dim at this time—it could be either early morning or evening.

Wei Rao was confused and asked Bitao, “What time is it now?”

Seeing her mistress was unharmed, Bitao finally felt relieved and said happily, “Dawn is breaking. Miss slept so soundly.”

Wei Rao learned the whole story from her trusted maid’s mouth.

She clenched her fists and had Bitao call Lu Zhuo in.

“Didn’t you say we would compete in martial arts? What did you mean by drugging me unconscious?” Wei Rao glared at Lu Zhuo angrily.

Lu Zhuo stood behind the screen, looking at her blurred figure: “I said I would compete with you for three moves, but I never said all three moves would be open and honest martial combat. Just like when you go hunting in the mountains alone with the Yang family siblings—if they intended to harm you and put something in your food, what could you do? If you encountered a lost child and kindly went forward to inquire, and he threw knockout powder in your face, what would you do then?”

Wei Rao had read about knockout drugs in storybooks, but having personally experienced such medicine, she truly understood its power.

This was Lu Zhuo only wanting to warn her of outside dangers. If Lu Zhuo had intended to harm her, if he had put something in her tea…

Wei Rao suddenly felt afraid and looked at Lu Zhuo with eyes full of wariness and caution.

Lu Zhuo smiled and tossed something over: “This is what’s left. Dissolve it in water or tea and smell it more—remember the scent.”

Wei Rao picked up the packet of powder, squeezed it, and looked at his robe hem with complex emotions: “Thank you.”

Thank you, Lu Zhuo, for teaching her a lesson.