“Miss, can you and the young master not make it work?”

The sun was setting in the west, and the young master hadn’t returned yet. Bitao walked in from outside and saw her mistress playing with that set of shepherd figurines placed on the dressing table again. Bitao sat down on a small chair nearby and asked with a complicated expression.

Wei Rao placed the small wicker whip in the wooden girl figurine’s hand, then arranged for the boy to carry the basket, before glancing at Bitao: “It was fake from the beginning. How long did you expect me to be able to continue with him?”

Bitao pouted: “I just feel that you’re at such a loss, Miss. After all that trouble with the wedding ceremony for good luck, you got nothing out of it. I kept thinking that if you and the young master got along longer, the young master would truly come to like you, and then you wouldn’t have to divorce. You could continue being the legitimate wife of the heir, and no one would dare gossip about you.”

Wei Rao smiled.

Who hadn’t thought about such good fortune? But from the first glance Lu Zhuo gave her when he woke up and discovered the bride was her, Wei Rao knew that the most advantageous path for her had already been blocked by Lu Zhuo. Later, as Lu Zhuo’s humiliations toward her increased, Wei Rao completely gave up the idea of becoming a real husband and wife with him.

Each time Lu Zhuo humiliated her, Wei Rao’s desire for divorce became more urgent. Before, she had always weighed the pros and cons and preferred to endure his cold looks and harsh words, but this time, Wei Rao didn’t want to do wrong to herself anymore.

“Crops sometimes fail, and business sometimes loses money. Who can guarantee they’ll always have smooth sailing? I’m only losing my reputation, but I can still take the fifty thousand taels of betrothal gifts. After offsetting everything, I still made a profit.” Wei Rao consoled Bitao. After all, her reputation was already tarnished – it didn’t matter if it got a bit worse. What Wei Rao wanted was to be able to choose to only associate with people who liked her. Those who detested her – she couldn’t change their minds, but she could actively avoid them. Out of sight, out of mind.

Bitao wasn’t so open-minded, mainly because she had many questions she couldn’t figure out: “If the young master truly doesn’t like you at all, why would he be willing to bring you to Jin City?”

Wei Rao said, “Because he offended me before. Bringing me to Jin City to enjoy the scenery is his way of compensating and apologizing to me.”

Bitao: “Then on the road, why did the young master follow wherever you went?”

Wei Rao: “He was afraid I’d get lost and wouldn’t be able to explain to Grandmother and maternal grandmother.”

Bitao: “…But you’ve quarreled so fiercely with him, and you’ve both agreed to divorce. Why does the young master still insist on hosting tonight’s banquet for your cousin? Last night, he was so angry that he went to the front courtyard without even putting on his outer robe. With his status, he could easily find any excuse to cancel tonight’s banquet.”

Wei Rao paused and guessed: “The invitation to my cousin was sent by him. He probably doesn’t want to break his word.”

Bitao: “Then tonight, when you see your cousin, what will you two do? If you don’t act, your cousin will worry himself to death. If you do act, will the young master still be willing to perform with you?”

Wei Rao truly didn’t know what Lu Zhuo’s attitude would be.

Wei Rao didn’t want her cousin to worry about her, nor did she want her cousin to interrogate her about what exactly had happened between her and Lu Zhuo. She could completely imagine how many questions her cousin would throw out if the truth were revealed.

“Young Mistress, the young master has returned. Please get ready and come over.”

The voice of a little maid from the inn came in. Wei Rao smiled and told Bitao not to worry, then went over to her.

Lu Zhuo was standing in the courtyard, wearing a lake-blue brocade robe. He was saying something to Zhao Song, his expression cool and detached. When he noticed Wei Rao, he only gave her an indifferent glance before withdrawing his gaze.

When Wei Rao approached, Lu Zhuo’s attitude was distant: “Let’s go.”

Wei Rao called out to stop him: “The young master is busy with military affairs, and my cousin isn’t some important person. Since the young master is unwilling to go socialize, you should rest early.”

She could go alone and just say that there was an urgent matter at the military camp that Lu Zhuo couldn’t get away from – that would work too.

Lu Zhuo turned his back on her and said coldly, “Rest assured, Miss. I, Lu, am not someone who breaks his word. I still understand basic courtesy.”

Since he wanted to be a gentleman, what more could Wei Rao say?

Walking out of the inn, the two got into the carriage one after the other.

The tavern was the same riverside establishment where the cousins had entertained the two wealthy merchants last time. The journey wasn’t far, and the carriage arrived quickly. However, it was a pleasant April evening with pedestrians coming and going on the roads, so the carriage could only stop in an alley, requiring the two to get out and walk for a while.

Lu Zhuo had kept his eyes closed in meditation while in the carriage, but after getting out, his face resumed its usual gentle, jade-like composure.

Wei Rao truly admired his self-control. So aloof, yet he could smile as if nothing was wrong despite clearly feeling resistant inside.

Since Lu Zhuo was smiling for her cousin’s sake, Wei Rao naturally smiled too, though she was wearing a veil so others couldn’t tell whether she was smiling or not.

The river breeze was refreshing, though much cooler than during the day.

Wei Rao wore a willow-green jacket with a white-bottomed long skirt embroidered with crabapple flowers. When the river wind blew, the snow-white hem fluttered in Lu Zhuo’s peripheral vision like a white butterfly about to take flight on the wind. The river breeze also favored her veil, pressing the light gauze against her face and outlining the contours of her elegant nose bridge and full lips.

So beautiful, clearly the legitimate daughter of Cheng’an Earl’s mansion, clearly someone who could be the universally praised first beauty and first talented woman of the capital – yet she insisted on following the old paths of Shou’an Jun and Consort Li. The more she was criticized, the more she didn’t cared; the more unconventional she became, the more she wanted to make her reputation increasingly terrible. Grandmother loved her so much – if she knew about her actions these past few days, she would probably agree to the divorce Wei Rao had proposed. There might be disappointment, there might be some regret.

But unsuitable was simply unsuitable. Her heart was too wild; the Duke Ying’s mansion couldn’t contain her, and she had never thought of staying. If she had wanted to, she would have shown some restraint.

They reached the tavern. Wei Rao looked up and saw her cousin standing by the window, smiling down at them.

Wei Rao’s eyes curved into crescents. The familiar face of a loved one made her feel cheerful.

Lu Zhuo silently followed behind her as they went up to the second floor one after the other.

Huo Jue’s attendant was guarding outside the private room door. Seeing them, the attendant respectfully pushed open the door, waited for them to enter, then closed it from the outside.

“How long has Cousin been here?” Wei Rao removed her veil and asked with a smile.

Huo Jue smiled: “I just arrived too. That the young master could spare time to see me despite his busy military duties – I’m greatly honored.”

He bowed to Lu Zhuo, who smiled and stepped aside: “We’re all family. There’s no need for such formality, cousin.”

The three sat down, and after ordering dishes, they began chatting.

Lu Zhuo was skilled at social niceties, and Huo Jue was also smooth in social situations. The two would chat about business for a while, then discuss military recruitment, talking eloquently. Wei Rao found she couldn’t get a word in and was completely relegated to being a listener.

“By the way, when the young master was out recruiting these past few days, Raorao was bored and begged me to take her around. I was soft-hearted and agreed, but I’ve already severely warned Raorao not to do such things that compromise her dignity as the heir’s wife again. Raorao has already promised me, but I still need the young master to watch her more closely and not indulge her nonsense anymore.”

Huo Jue filled a cup with wine and said to Lu Zhuo, “As her elder brother, I also indulged her once. I should punish myself with three cups.”

Although Lu Zhuo tried to stop him, Huo Jue still drank three large cups in succession.

“Cousin is being too formal. I naturally know Raorao’s temperament. With cousin watching over her, I’m very reassured.” Lu Zhuo poured himself a cup and toasted Huo Jue.

Wei Rao just kept her head down, eating, listening to the two men talk back and forth.

Huo Jue suddenly laughed and looked at Wei Rao: “Sometimes, although I want to restrain Raorao, as her brother who rarely sees her, I’m afraid of saying something too harsh and making her cry. But I won’t be afraid when we meet next year – I won’t dare say too much to Raorao, but her sister-in-law will do it for me.”

Wei Rao, who was gnawing on sweet and sour ribs, dropped her rib and looked up in surprise and delight: “Cousin is getting married?”

Huo Jue nodded with a smile.

Wei Rao immediately fired off a series of questions, such as what stage the marriage negotiations had reached, which family the future sister-in-law was from, and so on.

Huo Jue patiently answered each question one by one. When he mentioned his fiancée, his gaze was gentle, clearly very satisfied with his bride-to-be.

Wei Rao had given up on the idea of marriage herself, but she was very happy that her cousin had met someone he loved.

Lu Zhuo observed her surprise and joy, observed Huo Jue’s openness. When he drank again, the spicy wine seemed to have lost its flavor.

When he was in the capital, he had suspected the cousin relationship between Wei Rao and Huo Jue.

Coming to Jin City and hearing that Wei Rao and Huo Jue had been inseparable for days, those suspicions had surfaced again.

But now, the cousins were happily discussing Huo Jue’s marriage, and Wei Rao was so genuinely happy for Huo Jue – where was there even half a trace of romantic feelings?

After the banquet ended, the three walked out of the tavern one after another.

Huo Jue’s carriage was parked in another direction, so they were about to part ways. Huo Jue first said to Lu Zhuo, “Young master, although Raorao is young, she has already experienced life and death. If she hadn’t learned martial arts, she might already be dead, or at best bedridden. But also because of her martial arts training, her temperament is very different from ordinary young ladies. Please, for the sake of her pure and kind heart, be more tolerant of her.”

“Who asked you to nag about all this?” Wei Rao pushed Huo Jue in embarrassed anger, then immediately turned and ran to the riverside.

Lu Zhuo’s gaze followed her retreating figure.

Huo Jue smiled and said quietly, “Maternal grandmother says Raorao has a temperament that responds to kindness but not harshness. The more outsiders gossip about her, the more she doesn’t cares and goes against the grain. But if someone treats her even a little bit well, she’ll give back from the bottom of her heart. Don’t think she seems annoyed that I’m meddling – she’s secretly crying because her brother is good to her.”

Lu Zhuo looked at Huo Jue but didn’t know what to say.

Huo Jue cupped his hands toward him: “It’s getting late. I’ll take my leave first.”

After speaking, Huo Jue turned with a smile and walked step by step into the crowd of passersby with his attendant.

When Lu Zhuo looked for Wei Rao again, her figure had already disappeared from the riverside. Lu Zhuo frowned and scanned the area, finding her – she had somehow run to a nearby pancake stall and was buying pancakes from the vendor.

The river breeze lifted her veil, revealing a face as beautiful as a flower in profile.

It was a face that could easily be criticized as that of a seductress, but at this moment, Lu Zhuo thought of the hedgehog she had caught in the mountains.

When no one bothered the hedgehog, it would leisurely forage and play. But once enemies approached, the hedgehog would curl into a ball, hiding its softest parts and showing only a back full of sharp spines.

Huo Jue gave her care and affection, so she responded with softness.

He repeatedly offended Wei Rao, so all Wei Rao returned to him were thorns.

“Young master, didn’t you refuse when Madam discussed going to the Song family to propose marriage before?”

On the other side, Huo Jue’s attendant, remembering the conversation he’d heard outside the private room, asked in confusion.

Huo Jue smiled: “I was thoughtless then. Now I think Miss Song is very good. I’ll ask a matchmaker to propose when I return.”

The attendant: “Madam will be overjoyed.”

Huo Jue smiled without speaking.

His mother had once hoped he would marry his Zhou cousin, but both he and his maternal grandmother felt it wasn’t suitable. After returning to Taiyuan, his mother began looking at local young ladies for him, with his mother being most satisfied with Miss Song.

Miss Song was indeed very good, and he would treat her well.