Compared to the sensation caused by the initial wedding for good luck, Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo’s divorce only created two small ripples – one at Duke Ying Mansion and one at Earl Cheng’an Mansion.
Earl Cheng’an and his wife Guo Shi hadn’t yet eaten breakfast when a steward rushed over, saying Fourth Miss had returned with several carriages following behind!
Earl Cheng’an, Guo Shi, and the heir Wei Zizhan, who had hurried over upon hearing the news, all rushed to greet them.
The carriages had already been brought into Earl Cheng’an Mansion.
Wei Rao descended from the carriage dressed in white.
“Raorao, what is this about?” Earl Cheng’an felt a strong unease rise in his heart as he strode to his niece’s side.
Wei Rao bowed to her uncle, then took out the divorce papers Lu Zhuo had written from her sleeve and handed them to him.
The stated reason for the divorce was written clearly by Lu Zhuo, who even praised Wei Rao’s filial devotion to the old lady. In summary, he didn’t want to divorce but respected Wei Rao’s filial heart and reluctantly let her return home despite his unwillingness.
But to Earl Cheng’an and Guo Shi, no matter how nicely the reason was written, it only meant one thing – Wei Rao had divorced Lu Zhuo!
Looking at Wei Rao in mourning clothes, Guo Shi mentally applauded ten thousand times! Wei Rao wasn’t worthy of Lu Zhuo – this was something all the people in the capital agreed on. When Wei Rao married into the family for good luck, Guo Shi was certain she wouldn’t last long at Duke Ying Mansion. Now, as she had predicted, Wei Rao had been driven out by Duke Ying Mansion! What observing mourning for the old lady – Wei Rao must have seen that the Lu family couldn’t tolerate her, so she used the old lady’s death as a fig leaf for herself. Otherwise, waiting to be divorced would have been even more shameful!
Guo Shi was so delighted she wanted to immediately write to her younger daughter Wei Chan, who had followed her husband to his post in another region, to tell her this good news!
Earl Cheng’an’s face flushed red with anger. He also thought his niece had been driven out by Duke Ying, but he felt sorry for his niece and was furious that Duke Ying Mansion would humiliate the Wei family so soon after the old lady’s death!
“Come, follow Uncle to demand an explanation from them!” Earl Cheng’an gripped Wei Rao’s wrist, nearly beside himself with rage. Wei Rao’s cousin Wei Zizhan even sent someone to summon all the household guards from the mansion.
Wei Rao’s eyes moistened slightly. No matter how Guo Shi and Wei Chan, mother and daughter, behaved, her uncle and cousin had never treated her as an outsider.
Wei Rao stopped the father and son, asking Earl Cheng’an to step aside. She privately explained the whole situation to her uncle, including the five-year fake marriage contract.
Earl Cheng’an was too shocked to speak.
Wei Rao knelt before him, speaking calmly: “Uncle, Grandmother knew about the original agreement. I was afraid of upsetting her, so I never told her that the affection between Lord Lu and me was all an act. Uncle, everyone at Duke Ying Mansion treated me very well. However, Lord Lu and I didn’t get along, so I voluntarily divorced. Uncle, I only want to observe mourning for Grandmother. Whatever people say outside doesn’t concern me. Please don’t resent Duke Ying Mansion or worry about your niece anymore.”
Earl Cheng’an looked at his niece kneeling before him, so reasonable and broad-minded – yet he shamefully shed tears: “It’s all Uncle’s fault for being useless, letting you suffer so much wrongdoing.”
If he had the capability, if he could have made Earl Cheng’an Mansion rank among the capital’s nobility, who would dare gossip about his niece? Even when Lu Zhuo was unconscious, Duke Ying and his wife wouldn’t have dared come to the Wei family asking his niece to marry for good luck. Poor Second Brother only had this one flesh and blood. As the elder brother, he had failed Second Brother and hadn’t fulfilled his duty to protect his niece.
His two daughters had found good marriages, but his niece…
Earl Cheng’an, who had just buried his mother, sat in his chair, covering his face with his sleeve, tears soaking his clothes once again.
Wei Rao crawled over on her knees, sobbing quietly: “Uncle, please don’t be like this. Raorao is truly fine. I’m telling you this so you won’t worry. If you cry anymore, Raorao will go seek refuge with her maternal grandmother and won’t dare stay in the family home anymore.”
Earl Cheng’an looked up, and only after a long while did he hold back his tears, gently placing his large hand on Wei Rao’s head: “Good, good. Uncle won’t cry anymore. Raorao can just live at home. Don’t think about anything. After Uncle finishes his mourning period, I’ll find you another good marriage.”
Wei Rao didn’t seek a good marriage – she just wanted to quietly observe mourning for her grandmother.
“Uncle, I’ve only told you about this matter. Please don’t tell Aunt or Big Brother about it. Lord Lu was unwilling to consummate our marriage. If word gets out, it would always be shameful for me. Just let people think Raorao was too filial and purely requested divorce to observe mourning.” Wei Rao kept her head lowered.
Earl Cheng’an wiped his face with his sleeve: “Raorao, rest assured. Uncle knows what to do. No matter how your aunt inquires, Uncle won’t tell her.”
Wei Rao trusted her uncle.
After all her dowry was moved back to the rear courtyard of Zhengchun Hall and everything was properly arranged, Wei Rao ordered the courtyard gates of Zhengchun Hall to be closed. Except for necessary servant comings and goings, she would see no visitors.
Guo Shi was very curious about what her husband and Wei Rao had discussed in the study, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she was coldly scolded by Earl Cheng’an.
Guo Shi thought her husband probably didn’t want to offend Duke Ying Mansion because of Wei Rao, but couldn’t say so outright, which was why he was embarrassed and angry.
When the Empress Dowager was buried in the imperial mausoleum and the three-month national mourning was lifted, the capital finally returned to normal.
Interactions between noble families increased, and the news that Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo had quietly divorced before the New Year finally spread. Everyone who heard about it shared Guo Shi’s opinion, believing Wei Rao couldn’t get by at Duke Ying Mansion and had chosen this timing to request leave, with Duke Ying Mansion doing them a favor.
Gradually, more news emerged, saying that after returning home, Fourth Miss Wei lived in the old lady’s courtyard, never setting foot outside the main gate or second gate, not even seeing Earl Cheng’an’s family. Whether from shame or despair, she seemed to have taken refuge in Buddhism, eating vegetarian and chanting prayers.
The palace nobles seemed to have heard these discussions, too. Soon, an imperial edict issued by Emperor Yuanjia was delivered to Earl Cheng’an Mansion.
The first half of the edict stated that when Duke Ying Mansion’s heir, Lu Zhuo, was in mortal danger, Fourth Miss Wei had compassionately agreed to marry for good luck. After marriage, Fourth Miss Wei had been respectful and obedient to her husband’s family elders and caring toward her husband, earning praise and affection from everyone at Duke Ying Mansion – all of which he had verified with Duke Ying, Duchess Ying, and Lu Zhuo.
The second half separately praised Old Madam Wei’s virtuous character and the deep bond between grandmother and granddaughter, noting that although Wei Rao had married the distinguished Lu Zhuo, whom all the capital’s ladies competed to marry, she was still willing to request to return home to observe mourning for her grandmother. Her filial devotion was comparable to Zhong You carrying rice a hundred li and Ding Lan carving wood to serve his parents!
Therefore, Emperor Yuanjia specially enfeoffed Fourth Miss Wei as Princess Xiaoren and additionally granted her a princess mansion to reward her pure and ultimate filial piety.
This edict caused an uproar throughout the city.
Some ministers tried to oppose Emperor Yuanjia’s enfeoffment of an outsider woman as princess, believing Wei Rao’s benevolence and filial piety fell far short of what the edict praised.
Emperor Yuanjia asked Duke Ying and Lu Zhuo, who were also in the great hall.
Duke Ying stated that if Wei Rao hadn’t been willing to marry his grandson for good luck, his eldest son’s lineage might have already ended – Wei Rao was supremely benevolent!
Lu Zhuo said he and Wei Rao had been a loving couple, but Wei Rao had requested to return home because she wanted to observe mourning for her grandmother, yet couldn’t bear to delay him – this was ultimate filial piety.
The grandfather and grandson thus silenced those opposing officials.
The common people still didn’t believe it, convinced that Emperor Yuanjia favored Wei Rao and insisted on enfeoffing her as princess, while Duke Ying and Lu Zhuo had no choice but to cooperate.
As for why Emperor Yuanjia favored Wei Rao, it was definitely because of Consort Li!
Speaking of Consort Li, the common people had even more to discuss. When Consort Li first entered the palace, people talked eagerly, speculating about various romantic affairs between Emperor Yuanjia and Consort Li. How favored Consort Li was then – even the Empress Dowager couldn’t deal with her. It was only when the Empress Dowager fell ill and Emperor Yuanjia was being filial that he reluctantly sent Consort Li and the Fourth Prince to the remote Xing Palace in the western mountains.
Now that the Empress Dowager was dead, Emperor Yuanjia would immediately bring Consort Li and her son back to the palace, right?
The common people were certain of this, but there was no movement in the palace.
Princess Mansion began construction. The newly enfeoffed Princess Xiaoren remained secluded in the inner chambers, and no one knew what she was thinking.
Duke Ying Mansion remained the capital’s top nobility. Young Master Lu Zhuo had returned to bachelorhood, and gradually, matchmakers began visiting, all wanting to marry their young ladies into the Lu family. Unfortunately, Duchess Ying’s family didn’t agree to any, only making excuses that she was old and didn’t want to worry about the younger generation’s marriages anymore – the heir should choose for himself.
When this news spread, someone thought of Miss Xie Six, Xie Hualou, and new rumors appeared on the streets. Miss Xie Six and Lord Lu were already a match made in heaven. It was only because Grand Tutor Xie had passed away that Miss Xie Six couldn’t marry Lord Lu for good luck, but Lord Lu had always kept Miss Xie Six in his heart. This time, he was waiting for the Xie family’s initial mourning to end before proposing marriage.
Enthusiastic citizens calculated and discovered Lord Lu wouldn’t have to wait much longer. Next year, when spring warmed and flowers bloomed, the Xie family would finish their mourning, and Lord Lu could propose marriage at just the right time!
Gossip about the marriages of Wei Rao, Lu Zhuo, and Miss Xie Six had never ceased – sometimes discussed heatedly, sometimes just scattered words. When cold winter came again and Emperor Yuanjia led the princes and imperial grandsons to the imperial mausoleum to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, who had died a year ago, the Empress and three consorts also went. The common people suddenly discovered that Consort Li was still living at the palace!
When the Empress Dowager had just died, people predicted that Emperor Yuanjia would bring Consort Li and her son back to the capital. When Fourth Miss Wei was enfeoffed as princess, rumors of Consort Li and her son’s imminent return to the palace were even more rampant. But seeing that a full year had passed, why hadn’t Emperor Yuanjia remembered Consort Li? Had he forgotten? Was Fourth Miss Wei’s princess title granted just for her filial piety?
Firecrackers sounded – it was a new year again.
On New Year’s Day, Eunuch Wei, the chief steward of Princess Mansion, brought the latest version of the mansion’s map to pay New Year’s respects to the princess.
Wei Rao lived in Zhengchun Hall. When Eunuch Wei arrived, he first met Earl Cheng’an and Guo Shi.
Eunuch Wei politely bowed to Earl Cheng’an, then was led directly to Zhengchun Hall by a maid.
Guo Shi stared at Eunuch Wei’s retreating figure with jealous hatred.
She naturally wasn’t jealous of a eunuch – she was jealous of Wei Rao, jealous of Xiao Zhou Shi. So many virtuous women remained chaste as widows in the world, yet Emperor Yuanjia specifically enfeoffed only Wei Rao as Princess Xiaoren. It was obviously for Xiao Zhou Shi’s sake! Outsiders hadn’t seen Xiao Zhou Shi’s beauty, so they came up with various speculations. But ever since the edict granting the princess title was issued, Guo Shi knew Xiao Zhou Shi would return sooner or later!
Before Wei Rao was enfeoffed as princess, she was a fallen woman whom everyone in the capital could mock. But she was clever, hiding in Zhengchun Hall and seeing no one, denying Guo Shi the opportunity to taunt her. By the time Wei Rao became a princess with status higher than her own as Earl Cheng’an’s wife, Guo Shi couldn’t even mock her anymore. All her satisfying words could only rot in her belly!
Earl Cheng’an glimpsed Guo Shi’s ugly expression and left with a flick of his sleeve.
In Zhengchun Hall, Eunuch Wei met his new master, Princess Xiaoren, for the second time.
The princess should have finished mourning before the New Year, but she still wore white. The princess’s hair was black and thick, shining with the luster of black pearls, yet she wore only a sandalwood hairpin. Such simple adornment, yet the princess’s countenance was the world’s most brilliant scenery – eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes like spring water, lips red and alluring.
Eunuch Wei had never seen the princess before, but when Emperor Yuanjia assigned him to assist the princess in managing Princess Mansion, Eunuch Wei had guessed the princess’s weight in His Majesty’s heart.
The first time he came to pay respects to the princess, Eunuch Wei was captivated by her beauty. Such a beauty should be cherished, treasured, loved, and protected. Those who spoke ill of the princess were all jealous of her!
“Princess, the mansion has been completely renovated. This is a new map made by craftsmen. Please review it, Princess.”
Wei Rao nodded.
Bitao came to hold the map and brought it before the princess.
Wei Rao gently unfolded it. The mansion before her eyes, every hill and stream, had indeed been built entirely according to her wishes.
“Princess, now that you’ve finished mourning, you should move into Princess Mansion soon and enter the palace to express gratitude for His Majesty’s grace.”
“Mm, are there any auspicious days recently?”
Eunuch Wei smiled: “This servant has checked. The eighteenth of the first month is suitable for moving residence – most auspicious!”