Returning from Yunwu Mountain, He Shi and her niece went back to Chunhe Hall, while Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo returned to Songyue Hall.

“What did Qi Zhongkai say when he came out to find you?”

Once in the inner room, Lu Zhuo finally had a chance to ask. On the road, with a cousin present, he hadn’t inquired.

Wei Rao stood at the washing stand, wiping her hands with a damp cloth while smiling, “He said he was a crude person and told cousin not to mind the impropriety. I must say, if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have thought he knew how to comfort a young lady meeting him for the first time.”

Recalling Qi Zhongkai’s performance then, Wei Rao couldn’t help glancing at Lu Zhuo.

Between Qi Zhongkai and Lu Zhuo, anyone judging would think Lu Zhuo was a gentle gentleman while Qi Zhongkai was crude and coarse.

But based on Wei Rao’s experience, Qi Zhongkai was the true gentleman, while Lu Zhuo was just a hypocritical, arrogant aristocratic young master. Before their trip to Jin City, Lu Zhuo had never used such gentle, courteous tones with her.

What young lady wouldn’t want to encounter a gentle man who knew how to comfort and console her?

Qi Zhongkai didn’t look gentle, but what he did—not to mention He Weiyu, who experienced it firsthand—even Wei Rao watching from the side felt quite moved. Of course, she wasn’t thinking about how good it would be if Qi Zhongkai treated her that way, but rather that Lu Zhuo had never coaxed her so gently.

Feeling dissatisfied, Wei Rao’s gaze at Lu Zhuo naturally filled with disdain.

Lu Zhuo was both amused and exasperated. He would have liked to comfort Wei Rao, but had she ever given him the chance? Wei Rao had indeed shed tears in front of him—either she was angry at him and ran to her room after throwing a rice bowl at him, or it was before seeing Noble Consort with many people around, or it was when Old Madam Wei died, facing the grief of losing a family member where any comfort would be pale and powerless.

As for Qi Zhongkai…

“He was smitten at first sight,” Lu Zhuo said bluntly. “If cousin weren’t beautiful enough, see if he would care.”

Wei Rao snorted, “So what if he was smitten? It’s enough for the cousin. He’ll pity his cousin because of her beauty and naturally treat her well because of it. A man like him loves beauty but isn’t fickle—once he has one, he won’t pursue a second. The more beautiful the cousin is, the more the Second Master will like her. How wonderful.”

Lu Zhuo’s gaze fixed on Wei Rao’s face, “How can you be certain he’s not fickle?”

Wei Rao just knew.

First, Qi Zhongkai looked upright, unlike those lecherous playboys like Han Liao with their obscene gazes. Second, today Qi Zhongkai had focused entirely on comforting He Weiyu without sparing her even one extra glance. This was enough to prove Qi Zhongkai was devoted—since he wanted to care for He Weiyu, he wouldn’t concern himself with whether there were other beauties around her.

Lu Zhuo walked toward her.

Wei Rao thought he wanted to wash his hands and handed him the cloth she had just wrung out.

“Help me,” Lu Zhuo said with a smile.

Wei Rao glared at him. Without others’ gentleness, he still wanted her to serve him?

Wei Rao threw the cloth into his hands and walked directly past him, sitting in a chair to pour and drink tea.

Lu Zhuo smiled and, while wiping his hands, watched her, “He may not be fickle, but he’s too easily moved. When one beauty won’t marry him, another beauty comes along and he immediately likes her again.”

This was her cousin’s fortune and also her misfortune. Qi Zhongkai would treat his cousin well after marrying her, but if something happened to his cousin, Qi Zhongkai would easily move on and marry another beauty.

Wei Rao held her tea bowl, pondering Lu Zhuo’s words, and had to admit he was right.

But how much better was Lu Zhuo than Qi Zhongkai? From when he looked down on her to when he insisted on marrying her back, only a year had passed.

“My feelings for you aren’t solely because of your beauty.”

Lu Zhuo seemed able to read her thoughts and immediately explained.

Wei Rao smiled, “Really? If I were extremely ugly, would you still try every means to win me back?”

Lu Zhuo fell silent.

Wei Rao snorted, “You’re the same way—why look down on Second Master Qi?”

Lu Zhuo didn’t argue with her, instead asking, “Men are lustful, but aren’t women the same? If I were extremely ugly, you wouldn’t marry me either.”

Wei Rao’s expression changed, and she suddenly smiled, looking over Lu Zhuo’s face, “You’ve reminded me—when I married you for good fortune, your appearance then…”

Lu Zhuo’s brow arched slightly. He put down the cloth and walked toward her.

Wei Rao’s heart raced. Knowing she couldn’t escape once Lu Zhuo caught her, she put down her tea bowl and tried to run.

However, Lu Zhuo was faster, catching her around the waist in one motion. No matter how Wei Rao struggled, he wouldn’t let go, carrying her to the bed and pressing her down to kiss her. Once Lu Zhuo restrained her hands, no amount of struggling was useless. But she didn’t want to do this during the day. When Lu Zhuo’s hand pulled at her sash, Wei Rao urgently called, “Lu Zhuo!”

Lu Zhuo raised his head, his deep phoenix eyes looking at her.

Wei Rao finally softened a bit, her voice sweet and tender, “Let you come back tonight, not now.”

Lu Zhuo’s throat moved, but he said, “If you always follow my lead from now on, I’ll stop.”

Wei Rao glared at him. Lu Zhuo looked at her while his hand moved to lift her shirt.

She quickly said, “Fine, fine, fine—I’ll always follow your lead.”

Lu Zhuo smiled, lowered his head to kiss her, and finally helped her sit up.

Wei Rao lowered her head to arrange her clothes, watching his hands from the corner of her eye, humming, “Speaking seriously, do you think Second Master Qi will come to you asking about cousin?”

Lu Zhuo said, “He has no patience. Once enlightened, he’ll come immediately.”

Wei Rao said, “Then remember to tell me. Mother and cousin have no confidence—I can give them some peace of mind.”

Whether the marriage succeeded or not, the key was whether Qi Zhongkai was moved.

Qi Zhongkai wandered around Yunwu Mountain all day without seeing the legendary snow fox.

In the morning, he had truly exerted himself trying to hunt snow foxes, but in the afternoon, Qi Zhongkai’s mind kept flashing with images of He Weiyu in her white dress under the green bamboo.

Both were white, but beauties were much better looking than snow foxes. He Weiyu’s pear-blossom skin, her wet, watery eyes…

Lost in thought, Qi Zhongkai tripped over a tree branch and nearly took a hard fall.

After the false alarm, Qi Zhongkai laughed and cursed. He was so familiar with Lu Zhuo—how had he only now learned Lu Zhuo had such a beautiful cousin? Looking at her age, she should certainly be discussing marriage, yet he had never heard Lu Zhuo mention her. Was Miss He promised to someone else?

If this had been when he was seventeen, eighteen, or even twenty, Qi Zhongkai wouldn’t have immediately thought of marriage from a moment’s attraction. But he was twenty-five now, urged by his grandmother and mother hundreds of times each year. Being urged so much, Qi Zhongkai also felt he should marry a wife. Delaying until now wasn’t because he didn’t want to marry—he simply hadn’t encountered anyone he liked. The only great beauty had married Lu Zhuo.

The more Qi Zhongkai thought about it, the more he felt Lu Zhuo was being unfair. Having a beautiful cousin, clearly knowing he wanted to marry a beauty, yet always hiding it from him.

Qi Zhongkai also thought of how pitifully Miss He had cried at noon, yet Lu Zhuo remained unmoved, even urging him to eat. Where was the behavior of an elder brother? Could it be that because she was a cousin, Lu Zhuo looked down on Miss He and usually didn’t even mention her?

Thinking this way, Qi Zhongkai felt Miss He was even more pitiful and became increasingly curious about her situation.

The next evening, Lu Zhuo followed his three younger brothers, leaving the Shenwu Army camp. Halfway there, they saw Qi Zhongkai running over from ahead.

“Is Second Master here to drink with us?” Third Brother Lu Cong said with a smile.

Qi Zhongkai scoffed at him, “Your hair hasn’t even grown in—who wants to drink with you? Zhuo’er, come here, let’s go drink.”

Lu Zhuo smiled and followed Qi Zhongkai.

Lu Cong shouted from horseback to Qi Zhongkai, “You’re the one who hasn’t grown in, which is why you don’t dare marry—afraid of being laughed at!”

Qi Zhongkai had things on his mind and was too lazy to argue with him. He turned back with a smile, “You little brat, wait—sooner or later I’ll strip your pants and count for you!”

Lu Cong’s face changed slightly. In terms of strength, he definitely couldn’t match Qi Zhongkai. This man couldn’t be serious, could he?

After scaring Lu Cong, Qi Zhongkai smiled at Lu Zhuo.

Lu Zhuo warned him, “Know when to stop.”

Qi Zhongkai’s eyes rolled, and he smiled, “Fine, I’ll give you face.”

Lu Zhuo glanced at him and said, “I promised the Princess I’d return early. If Brother Qi is only asking me to drink, forgive me for not being able to accompany you.”

Qi Zhongkai said sourly, “You’ve married the Princess while I’m still single. If you don’t want me asking you to drink, introduce me to a beauty.”

Lu Zhuo frowned, “I’ve seen far fewer refined ladies in the capital than you have—how can I introduce you to anyone?”

Qi Zhongkai paused, then muttered quietly, “You just don’t want to introduce me to anyone. Otherwise, why did you never tell me you have a beautiful cousin?”

Lu Zhuo’s face turned cold, and he spurred his horse forward.

Qi Zhongkai quickly caught up, blocking Lu Zhuo’s path, “Look at you—am I that kind of lecher? I’m truly anxious. If Miss He isn’t engaged yet, could I marry her? You know me—would I joke about such things? Since I’m asking you about her, I’m serious.”

Lu Zhuo tried to pass him, but Qi Zhongkai blocked him persistently. Lu Zhuo gripped his reins tightly and asked seriously, “You want to marry Weiyu?”

Only then did Qi Zhongkai learn Miss He’s given name. Weiyu, weiyu—truly a beauty, even her name was beautiful.

He nodded repeatedly, “Want to marry, want to marry. Your third and fourth brothers are all marrying wives—how can I not be anxious?”

Lu Zhuo looked at him deeply for several moments, then said, “During my years at the frontier, it was always my cousin who fulfilled filial duties to my mother on my behalf. Mother treats her like her own daughter, and I regard her as my sister. But in outsiders’ eyes, the cousin is just a small household’s daughter living in the Duke’s mansion. Few people inquire about her marriage. If Brother Qi truly wants to marry her, please discuss it with the Marquis and Marchioness first, then formally visit to propose. Otherwise, I won’t discuss cousin’s affairs with you further.”

Qi Zhongkai said, “I’m afraid Miss He won’t approve of me, so I came to ask if I have any hope. If you think well of me, I’ll go propose.”

Lu Zhuo looked him up and down, saying bluntly, “Between you and cousin, in terms of family background, cousin would be climbing above her station marrying you. But as for you as a person…”

Qi Zhongkai touched his nose, indignantly saying, “What’s wrong with me as a person? I only lack luster in front of you—among the Imperial Guards, there aren’t many better looking than me.”

Lu Zhuo offered no comment.

Qi Zhongkai felt he had seen through him and said irritably, “Forget it, I won’t beg you. I’ll arrange the proposal first. But if you truly consider me a brother, honestly, help me out. If I learn you spoke ill of me in front of Miss He, don’t blame me for turning against you!”

Lu Zhuo still appeared unwilling to relent.

Qi Zhongkai rode off first.

Seeing their eldest brother alone, Lu Ya, Lu Cong, and Lu Ze quickly caught up, “Big Brother, did Second Master quarrel with you?”

All three had heard the “turning against you” part.

Lu Zhuo smiled, “He invited me to drink, but I had no time.”

The three brothers looked at each other, all thinking of the incomparably beautiful Princess sister-in-law at home.

This Second Master Qi was tactless—with Big Brother having a lovely wife at home waiting for him, newlyweds as they were, how could he possibly go drinking with him?