News of Wei Rao being brought back to the Duke Ying Mansion by Lu Zhuo quickly spread throughout the capital.

Regardless of whatever reasons Lu Zhuo offered—whether the marriage contract still stood or they were getting back together—the people only saw one thing: Lu Zhuo truly couldn’t live without Wei Rao in this lifetime. Even though Wei Rao thought he was dead and had prepared to remarry, Lu Zhuo didn’t mind. He was determined to have Wei Rao and make her his lifelong wife.

A handsome man and a beautiful woman who could be together after going through hardships wasn’t easy. The people gossiped about it and found it quite good—a perfect match, complete and fulfilled.

The Duke Ying Mansion chose an auspicious day to host relatives and friends, both to celebrate the safe return of father and son Lu Zhuo and Lu Mu, and to formally announce to relatives and friends that Wei Rao was still the Lu family’s daughter-in-law and clan matriarch.

As for the position of heir to Duke Ying, when the Lu family thought Lu Zhuo was dead, no one had mentioned establishing a new heir. Outsiders speculated it might fall to Lu Zhuo’s Fourth Uncle, since he was Duke Ying’s biological son, while others guessed it would go to Lu Ya, considering Fourth Master’s leg ailment. Within the Lu family, Fourth Master didn’t covet that position, and Lu Ya’s life had been saved by his elder brother—he would never desire a position that rightfully belonged to his brother.

When Lu Zhuo returned, the title of heir naturally remained his.

By rights, the Lu family should have passed the heir position to Lu Mu, but Lu Mu’s heart had aged. He didn’t want to rejoin the Shenwu Army or manage the family affairs. He only wanted to be more filial to his parents, spend more time with his wife after years of separation, and teach martial arts to the younger generation in the family. This task originally belonged to Duke Ying, but Duke Ying disliked disciplining his grandsons. Now that his eldest son had returned, he could dump the hard work on his son while he went off to enjoy himself.

The Duke Ying Mansion held a lively banquet, answering some questions from relatives and friends.

In mid-March, Shou’an Jun would celebrate her seventieth birthday.

“Life at seventy is rare since ancient times”—that Shou’an Jun could live to this age in good health truly fulfilled the “Shou’an” title Emperor Yuanjia had bestowed upon her.

Wei Rao decided to set out a few days early, so she could help prepare the birthday banquet once they reached Leisure Manor.

Early morning on the eleventh day of the third month, Lu Zhuo accompanied Wei Rao and their daughter on the journey.

It was the perfect season for spring outings with warm weather and blooming flowers. People in the city were making plans to go to the suburbs for spring excursions. When the Duke Ying Mansion’s carriage reached the city gate, a long queue had already formed.

“Why are there so many people?” A’Bao poked her head out the carriage window curiously.

Wei Rao smiled, “Because the weather is nice, everyone wants to go flower viewing and spring touring.”

A’Bao was leaning out with her little bottom up, watching with great interest, when suddenly a thunderous voice came from behind: “A’Bao!”

That booming voice startled A’Bao!

A’Bao turned around and saw Qi Zhongkai, her cousin-in-law by marriage, mounted on a tall horse with a quiver on his back.

“Cousin-in-law!” A’Bao called out sweetly.

Qi Zhongkai spurred his horse to the carriage.

Lu Zhuo lifted the curtain on this side.

Qi Zhongkai glanced inside and asked Lu Zhuo loudly, “Where is your family of three heading?”

Lu Zhuo replied, “Old Madam’s birthday is approaching. We’re going early to stay for a few days.”

Qi Zhongkai understood and said heartily, “Which day is the birthday? I’ll bring Weiyu and the others to join the celebration.”

Wei Rao smiled, “How could we trouble Second Master with such expense?”

Qi Zhongkai snorted, “We’re all family relatives. What expense? Princess, don’t embarrass me here.”

“Cousin-in-law, are you going hunting?” A’Bao curiously looked at the quiver on his back.

Qi Zhongkai patted his shoulder and glanced resentfully at Lu Zhuo, “Yes, your father used to accompany me. Now that he has you two, he doesn’t care to accompany me anymore.”

A’Bao didn’t care about her cousin-in-law’s grievances. She turned and threw herself into Lu Zhuo’s arms, acting spoiled, “Father, I want to go hunting too.”

Lu Zhuo stroked his daughter’s head, “Alright. Once we reach Leisure Manor, Father will pick a day to take you.”

A’Bao was satisfied.

Qi Zhongkai looked at the family of three in the carriage and suddenly remembered an old incident. He said to Lu Zhuo, “Shoucheng, do you remember ten years ago when you returned to the capital? I wanted to take you hunting, and we were also stuck here. The carriage in front of us then was the Princess’s carriage?”

Lu Zhuo had already remembered that scene from ten years ago when he heard Qi Zhongkai’s booming voice.

Qi Zhongkai looked at Lu Zhuo with ill intent and smiled, “Back then, Shoucheng, your eyes were set so high. When I told you the Princess was the most beautiful girl in our capital, your disdain…”

Before he could finish, Lu Zhuo snapped the curtain down.

Qi Zhongkai laughed loudly outside.

Lu Zhuo looked toward Wei Rao.

Wei Rao glared at him and turned toward the other carriage window.

Ten years ago at this time, she and Lu Zhuo hadn’t met yet. Lu Zhuo had just gotten engaged to Xie Hualou. How could the Lu Zhuo of that time have taken her to heart when Qi Zhongkai praised her beauty?

Reasonably speaking, Wei Rao couldn’t blame Lu Zhuo for this old matter, but Qi Zhongkai’s words reminded her of Lu Zhuo’s various disrespectful behaviors toward her back then. So for the rest of the journey, Wei Rao didn’t give Lu Zhuo a single kind look. She chatted with their daughter as if nothing was wrong, but whenever Lu Zhuo tried to join the conversation, Wei Rao ignored him.

Once they reached Leisure Manor, Wei Rao had even less time to pay attention to Lu Zhuo.

Da Zhou Shi’s family, the Zhou Huizhen and Zhou Huizhu sisters, had all arrived early. From Huo Jue and Huo Lin to the Zhou Huizhen sisters to Wei Rao—the five siblings who had once been young had now all found their marriages and brought their children. With such a large family gathered together, there was much to chat about.

Only after dinner did the couple, Lu Zhuo and Wei Rao, return to Swallow Garden carrying A’Bao.

A’Bao went to sleep in the side room. When Wei Rao came out from her bath, she saw Lu Zhuo sitting on the bed wearing only his undergarments, holding nothing in his hands, just waiting for her. Truly worthy of being the former number one eligible bachelor of the capital, Lu Zhuo’s foundation was excellent. After returning to the capital and recuperating for several months, his face had regained its jade-like luster. The shallow scar on his left cheek only added a touch of sharp heroic spirit to his gentle appearance, making him even more charming than before.

Wei Rao quite liked Lu Zhuo’s current appearance.

But she wouldn’t show it. She went straight to the bedside, preparing to climb onto the bed from Lu Zhuo’s side.

As she bent over, her black silky hair cascaded from her shoulders. Lu Zhuo couldn’t help but reach up, watching her hair slip through his fingers. “Still angry about that old matter?”

Wei Rao laughed lightly, “Hardly. You didn’t know me then, so naturally you were disdainful.”

These words chilled Lu Zhuo to the bone. He reached out to pull her into his arms. Wei Rao didn’t want to be held and grabbed the blanket at the foot of the bed with her delicate hands. But how much weight could that blanket bear? With a slight effort, Lu Zhuo moved Wei Rao into his embrace. He held her from behind, his hands gripping hers so Wei Rao could no longer struggle. She lowered her head, using her hair to shield her face.

Lu Zhuo restrained her hands with one hand while using the other to move the hair from her face to the other side, revealing her slightly flushed post-bath face. That tender skin and beautiful color were like a crimson peony blooming enchantingly in his arms, emanating a seductive fragrance.

Lu Zhuo pressed his forehead against her face, his nose touching her delicate neck as his mind conjured their first meeting.

When queuing at the city gate, he only knew she was sitting in the carriage ahead. Lu Zhuo first saw Wei Rao in person at Cloud Mist Mountain. Amid the white snow, she leaped down from a tree in red clothing. At first glance, she appeared to be a slender young gentleman who hadn’t fully matured, until she turned around, with beautiful features and enchanting red lips that secretly startled Lu Zhuo.

“Do you still remember our first meeting, Raorao?” Lu Zhuo lightly kissed her neck and asked quietly.

Wei Rao tilted her head slightly, annoyed with him in her heart, yet also enjoying this marital intimacy.

As for their first meeting, Wei Rao naturally remembered. Lu Zhuo’s attitude toward her in the snow that day was indeed disdainful.

“If you had looked ordinary, I would naturally dare to look at you directly. But you were so beautiful—I was afraid that being pleasant with you might lead to something, making things even more unclear,” Lu Zhuo smiled and explained.

Wei Rao frowned, “What do you mean? If you spoke pleasantly with me, would I develop inappropriate thoughts and try to seduce you?”

Lu Zhuo said, “No, I’m not so conceited. But you are exceptionally beautiful. If others saw us together and gossip spread about us, even if I clarified I had no intentions toward you, who would believe it? The more a man and woman match each other, the more easily suspicions arise.”

Wei Rao snorted, “Are you praising me or yourself?”

Lu Zhuo smiled, “We’re husband and wife—praising you is the same as praising me, and praising me is the same as praising you.”

While speaking sweet words, he skillfully kindled fires on Wei Rao’s body. Wei Rao felt as if she were soaking in a wine pool, dizzy as he claimed her.

The next morning, Lu Zhuo went to the Shenwu Army refreshed and energetic.

Wei Rao slept in a little, then got up to accompany their daughter and family.

Shou’an Jun didn’t want to make a big fuss over her seventieth birthday, but she couldn’t resist a group of younger generation members sincerely wanting to show their filial respect.

With Da Zhou Shi helping to manage everything, Shou’an Jun didn’t need to worry about anything. Every day, she was surrounded by the younger generation, enjoying Leisure Manor’s beautiful spring scenery.

In the blink of an eye, the birthday arrived.

Shou’an Jun wore a new eggplant-purple robe embroidered with five blessings and longevity patterns, and a red headband inlaid with jade symbols of fortune, prosperity, and longevity. She glowed with health as she received birthday wishes from the younger generation. The seventy-year-old matriarch had white hair and a youthful face, and though wrinkles had appeared on her face, one could still see her youthful beauty.

Near noon, three distinguished guests arrived at Leisure Manor.

Emperor Yuanjia, Consort Gui Xiao Zhou Shi, and Fourth Prince came together to celebrate Shou’an Jun’s birthday.

Shou’an Jun was Xiao Zhou Shi’s birth mother and Emperor Yuanjia’s wet nurse. The emperor and consort’s filial devotion to Shou’an Jun was comparable to biological children.

Shou’an Jun smiled seeing her two daughters, but when Emperor Yuanjia personally presented her birthday gift, Shou’an Jun’s eyes moistened.

Meeting the tears in Shou’an Jun’s eyes, Emperor Yuanjia suddenly remembered his childhood when the Empress Dowager was single-mindedly scheming for his elder brother—it was Shou’an Jun who stayed by his side, caring for him in every way.

But as an adopted son, he hadn’t repaid Shou’an Jun enough. He only wished the old matriarch would live to one hundred, allowing him to continue showing filial respect.

A birthday banquet that shocked the capital ended with great excitement.

After the birthday banquet, Da Zhou Shi and others gradually left, but Wei Rao and A’Bao were in no hurry.

At the end of the month, Lu Zhuo had his rest days and, as promised, took his wife and daughter to Cloud Mist Mountain.

It was A’Bao’s first time wearing riding attire and following her parents into the deep mountain forests. The little girl found everything novel and chattered with endless questions.

“Shh.” Wei Rao suddenly turned back and made a silencing gesture to her daughter.

A’Bao quickly covered her mouth.

Lu Zhuo, carrying A’Bao, walked up behind Wei Rao.

A’Bao looked up and saw something covered in black fur.

She quietly asked her mother, “What is that?”

Wei Rao glanced at Lu Zhuo and smiled, “A wild boar. The first gift your father gave Mother was one of those.”

A’Bao’s eyes widened. What kind of taste did Father have?

Lu Zhuo smiled without speaking, watching Wei Rao nock an arrow and draw her bow. His heart filled with immense gratitude—grateful that he had been seriously ill that year, grateful that he had awakened from his coma that night to find her keeping watch by his side.

Author’s Note: Awoo! The main story is complete!

The upcoming extras will write about the sweet daily life of the married couple, the mutual dependence between Emperor Yuanjia and Shou’an Jun, and the relationship between Emperor Yuanjia and Xiao Zhou Shi. These are all supplements to the main story plot. I’ll decide what else to write after finishing these!