As Wei Rao was made a Princess, all marriage arrangements were handled by the Ministry of Rites. The wedding date for her and Lu Zhuo was also selected by Emperor Yuanjia and Xiao Zhou Shi from a full page of auspicious dates presented by the Bureau of Astronomy – the sixth day of the third month next year.
It was already late July, with only about half a year remaining until the wedding.
Wei Rao thought this date was good. She was willing to marry Lu Zhuo, but wasn’t in such a hurry. Besides, Second Young Master Lu Ya would be getting married in August, and Lu Zhuo, having divorced once, shouldn’t steal his cousin’s thunder again.
After the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau sent people to take Wei Rao’s measurements to make her a new set of princess-grade wedding attire, Wei Rao rode to the countryside estate. So much had happened at Xing Palace – her mother becoming Noble Consort, her engagement – her grandmother surely wanted to know the details.
Wei Rao arrived at a perfect time. She had just reached the estate gates when she saw a matchmaker emerge from inside.
“Oh my, this old woman pays respects to the Princess!”
Guessing Wei Rao’s identity, the matchmaker bowed with a beaming smile.
Wei Rao was greatly shocked. Judging by the matchmaker’s attitude, the marriage proposal had succeeded – her grandmother was going to betroth cousin Huizhu?
Nodding to the matchmaker, Wei Rao quickly dismounted and entered the estate.
Shou’an Jun and Wei Rao’s aunt Wang Shi still sat in the main hall. Seeing Wei Rao, Shou’an Jun showed a smile, while Wang Shi pursed her lips in a forced cheerful expression.
Wei Rao paid respects to both elders, then sat beside Shou’an Jun, asking curiously: “Grandmother, when I came just now, I saw a matchmaker. Was she here to propose marriage to cousin Huizhu?”
Shou’an Jun smiled: “Exactly. The man’s family lives in Yunwu Town. You should know his grandfather, Old Zhang, from Zhang’s candied hawthorn stand.”
Wei Rao’s eyes widened in surprise. What a coincidence!
Shou’an Jun explained the Zhang family’s situation. The Zhangs were hereditary candied hawthorn craftsmen. Northerners all loved eating this snack, and the Zhang family’s skills were excellent. Relying on Zhang’s shop in Yunwu Town, though they hadn’t accumulated great wealth, they lived comfortably without worry, their small family life peaceful and happy.
Old Zhang had one son and three grandsons. The eldest grandson inherited the ancestral candied hawthorn craft and would take over Zhang’s shop and the family’s hawthorn grove. The second grandson was skilled at farming and managed all fifty acres of the Zhang family land. Both grandsons were already married. The one proposing marriage was Old Zhang’s youngest grandson, Zhang Xian.
Zhang Xian was twenty-four this year and had already passed the provincial examination. He would take the metropolitan examination next year, and reportedly, both Zhang Xian and his teacher were very confident.
Yunwu Town had produced only one provincial graduate in over ten years – Zhang Xian. The Zhang family’s threshold was nearly worn down by matchmakers, but Zhang Xian was devoted to his studies and had declared he would consider marriage only after his first attempt at the metropolitan examination. However, this year, when Zhou Huizhu went to town to play, Zhang Xian saw her and fell in love at first sight, sending a matchmaker to propose.
Shou’an Jun was quite direct, first summoning Zhang Xian to the estate to personally test him. Zhang Xian had fair skin and proper features. When discussing people’s livelihoods, he showed considerable insight without the empty talk of scholarly pedants. Shou’an Jun deliberately arranged for a beautiful maid to serve tea. Though Zhang Xian noticed the maid’s beauty, he didn’t pay much attention, remaining steady and proper.
Shou’an Jun was very satisfied, and Zhou Huizhu, who was secretly watching from a side room, was also satisfied.
Today, the matchmaker came to ask for Zhou Huizhu’s birth characters to take with Zhang Xian’s to a temple to divine their compatibility.
“Grandmother’s judgment is excellent. If you say Third Master Zhang is good, then he must truly be good.” Wei Rao couldn’t wait to see this prospective brother-in-law.
Shou’an Jun smiled and gestured toward her daughter-in-law.
Wei Rao asked Wang Shi: “Aunt, do you think there’s something wrong with Third Master Zhang?”
Wang Shi clutched her handkerchief, saying quietly: “Huizhu isn’t as beautiful as you girls. I originally didn’t have high hopes for her marriage. But now that Her Majesty has been made Noble Consort and returned to the capital in glory, and you’ve renewed your relationship with Young Master Lu, plus with Huizhen there to help, I thought if we just waited a bit longer, surely better families would come proposing. Why rush things?”
Wang Shi truly felt the Zhang family’s status was too low, but since the old lady had listened to her regarding the eldest daughter’s marriage, she should yield to the old lady once for the younger daughter’s marriage.
Since it involved her mother, Wei Rao couldn’t say much.
Shou’an Jun glared at Wang Shi: “Noble Consort is Noble Consort, our family is our family. Even if it’s as you say and people come seeking Huizhu’s hand because of the Noble Consort, do you think such families would truly care for Huizhu? When marrying, the key is marrying the right man. Besides, what’s wrong with the Zhang family’s low status? A lower status means they won’t dare mistreat Huizhu. Look at what life Huizhen lives after marriage – even a concubine’s daughter dares to confront her. Don’t you, as a mother, feel heartache?”
Wang Shi lowered her head sheepishly.
Wei Rao stopped interfering in the elders’ debate and went to find Zhou Huizhu.
“Cousin, congratulations!” Upon meeting, Wei Rao teased with a smile.
Zhou Huizhu shyly glared at her and lowered her head to continue embroidering.
Wei Rao sat beside her, took away the embroidery hoop, and whispered: “Quick, tell me what my prospective brother-in-law looks like?”
After some bashful hesitation, Zhou Huizhu honestly confessed.
Zhang Xian certainly didn’t have the bearing of noble young masters like Lu Zhuo or Han Liao, nor was his appearance comparable, but placed in Yunwu Town among ordinary common folk, Zhang Xian could be considered an elegant gentleman, fair and refined, polite at first glance, clearly a scholar. Moreover, Zhang Xian was tall and slender, looking particularly distinguished in long robes. In short, Zhou Huizhu was quite smitten.
Unlike her sister, she had no grand expectations for a man’s family background. As long as he was good-looking, had some talent, and most importantly, truly liked her.
Wei Rao also viewed this marriage favorably. Zhang Xian had passed the provincial examination at such a young age. If he successfully passed the metropolitan examination next year, whether serving as an official in the capital or being posted elsewhere, his cousin could be a proper official’s wife. Her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law might not necessarily respect her, but at least wouldn’t dare bully her. Wei Rao suspected cousin and Zhang Xian would spend most of their time living separately as a young couple.
By September, Zhou Huizhu and Zhang Xian’s marriage was formally settled, with the wedding set for April after next year’s examination results were announced.
Because of Zhou Huizhu’s engagement, Wei Rao and Zhou Huizhen both came for the celebration feast.
Zhou Huizhen could see her sister’s joy – that joy she had once possessed before marrying Han Liao, though it was increasingly difficult to remember now. Daily facing that group of women in the marquis mansion who smiled while hiding daggers, and at night, though Han Liao was passionate, thinking of how he only cared for her body without considering her feelings made Zhou Huizhen increasingly depressed.
After the feast, Zhou Huizhen returned to the marquis’ mansion with Han Liao. Han Liao didn’t mind her staying longer at the estate, but Zhou Huizhen hoped to conceive quickly and bear a son to gain prestige in the Han family, so she didn’t want to waste time staying at the estate.
Wei Rao planned to accompany her grandmother through the Double Ninth Festival before returning to the capital.
On the eighth day of the ninth month, Lu Zhuo came to the estate to deliver festival gifts to Shou’an Jun. Wei Rao didn’t appear to see him. Lu Zhuo shared a lunch with Shou’an Jun and then took his leave.
The Double Ninth Festival was suitable for climbing heights. Early the next morning at dawn, Shou’an Jun led Wang Shi, Wei Rao, and Zhou Huizhu to climb Yunwu Mountain.
They had the advantage of location. While the capital’s dignitaries might still be queuing to leave the city, the four women had already reached the foot of Yunwu Mountain, occasionally encountering groups of local people either climbing for scenery or going to Yunwu Temple halfway up the mountain to burn incense.
Shou’an Jun was old after all and refused to climb further after reaching Yunwu Temple. Wang Shi stayed to accompany her mother-in-law, while Wei Rao and Zhou Huizhu continued toward the summit with their maids and guards.
Still some distance from the summit, Zhou Huizhu couldn’t climb anymore and settled in a pavilion by the roadside for travelers’ rest, refusing to go further. Wei Rao drank some water, just about to scold her cousin for being useless, when Zhou Huizhu glanced at the stone steps behind Wei Rao and suddenly hummed: “Sister Rao loves climbing so much – why not have my prospective brother-in-law accompany you?”
Wei Rao tapped her head with a fan: “What prospective brother-in-law? Before marriage, I still called him Young Master.”
Zhou Huizhu changed her words: “Then let the Young Master accompany sister in climbing.”
Wei Rao suddenly realized something was wrong. Turning around, she saw that Lu Zhuo had already arrived outside the pavilion. The autumn air was crisp with gentle breezes. He wore a jade-white brocade robe with a jade crown, looking like an immortal young master descending from heaven.
Wei Rao stared at Lu Zhuo blankly. How was he here?
Lu Zhuo smiled, walking over while explaining: “Yesterday, when delivering festival gifts, thinking grandmother might also come to Yunwu Mountain to burn incense today, I stayed overnight in town, planning to meet grandmother at the temple today.”
Wei Rao understood, turning her head away, using her fan to block her face. According to propriety, unmarried men and women shouldn’t meet.
But Lu Zhuo had no intention of following propriety. He sat directly on the beauty couch on one side of the pavilion, chatting casually: “Is the Princess also climbing the mountain?”
Wei Rao glared at him.
Zhou Huizhu smiled and answered: “Yes, the old lady came too and is resting at the temple below. Young Master, your timing is perfect. Sister Rao still wants to reach the summit, but I really can’t climb anymore and was about to go down. Please take my place for that final stretch.”
Having said this, Zhou Huizhu didn’t give Wei Rao a chance to stop her, taking her maid and skipping lightly down the mountain.
Wei Rao said angrily: “Running so fast – I thought you had no energy left?”
Lu Zhuo instructed the two Princess’s mansion guards standing outside the pavilion: “I’m here with the Princess. You go escort the young miss.”
The two tall guards looked toward the Princess together.
Wei Rao nodded.
The guards left, and Bitao joked from the side: “Princess, I can’t climb anymore either. Could I…”
Wei Rao shot her a sharp look.
Bitao chuckled and walked outside the pavilion toward the mountain path below, taking a stance as if keeping watch for her masters.
Wei Rao put on the gauze hat she had removed while drinking water, glaring at Lu Zhuo: “Young Master has finished climbing the mountain. Why haven’t you gone down?”
The veil was thin, and Lu Zhuo could see her bright, alluring eyes and those cherry-red, full lips. These two features had the most distinct colors, while her delicate face remained hazy and indistinct.
The scene from the white poplar grove at the hunting grounds became clear again. Lu Zhuo looked at her, saying in a low voice: “Guessing the Princess might climb high to admire autumn today, I came specially to meet you.”
Wei Rao’s face flushed red. Today’s Lu Zhuo was truly shameless.
“Who wants to meet you? Leave quickly.” Wei Rao turned her face away, scolding him.
Lu Zhuo naturally knew his behavior violated propriety, but since parting in the white poplar grove, he hadn’t seen Wei Rao for three months. Yesterday, when visiting the estate, he expected she wouldn’t come out, yet it made him want to see her even more. So Lu Zhuo came to Yunwu Mountain early this morning, hoping to gamble on whether she would come climbing.
If Wei Rao didn’t come, Lu Zhuo would go down the mountain without forcing the issue. Since she came, it was their destiny.
Now, having seen her, being scolded by her felt more refreshing than drinking fine wine.
“Since the Princess dislikes it, this subject will take his leave.”
Taking one last look at her, Lu Zhuo rose and bowed, then actually went down the mountain.
“Poor Young Master, coming up the mountain to wait for the Princess, only to be driven away after barely saying two sentences.” Bitao ran into the pavilion, half sympathetic and half teasing.
Wei Rao glanced at Lu Zhuo’s tall, straight retreating figure – three parts annoyed at him, seven parts pleased.