After the Double Ninth Festival, the weather turned cold. The pampered official wives gradually reduced their social visits, and Wei Rao also rarely went out. When she wanted to ride, she would gallop a few laps in the large garden behind the Princess’s mansion.

After several heavy snowfalls, the people began preparing for the New Year again.

Before the New Year, Wei Rao made a trip to the countryside estate.

Shou’an Jun was in robust health. Her way of maintaining health was to stroll around the estate twice every morning, and when the mood struck, practice a set of Five Animal Exercises.

“Your aunt sent a letter. After the first month, their family of four will come to the capital for three months, leaving only after you and Huizhu are both married.”

Shou’an Jun smiled as she informed Wei Rao.

The so-called family of four consisted of Wei Rao’s aunt Da Zhou Shi, uncle Huo Jingchang, cousin Huo Jue, and Huo Jue’s newly married wife Song Shi. Cousin Huo Lin had long since married and borne children, living with her husband’s family and unable to leave easily.

“That’s wonderful! I haven’t met my cousin’s wife yet.” Wei Rao said expectantly.

Shou’an Jun smiled: “According to your aunt, your cousin’s wife is knowledgeable, reasonable, and excellent at managing households. With her help, your aunt saves much worry.”

Huo Jingchang had several clan brothers with whom they regularly associated. The Huo family’s businesses involved these clan brothers as well. With both kinship and money entangled together, the relationships among clan members weren’t as harmonious as they appeared on the surface. This required Huo Jue to marry a virtuous helpmate who could manage the household internally and deal with relatives externally.

So when Da Zhou Shi originally wanted to choose one of the Zhou Huizhen and Zhou Huizhu sisters as a daughter-in-law, Shou’an Jun had consistently refused. Of the two sisters, one was too ambitious while the other was easily satisfied – neither was suitable for the Huo family.

When the New Year arrived, Wei Rao was summoned into the palace by Xiao Zhou Shi, who arranged for Wei Rao to stay in her Zhaoning Palace. Mother and daughter could see each other daily, sparing Wei Rao from being alone in the Princess’s mansion.

With no Empress Dowager in the palace and Xiao Zhou Shi enjoying exclusive imperial favor, Consort De, Consort Xian, and Consort Hui all maintained superficially friendly relations with her. Though the Empress looked unfavorably upon Xiao Zhou Shi, she didn’t dare do anything. Therefore, Zhaoning Palace was peaceful and happy. The Fourth Prince was also temporarily brought back to Zhaoning Palace to return to his prince’s quarters after the New Year.

Spending New Year with her mother again after many years, plus gaining an adoring younger brother, Wei Rao, made her very content.

She stayed until the fifteenth day of the first month. After viewing the lanterns in the palace, Wei Rao returned to the Princess’s mansion to peacefully await marriage.

The wedding date was the sixth day of the third month.

On the first day of the third month, Duke Ying Mansion sent over the betrothal gifts – no less than what Wei Rao had received for her first marriage, if not more.

Shou’an Jun, Da Zhou Shi, Wang Shi, cousin-in-law Song Shi, and Wei Rao’s aunt-in-law Guo Shi all moved to the Princess mansion to help arrange the banquets for these few days. No matter how high Wei Rao’s status, she still needed her maternal relatives’ help when marrying. However, with Eunuch Wei leading palace servants to manage things, the elders only needed to help receive guests.

The day Shou’an Jun and the others arrived, Huo Jue also came and met Wei Rao once.

Wei Rao treated him like a real brother. Looking at his cousin, who was about to marry – and marry the same man again – Huo Jue only felt fortunate. Fortunately, when news of Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo’s divorce reached Taiyuan, he had already married Song Shi and had no path for regret. Otherwise, he would have been trapped in the struggle of whether to break his engagement and pursue his cousin. But since his cousin would remarry Lu Zhuo, it showed that during the divorce, she still had a place for Lu Zhuo in her heart. Even if he had come, she wouldn’t have accepted him.

At this moment, facing Wei Rao, Huo Jue felt unprecedented peace – no regret, no sorrow, only blessings for Wei Rao.

He couldn’t stay overnight at the Princess’s mansion. Before leaving, he spoke privately with his mother, Da Zhou Shi. His wife, Song Shi, feared the cold at night, so he asked his mother to tell his cousin to prepare two extra quilts for Song Shi.

Da Zhou Shi clicked her tongue twice. She hadn’t realized her son was so caring toward his wife.

Upon learning this, Wei Rao smiled and instructed Liu Ya to make arrangements.

On the evening of the fifth, Shou’an Jun came to Wei Rao’s room again. After sitting down, she produced a small booklet.

Wei Rao’s cheeks turned red.

Shou’an Jun stared at her: “Looking at you like this, I know that year, you and the defender did nothing. I suppose you threw away the booklet I gave you before?”

Wei Rao hadn’t thrown it away. Where could she discard such a thing? It would be bad if anyone saw it. After helping Fourth Madam, Wei Rao had put the two booklets from her grandmother and maternal grandmother at the bottom of her chest.

“Keep it. I brought it anyway – whether you read it is up to you.” Having said what needed saying long ago, Shou’an Jun handed the booklet to Wei Rao and left.

Wei Rao had Bitao and Liu Ya extinguish the lights. After the two maids retired, Wei Rao secretly lit a lamp and hid inside the bed curtains, blushing and heart pounding as she carefully studied it. During her first marriage, Lu Zhuo nearly lost his life and had no strength to consummate the marriage, so Wei Rao hadn’t looked. This time was different – she should know what consummation involved.

At Duke Ying Mansion, after the evening banquet ended, Duke Ying also called Lu Zhuo to his study.

Lu Zhuo had drunk wine at the banquet. Those military officers had competed to pour him drinks. No matter how good Lu Zhuo’s alcohol tolerance was, his face was flushed.

The young heir about to become a groom radiated a kind of vigorous masculinity, very different from his usual gentle, gentlemanly manner.

Duke Ying looked his grandson up and down and snorted: “What, marrying for the second time, and you still plan to be a fake husband and wife?”

Lu Zhuo said shamefully, “I wouldn’t dare.”

Because of his confusion back then, he had not only hurt Wei Rao but also troubled the family elders to worry about him again, truly unfilial.

Duke Ying figured his grandson wasn’t that foolish. The wedding night – what young man didn’t look forward to it?

“Take this. When you return to your room, study it alone and save yourself from embarrassment tomorrow night.” Duke Ying tossed a prepared booklet to Lu Zhuo.

Lu Zhuo caught it with both hands and saw “Arts of the Bedchamber” written on the cover.

His handsome face reddened slightly as he returned to Songyue Hall under the cover of night.

After bathing, A’Gui also withdrew. Lu Zhuo sat on the bed, took out the booklet his grandfather had given him, and opened the first page with the same expression as reading military treatises.

Thirty-six illustrations total. Except for the first one, where Lu Zhuo carefully read the textual annotations, the others were self-explanatory from the pictures.

Having trained at the frontier for eight years, Lu Zhuo had heard some crude talk, but only tonight did he realize that between men and women, so many variations were possible. Though there were many variations, some positions were quite bold – even if he was willing, Wei Rao might not be.

Putting away the book, Lu Zhuo lay in bed, mind wandering until he finally fell asleep at the third watch.

Early the next morning, Lu Zhuo rose, dressed, and groomed himself. He would receive guests in the morning and at noon, then go to the Princess’s mansion to fetch his bride at the auspicious hour in the afternoon.

Four years had passed. This year, he was already twenty-four, quite advanced in age. His fifth brother, Lu Che, who had gone to fetch Wei Rao in his place back then, was now a striking sixteen-year-old youth.

Qi Zhongkai put his arm around Lu Che’s neck, mocking Lu Zhuo: “Back then, you were lying in bed, knowing nothing. Poor Little Five here had to hold a magnificent rooster. That rooster was quite unruly – Little Five was afraid it would fly away, so he held it tightly the whole way. How nervous he was!”

Lu Che elbowed him, face reddening: “I wasn’t nervous! Stop making things up!”

Third brother Lu Cong and fourth brother Lu Ze had returned from the frontier. Seeing Qi Zhongkai bullying their little brother, the two came over together, each grabbing one of Qi Zhongkai’s arms to rescue the still-slender Lu Che.

“Second Master, stop teasing our big brother. You’re twenty-five and still haven’t planned to start a family?” Lu Cong mocked, silently adding in his mind: You’re not still pining for our sister-in-law, are you?

Qi Zhongkai wasn’t pining for Wei Rao. Regarding Wei Rao, if he could marry her, he would certainly fight for it, but once Wei Rao was betrothed, he abandoned that hope. It was just that Qi Zhongkai’s beauty standards for his future wife were too high. Being coarse and burly himself, the beautiful young ladies from families matching the Qi family’s status looked down on him, while those who weren’t beautiful didn’t interest Qi Zhongkai. As for those from families of too low status, Lady Pingxi wouldn’t arrange for her son to meet them at all.

Qi Zhongkai’s marriage was thus delayed.

Mentioning this, Lu Zhuo glanced at Qi Zhongkai.

Qi Zhongkai glared back: “What are you looking at? I’m not that kind of person. You dare introduce a beauty to me, and I’ll marry her immediately!”

He Shi came looking for her son to talk. Before rounding the corridor, she heard Qi Zhongkai’s booming voice.

When she arrived, Lu Zhuo and the other young men all bowed respectfully.

Besides the five Lu cousins, only Qi Zhongkai was an outsider. He Shi’s heart warmed, and her gaze swept over Qi Zhongkai several times, making him wonder if he was wearing his clothes wrong and check himself.

He Shi called her son aside privately. After explaining some trivial matters about fetching the bride, He Shi asked excitedly: “Zhongkai keeps delaying marriage because he wants to marry a beauty?”

Lu Zhuo understood the implication and frowned: “Mother wants to marry her cousin to him?”

He Shi nodded repeatedly: “Yes, yes! Except for her humble origins, Weiyu’s appearance is only slightly inferior to Raorao’s. Zhongkai would like to meet her upon meeting.”

Lu Zhuo said, “He might like her, but his cousin might not be willing.”

He Shi didn’t understand: “What would Weiyu be unwilling about? Oh, because Zhongkai once proposed to Raorao? That’s nothing – it’s all in the past. You don’t mind and still treat him like a brother, showing Zhongkai is magnanimous. He’s also from a noble family. If Weiyu could marry him, she’d be overjoyed.”

Lu Zhuo was indeed worried about this – afraid young ladies would be petty-minded and mind that their husband had courted another woman.

But even if the cousin wanted to marry Qi Zhongkai, Qi Zhongkai’s agreement alone wasn’t enough. Lady Pingxi was extremely particular about family background and had even looked down on Wei Rao before.

Seeing her son’s disapproving expression, He Shi quickly said: “Never mind, never mind. Today is your joyous day – I won’t discuss this with you. After Raorao marries in, I’ll discuss it with her.”

Having said this, He Shi left. She found talking with her son tiresome, far less relaxing than dealing with her daughter-in-law.

As soon as Lu Zhuo parted from his mother, he quickly put the matter out of his mind.

Today, he was marrying Wei Rao into his household. Except for Wei Rao, everyone else was just a passing figure before his eyes and in his mind.