Just discussing He Shi’s plan to matchmake He Weiyu with Qi Zhongkai took up the entire dinner.

After rinsing their mouths, Lu Zhuo looked at Wei Rao, “Then I’ll head over first?”

Wei Rao hesitated, wanting to discuss her plan to open a wood carving shop with Lu Zhuo. But she wondered if Lu Zhuo, being such a proud aristocratic young master, would be interested in doing business, lest she open her mouth only to be mocked by him again. However, this matter really couldn’t bypass Lu Zhuo. Just that set of soldier wood carvings alone—she couldn’t draw them. It required someone like Lu Zhuo, who was familiar with military camp situations.

“What’s the matter?” Seeing her expression was off, Lu Zhuo asked seriously.

Wei Rao bit her lip and said softly, “I want to open a shop.”

She watched Lu Zhuo with her eyes. If Lu Zhuo showed even the slightest resistance, Wei Rao would ask someone else to design the soldier wood carvings.

Lu Zhuo could understand her probing and smiled, “If you want to open one, then open it. What’s so difficult about it?”

Wei Rao breathed a sigh of relief and called Lu Zhuo to follow her to the study with a smile.

The sky had already darkened. After Bitao and Liu Ya lit the lamps, they withdrew. Wei Rao took out the papers she had spent the entire afternoon pondering and revising—ten sheets in total, divided into two stacks and placed in front of Lu Zhuo: “Today, when I went to pay respects to Grandmother, Fourth Aunt and Sixth Brother were also there. I saw the set of wood carvings you made for Fourth Brother and thought that if we opened such a wood carving shop, business should be quite good too.”

“It’s actually like playing house, just divided into ten scenarios. The five sheets on the left are what boys would prefer to play with—the scenes are, respectively: tavern hospitality, farm planting, battlefield fighting, school studying, and garden construction. The ones on the right are what girls would prefer: boudoir grooming, flower viewing gatherings, birthday banquet hosting, temple incense offering, and lantern festival viewing. Of course, after these things are made and displayed in the shop, how adults distribute them to boys and girls when they buy them home is entirely up to them. Like Changning and me, we’d also enjoy playing with the boys’ set.”

Objects were inanimate, but people were alive. Children would naturally beg their parents to buy whichever ones they wanted to play with.

Lu Zhuo listened to her enthusiastic introduction while examining the papers in his hands.

These were just Wei Rao’s initial drafts, designing the scope of scenarios and listing what wooden figurines and wooden objects were needed. But the specific details of how the figurines should be carved, the details of the objects, etc., still require experts to design. For instance, things like war chariots and siege ladders—only military generals like Lu Zhuo, who had seen them, could draw them accurately. As for what jewelry refined ladies commonly used in their boudoirs, Wei Rao understood better than Lu Zhuo.

After Lu Zhuo finished looking at these drawings, he thought that if these things existed, when he and Wei Rao had children, he would buy them for the children.

Parents throughout the world were the same, seeing any good things suitable for children, they wanted to give them to their children. The wealthy would buy fine ones, the poor would buy roughly crafted ones, or even remember the general appearance of the wood carvings to make them at home. Regardless, once Wei Rao’s shop opened, it definitely wouldn’t lack for business.

By the time other wood carving shops wanted to imitate, Wei Rao’s shop would have already established its reputation.

“I think it’s feasible.”

After looking at the last drawing, Lu Zhuo raised his head and gave Wei Rao a definite answer.

Wei Rao was very happy. She pulled out the battlefield drawing, which she had sketched most roughly and simply, knowing Lu Zhuo had better ones: “I haven’t seen war chariots—help me draw this one?”

For the others, like taverns, farms, temples, etc., Wei Rao could easily find people to draw them. For the school, she could ask her cousin Wei Zizhan to help.

Hearing this, Lu Zhuo wrapped one arm around Wei Rao’s waist and pulled her onto his lap. As soon as Wei Rao sat steadily, his breath came to her ear: “If I help the Princess draw, what reward will the Princess give me?”

Wei Rao was about to speak when she suddenly noticed something unusual beneath her. This lustful scoundrel, Lu Zhuo, was actually…

“I don’t need you anymore. I’ll ask Fourth Aunt for help and request drawings from Fourth Uncle.” Wei Rao was made to get up but was held down by Lu Zhuo, who turned her shoulders and kissed her.

The lamp burned quietly, and the night outside grew deeper and deeper.

Bitao stood guard under the corridor eaves. She knew the Princess wanted to discuss the wood carving business with the heir apparent and had prepared to stand for a while longer. But not long after, surprised exclamations and coquettish scolding suddenly came from inside. Bitao couldn’t help but turn back, and when she stretched her ears to listen, familiar sounds came out.

Bitao’s face flushed red. Seeing Liu Ya coming from the small kitchen with tea, Bitao ran over quickly and pulled Liu Ya away to hide.

In the study.

Ten sheets of drawings lay scattered randomly on the floor, all swept down by their sleeves.

Wei Rao was already angry to begin with, and seeing those drawings made her even angrier. Lu Zhuo crouched down with her shoes and socks, wanting to put them on for her. Wei Rao gritted her teeth and kicked his knee with one foot. Who would have thought Lu Zhuo crouched so steadily that he didn’t even waver, and even caught her jade-white foot and playfully pinched it.

“Scoundrel,” Wei Rao said with a red face.

She had seen pictures of study rooms in the little booklets her maternal grandmother had given her. It was shameful enough seeing others fool around—today, Lu Zhuo learned such behavior too!

Lu Zhuo dared to act and take responsibility, letting her heap all kinds of curses on him while smiling and helping her put on socks and embroidered shoes on both feet.

“It’s getting late. I’ll escort you back to your room and give you the drawing tomorrow morning,” Lu Zhuo said, helping her up.

Wei Rao’s legs trembled slightly, but hearing Lu Zhuo’s intention to rush the drawing for her later, being so dedicated, Wei Rao forgave him and snorted, “There’s no need to be so urgent. You can draw it when you have time.”

Lu Zhuo looked at her flushed profile and asked, “Is the Princess concerned about me, not wanting me to stay up late?”

Wei Rao glared at him. When they reached the study door, she shook off Lu Zhuo’s hand, adjusted her hairpin, and walked out as if nothing had happened.

Lu Zhuo followed her.

Hearing footsteps, Wei Rao pointed toward the corridor.

Lu Zhuo smiled helplessly. But tonight he was supposed to stay in the front courtyard anyway. Being able to have her once in the study was already taking advantage.

The next day, Wei Rao first told He Shi about Lu Zhuo’s arrangement.

He Shi was overjoyed, as if certain that once Qi Zhongkai saw He Weiyu, he would like her.

Wei Rao had just met He Weiyu briefly. If Qi Zhongkai truly only wanted to marry a beauty and wasn’t picky about anything else, He Weiyu could satisfy Qi Zhongkai’s requirements. No wonder He Shi was confident.

“Mother, first ask cousin’s opinion. If cousin is willing, then we’ll have the heir apparent make arrangements,” Wei Rao said, more worried about He Weiyu’s attitude. “Oh, and Second Master Qi and I have some rumors between us. Mother must explain clearly to cousin that this is all your idea—it’s not that I want to matchmake her with Second Master Qi.”

He Shi laughed, “I know, I know. I’ll talk to her in a couple of days. Just wait for my news.”

Wei Rao then focused on preparing to open the wood carving shop.

Since she wasn’t living at the Princess Manor, Eunuch Wei was quite idle, so Wei Rao assigned him the task of scouting shops and wood carving masters. She was mainly responsible for drawing out the detailed wood carving designs first. Except for the school drawing, which she gave to her cousin, and the battlefield one to Lu Zhuo, Wei Rao completely entrusted the other eight drawings to her prospective brother-in-law, Zhang Xian.

Zhang Xian had finished his examinations and was waiting for the results to be announced. Besides scholarship, Zhang Xian was especially skilled at painting. When Wei Rao asked him for help with drawings, Zhang Xian readily agreed and immediately went to gather inspiration from taverns, leisure estates, temples, and other places. For some details that only women would know, Shou’an Jun would naturally guide him.

At the Duke’s mansion, He Shi patiently waited several days before finally bringing up the marriage matter with He Weiyu.

He Shi was truly satisfied with Qi Zhongkai. Not to mention Qi Zhongkai’s family background, what she valued most was Qi Zhongkai as a person—one look showed he was an informal, hot-blooded man. Such a man wouldn’t mind He Weiyu’s family background. As long as He Weiyu was beautiful enough and their temperaments were compatible, Qi Zhongkai would dote on his wife.

He Shi had never praised even Lu Zhuo so enthusiastically.

He Weiyu had never met Qi Zhongkai, but she knew Qi Zhongkai was good friends with her cousin and that Qi Zhongkai had sought to marry her cousin-in-law Wei Rao.

Her cousin liked Wei Rao so much that even after divorcing, he had to pursue her again. When paying respects at Chunhe Hall, he only regarded her as a sister. He Weiyu had long given up on the idea of being her cousin’s concubine. If she could marry Qi Zhongkai and marry into Marquis Pingxi’s mansion, that would be the second time the He family’s ancestral tomb had produced auspicious smoke.

“Would Second Master fancy me?” He Weiyu touched her face, feeling uncertain. “I’m far inferior to a cousin-in-law.”

Cousin-in-law was beautiful, knew swordplay, could ride horses, had a rich dowry, and even became a princess. She couldn’t compare in any aspect.

He Shi smiled, “You’re not as beautiful as the Princess—but how many refined ladies in the capital can compare in beauty with the Princess? But I dare guarantee that as long as Second Master Qi sees you, his eyes will go straight, just like when your uncle first saw me.”

He Weiyu looked up. The aunt before her, though nearly forty years old, was still beautiful enough to surpass the other madams of the Lu family.

She resembled her aunt.

He Weiyu finally gained some confidence.

After He Shi had encouraged He Weiyu, she passed the news to Wei Rao.

Wei Rao confirmed, “Cousin is willing to go see Second Master Qi?”

He Shi replied, “Willing, willing. She’s even worried Second Master Qi won’t fancy her.”

Wei Rao breathed a sigh of relief. If He Weiyu still harbored lingering feelings for Lu Zhuo, then helping to matchmake He Weiyu with Qi Zhongkai would make her feel guilty toward Qi Zhongkai. The current situation was good—Qi Zhongkai had liked her, He Weiyu had liked Lu Zhuo, but neither was the devoted type. The past was past. As long as the two could take a liking to each other and treat each other wholeheartedly, she and Lu Zhuo wouldn’t have made a wrong match.

In the blink of an eye, it was the end of the month.

Early in the morning, the four members of the Lu family’s first branch set out for Yunwu Mountain. Lu Zhuo rode his horse while Wei Rao and He Weiyu sat on either side of He Shi in the carriage.

He Weiyu felt somewhat embarrassed facing Wei Rao, always keeping her eyes lowered, appearing gentle and weak with a pitiful beauty.

As a cousin, besides having no worries about food and clothing, He Weiyu spent most of her time secluded in Chunhe Hall with He Shi. Her only playmate was Lu Changning. No wonder she had developed such a timid nature. Even when she had harbored feelings for Lu Zhuo, she had only dared to follow along when Lu Changning came looking for Wei Rao, never daring to come to Songyue Hall on her own normally.

Thinking of Qi Zhongkai’s booming voice, Wei Rao smiled and reminded He Weiyu, “Cousin, the heir apparent said that Second Master Qi has a straightforward nature and a chivalrous heart. He’s very easy to get along with, but he’s rather imposing in build, with sword-like brows and tiger eyes, and a voice loud as thunder. Ordinary refined ladies might be somewhat afraid upon seeing him. If cousin has the opportunity to meet Second Master Qi today, don’t be scared into hiding.”

This was the first time He Weiyu had heard such a detailed introduction about Qi Zhongkai, and she couldn’t help feeling panicked. Was Qi Zhongkai very frightening-looking?

He Shi looked over and said, “Right, Weiyu must not be afraid. I heard Second Master Qi has been to several matchmaking meetings. He won’t look at those who aren’t beautiful, but the beauties he fancies think he’s too imposing. If Weiyu wants to marry him, she must be brave, lest Second Master Qi dislikes you for being timid.”

The more she emphasized this, the more nervous He Weiyu became. In her mind, Second Master Qi had already transformed into a black-faced general like a door god.