Lu Zhuo desired Wei Rao, and Wei Rao wanted to learn military leadership from him. Simply reading military texts wouldn’t suffice – naturally, there were times when she needed Lu Zhuo to explain things to her, and whenever such moments arose, she would actively deliver herself to his door.

“You’ve gotten tanned,” Lu Zhuo said, kissing her neck and noticing the faint dividing line visible at her collar, teasing her in a low voice.

If Wei Rao said she didn’t care at all, that would be false. However, this kind of temporary tanning would fade back to white after some protection from the sun, just like Lu Zhuo – his skin tone varied between winter and summer. In summer, he would get slightly tanned from traveling on the road, but by winter, he would quickly return to his jade-like complexion.

“You’re even darker.” Wei Rao lifted his chin and looked at his face.

Lu Zhuo had arrived at the military camp before her, spending more time in the sun, and unlike Wei Rao, he refused to apply the precious palace beauty cream before sleep. The black and white dividing line on his neck was even clearer than Wei Rao’s.

“No matter how dark, I’m still your man,” Lu Zhuo suddenly exerted force, blocking Wei Rao’s teasing.

These midday private meetings were delightful – Lu Zhuo enjoyed them, and Wei Rao did too. However, once they left the tent, both had to put on different faces, deliberately leading others to misinterpret the flush on their faces as anger from an unpleasant encounter.

However, Wei Rao was busy with training and didn’t have much energy or stamina to fool around with Lu Zhuo. Lu Zhuo was even busier than her – Ganzhou’s two hundred thousand garrison troops weren’t all concentrated in the Ganzhou main camp, but were divided among four locations: fifty thousand each in Ganzhou, Suzhou, Ningzhou, and Liangzhou. Currently, Lu Zhuo was responsible for training the hundred thousand soldiers in Ganzhou and Suzhou, while Meng Kuo led the hundred thousand in Ningzhou and Liangzhou. Therefore, Lu Zhuo frequently traveled between Ganzhou and Suzhou.

A month later, the soldier under Adjutant General He, who had requested marriage leave, returned and rejoined his unit that day.

Wei Rao had more or less mastered how to train soldiers, but she still didn’t want to return to Ganzhou City early.

Lu Zhuo was also reluctant to let her go. Wei Rao had only learned the simplest soldier training – to truly learn military leadership, there was still much to study.

Thus, Wei Rao continued to remain in the military camp under the identity of Lu Zhuo’s cousin. During the day, Lu Zhuo took her wherever he went, teaching her hands-on. Wei Rao listened with her ears and observed with her eyes, and in the evenings, the two would study military texts together. Two months passed without them realizing it.

This day, Lu Zhuo was to lead fifty thousand elite troops to a mountain valley between Suzhou and Ningzhou for combat exercises with Meng Kuo’s fifty thousand elite troops.

Wei Rao was going too.

Before dawn, all the soldiers had risen. Wei Rao came to Lu Zhuo’s side for breakfast. Today, as fifty thousand soldiers were about to depart, the kitchen had prepared meat pies and stew to boost morale. Naturally, Lu Zhuo and Wei Rao ate the same food as what came from the kitchen.

The meat pies contained some pickled vegetables and were baked golden on the surface, giving off the aroma of pickled vegetables and meat.

When Wei Rao entered from outside, she was immediately overwhelmed by the smell. Usually, she found it pleasant, but now her stomach churned, and she hurriedly backed out.

“Young Master?” Zhao Song asked strangely.

Wei Rao waved her hand and stood with her back to him, silently calming herself.

Lu Zhuo came out and saw her standing to the side with an odd expression. Concerned, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

Wei Rao had a vague suspicion. Lu Zhuo’s mother, He Shi, was eager to hold a grandchild and had told her about various symptoms that might occur in early pregnancy. Wei Rao hadn’t felt anything when she wasn’t nauseous, but now she suddenly remembered that she had just finished her monthly cycle before coming to the military camp. Yet after moving here for two months, it had never come again.

After watching today’s war exercise, she would return to Ganzhou City. Once back, she would have a physician come to check her pulse.

“It’s nothing, my nose is just a bit itchy,” Wei Rao smiled.

Lu Zhuo glanced at her elegant, straight nose and lifted the tent flap to invite her in.

After breakfast, the fifty thousand troops had also finished assembling. Lu Zhuo mounted his horse, Wei Rao followed beside him, and they set off toward the exercise location with great momentum.

After marching for a day, they arrived at the valley in the evening and set up camp.

Early the next morning, the two armies faced each other.

Lu Zhuo was the commanding general and didn’t need to personally enter the fray. He brought his guards to a hill to observe and command from a distance.

The weather was clear, but the clash of a hundred thousand troops raised dust several feet high, blocking out the sun. Meng Kuo’s fifty thousand troops charged like a herd of bulls, crashing directly toward Lu Zhuo’s forces. However, Lu Zhuo’s fifty thousand soldiers divided into formation units, like wolf packs hunting, quickly scattering the bull herd, then rapidly changing formations to surround and encircle them.

This was the Wolf Kill Formation that Lu Zhuo had created specifically to counter Meng Kuo’s proud Iron Bull Regiment. Each formation of a hundred men formed a small wolf pack, and once the enemy was scattered, five neighboring small formations would quickly combine into a large wolf pack to hunt down the enemy soldiers trapped within.

When Wei Rao had heard Lu Zhuo explain this formation, she had thought it very formidable. Now, witnessing the power of the Wolf Kill Formation with her own eyes, Wei Rao couldn’t help but feel her heart surge with excitement. She secretly glanced at Lu Zhuo, seeing him in silver armor mounted on his horse, gazing at the distant battlefield with a gentle expression and peaceful demeanor, like a scholarly gentleman.

As if possessed by a ghost, Wei Rao suddenly thought of Lu Zhuo in the tent – domineering and forceful, as if each thrust was meant to scatter her reason, like those wild wolves charging into the bull herd.

Her body suddenly grew hot. Wei Rao withdrew her gaze and continued watching the battle.

After half a day of fierce fighting, Meng Kuo was defeated, surrounded, and captured, then brought before Lu Zhuo.

Meng Kuo’s face was ashen.

Lu Zhuo personally untied the ropes binding him and said with a smile, “The Deputy General’s Iron Bull Army is renowned throughout the Northwest. This junior began planning how to break your formation while on the road to Ganzhou. Only by calculating with preparation against the unprepared did I manage to win by luck. Now that the Deputy General has experienced this junior’s Wolf Kill Formation, given time, you will surely devise strategies to break it. When we fight again, who knows who will win or lose?”

Having been defeated, Meng Kuo had expected this young man, Lu Zhuo, to take the opportunity to mock him, but he never expected Lu Zhuo to say such words.

Meng Kuo had long heard about Lu Zhuo’s Wolf Kill Formation drills, but having never experienced it himself, he had underestimated his opponent. As Lu Zhuo said, given time, he would get his revenge.

Meng Kuo had this confidence, but defeat was defeat. A real battlefield wouldn’t give him a second chance. That Lu Zhuo could defeat him at such a young age – Meng Kuo was completely convinced!

“General, there’s no need to be modest. By the time I figure out how to break the Wolf Kill Formation, you’ll have already developed new formations. The Shenwu Army’s might shakes the world, and every man of the Lu family is a hero. I, Meng Kuo, am convinced!” Meng Kuo struck his chest with his fist and knelt on one knee before Lu Zhuo. Previously, Meng Kuo failed to recognize Mount Tai. From today on, Meng Kuo submits to the General’s command!”

Lu Zhuo helped him up with both hands, saying, “This junior’s qualifications are still shallow. I hope the Deputy General will assist me, so that together we can guard the frontier’s stability.”

Meng Kuo nodded emphatically.

Lu Zhuo still had to return to the military camp, while Wei Rao was directly escorted back to Ganzhou City by Zhao Song.

“Princess, you’re finally back! How did you get so tanned?” Bitao and Liu Ya came running out eagerly. Seeing their tanned mistress, both maids were heartbroken.

Zhao Song stood right behind the Princess. Glancing at the Princess’s face, which still looked fair and clean to him, then at Bitao’s distressed expression, his heart sank. If the Princess counted as dark in this condition, wouldn’t his face be black as coal? With him being so dark, if he asked the Princess to arrange a marriage with Bitao, would Bitao agree?

Wei Rao comforted the two maids and said to Zhao Song with a smile, “Alright, you go back to the military camp and report our safe arrival to the Young Master.”

Zhao Song nodded, secretly glanced at Bitao, remounted his horse, and left.

After Zhao Song left, Wei Rao said to A’Gui nearby, “The sun was too strong, and I feel somewhat unwell. Go fetch a physician.”

Upon hearing this, A’Gui immediately arranged for a nimble servant to fetch the best physician in the city, while Bitao and Liu Ya helped Wei Rao into the inner residence, caring for her in every way.

Wei Rao first took a bath, changed back into women’s clothing, and had just finished arranging her hair when the physician arrived.

The two maids accompanied her to the front courtyard together.

They stayed by Wei Rao’s side constantly, while A’Gui stood guard at the door. If the Princess was truly ill, he would need to send someone to inform the Young Master.

The respected elderly physician took Wei Rao’s pulse for a while, glanced at A’Gui, who was peering around, and asked a few questions in a low voice. After receiving confirmation, the old physician smiled and said, “Congratulations, Princess. This is a pregnancy pulse. Judging by the pulse, it’s been more than a month.”

Wei Rao had already suspected this, so she only smiled upon hearing the news.

Bitao and Liu Ya were so happy they were about to jump up. A’Gui outside heard everything. After the physician left, A’Gui excitedly asked Wei Rao, “Princess, such great news! Shall you write a letter for me to send to the Young Master?”

Wei Rao shook her head and instructed him, “I want to surprise the Young Master. None of you is allowed to leak this news.”

A’Gui understood and repeatedly promised not to reveal the secret.

Wei Rao looked at her belly, thinking about how she and Lu Zhuo had used various pretenses for their encounters in the military camp, acting like thieves without making a sound. She had thought even Zhao Song didn’t know what they were doing, but now that she was pregnant, Zhao Song would easily guess if he thought about it.

Wei Rao’s face reddened slightly. After all, Zhao Song was Lu Zhuo’s man, and having Zhao Song know these things was quite embarrassing.

Three days later, Lu Zhuo returned.

From Zhao Bai and A’Gui to Bitao and Liu Ya, everyone pretended that everything in the mansion was normal.

Lu Zhuo first bathed in the front courtyard, washing away his sweat, then eagerly rushed to the inner residence to find Wei Rao.

As soon as he arrived, Bitao and Liu Ya tactfully withdrew to the covered walkway.

Wei Rao sat lazily on the couch with a military text in her hands. When Lu Zhuo entered, she only glanced at him indifferently before continuing to read.

Though it was daytime, he couldn’t contain the fire in his heart. In the military camp, they had always been sneaky, but finally, back home, Lu Zhuo picked up Wei Rao and went straight to the inner chamber.

Wei Rao lay soft as boneless in his arms, letting him hold her and kiss her, feeling Lu Zhuo’s passion for her. When Lu Zhuo was about to untie her sash, Wei Rao leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Let me tell you a secret.”

Lu Zhuo’s movements paused as he lifted his head from her neck.

Wei Rao hooked her arms around his neck with a smile, her eyes seductive as silk.

Lu Zhuo’s throat moved: “What secret that must be told right now?” If it were insignificant, he would ignore it.

Wei Rao deliberately teased him: “Guess.”

Lu Zhuo didn’t want to guess and pressed down again.

Having teased him enough, Wei Rao finally grabbed his hair and said, “You’re going to be a father.”

Before she finished speaking, Lu Zhuo suddenly raised his head, looking at her with disbelief.

Wei Rao glared at him bashfully and reproachfully: “It’s all your doing. Now everyone will guess what we’ve been up to.”

Lu Zhuo was still immersed in the joy of becoming a father. He looked down at Wei Rao’s abdomen – their child was growing there?

“Did you have a physician examine you?” Lu Zhuo’s heart pounded like a drum, yet he worried Wei Rao was deceiving him. She was like a cunning fox who enjoyed playing tricks on him for fun.

Wei Rao snorted, “If you don’t believe me, go ask A’Gui.”

Lu Zhuo stood up, straightened his clothes, and strode out.

Wei Rao lay stunned on the bed. Before long, Lu Zhuo returned and held her, kissing her passionately.

Meanwhile, Zhao Song also heard the news of the Princess’s pregnancy from his younger brother Zhao Bai.

Zhao Song smiled, not surprised at all.

Although each time the Young Master invited the Princess into his tent under the pretext of explaining military texts, during those sessions that lasted half an hour each time, how could he, standing guard outside the tent, not hear any conversation? Were the masters afraid he would steal their knowledge?

Zhao Song only hoped this pregnancy would produce a young master. A young master conceived in the military camp would surely be extraordinary.