Following Emperor Yuanjia’s decree, the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau began rushing to make the wedding dress yesterday afternoon. They worked all night without closing their eyes, and by this evening, they had finally completed the elaborate wedding dress and ceremonial cape the bride would wear. These were, after all, embroiderers carefully selected to serve the imperial family in the palace. Though hastily made, there wasn’t the slightest carelessness in the wedding dress. The finest tribute silk and exquisite needlework embroidery—in terms of magnificence and grandeur, this wedding dress might not even lose to a princess consort’s wedding attire.
Wei Rao changed into the wedding dress and, supported by Bitao and Liu Ya, slowly walked forward.
Old Madam Wei, Princess Shou’an, Guo Shi and her daughter Wei Chan, Wang Shi, and the Zhou Huizhen and Zhou Huizhu sisters were all waiting outside the screen. When a figure appeared behind the screen, all the women looked over intently. Upon seeing that spread of magnificent wedding attire and Wei Rao looking like a celestial maiden from the divine palace, the women’s expressions became quite colorful.
Those feeling pride mixed with pity were Old Madam Wei and Princess Shou’an—proud of Wei Rao’s beauty, pitying that she was only marrying to bring good luck.
Those feeling envy and jealousy were Guo Shi and Wei Chan, Wang Shi and Zhou Huizhen.
There was also one who was stunned speechless, then became foolishly happy—that was cousin Zhou Huizhu, who had always been close to Wei Rao.
“Try on the phoenix crown,” Old Madam Wei instructed Fei Cui.
Without Fei Cui needing to act, a female official sent from the palace reverently lifted the heavy phoenix crown from a tray spread with red silk and carefully placed it on Wei Rao’s head. This phoenix crown was also an imperial gift, prepared in the palace for princesses about to marry. Emperor Yuanjia had no daughters, but every dynasty before the previous emperor had several princesses, so naturally, plenty of phoenix crowns were prepared.
The phoenix crown was a double-dragon single-phoenix design. The red gold crown was covered with kingfisher feathers and precious jewels. At the front alone, there were no fewer than ten ruby and sapphire stones the size of thumbs, not to mention the strings and clusters of bean-sized smaller gems inlaid along the brim and other edges. Just this one phoenix crown—if you melted down the gold and removed the gems and pearls to sell separately—could fetch tens of thousands of taels of silver.
The more Guo Shi looked, the more sour her heart became. The phoenix crown her eldest daughter wore when marrying Prince Duan as princess consort was of similar specifications. Wei Rao was only marrying a dying heir of Duke Ying—why should her outfit be inferior to her eldest daughter’s?
On one hand, Guo Shi felt Wei Rao didn’t deserve it; on the other, she felt immense regret. If it were her second daughter Wei Chan marrying Lu Zhuo and wearing such an outfit, throughout the capital, her daughter’s wedding would be the most magnificent!
Guo Shi had at least seen similar outfits before, but Wei Rao’s maternal aunt Wang Shi and cousin Zhou Huizhen had never seen anything like it. Their eyes were practically flying toward those dazzling, brilliant gemstones!
“Good, take it off now,” Princess Shou’an said with a smile, seeing Wei Rao suffering under the weight of the phoenix crown.
The moment the phoenix crown was removed, Wei Rao truly breathed a sigh of relief.
Both the phoenix crown and ceremonial cape fit perfectly. Wei Rao went inside to change clothes, and the female officials from the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau also had to return to the palace to report.
Tomorrow, Wei Rao would marry. Both Old Madam Wei and Princess Shou’an wanted to speak intimately with their precious one.
The two old ladies looked at each other, neither willing to leave first, so they sent away their respective daughters-in-law and granddaughters.
“In-law’s mother has worked hard organizing the wedding for two days. Go rest quickly—I’ll sit with Raorao a while longer,” Princess Shou’an plopped down on Wei Rao’s bed and said to Old Madam Wei with a smile.
Old Madam Wei thought: Your daughter has remarried—who are you calling in-law mother?
However, Old Madam Wei knew Princess Shou’an didn’t follow the rules. If she argued with Princess Shou’an, she’d probably be the one getting angry.
“I’ll rest on the couch outside for a while. Say what you need to say quickly,” Old Madam Wei decided to yield, planning to come back in after Princess Shou’an left.
Wei Rao personally helped Old Madam Wei to the outer room, leaving the maids outside to serve her grandmother while she walked back inside.
“Maternal Grandmother just likes bullying Grandmother,” Wei Rao said quite fairly as she sat beside Princess Shou’an.
Princess Shou’an snorted: “How long do you spend filially serving her each year, and how long do you spend being filial by my side?”
Wei Rao stopped arguing and knelt behind Princess Shou’an, wanting to massage her grandmother’s back.
Princess Shou’an pulled her back, grasping Wei Rao’s small hands: “Forget it—who needs you to serve me? You have to get up early tomorrow and will be tired enough. I won’t waste words. Let me first tell you about the trousseau I gave you.”
When Princess Shou’an left the palace years ago, Emperor Yuanjia granted her a villa, a thousand mu of good farmland, and several chests of gold, silver, and precious jewels.
Princess Shou’an had planned that these family assets would be divided among her several grandchildren.
The villa was too conspicuous—even ordinary nobles would feel guilty living there, so Princess Shou’an would leave the villa to her grandson, Fourth Prince.
The thousand mu of farmland was divided into five portions—Zhou Huizhen, Zhou Huizhu, Wei Rao, Huo Jue, and Huo Lin would each get two hundred mu. These farmlands weren’t connected, which was why there were so many land deeds. Over the years since leaving the palace, Princess Shou’an had used Emperor Yuanjia’s rewards and the farmland’s income to acquire many shops, mostly in other regions—over twenty large and small ones. This time Wei Rao also received four.
Wei Rao’s eyes reddened: “You’re giving everything to us—what about yourself?”
Princess Shou’an smiled: “I’m keeping a few shops, so I won’t lack income. I’ve also saved money for old age over the years—enough for me to live comfortably until I die naturally. Besides, won’t you younger ones be filial to me?”
“We’ll be filial. My wine house makes money—from now on, I’ll give you dividends every year, plus the shops you’re giving me.” Wei Rao hugged her grandmother, wiping her tears on her grandmother’s shoulder.
Princess Shou’an embraced her granddaughter. After explaining the dowry matters, she began worrying about Wei Rao’s life at Duke Ying Mansion.
Wei Rao said confidently: “Maternal Grandmother needn’t worry about this. When have I ever let myself be wronged?”
Princess Shou’an scoffed: “Bringing good luck is the biggest wrong. You think you’re clever, but you’re foolish.”
Wei Rao wouldn’t listen and acted coquettishly to change the subject.
Princess Shou’an took a small booklet from her sleeve and stuffed it into Wei Rao’s hands: “Regardless, Maternal Grandmother still hopes you can bring Lu Zhuo back to life and that he’ll have the wisdom to recognize and cherish you. If he’s truly good and you two will eventually consummate the marriage, look at this before then to avoid unnecessary suffering.”
Wei Rao hadn’t thought about consummation at all. Lu Zhuo was unconscious, and even if he woke up, he probably wouldn’t have the strength to do anything for now.
But she was still curious and opened the booklet her grandmother had given her. Casually flipping through it, she saw two scantily clad figures embracing. If both people had been completely naked, Wei Rao would definitely not have looked, but precisely because they were only scantily clad, making it unclear at first glance what they were doing, she looked down carefully. Wei Rao snapped the booklet shut with a “pa,” her face turning bright red, her eyes full of disgust: “Disgusting! Maternal Grandmother, you…”
She couldn’t continue.
Princess Shou’an was amused by the young girl’s innocence and quietly explained: “The pictures in the book are conspicuous and deliberately drawn darkly—it’s not that ugly…”
Wei Rao covered her ears, not wanting to know what a man’s thing looked like at all.
Princess Shou’an didn’t force her and laughed: “Alright, alright, put it away first. If you need it in the future, you can look then.”
Hearing this, Wei Rao wanted to return the booklet to her grandmother.
Princess Shou’an wouldn’t take it and walked away quickly.
Wei Rao had no choice but to hide the improper booklet under her pillow, afraid her grandmother would see it.
Old Madam Wei came in and, seeing her little granddaughter’s rare blushing and shy appearance, guessed what Princess Shou’an had said.
Old Madam Wei pretended not to know, sat on the bed, and like Princess Shou’an, took Wei Rao’s small hands and stuffed several bank notes into them.
Wei Rao exclaimed, “Grandmother, didn’t you already prepare my dowry?”
She had seen the dowry list—it wasn’t less than when her eldest cousin married as Princess Duan. Earl Cheng’an’s mansion wasn’t wealthy, and Wei Rao felt sorry that her grandmother had prepared so much for her, fearing she hadn’t left anything for herself.
Old Madam Wei said, “That’s the public dowry. When your Third Sister marries in the future, it will be the same. This is what Grandmother is privately giving you—your three older sisters don’t have this. They have fathers and mothers, so it’s not my turn to worry. Only you are a pitiful little one. If Grandmother doesn’t favor you, who should she favor?”
Wei Rao lowered her head and leaned into her grandmother’s embrace, choking up: “Grandmother is worse than Maternal Grandmother, deliberately trying to make me cry.”
Old Madam Wei stroked her head, feeling heartache, reluctance, and worry, not knowing where to begin.
To ease this heavy emotion, Old Madam Wei wiped her eyes and stuffed another small booklet into Wei Rao’s hands, saying with mixed tears and laughter: “Princess Shou’an must have talked to you about consummation. I just don’t know if she prepared anything. Take this…”
“I have one!” Wei Rao was so embarrassed and annoyed that she forgot to cry, refusing to take another no matter what.
Old Madam Wei glanced at the bed, first feeling under the pillow. Ignoring the red-faced Wei Rao with her head down, Old Madam Wei flipped through the one Princess Shou’an had given. Finding that Princess Shou’an’s booklet had more variety and more exquisite artwork, Old Madam Wei snorted, weighed her options, and still left Princess Shou’an’s booklet for Wei Rao.
“It’s getting late. Sleep early,” Old Madam Wei couldn’t delay further. Even for bringing good luck, tomorrow her granddaughter should get married in her most beautiful state.
Wei Rao saw off the two elders who loved her, returned to her room, and quietly put both her maternal grandmother’s booklet and her grandmother’s bank notes into the trunk where she kept her private money.
Bitao came in to extinguish the lights, instructing her to sleep early before leaving.
Wei Rao lay alone in bed. With the wedding imminent, she inevitably thought of the groom, Lu Zhuo.
That fellow—just how sick was he? So young, could he be about to die like this?
If Lu Zhuo died, Wei Rao could simply live according to the first two conditions for bringing good luck, which would cause fewer troubles.
If Lu Zhuo survived, would such a proud and aloof person be willing to be a real husband and wife with her?
If Lu Zhuo were willing, Wei Rao would also cooperate. After all, his appearance, background, and talents were beyond criticism, and he was born into a military family with a tradition of not taking concubines without good reason. Wei Rao felt she couldn’t find a husband more excellent than Lu Zhuo even if she searched again. Being a real husband and wife would give her both substance and face.
If Lu Zhuo wasn’t willing…
Wei Rao hugged her quilt and let out a cold laugh.
If Lu Zhuo wasn’t willing, it meant he looked down on her. If that were truly the case, aside from demanding the respect she deserved and pretending to be a loving couple with Lu Zhuo in public, Wei Rao would never give Lu Zhuo the slightest good face in private. A man who looked down on her—no matter how high his status, how handsome his appearance, or how good his martial arts—Wei Rao would disdain to curry favor with or please him.
She slept dreamlessly through the night. The next day was the thirteenth of the twelfth month—the good day the entire capital was waiting for to watch for excitement.
Earl Cheng’an’s mansion was filled with guests. After Wei Rao dressed elaborately in her wedding attire, she sat in her chamber, only waiting for Duke Ying Mansion to come for the wedding procession.
The groom, Lu Zhuo, lay ill in bed, unconscious. Duke Ying Mansion sent his youngest cousin, Lu Che, to represent his brother in the wedding procession.
Twelve-year-old Lu Che, with red lips, white teeth, and a face like white jade, sat on horseback with a forced smile.
The gazes of the watching crowd all fell on what Lu Che held in his arms.
There was a large rooster with a golden crest, red feathers, and a black tail—its plumage gleaming and its spirit vigorous. Its eyes were slightly narrowed, actually possessing quite a bit of the noble bearing of a high-ranking person looking down on the world.
This large rooster was the true “groom,” symbolizing Duke Ying’s heir Lu Zhuo.