“Excellence comes from diligence, while failure comes from negligence.” In practicing sword and martial arts, Wei Rao always remembered this teaching from her master.
Before age eleven, Wei Rao was just a pampered little girl. Though playful, her other habits were similar to ordinary young ladies, never thinking of wielding swords or weapons. It wasn’t until she was harmed by icy water and could only lie in bed resting, lying there every day feeling terrible with no other way to relieve it, that Wei Rao understood the importance of good health and self-protection.
Emperor Yuanjia’s arrangement of a martial arts master for her was done very secretly. In all of Cheng’an Earl Mansion, only Grandmother, Old Madam Wei knew the master’s true identity. Everyone else considered the master merely a female physician skilled in treating women’s health, sent by her maternal grandmother.
After learning martial arts, her health improved, and she no longer feared ordinary assassins when going out. With such obvious benefits, even without her master’s presence, Wei Rao wouldn’t be foolish enough to slacken.
Half an hour of sword practice, a quarter hour of meditation—by this time, the sky had brightened slightly.
Wei Rao opened her eyes, feeling refreshed and not tired from the early morning practice.
Today, she and Lu Zhuo would serve tea to the Lu family elders.
“Miss, should we change your makeup?” Liu Ya took out the rouge box and inquired.
During the past few days, when Lu Zhuo was too haggard, Wei Rao had applied dignified young lady makeup, deliberately concealing her natural alluring beauty. Now that Lu Zhuo’s recovery was imminent, Wei Rao felt she no longer needed to hide her talents.
Before marriage, she hid her beauty because, as an unmarried lady, being too seductive was inappropriate and would invite gossip. Now she was Lu Zhuo’s wife, a newlywed bride; however, alluring or charming she appeared had proper justification.
Honestly, Wei Rao didn’t like applying too much powder and rouge to her face.
“Change it. Light makeup, no need to pretend to be docile anymore,” Wei Rao smiled at herself in the mirror.
Being a fake wife to Lu Zhuo had another advantage—she didn’t need to consider whether Lu Zhuo or other Lu family members would like what she did. As long as she didn’t deliberately embarrass Duke Ying Mansion, neither Lu Zhuo nor Duchess Ying could criticize her for anything, especially Duchess Ying, who wholeheartedly considered Lu Zhuo’s lifesaver.
Wei Rao had naturally good features, so since it was light makeup, Liu Ya finished quickly.
Wei Rao stood up. The two maids circled her, confirming nothing was amiss. Wei Rao smiled and walked out of the inner chamber, through the east side room, and came to the main hall.
Lu Zhuo was already seated in a grand master chair facing north.
Newlywed couples serving tea had specific ceremonial robes to wear. Lu Zhuo now wore a round-collar brocade robe in the same color as the wedding robes but simpler in style. The bright red made his face appear jade-like, diluting the remaining haggardness from his serious illness. His slender, pale fingers held a tea bowl, bringing the rim to his thin lips.
Lu Zhuo lowered his lashes to drink tea, seemingly unaware of Wei Rao’s arrival.
Wei Rao’s gaze swept over Lu Zhuo’s face, feeling that after one night, he appeared more spirited than yesterday.
Wei Rao couldn’t help wondering—Lu Zhuo’s recovery was so rapid, was it unrelated to the wedding celebration?
Fortunately, she hadn’t tried to claim credit; otherwise, with Lu Zhuo’s dramatic change, anyone would think it was her achievement.
“I’m ready. Does the Young Master want to sit a while longer?” After Lu Zhuo set down his tea bowl, Wei Rao politely asked.
Only then did Lu Zhuo look toward her.
Wei Rao’s eyes sparkled as she turned her head, avoiding his gaze like every bride shy before her husband.
Wei Rao wasn’t deliberately acting much—she was naturally alluring, and even an inadvertent glance could make those she looked at imagine things. Now, with slight movements, that charming, tender quality emerged. Even truly shy, passionate beauties probably couldn’t match her false allure.
Lu Zhuo smiled faintly.
Those ladies at the Dragon Boat banquet thought Wei Rao needed to tamper with hairpins to seduce young masters from prestigious families. If they had seen Wei Rao’s propriety toward Qi Zhongkai, if they had seen Wei Rao’s deliberately displayed charm now, a simple comparison would show Wei Rao had no feelings for Qi Zhongkai whatsoever.
“Let’s go.” Setting down his tea bowl, Lu Zhuo stood up.
They both walked toward the hall entrance, and when exiting, they were already side by side.
Rounding the corridor to the front courtyard, A’Gui was already waiting early. When the masters approached, A’Gui first observed the Young Master, seeing him handsome and walking with ease, apparently having rested very well last night. A’Gui immediately felt relieved—if the Young Master had exhausted himself and worsened his condition, Duke Ying would have skinned him alive.
After checking on the Young Master, A’Gui couldn’t help looking at the young mistress. But after just one glance, A’Gui lowered his head as if burned, his heart pounding wildly. The young mistress of the past few days was already extremely beautiful, but after consummating the marriage, she was like a flower bud suddenly blooming to perfection—so gorgeous that even common folk like him dared not gaze presumptuously.
Only now did A’Gui finally understand Duchess Ying’s thoughtful intention in choosing Fourth Lady for the Young Master’s wedding celebration.
With such a heavenly beauty by his side, as long as the Young Master could open his eyes and look once more, it would be like breathing another breath of celestial air—any serious illness could be cured.
“Call all the servants of Song Yue Hall to come pay respects to the young mistress later,” Lu Zhuo smiled and instructed.
A’Gui nodded repeatedly.
Lu Zhuo continued leading Wei Rao toward Loyalty Hall, where Duke Ying and his wife resided.
Duke Ying Mansion was a first-class, prestigious household in the Capital City, with an extremely large estate. Though Lu Zhuo’s Song Yue Hall was considered close to Loyalty Hall, it still required a quarter hour’s walk.
Lu Zhuo strolled unhurriedly. Wei Rao walked beside him, silently memorizing everything she saw along the way. Though she had been married for several days, Wei Rao had stayed in Song Yue Hall without going anywhere. As an unmarried lady, she’d never had the opportunity to visit Duke Ying Mansion as a guest.
“Following this path straight ahead leads to the West Garden. My lady can go there to pass time when free,” Lu Zhuo suddenly spoke, his gaze gentle, voice soft and low. Having signed the five-year contract, Lu Zhuo would abide by it. Once she left her Elegant Wind Residence, Lu Zhuo also began acting.
Wei Rao said sweetly, “I’ll be free this afternoon. Would the Young Master accompany me for a stroll?”
Lu Zhuo looked ahead, smiling in agreement: “Good.”
Bitao followed behind them, seeing her miss and the Young Master act so realistically, she got goosebumps.
Finally arriving at Loyalty Hall.
The plaque bore the solemn characters “Loyalty Hall” in large script. In the lower left corner of the plaque was a line of small text explaining that this plaque was bestowed by the former emperor.
Wei Rao looked up at it, thinking of Lu Zhuo’s ancestors who had died loyally for the country on battlefields.
Crossing under the plaque, Wei Rao restrained the false smile on her face.
In the main hall of Loyalty Hall, elders and juniors from all four branches of Duke Ying Mansion were present, all looking toward the young couple.
“Talented man and beautiful woman—Mother has excellent judgment,” the Second Madam smiled approvingly.
The Third Madam and the Fourth Madam nodded in agreement. Lu Zhuo’s mother, He Shi, just smiled. She had said too many words praising Wei Rao these past few days and had run out of fresh phrases. He Shi knew all the rumors about Wei Rao, but Wei Rao had saved her son’s life—this alone made He Shi completely satisfied with her.
The several madams were all grateful for Wei Rao’s wedding celebration favor. Lu Zhuo’s four cousins, seeing today’s Wei Rao, were all stunned. The steadier ones quickly averted their gazes upon realizing, while the younger ones who couldn’t control themselves stared straight at Wei Rao, such as Third Young Master Lu Cong, Fourth Young Master Lu Ze, and Fifth Young Master Lu Che.
The steadiest, Second Young Master Lu Ya, gave meaningful looks to his three brothers in turn.
All three young men blushed.
Duchess Ying just smiled without speaking. Wei Rao was too beautiful—young men who hadn’t seen the world having such reactions was normal.
“How does Shoucheng feel today?” Duchess Ying first concerned herself with her eldest grandson’s health.
Lu Zhuo smiled: “Thanks to my lady’s care, there’s no serious problem.”
Wei Rao shyly lowered her face.
Duchess Ying took it completely seriously, nodding with satisfaction and giving Nanny Miao a meaningful look.
Nanny Miao arranged for little maids to lay out embroidered cushions.
Lu Zhuo and Wei Rao knelt side by side, first serving tea to Duke Ying and his wife, then to He Shi, Second Madam, Third Madam, Fourth Master, and Fourth Madam.
After the ceremony, everyone sat at separate tables for breakfast.
After breakfast, Duchess Ying called Wei Rao alone into the inner chamber to talk, with Nanny Miao guarding outside the door.
“Raorao, how does Shoucheng treat you? Has he wronged you in any way?”
Sitting on the bed, Duchess Ying held Wei Rao’s small hand, asking with concern. Duchess Ying was somewhat worried—her grandson’s body wasn’t yet suitable for consummation, and Wei Rao was so beautiful. Could her grandson restrain himself? He mustn’t be too excessive.
Wei Rao smiled, lowering her head: “Thanks to the old lady’s kindness and care since I entered the household, I’m truly very satisfied. It’s just that I’m slow in learning and unworthy of the Young Master. The Young Master said he would honor the five-year agreement—for five years he’ll give me dignity in all things, and after five years we’ll divorce amicably as agreed, never interfering with each other again.”
The smile on Duchess Ying’s face instantly froze. Too shocked, she even released Wei Rao’s hand.
Her grandson’s gaze toward Wei Rao had been so tender just now—it was all an act?
“That beast! I…”
Wei Rao promptly grasped Duchess Ying’s hand, shaking her head before the old lady could curse, smiling: “Please don’t be angry. When I proposed the five-year agreement to you, I anticipated this. I truly don’t blame the Young Master at all. My maternal grandmother taught me that marriage requires mutual affection. Forcing two people together wrongs both. Rather than having you use filial duty and propriety to force the Young Master to touch me, I prefer it like now—he cooperates with my acting and treats me courteously in private. I won’t hide it from you—I only admire the Young Master’s heroic heart serving the country, but have no romantic feelings for him.”
Duchess Ying looked at Wei Rao’s clear, pure eyes, not knowing what to say.
She wanted to force her grandson to consummate with Wei Rao, but Wei Rao didn’t even like her grandson. If her grandson touched the girl anyway, that would make him a scoundrel.
But Wei Rao was so wonderful—for their family to waste five years of Wei Rao’s life, Duchess Ying felt truly guilty.
“I, it’s I who has wronged you,” Duchess Ying sighed shamefully.
Wei Rao still shook her head: “My reputation is poor; I would have been difficult to marry anyway. Being able to borrow Duke Ying Mansion’s prestige to enjoy five years of honor—I’m the one benefiting.”
The more she spoke this way, the more ashamed Duchess Ying felt. She sent Wei Rao out while coldly summoning Lu Zhuo in.
Passing each other, Lu Zhuo looked toward Wei Rao.
Wei Rao returned him a “good luck with that” look.
“Kneel!” Duchess Ying scolded Lu Zhuo in disappointment. “Raorao has the grace of the wedding celebration for you, yet you humiliate her—is this how I usually taught you?”
Lu Zhuo had expected Wei Rao to reveal the truth. In the confidentiality agreement, Grandmother was already an informed party.
Lu Zhuo also hoped Grandmother would know he and Wei Rao were only fake spouses, to avoid her having false expectations.
“Grandmother, I don’t like her. Not touching her respects both me and her,” Lu Zhuo said honestly.
Duchess Ying narrowed her eyes, saying coldly: “You don’t like such a beautiful woman as Raorao—then who do you like? Don’t tell me you’re still thinking of Miss Sixth!”
Lu Zhuo smiled: “Where are your thoughts going, Grandmother? I’ve never met Miss Xie—what is there to think about? I don’t like Wei Rao, just as she doesn’t care for me. It’s simply incompatible temperaments, unrelated to each other’s beauty or ugliness.”
Duchess Ying frowned: “How do you know Raorao doesn’t care for you?”
Lu Zhuo: “If she truly wanted to marry me, with the grace of the wedding celebration, she could directly demand I never divorce her, and I would have to agree. She only mentioned five years, showing I’m not in her heart. If not for fear of being mocked, she would have divorced and left already.”
Duchess Ying: “She’s a young girl—doing this is because she’s thin-skinned, afraid of your disdain, giving herself a graceful exit. But you agreed, hurting her heart.”
Lu Zhuo: “Is that so? I didn’t see it.”
Duchess Ying was so angry that she wanted to beat her grandson.
Lu Zhuo instead advised: “Grandmother, I have my reasons for this. Don’t worry about the five-year agreement—I won’t let her suffer losses anyway.”
Duchess Ying laughed angrily: “She’s already suffered great losses coming for the wedding celebration—how can you compensate? Fine, fine, go ahead and be absurd. Raorao is a good girl—if you don’t treasure her, I will. Just remember one thing: act your part well, preferably making those women and girls who jealously speak ill of Raorao so envious they can’t stand it. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being impolite with you!”
Even his grandmother was taking sides—what could Lu Zhuo say?
After taking leave, Lu Zhuo came out to see Wei Rao sitting in a chair, waiting for him like a little wife.
“Why tell the old lady the truth?”
After leaving Loyalty Hall, reaching a quiet path, Lu Zhuo suddenly stopped, turning to ask.
Wei Rao smiled faintly: “The old lady asked if you misbehaved last night. What does the Young Master think I should have answered?”
Lu Zhuo pressed his lips together.
A’Gui was overthinking, and Grandmother was also worried. Did he look like a lustful person?