Except for Wei Chan’s somewhat embarrassing behavior, Wei Rao’s return visit today was quite successful. Lu Zhuo’s performance of gentle refinement gave her plenty of face and also put the grandmother’s mind at ease.

After lunch at Earl Cheng’an Mansion, Wei Rao bid farewell to her grandmother and her uncle, then boarded the carriage back to the mansion with Lu Zhuo.

“The heir has labored for half a day – how is your health?”

Once seated, Wei Rao looked toward Lu Zhuo, still somewhat worried about this heir who had just recovered from a serious illness.

Lu Zhuo leaned his shoulder and neck against the carriage wall and closed his eyes, saying, “No problem.”

His body indeed felt no discomfort, but Lu Zhuo simply didn’t enjoy this kind of meaningless social obligations. Before going to the frontier for training, he had always been raised on his grandmother’s side. Grandmother taught him to be a modest gentleman, and Lu Zhuo had indeed achieved this. However, sometimes Lu Zhuo envied Qi Zhongkai’s ability to act as he pleased, showing his emotions openly.

Seeing his tired expression, Wei Rao assumed he was exhausted and sat quietly to the side, no longer disturbing his rest.

The carriage traveled along the same route back toward Duke Ying Mansion. Wei Rao watched the slightly swaying edge of the window curtain, thinking that she must find an opportunity before the New Year to leave the city and visit her maternal grandmother. Now that she had married into the Lu family, her maternal grandmother’s concern for her would be no less than her grandmother’s.

And there was Mother at Xishan Palace – she probably had no way of knowing that her daughter had already married.

Lu Zhuo still needed to recuperate at this stage. His several cousins and cousin sisters would come visit him daily, sitting for a while before leaving, afraid of disturbing their elder brother’s rest.

Lu Zhuo’s health was getting better and better. Duchess Ying no longer worried about her eldest grandson’s injury – she was more concerned that Wei Rao might feel bored and restless living in the Duke’s mansion. After all, every newly married woman had to go through a period of adjustment from unfamiliarity to familiarity with her husband’s family. Wei Rao was even more pitiable – her husband was unwilling to consummate their marriage and only wanted to be a fake spouse. This made it even harder for Wei Rao to truly settle down and consider the Duke’s mansion her real home.

Wei Rao was someone she had decided to bring in through marriage. Duchess Ying hoped Wei Rao would have a better life. Since her eldest grandson was being unreasonable, she, as a grandmother, would have to compensate Wei Rao doubly.

This morning, Duchess Ying again called Wei Rao to the warm pavilion of Zhongyi Hall. Besides Wei Rao, present were Lu Zhuo’s mother, He Shi, his aunt Fourth Madam, cousin Lu Changning, and cousin He Weiyu.

“Raorao, do you know how to play leaf cards? Your second and third aunts are usually busy and have no time to play cards with me.” Duchess Ying smiled as she beckoned Wei Rao to sit beside her, her attitude very intimate.

Wei Rao smiled: “I know a little. At home, I often played with Old Madam too.”

Duchess Ying then said, “Good, that you know. Today you’ll play with us. Changning and Weiyu’s card skills are poor – usually the two sisters play together, but their card playing speed is even slower than an old woman like me.”

He Weiyu blushed, while Lu Changning huffed: “I don’t like playing cards at all. Grandmother insisted on calling me over.”

Duchess Ying glared at her: “If I don’t call you, you’re going to make trouble at the practice grounds again. For a young lady to constantly talk about martial arts practice – do you still want to get married in the future or not?”

Wei Rao looked at Lu Changning with surprise.

Lu Changning also blushed at the mention of marriage and said angrily, “If I don’t marry, I don’t marry. Who wants to get married anyway?”

After her defiant words, Lu Changning pulled He Weiyu and ran off.

Duchess Ying rubbed her forehead and explained to Wei Rao: “Our family has many boys and few girls. Changning spends all day mixing with her brothers and has developed a competitive temperament, insisting on learning martial arts. If Weiyu hadn’t come later to distract her somewhat, who knows what she would have become by now?”

Wei Rao smiled: “Sister Changning comes from a distinguished military family. She inherited the hot blood of the Lu family ancestors in her bones. Grandmother, you should be proud. Moreover, martial arts practice strengthens the body. Sister Changning’s learning martial arts is also beneficial for her.”

Duchess Ying asked in surprise: “Raorao approves of girls practicing martial arts?”

Wei Rao pointed to herself and said shyly, “To tell you the truth, grandmother, I also know some martial arts. I’ve been practicing for four years now. Ever since I started martial arts, I rarely catch colds, and even during those uncomfortable days that girls have, I’m fine.”

Duchess Ying was so shocked she couldn’t speak.

The reason she didn’t allow her granddaughter to practice martial arts was her worry that practicing would make her develop solid muscles like her grandsons. Girls should be gentle and soft – how could they look good if they were big and burly?

But now, a delicate girl more charming than a herbaceous peony flower was telling her that she, too, had practiced martial arts.

“Raorao, is this true?” Duchess Ying asked while grasping Wei Rao’s left arm, feeling her wrist – it seemed slender without much muscle. Looking at her small hands, the back was snow-white, and her palm… indeed had a thin layer of calluses, usually disguised by her beautiful hand shape.

“Are you asking whether I know martial arts, or whether martial arts can strengthen the body?” Wei Rao asked playfully.

Duchess Ying: “Of course, martial arts. You said you’ve practiced for four years – what can you do?”

Wei Rao answered honestly: “I only know swordsmanship and can ride horses. Every time I go to the country estate to visit my maternal grandmother, I always enjoy a good horse ride.”

She didn’t want to restrain her nature because of marriage. Taking this opportunity to tell Old Madam that she liked horse riding, when spring came and she wanted to ride, she wouldn’t need to spend effort finding excuses to cover it up.

If Old Madam accepted it, Wei Rao would respect this open-minded old lady even more. If Old Madam opposed it, Wei Rao would just live her own life and not waste time coming over for social visits.

“How did a young girl like you think to learn martial arts?” Duchess Ying was more curious about this point. Old Madam Wei, as that kind of household matriarch, didn’t seem like someone who would actively arrange for family girls to practice martial arts.

Wei Rao lowered her head and smiled bitterly: “When I was small, I was playful and fell into water. It was winter, and the lake water was bone-chillingly cold. I was frozen and became seriously ill. If I hadn’t practiced martial arts, I might have been bedridden for life.”

Hearing this, He Shi imagined a flower-like little beauty only able to lie in bed as a medicine jar. She both felt sorry for her daughter-in-law’s experience and thought martial arts practice was quite good. If Wei Rao hadn’t practiced martial arts, her mother-in-law wouldn’t have had the chance to witness Wei Rao’s brave rescue at the Dragon Boat Festival banquet. If the mother-in-law hadn’t known Wei Rao, she wouldn’t have gone to propose marriage. If Wei Rao hadn’t been married off, her son might not have awakened.

Fourth Madam thought about the cause of Wei Rao’s illness. Back then, when Consort Li dominated the imperial harem, the incident of Wei Rao falling into water had spread throughout noble families.

She looked toward her mother-in-law.

Duchess Ying naturally thought of this too. Knowing the cause and effect, she felt even more sorry for Wei Rao.

Duchess Ying had never liked the Empress Dowager in the palace. When young, she was scheming and single-mindedly competed for favor. When old, she relied on being Empress Dowager to wantonly suppress those who had offended her. Fortunately, Emperor Yuanjia was still wise and never let the Empress Dowager interfere in court affairs; otherwise, the court might have fallen into chaos.

“Hearing Raorao put it this way, learning martial arts indeed has many benefits. Alright, when Changning wants to practice martial arts again, I’ll have her come ask you for guidance. For girls, learning swordsmanship is more elegant.” Duchess Ying made the decision.

Wei Rao smiled and nodded. Her swordsmanship had seven levels. If Lu Changning wanted to learn, she could teach her the first three levels. Whether the later levels could be transmitted would require consulting her master.

After finishing their chat about martial arts, the four began playing cards.

To Wei Rao’s surprise, Lu Zhuo’s mother, He Shi, who appeared weak and lacking in opinions, became like a completely different person when playing cards. Her moves were fast, accurate, and ruthless. She won more than she lost, didn’t get angry when losing, and beamed with joy when winning.

Duchess Ying and Fourth Madam’s attitude toward this was like coaxing a child, just wanting everyone to be happy.

Wei Rao, being new, deliberately held back her skills. After playing all morning, she lost five taels of silver.

The fourth Madam left first.

After she left, He Shi took out two small gold ingots from her purse and smilingly pressed them into Wei Rao’s hands: “Mother won over twenty taels. I’ll share some with you for good luck.”

Duchess Ying was still sitting nearby. Hearing this, she snorted: “Why don’t you share some good luck with me?”

He Shi immediately clutched her purse tightly: “Among our whole big family, you’re the richest. Why would you need me to share?”

Duchess Ying smiled and shook her head. This daughter-in-law of hers came from a poor family and had little dowry when she married. Her favorite thing was playing cards and winning their money.

It was undignified, but her thoughts were simple, and she never caused trouble, which was also good.

Wei Rao returned to Songyue Hall with the five taels of silver her mother-in-law had shared.

After washing her hands, Lu Zhuo also came over, and Wei Rao had the maids prepare lunch.

“How was young madam’s luck today?”

Lu Zhuo was not talkative, so Bitao curiously asked while serving Wei Rao. They couldn’t all stay silent just because the heir was there – that would be too stifling.

Wei Rao smiled: “I lost five taels, but First Madam won a lot and rewarded me five taels.”

Wei Rao was purely chatting with her maid, but Lu Zhuo, listening nearby, pressed his thin lips together, feeling that Wei Rao’s words had hidden meaning, deliberately mocking his mother for being fond of gambling and greedy for money in front of him.

Although Lu Zhuo was the heir of Duke Ying Mansion and future Duke, currently among the Lu family’s four branches, the first branch where Lu Zhuo belonged was the poorest. The root cause was He Shi’s meager dowry. When the couple’s family assets were combined, the wealth left to Lu Zhuo was less than half of the other three branches.

Lu Zhuo had gone to the frontier when young, eating and wearing the same as soldiers in the military camp, not caring about material possessions. Back at the Duke’s mansion, the silver in his hands, monthly allowances, and what Duchess Ying privately supplemented him with were completely sufficient for his expenses.

Mother didn’t need money for much, but she just enjoyed playing cards and winning money from her grandmother and aunts. This made Lu Zhuo both ashamed and helpless.

The aunts wouldn’t look down on Mother or him for this, but he hadn’t expected to marry a Wei Rao.

After lunch, Wei Rao went to rest in the east room.

Lu Zhuo followed her in.

Bitao and Liu Ya, who were clearing the table, were both stunned. What did the heir want to do?

Wei Rao heard footsteps and stopped in the east side room, looking at Lu Zhuo questioningly.

Lu Zhuo asked coolly: “How are your card skills?”

Wei Rao was baffled: “Pretty good. What’s wrong?”

Lu Zhuo said, “My mother wins nine out of ten games. If you don’t want to lose money, just find some excuse to decline in the future.”

Wei Rao looked at Lu Zhuo’s cold, displeased face and frowned: “Who said I was afraid of losing money? What did I do to make the heir think I couldn’t afford to lose?”

Lu Zhuo looked away toward the window: “You and I are only spouses in name. It’s better to have fewer financial dealings between us.”

Wei Rao carefully pondered his words and laughed angrily: “Is the heir worried that I can’t afford to lose, or worried that I’ll win silver from your Lu family elders? If it’s the former, you can rest assured – if I dare to gamble, I dare to lose. Even if I lose my entire dowry, it’s my own choice. If it’s the latter, and you’re worried about Old Madam and the others losing money, then you should directly advise them not to invite me. Otherwise, as long as they invite me, I’ll accept. How much I win or lose depends on my skill.”

She spoke for a long while, her voice sweet but containing tremendous anger.

Lu Zhuo felt irritated and stood silently for a moment, finding himself with nothing to say.

Lu Zhuo turned and left.

After he left, the matter wasn’t finished – Wei Rao couldn’t swallow this insult.

The next day, when Duchess Ying again sent a maid to invite Wei Rao, Wei Rao hid in the inner room and had Bitao make a trip to Zhongyi Hall.

Bitao went to see Duchess Ying alone, kneeling on the ground and wiping her eyes pitifully: “Old Madam, because our young lady came to play cards yesterday, the heir inexplicably flew into a rage. He didn’t explain clearly, only saying he wouldn’t allow our young lady to come over again…”

Hearing this, Duchess Ying’s inner fire surged up, and she headed directly for Songyue Hall!