Lu Changning and He Weiyu followed Wei Rao in practicing martial arts. Lu Zhuo only came to observe on the first day and never showed his face again afterward.

Martial arts training was very arduous, especially during the initial foundation-building stage. Physical improvement happened gradually and imperceptibly, not appearing very obvious, which gave people a sense of tedium.

Like Lu Changning, she had already built a good foundation and could practice swordplay directly. When she went through sword moves, her progress was easily visible.

He Weiyu was different. While tediously practicing horse stance, she watched Wei Rao and Lu Changning use swords, making her side seem even more boring. Added to her complete lack of interest in martial arts, the only motivation that drove her to persist, Lu Zhuo, refused to show up. After just three days of practice, He Weiyu began to waver.

Her luck was good. Because she sweated too much from horse stance training, her delicate constitution caught a chill from the cold wind, and she fell ill.

He Weiyu lived with He Shi at Chunhe Hall. He Shi loved her like her own daughter, so when He Weiyu became ill, He Shi sent someone to fetch a physician while sending a young maid to her daughter-in-law’s place to ask for leave on her niece’s behalf.

Hearing this, Wei Rao prepared to visit He Weiyu first with Lu Changning.

When the sister-in-laws arrived at the front courtyard, they saw A’Gui standing guard outside the study.

Wei Rao called A’Gui over and said, “Cousin is ill. First Lady and I want to visit her. Go inform the heir and ask if he’ll come along.”

A’Gui trotted to the study, then ran back a moment later to report to Wei Rao: “Young Madam, the heir said to please give his regards to cousin on his behalf.”

Wei Rao understood – Lu Zhuo was observing proper relations between men and women. Even with his cousin, he didn’t want to enter He Weiyu’s boudoir.

“Then let’s go.”

Wei Rao smiled at Lu Changning.

Arriving at Chunhe Hall, Wei Rao saw the bedridden He Weiyu. The thirteen-year-old girl appeared to have a fever, her face flushed with an unusual redness that added a kind of sickly charm to her. He Shi sat guard by the bedside. The aunt and niece bore some resemblance – those who didn’t know might think they were mother and daughter.

He Shi inquired tenderly after He Weiyu’s comfort. This warm scene made Wei Rao think of her mother.

When she was ill as a child, her mother would also watch over her like this, caring for her meticulously and indulging any request she made while sick. Only after she recovered would Mother become stern again.

Later, after mother entered the palace, when she was most seriously ill, mother was in the palace while grandmother and maternal grandmother watched over her.

Wei Rao had cried over missing her mother – cried many times, cried until she didn’t want to care about anything except entering the palace to find her mother. But no matter how much she yearned without success, Wei Rao had never hated her mother. Because she knew that if her mother could leave the palace, she would come to care for her. And when mother chose to leave back then, it was because without father, the four walls of Earl Cheng’an Mansion had become a prison constraining mother, and mother wasn’t happy there.

“Raorao, Weiyu is too delicate. Let’s not have her practice martial arts anymore, shall we?”

After the physician left, He Shi said helplessly to Wei Rao: “I tried to persuade her, but she wouldn’t listen. Please help me convince her.”

Wei Rao had long seen that He Weiyu’s real intention wasn’t martial arts. But with two girls coming to learn together, she couldn’t very well teach one and ignore the other.

“Cousin’s constitution isn’t suited for martial arts. How about this – if you’re bored with nothing to do in the future, continue coming with Changning to find me. Changning can practice swordplay while you sit and watch. If you develop an interest, you can start practicing again. How’s that?” Wei Rao stood by the bed and said gently to He Weiyu.

He Shi thought this was a good idea – the niece wouldn’t have to suffer, and the three sister-in-laws could play together for company.

He Weiyu was even more satisfied. After all, as long as she could go to Songyue Hall, she’d have opportunities to see more of her cousin.

As the New Year approached, Wei Rao needed to meet with several estate managers and shop stewards. With many matters to attend to, she had Lu Changning practice on her own first and come to Songyue Hall after the Lantern Festival.

The estate managers and stewards were all men, so Wei Rao could only receive guests in the front courtyard hall.

This was Wei Rao’s private business. Lu Zhuo showed his face, then stayed in the study, having no interest in how much dowry property Wei Rao possessed.

He Shi came to see her son and encountered this once – it was two estate managers. Naturally, the managers didn’t come empty-handed. Sweet potatoes, Chinese cabbage, chestnuts, wild chickens and rabbits, pickled vegetables and cured meat – though all countryside specialties, arranged basket by basket, they looked especially festive with their abundant harvest appearance.

“How much land did Raorao bring as dowry?” Entering the study, He Shi glanced at the items in the courtyard and couldn’t help asking her son.

Lu Zhuo personally served tea to his mother and smiled faintly: “Your son doesn’t know, and it’s not proper to inquire about her dowry.”

With tea already served, He Shi had to sit down. She looked at her son with bright eyes: “I heard that Shou’an Jun alone gave Raorao quite a substantial dowry. Raorao also has an extremely wealthy aunt. The wedding was arranged hastily before, but when they get word, they’ll surely give Raorao a supplementary gift.”

For women who rarely left home, chatting about such trivial matters was their entertainment.

But Lu Zhuo was impatient, hearing such talk, and didn’t want his mother to covet Wei Rao’s dowry.

“Whether they supplement or not, it’s all hers and has nothing to do with your son.” Lu Zhuo tactfully reminded his mother.

He Shi said delightedly: “It has nothing to do with you, but it concerns my future grandsons and granddaughters.”

Who doesn’t like silver? He Shi didn’t covet her daughter-in-law’s dowry, but if the daughter-in-law was wealthy, it could ensure the first branch’s children and grandchildren would be wealthy. If the children and grandchildren lived affluently, He Shi felt happy, and when happy, she talked more and more: “Old Madam’s eye for people is excellent. Raorao is beautiful, easy to get along with, and knows martial arts. In the future, when you’re out leading troops, Raorao can even teach the children martial arts for you…”

In He Shi’s view, a daughter-in-law like Wei Rao was beyond criticism.

Lu Zhuo glanced out the window and asked curiously: “Mother doesn’t mind her poor reputation?”

He thought that women would all care about this. Wei Rao and the Zhou family women’s bad reputations – weren’t they all spread by women gossiping?

He Shi snorted: “Raorao is at least a legitimate daughter of Earl Cheng’an Mansion. Your mother comes from a humble family. When I married your father, how many people envied and belittled me? I don’t care about those things. As long as Raorao is a good girl, a good reputation or a bad one is empty. It’s Raorao who lives with me day by day, not her reputation.”

Lu Zhuo fell silent.

He Shi looked at her son and squinted slightly: “What, you care about those empty names?”

Lu Zhuo smiled: “Mother worries too much. I think Raorao is very good.”

He Shi had been separated from her son for many years and didn’t understand what kind of person her son had become in the military. She believed him immediately and asked quietly: “How’s your injury? If there’s no major problem, hurry and consummate with Raorao. I’m still waiting to hold a grandchild.”

Lu Zhuo’s gaze dropped, and he coughed with his hand covering his mouth: “The imperial physician instructed that it’s not advisable to consummate before New Year.”

He Shi sighed: “Yes, you were so seriously ill. Better recuperate properly.”

Only with her son healthy could there be hope for grandchildren.

On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month, Wei Rao went to discuss with Duchess Ying – she wanted to go to the country estate to visit her maternal grandmother.

“Maternal grandmother knows she’s entangled in gossip and rumors. For so many years, she had only entered the city once before my marriage. Now that I’ve married into the Duke’s mansion, no matter how much my maternal grandmother misses me, she won’t rashly come calling. I can only go out to see her. When I go, my maternal grandmother will know I’m living well here and can spend New Year with peace of mind.”

Wei Rao sat beside Duchess Ying and spoke in gentle, soft tones.

Her sweet, soft voice expressed very thoughtful words, both explaining the necessity of her trip to the country estate and expressing her satisfaction with her husband’s family.

Duchess Ying only felt unworthy. With grandson treating Wei Rao like that, where was Wei Rao living?

Ashamed, yet unable to have Wei Rao tell Shou’an Jun the truth and expose her grandson’s shortcomings, Duchess Ying could only cooperate with Wei Rao, concealing from Shou’an Jun just as they concealed from Old Madam Wei.

“You should go. Have Shoucheng accompany you.” Duchess Ying decided.

Wei Rao hesitated: “That wouldn’t be appropriate, would it? My maternal grandmother and I have always been close. After marriage, my visiting alone would still be our private relationship as grandmother and granddaughter. But if the heir accompanies me, it would involve the entire Duke’s mansion. Old Madam, you must have heard that the Empress Dowager she…”

Duchess Ying pressed Wei Rao’s hand and smiled: “Since Raorao has married over, your relatives are all the Lu family’s relatives. It’s New Year now, and grandmother has no time to go out, but when spring warms up, grandmother will go to Cloud Mist Mountain to admire flowers and inevitably visit the country estate to sit awhile and ask Shou’an Jun for a cup of tea.”

Ridiculous – Duke Ying Mansion stood unshakeable in the capital through the hot blood of the Lu family men. Would they fear an aged Empress Dowager?

Shou’an Jun had only Emperor Yuanjia’s filial respect but no children or grandchildren to support the household. Once Shou’an Jun was gone, the Zhou family girls would amount to nothing. If Duke Ying Mansion didn’t dare associate with such a family, how could they speak of killing enemies on battlefields?

Raorao can do whatever she wants. As long as I approve, you need have no concerns whatsoever.” Duchess Ying said lovingly, though her eyes held the upright spirit of ancient pines standing atop mountains, fearless of wind and rain.

Wei Rao looked up. Facing such a Duchess Ying, she found she could no longer speak those smooth, diplomatic pleasantries that usually came so easily.

“Outsiders all say I took advantage by performing the recovery marriage for the heir. I scoff at this, but with my grandmother treating me so well, even if I can only receive your protection for five years, marrying into the Lu family is still my good fortune.” Wei Rao knelt before Duchess Ying, her eyes reddening before she even spoke.

Duchess Ying helped her up and smiled: “Grandmother is old and good at judging people. Shoucheng is still young. Though he’s being unreasonable now, he’ll understand your goodness sooner or later. When that time comes, grandmother only hopes that for my sake, Raorao will still be willing to give him a chance and be my granddaughter-in-law for life.”

Wei Rao didn’t agree, saying playfully, “If the heir heard these words, he’d laugh at you for being senile.”

Duchess Ying thought of her grandson’s humiliation of Wei Rao, pressed her lips together, and her good mood vanished entirely.

The next day, Lu Zhuo was ordered by Duchess Ying to accompany Wei Rao to the country estate. Duchess Ying specifically instructed that Lu Zhuo should ride horseback until leaving the city, then take the carriage after two li outside the city.

Lu Zhuo had been conscious for half a month now. The scabs on his wounds had mostly fallen off. While he couldn’t yet spar with others, riding posed no problem.

After departure, Wei Rao rode in the carriage while Lu Zhuo rode horseback beside it.

For the couple to leave the city, they took the capital’s most bustling main street. When people on the street saw Lu Zhuo, that immortal-descended handsome young master, they immediately gathered around again.

Lu Zhuo wore a gentle smile, refined and cultured.

“Is the heir’s injury much better?” someone called out with concern.

Lu Zhuo smiled: “Thanks for your concern – I’ve completely recovered.”

“Where is the heir going?” Seeing that he was easy to talk to, the people threw out another question.

Lu Zhuo’s smile deepened as he glanced at the carriage: “Accompanying my wife to visit relatives outside the city.”

The watching crowd saw his tender, affectionate appearance and collectively drew in their breath!

The heir was smiling so beautifully – this showed he was very satisfied with the recovery marriage, Fourth Lady Wei!

Inside the carriage, Wei Rao quietly observed the people’s reactions, then looked at Lu Zhuo sitting straight on horseback, and smiled.

Men took pleasure in possessing beauty. Today, she had gained an incomparably handsome bridegroom to parade around, indeed earning plenty of face.