After leaving the capital for two li, Lu Zhuo signaled the coachman to stop.

Wei Rao had her hands tucked in a fox fur-trimmed hand warmer, leaning comfortably against the carriage wall with her eyes closed. When the carriage suddenly stopped, Wei Rao opened her eyes. Just as she lifted the thick cotton curtain to see what was happening outside, the carriage door was suddenly opened, revealing Lu Zhuo’s handsome, pale face.

There was wind today. Anyone who had been blown by the cold twelfth-month winds for the whole journey wouldn’t have much color in their face.

Cold wind rushed into the carriage. Wei Rao held her hand warmer and moved aside to make room for Lu Zhuo as he climbed up.

Lu Zhuo turned and sat beside her, bringing with him a chill. Wei Rao could tell from the sound of his breathing how cold he was.

If not for their previous quarrel, Wei Rao would have hypocritically shown concern for his health. But now, she didn’t even want to waste words on pretense.

Finding a comfortable position, Wei Rao continued dozing. The maternal grandmother lived far away – the carriage would need more than an hour.

Lu Zhuo’s hands were very cold. When riding, his hands gripped the reins and were constantly exposed to the frigid air, nearly frozen stiff.

Glancing at the dozing Wei Rao, his gaze paused momentarily on the hand warmer in her embrace before Lu Zhuo opened the drawer of the low cabinet beside him. There were three layers total. When he pulled open the second drawer, he found a tea set inside.

Tea pots placed in carriages during winter were specially made to insulate against cold and retain warmth. Lu Zhuo took out the teapot and drank two bowls of slightly hot Pu’er tea before his whole body finally felt warm.

After putting away the tea set, Lu Zhuo also closed his eyes.

The carriage rode very smoothly. The thick curtains blocked out the cold wind from outside, and the nearly sealed carriage retained a faint fragrance of Pu’er tea.

Lu Zhuo thought of the country estate. After returning to the capital, he had been to Cloud Mist Mountain twice – once accompanying Qi Zhongkai for horse riding and hunting, once accompanying his grandmother and family to admire flowers in the mountains. Each time they had passed near Shou’an Jun’s country estate. Though the estate was far from the capital, its grandeur and refinement could be seen even from the official road, showing it was extraordinary. That Emperor Yuanjia put such effort into an estate for a wet nurse showed Shou’an Jun’s position in the emperor’s heart.

Market rumors said that Shou’an Jun was exceptionally beautiful, hence her entanglement with the late emperor.

Lu Zhuo had never seen Shou’an Jun, but seeing Wei Rao and Zhou Huizhen sisters, he could imagine Shou’an Jun’s grace in her youth.

Rumors were unreliable, but for Shou’an Jun to escape unscathed from the Empress Dowager’s hands and maintain continuous favor for many years, she must have had some methods.

As the carriage approached Cloud Mist Town, voices began to be heard on the roads outside.

The New Year was approaching, and common people from small villages near Cloud Mist Town were all bringing their families to the town to purchase the last batch of New Year goods. Even strong winds and heavy snow couldn’t dampen the people’s enthusiasm for celebrating the New Year.

While Shou’an Jun had a poor reputation in the capital, the people around Cloud Mist Town all envied and respected her. If any family’s man could work in Shou’an Jun’s fields, or if a girl could become a maid at Shou’an Jun’s country estate, it was a very prestigious matter.

Though Lu Zhuo had gotten into the carriage, Duke Ying Mansion’s two carriages and accompanying servants still attracted the people’s attention.

A’Gui saw the heir and young madam’s relationship as very sweet, so when people inquired, A’Gui answered cheerfully.

The convoy entered Cloud Mist Town and would pass through the main street in the center.

“Young Madam, Uncle Zhang’s shop is still open. Do you want candied hawthorns?”

Passing a shop called “Zhang’s Records,” Bitao called from outside Wei Rao’s window.

Hearing this, Wei Rao’s mouth immediately began to water.

Candied hawthorns could be seen everywhere in northern regions during winter. Wei Rao had loved sweet and sour snacks since childhood, naturally eating quite a few candied hawthorns. Among them, the ones that best suited her taste were from Zhang’s Records. The sugar coating was thin as cicada wings – when bitten, no sugar crumbs would fall, and the sugar coating in the mouth quickly melted without sticking to teeth.

Zhang’s Records’ candied hawthorns were each plump and bright red, without a single green fruit. When the hawthorns were ripe enough, they were sweet and sour with a pleasant taste. Combined with the sugar coating, during Wei Rao’s most gluttonous years, she could eat two strings at once. Now she wasn’t so greedy – one string was enough.

Wei Rao had the carriage stop temporarily and called through the curtain for Bitao to buy twenty strings – one each for the masters, with the rest to reward the little maids at the country estate.

Bitao entered Zhang’s Records and came out after a while, saying they needed to wait a bit. They were buying too many at once and needed to freshly coat ten or so strings.

Wei Rao wasn’t in a hurry and peeked through the curtain gap at the shops along the street.

Lu Zhuo tapped his knee lightly with his index finger, tapping twice before stopping.

After waiting about a quarter hour, Bitao handed in five packages of candied hawthorns. Three packages contained five strings each, one package had four strings, and the last package contained only one string.

Wei Rao placed the four packages with more quantity on the tray and took the single one for herself, eating it with relish.

The sweet and sour aroma spread throughout the carriage.

Lu Zhuo looked toward the curtain.

Before going to the frontier for training, he was the eldest legitimate grandson of the family. Grandfather and grandmother were strict in their teachings. Every day, except for sleeping and eating, Lu Zhuo spent all his remaining time on studying and martial arts practice. While young masters from other mansions would go out wandering, Lu Zhuo never went. Later, when his grandfather sent him to the frontier, the military camp’s food was coarse – steamed buns, bread, meat pies, and rice porridge. Only occasionally, when entering the city, could he eat well at a restaurant.

Things like candied hawthorns – no one bought them for Lu Zhuo when he was small, and when he grew up, he disdained buying them himself.

But sweet and sour foods most stimulate the appetite. Smelling that enticing aroma and hearing the crisp sound Wei Rao made when biting through the sugar coating, Lu Zhuo had to very carefully control his swallowing to avoid Wei Rao hearing the sound.

From his peripheral vision, he could see the candied hawthorns Wei Rao had placed on the tray. Lu Zhuo thought that, with Wei Rao buying so many, there should be a share for him.

However, even if Wei Rao offered him some, he wouldn’t accept.

Wei Rao had no regard for Lu Zhuo. After eating the last sugar-coated hawthorn, Wei Rao lifted the curtain and threw the bamboo stick into the roadside grass. She lowered the curtain, took out a handkerchief and small copper mirror, and carefully wiped her lips while looking in the mirror.

“By the way, do Old Madam and First Madam like sweets?” After tidying her appearance, Wei Rao suddenly remembered the two elders of Duke Ying Mansion and asked Lu Zhuo, tilting her head.

Her skin was lustrous and white. When Lu Zhuo turned to look, he immediately noticed her full, lustrous lips, the same color as sugar-coated hawthorn fruits.

Just when she said “by the way,” Lu Zhuo thought this woman had finally thought to ask whether he wanted candied hawthorns. Who knew she was asking about grandmother and mother?

“Don’t know.” Lu Zhuo turned back, his expression indifferent.

He truly didn’t know. In the second half of this year, he had been on campaign, and in the first half, he had almost always dined alone at Songyue Hall.

Wei Rao didn’t delve into why Lu Zhuo didn’t know his family elders’ dietary preferences. She only decided that if Zhang’s Records was still open when they returned, she would buy a few more strings to bring back to Duke Ying Mansion. Good food shouldn’t be buried in obscurity. If the Lu family elders didn’t like them, sharing them with the little maids to add New Year cheer would also be good.

The country estate finally arrived. Wei Rao handed the candied hawthorns to Bitao through the carriage window. Looking ahead, she saw Lu Zhuo standing by the carriage in a posture ready to help her down.

Several servants from the country estate had already gathered around. Wei Rao smiled, bent over, and walked over, placing her right hand in Lu Zhuo’s palm.

Lu Zhuo’s hand was twice the size of hers. When his fingers closed together, they completely enveloped Wei Rao’s small hand.

Wei Rao was surprised at the length of his hand, while Lu Zhuo was amazed at the softness of hers. But it was only the moment of getting down from the carriage. As soon as Wei Rao’s feet touched ground, both simultaneously withdrew their hands.

Yesterday, Wei Rao had already sent someone to inform Shou’an Jun that they would be coming. Not long after Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo got down from the carriage, cousin Zhou Huizhu happily ran out. Lu Zhuo had a face like a bewitching male fox spirit. Zhou Huizhu, at her young age, was naturally also bewitched for a moment. Fortunately, Zhou Huizhu had seen him from afar when Lu Zhuo entered the capital with the army. After being dazzled briefly, she ran to Wei Rao’s side, making faces.

Wei Rao introduced her to Lu Zhuo: “This is my little cousin Huizhu.”

Lu Zhuo smiled and nodded to Zhou Huizhu.

Zhou Huizhu crisply called out “brother-in-law.”

The three walked inside. Arriving at the main hall where guests were received at the country estate, they found only Shou’an Jun sitting there as the master, even Nanny Liu, who was inseparable from Shou’an Jun, was absent. Only a few young maids were present.

Wei Rao felt strange. Shou’an Jun’s gaze circled Lu Zhuo. After greetings, she helplessly explained to Wei Rao: “Your cousin caught a cold, and your aunt is caring for her. Now both are coughing, so I didn’t have them come today to avoid bringing illness to you.”

Wei Rao vaguely guessed that the aunt and eldest cousin must have done something again to anger the maternal grandmother.

Lu Zhuo inquired with concern whether Shou’an Jun had summoned a physician, and said he knew a famous doctor in the capital with excellent medical skills.

Shou’an Jun smiled: “No need, no need. It’s just a minor cold. A few days of medicine from the town doctor will cure it.”

Shou’an Jun was very satisfied with Lu Zhuo’s various qualities. What she cared about most was whether the young couple had become true husband and wife.

Unfortunately, the Zhou family had no male master, so Shou’an Jun had no opportunity to dismiss Lu Zhuo and speak privately with Wei Rao.

Until after lunch, Wei Rao first took Lu Zhuo to the courtyard where she stayed, letting Lu Zhuo rest on his own before she actively went to find Shou’an Jun.

“Maternal grandmother, what’s wrong with the aunt and the cousin?”

Shou’an Jun snorted and asked Wei Rao, “The heir didn’t mention it to you?”

Wei Rao was even more confused: “Mention what?”

What Shou’an Jun referred to was Wang Shi and Zhou Huizhen’s attempt to seduce Lu Zhuo on Cloud Mist Mountain, only to be seen through by Lu Zhuo and lose great face.

Nanny Liu was a witness to this incident. As soon as they returned, Nanny Liu told Shou’an Jun about it. But at that time, Shou’an Jun had no way to guess that person was Lu Zhuo. It wasn’t until Wang Shi’s family of three went to watch the army’s triumphant return, and Wang Shi and Zhou Huizhen saw Lu Zhuo again and let something slip, that Shou’an Jun learned the immortal young master her daughter-in-law and granddaughter had taken a fancy to was the Duke Ying heir.

If Wei Rao hadn’t performed the recovery marriage for Lu Zhuo, it would have been nothing – after all, the family had almost no opportunity to interact with Lu Zhuo. Who would have thought things would be so coincidental that the two families became in-laws!

Shou’an Jun then decided that whenever Lu Zhuo came to the country estate, daughter-in-law and Zhou Huizhen would stay quietly in their rooms and not come out to embarrass themselves!

But Shou’an Jun was a bit worried – would Lu Zhuo, based on Zhou Huizhen’s resemblance to Wei Rao, guess that the mother and daughter who once tried to seduce him were Wei Rao’s aunt and cousin, and thus dislike Wei Rao?

The more noble a family’s young master, the more he cared about propriety and rules.

After hearing the whole story, Wei Rao’s expression wasn’t very good.

Lu Zhuo already looked down on people with his dog eyes. If he guessed the aunt and cousin’s identity, he would look down on their whole family even more.

Worse still, Lu Zhuo might have already guessed, and that’s why he treated her so badly.

Fortunately, Wei Rao didn’t seek his favor anyway. Let Lu Zhuo think whatever he wanted.

“It was just a brief encounter over a year ago. The heir has also experienced life and death and surely forgot long ago.” Wei Rao consoled the maternal grandmother.

Shou’an Jun looked at her and asked: “How does the heir treat you? You two…”

Having experience fooling Old Madam Wei, Wei Rao was even more skilled at fooling Shou’an Jun. Her words and shy expression were flawless.

Shou’an Jun knew more and wasn’t as trusting as Old Madam Wei.

“Since you’ve consummated, tell maternal grandmother – when the heir first entered, what did you feel?”

Shou’an Jun stared at the young lady and asked.

Wei Rao reacted quickly, immediately thinking of the illustrations in the little booklet maternal grandmother had given her, and guessing the meaning of “entered.”

But the feeling…

Wei Rao’s mind raced, trying to deduce the answer from over ten years of hearsay.

“Why remarry? She wants a man, of course. Look at that whole family of women with their seductive appearance – you know they can’t live without men. How could they endure the hardship of lonely nights and solitary pillows?”

Some overheard women’s gossip intruded into her thoughts. Wei Rao didn’t dare delay too long and said shyly with lowered head: “It was alright.”

Shou’an Jun raised one eyebrow: “What do you mean ‘alright’?”

Wei Rao steeled herself to make something up: “Just, just, just very enjoyable.”

Shou’an Jun laughed in exasperation and pinched Wei Rao’s ear with one hand: “Enjoyable? Could it be that he, an eight-chi tall military officer, actually has a bean sprout?”