Wei Rao had not consummated her marriage with Lu Zhuo. She knew almost nothing about such matters—what little she did know came entirely from the few hasty glances she had caught when her maternal grandmother had given her that little booklet.
Based on those fleeting glimpses Wei Rao had seen, if a man were missing a leg, wouldn’t it be quite difficult for him to… accomplish things?
The more mysterious something was, the more curious it made one. On the way back to Song Yue Hall, Wei Rao’s mind was filled with images she shouldn’t be thinking about. Of course, Wei Rao was too embarrassed to fantasize about Fourth Master and Fourth Madam, so she tried placing herself in the woman’s position. As for the man’s role, she tentatively substituted Lu Zhuo for the little figures in the booklet—after all, the men Wei Rao had frequent contact with could be counted on one hand.
Wei Rao also recalled the incident when her maternal grandmother had caught her in a lie and pinched her ears. To this day, Wei Rao still doesn’t know what was wrong with her answer.
After returning to Song Yue Hall, Wei Rao closed the door to her inner chamber and rummaged through boxes and chests to find the two little booklets that her maternal grandmother and paternal grandmother had respectively given her.
Wei Rao first looked at the one her maternal grandmother had given her.
The little booklet had a preface, which Wei Rao leaned against the head of her bed to carefully study. After reading it, she suddenly understood.
It turned out that such intimate matters between spouses were best when both parties were willing, and required patient preparation; otherwise, it would cause the woman painful suffering.
Just reading the warning words in the preface made Wei Rao’s body feel uncomfortable. Looking at those illustrations again, each one ugly beyond measure, it made one doubt whether women could truly derive pleasure from such things.
With the sole purpose of clearing up her confusion, Wei Rao quickly flipped through the pages. As she turned them, she suddenly stopped.
The illustration on this page shows a woman sitting atop a man.
Below the illustration was a passage of small text. Wei Rao read it from beginning to end, then closed the little booklet, her heart beating somewhat rapidly.
If Fourth Madam and Fourth Master were truly as she suspected, then she had already found a solution.
The problem was, how could Wei Rao confirm her suspicion, and how could she tell Fourth Madam about this method?
Inquiring about bedroom secrets was completely different from caring about why Fourth Madam had been crying. Unless Fourth Madam took the initiative to confide in Wei Rao, she couldn’t bring herself to speak up.
In the evening, Lu Zhuo returned home. After changing into casual clothes, he came directly to the rear courtyard for dinner.
Neither had eyes for the other—each ate their meal. After rinsing their mouths following the meal, Lu Zhuo went to the west room, as tonight was his turn to rest in the rear residence.
“Fourth Master shaved his beard, and Miss Lu was so happy. If the heir apparent heard about this, he would surely be pleased too. Why didn’t Miss tell the heir apparent?”
While serving Wei Rao as she combed her hair, Liu Ya asked softly.
Wei Rao looked at her through the mirror: “He doesn’t even speak to me, so why should I take the initiative to chat with him? Even if the heir apparent is happy, what benefit is that to me?”
Liu Ya guiltily lowered her head.
She felt that since the heir apparent was exceptionally handsome and of distinguished birth, and both Duchess Ying and the First Madam doted on Miss so much, if Miss could become true husband and wife with the heir apparent and live harmoniously for a lifetime, wouldn’t that be better than divorcing and remarrying in a few years, only to be gossiped about again?
It was unfortunate that Miss had a proud spirit and didn’t want to please the heir apparent, while the heir apparent was haughty and minded Miss’s reputation, unwilling to pay attention to her.
Wei Rao glanced at the two maids and gave them a preemptive warning: “If you think the heir apparent is good, that’s fine, but it’s best that none of you harbor any small thoughts about matchmaking between me and the heir apparent, trying to curry favor with him. If I find out, I’ll send you to serve by the heir apparent’s side, and you’ll never come back.”
Liu Ya and Bitao fell to their knees with a thud: “What is Miss saying? No matter how good the heir apparent is, he can’t compare to Miss. Whoever Miss likes, we like. Anyone Miss dislikes, we absolutely won’t go fawn over in front of him.”
Wei Rao smiled faintly. While tilting her head to remove the pearl drops from her earlobes, she said casually, “It’s good that you know. Let me tell you plainly—the heir apparent has humiliated me repeatedly. Even if one day he realizes my worth and kneels begging me to be his wife, I still wouldn’t agree, let alone flatter him first.”
Now Liu Ya and Bitao finally completely understood their mistress’s intentions.
The next day, after Lu Zhuo left the mansion, Wei Rao ate breakfast and went to Zhong Yi Hall to pay her respects to Duchess Ying.
When she arrived, Second Madam and Third Madam were also there, and both aunts had red-rimmed eyes.
Wei Rao was startled. The day after tomorrow was the fifteenth of the first month, the Lantern Festival—a joyous day when every household hung flower lanterns and solved lantern riddles. Why were Second Madam and Third Madam both crying?
“You should all go back and prepare,” Duchess Ying said with a sigh to her two daughters-in-law after Wei Rao had performed her courtesy.
The Second Madam and the Third Madam stood up and left together.
Wei Rao watched her aunts walk out the door before sitting on the embroidered stool beside Duchess Ying, looking at her with concern.
Duchess Ying touched Wei Rao’s head and said leisurely, “Last night, your grandfather suddenly told me that after the fifteenth, he would arrange for Cong and Ze to go to the frontier for training. They’ll return after three years. Your second and third aunts are reluctant to part with them, hence their tears. Don’t laugh at them, Raorao.”
Wei Rao quickly said, “Your granddaughter-in-law wouldn’t dare. It’s just that Third Brother and Fourth Brother’s ages—aren’t they a bit too young?”
Duchess Ying sighed: “Back then, your father-in-law, second uncle, and third uncle died in battle one after another, and fourth uncle’s leg was crippled. With no one from the second generation able to fight, your grandfather worried that the grandchildren would be incompetent. Chengcheng was only twelve when he was sent to the frontier. Later, after my bitter pleading, your Second Brother was allowed to stay in the capital for a few more years. Now it’s Third Brother and Fourth Brother’s turn—one seventeen and one fifteen. At least the brothers can go train together and have each other for company.”
Young eagles learning to fly must fall from cliffs several times before they can spread their wings and soar. The Lu family had been a military clan for generations. To cultivate capable generals who could lead troops in battle, the elders had to be ruthless and let their children and grandchildren go through hardship.
This was the Lu family’s method of educating sons. Duchess Ying had to cooperate with her husband.
Hearing this news for the first time, Wei Rao felt both shocked and admiring.
While children from other families were still studying in academies at fifteen or sixteen, the young masters of Duke Ying Mansion had to go to those harsh, cold places to train and endure hardship.
The glorious title that the Lu ancestors had earned with their blood could be preserved by the Lu clan to this day precisely because of the hard training and brave fighting of each generation of men.
Images of Lu Cong and Lu Ze’s playful, smiling faces when they had encouraged her to compete with Lu Zhuo in the arrow-throwing game floated through her mind. Thinking that the brothers would be heading to the frontier in just two days, Wei Rao felt a bit sad too.
“When Chengcheng returns tonight, you should accompany him to visit Second Branch and Third Branch. He’s someone who has been through training—he can properly tell his younger brothers what needs to be passed on. Your second and third aunts will feel more at ease hearing it, especially your third aunt. Ze is her eldest son, and this is his first time leaving home.”
Wei Rao nodded in agreement.
That evening, Wei Rao came to the front courtyard early and sat waiting to avoid having Lu Zhuo dawdle until mealtime before going to see her.
When Lu Zhuo returned from the military camp, he was wearing the red official robe with tiger and leopard patterns of a fourth-rank deputy general. Those majestic, solemn tiger and leopard patterns finally gave this noble, gentle heir apparent three parts of the imposing aura that a military general should have.
Bitao was standing under the corridor eaves outside the main hall. When Lu Zhuo saw her, he knew Wei Rao had come.
“Does Madam have something to discuss with me?” In front of A’Gui, Lu Zhuo smiled at Wei Rao as soon as he entered.
Wei Rao stood up and walked toward him: “Grandfather has ordered that Third Brother and Fourth Brother depart for the frontier after the Lantern Festival. Grandmother specifically instructed me that we should go sit with Second Aunt and Third Aunt.”
Lu Zhuo understood. Glancing at his clothing, he said: “I’ll go change clothes, then we’ll go over.”
Wei Rao made a sound of agreement.
Lu Zhuo immediately went to the east room.
A’Gui was about to follow when he suddenly remembered that with the young madam present, naturally, the young madam should serve the heir apparent. How could he steal the young madam’s opportunity to be close to the heir apparent?
A’Gui put down the foot he had half-raised and smiled at Wei Rao: “This servant will go fetch water.”
Only after A’Gui left did Wei Rao realize A’Gui’s meaning.
Since Lu Zhuo had chosen to deceive A’Gui, Wei Rao had no choice but to cooperate by entering the east room. Passing through the antechamber, she stopped at the door of the inner chamber and said quietly to the person inside: “A’Gui has gone to fetch water. I’ve come to serve the heir apparent in changing clothes.”
Lu Zhuo had just come out of the washroom and had his outer robe half-removed. Hearing this, he put the outer robe back on and tied his belt: “Come in.”
Wei Rao entered with lowered eyes, lifting the curtain. After going in, she glanced toward Lu Zhuo and, seeing that his clothes were properly arranged, only then raised her head and helplessly explained: “I was afraid you might go to the study to read, delaying time, so I came to wait for you.”
Lu Zhuo nodded, indicating his understanding.
The two stood facing each other with nothing to say. Wei Rao quickly scanned the furnishings in the room. For such a distinguished young master from a noble family, the room was so sparse that it had no superfluous objects. Compared to when Wei Rao had last come to “tend his illness,” there was only one addition: a high table to the left of the canopy bed, on which lay horizontally a spear with a silver shaft and red tassel.
Wei Rao observed the spear with curiosity. Was it Lu Zhuo’s weapon?
“A’Gui has returned. Where exactly do you plan to help me change clothes?” Lu Zhuo suddenly said.
There was a distance of about ten steps between them—even if Wei Rao threw herself on the ground, she couldn’t reach him.
He could have just directly asked her to come over, but no—he had to be sarcastic about it.
Wei Rao walked to Lu Zhuo with a stern face. When A’Gui requested instructions, she quickly changed to a gentle, virtuous expression and placed her hands on Lu Zhuo’s belt, slowly pulling it loose.
The height difference allowed Lu Zhuo to smell the light fragrance from her hair, somewhat like osmanthus, but with a clearer scent.
“When Lu clan men reach the proper age, they all must go for training. There’s nothing to worry about.”
He spoke as if he had been discussing this matter with Wei Rao all along.
Wei Rao reacted quickly and cooperated: “Mm, Grandmother said the same thing.”
A’Gui set down the water basin with lowered head, then withdrew with lowered head, not sparing even one extra glance.
As soon as A’Gui left, Wei Rao immediately released the belt that she hadn’t yet removed and turned to walk to the window, standing with her back to Lu Zhuo.
Lu Zhuo took a casual robe from the wardrobe and, glancing at her silhouette, went behind the screen to quickly change clothes, then went to wash his hands and clean his face.
“Let’s go.”
After finishing his preparations, Lu Zhuo called to her.
Hearing this, Wei Rao walked to the inner chamber door without looking sideways. When Lu Zhuo came over, the two of them walked out together, staying close to each other.