Shou’an Jun had just agreed to the marriage proposal from Marquis Xiting’s mansion on her front foot, and sent someone to inform Wei Rao on her back foot.

Civil officials schemed and formed factions, while military generals basically all had camaraderie from fighting side by side on battlefields. Therefore, the families of the four main generals of the Upper Four Armies secretly competed to be the foremost military family, while maintaining social visits and banquets on the surface. The Lu family commanded the Shenwu Army, the Han family commanded the Longxiang Army – whenever either family had weddings or funerals, they would invite the other family.

Shou’an Jun wanted Wei Rao to prepare in advance. After Zhou Huizhen married Han Liao, she would naturally appear at banquets hosted by various mansions in the capital. Zhou Huizhen was both foolish and single-mindedly competitive with Wei Rao, so she might very well be exploited by scheming people who would intentionally or unintentionally cause trouble for Wei Rao.

Wei Rao was stunned by this marriage news.

The person Shou’an Jun sent to deliver the message was Nanny Liu. Wei Rao stared blankly at Nanny Liu – she couldn’t have dreamed of such a thing even in her dreams.

There were no outsiders in the hall. Nanny Liu sighed, “The Old Madam had already refused once before, so naturally, she was extremely dissatisfied with that side. But Madam and the eldest young lady were determined to marry, and the eldest young lady even threatened the Old Madam with scissors, saying if she wasn’t allowed to marry, she would shave her head and become a nun. The Old Madam had no choice but to agree.”

Wei Rao could imagine her grandmother’s helplessness. No matter how confused the eldest cousin was, she was still a Zhou family daughter, grandmother’s granddaughter. If grandmother had any other choice, she would never have agreed.

“Young Madam, the Old Madam has already discussed with this old servant – when the eldest young lady marries, this old servant will accompany her to look after things. With this old servant there, I absolutely won’t let that side bully the eldest young lady too severely. The Old Madam repeatedly instructed that Young Madam should just take care of herself and not worry about the eldest young lady.” Nanny Liu comforted Wei Rao.

Wei Rao’s feelings were very complicated.

Zhou Huizhen was jealous of her – Wei Rao could see that. But they were cousins after all, and Zhou Huizhen had never actually harmed Wei Rao. Wei Rao truly didn’t want to see Zhou Huizhen foolishly jump into a fire pit. Even for grandmother’s sake and for cousin Huizhu’s sake, Wei Rao hoped Zhou Huizhen would live peacefully. On another note, the two were cousins – if Zhou Huizhen acted foolishly by marrying Han Liao, when outsiders mocked Zhou Huizhen, Wei Rao would also lose face.

Unfortunately, things had come to this point, and this loss of face was inevitable for her.

Face didn’t matter much anyway – the key was how Zhou Huizhen would fare.

Nanny Liu came from the palace and had seen many storms. With Nanny Liu protecting from the side, Wei Rao and her grandmother could indeed worry much less.

“Then we’ll rely entirely on you to look after cousin.” Wei Rao smiled bitterly at Nanny Liu.

Nanny Liu laughed, “To be honest with Young Madam, this old servant has followed the Old Madam for over twenty years of peaceful days, staying at the estate every day – I’ve long grown tired of it. Being able to accompany the eldest young lady out and stretch my old bones, just thinking about it makes this old servant feel much younger.”

The Zhou family had no men, but Emperor Yuanjia respected Shou’an Jun, so Emperor Yuanjia was the Zhou family’s greatest backing. The Empress Dowager wasn’t afraid that Emperor Yuanjia would be unfilial, so she dared target Shou’an Jun. Did Marquis Xiting’s wife dare to gamble on that?

So Nanny Liu wasn’t worried at all about suffering greatly at Marquis Xiting’s mansion – at most, she’d just constantly use her wits against those women and children.

After Nanny Liu left, Wei Rao went to Zhongyi Hall.

When guests came to the mansion, they would naturally report to Duchess Ying. Seeing Wei Rao, Duchess Ying asked with concern, “Did something happen at the estate?”

Wei Rao didn’t hide her helplessness: “The heir of Marquis Xiting’s mansion has taken a fancy to my cousin. He sent matchmakers to propose twice, and the grandmother was moved by his sincerity and agreed to this marriage.”

Duchess Ying was quite surprised. After a moment, she said, “I watched Han Liao grow up – he’s heroic and accomplished in both literature and martial arts. He’s older, but if he truly cares for your cousin, it can be considered a good match of talent and beauty.”

In this marriage, the man sought beauty and the woman sought profit – any discerning person could see that. Facing Wei Rao, Duchess Ying could only say pleasant things.

Wei Rao understood that his cousin had only beauty but no capable father or brothers. Han Liao was almost the highest-ranking man she could marry. Wei Rao only hoped that after her cousin obtained the title of heir’s wife, she would be content and never fantasize about Han Liao being devoted to her alone; otherwise, she would surely have her heart broken by Han Liao.

Informing Duchess Ying about her cousin’s marriage was proper etiquette. As for Lu Zhuo, with whom she had nothing in common and faced awkward silences, Wei Rao simply focused on eating and didn’t mention a word.

Lu Zhuo left early and returned late. Occasionally, when he went to pay respects to Duchess Ying, she assumed Lu Zhuo already knew and didn’t bring up this matter.

In early February, Zhou Huizhen and Han Liao formally exchanged birth charts. The marriage was now set in stone. One day, when they met in the palace, Han Liao laughingly caught up with Lu Zhuo ahead of him and familiarly patted Lu Zhuo’s shoulder: “Shoucheng, from now on we’ll be brothers-in-law. Want to drink together sometime?”

Although Han Liao looked young, when standing together with Lu Zhuo, the age difference was still very obvious.

Meeting Han Liao’s meaningful gaze, Lu Zhuo smiled slightly: “Certainly.”

Han Liao looked at Lu Zhuo’s young, handsome face and sighed with envy: “Such a pity – you got there first and married the most beautiful sister.”

These words were filled with his covetousness toward Wei Rao and provocation toward Lu Zhuo. Lu Zhuo’s expression darkened. He brushed away Han Liao’s hand and walked away.

Han Liao didn’t pursue him or try to make amends. Lu Zhuo and Qi Zhongkai, these two juniors, had been disrespectful to him multiple times – he was just striking back once in a small way.

Lu Zhuo walked toward the palace gates with his back to Han Liao. Beneath his gentle jade-like exterior, he was pondering Han Liao’s words. Since Han Liao said he would be brothers-in-law with him and called Wei Rao the most beautiful sister, it meant Han Liao was about to marry one of Wei Rao’s sisters. Lu Zhuo recalled Wei Rao’s maternal family sisters – among those unmarried, there were only Third Lady Wei from Earl Cheng’an’s mansion and the eldest granddaughter of Shou’an Jun from the Zhou family.

Han Liao had once proposed to the Zhou family and had been refused. Could it be that this time he was marrying Third Lady Wei?

When he returned to the mansion that evening, Lu Zhuo looked at A’Gui, who was well-informed, but finally decided to ask Wei Rao directly.

When the two met, it was naturally at the dinner table.

After the maids set out the dishes, they withdrew. Wei Rao was having her monthly cycle, so Bitao had the kitchen stew a red date and black chicken soup. Wei Rao didn’t feel uncomfortable anywhere, but this black chicken soup was delicious and slightly sweet, very much to Wei Rao’s taste. Before eating, Wei Rao first ladled half a bowl of chicken soup for herself. Just as she was about to taste it, she suddenly noticed Lu Zhuo’s gaze.

“If Young Master wants some, just serve yourself.” Wei Rao looked at the chicken soup Bitao had placed on her side and said generously.

Lu Zhuo had no interest in her chicken soup. He said coolly, “Today in the palace, I encountered Han Liao, the heir of Marquis Xiting. He was very happy about becoming marriage relative of, but unfortunately, I had no idea which family’s young lady he was marrying. If I hadn’t deflected in time, our reputation as a loving couple might have been exposed on the spot.”

Which wife doesn’t tell her husband when her maternal family sister is getting married?

Wei Rao looked up in shock, setting down her soup bowl.

It was her oversight. She had thought only inner chamber women would discuss a cousin’s marriage, that men wouldn’t inquire about such things, so she hadn’t informed Lu Zhuo. She hadn’t expected Han Liao to be such a big mouth, actively running to Lu Zhuo to curry favor. That Han Liao, the same age as Fourth Master, yet had the nerve to act brotherly with Lu Zhuo.

Han Liao was annoying, but Lu Zhuo wasn’t much better. He could have just asked directly who Han Liao was marrying, but he had to take a jab at her first.

If Lu Zhuo had been even slightly polite to her, would she have been unwilling to exchange even pleasantries with him?

“It’s my Zhou family cousin. I thought Young Master wouldn’t want to hear about such things, so I didn’t tell you.” Wei Rao said casually, then began tasting the delicious chicken soup.

She lowered her head, and her long, curled lashes drooped down. Her petal-like, delicate lips touched the white glazed porcelain bowl as she gently took a sip. When those full lips left the porcelain bowl, moistened by the soup, they appeared even more lustrous and enticing.

Lu Zhuo inexplicably thought of Zhou Huizhen, whom he had encountered by chance at Yunwu Mountain.

Zhou Huizhen and Wei Rao looked very similar, like twin sisters. Even their eyes were the same upturned phoenix eyes. But anyone who had seen Wei Rao could easily distinguish between them, because every part of Wei Rao was born with extreme allure. Even when she glared at someone, it seemed seductive. Her lips seemed to constantly invite tasting. Even her voice was sweet with allure, emanating an itch that could spread through a man’s entire body.

Such beauty could indeed be the most stunning in the capital, but such beauty would also make people think Wei Rao was not a proper young lady from a good family, definitely not virtuous wife material.

Lu Zhuo thought again of his four younger male cousins in the family – each had been mesmerized watching Wei Rao.

Wei Rao knew to apply makeup that made her appear as dignified and gentle as possible when attending the Dragon Boat Palace banquet. Why didn’t she do so after marriage? Did she think her fox-like, seductive appearance was attractive, that she had to bewitch every man into watching her and being enchanted by her to demonstrate her abilities?

His brothers were decent enough not to fall for her tricks. Qi Zhongkai liked her but valued brotherly friendship more, avoiding suspicion by rarely coming to the Duke’s mansion anymore. But what kind of person was Han Liao? His first proposal to the Zhou family might have been after encountering Zhou Huizhen showing off everywhere at Yunwu Mountain. His second proposal was accepted, and then he came to provoke him – Han Liao had been bewitched by Wei Rao. Unable to get Wei Rao, he settled for second best, willing to risk continued rejection from Shou’an Jun to seek Zhou Huizhen’s hand again.

Even worse, Zhou Huizhen looked so much like Wei Rao that when Han Liao was intimate with Zhou Huizhen, his mind might be fantasizing about Wei Rao.

Lu Zhuo’s expression grew increasingly ugly. Even if Wei Rao was his fake wife, he could hardly bear Han Liao defiling Wei Rao in such a way.

“Han Liao is dissolute and lustful. Does Shou’an Jun think that because he proposed a second time, he’s sincere about marrying your cousin?” Lu Zhuo looked at Wei Rao and asked. If possible, he hoped Shou’an Jun could change her mind.

Wei Rao glared at him: “Grandmother isn’t senile yet, but if my aunt and cousin are willing, what can she do?”

Lu Zhuo frowned: “Shou’an Jun is the family head. As long as she doesn’t agree, your cousin can’t marry.”

Wei Rao sneered: “You make it sound easy. My cousin is determined to marry Han Liao. If grandmother doesn’t agree, she could resent grandmother for life. Rather than forcibly restraining her, grandmother might as well let her hit the wall herself. Once she’s hurt, she’ll naturally regret it and understand her grandmother’s painful intentions. Then, when she divorces and returns home, with money and land, she can still live well.”

Lu Zhuo had never heard such absurd reasoning. Across the dinner table, he argued with Wei Rao: “A woman’s way is to remain faithful from beginning to end. If Shou’an Jun hardened her heart, she could choose another well-matched good marriage for your cousin. Why must she let her own granddaughter hit the wall and be criticized by others?”

Wei Rao found it amusing: “How can you know the joy of fish when you’re not a fish? My cousin currently thinks Han Liao is wonderful. If you find her someone else, unless that person surpasses Han Liao in family background, appearance, and talent, whoever she marries, my cousin won’t be willing. Then she’d also burden the other party by marrying them a resentful woman – why bother? Besides, the Zhou family has no rule requiring absolute faithfulness from beginning to end. If a man is despicable, why guard him for a lifetime? To truly guard him would be foolish.”

Wei Rao was referring to living people, such as Aunt Da Zhou Shi’s first marriage. That sanctimonious former uncle-in-law beat people frequently. Should Aunt have returned home and waited to be beaten to death by him?

But when Lu Zhuo heard this, provoked by Wei Rao’s mocking gaze, he felt Wei Rao was ridiculing his mother, second aunt, and third aunt as foolish women!

With hot blood rushing to his head, Lu Zhuo asked coldly: “Then did your mother return home because your father was despicable?”

Before his words finished falling, half a bowl of warm chicken soup came splashing toward his face, drenching his head and face.

Lu Zhuo closed his eyes, letting the chicken soup roll down his cheeks.

Wei Rao was still not satisfied. She hurled the bowl in her hand as well, aiming straight for Lu Zhuo’s forehead.

The tea bowl made a whistling sound through the air. Lu Zhuo could have dodged, but after hearing that unfamiliar sobbing, he didn’t move.

With a dull thud, the tea bowl was knocked away and fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.

Vivid blood surged from Lu Zhuo’s forehead, winding around his brow and streaming down.