With their departure imminent, Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo didn’t stay for a meal at Earl Cheng’an Mansion. They sat for half an hour and then returned to Duke Ying Mansion.

Lu Zhuo had his affairs to arrange, while Wei Rao watched the maids pack their luggage in the back courtyard.

“I heard spring comes late in the north. Should Miss bring two cloaks?”

“Miss doesn’t sleep well in unfamiliar beds. We can’t move the bed, so let’s bring two sets of bedding.”

“She should also wear more jewelry. When the heir reaches Jin City, local officials will surely hold banquets in invitation. Miss will accompany him to these feasts and can’t dress too plainly.”

Liu Ya and Bitao bustled about, chattering as they packed – sometimes talking to themselves, sometimes asking each other questions.

Wei Rao sat on the couch, watching with a smile, her phoenix eyes bright and sparkling.

Liu Ya finished organizing one trunk and turned to see the young lady on the couch, smiling: “Is Miss so happy just to go out and have fun?”

They only knew that Wei Rao was going to Jin City.

The trip to Xisan Palace needed to be kept secret. Wei Rao kept it strictly hidden even from her trusted personal maids. In the entire capital, only she, Lu Zhuo, Shou’an Jun, Duchess Ying, and Emperor Yuanjia in the palace knew this secret.

“Miss has been married here for so long – the heir has finally done something right,” Bitao said, half pleased and half disdainful as she arranged the cotton quilts.

Seeing that the four trunks were almost packed, Wei Rao said to Bitao, “You should also go pack your room. Liu Ya can serve me here.”

For this trip, Wei Rao could only conveniently bring one maid – she chose the lively and cheerful Bitao.

Bitao left with light steps.

Soon after, He Shi came.

He Shi pulled Wei Rao into the inner room and said many intimate words. As a mother-in-law, He Shi’s main concern was the fear that Wei Rao might become pregnant while they were away, and that the bumpy journey might disturb the pregnancy.

Wei Rao said shyly, “Mother, rest assured. If it happens, I’ll be careful.”

Having spoken with her daughter-in-law, He Shi went to see her son.

Lu Zhuo’s trunks had long been packed properly. He was currently reading in his study, and learning that his mother had come, Lu Zhuo came to the hall to speak with her.

When in a good mood, Lu Zhuo displayed the manner of the most gentle gentleman, treating his mother with great respect.

He Shi only feared her cold-faced son – this kind of son she wasn’t afraid of. After instructing him about various daily matters, He Shi coughed, first took a sip of tea, then spoke to her son’s boots: “When traveling far, if Raorao becomes pregnant, remember to hire a reliable woman to care for her. Raorao and the child are most important – don’t just think of yourself.”

Lu Zhuo smiled: “Your son understands. Even if Raorao isn’t pregnant, your son will put her happiness before his own.”

He Shi: …

She meant that if her daughter-in-law became pregnant, her son shouldn’t share a room with his daughter-in-law anymore. How did her son’s answer seem to be misunderstood?

Since her euphemistic words weren’t understood by her son, He Shi had to speak directly: “If Raorao is pregnant, you two should sleep in separate rooms. Alright, you should hurry and finish preparing. I’m leaving.”

Abandoning her son, He Shi quickly departed.

Lu Zhuo smiled bitterly as he saw his mother off. Pregnancy? Unless it was needed for their act, if he dared touch Wei Rao now, she could swing her sword and kill him.

Early the next morning, two carriages were lined up in front of Duke Ying Mansion – one for passengers and one for trunks. A’Gui led the servants from Songzhu Hall to successively load six rosewood trunks onto the rear carriage, each trunk marked. There was also one long rattan trunk for the accompanying servants to store their bundles.

After loading the bundles, a stable boy led over Lu Zhuo’s glossy black fine horse and tied it behind the second carriage.

Time to depart. Duchess Ying, He Shi, and people from the second, third, and fourth households all came out to see them off. Even Fourth Master, who rarely left his quarters, came.

Wei Rao bid farewell to the elders. When she came to Fourth Master and his wife, before Wei Rao could say anything, Fourth Madam’s ears turned red first, lowering her lashes and not daring to look directly at Wei Rao. That night, when the two had hidden in the bamboo grove and shared the most private words, it had been dark and didn’t matter much. But now, in broad daylight, Fourth Madam was always too shy to face Wei Rao.

Seeing Fourth Madam so bashful, Wei Rao didn’t say much. Taking one last look at Duchess Ying, Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo boarded the carriage one after the other.

The moment the wheels began turning, Wei Rao softly exhaled. Finally leaving! These early morning social obligations were truly exhausting – her face was almost crammed from smiling.

“Have you traveled far before?” Lu Zhuo suddenly asked her.

Wei Rao leaned against the left corner of the carriage and closed her eyes: “The farthest was Yunwu Mountain.”

Lu Zhuo glanced at her petal-tender cheeks and reminded her: “This trip to Jin City, barring accidents, will take seven days on the road. Except for eating and lodging, all other times will be spent in the carriage. It might be very tiring.”

Wei Rao said indifferently: “The heir should just take care of himself – no need to worry about me.”

Whether it was her first long journey or the prospect of seeing her mother, both made Wei Rao too excited to sleep. Last night, she had tossed and turned in bed, still very much awake at the third watch. Having forced herself to be sociable this morning, now she no longer needed to pretend and only wanted to nap, too lazy to listen to Lu Zhuo’s nagging.

To make Lu Zhuo tactfully leave her alone, Wei Rao raised her round fan and yawned behind it.

Lu Zhuo indeed didn’t disturb her further.

After the carriage exited the city gate, eight Shenwu Army captains were already waiting there.

Each captain commanded a hundred soldiers. Lu Zhuo was going to Jin City to recruit eight hundred new soldiers, who would be assigned to these eight captains for training.

The captains dismounted to salute Lu Zhuo.

Lu Zhuo lifted half the carriage curtain to speak with them. Wei Rao quietly opened one eye and, through the gap between Lu Zhuo and the curtain, saw two captains kneeling on one knee. Both appeared to be around twenty-five years old, with bronze-colored skin and robust, sturdy builds – they looked very reliable.

“Mount up, let’s depart.”

After Lu Zhuo finished speaking, Wei Rao immediately closed her eyes.

The eight captains remounted their horses and, together with Lu Zhuo’s attendants Zhao Song and Zhao Bai, guarded the carriages front, back, left, and right, serving as Lu Zhuo’s escort for this journey.

Traveling was tedious, especially with a companion in the carriage with whom relations weren’t harmonious and who had nothing to talk about.

Wei Rao napped for an hour before being awakened by a bump from the carriage.

Rubbing her head that had hit the carriage board, Wei Rao opened her eyes to see Lu Zhuo pouring tea.

“Are you thirsty?” Lu Zhuo finished pouring his tea, noticed she had awakened, and looked over to ask.

This tea was flower tea prepared by Bitao according to her taste. Since Lu Zhuo drank her tea, having him pour tea for her didn’t count as Wei Rao taking advantage of him.

Wei Rao made an affirmative sound.

Lu Zhuo picked up a blue porcelain bowl, poured it seven-tenths full for her, and held it in his palm as he offered it over.

Wei Rao grasped the rim of the tea bowl to receive it, deliberately avoiding touching his hand.

The tea was warm. Wei Rao held the tea in one hand and lifted the window curtain beside her with the other. What met her eyes was a Shenwu Army captain sitting upright on horseback. The captain was concentrating on riding and hadn’t expected the carriage curtain to be lifted. Instinctively looking over, he met a face beautiful enough to rival flowers. The captain froze, and realizing this woman’s identity, he immediately withdrew his gaze to look ahead. However, an unusual flush rose from his face and spread to his ears.

Wei Rao found this amusing. She let down the curtain and turned to Lu Zhuo: “Tell the officer following us to fall back a bit – he’s blocking my view of the scenery.”

If that captain didn’t retreat, and Wei Rao dared to continue viewing the scenery, the poor man would probably be nervous.

Lu Zhuo had also noticed his subordinate’s reaction just now. If a sheltered young woman carelessly let an outside man see her appearance, and if Wei Rao were his sister, Lu Zhuo would scold her. But Wei Rao was not only not his sister – she was also a very bad-tempered fake wife who often went to Yunwu Mountain to ride horses and hunt. Lu Zhuo couldn’t lecture her with words.

“The weather is still cold, and the trees and plants haven’t yet turned green. There’s no scenery to admire,” Lu Zhuo said differently. As long as Wei Rao didn’t lift the curtain to look around everywhere, it wouldn’t be considered improper.

He was clever, but Wei Rao wasn’t stupid either. She immediately understood Lu Zhuo’s meaning – this self-proclaimed gentleman heir was mocking her for not understanding propriety again.

Since he wouldn’t cooperate with polite conversation, Wei Rao smiled and directly hung up the window curtain on her side, looking toward the distance with great interest.

Now, without her or Lu Zhuo needing to speak, the following captain turned around and moved to the rear by himself.

Wei Rao thought to herself that Lu Zhuo’s subordinates were much more tactful than he was.

At the other end of the narrow couch, Lu Zhuo looked at Wei Rao’s upturned crimson lips, restrained himself, and pulled out a drawer from the three-tier cabinet to take out a book.

Wei Rao looked her fill of the scenery, then lowered the window curtain again and continued resting with closed eyes.

At noon, the travelers came to a small town.

“Is there anything you’d like to eat?” Lu Zhuo asked in a low voice while observing the shops they passed through the gap in the window curtain.

Wei Rao just wanted to quickly get out of the carriage to stretch her muscles and bones, so she said casually, “You arrange it. As long as there’s a clean privy.”

This seemed like a low requirement, but small households only had cesspits. Only large restaurants could provide dedicated privies.

Lu Zhuo chose the most impressive-looking restaurant in town.

The privy was behind the restaurant. Wei Rao wanted to have Bitao go first, but Lu Zhuo followed them over.

Wei Rao assumed he also had needs.

The privies were separated by gender. Wei Rao stood outside and first sent Bitao in to observe the situation. If there were any unsightly areas, Bitao would clean them up before she went in.

Between the two privies was a stone wall with a carved flower window above it. Wei Rao covered her nose with her handkerchief, her gaze wandering around, when it fell on the window area, and she suddenly noticed Lu Zhuo standing on the other side.

Just then, Lu Zhuo went in.

Wei Rao withdrew her gaze. Soon, Bitao came out, smiling: “Young Madam, please go in. It’s quite clean here.”

Wei Rao relieved herself, washed and dried her hands thoroughly, then walked out with Bitao.

Lu Zhuo was already waiting on the other side.

The restaurant’s food could only be called passable compared to that at Duke Ying Mansion. Wei Rao’s table only had her and Lu Zhuo, while Zhao Song and the other ten men sat at two tables. Bitao shared a table with the Zhao Song and Zhao Bai brothers and two captains. The men drank some wine and ate heartily while looking after Bitao – they ate quite merrily.

By comparison, Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo’s table could be called cold and cheerless. The only warmth was the fake smiles on their faces.

Travel was urgent. After eating, the group continued their journey.

Now Wei Rao was truly tired.

There were seat cushions prepared in the carriage. Lu Zhuo took out one cushion and placed it near the carriage door, then sat on it with his back to the narrow couch, saying to her in a low voice: “You can lie down and rest.”

Wei Rao looked at the narrow couch beside her. Duke Ying Mansion’s carriage was very spacious, and this narrow couch was long enough – she could lie down by slightly curling her legs.

“Thank you. When I wake up, I’ll let you lie down for a while,” Wei Rao reciprocated.

Lu Zhuo: “Mm.”

Wei Rao looked at his back, learned from him, took off her embroidered shoes, and lay down on her side facing the carriage wall with her back to him, tucking her feet under her skirt hem.

The carriage’s rhythmic swaying made falling asleep even easier. Wei Rao yawned silently several times and fell asleep.

Lu Zhuo had been reading until he became thirsty.

He turned around to pour tea, but the beautiful figure lying sideways on the narrow couch suddenly entered his vision. She pillowed her right arm while her left arm also rested in front. Her body wrapped in smooth, fine silk was like beautiful peaks completely exposed after sunlight had dispersed the misty clouds, yet shrunk countless times and held up to him by invisible hands.

With each turn of the carriage wheels, that body also swayed lightly.

Heat came without warning. Lu Zhuo didn’t dare look more, forgot about drinking tea, and silently turned around to continue reading.