The carriage traveled steadily, and Wei Rao slept until the red sun was setting in the west.

She was alone in the carriage compartment. Wei Rao rubbed her aching shoulders as she sat up, lifting a corner of the curtain slightly. She saw Lu Zhuo riding his horse, wearing an azure brocade robe. His posture on horseback was upright and natural, unlike some of the dandy young masters in the capital who liked to ride horses to appear romantically dashing, but were actually either hunchbacked or clumsy in their movements, looking extremely unsightly.

The heir was like a dragon among men, and his horse was equally outstanding—its coal-black coat gleamed without a single mixed color, and its smooth mane rose and fell in the wind.

Wei Rao looked from the horse’s head to its tail, then from tail to head, feeling quite envious.

Lu Zhuo was looking ahead, but his peripheral vision had already detected Wei Rao’s spying.

She had been secretly watching him for so long—what was she looking at?

Lu Zhuo slightly tightened his grip on the reins, and Fei Mo seemed to sense his master’s intention, raising its head.

Wei Rao quickly lowered the curtain. Being envious was useless—Lu Zhuo’s horse was priceless and beyond market value. Ordinary people couldn’t buy it even if they wanted to.

In the brilliant sunset, the group crossed through the city gates of a county town.

The county town was much livelier than the small towns, and the shops along the streets were more prosperous. Wei Rao had been sitting in the carriage all day, and now that they had arrived in this bustling area, she could no longer sit still. She lifted the curtain slightly and gave Lu Zhuo a meaningful look.

Lu Zhuo rode closer to the carriage.

Wei Rao discussed with him: “I want to get out and walk around, and have dinner outside. How about you all go to the inn first?”

With people watching both in front and behind, Lu Zhuo smiled, but his spoken words were a refusal: “Old Madam instructed that while traveling, everything should follow my arrangements.”

Wei Rao smiled: “Grandmother also told the heir to treat me well. Have you done that?”

Lu Zhuo pressed his lips together. Since Old Madam wouldn’t work, he had to reason with Wei Rao: “If you wander around by yourself, how will you know which inn we’ve booked?”

Wei Rao had her considerations: “You’ll book the largest inn on this street, and I’ll recognize it at a glance.”

Lu Zhuo understood—she was determined to go shopping tonight.

“Go to the inn first, change into men’s clothing, then go out,” he compromised one step.

Wei Rao looked at the silk dress she was wearing, thinking that walking on the street like this would inevitably attract stares and comments, so she agreed.

Although Lu Zhuo was from a noble family, he had trained at the frontier for eight years and had personally gone to battlefields, suffering many hardships. Without Wei Rao, he could manage a night in a broken temple with his subordinates. But considering that Wei Rao was pampered and particular about food, clothing, and living arrangements, tonight, Lu Zhuo chose the best inn in the city.

The inn had three floors—the ground floor was the dining hall, and the upper two floors were guest rooms. The second floor had ordinary rooms, while the third floor was somewhat better.

Zhao Song inquired clearly and came to ask how the heir and his wife wanted to book.

Lu Zhuo looked at Wei Rao.

Wei Rao wore a face veil and arranged quietly: “Book two rooms on the third floor, five rooms on the second floor.”

Zhao Song understood.

He went to book the rooms, and Zhao Bai followed Bitao, moving the things their masters would need tonight to the third floor.

Lu Zhuo guessed that Wei Rao wanted to change clothes, so he told the eight squad leaders to settle themselves, while he sat in the main hall waiting.

On the third floor, after Zhao Bai left, Wei Rao had Bitao close the doors and windows, then quickly changed out of her dress into men’s clothing.

Bitao combed her hair.

Wei Rao explained: “Later, you stay in this room. When the heir comes up, tell him to go next door and let him sleep in a separate room.”

Bitao exclaimed in surprise: “Miss, are you going out by yourself?”

Wei Rao: “I could lie down in the carriage, but you’ve been in the sun and sitting all day. Sleep early tonight so you won’t be tired tomorrow.”

Bitao was worried.

Wei Rao laughed at her: “Would you feel better if I brought you along? If something happens, I’d have to split my attention to protect you.”

That made sense, but Bitao was still concerned.

However, Wei Rao had made up her mind to go shopping alone. Taking her purse, she ordered Bitao to sit in the chair and not follow her. Wei Rao walked briskly to the end of the corridor and stepped down the wooden stairs with light steps. Reaching the main hall, Wei Rao casually glanced around and saw Lu Zhuo sitting alone near the entrance. Seeing her, Lu Zhuo stood up.

Wei Rao walked toward the door.

Lu Zhuo watched her, and as she stepped over the threshold, he followed her out.

Wei Rao frowned: “You’re going too?”

Lu Zhuo: “I promised Old Madam that I would protect you and bring you back without a hair harmed. Now that we’re traveling away from home, if my negligence causes you harm, I cannot account to Old Madam.”

He was playing the gentleman again. Wei Rao disdained to continue arguing and walked straight toward the main street.

The sunset had not completely faded, and well-to-do citizens were going in and out of various shops in small groups. Wei Rao hadn’t eaten much at noon and was now quite hungry. After looking at several restaurants, she finally saw a very impressive wine house.

“Are you two gentlemen together?”

A young server came up with a smile, his gaze circling between Wei Rao’s and Lu Zhuo’s faces, asking Wei Rao who had entered first.

Wei Rao’s eyes turned slightly. Thinking that she still needed Lu Zhuo to guide the way to the traveling palace and needed Lu Zhuo to show his Duke Ying heir’s waist token to the palace guards, she smiled: “Together. Do you have a private room?”

It wasn’t a festival, so private rooms were still available. The server led them over.

Wei Rao ordered three signature dishes, and Lu Zhuo added one more.

After the server left, Wei Rao smiled at Lu Zhuo: “I’ve caused the heir quite a bit of trouble on this journey. Let me treat you to this meal.”

Lu Zhuo keenly noticed the change in her attitude. Earlier, she was unhappy that he had followed her, but now she was smiling so beautifully.

Traveling together is hardly troublesome. Besides, the trip to Jin City was my suggestion, so naturally the expenses along the way needn’t concern you, miss.” Lu Zhuo took out a silver ingot from his sleeve and placed it aside as an advance payment for the meal.

It was just the cost of one meal—Wei Rao didn’t argue with him.

The four dishes were served one after another. Of the three dishes Wei Rao had ordered, only one suited her taste; she only tasted the other two.

Since she wasn’t eating, Lu Zhuo ate more than half of each dish.

Anyone who had been to battle and experienced the taste of going hungry one meal and full the next didn’t like to waste food.

After settling the bill and leaving the wine house, Wei Rao walked west.

Lu Zhuo called out to her, pointing east—they had come from the east.

Wei Rao smiled: “It’s still early. I want to see if there are any horses for sale in this direction.”

Lu Zhuo: “You want to buy a horse?”

Wei Rao nodded: “Sitting in the carriage is too tiring. I want to be able to ride a horse for fresh air anytime.”

Lu Zhuo thought of the eight subordinates traveling with them and the Zhao Song and Zhao Bai brothers, saying quietly: “The area around Cloud Mist Mountain has few travelers and is suitable for galloping, but on the official roads with vehicles coming and going, you…”

Wei Rao had been looked down upon by him many times before, so one more time didn’t matter. She just smiled charmingly: “I don’t care myself, so what is the heir worried about? The travelers on the road have nothing to do with me—why should I care whether they look at me or not? As for Zhao Song and the others, they’re all the heir’s trusted subordinates. When you and I married, they should have heard that I’m not one of those rule-abiding noble ladies. If I ride a horse, would they be shocked?”

Lu Zhuo was speechless.

They weren’t relatives or close friends, and he was only a husband in name—he indeed had no right to control Wei Rao.

Other young ladies feared public opinion and strived to be dignified in every move, but Wei Rao went against the grain, used to doing as she pleased. Her reputation was already ruined, so she could continue to act willfully without any worries.

Watching Wei Rao’s figure disappear into the crowd, Lu Zhuo suddenly felt a trace of worry in his heart.

If he and Wei Rao truly became husband and wife, it would be fine if Wei Rao bore sons in the future, but if she bore daughters who also learned Wei Rao’s carefree ways, what would be done?

Night quietly fell.

Wei Rao found a horse market that was about to close. Suddenly, a pair of elegant young gentlemen with distinguished appearances arrived, and the horse market owner greeted them with a smile.

Wei Rao had a special fondness for white horses. The market owner noticed this and strongly recommended a white horse to Wei Rao.

Lu Zhuo wandered around the stable himself, then stopped in front of a chestnut horse’s stall, signaling Wei Rao to come over.

“Young master has a discerning eye. This is a Ferghana horse that was just transported from outside this evening. If you two gentlemen had come a day later, this Ferghana horse would have been bought by someone else.” The market owner stroked his beard and smiled.

Wei Rao stared at the chestnut horse, examining it. Lu Zhuo moved closer to her: “It’s not a Ferghana horse, but it’s still a fine steed. You can buy it.”

Wei Rao could see the chestnut horse’s strength, but…

Wei Rao hesitantly looked at the other white horse.

Lu Zhuo didn’t want her to waste her silver and subtly reminded her: “This horse runs fast. If you choose that one instead, a half-day journey might be extended by several moments.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Rao immediately made up her mind and paid silver to buy the chestnut horse.

The horse market gave her a set of saddles as a gift. Leaving the market, Wei Rao skillfully mounted the horse, wanting to try it out.

It was almost curfew time, and there were hardly any other pedestrians on the street. Wei Rao patted the horse’s head, and the chestnut horse let loose its hooves and ran forward, leaving Lu Zhuo far behind in the blink of an eye.

Lu Zhuo’s gaze followed the young lady on horseback, his steps unhurried.

Wei Rao galloped for a distance, turned the horse around, and galloped back.

She wore a cap, with all her cloud-like black hair hidden inside, showing only a fair and delicate face. As she rode toward him, the light from lanterns hanging in front of street shops flowed across her face. Lu Zhuo seemed to see a beauty flying out from a spinning lantern, flying closer and closer in his direction.

Before she could notice, Lu Zhuo calmly looked away.

Wei Rao reined in her horse and looked down at him from the saddle: “The heir chose this horse. Would the heir like to try it?”

Lu Zhuo was surprised by her enthusiasm. Remembering his grandmother’s instructions, he nodded: “Very well.”

Wei Rao smiled and jumped to the ground, handing him the reins.

Lu Zhuo galloped back and forth as she had done.

When he dismounted, Wei Rao asked expectantly: “What does the heir think?”

Lu Zhuo: “Not bad. It could be sent to the military camp as a war horse.”

Soldiers had to be carefully selected, and war horses were the same. If the chestnut horse could understand the evaluation given by the Shenwu Army’s deputy general, it would surely neigh happily a few times.

Lu Zhuo patted the horse’s neck, preparing to return the reins to Wei Rao.

Wei Rao didn’t take them, giving Lu Zhuo an extremely charming smile: “Since the heir also thinks this horse is good, I’ll give it to the heir and exchange it for borrowing Fei Mo to ride for a few days. Is that acceptable?”

Before Wei Rao spoke, Lu Zhuo had indeed been disturbed by her rare smile, but upon discovering that Wei Rao coveted his mount, Lu Zhuo’s gaze instantly regained clarity. While stuffing the chestnut horse’s reins into Wei Rao’s hands, he coolly replied with two words: “Not acceptable.”

Wei Rao watched his retreating figure, disappointed but also admiring.

She had only suggested exchanging mounts for some time. Any other man would have agreed, but Lu Zhuo truly treasured his horse like his life.

Of course, there was another possibility—that her face, which others called that of a fox spirit, did not affect Lu Zhuo whatsoever.

Returning to the inn, the chestnut horse was handed to Zhao Song to lead to the stable, and Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo went up to the third floor via the stairs.

The corridor was quiet. Lu Zhuo carried a lantern, his gaze glancing at Wei Rao beside him.

They had to play the loving couple in public, so tonight he and Wei Rao would sleep in the same guest room.

Lu Zhuo guessed she would make him sleep on the floor, but with a man and woman alone in one room…

Wei Rao stopped in front of her guest room.

“Young Madam?” Bitao had been waiting inside for a long time.

Wei Rao: “It’s me.”

Bitao sighed in relief and quickly opened the door.

Wei Rao asked her: “The key to the next room?”

Bitao had been holding it in her hand.

Wei Rao took the key, turned, and handed it to Lu Zhuo, saying nothing, only making a gesture for Lu Zhuo to go to sleep next door.

Lu Zhuo glanced at Bitao inside the door, took the key, and left.