Wei Rao had trouble sleeping in unfamiliar beds.

The bed in the guesthouse was obviously new, but knowing she was in a completely strange place, Wei Rao still tossed and turned sleeplessly.

She lay with her eyes open, facing the tightly closed window and fantasizing about meeting her mother.

Before departing, Lu Zhuo had told her that upon arriving in Jin City, he would first be busy with recruitment matters. Jin City was just one selection point. Lu Zhuo would settle in Jin City for a few days, coordinate recruitment affairs with local officials, and simultaneously send people to spread news of the Shenwu Army’s recruitment to all counties under Qingzhou’s jurisdiction. Then Lu Zhuo would lead people to those counties for recruitment, finally gathering all selected recruits at the military camp outside Jin City to begin a month of recruit training.

The recruit training would eliminate some more people. Once the final selection list was ready, Lu Zhuo would give them five days’ leave to return home and reunite with their parents and relatives, after which they would follow him to the capital.

During those five days of leave, Lu Zhuo would pick three days to accompany Wei Rao to the Western Mountain traveling palace.

Wei Rao asked Lu Zhuo if she could go by herself.

Lu Zhuo had her carefully examine the imperial edict. Emperor Yuanjia had stated clearly in the edict that Lu Zhuo and Wei Rao should travel together—if either of them was missing, the palace guards would not allow passage.

Wei Rao could only wait patiently. After all, it was an imperial traveling palace—Wei Rao didn’t dare to intrude alone like the characters in martial arts novels.

Thinking by day and dreaming by night, Wei Rao dreamed of her mother. In the dream, her mother sat under a crabapple tree, holding a comb and styling her hair.

This was something that had truly happened in her childhood. Her mother loved combing her hair, praising her hair for being fine, soft, and thick, suitable for various beautiful hairstyles.

Wei Rao hadn’t finished her dream when she was suddenly awakened by low knocking sounds. She opened her eyes and found it was already daylight.

Wei Rao paused, remembering the guesthouse situation. She straightened her undergarments, put on soft-soled sleeping shoes, and came to the inner room door.

Lu Zhuo’s deep voice came from behind the door: “Time to get up.”

He had awakened before dawn and had been waiting for Wei Rao, but she seemed to be sleeping soundly. If Lu Zhuo didn’t wake her now, the couple might be mocked by servants for sleeping in.

Wei Rao rubbed her brow, opened the door, and lifted the curtain while half-lowering her eyes. Just as she was about to speak, Lu Zhuo suddenly spun around like a whirlwind, creating a gust of wind.

Wei Rao was stunned, then realized that Lu Zhuo had been startled by her appearance in undergarments.

Wei Rao didn’t mind. Since they had to play a fake married couple and Lu Zhuo had sat beside her wearing only undergarments, it would be strange if both were fully dressed when the maids came in to serve them early in the morning. Besides, undergarments in this season were quite thick—no matter how good Lu Zhuo’s eyesight was, he couldn’t see through the fabric.

“Bring your bedding in and spread it on the bed,” Wei Rao yawned and lazily ordered, then lowered the curtain.

If Wei Rao had observed just then, she would have discovered that Lu Zhuo’s fair ears had turned completely red, but unfortunately, she had been awakened from her dream by Lu Zhuo and was still drowsy, having no mind to look closely.

Lu Zhuo’s ears were red, and the heat on his face was even more alarming. Wei Rao’s undergarments indeed revealed nothing improper, but her crimson undergarments, disheveled long hair, and flushed face looked almost identical to the Wei Rao he had seen in his dream.

Lu Zhuo had never seen a woman wearing only undergarments. The Wei Rao in his dream, with disheveled clothes, could startle him awake, seeing the languid and charming real person with his own eyes, Lu Zhuo was even more unable to look directly.

Hearing the door curtain fall, Lu Zhuo continued waiting outside for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, thinking Wei Rao should have dressed by now. When his expression had returned to normal, Lu Zhuo picked up the bedding from the secondary room’s couch and walked in with his head lowered.

To Lu Zhuo’s surprise, Wei Rao wasn’t standing on the ground. Through a screen, he could vaguely see a slightly bulging quilt on the bed, with a head of waterfall-like black hair visible by the pillow.

Lu Zhuo stopped behind the screen and frowned: “Aren’t you getting up?”

Wei Rao said drowsily, “Didn’t sleep well. Isn’t the prefect’s banquet in the evening? Why should I get up so early? You go about your business—no need to mind me.”

Lu Zhuo thought that after riding horses and carriages all this way, even though she knew martial arts, she was still a delicate young lady. Sleeping in on the first day in Jin City was normal.

“I’m here to make the bed,” Lu Zhuo reminded.

Wei Rao made a lazy nasal sound.

Lu Zhuo walked around the screen. A faint fragrance drifted from within the brocade bed curtains, carrying a hint of seductive charm that stimulated a man’s mind.

Lu Zhuo lowered his eyes and spread his bedding on the half of the bed Wei Rao had yielded to him.

After making the bed, Lu Zhuo went out to call Bitao to bring people in to serve. He then returned to the inner room, sat on the bed with his back to Wei Rao, pretending to have just gotten up and put on his outer robe, acting as if he were about to put on his boots.

Wei Rao was just grateful that after a few more days of this performance, Lu Zhuo would go to other counties to recruit soldiers, and they wouldn’t have to act every day.

Lu Zhuo left the guesthouse after having breakfast with Wei Rao, returning in the afternoon to escort Wei Rao to the prefect’s house for the banquet.

This was probably the most formal social occasion Wei Rao would need to attend in the capital. Bitao used all her skills to dress her mistress, emphasizing Wei Rao’s natural beauty in her makeup. She didn’t use many hairpins, but a rare sapphire hairpin was enough to highlight her status as Duke Ying’s heir’s wife.

Lu Zhuo sat in the main hall waiting for her, thinking about the evening’s social obligations. When the door curtain was lifted, Lu Zhuo casually looked over and his gaze fixed on Wei Rao’s face.

After seven days of travel, Wei Rao had worn men’s clothing for five days. Suddenly seeing her in full formal dress, her brilliant beauty made Lu Zhuo’s heart race again.

However, his face showed nothing, his gaze remaining as calm as water. Only after leaving with Wei Rao did he show a gentle smile again.

The servants in the guesthouse, seeing this perfect couple, believed from the bottom of their hearts that the husband and wife were a match made in heaven.

The prefect’s house was on the same street as the guesthouse. The carriage stopped after a short while.

Lu Zhuo helped Wei Rao down from the carriage.

In front of the prefect’s gate, the fifty-year-old prefect had already led his family out to welcome them, with his wife bringing along the family’s most beautiful concubine’s daughter, Ling’er.

The prefect understood his wife’s meaning but didn’t approve: “The Lu family has rules against taking concubines, and the heir doesn’t seem like that type of person. Don’t scheme randomly—if you fail to please them, you’ll instead earn the heir and his wife’s disgust.”

The prefect’s wife smiled: “You’re a man—which man doesn’t like beauty? The Lu family only says male descendants can’t take concubines, but they haven’t forbidden men from misbehaving outside, have they? The heir achieved military merit at such a young age. When he needed someone for the joy-bringing ceremony, even the Emperor made arrangements for him, showing the heir’s status in the Emperor’s heart. If our Ling’er can win the heir’s favor, wouldn’t he return your kindness if there’s an opportunity in the future?”

The prefect was moved by his wife’s words and decided to try. If the heir showed interest in his daughter during the banquet, there would be hope. If the heir showed no interest, he would just treat it as his daughter simply accompanying guests, with no other intention.

When Lu Zhuo first got off the carriage, the prefect’s wife and Miss Ling’er, seeing him for the first time, were both dazzled. Not just Miss Ling’er—even the elderly prefect’s wife wished she could be thirty years younger to have a chance of winning this immortal-like figure’s favor. Even if she couldn’t follow the heir long-term, spending a month or two with him in Jin City would make life worthwhile.

Like a rare, beautiful jade—if you can’t possess it, being able to touch it is still good.

Although Wei Rao looked down on Lu Zhuo, in other women’s eyes, Lu Zhuo held this kind of status—they would rather give up everything to throw themselves at him.

However, when Lu Zhuo helped Wei Rao down, the prefect’s wife was stunned, Miss Ling’er was dazed, while the prefect and his sons and grandsons seemed ready to glue their eyes to Wei Rao.

Wei Rao’s attraction to men was only greater than Lu Zhuo’s attraction to women. After all, women would still be somewhat reserved, but men’s hearts were controlled by those extra two taels of flesh.

Fortunately, the prefect was rational enough to smile and lead his family forward to pay respects.

Wei Rao followed behind Lu Zhuo, her gaze sweeping over everyone’s faces, naturally noticing the beautiful and charming Miss Ling’er.

The evening banquet was arranged in the water pavilions of the prefect’s back garden, with two adjacent pavilions separately accommodating male and female guests.

Besides the prefect’s family, other local officials in the city had also brought their families. Among civil officials, the prefect led, while among military officials, Adjutant Yang led.

Wei Rao had no good feelings toward the prefect’s wife.

Whether Lu Zhuo misbehaved outside had nothing to do with Wei Rao, but the prefect’s wife’s intention to offer beauty to Lu Zhuo showed she didn’t regard her, the legitimate wife, with any respect.

Facing the prefect’s wife’s overtures, Wei Rao’s smile was faint. Instead, Adjutant Yang’s wife and eldest daughter, Yang Yan, had forthright personalities and conversed well with Wei Rao.

Yang Yan was sixteen this year, the same age as Wei Rao, and still unmarried. While the prefect’s Miss Ling’er was snow-white and had a delicate, bird-like appearance, Yang Yan was completely different in bearing. Her skin was honey-colored, with sword-like brows and phoenix eyes, and she was much taller than ordinary women. When she appeared with the adjutant’s wife, she had a heroic bearing—clearly someone who practiced martial arts.

Women all liked discussing young ladies’ marriages. When talking about Yang Yan, the adjutant’s wife spoke only critically of her daughter, saying things like being single-mindedly focused on martial arts. However, the way she looked at Yang Yan was full of indulgence, clearly not liking to constrain her daughter to act like a proper young lady.

Wei Rao called Yang Yan to her side and asked what weapons she used.

Yang Yan used swords—both long and short swords.

“Does Young Madam also practice martial arts?” Yang Yan asked curiously.

Wei Rao said quietly to her, “I know some swordplay. If my sister is interested, we could spar when we have the chance.”

Yang Yan was naturally interested. In all of Jin City, she was the only young lady among the gentry who practiced martial arts, usually only able to spar with her brothers.

For the rest of the banquet, Wei Rao almost only whispered with Yang Yan, treating other female family members with only surface-level socializing.

When the banquet ended, Wei Rao and Lu Zhuo got into their carriage first.

Once the carriage door closed, the alcohol scent from Lu Zhuo’s body spread throughout the compartment. Wei Rao endured it for a moment, then raised the curtain on her side a bit.

Seeing this, Lu Zhuo also lifted his side: “Adjutant Yang loves wine. When he came to toast, I couldn’t refuse.”

Wei Rao glanced at him. A lantern hung in the carriage, and Lu Zhuo’s handsome face was slightly flushed in the lamplight—he must have drunk quite a bit.

“At the banquet, I hit it off immediately with Adjutant Yang’s precious daughter. She invited me to hunt in the mountains the day after tomorrow.” Wei Rao informed him. This wasn’t the capital, and they were both outsiders. Lu Zhuo would inform her wherever he went, so Wei Rao also told him her plans to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings due to a lack of communication.

Lu Zhuo looked over: “Just the two of you?”

Wei Rao shook her head: “Their family siblings will all go hunting, with guards accompanying them.”

Lu Zhuo immediately thought of Adjutant Yang’s three sons. Tonight, he had drunk so much wine, all thanks to the Yang father and sons. Yang, the eldest, was already married, but Yang the second and third were still single. The brothers were handsome, robust, mighty, and skilled in martial arts. If they went hunting with Wei Rao, even if Wei Rao didn’t fancy them, the two might actively show off, just like Qi Zhongkai.

“I’m free the day after tomorrow. Let’s go together.” Lu Zhuo leaned against the carriage wall and closed his eyes, as if tired and wanting to take a nap.

Wei Rao: “Didn’t you say you had arrangements these few days?”

Lu Zhuo: “There’s been a temporary change. That day happens to be free.”

Wei Rao thought of how this person had been following her constantly on the road, as if without his protection, she would get lost or be robbed by bandits. She couldn’t help frowning: “You’re not worried I’ll have an accident while hunting, are you?”

If Wei Rao were a delicate woman, she might be happy that Lu Zhuo watched her so closely. But Lu Zhuo knew she had martial arts skills, yet still treated her like an ordinary weak woman, which made Wei Rao uncomfortable, viewing it as a form of contempt. Especially since this hunting trip wasn’t a solo action, she would have the Yang family siblings accompanying her.

The Yang family was the local power in the Jin City area. Their reputation might be more useful than Lu Zhuo’s Shenwu Army. Who was Lu Zhuo looking down on?

Wei Rao glared at Lu Zhuo.

Lu Zhuo could feel her anger even with his eyes closed. He smiled and opened his eyes to look at her: “It’s been a long time since I hunted. My hands are just itchy. Miss needn’t worry—though Lu has the responsibility to protect you, I don’t constantly worry about you or insist on staying by your side.”

This sounded as if Wei Rao’s question was doubting whether he had her in his heart.

Wei Rao’s anger flared more, and she couldn’t help retorting: “The heir is the one overthinking. The heir is as handsome as Pan An—wherever you go, beauties admire you. I only hope that because Old Madam asked the heir to care for me, my going hunting won’t interfere with the heir’s romantic affairs.”

Lu Zhuo said, strangely, “When have beauties ever admired me?”

Wei Rao smiled sarcastically: “The heir knows how to play the gentleman. The prefect specially brought his beloved daughter to welcome the heir—did the heir truly not notice?”

Lu Zhuo smiled: “Being a gentleman, how could I pay attention to other families’ women? Tonight, except for my ‘wife,’ there were no other women in my eyes.”

Perhaps because he had been drinking, he leaned there lazily, with less of a gentleman’s air and more roguish charm.

Wei Rao inexplicably felt that Lu Zhuo’s gaze was flirting with her!

“You’d better not look at me either!” Wei Rao said through gritted teeth.

Lu Zhuo smiled and turned his face away, but his mind was full of her beautiful eyes reflected in the lamplight just now.