Wei Rao saw Lu Zhuo and discovered that Lu Zhuo was also looking at her, motionless, with that familiar, gentle fake smile at the corner of his mouth.

They had traveled to Jin City together and hadn’t seen each other for a month. With Lu Zhuo returning from military recruitment, in this situation, Wei Rao should go down to see him. But the wealthy merchant was just getting to the most exciting part of his story about the boatman saving the beauty. Wei Rao’s heart itched with curiosity—she wanted to hear how the county magistrate had judged the case, whether he awarded the beauty to the consumptive husband who had paid a fortune to marry her, or to the young, strong boatman who couldn’t bear to see her married to an unworthy man.

The wealthy merchant was particularly good at building suspense, speaking slowly and leisurely, taking sips of tea without any hurry.

Wei Rao looked again across the river and discovered that Lu Zhuo had tied Fei Mo to a willow tree. He sat at a long wooden table set out by the bank, speaking with a dressed shop assistant—apparently wanting to dine at that establishment?

Wei Rao looked at the sign of that small shop—it was a place that grilled lamb skewers and sold mutton soup. The shop was cold and deserted inside and out, so the food probably wasn’t good.

Wei Rao had a feeling that Lu Zhuo might be waiting for her, wanting to know why his nominal wife would enter a tavern with three men.

Wei Rao felt no guilt, but didn’t want Lu Zhuo to misunderstand too much. After the wealthy merchant finished his story, Wei Rao spoke quietly with her cousin Huo Jue, then said to the two wealthy merchants in a hoarse voice: “There seems to be an old friend of mine by the riverbank. We haven’t seen each other for years, and I’m eager to go downstairs for a chat. Please forgive me for taking my leave.”

Both wealthy merchants laughed and said it was no problem.

Wei Rao bid farewell to the three men and walked out of the private room. Zhao Song and Zhao Bai were waiting in the corridor.

Wei Rao gestured for them to follow her downstairs.

The tavern they were in was quite famous in Jin City. As Wei Rao went downstairs, there were still servers leading new diners upstairs, with everyone dodging and yielding to each other, which delayed her descent for a while. When Wei Rao emerged from the teahouse and looked toward Lu Zhuo’s side across the river, good heavens! The mutton shop that had no business just moments before was now nearly full, especially the tables around Lu Zhuo, which were completely occupied by female customers—women in their thirties and forties, as well as charming young girls of thirteen or fourteen.

The women were all looking at Lu Zhuo, while Lu Zhuo calmly sipped his tea, seeming completely unaware of the surrounding gazes.

Wei Rao was quite eye-opened by this sight.

Seeing the Young Madam staring at their master’s side, Zhao Song’s heart jumped. Remembering the scene of their master wearing a yellow flower and carrying a hedgehog, he couldn’t spare time to be happy about his master’s return to the city. He hurriedly explained in a low voice: “Young Madam, our master is handsome and elegant. When he goes out, civilian women often gather to watch him. But don’t worry, Young Madam—our master maintains his integrity and doesn’t approach women. He’s never given them so much as a glance…”

Before he could finish his praise, Zhao Bai suddenly tugged at his sleeve.

Zhao Song looked back, puzzled.

Zhao Bai secretly pointed toward their master’s direction.

When Zhao Song looked again, he saw a young lady in a colorful dress with her maid sitting across from their master at the small table, chatting with him with a beaming smile. Their master, whom he had just said “never gives others a glance,” showed no displeasure and even pushed the plate of grilled skewers in front of him toward the colorful-dressed lady.

Zhao Song’s face flushed red. Had their master not seen that the Young Madam had come downstairs, or had he not carried enough hedgehogs and was deliberately trying to anger the Young Madam?

Zhao Song worried tremendously for his master, but in this situation, he didn’t know what else he could say.

Zhao Bai suddenly said indignantly: “That young lady is thick-skinned. She must have said something our master couldn’t refuse. Our master has the best temper and surely wouldn’t want to embarrass her in public!”

Zhao Song immediately looked at his younger brother with new respect. Yes, it must be like that.

Wei Rao was amused by the Zhao brothers’ eagerness to defend Lu Zhuo. What did it matter to her whether Lu Zhuo attracted bees and butterflies? She just felt that propriety required her to go downstairs to meet Lu Zhuo, but now there were no empty seats beside him, and he had an enthusiastic beauty for company. If Wei Rao went over now, wouldn’t she spoil their pleasant mood?

Returning to the tavern wasn’t appropriate either. After thinking, Wei Rao said to Zhao Bai, “You go serve the Heir. Zhao Song, accompany me back to the post station first.”

Having said this, Wei Rao walked ahead.

Zhao Song exchanged a look with Zhao Bai and immediately followed.

Watching the Young Madam’s departing figure, Zhao Bai felt that she must be very angry right now!

Zhao Bai ran across the nearest stone bridge to the other side, then ran sweating to the mutton shop. As he approached their master’s location, Zhao Bai heard the colorful-dressed lady asking what place their master was from. Their master smiled faintly, glanced at him, stood up, and said: “Miss, please enjoy your meal. I must take my leave.”

Seeing this, Zhao Bai understood and went to untie Fei Mo, following their master, who had already walked onto the street.

“Master, didn’t you see the Young Madam just now?” Zhao Bai asked anxiously.

Lu Zhuo glanced in the direction Wei Rao had left: “I saw her. Why was the Young Madam at the tavern?”

Zhao Bai told his master about the Young Madam’s chance encounter with Young Master Huo Jue.

Lu Zhuo: “The Young Madam has been following the young master in business these past few days?”

Zhao Bai: “Yes, the Young Madam disguised herself as the young master’s cousin brother. She rarely spoke, and when she did, she used a hoarse voice. She was never exposed.”

Speaking of this point, Zhao Bai truly admired the Young Madam. Though she was an enchanting, beautiful woman, when she disguised herself as a man, it was seamless. She was poised and generous without any of the coy shyness typical of boudoir ladies, just a bit short in stature.

Lu Zhuo thought of the Wei Rao he had just seen. Her usual men’s clothing was just for the convenience of movement, but today, following Huo Jue in close business dealings with merchants, she had not only pasted on a mustache and altered her lip shape, but also made adjustments inside her robe to appear completely flat-chested.

Even so, Lu Zhuo still thought Wei Rao shouldn’t have followed Huo Jue to such social gatherings. Men at dining tables would inevitably make crude jokes. As a woman, she should avoid such situations—how could she actively participate?

However, Lu Zhuo had also figured out Wei Rao’s temperament—she preferred activity to stillness and dared to openly defy even the Old Madam’s instructions. He was helpless against this, let alone expect Zhao Song and Zhao Bai to persuade her to stay obediently at the post station.

“Master, you saw the Young Madam, so why did you still let those women sit beside you?” Zhao Bai asked puzzledly. “The Young Madam rushed out to see you as soon as she spotted you, but you—this time you’ve probably offended the Young Madam severely.”

What woman would be happy to see her husband chatting and laughing with other women? The Young Madam had such a proud temper—previously, she had run to the leisure estate, making their master plead three times before agreeing to return to the mansion, and later she had punished and teased their master in front of the Yang siblings. Zhao Bai felt that this time, for their master to appease the Young Madam, he would have to pay a great price.

Lu Zhuo smiled: “The shop owner sets up tables to do business—I can hardly prevent others from sitting down.”

Wei Rao hadn’t been eager to see him at all. From when she discovered him to when she left her seat to come downstairs, at least two tea servings’ worth of time had passed. She probably came down reluctantly only because she saw him lingering by the riverbank.

Zhao Bai regretted on his master’s behalf: “When they sat down, you could have left!”

Hearing this, Lu Zhuo only smiled.

At the post station, Wei Rao removed her fake mustache and washed her face. While Bitao was combing her hair, the little maid in the courtyard announced that the Heir had returned.

Bitao couldn’t help but speed up.

Wei Rao wasn’t in a hurry. Whom she had seen and with whom she had dined—Zhao Bai had surely already told Lu Zhuo everything.

Wei Rao had a clear conscience, so she didn’t care how Lu Zhuo viewed her. Besides, he was only her fake husband.

After finishing her grooming, Wei Rao came to the main hall and saw Lu Zhuo sitting in the chair on the north side, drinking tea, with two little maids from the post station standing nearby to serve.

Seeing Wei Rao, Lu Zhuo smiled and put down his tea bowl, walking toward her like a husband who had finally seen his beloved wife after a long separation.

Wei Rao smiled with lowered brows.

Bitao gave a meaningful look and led the little maids outside, thoughtfully closing the door.

The moment the door panels closed, Lu Zhuo stopped walking.

He was now only about a step away from Wei Rao. Wei Rao smelled a faint mutton odor—Lu Zhuo must have picked it up from that mutton shop. Wei Rao covered her nose with her handkerchief, walked around Lu Zhuo to another chair, and asked with a smile: “Has the Heir recruited enough good soldiers?”

Lu Zhuo turned his back on her and took a deep breath. He hadn’t noticed before, but after being shunned by her, he realized he did have a mutton smell on him.

The food at that mutton shop was extremely unpalatable. Lu Zhuo had ordered grilled meat and a bowl of mutton soup, but after tasting the grilled meat, he didn’t even want to try the soup. Even so, he had still picked up the smell—no wonder the shop had no customers during the peak lunch hour when other restaurants were busy.

“There are enough soldiers. Whether they’re good soldiers won’t be known until after a month,” Lu Zhuo said while untying his outer robe, revealing the thin white undergarment beneath.

Seeing this, Wei Rao frowned and looked away.

Lu Zhuo tossed his outer robe onto an empty chair, glanced at Wei Rao, and said: “I’ve been traveling for half a day and am tired. If there’s anything to discuss, let’s talk on the couch in the side room.”

Before he finished speaking, he had already entered the side room.

Wei Rao sat for a while before walking inside. Lifting the curtain, she saw Lu Zhuo coming out of the inner room carrying his bedding.

Wei Rao then said, “Cousin has come to Jin City on business. Zhao Bai has already told the Heir about this, hasn’t he?”

Lu Zhuo: “Yes. Since the young master has come from far away, I’ve already sent Zhao Song to deliver an invitation. Tomorrow evening, you and I will host a banquet for the young master.”

Given her cousin’s merchant status, Lu Zhuo, as the noble heir of Duke Ying, wouldn’t be criticized for not entertaining her cousin. By proactively proposing the banquet, he simultaneously gave face to both Wei Rao and Huo Jue.

Wei Rao accepted his kindness on her cousin’s behalf: “Then I thank the Heir for the expense.”

Lu Zhuo arranged his bedding and sat in a chair wearing his undergarment, looking at Wei Rao and asking: “How is the young master’s business progressing?”

Wei Rao had to sit beside him, lowering her eyes and saying, “All the goods he brought have been sold. Next, he’ll purchase a batch of furs.”

Lu Zhuo tapped the armrest of his chair and asked with a smile: “Will you go too?”

Wei Rao wanted to go, but she had agreed with her cousin that once Lu Zhuo returned to the city, she couldn’t visit her cousin anymore.

“No, my cousin is very particular about propriety. Only when you weren’t here could I use boredom as an excuse to plead with him to take me along. Now that you’re back, if I go again, he’ll become suspicious.” Wei Rao deliberately praised her cousin—this was indeed the truth. She didn’t want Lu Zhuo to misunderstand that her cousin was also an unconventional person.

Lu Zhuo smiled. Her way of speaking was quite interesting—when Huo Jue constrained her, it was being “particular about propriety,” but when he constrained her, she wished she could sew his mouth shut.

“It’s my fault for returning too early and spoiling your pleasure,” Lu Zhuo said, turning his head to look at Wei Rao with a guilty expression.

However, Wei Rao detected Lu Zhuo’s sarcasm in the words “your pleasure.”

She said flatly, “I don’t deserve the term ‘pleasure’—it was just fooling around. Having eaten and drunk my fill, I’ll go rest now. The Heir should rest early, too.”

Having said this, Wei Rao entered the inner room and closed and latched the door.

Lu Zhuo looked toward the window, then smiled.