When Eunuch Wei first paid his respects to Wei Rao, he brought the initial blueprint of the Princess Mansion.

In the capital city, the closer to the imperial city, the less vacant land there was, as it had long been occupied by mansions built by high-ranking officials and nobles who lived there for generations. Of course, not every family could smoothly maintain their official positions generation after generation. Some families had unworthy descendants who became so destitute they could no longer survive in the capital, so they would sell their ancestral homes and move elsewhere to live. Some officials, whether corrupt or treasonous, had their official caps stripped and their homes confiscated when they were imprisoned. At such times, their mansions would be seized by the state.

When new officials were worthy of appreciation and reward, the emperor would select a mansion from the state treasury to bestow upon them.

There were corrupt and evil officials in every generation, so the emperor never lacked mansions to reward new nobles.

The mansion that Emperor Yuanjia granted to Wei Rao was the former Princess Changle’s mansion.

Eunuch Wei also gave Wei Rao a brief introduction to Princess Changle. In terms of generational hierarchy, Princess Changle was a great-great-aunt of the late emperor, dating back quite some years. During Princess Changle’s lifetime, she was greatly favored by her imperial father. Princess Changle also lived quite arrogantly and willfully—she had a prince consort but also kept male favorites. Though she was criticized for this, it didn’t affect her in the slightest, and she lived happily her entire life.

Princess Changle bore two children, but both died young. So, after Princess Changle and the prince consort passed away successively, her mansion returned to the state treasury.

Without a master, Princess Changle’s mansion had long fallen into disrepair, so it needed to be rebuilt. As for whether to make major or minor renovations, naturally, they had to ask Wei Rao, the new master, to decide.

Wei Rao carefully examined the mansion’s blueprint. It had a structure with residential courtyards in front and a large garden behind. The main halls alone numbered seven large rooms, plus several large and small courtyards with side buildings. The garden behind occupied an area equivalent to the courtyards in front, with lake water diverted from the river, pavilions and towers, real and artificial mountains—it was no inferior to her maternal grandmother’s country estate.

One must know this was in the capital city, where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold. Even a prince’s mansion was roughly of this scale.

Indeed, Princess Changle’s mansion had originally been built to the same specifications as a prince’s mansion. Now, granted to Wei Rao to be converted into a princess mansion, they only reduced the number of front gates by two rooms—the interior remained completely unchanged.

Wei Rao didn’t alter the mountains, waters, and courtyards that required enormous manpower to construct. Only because Princess Changle loved willow trees, with almost every courtyard in the mansion having willow trees, Wei Rao rearranged the planting of flowers and trees throughout the mansion, making it less monotonous.

After more than nine months of construction, the Princess Mansion had taken on a completely new appearance. Wei Rao followed Eunuch Wei’s suggestion and, on the eighteenth day of the first month, bid farewell to her uncle and moved to the Princess Mansion in a grand procession with her maids and belongings.

Her relocation this time was even more magnificent than when she married Lu Zhuo for the wedding blessing. During the blessing ceremony, in front of the bridal sedan chair, was Lu Zhuo’s young cousin carrying a large rooster. This time, as a princess relocating, Wei Rao’s carriage was escorted front and back by eight guards from the Princess Mansion on horseback, plus imperially granted palace maids and eunuchs accompanying her.

Sitting in the carriage, Wei Rao could hear the discussions and envy of the common people on both sides.

What did the title of the heir apparent’s wife of Duke Ying amount to? She was now a princess. Except when meeting the emperor, empress, three consorts, princes, and their wives, everyone else—whether cabinet ministers or first-rank noble ladies—had to bow to her. Moreover, she was a princess of a foreign surname specially granted by Emperor Yuanjia. Even if Emperor Yuanjia passed away and a new emperor ascended the throne, unless Wei Rao truly committed an unforgivable grave crime, the new emperor would find it difficult to strip her of her princess title.

A year ago, Wei Rao hadn’t anticipated she would become a princess. Now that she was a princess, neither the Marquis Pingxi’s wife nor Earl Cheng’an’s wife could openly humiliate her or treat her rudely anymore. Just thinking of Guo Shi’s jealous expression while having to endure it made Wei Rao want to laugh. And there was the deceased Empress Dowager—who knows what her feelings would be if she saw this from heaven?

Wei Rao didn’t feel she was unworthy of being this princess.

The late emperor owed her maternal grandparents, while the Empress Dowager was the chief culprit who fanned the flames and twice tried to take her life. Since Emperor Yuanjia was willing to compensate her, Wei Rao dared to accept it!

Inside the Princess Mansion, everything was brand new, though unfortunately, the season wasn’t right. In the late spring cold, those flowers and trees were still withered and hadn’t yet turned green.

Wei Rao spent a day touring her mansion in a soft sedan chair, then received greetings and respect from everyone in the Princess Mansion. The next day, she submitted a memorial to the palace, requesting an audience with the emperor to express her gratitude.

Emperor Yuanjia handled myriad state affairs daily and couldn’t be seen immediately by just anyone who wished it. He granted Wei Rao an audience three days later.

On the appointed day, Wei Rao changed into her imperially granted princess court attire and set out with Eunuch Wei.

Emperor Yuanjia was handling government affairs in the imperial study. All ministers summoned by Emperor Yuanjia or qualified to report matters in the imperial study had to wait quietly at the bottom of the nine-step staircase outside the imperial study. Emperor Yuanjia would send a eunuch to announce who should enter.

When Wei Rao arrived, she found six or seven people already lined up, standing on the left and right sides. Without exception, they were all ministers whom Wei Rao didn’t recognize.

Eunuch Wei supported Wei Rao’s left hand as they walked forward, quietly explaining the procedure to her. Later, Wei Rao would need to hand her memorial to the blue-robed young eunuch nearby. The young eunuch would pass the memorial to Eunuch Kang, the head eunuch of the imperial study, who would then place it on Emperor Yuanjia’s desk. Normally, that pile of memorials was arranged according to urgency, then by order of arrival. But there were special circumstances—for instance, if Eunuch Kang disliked someone, or if Emperor Yuanjia deliberately wanted to keep someone waiting, that person’s memorial would be placed at the bottom.

Wei Rao thought her memorial of gratitude would surely be among the last.

After handing her memorial to the blue-robed young eunuch, Wei Rao followed his directions and took her place in the third position on the right side.

The other five ministers present averaged around forty years of age. Except for the youngest, a civil official around thirty who glanced at her a couple of times, the others didn’t move at all—some had furrowed brows, others were resting with closed eyes.

Soon, a purple-robed official emerged from within, and Eunuch Kang invited the bitter-faced gray-haired official inside.

Wei Rao curiously observed these officials and suddenly felt that Emperor Yuanjia was quite similar to the head mistress of an inner household—both rising early to receive various stewards and handle all sorts of matters. Only Emperor Yuanjia had to worry about managing much greater affairs, as vast as governing the entire Central Plains, while also guarding against various border nations.

One official would come out, and immediately another would go in from those waiting below. Occasionally, new officials would arrive to join the queue.

Wei Rao stood for half an hour. Fortunately, the early spring weather was cool with warm sunshine—otherwise, she feared she’d be sweating profusely and thoroughly disheveled.

Finally, the last minister beside her went in. When he came out, it would be her turn, right?

Wei Rao thought expectantly.

Just then, footsteps sounded behind her.

Wei Rao gritted her teeth and stealthily looked when the person walked toward the blue-robed young eunuch.

It was a figure in a crimson official robe.

That color of official robe…

As soon as familiarity crept into Wei Rao’s heart, the person turned around. That incomparably handsome face, those gentle and refined eyes—who else could it be but Lu Zhuo?

Wei Rao quickly lowered her gaze.

Lu Zhuo walked toward her step by step.

In his eyes, Wei Rao wore princess court attire—a set of true red brocade jacket and silk skirt with a cloud shoulder cape. Against that golden-red ensemble, her jade-white neck was whiter than frost and snow. She wore a princess phoenix crown inlaid with gems, adorned with pearls and jade. Whether from standing too long or the crown being too heavy, her fair face showed a few traces of flush, like the finest rouge.

After more than a year apart, she seemed to have grown taller and become even more beautiful.

“Lu Zhuo pays his respects to the Princess.” He stopped three steps away and bowed to Wei Rao.

The slight smile at the corner of his mouth made Wei Rao feel he was teasing her.

Given their past relationship, he didn’t need to acknowledge her.

Wei Rao turned her face away, ignoring him. Instead, she was annoyed that Lu Zhuo had come now—ministers surely all had important business, and with Lu Zhuo’s arrival, she’d have to continue waiting until after Lu Zhuo met with Emperor Yuanjia.

Regarding her disregard, Lu Zhuo was unbothered. Facing the imperial study, Lu Zhuo began making small talk in a low voice: “After a year’s separation, is the Princess well in all things?”

Wei Rao pressed her red lips tightly together. Having stood so long, she was thirsty and didn’t want to waste saliva talking with him.

Lu Zhuo continued on his own: “Last month, Fourth Aunt safely delivered a son, with the milk name An’er. In a few days, we’ll hold his first birthday celebration. Would the Princess honor us with her presence?”

Wei Rao’s heart stirred. With so many events this past year, she’d forgotten about Fourth Madam’s pregnancy.

But what did Lu Zhuo mean? Once their marriage bond was severed, it was severed. Why invite her to a celebration at Duke Ying Mansion?

As if he could see what was going through her head, Lu Zhuo said, “Your divorce was to fulfill your filial duty, not because we developed a rift. Now that you’ve completed your mourning period, continuing to associate with our mansion would clarify those baseless rumors among the people. Otherwise, it would be equivalent to telling everyone that you were driven away by us.”

Wei Rao laughed, “Those ancient trivial matters—even if idle people still like to gossip about them, what does it matter to me? When I dared to divorce, I didn’t care about subsequent gossip.”

Lu Zhuo glanced at her: “Inviting you to celebrate An’er’s first birthday was Grandmother and Fourth Aunt’s idea. The invitation will be delivered to the Princess Mansion soon. I’m just informing the Princess since I encountered you here. Whether to go or not is entirely up to the Princess’s wishes.”

Wei Rao’s heart softened. Old Madam had treated her very well, and she had an indescribable connection with Fourth Madam’s child.

Eunuch Kang suddenly emerged with a minister.

Wei Rao clenched her hands without hope.

“Princess, His Majesty requests your presence.” Eunuch Kang glanced at Lu Zhuo and smiled at Wei Rao.

Wei Rao’s face immediately lit up with joy—finally, no more waiting!

The court dress had a very long skirt. Wei Rao held up her skirt with both hands and carefully stepped up the stairs.

Lu Zhuo stood below like a jade tree in the wind, watching her like a red phoenix dragging brilliant tail feathers, entering the imperial study with high spirits.

Before crossing the threshold into the inner hall, Wei Rao restrained her excitement at finally finishing the queue.

“Your subject Wei Rao kowtows before His Majesty.”

Once inside, Wei Rao knelt on the ground, voicing words of gratitude, and performed three kowtows and nine prostrations to Emperor Yuanjia in earnest.

Emperor Yuanjia smiled, instructing Eunuch Kang to grant her a seat and tea.

“Raorao has waited long, hasn’t she? Had I known there would be so many people today, I would have changed the day to see you.” Emperor Yuanjia held his tea bowl and smiled at Wei Rao before drinking.

Wei Rao understood that if Emperor Yuanjia had seen her first instead of those ministers with government affairs to report, it would have been bad for both of them.

“Your Majesty has greatly rewarded your subject. Your subject is happy in her heart and wouldn’t be tired even after standing another day.” Wei Rao said playfully. At this moment, Emperor Yuanjia’s attitude toward her was more like treating a junior, so Wei Rao wasn’t too restrained—it wasn’t her nature anyway.

Emperor Yuanjia nodded and asked Wei Rao if she was comfortable living in the Princess Mansion.

The Princess Mansion was quite good, but Wei Rao had confusion in her heart.

After drinking tea and moistening her throat, Wei Rao knelt again and asked uneasily: “Your Majesty, being enfeoffed as princess makes your subject very happy, but your subject has a tainted reputation and greatly fears accidentally doing something that invites criticism. Your Majesty, your subject herself doesn’t fear criticism, but fears implicating Your Majesty’s good name and disappointing your painstaking care. So please instruct your subject clearly on how to properly fulfill the role of Princess Xiaoren.”

Wei Rao was afraid Emperor Yuanjia would want her to become that kind of rule-abiding lady.

Emperor Yuanjia smiled and gestured for Wei Rao to rise first.

Wei Rao stood up, her small hands clasped together anxiously.

Emperor Yuanjia, tired from sitting, stood up with his hands behind his back and walked to the window of the imperial study, calling Wei Rao over as well.

Wei Rao came to Emperor Yuanjia’s side and slightly behind him.

The window of the imperial study was open. From here, one could see the nearby palace buildings, the distant capital city, and the boundless blue sky.

“Raorao, do you know why I enfeoffed you as princess?” Emperor Yuanjia stretched his neck and suddenly asked.

Wei Rao lowered her head and said quietly, “Your Majesty pities your subject.”

Emperor Yuanjia smiled, “It is a pity, and also compensation. Regardless of the reason, I hope you live peacefully and smoothly. If becoming a princess means you must go against your nature and be constrained everywhere, making you live unhappily and depressed, wouldn’t that mean I’m punishing you instead?”

Wei Rao’s eyes brightened.

Emperor Yuanjia continued, “Your title is Xiaoren. As long as you’re filial to your elders and compassionate to the suffering, willing to do good deeds, you’ll be worthy of this title and won’t disappoint my painstaking care. As for other matters, you may do as you please. As long as you don’t violate the law, I will tolerate everything.”

Saying this, Emperor Yuanjia turned sideways, looking at Wei Rao with gentle eyes.

Wei Rao understood and knelt again to express her gratitude!