As Lu Zhuo had said, the next day Wei Rao received an invitation sent from Duke Ying Mansion. It was a card written personally by Fourth Madam, and the gratitude implied between the lines could probably only be understood by Wei Rao.

The one who delivered the invitation was also Di Cui, a senior maid from the Fourth Madam’s side.

“Princess, Madam misses you very much. When the young master had his full moon celebration, Madam greatly regretted that you couldn’t attend. Madam said you must come to see the young master’s first birthday ceremony.”

Di Cui spoke truthfully, though she didn’t understand why her mistress had instructed her to persuade the current princess, the former young madam.

Wei Rao thought of that Lantern Festival years ago, when Fourth Madam was so upset by the idle chatter of two young maids that she ran to the bamboo grove to cry. Fourth Madam had so longed for a child, and only after nine years of marriage did she finally get her wish with An’er. Fourth Madam must love An’er dearly, and however much she loved him, that’s how grateful she would be for Wei Rao’s matchmaking.

If she went and accepted Fourth Madam’s gratitude, then offered her blessings to An’er, Fourth Madam’s heart could be completely at peace.

“I’m grateful for Madam’s kind intention. I will attend the young master’s first birthday celebration.” Wei Rao closed the invitation and smiled in agreement.

Di Cui was overjoyed and returned to report.

Wei Rao then had Eunuch Wei arrange for people from the jewelry shop to bring several sets of longevity locks so she could choose one as a gift for An’er.

When the jewelry shop heard that the newly enfeoffed Princess Xiaoren wanted to buy jewelry, they immediately sent their most capable manager with the shop’s finest sets of longevity locks. Don’t look at Wei Rao’s poor reputation among the people—no one questioned her financial resources. When Wei Rao hastily married, her dowry had filled an entire street, not to mention she could take away fifty thousand taels in betrothal gifts when she divorced, and behind her was an uncle who was Jin City’s wealthiest man.

Some people criticized Wei Rao’s various improper behaviors, but all those who weren’t as wealthy as Wei Rao envied her riches. And Wei Rao, specially enfeoffed as princess by Emperor Yuanjia, now had honor on top of wealth, plus such a magnificent mansion—such imperial favor was no less than that of a real princess!

But this dynasty had no princesses. The three princes were all young; only Prince Duan had a princess consort, and they had only borne sons. That meant Wei Rao was the only princess in the capital city!

The jewelry shop showed sufficient sincerity. After Wei Rao selected An’er’s gift, she mounted her snow-white steed, dressed in women’s attire with a veil, and left the Princess Mansion.

Eunuch Wei and Bitao rode horses on her left and right, with four guards escorting front and back.

The common people on the streets put down their work and craned their necks to watch Princess Xiaoren approaching on horseback.

The white horse beneath the princess was snow-white all over without a single stray hair, gleaming brilliantly in the bright spring sunlight.

The princess wore a set of bright red women’s riding attire. That gorgeous silk draped over the snow-white horse’s back, together radiating enchanting brilliance.

The princess wore a light veil, her red lips and delicate nose faintly visible.

The princess had a pair of phoenix eyes that sparkled wherever she looked, seeming to contain infinite tenderness and charm.

Escorted by guards, the princess headed toward the city gate.

Only after the princess’s figure disappeared did the common people suddenly come to their senses. These people had once echoed others in mocking the Wei family’s fourth daughter for being squeezed out by Duke Ying Mansion and requesting a divorce herself. They had once delighted in speculating that the Wei family’s fourth daughter was hiding in her boudoir, dejected and ashamed to show her face. But today’s fourth daughter of the Wei family, Princess Xiaoren, was dazzling like a bright pearl, like a phoenix fallen to the mortal world, radiating brilliant light from head to toe.

Where was the destitution?

If this were called destitution, then please let heaven make them as destitute as the princess!

After leaving the city gate, Wei Rao released her speed and galloped quickly toward her maternal grandmother’s country estate.

Previously, when the Empress Dowager was alive, both grandmothers had hoped she would marry into a high-ranking family for protection. They wanted her makeup to be dignified, wanted her not to ride horses in public view, so Wei Rao had to take a carriage to the country estate every time, slowly traveling for over an hour.

Now that the Empress Dowager was gone, Wei Rao no longer needed to seek protection from her husband’s family. Even Emperor Yuanjia had told her she could do as she pleased—what did Wei Rao have to worry about?

Having been confined to inner quarters for over a year, Wei Rao enjoyed this feeling of galloping on horseback again. The early spring cold wind didn’t make her feel cold—instead, it blew away more than a year’s silence.

Sometimes racing fast, cantering slowly, varying with the scenery, after half an hour, Wei Rao’s party stopped in front of the country estate gate.

Wei Rao had a waist token for free access to the country estate. Handing her steed to servants, Wei Rao smiled and ran inside.

Shou’an Jun had already received news of her granddaughter moving to the Princess Mansion and guessed that her granddaughter would come to see her soon. At this moment, hearing Wei Rao’s excited “Grandmother!” from inside the room, Shou’an Jun wasn’t surprised at all and smiled as she gestured to a serving maid to lift the curtain.

Wei Rao ran in unobstructed and saw her grandmother sitting on the daybed. That loving, indulgent gaze made her think of another elderly person.

Wei Rao suddenly cried, throwing herself into Shou’an Jun’s arms and sobbing.

Shou’an Jun was startled and patted her shoulder: “What’s wrong? What’s wrong? Weren’t you happy just now? Who’s wronged you?”

Wei Rao sobbed: “No one wronged me. Seeing you, I thought of Grandmother.”

Shou’an Jun understood. She stroked the young lady’s… grown lady’s head and said gently: “Missing her is natural. Your grandmother loved you so much—if you didn’t miss her, you’d be an ungrateful wretch. But thinking of her suffering those last few months, early release was good for her, too. Now she’s over there with good food and drink, and your grandfather listening to her orders and commands—who knows how happy she is.”

Wei Rao’s shoulders shook. While wiping her tears, she raised her head and said reproachfully, “Grandmother would never order Grandfather around. Grandmother had the best temper.”

Shou’an Jun tapped her nose: “Yes, Grandmother had the best temper. It’s your maternal grandmother who has a bad temper.”

With this comic relief, Wei Rao completely stopped crying.

Wei Rao told her grandmother what Emperor Yuanjia had said to her.

Shou’an Jun nodded: “I guessed as much. Since the emperor cares about your mother, he won’t let you suffer. Previously, he was constrained by the Empress Dowager—now he’s compensating you all at once.”

“But if the emperor is compensating me, why hasn’t he brought Mother back to the palace?” Wei Rao was somewhat confused.

Shou’an Jun smiled: “If the emperor went to fetch your mother right after the Empress Dowager died, what would the ministers say? Watch and see—it should happen this year.”

Before knowing her daughter’s situation at the traveling palace, Shou’an Jun truly couldn’t fathom Emperor Yuanjia’s intentions. But after her granddaughter visited the traveling palace and told her the truth, Shou’an Jun understood.

“When Mother returns to the palace, if I continue doing as I please outside the palace, will it cause trouble for Mother?”

“How could it? Everyone knows our three generations’ style. If you suddenly ‘reformed,’ those with ulterior motives would suspect you had a hidden agenda. Besides, why is your little brain thinking so much? You just need to manage yourself well. As the emperor said, as long as you don’t violate the law, whatever you do doesn’t matter. Palace matters have your mother—does she need you to worry?”

After getting scolded, Wei Rao nuzzled her grandmother’s shoulder coquettishly.

Shou’an Jun smiled.

Wei Rao then mentioned Duke Ying Mansion’s first birthday celebration.

Shou’an Jun was supportive: “This is good too. Marriage blessing, then divorce, but continuing association after divorce—it counts as forming a good relationship with Duke Ying Mansion. Since it can clarify those rumors, why not?”

Wei Rao said quietly, “I’m going for Fourth Madam and Old Madam, not caring what others say.”

Shou’an Jun pinched her smooth face: “Of course. Our Raorao acts righteously and sits properly—why fear gossip?”

Wei Rao giggled and hugged the old lady’s waist: “Grandmother, my Princess Mansion is finished. Come live there? Such a big mansion is too empty with just me living there.”

Shou’an Jun: “I won’t go. No matter how good your Princess Mansion is, it’s not as good as my country estate. Grandmother will stay here to retire—not going anywhere. If Raorao finds the mansion too empty, then quickly find yourself a prince consort and have several children—then it won’t be empty.”

Wei Rao: “I don’t want to. I just got the mansion and haven’t lived alone enough yet. I don’t want to find someone to come over so soon.”

Shou’an Jun had been observing her granddaughter’s expression and probed: “Do you truly have no lingering feelings for Lu Zhuo?”

Wei Rao’s jaw nearly dropped: “Why would I have lingering feelings for him?”

Shou’an Jun said: “Setting aside his status, just his appearance…”

Wei Rao scoffed: “He’s handsome, but am I lacking? Why should he be able to attract a bunch of young ladies competing to marry him, while I can’t attract a group of fine young men competing to be my prince consort?”

“Society’s requirements for good husbands and good wives are different…”

“Then I won’t marry. Whoever thinks I’d be his good wife can come compete for me. I’ll pick one worthy of me from those people. If no one comes, I have money, a mansion, and honor—why should I wrongfully marry a man who looks down on me or isn’t worthy of me?” Wei Rao said in one breath.

Shou’an Jun was convinced. This girl’s thinking at such a young age was exactly like hers back then. When she left the palace, she was only middle-aged, and there were confident widowers seeking to marry her—some for her wealth, some for her beauty. But Shou’an Jun looked down on them all, preferring to be mistress of her country estate.

“Right, right, right—thinking this way is correct. Raorao is still young with plenty of time to choose slowly. Grandmother doesn’t believe all the good men in the capital are blind and can’t see your worth.”

The grandmother and granddaughter spoke many intimate words, wishing they could make up for all the conversations of the past year.

But before long, Wei Rao’s aunt Wang Shi got the news and came over.

Shou’an Jun gave Wei Rao a meaningful look and had a maid invite Wang Shi in.

“Aunt, it’s been so long since we parted. Are you well?”

Wei Rao was in good spirits. Seeing Wang Shi, she greeted her with a bright smile.

Before coming, Wang Shi had been imagining what Wei Rao—who had divorced, returned home, and stayed secluded for a year—looked like now. Was she haggard and thin, or had she come to cry to the old lady about her grievances? She never expected that upon entering, she’d see Wei Rao like a peony flower. The eighteen-year-old girl’s charming features had fully matured—so gorgeous and alluring that even Wang Shi’s heart fluttered at her radiant smile.

Wang Shi stared at Wei Rao in shock, not even hearing what Wei Rao had said.

But in Wei Rao’s eyes, Wang Shi looked much older than when they last met.

The last time Wei Rao saw Wang Shi was at Zhou Huizhen’s wedding. Having gained such a son-in-law as the heir of Marquis Xiting, Wang Shi was glowing and looked several years younger. But after just over a year, the wrinkles around Wang Shi’s eyes had deepened.

Was Zhou Huizhen not doing well at Marquis Xiting’s mansion?

Wei Rao had never believed Zhou Huizhen could live comfortably after marrying into Marquis Xiting’s mansion. But since Zhou Huizhen insisted on marrying and did have good looks, Wei Rao thought that for the sake of Zhou Huizhen’s beauty, Han Liao should at least favor Zhou Huizhen for two or three years, right?

Could it be that Han Liao was even worse than she had predicted?

Wang Shi naturally wouldn’t tell Wei Rao how poorly her daughter was doing. After Wang Shi left, Shou’an Jun shared a few matters with Wei Rao.

Speaking of which, when Zhou Huizhen married, Shou’an Jun specially sent Nanny Liu to be her granddaughter’s dowry. Nanny Liu had served in the palace and had seen all kinds of schemes and plots. With her protection, Zhou Huizhen hadn’t suffered major losses at the hands of her mother-in-law, the Marquis Xiting’s wife, or Han Liao’s legitimate and illegitimate children.

But Zhou Huizhen wanted more than just avoiding losses. She also wanted Han Liao’s love—the kind of love she’d seen Lu Zhuo give Wei Rao. She wanted Han Liao to treasure her in his palm.

Initially, Han Liao did favor her for two months. However, once the novelty wore off, Han Liao would only favor Zhou Huizhen at night. When Zhou Huizhen wanted him to speak for her before his mother, Han Liao said nothing. When Zhou Huizhen wanted him to discipline children who disrespected her, Han Liao turned a blind eye. When Zhou Huizhen threw tantrums at him, Han Liao went straight to his concubine’s courtyard.

In anger, Zhou Huizhen returned to her natal home.

Han Liao waited a full month before coming to fetch her. He coaxed her gently for a while and easily took her back. However, upon returning to Marquis Xiting’s mansion, Zhou Huizhen’s treatment was even worse than before their quarrel. When she cried and made scenes, Han Liao coldly said: If Zhou Huizhen dared run home again, she needn’t return—he would never come fetch her.

Thinking of the long month of waiting, hoping, disappointment, and anxiety, Zhou Huizhen didn’t dare run away again.

Even Zhou Huizhen’s desire for a child to strengthen her position hadn’t been fulfilled—after over a year, she still hadn’t conceived.

Wang Shi was worried about this.

All of this was actually what Wei Rao could have predicted.

“Grandmother, when do you plan to persuade Cousin to leave the Han family?” Wei Rao was more concerned about this.

Shou’an Jun said, “My plans don’t matter—it depends on her. When she gives up hope, she’ll come back on her own.”

With a stubborn granddaughter, all Shou’an Jun could do was arrange for Nanny Liu to protect her granddaughter and save a portion of the family property for her.

“By the way, where’s Huizhu?”

“Magistrate Liu’s young lady is about to marry. She’s hosting a farewell banquet for her close friends before the wedding. Huizhu is a good friend of hers and went to the feast.”