However, Lu Zhuo had written the divorce papers exactly as he explained to his mother, He Shi.

So He Shi firmly believed that Wei Rao had only gone home to observe mourning first, and when Wei Rao completed her mourning period, she would return to continue being her daughter-in-law.

Duchess Ying was still seeing off guests, so He Shi brought Wei Rao to her courtyard, Chunhe Hall.

Maids served tea and withdrew.

The voices from Chaohui Hall and Zhongyi Hall made this place seem even more tranquil. He Shi smiled warmly, looking at Wei Rao: “Raorao looks so beautiful in this outfit. If someone said you were a true princess born into the imperial family, people would believe it.”

He Shi came from a humble background. Since her family status was poor, she wasn’t picky about her daughter-in-law’s family background. What satisfied her about Wei Rao was the person herself: first, the blessing marriage had saved her son; second, she was beautiful, wealthy, and good-tempered; third, Wei Rao was tall and slender, appearing delicate but having curves where needed—she looked destined to bring prosperity to sons and husbands.

Now that Wei Rao was also enfeoffed as princess, whichever family could marry Wei Rao as daughter-in-law would truly bring honor to their name.

Wei Rao could feel He Shi’s fondness for her, but this fondness was somewhat different from that of Duchess Ying and Fourth Madam. The way He Shi looked at her inexplicably reminded Wei Rao of when He Shi had secretly asked whether she and Lu Zhuo could consummate their marriage—that burning expectation, as if wanting to immediately stuff her into Lu Zhuo’s bedding.

“Madam flatters me. I wonder why you called me here?” Wei Rao asked with a smile.

He Shi explained: “Old Madam wants to see you, but she’s busy seeing off guests, so she asked me to keep you company first.”

Wei Rao understood and picked up her tea bowl.

He Shi smiled: “Old Madam surely wants to discuss with you when to arrange the betrothal and wedding.”

Hearing this, Wei Rao choked, quickly setting her tea bowl back on the table and turning her head to cover her face while coughing lightly, coughing until her face turned red.

He Shi smiled even more kindly: “Look at you, being shy in front of me. Shoucheng has explained everything to me—you two only divorced temporarily and will ultimately be together. The wedding was rushed last time and wronged you. Now that you’re a princess, we’ll hold the wedding ceremony magnificently and perfectly.”

Wei Rao understood He Shi’s naive simplicity well and guessed that Lu Zhuo probably hadn’t told He Shi the truth.

Since He Shi was so happy now, Wei Rao didn’t want to spoil her mood. When she left later and Lu Zhuo arranged another betrothal, he would surely explain clearly to He Shi.

“I see that sister Changning and sister Weiyu have grown into young ladies. Has the mansion arranged marriages for them?” Wei Rao cleverly changed the subject.

He Shi was indeed led along, showing a worried expression: “Changning’s marriage has your second aunt and Old Madam’s attention—she’ll surely marry a good husband. But Weiyu, though she’s beautiful and gentle, her natal family is all commoners. I’m afraid the young masters of capital families won’t think highly of her, but with her looks and character, I’d be reluctant to marry her off carelessly.”

Wei Rao could understand He Shi’s dilemma. Aunt Wang Shi had thought the same when arranging cousin Zhou Huizhen’s marriage.

Except for having a better reputation than Zhou Huizhen, He Weiyu’s conditions were similar in all other aspects. Even with He Shi’s connection, she was ultimately just a cousin of the Duke Ying Mansion.

Wei Rao chatted with He Shi intermittently, from He Weiyu’s marriage to Second Young Master Lu Ya’s marriage, then to Fourth Master and Fourth Madam’s new life. Since Fourth Madam became pregnant, Fourth Master suddenly changed from his previous dejection and resumed martial arts practice. He was a spear wielder—as long as he was put on horseback and wore a wooden-iron prosthetic to maintain balance, after becoming skilled at horse riding again, he’d still be a general with shocking combat power, needing only two personal guards to help him mount and dismount.

Once the Fourth Master was invigorated, Duke Ying found him a position in the Shenwu Army again.

“When you and Shoucheng marry, work hard and have a son—he could study and practice martial arts together with his little sixth uncle.”

He Shi suddenly turned the conversation back again.

Wei Rao was speechless.

Fortunately, Duchess Ying finally sent someone to invite her to Zhongyi Hall.

He Shi cheerfully saw Wei Rao out of Chunhe Hall.

“Princess, other families have mothers and daughters-in-law who despise each other, but First Madam treats you like her own daughter,” Bitao joked with a grin.

Wei Rao glared at her.

Bitao immediately suppressed her smile, but still felt that this time the Princess came to Duke Ying Mansion, her treatment was no different from visiting the country estate. Several elders didn’t treat the Princess as an outsider, and even the heir apparent had eagerly rushed to the gate to greet the Princess.

Arriving at Zhongyi Hall, Duchess Ying had all the maids withdraw, assuming an air of wanting to speak privately with Wei Rao.

The door was open, and the bright afternoon sunlight poured in. Wei Rao’s fair little face was as beautiful as a flower.

Duchess Ying truly didn’t understand how her grandson could have failed to appreciate such a beauty as Wei Rao initially. Fortunately, after Wei Rao left, her grandson finally came to his senses and told her he could marry no one but Wei Rao after multiple matchmakers visited. Better late enlightenment than never—for her grandson’s sake and her fondness for Wei Rao, Duchess Ying decided to help her grandson once more.

“Raorao, have you visited your maternal grandmother? How is her health?” Duchess Ying first asked about Shou’an Jun’s health with concern.

Wei Rao: “Maternal grandmother is quite well. She’s planning to plant melons when spring comes.”

“She still has melon fields? Growing watermelons?”

“Yes, maternal grandmother loves eating watermelons, so she specially opened a sandy plot. The melons that grow are both sandy and sweet.”

“You’re making my mouth water just talking about it.”

“When the melons ripen, I’ll go steal two to honor you with.”

Duchess Ying couldn’t help laughing heartily. Wei Rao’s mouth knew how to make elders happy.

In the western side room, Lu Zhuo leaned against the wall. He didn’t take the opportunity to peek at Wei Rao, but could imagine her expression at this moment. When she spoke with him, every sentence had thorns, but in front of elders, she was like a sweet fruit—the person was sweet, and her mouth was sweet too. No wonder all the family elders liked her.

In the main hall, Duchess Ying didn’t keep selling suspense. After chatting briefly, she brought up the main business: “Raorao, Shoucheng’s mother both likes you and hopes you’ll come back to continue being our Lu family’s daughter-in-law. I believe you can see this, but Shoucheng made you suffer many grievances, which I also know. If Shoucheng still had his stubborn temperament from before, I would never speak the following words aloud. But Shoucheng knelt and begged me, saying he has you in his heart and won’t marry anyone but you in this lifetime. That’s why I’m shameless enough to invite you here to ask your thoughts. If you still remember this old woman and are willing to be my granddaughter-in-law, the Lu family will send matchmakers to the Princess Mansion again to propose marriage. Is this acceptable?”

Wei Rao listened quietly with lowered eyes.

Duchess Ying and He Shi both hoped she would return—Wei Rao believed this. But would Lu Zhuo kneel, saying he could marry no one but her?

Wei Rao didn’t believe it.

Even if Lu Zhuo had knelt, it might have been because Duchess Ying didn’t want to break faith and demanded he kneel, so Lu Zhuo knelt against his will out of filial duty.

Even more so, even if Lu Zhuo wanted to marry her now, she wouldn’t marry him.

“If another girl married in, would you be curious about why she remained a widow?”

“Another girl probably wouldn’t remain widowed for only five years.”

Wei Rao still remembered that after the blessing ceremony, when Lu Zhuo had just awakened, he was too weak to see her face clearly, but when he nodded to her in acknowledgment, his haggard face was gentle and his gaze was warm. But after he learned the whole story, after the elders left, Lu Zhuo’s gaze toward her turned cold, as if she, Wei Rao, had used some underhanded means to squeeze out his original fiancée and usurp her place.

So why should Lu Zhuo be able to mock and ridicule her when he didn’t want to marry her, but when Lu Zhuo wanted to marry her, she should happily nod in agreement?

Wei Rao smiled and said to Duchess Ying’s skirt: “I appreciate Old Madam’s kind intention. Being able to serve as granddaughter-in-law at your knee for a year was Raorao’s honor, and Raorao will remember your kindness and that of all the madams for her entire life. It’s just that I’ve only just become a princess and am just beginning to enjoy the carefree days of living alone in the Princess Mansion. I don’t want to marry myself off too early. The heir apparent is no longer young—Old Madam should quickly arrange another marriage for him. Please don’t let me delay him.”

After speaking, Wei Rao left her seat and solemnly bowed to Duchess Ying in farewell: “Old Madam has received guests for half the day. Wei Rao won’t disturb your rest. May you take care of your health, with fortune like the Eastern Sea and longevity like the Southern Mountains.”

As her words fell, Wei Rao turned and left.

She used this attitude to tell Old Madam that she wasn’t playing hard to get—she truly didn’t want to marry Lu Zhuo again. Old Madam needsn’t waste more time on her.

Wei Rao walked quickly, with maids naturally seeing her off.

Duchess Ying sat in her chair, feeling melancholy.

She wasn’t angry about Wei Rao’s refusal, only regretful that such a wonderful granddaughter-in-law had been ruined by her disappointing grandson.

“Everyone’s gone, why are you still hiding?” Thinking of the culprit, Duchess Ying looked angrily toward the side room.

Lu Zhuo emerged upon hearing this.

Duchess Ying saw he looked quite calm, as if being rejected didn’t matter much, and was directly amused by anger: “So I’m arranging things for you, but you don’t care at all?”

Lu Zhuo smiled helplessly and explained: “Why must you mock your grandson? I expected she wouldn’t agree. It’s just that before I go find her to apologize and make amends, I must have you come forward to let her know I’m serious and have gained yours and Mother’s support before seeking her out. Otherwise, if I rashly went to see her, how would I be different from those dissolute wastrels?”

This explanation calmed Duchess Ying’s anger, leaving only doubt: “Raorao was so resolute—are you confident?”

Lu Zhuo lowered his eyes: “I hurt her too deeply. I can only treat her with sincerity and try to make amends.”

Duchess Ying again couldn’t bear to see her grandson looking so dejected. Pinching her forehead, she decided: “Your second and third brothers are both grown, plus Changning and Weiyu—I’ll arrange their marriages these two years. You’re old enough—handle Raorao’s side yourself. However, I’ll say this ugly truth first: I’ll at most tolerate your struggling until you’re twenty-five. If Raorao still won’t forgive you by then, marry someone else quickly. Your mother’s eyes are nearly red from hoping for grandchildren.”

Lu Zhuo was twenty-three this year, with a full two years until twenty-five.

Two years seemed not short, but in the past two years, he had managed to offend Wei Rao in every possible way.

“Does Grandmother have anything else?”

“What do you want to do?”

“I’ll go see her off.”

“…Go ahead.”

When Lu Zhuo caught up to Fei Mo, Wei Rao’s carriage hadn’t yet turned out of the alley where Duke Ying Mansion was located.

The clopping hooves were very obvious on the street, emptied of guests. Wei Rao was curious who it was when she heard Bitao say under the window, “Princess, the heir apparent is following!”

Wei Rao frowned. When those hoofbeats were indeed followed closely by her carriage window, Wei Rao lifted the curtain with a stern face.

Lu Zhuo, on horseback, wore a crimson brocade robe, adding charm to his gentle, handsome appearance.

Seeing Wei Rao, he explained gently: “I’m escorting the Princess home.”

Wei Rao: “No need. Please return, heir apparent.”

Lu Zhuo: “Does the Princess not want to see me? Then I’ll go behind the carriage.”

He lightly pulled the reins, and Fei Mo indeed turned direction, following behind the carriage.

“Princess, should I have the guards drive away the heir apparent?” Bitao asked, blinking.

Wei Rao asked: “Is he in front of or behind the guards?”

Bitao looked back and said disappointedly: “Behind.”

Following behind the guards meant he wasn’t disturbing the Princess’s carriage, so naturally, the Princess had no reason to drive him away.

Wei Rao was too lazy to think about what tricks Lu Zhuo was playing and let down the curtain, letting him follow.

At this time, those with money and leisure were taking afternoon naps, while common people still had work to do. Soon, people noticed that the handsome heir apparent, Lu Zhuo of Duke Ying Mansion—so beautiful that seeing him once would be memorable—was following a carriage closely like a guard. The insignia on that carriage belonged to the newly enfeoffed Princess Xiaoren, the heir apparent’s divorced former wife?

What was going on now?

Lu Zhuo had a gentle face, so the people boldly asked: “Heir apparent, what are you doing following the Princess’s carriage?”

Lu Zhuo smiled: “Escorting the Princess home.”

After a buzz of discussion, someone called out teasingly: “Within the imperial city at the Son of Heaven’s feet, the Princess has guards accompanying her—where’s the need for the heir apparent to escort her? Following so eagerly like this, do you want to reconcile with the Princess?”

Lu Zhuo looked toward the carriage ahead and didn’t deny it: “Lu has this intention, but it requires the Princess’s consent.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the young women and young wives by the roadside immediately envied the Princess in the carriage tremendously.

More men and women called out teasingly, asking the Princess in the carriage whether she would agree to the heir apparent.

Wei Rao originally didn’t want to respond, but if she did nothing, everyone outside might think she was secretly delighted!

Rummaging through the small cabinet in the carriage, Wei Rao grabbed a tea cup, leaned out the carriage window, aimed at Lu Zhuo, who was looking up, and threw it at him with full force!

Her aim was accurate—the tea bowl flew straight toward Lu Zhuo’s face. Lu Zhuo smiled, raised his hand to catch it, and smoothly tucked the tea bowl into his robe.

The crowd burst into laughter: “Does that count as a token the Princess gave the heir apparent?”

Wei Rao only looked at Lu Zhuo. Seeing he still sat upright on his horse, gazing at her from afar, Wei Rao gritted her teeth, put down the curtain, and sat back.

She had underestimated Lu Zhuo. When this person’s face became thick, even wild boars couldn’t compare!