The spring breeze grew warmer, and the winter jasmine and plum blossoms in the Princess’s mansion were the first to bloom.

At the center of the Princess’s mansion’s garden was a lake, with a small island built up in the middle. Wei Rao had previously ordered gardeners to plant winter jasmine along one side of the lakeshore and around the small island. Now the tender yellow winter jasmine flowers bloomed in clusters, like two bright ribbons reflecting each other’s beauty.

Wei Rao invited Zhou Huizhen and Zhou Huizhu to visit the Princess’s mansion. The three sisters sat in a small boat, sipping tea while admiring the scenery on the lake.

“Sister Rao, this residence is truly wonderful. I want to abandon Mother and Grandmother and move in to live with you,” Zhou Huizhu said enviously, propping her chin in her hands.

Wei Rao laughed, “Come then, I’m lacking a companion.”

Among the three sisters, only Zhou Huizhen wore a married woman’s hairstyle. She sat farther away, watching Wei Rao and Zhou Huizhu leaning carefree against each other, then surveying this magnificent Princess’s mansion. Zhou Huizhen both enjoyed this moment of comfortable leisure and envied Wei Rao immensely. However, perhaps because being with Wei Rao made her feel relieved, Zhou Huizhen wasn’t jealous.

She had once thought that marrying into a noble family would give her everything she dreamed of. Only after truly marrying Han Liao did Zhou Huizhen discover that Grandmother had been right—life in great households wasn’t as simple as she had imagined.

“Sister, why do you look so gloomy? Is brother-in-law bullying you again?”

Noticing Zhou Huizhen’s worried expression, Zhou Huizhu sat back over with concern.

Wei Rao also moved to sit on Zhou Huizhen’s other side, but she didn’t immediately speak. After all, she had once advised against this marriage like their grandmother, so if she spoke rashly now, it would easily make Zhou Huizhen resistant and cause her to misunderstand that Wei Rao wanted to kick her while she was down and criticize her again.

“He doesn’t bully me. He leaves early and returns late, basically never staying in the mansion. Zhou Huizhen first defended Han Liao.

In Zhou Huizhen’s heart, Han Liao wasn’t considerate enough toward her, but he wasn’t too bad either. Apart from refusing to take her side in front of his mother and legitimate daughter, apart from refusing to severely punish any concubine who offended her, Han Liao had never really bullied her. Moreover, Han Liao was very gentle at night, always able to make her feel like she was floating on clouds. Whenever she thought of those moments of tenderness, the slight grievances of the day seemed like nothing.

But when it was Han Liao’s turn to visit other concubines’ rooms, when she lay alone unable to sleep, thinking of Han Liao being equally gentle with others, Zhou Huizhen felt sour.

These past few days, she had been having her monthly courses, so Han Liao had been staying with others the entire time.

This made Zhou Huizhen sad.

But since her sister wasn’t yet married, Zhou Huizhen couldn’t tell her sister about this.

Once they reached the island and Zhou Huizhu went to admire the plum blossoms, Zhou Huizhen quietly confided her troubles to Wei Rao.

She desperately wanted to talk to someone. Nanny Liu would only tell her that Han Liao was lustful by nature and that he would neglect her even more when she got older. Zhou Huizhen wanted to hear a different perspective.

“Raorao, how did you get along with Young Master Lu before? How did you capture his heart?” Zhou Huizhen hoped Wei Rao could teach her. She and Wei Rao were similarly beautiful, and since Wei Rao could make Lu Zhuo beg her to remarry him, she must have some wonderful husband-managing techniques.

Han Liao was just a middle-aged lecher. Wei Rao couldn’t wait for her cousin to give up and leave Han Liao—how could she possibly help with strategies? Besides, she had no strategies to offer because she had never captured Lu Zhuo’s heart at all.

Looking at Zhou Huizhen’s eager-to-learn expression, Wei Rao sighed, “It’s not that I don’t want to help you, Cousin, but Lu Zhuo and Han Liao are completely different types of men. Lu Zhuo was young and had never slept with a woman before. Suddenly marrying a beauty like us, of course, he treasured me. But Han Liao? I bet he’s been sleeping with servant concubines since he was a teenager, right? It’s been twenty years now—what kind of beauty hasn’t he seen? What kind of temperament hasn’t he encountered? Charming, naive, intelligent, gentle, fierce… His inner quarters are like a garden. No matter how beautiful you are, Cousin, it’s hard to attract him for long.”

Hearing this, Zhou Huizhen became even more worried.

Wei Rao leaned close to Zhou Huizhen’s ear and asked, “Cousin, with your beauty, if you remarried a young, proper man, you’d bewitch him completely and have him listen to everything you say.”

Zhou Huizhen’s ears burned, and she immediately glared at Wei Rao, “What nonsense are you talking about? I don’t want to remarry.”

Wei Rao didn’t continue persuading her, only sighed, “Then what a pity. A noble family like Marquis Xiting’s mansion definitely won’t easily let you go out and about. In the future, I’ll only be able to keep in touch with Huizhu regularly.”

Zhou Huizhen bit her lip, “Don’t you want to remarry? Can you guarantee your next husband’s family will indulge you running around everywhere?”

Wei Rao smiled, “Before I marry, I’ll test the other family’s attitude. If they can’t accept me, I just won’t marry. Look, Cousin—I live in such a nice residence, I have gold and silver in hand. By any calculation, others should be the ones begging me. Why should I wrong myself to accommodate others?”

Zhou Huizhen couldn’t refute this. After a while, she replied, “You’re the only one in the world with such good fortune. Not every girl can be enfeoffed as Princess.”

Wei Rao said, “It doesn’t matter if you’re not a Princess. What’s important is having family property and money in your own hands. Once you have these, you can be the master of your own decisions.”

Zhou Huizhen disagreed, “What if the husband’s family has more power and influence than you?”

Wei Rao replied, “Then I can find a husband’s family that’s not as good as mine and wouldn’t dare give me attitude.”

Zhou Huizhen countered, “Marrying up brings glory; marrying down only invites ridicule.”

Wei Rao responded, “Some glory is only surface glory—the inside is very bitter. Some people are mocked by others outside but live very comfortably, lording it over their households at home.”

Zhou Huizhen suddenly realized that Wei Rao was saying she was unhappy at the Han family.

Embarrassed and angry, Zhou Huizhen ran off.

Seeing this, Zhou Huizhu wanted to chase after her sister, but Wei Rao held her back, looking at her cousin’s retreating figure with complex emotions. “If she can’t handle me speaking a few truths, with the facts right in front of her, she’ll figure it out sooner or later. Constantly flattering and appeasing her would be harming her.”

After Zhou Huizhen left, Han Liao returned from the military camp and came urgently to the Princess’s mansion.

The guards blocked him outside the gate and sent someone in to announce his visit.

Han Liao’s heart itched unbearably. He had seen Wei Rao’s beauty and heard about her proud and willful nature. This kind of temperament suited his taste perfectly—someone completely obedient like Zhou Huizhen had no flavor. Lu Zhuo was too young to tame a vixen like Wei Rao; it would take someone like him.

Thinking he would soon see Wei Rao, Han Liao’s chest grew hotter and hotter.

But he never expected that Zhou Huizhen hadn’t waited for him to pick her up and had already returned home.

“The Young Madam has already returned to the mansion. The Princess says it’s getting late and won’t receive the Young Master,” the messenger eunuch said politely.

Han Liao smiled as he took his leave, but once he mounted his horse, his face had already darkened.

“I told you to wait for me to pick you up. Why did you return first?” Back at the Marquis Mansion, Han Liao scolded Zhou Huizhen upon seeing her, not noticing her reddened eyes.

Zhou Huizhen felt even more wronged. If Han Liao treated her well enough, would she be mocked and ridiculed by her cousin?

“Whether you pick me up or not, what does it matter? Why are you being so fierce?” Zhou Huizhen said defiantly.

Han Liao’s expression shifted slightly. He couldn’t let Zhou Huizhen see that he was thinking about Wei Rao.

When it came to coaxing beauties, Han Liao was always flexible. He immediately dismissed Nanny Liu and the maids, held Zhou Huizhen in his arms, and used his practiced seduction techniques, quickly making Zhou Huizhen breathless and compliant.

Standing outside, Nanny Liu listened to the sounds from within and could only feel frustrated at her mistress’s lack of backbone.

Wei Rao and Zhou Huizhu stayed at the Princess’s mansion for several days, then went together to the villa, planning to stay there for a while before returning to the capital.

This time at the villa, Wei Rao discovered that Grandmother had a new dog—black and white, with a slender build, black and shiny fur around its eyes, ears, and back, with the rest snow-white. It was a breed Wei Rao had never seen in the capital.

“Grandmother, where did this dog come from?” Wei Rao asked with curiosity.

Shou’an Jun smiled and said to the dog, “Jin Zi, go get a cushion for your young mistress.”

The dog named Jin Zi immediately ran into the hall, then into the side room, and quickly returned with a cushion in its mouth, placing it in front of Wei Rao.

Wei Rao and Zhou Huizhu were shocked.

Shou’an Jun gave Jin Zi several more commands, and Jin Zi, like a six or seven-year-old child, understood everything and could accurately complete every order.

Wei Rao and Zhou Huizhu exchanged glances, then simultaneously ran to Shou’an Jun’s side—one massaging her shoulders, the other rubbing her back—both wanting to ask for Jin Zi.

Shou’an Jun smiled with narrowed eyes, “You two don’t need to beg. This dog was a gift from someone. I like it very much and plan to keep it myself.”

Zhou Huizhu asked, “Who gave it to you? I’ll go ask him for one too!”

Shou’an Jun looked at Wei Rao and smiled, “The Young Master from Duke Ying’s mansion gave it to me. I don’t know if he has any more.”

Zhou Huizhu exclaimed, “Ah?”

She turned to look at Wei Rao.

Wei Rao’s expression was quite something, mainly because she couldn’t believe Lu Zhuo still hadn’t given up and had come to curry favor with Grandmother. And Grandmother had accepted it!

“What do you mean by this?” Wei Rao stopped looking at Jin Zi, pouted, and sat beside Shou’an Jun, asking with resentment.

Shou’an Jun said, “I don’t mean anything by it. You two just had your engagement broken—you haven’t become enemies. That day, the Young Master came hunting in the mountains, got thirsty, and came to the villa to borrow some water. I invited him for tea, and he gave me Jin Zi. It’s just polite reciprocity—what’s wrong with that?”

Wei Rao bit her lip. She didn’t believe Grandmother could see Lu Zhuo’s intentions.

Zhou Huizhu leaned on Wei Rao’s back and giggled, “Sister Rao is afraid Grandmother accepted the Young Master’s good dog and will trade you in exchange, right? Sister Rao is worrying for nothing. No matter how good Jin Zi is, could it be more important than you? Even if the Young Master didn’t just give Jin Zi but gave silver, he still couldn’t trade for Sister Rao.”

“Are you looking for trouble?” Wei Rao immediately chased Zhou Huizhu, driving her away before returning to Shou’an Jun’s side, panting.

“Jin Zi, serve tea to the young mistress,” Shou’an Jun commanded.

Wei Rao looked at Jin Zi.

Jin Zi carried the tea saucer with his mouth, steadily approaching her, a pair of bright black eyes looking up at her.

Wei Rao was impressed!

“Such a smart dog—you can bear to return it, but I can’t,” Shou’an Jun called Jin Zi over and stroked its head.

Wei Rao was speechless. Lu Zhuo was really impressive, finding such an almost supernatural dog.

“He just gave you the dog and said nothing else?” Wei Rao asked gloomily.

Shou’an Jun looked at her, “Why would he say anything else? What does Raorao think he might say to me?”

Wei Rao muttered, “…I’m not talking to you anymore. I’m going back to the capital!”

Having teased her enough, Shou’an Jun finally took Wei Rao’s hand and pressed her back into the chair. Seeing Wei Rao’s face flushed red—whether from anger or some other reason—Shou’an Jun tapped that rosy cheek and smiled, “The Young Master told me that he was blind before, but later he realized his mistake. He can’t let you go and hopes I’ll put in some good words for him.”

Wei Rao glared at her, “You agreed?”

Shou’an Jun replied, “How could I? This is between you two. I only accept gifts—I don’t meddle in anything else.”

Wei Rao said urgently, “But by accepting his gift, aren’t you approving of him pestering me?”

Shou’an Jun countered, “Even if I didn’t accept his gift, he’d continue pestering you. Either way, he’s going to pester my granddaughter—what’s wrong with me accepting a dog from him?”

Wei Rao finally understood—Grandmother liked Lu Zhuo and was happy to see him pursue her.

“What’s so good about him? He even looks down on Mother’s remarriage and constantly dislikes me for not following the rules. Just because he has a good background, do you like him?” Wei Rao was unwilling to accept that her grandmother had been so easily won over by Lu Zhuo.

Shou’an Jun narrowed her eyes, “When did he look down on your mother’s remarriage?”

Wei Rao snorted, “Last time I came here, he said his mother remained a widow, implying Mother’s remarriage was improper. Later at the traveling palace, when he discovered His Majesty still favored Mother, only then did he want to be a true husband and wife with me.”

Shou’an Jun rocked her chair, understanding why her granddaughter was so angry with Lu Zhuo.

However, people’s thoughts could change. If Lu Zhuo truly looked down on her granddaughter and their family’s behavior, he wouldn’t have voluntarily taken her granddaughter to the traveling palace. Duke Ying’s family had been trusted by emperors for generations—Lu Zhuo did not need to wrong himself to curry favor with anyone for empty fame or profit.

“So you’re saying that because your mother had a chance to regain favor, because you became Princess, that’s why Lu Zhuo wants to win you back? He doesn’t like you in his heart?” Shou’an Jun’s face darkened, and she stopped petting Jin Zi’s head. Her voice grew increasingly angry, “I never would have thought that the dignified heir of Duke Ying, a patriotic hot-blooded man, would be a sycophantic opportunist!”

Wei Rao was shocked by her grandmother’s fury, then felt guilty.

When arguing with Lu Zhuo, she had thought this way and mocked him like this, but deep in her heart, she knew Lu Zhuo wasn’t that kind of person.

She just couldn’t stand his aloof, arrogant manner. She just couldn’t swallow that humiliation.

“Don’t worry, Raorao. Next time he comes, I’ll return Jin Zi to him and never let him step foot in our home again,” Shou’an Jun added.

Hearing this, Wei Rao instinctively said, “Mm, that would be best.”