The terrain on both banks of the Shun River was vast and expansive, with green grasslands blooming with wildflowers. With careful searching, one could also find several common medicinal herbs.

The Dragon Boat Festival had the custom of gathering herbs, digging up a few medicinal plants to bring home, hoping for the family’s health and freedom from illness and disaster.

Wei Rao had also brought a small medicine basket and an herb hoe when she went out today. Since dragon boat training was much the same everywhere, Wei Rao chose an unoccupied open grassland, dismounted, and began searching for herbs. She had arranged for the Princess’s mansion guards to rest under the shade of trees. Two fast horses came running toward her, and Wei Rao turned her head to see the Lu siblings, Lu Zhuo and Lu Changning.

Withdrawing her gaze, Wei Rao continued looking for herbs.

There was a clump of mugwort ahead – mugwort was a good thing that could warm the meridians and dispel cold, relieve asthma and stop coughs, and also repel mosquitoes.

Wei Rao slightly lifted her skirt hem and squatted down to gather herbs.

Lu Zhuo jumped down from his horse and saw her fair, slender hands gripping the hoe, rhythmically digging around the mugwort roots.

Although she wore a veiled hat, the thin veil could only block dust. At close distance, he could even clearly see her thick, curled eyelashes.

“Such rough work – shall I help the Princess?” Lu Zhuo knelt, half-squatting in front of her.

He wore a red robe and black boots. Wei Rao was reminded of his heroic bearing three years ago when he galloped and shot arrows on horseback, and when the Shenwu Army’s dragon boat was about to lose to the Han family’s Dragon Cavalry Army, Lu Zhuo suddenly leaped through the air, jumping from one end of the dragon boat to the other. The lake wind billowed his crimson robe, and when he stood steady on the dragon boat with a confident, composed smile on his face.

Any capital lady who witnessed that scene would probably never forget the grace of Young Master Lu from Duke Ying Mansion.

He had mocked her and humiliated her, yet at this moment, he was eagerly pursuing her, willing to spar with Li Wei for her, willing to gather herbs for her.

To say Wei Rao didn’t enjoy any of this would certainly be a lie.

But Wei Rao wanted to know more – how far would Lu Zhuo go for her?

“Does the heir truly want to help me?” Wei Rao asked without lifting her head, her small hoe tapping against the ground.

Lu Zhuo looked at her veil: “Naturally. Whatever the Princess commands, Lu will comply without exception.”

Wei Rao smiled slightly, looking toward the Shun River ahead: “I hear there’s a medicinal herb at the bottom of the Shun River called bitter grass, which can clear heat and detoxify, stop coughs, and eliminate phlegm. I wonder if the heir would be willing to find me a couple of stalks?”

Lu Zhuo knew about bitter grass. Those who marched and fought could be injured or encounter danger at any time, so the Lu family men could all identify commonly used medicinal herbs.

“The Shun River is deep, so bitter grass might not be easy to find,” Lu Zhuo pondered for a moment.

Wei Rao lowered her head, continuing to deal with that stalk of mugwort: “If that’s the case, then forget it.”

Lu Zhuo smiled: “If I can find bitter grass, could I exchange it for a smile from the Princess?”

Wei Rao hummed: “No.”

Lu Zhuo changed his condition: “Then could I exchange it for the Princess to reveal her jade countenance for Lu to behold?”

Jade countenance…

Wei Rao’s cheeks grew slightly warm. Afraid his sharp black eyes would notice, she perfunctorily nodded, only hoping Lu Zhuo would quickly leave.

Lu Zhuo smiled and stood up.

Lu Changning exclaimed, “Elder brother, are you going to the river bottom to find herbs? The water is so deep – can you manage it?”

Lu Zhuo didn’t answer. With a composed expression, he walked to the bank, removed his crimson official robe, and handed it to his cousin. Taking one last look at Wei Rao, who was still bent over gathering mugwort, Lu Zhuo smiled and dove into the water under the gaze of people on both banks.

The “splash” of the water seemed to strike Wei Rao’s heart.

He jumped in.

That stalk of mugwort was finally uprooted completely.

Wei Rao grasped the mugwort leaves, gently knocked the mud off the roots, placed them in her medicine basket, stood up, and continued searching for other herbs.

Bitter grass wasn’t easy to find. Lu Zhuo surfaced periodically to breathe, while Wei Rao nonchalantly gathered herbs everywhere. When her medicine basket was nearly full, Lu Zhuo came ashore. His white inner garment was soaked through, clinging tightly to his tall, upright frame. The heir who usually appeared scholarly and gentle finally revealed his military bearing. His long limbs weren’t as robust as Qi Zhongkai’s ape-like build, but his muscles were firm and powerful – broad shoulders, narrow waist, with the inner garment pressed against his abdomen clearly outlining the shape of six-pack abs.

His black hair was piled high on his head, water droplets rolling down his handsome face, reflecting crystalline sunlight all the way.

The five Shenwu Army dragon boat teams who had rushed over to watch the excitement were now cheering enthusiastically, loudly praising their deputy general’s prowess.

Lu Zhuo wrung out the water from his inner garment as if no one else were present, put on the official robe his cousin handed him, and walked toward Wei Rao holding several wet, dripping medicinal herbs.

Wei Rao remembered his condition – that she show her face to him – and felt inexplicably flustered.

What was there to see, what was there to be nervous about? The two had acted as husband and wife for a year, and Lu Zhuo had even seen her in her undergarments.

Yet she was still flustered. As Lu Zhuo drew closer and closer, Wei Rao suddenly wanted to flee.

And flee she did, though she used disdain as camouflage. Walking to her snow-white steed, Wei Rao mounted her horse, secured her medicine basket, and only then pulled the reins, saying coldly to Lu Zhuo, who was only a dozen steps away: “The heir delayed too long. My medicine basket is already full. The heir should keep that bitter grass for his use.”

Having said this, Wei Rao spurred her horse forward.

Suddenly, a whistle sounded behind her. Wei Rao’s heart jumped, and she saw Fei Mo, who had been leisurely grazing ahead, suddenly run over behind her, and behind her was precisely Lu Zhuo!

Was Lu Zhuo coming to chase her?

Wei Rao turned back and saw Lu Zhuo mount his horse and indeed come after her!

Whether because she didn’t want to be caught by Lu Zhuo and asked to remove her veiled hat, or because she felt competitive, Wei Rao cracked her whip and urged her white horse to gallop forward with all its might.

The scenery on both banks flew backward rapidly. The spectators on the bank seemed to all be watching her. Wei Rao had no time to distinguish what they were saying or laughing about, and just kept running forward. Fei Mo’s hoofbeats grew closer and closer. To Wei Rao’s left was the capital’s city wall, to her right was the Shun River – with no path left or right, she could only steel herself and continue forward.

A black shadow flashed in her peripheral vision, and the next moment, Wei Rao felt her head lighten – her veiled hat had been snatched away.

Fei Mo blocked her path ahead. Wei Rao’s white horse let out a whinny and was forced to stop, carrying Wei Rao in two circles on the spot.

“Give it back!” Wei Rao glared, her cheeks flushed crimson, like peonies blooming too brilliantly and embarrassed by their splendor, not wanting flower admirers to look too closely.

Lu Zhuo saw Wei Rao like this for the first time. Although her eyes blazed with imperious anger, her current appearance-seeming both shy and annoyed-was quite lovely and moving.

This reminded him of that time on the grassland at Xishan Palace, when he had teased her with words and Wei Rao became so angry she wanted to whip him. He had caught her and brought her onto his horse, tightly encircling her waist. Wei Rao’s ears had been completely red, making his mouth dry and tongue parched.

Actually, if not for all the people by the river, when he had just been about to catch up to her, Lu Zhuo had wanted to pull her onto his horse again and punish her wantonly.

Riding closer, Lu Zhuo first handed her the herbs in his hand: “This is bitter grass. I fortunately didn’t fail in my mission – please accept it, Princess.”

Wei Rao looked at what he held. Despite chasing her so quickly, the bitter grass gripped in his hands hadn’t even had a single leaf crushed – it was fresh and green, with even the roots washed clean.

Looking again at Lu Zhuo, his hair knot was still dripping water, flowing down that jade-white, handsome face.

Wei Rao pressed her lips together, removed her medicine basket, and handed it over. As soon as Lu Zhuo placed the bitter grass inside, Wei Rao immediately withdrew her hand, rehung her medicine basket, then extended her hand again with a stern face and downcast eyes: “Return my veiled hat.”

Lu Zhuo looked at the veiled hat in his hand, then at her charming face, and said in a low voice: “Recently, there have been some baseless rumors in the marketplace. Has the Princess heard them?”

Wei Rao naturally knew. Xie Hualou was out of mourning. Xie Hualou had always been praised for beauty surpassing hers, and was still an unmarried maiden. In outsiders’ speculation, Xie Hualou’s attraction to Lu Zhuo would naturally be stronger than hers, a “fallen willow” who had already been “bedded” by Lu Zhuo. So people were even placing bets, gambling that Lu Zhuo would abandon her to seek marriage with Xie Hualou.

Wei Rao held no enmity toward Xie Hualou, but anyone who was constantly outshone by another in rumors couldn’t possibly harbor no resentment.

Could she blame Xie Hualou? No, Xie Hualou was merely a tool pushed forward by interested parties to strike at her.

Could she blame Lu Zhuo? Also, no, Lu Zhuo had shown no interest in Xie Hualou at all – it was all outsiders’ speculation.

“What rumors?” Wei Rao turned her face away, asking with her back to the scorching summer sun.

The dazzling sunlight fell on her snow-white neck and tender skin. Though Lu Zhuo enjoyed looking, he couldn’t bear to see her getting sunburned, so he returned her veiled hat first.

Wei Rao immediately put it on.

With the veil on, her cherry-red lip color was even more prominent, making it impossible not to have improper thoughts of wanting to press those full, enticing lips beneath his own and taste them wantonly.

Lu Zhuo slightly lowered his gaze, looking at her hands: “The peony and paeony debate.”

Wei Rao said mockingly, “Ah, that. I heard about it three or four years ago. To be honest with the heir, I was fortunate to meet Miss Xie at the palace flower gathering a few days ago. She indeed has the bearing of a peony and paeony’s noble elegance. The heir and she already have a prior connection – if you seek to marry her now, it would perfectly complete a beautiful story and fulfill the people’s expectations.”

“But I only love paeonies,” Lu Zhuo waited until she finished her sarcasm, then moved closer to her white horse and whispered in her ear, “If you are a paeony, from now on I will only love paeonies. No matter how good the peony is, it has nothing to do with me.”

Wei Rao gripped her reins, paused briefly, then said flatly: “If the heir truly likes paeonies, go tell the paeony flowers. My surname is Wei, and my name is Rao – I’m not some flower or grass.”

Before her words ended, Wei Rao continued running forward, heading toward the city gates.

There were even more people there, so Lu Zhuo didn’t pursue further.

Seeing the two had separated, Lu Changning now ran over and curiously asked: “Elder brother, what did you and the Princess talk about? Did she forgive you?”

Lu Changning was truly shocked by her brother’s actions. If a man were willing to jump into a river to find herbs for her, she would marry him.

Lu Zhuo looked at his sister and smiled: “All I sought today was to see her face. Having seen it, my wish is fulfilled.”

Lu Changning was dumbstruck.

Lu Zhuo told his sister to quickly chase after Wei Rao, while he turned his horse around to continue watching Lu Ya train the Shenwu Army’s dragon boat team.

Lu Zhuo wouldn’t participate in this year’s competition, but since his second brother was leading a team for the first time, Lu Zhuo hoped his second brother could achieve a good ranking.

On the fifth day of the fifth month, the triennial imperial palace dragon boat race was about to begin again.

Last time Wei Rao had gone with her grandmother; this time, as a princess, she received a separate invitation.

This year’s seating arrangements for watching the race at Qionghua Island were different from last time. Previously, Emperor Yuanjia and his consorts had accompanied the Empress Dowager in sitting together at Zhaixing Tower. This year, Emperor Yuanjia called several important ministers to sit with him at Zhaixing Tower, while Empress invited the most distinguished titled ladies to watch the race together at Wangxian Tower, which was second only to Zhaixing Tower.

Wei Rao still sat at Yuezhao Pavilion. Surprisingly, the sixth young lady, Xie Hualou, was also there, along with several other young ladies, with no elders present.

Coincidentally, those several young ladies were all friends of Xie Hualou. When Wei Rao arrived, several young ladies showed disdainful expressions.

However, Xie Hualou proactively invited Wei Rao to sit in the main seat – after all, Wei Rao had the highest status.

The competition hadn’t yet begun. Across the lake, the dragon boat racers from the Upper Four Armies, Imperial City Department, and Imperial Guards were already beginning their preparations.

Wei Rao recognized Lu Ya from the Shenwu Army and Li Wei from the Flying Eagle Army. Qi Zhongkai remained the Imperial Guards’ commander. On the Dragon Cavalry Army’s side, this year’s commander had changed – presumably, the thirty-five-year-old Han Liao no longer had the face to compete on the same field as a group of twenty-something youngsters.

“Miss Xie, the Empress requests your presence at Wangxian Tower for conversation.”

While Wei Rao was enjoying the scenery, the Empress suddenly sent a palace maid to summon Xie Hualou.

Xie Hualou accepted the command and followed the palace maid.

Immediately, young ladies whispered enviously: “Sister Hualou is the model of virtue among us young ladies, so naturally she would gain the Empress’s favor.”

“Yes, if not for the old Grand Tutor’s death causing delays, Sister Hualou wouldn’t still be unmarried.”

“Seeing how much the Empress likes Sister Hualou, perhaps she’ll make Sister Hualou become…”

That young lady put on an expression suggesting she couldn’t say more, but everyone understood – Xie Hualou might become Princess Jing or Princess Fu.

Wei Rao took out a packet of dried plums from her pouch and put one in her mouth.

Not long after, she saw Lu Zhuo in official robes, following a little eunuch toward Qionghua Island.

Wei Rao averted her gaze in time, but the surrounding young ladies also saw Lu Zhuo and excitedly discussed in low voices. Without looking, Wei Rao knew where Lu Zhuo had gone.

“Oh, the heir went to Wangxian Tower. Did the Empress summon him?”

“Since the heir isn’t competing this year, the Empress probably invited him to explain the race situation.”

“What a coincidence – Sister Hualou is also at Wangxian Tower.”

The young ladies deliberately tried to provoke Wei Rao. Wei Rao’s mouth contained a sweet and sour plum, but her heart felt somewhat sorry for Xie Hualou.

With Old Grand Tutor Xie’s passing, the Xie family’s prestige was much diminished, but the old Grand Tutor’s influence remained. With Xie Hualou’s appearance, temperament, and family background, she was perfectly qualified to be a prince’s consort. Yet the Empress deliberately arranged for Lu Zhuo and Xie Hualou to meet, indicating the Empress didn’t take Xie Hualou seriously.

She just wondered – what would Lu Zhuo, who claimed to love paeony flowers, think when he saw the Xie family’s peony?

Having finished the flesh of the plum, Wei Rao gently bit the pit.