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Where the Mask Ends - Chapter 70

Chapter 70 Wei Rao saw Lu Zhuo, and she also realized that Lu Zhuo was watching her as well. He remained motionless, a familiar, mild, and fake smile hanging at the corners of his mouth. The two had come to Jincheng together and hadn't seen each other for a month. Now that Lu Zhuo had returned from his recruitment drive, in such a situation, Wei Rao really ought to go down and greet him. However, the boatman’s tale of saving a beauty told by the wealthy merchant was reaching its most exciting part. Wei Rao felt an itch in her heart—she wanted to hear how the magistrate judged the case: was the beauty awarded to the consumptive husband who had spent a fortune to marry her, or to the young, strong-bodied boatman who couldn't bear to see her marry the wrong man? But the merchant knew how to keep his audience in suspense. He spoke slowly, pausing to sip his tea, not appearing to be in any hurry at all. Wei Rao looked across the river again and noticed that Lu Zhuo had tethered his ...
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Where the Mask Ends - Chapter 69

Chapter 69 After returning from the hunting trip, Lu Zhuo had been leaving early and returning late for two days. Wei Rao was not a "virtuous wife" who waited for her husband's return to fall asleep, so for those two days, the two of them hadn't crossed paths even once. On the third day at dusk, Lu Zhuo returned early enough, and the two ate at the same table again. The food prepared by the guesthouse was quite palatable. Among the dishes was a local specialty of dried radish—sour and crunchy—which went perfectly with congee or noodles. Wei Rao nibbled on the dried radish, taking small, dainty bites. Lu Zhuo picked up a piece as well. As they both crunched down at the same time, the low, crisp sound collided in the air, which inexplicably reminded Wei Rao of the white rabbits she kept in cages at her country estate gnawing on carrots. Wei Rao stopped eating the radish. Lu Zhuo suddenly said, "Tomorrow morning, I will set off for Wei County to recruit soldiers. On...
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