Where the Mask Ends - Chapter 29
Chapter 29
The Duke of Ying’s mansion was a top-tier noble household in the capital. To conjure up as much good fortune as possible through the luck-changing ritual, the wedding banquet held today featured several dozen tables more than what had been originally booked before Lu Zhuo’s accident. All of them were set up along the back street of the mansion, hosting families from the surrounding streets who were not typically close acquaintances.
Such a high-profile display was vastly different from the mansion's usual family custom of adhering strictly to ritual and decorum.
The more they acted in this manner, the clearer it became to the guests that the young heir, Lu Zhuo, was likely truly beyond saving; otherwise, the Lu family would never have been so flamboyant.
The wedding procession returned. Firecrackers popped and crackled rhythmically, the red paper confetti swirling amidst billowing smoke. The continuous, heaven-shaking clamor finally lent the occasion some of the joyous festivity it should have had. The adults among the guests clearly couldn't muster a real smile, yet they struggled to squeeze out expressions of joy to accommodate the Lu family. Only the children, who understood nothing, darted back and forth through the crowd, waiting to see the bride exit the sedan chair. The clever and mischievous ones even snuck up to the walls, poking their heads out to peek.
Wei Rao was veiled in a red hijab, seeing nothing but the small patch of ground beneath her feet.
The imperial-bestowed phoenix crown on her head was heavy. She had worn it the entire journey, and her neck felt as though it were about to snap.
Guided by female officials, she arrived at the place for the wedding ceremony. The clamor finally died down, and the guests smiled and spoke auspicious words. Yet, the hosts and guests—including the bride, Wei Rao—knew that they were merely speaking out of formality. If Lu Zhuo had even the slightest chance of recovery, the position of the Duchess of Ying’s heir’s wife would never have fallen to the notoriously disreputable Wei Rao.
They performed the three bows: to Heaven and Earth, to the ancestors, and finally, bowing to each other. During the last, Wei Rao suddenly heard a rooster’s crow from across from her.
Wei Rao nearly burst out laughing.
The Lu family’s guests didn't gossip, but Wei Rao had heard the commoners on the side of the road discussing it while she was in the sedan chair. They said that the one substituting for the groom today was the Lu family’s Fifth Young Master, Lu Che, and that he was holding a majestic, awe-inspiring rooster in his arms.
Wei Rao did not feel that bowing to a rooster was any grievance. In terms of loss of face, Lu Zhuo had lost far more than she had.
After the ceremony, Wei Rao was guided by female officials to the bridal chamber.
Lu Zhuo’s courtyard was called Songyue Hall.
Songyue Hall was laid out in a three-section structure with an attached side courtyard. Lu Zhuo resided in the first section, while the mistress, Wei Rao, resided in the second. The bridal chamber was set up there.
Because of Lu Zhuo’s grave illness, Songyue Hall was likely the quietest place in the entire Duke of Ying’s mansion today.
The cumbersome rituals ended here. The Fifth Young Master, Lu Che, having accomplished his task, retired, and the rooster was taken away by someone to be placed who-knows-where.
The Duchess of Ying had arranged for her daughter-in-law, the Fourth Madam, to receive Wei Rao here.
"Shoucheng is unwell, so for the wedding chamber rituals, we have simplified everything for now. Rao Rao, please bear with it; once Shoucheng wakes up, the family will hold a makeup ceremony for you two," the Fourth Madam said with an apologetic expression as she looked at the bride’s fair, lovely hands resting on her knees.
Wei Rao said softly, "They are merely empty forms; it does not matter. This niece only hopes the young heir recovers soon."
The sweet, soft, and enchanting voice made the Fourth Madam’s bones feel a little brittle. She finally understood why there were so many rumors outside accusing the Fourth Miss Wei of being a bewitching siren; this voice alone was enough to stir one’s soul. She just didn't know what the Fourth Miss actually looked like.
The Fourth Madam rarely went out and had never met Wei Rao.
"There are no outsiders here. Let me help you remove your hijab and tidy up, Rao Rao. The phoenix crown is heavy; you must be exhausted."
Wei Rao: "Then I must trouble you, Fourth Aunt."
The Fourth Madam smiled and reached out to remove the veil, handing the red fabric to Bitao. When she turned back and lowered her gaze, she was met with a face that could fell geese and sink fish—a beauty so bright and moving that it even outshone the large, brilliant red and blue gemstones on the front of the phoenix crown. It was as if, in a garden filled with vibrant, colorful flowers, a phoenix had suddenly flown down and spread its wings; its magnificence and brilliance made all the flowers seem vulgar and insufferable.
The Fourth Madam was left stunned and speechless.
Wei Rao could not very well urge her elder, so she shifted her gaze. The young heir, Lu Zhuo, who was said to be seriously injured and had been in a coma for over ten days, suddenly entered her vision.
Wei Rao’s pupils shrank, and her breath caught.
She had seen Lu Zhuo twice before. Each time, he was a dashing gentleman as elegant as jade; even when he was hauling a wild boar up a mountain, it did not diminish his style.
Yet, the Lu Zhuo before her had a complexion as sallow as wax, was as thin as a skeleton, and even his lips were ashen gray.
How was this Lu Zhuo any different from a corpse?
The heavy scent of medicine was caught by Wei Rao’s senses a moment too late. At this instant, she suddenly understood: she had been overthinking things last night. Lu Zhuo would not wake up. She was destined to spend a simple five-year life of widowhood in the Duke of Ying’s mansion.
This was only because it was Wei Rao—someone who had practiced martial arts, hunted wild beasts, and killed assassins. If it were any other young lady, any lady pampered like a pearl by her natal family, she would have screamed in terror at this sight.
Wei Rao had been covered by the hijab the whole time, but her maids, Bitao and Liuya, had seen the groom on the new bed long ago, and they were all so frightened that they didn't dare make a sound.
The Fourth Madam followed Wei Rao’s gaze, her eyes souring as she said with a pained heart, "Shoucheng... he wasn't like this before."
The Fourth Madam was very young, only five years older than Lu Zhuo. Lu Zhuo had always been stationed at the border, and it was only when he returned to the capital at the beginning of the year that she had truly met this eldest nephew. At that time, Lu Zhuo was gentle, refined, and as handsome as an immortal. Whether it was the elders or young maidens who saw him, they would all be smitten and conquered by his grace.
Anyone who had ever seen Lu Zhuo would feel heartache and regret seeing him reduced to this.
It was like a piece of rare, peerless jade that had suddenly been smashed—who wouldn't feel the pain?
"Fourth Aunt, please do not be sad. The young heir will get better," Wei Rao said in turn, offering comfort.
The Fourth Madam smiled immediately. "Yes, yes. Rao Rao is so beautiful; when Shoucheng wakes up and sees you, he will certainly smile."
Saying this, the Fourth Madam stepped forward twice and helped Wei Rao remove the phoenix crown.
The bridal chamber was quiet. After resting briefly, the Fourth Madam called for a wet nurse, introducing her to Wei Rao: "This is Nanny Miao, the most trusted senior servant by the Old Madame’s side. Originally, the task of changing Shoucheng’s dressings and wiping his body was the responsibility of his personal attendants. But these past two days, with Shoucheng staying here, it has been inconvenient for them to come over, so the Old Madame arranged for Nanny Miao to tend to Shoucheng."
Nanny Miao was over fifty, with a kind and approachable demeanor, and she bowed respectfully to Wei Rao.
Wei Rao glanced at Lu Zhuo with heartache and said virtuously to Nanny Miao, "The young heir’s injuries are so severe; I dare not handle him rashly. I shall first learn from you, Nanny. Once I have learned, I will be the one to care for him in the future, to spare you the trouble of running back and forth."
Nanny Miao smiled and nodded. Sincerity aside, this Fourth Miss certainly knew how to please people.
With the matters in Songyue Hall settled for the moment, the Fourth Madam exchanged glances with Nanny Miao and went to report back to her mother-in-law.
The sky was already dark, and the Duchess of Ying truly had no heart for socializing, so she had returned to her room early to rest.
She was exhausted, yet unable to sleep. Ever since her eldest grandson collapsed, the Duchess had not slept well a single night. She kept having nightmares—dreaming of her three deceased sons, of the scenes where her eldest grandson was injured on the battlefield, and of the mourning hall set up in the house where her eldest grandson was gone.
Just the thought of it made the Duchess’s tears fall uncontrollably.
"Mother, do not cry. The Fourth Miss has already married in, and Shoucheng will soon get better," the Fourth Madam said, pulling herself together and repeating the words she had already said countless times.
The Duchess wiped away her tears and asked her daughter-in-law, "How is it? Was Rao Rao frightened by Shoucheng?"
The Fourth Madam shook her head, gratified. "Mother’s eye for people has never been wrong. The Fourth Miss truly possesses remarkable courage; not only was she not frightened, she even turned around to comfort me. She is so sensible, and with Nanny Miao looking after him, do not worry tonight. Get some good sleep and wait to drink your granddaughter-in-law’s tea tomorrow morning."
Hearing this, the Duchess felt slightly relieved.
In Songyue Hall.
Not long after the Fourth Madam left, Nanny Miao also went to the side room to rest, leaving the main room to the new mistress.
Wei Rao peeked at the corpse-like Lu Zhuo, and finding the medicinal scent on his body too heavy, she went to the chair to rest.
"Miss, the young heir..." Bitao closed the door, gathered with Liuya around Wei Rao, and spoke in hushed voices, the regret unmistakable in their eyes as they felt for their mistress. When their mistress first decided to perform the luck-changing ritual, they had all hoped it would succeed. But now, having seen the young heir with their own eyes, neither Bitao nor Liuya dared to dream of such a thing again.
Wei Rao said calmly, "Why are you prattling? We anticipated this before. Just do your own duties; you don't need to think about anything else. Even if you do think of it, absolutely do not say it out loud, and don't let it show."
She had agreed to the ritual, and the Duke of Ying’s mansion didn't know about her ulterior motives; they were currently grateful to her. If the three of them—mistress and maids—showed any cracks and let the Lu family see their disgust for Lu Zhuo, wouldn't they have offended the entire Lu clan for nothing?
Bitao and Liuya both understood.
"Alright, leave the door open." To be cautious, Wei Rao returned to the side of Lu Zhuo’s bed to keep watch.
No one else from the Lu family came over that night. The kitchen sent over dinner, and Wei Rao ate to seven-tenths fullness, sniffing the medicine-filled room all the while.
After the meal, Nanny Miao arrived to change Lu Zhuo’s dressings and incidentally turned him to lie on his other side; he had been facing out, but now he was facing in.
Nanny Miao was very considerate, moving Lu Zhuo to the inner side of the new bed so that Wei Rao wouldn't have to face his sickly appearance while sleeping on the inside.
"Madam, please go to sleep early. The young heir might soil the bed at night; if you need to, please call this old slave, and I will come in to clean up."
"Thank you for your hard work, Nanny," Wei Rao said gratefully, without a single hint of disgust on her face.
Nanny Miao took her leave.
Liuya went to see her out, and Bitao, thinking of Nanny Miao’s words, looked at the bed in a daze.
Wei Rao said in a low voice, "What is so strange about that? He isn't a true deity. Since he has to eat and drink, he will naturally excrete."
Bitao’s brows were knitted together, feeling miserable for her mistress.
Wei Rao could still accept it. After all, she was just sleeping beside Lu Zhuo; she didn't need to do the dirty work herself. But once time passed and she truly had to take over changing his dressings and wiping his body, those dirty and tiring tasks would inevitably fall to Bitao and Liuya.
"Prepare yourselves," Wei Rao said to the two maids with a touch of schadenfreude.
Now, Bitao and Liuya hoped even more that the young heir would wake up soon.
After serving Wei Rao as she washed her feet, the two maids took the copper basin and withdrew.
The room was brightly lit, and a pair of wrist-thick dragon-phoenix wedding candles burned silently.
In the depths of winter, the room was not very cold because of the heated kang flooring.
Wei Rao lay with her back to Lu Zhuo. After all, having just married into a strange place, she couldn't sleep.
Luck-changing, luck-changing.
Wei Rao still hoped Lu Zhuo would wake up to prove that she was useful; otherwise, if Lu Zhuo died and the ritual failed, those idlers outside would have more gossip to chew on.
Thinking of this and that, it wasn't until the second watch of the night that Wei Rao felt sleepy enough to drift off.
Beside her, Lu Zhuo, covered by his own separate brocade quilt, maintained the side-sleeping posture Nanny Miao had arranged for him. Just as the sound of the third-watch bell drifted faintly from the streets in the distance, Lu Zhuo’s dry, cracked lips moved slightly.
After a moment, the man opened his eyes.