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. Once I’ve finished the circuit, I expect to return to Jincheng around this time next month."

Wei Rao nodded. He had already outlined the general itinerary for the recruitment drive.

Lu Zhuo smiled. "Living in the guesthouse alone will likely be very dull. Do you have any interest in coming with us?"

Wei Rao hadn't been back long from her seven-day journey and had zero interest in sitting in a carriage for another long trip. Besides, Jincheng was vast, and with Yang Yan for company, the coming month should be quite pleasant.

"I won't disturb you in your official duties, Heir," Wei Rao answered immediately.

Lu Zhuo had thought she might be happy to get out since she didn't seem like the type to sit still, but since she didn't want to go, he didn't insist. He only instructed, "I will leave Zhao Song and Zhao Bo behind. Wherever you go, please take them along with you."

Wei Rao nodded.

Lu Zhuo looked at her fair face. "I am quite at ease with you wandering around within Jincheng. However, if you leave the city, for the sake of safety, try to go with Miss Yang. The Yang family has been settled in Jincheng for five generations, and the average petty villain wouldn't dare trouble them."

Wei Rao glanced at him. "So now you trust the Yang family? Wasn't it you who were worried about their siblings drugging me earlier?"

Lu Zhuo laughed. "I never doubted the character of the Yang siblings; I just wanted to remind you to be on your guard against others."

Wei Rao huffed and continued eating, then headed to the inner chamber once she was finished.

Lu Zhuo looked at the curtain swaying slightly in the secondary chamber, still feeling uneasy about leaving her in Jincheng for a month.

The next morning, before Lu Zhuo set off, he summoned Zhao Song and Zhao Bo and said only one thing.

"If anything happens to the Young Mistress, the two of you will be dealt with according to military law."

Yang Yan also knew Lu Zhuo had left for recruitment, so she came to the guesthouse to find Wei Rao every few days. Sometimes she brought Wei Rao to browse the major shops in Jincheng, and other times she took her outside the city for spring outings to experience the local customs. Every time Wei Rao went out, Zhao Song, Zhao Bo, and Bi Tao were sure to follow, and Yang Yan brought her own servants and guards as well.

With Yang Yan, who shared a similar temperament, as her companion, Wei Rao felt time passed very quickly. Before she knew it, the end of March had arrived, and in a few days, Lu Zhuo would likely be back.

On this day, Yang Yan had business and couldn't accompany her. Wei Rao changed into men's clothing with Bi Tao and went to browse the shops, with the Zhao brothers following closely at a distance of five paces.

Wei Rao enjoyed visiting shops that sold trinkets; she wanted to pick out a few gifts that the Fourth Prince might like.

Half a month ago, Wei Rao had seen a small ornament of a herd boy riding a yellow ox in a woodcarving shop. Wei Rao liked it very much, but the ornament was a single, rigid piece that couldn't be moved. Wei Rao asked the shopkeeper if the craftsman could carve the boy and the yellow ox separately, with the boy’s legs and arms articulated so he could stand on the ground or be placed on the ox's back.

The shopkeeper found Wei Rao’s idea very novel and difficult to execute, but knew it would sell well once made. He had told Wei Rao to check back in half a month—if the craftsman could do it, she could pick up the goods; if not, she would at least get an answer.

After browsing a few shops, Wei Rao went to the woodcarving store.

The shopkeeper greeted her joyfully; the craftsman had indeed succeeded. He had carved a yellow ox, two small wooden figures—a boy and a girl—as well as a small basket to hold grass for the ox and a tiny rattan whip for playing at driving the animal.

The craftsman's skill was exquisite. Even Wei Rao, let alone a child, loved the set.

The craftsman had made two identical sets, and Wei Rao bought them both.

Handing the box to Zhao Song, Wei Rao led Bi Tao toward the exit. As they stepped out, they saw a merchant caravan slowly pulling their carts toward them. Wei Rao stood by the side of the shop, waiting for the caravan to pass before returning to the street. Just then, the curtain of the lead carriage was pulled aside, revealing a handsome, gentle face.

Wei Rao stared at the man, and he stared back at Wei Rao, seemingly unable to believe his eyes.

Wei Rao was the first to react, hopping down the shop’s steps in surprise. Seeing this, Huo Jue in the carriage was instantly certain he hadn't made a mistake and immediately called for the driver to stop. Before the carriage had even fully settled, he leaped down.

"Cousin, did you come to Jincheng for business?"

"Rao Rao, why are you here?"

Meeting far from home, the two cousins couldn't wait to voice their confusion.

Meeting an acquaintance in a foreign land was a great joy in life, even more so when they were blood relatives. Both Huo Jue and Wei Rao were beaming with delight.

Zhao Song and Zhao Bo were shocked to see such a prominent-looking young master jump from the carriage, and seeing the Young Mistress so happy to meet him, their hearts skipped a beat. Fortunately, the Young Mistress immediately called him "Cousin," saving them from continuing to worry on behalf of their Heir.

It was inconvenient to talk on the street, so the cousins found a nearby teahouse and reserved a private room on the second floor. Bi Tao went in to serve, while Zhao Song and Zhao Bo stood guard outside the open door and window.

Wei Rao looked at Huo Jue with a smile. "Cousin is becoming more and more capable. Aunt and Uncle actually trusted you to lead the team to deliver goods to Jincheng."

Huo Jue replied modestly, "I have to gain experience sooner or later, and I'm turning twenty soon. But Rao Rao, what brings you to Jincheng?"

Wei Rao couldn't reveal the truth and only said that Lu Zhuo had come to Qingzhou for recruitment and she had tagged along to travel and play.

She kept it simple, but she was already married. If a young bride weren't cherished by her husband's family, or if Lu Zhuo weren't doting on her, how could he possibly bring Wei Rao along for such a significant task as military recruitment?

Wei Rao spoke as if it were a trivial matter, but Huo Jue could hear the affection of a newlywed couple in her words.

Half of his heart was sour, and half was comforted. His cousin and the Heir, Lu Zhuo, were a perfect match. As long as she was happy, what did his own selfish feelings matter?

"How long does Cousin intend to stay in Jincheng?" Wei Rao asked excitedly.

Huo Jue said, "Half a month. Besides delivering goods, I also need to purchase a batch of furs."

North of Qingzhou lay the grasslands, and merchants from the Uda region usually came to Jincheng to exchange goods with those from the Central Plains.

Wei Rao said, "Then can I follow Cousin to the shops? I’ve never seen Cousin do business before."

Jincheng was only so big, and she had browsed all the scenery and shops she cared to see. She was looking for something fresh to pass the time, and her cousin’s arrival was perfectly timed.

Huo Jue hesitated. "Your status is different from the past. It would be better to stay at the guesthouse. Even going out to sightsee would be more appropriate than following me."

The status of merchants was low. His cousin was a pearl of a woman, and now that she was married into the Duke of Ying’s estate, her status was even higher. How could she follow him and get tainted by his mercantile life?

Wei Rao didn't like this. "What do you mean by status being different from the past? I was your cousin before, and I am still your cousin. What is this—just because I am married, Cousin treats me as an outsider?"

Huo Jue said with a headache, "I didn't mean that..."

Wei Rao smiled. "Then it’s settled. Where is Cousin staying? I will come to wait for you tomorrow morning."

Huo Jue was helpless and compromised. "Fine, fine. I will let you accompany me for a few days before the Heir returns to the city. Once he is back, you are not allowed to run around aimlessly."

Lu Zhuo might not be back for another four or five days. Once he returned, Wei Rao could go to the military camp to watch him train soldiers, so she wouldn't be worried about having nothing to pass the time. She agreed.

Over the next few days, Wei Rao followed Huo Jue on his business rounds. Disguised as Huo Jue’s younger male cousin, and with Huo Jue being a major merchant from the Jin region sought after by locals, the merchants they dealt with were very polite to both of them. It was a group of men, though, and they would occasionally make crude jokes. Huo Jue was worried Wei Rao would be angry, but there was a lot of jargon Wei Rao couldn't understand, which inadvertently saved them from embarrassment.

On the sixth of the fourth month, near noon, a black stallion appeared on the post road outside Jincheng.

Lu Zhuo had been recruiting in the various counties of Qingzhou and had enlisted nearly a thousand sturdy new soldiers. They had just been led by eight squad leaders to the garrison camp in the eastern suburbs of Jincheng. Tomorrow, they would begin a month of rigorous training to weed out the lazy, the ill-behaved, or the undisciplined, after which the remainder would be taken to the capital.

General Yang had asked Lu Zhuo to dine at the camp, but Lu Zhuo declined. One of the squad leaders teased him about missing his Young Mistress, and Lu Zhuo merely smiled without refuting it.

The city gate was right before his eyes. Over the past month, Zhao Song and Zhao Bo hadn't sent any messages, which meant she was safe and sound.

After entering the city, Lu Zhuo slowed his horse and made his way to the guesthouse.

The little maid of the courtyard saw him and bowed with a blushing face.

Lu Zhuo ignored her shyness and asked in a warm voice, "Zhao Song and the others are not here; has the Young Mistress gone out?"

The little maid nodded repeatedly.

Lu Zhuo asked, "Do you know where she went?"

The maid said, "The Young Mistress didn't have a carriage prepared, so she shouldn't have left the city. As for where she went, this servant doesn't know; the Young Mistress didn't tell me, only saying she would return for a meal at dusk."

Lu Zhuo glanced at the dust on his boots and ordered, "Prepare water. I want to bathe."

The maid’s face turned even redder, and she ran off to instruct the cleaning woman to heat the water.

Before long, the maids had brought the tub and hot water into the inner room. Lu Zhuo sat in the hall reading, and once the maids had all exited, he closed several doors and windows and went in to bathe.

There were two wardrobes in the inner room for him and Wei Rao to use separately. Lu Zhuo took out a sandalwood-colored silk robe to change into. Once his hair was dry, he put on a jade cap, mounted his horse, and left the guesthouse.

There were only a handful of streets worth browsing in Jincheng. He rode slowly; he was bound to bump into her.

It was noon, and the sunlight was dazzling. Lu Zhuo arrived at a riverside street, leading his horse through the shade of the willows along the bank.

There were large restaurants and small eateries along the water, and the aroma of food wafted over in waves. Lu Zhuo felt hungry even though he hadn't been before.

Just then, he spotted a two-story restaurant. A window in a private room on the second floor was open, and four people were sitting at the dining table inside. Among them, a young man in white robes had a slender, delicate build, and his side profile was as white as jade. Even with a small mustache added to his lips, Lu Zhuo recognized his wife.

Looking at the other three, they were all men, one of whom sat with his back to him, his face obscured.

Lu Zhuo stood with his hands behind his back in the shade, watching Wei Rao talking and laughing with the others in the private room.

In truth, Wei Rao smiled more than she spoke. Most of the time, she was listening to Huo Jue and two wealthy merchants chatting freely. Those tales of travel and trade were rare even in storybooks, and since they were true, Wei Rao listened with keen interest.

Seeing her teacup empty, Huo Jue poured her fresh tea.

Huo Jue sat with his back to the window. When Wei Rao thanked him, she tilted her head toward him, catching the view of the riverside in her line of sight.

In that stretch of water, a long, tall figure stood still, upright as bamboo and sharp as a sword. Wei Rao was attracted by the narrow waist outlined by the brocade belt, and as she lifted her gaze...

Recognizing Lu Zhuo, Wei Rao froze.