After the metropolitan examination, it would take three to five days until the results were posted. During this time, scholars across the city were filled with anxiety and anticipation. However, Lu Chang remained calm, carrying on as usual.

Invitation cards began arriving frequently at the Lu residence – for banquets, poetry gatherings, and garden parties – there was always some pretext to invite Lu Chang, including from prestigious officials.

Lu Chang rarely went out, attending only two gatherings with his fellow examinees, and spending most of his time at home accompanying his mother.

Besides invitation cards, neighbors visiting the Lu residence also noticeably increased. The reason was simple – they all came to inquire about Lu Chang and Ming Shu’s marriage prospects.

Exaggeratedly speaking, the threshold of the Lu residence was nearly worn down by visitors. Finally, Lu Chang decisively closed the main gate, refusing all visitors regardless of who they were, bringing peace back to the household.

“Brother, are you already bothered by this commotion?” Ming Shu giggled, holding the visibly plumper Zhao Bao. “You better be careful on the day of results posting. I heard that catching prospective sons-in-law under the examination results board in the capital is quite fierce. Be careful not to get caught!”

Hearing the words “catching sons-in-law under the board,” Lu Chang thought of Master Jian from Jiangning and became distracted.

“Though if you get caught by some high official and become their prized son-in-law, it might make your official career smoother,” Ming Shu added thoughtfully.

“Never,” Lu Chang firmly rejected. “I will never trade a wife for wealth and an official position. A wife is a wife, she should be my heart’s lifelong companion, not a bargaining chip.”

It was like this before, and would not change in the future.

Love is simply love, not born from gratitude, not bent by worldly customs, not swayed by wealth, not turned by career prospects. What he wanted was mutual affection.

This was the first time Ming Shu heard Lu Chang speak of his marriage matters. Her emotions stirred slightly, though she wasn’t sure why. She had merely been teasing but hadn’t expected him to respond so seriously.

“Well said, that’s my brother!” Ming Shu put down Zhao Bao and raised her fist. “I’ll accompany you on results day to protect you. If anyone tries to catch you as a son-in-law, I’ll chase them away!”

“You can accompany me, but you won’t need to intervene,” Lu Chang lowered her fist.

“Alright,” Ming Shu smiled.

Lu Chang turned around, looking at the characters on the table, and asked her: “What are you writing?”

Papers filled with characters lay on the table, alongside brush holders, brush mountains, and an inkstone. Ming Shu had been writing since early morning at the Eight Immortals table used for dining, only stopping when Lu Chang came down.

“Thinking of a shop name,” Ming Shu frowned as she walked to the table, staring worriedly at the names listed.

She had already told Lu Chang about opening a shop with Wen An and Yin Shujun. Lu Chang neither approved nor opposed – to Ming Shu, his silence meant consent, so she proceeded openly with her plans.

The preliminary work had been mostly completed during Lu Chang’s absence. These days she was detailing the shop establishment plans to copy for Wen An and Yin Shujun’s review. She had everything figured out about how to proceed with the new shop’s establishment, now she just needed a name.

Lu Chang glanced at the paper, which had names like “Jin Yu Man Tang” (Gold and Jade Prosperity), “Lin Lang Ge” (Elegant Gallery), and “Jin Fu Lou” (Golden Fortune Building). Ming Shu felt embarrassed under his gaze and said, “These names are quite vulgar.”

“The greatest refinement can be found in simplicity. For a shop in the marketplace, it should appeal to both refined and common tastes, with an auspicious meaning being the most appropriate. No need to be too literary,” Lu Chang pointed at “Jin Yu Man Tang” and said, “This one is quite good.”

Ming Shu walked to his side and looked down, saying: “The shop sells gold and jade, so this name is a bit too obvious.”

“Jin Yu Man Tang, bringing prosperity to the whole hall. If you find it too obvious, why not call it…”

“Man Tang Hui?”

“Man Tang Hui!”

The siblings spoke in unison. After blurting it out, they were both startled, then looked at each other and broke into smiles.

Ming Shu took a fresh sheet of paper, pushed aside the messy old one, and eagerly picked up her brush to write the name. But as she was about to write, she hesitated. She wasn’t a great calligrapher, her writing was merely delicate. Her suspended wrist began to tremble slightly.

In that moment of hesitation, Lu Chang stood behind her and placed his hand over hers holding the brush, pressing down firmly.

Ming Shu’s hand was firmly gripped by his, and the ink-dipped brush tip pressed onto the paper with a force that penetrated the back.

The three characters “Man Tang Hui” were written in one powerful stroke.

Ming Shu blinked, looking at the vigorous and magnificent calligraphy, she was overjoyed.

Though Lu Chang rarely said anything, he always demonstrated his support through actions.

“Thank you, Brother!” She turned her head with a beaming smile to thank him.

Lu Chang was just behind her, slightly to the side. Though they were still a fist’s distance apart, his left hand was resting on the table beside her left waist. When Ming Shu turned, Lu Chang hadn’t yet withdrawn his hand, creating a pose like a light embrace.

The main door was tightly closed, with only dim light filtering through the window paper casting a faint glow on the two of them. Their soft breaths mingled together, causing inexplicable warmth in their hearts. Their gazes met, and both froze. Lu Chang’s gaze fell on Ming Shu’s face like a solid object, burning like sparks. He seemed to have something to say, but the words reached his lips and were blocked by numerous obstacles, unable to be spoken…

“Brother!” Ming Shu’s clear voice brought them both back to their senses.

Lu Chang quickly released his hand and stepped back two paces, uncomfortably turning his face to look at the window, only saying: “It’s a bit stuffy in here, I’ll go for a walk.” With these words, he strode to the door and opened it with a creaking sound.

Outside, the sunlight was warm, casting shadows on the ground. A gentle breeze passed by, but couldn’t disperse the romantic atmosphere.

He stood supporting himself against the door – he had almost… almost failed to control his emotions.

Almost forgotten his current identity.

Looking at that face as bright as spring, he wanted… wanted…

His hand gripping the door tightened, and he quickly walked out of the house, unable to continue thinking.

On the doorframe, several shallow finger marks remained.

—

Ming Shu moved quickly. After settling on the shop name, she detailed all the plans for establishing the new shop, made two copies, and sent them to Wen An and Yin Shujun. Wen An’s reply came the fastest, in the form of an invitation card.

Following the capital’s customs, after the metropolitan examination, both scholars and ladies would customarily go to Fan Tai to enjoy spring and hold spring banquets. Wen An’s card was an invitation to join her at Fan Tai for spring viewing. Accompanying the card was a very brief note.

“Let’s discuss while enjoying the spring scenery.”

This was typical of Wen An’s personality – never letting business interfere with pleasure.

Ming Shu laughed at this, and just then Lu Chang returned from outside. Seeing her laugh, he asked: “What are you giggling about?”

“Brother, County Lady has invited me to Fan Tai for spring viewing the day after tomorrow,” Ming Shu waved the card.

“Would you like to go?” Lu Chang asked her.

“Yes,” Ming Shu nodded.

Lu Chang also took out a card from his sleeve: “I’ll accompany you.”

Thinking carefully, since entering the capital, he had been busy with examinations and hadn’t taken Ming Shu to properly tour the capital. Now that he had some leisure time, he wanted to take her out for a walk.

Ming Shu had originally just intended to inform him but hadn’t expected that he had also received an invitation and was planning to accompany her. Her eyes immediately brightened: “Thank you, Brother! I’ll prepare some snacks to bring tomorrow!”

Lu Chang nodded without speaking.

The next day, while Ming Shu was helping Madam Zeng prepare snacks for spring viewing, Lu Chang came in carrying a bundle of bamboo strips, along with paste, ink, paper, and other materials, and sat at the table to work. Ming Shu was curious and came over to peek.

“Brother, what are you making?” Ming Shu asked when she saw him grinding ink.

“Guess,” Lu Chang teased.

Ming Shu looked at the bamboo strips, then at the paste, and a happy guess arose in her mind: “Could you be… making me a kite?”

“What kind would you like?” Lu Chang looked up at her, a faint smile on his lips.

Ming Shu was extremely happy and immediately pulled up a small stool to sit beside him: “I want… one with beauty! Brother, draw a beauty for me! I’ll help you! Teach me.”

“Alright,” Lu Chang agreed promptly, his brush strokes decisive.

In less than half an hour, the beauty was complete.

“This beauty looks somewhat familiar?” Ming Shu held up the painting, finding it increasingly familiar.

Madam Zeng, who was passing by delivering snacks to the siblings, looked at it and said, “Isn’t this you?”

Ming Shu looked down at her own appearance, then at the painting – the spirited young lady in the painting did look like herself.

Lu Chang had drawn her.

“You asked me to draw a beauty, but I don’t know any other beauties,” Lu Chang put away his ink and brush, casually saying.

“My brother, did you coat your mouth with honey?” Ming Shu stared at Lu Chang in surprise.

Lu Chang lowered his head, focusing on trimming the bamboo strips, not responding to her.

Though there were many beauties in the world, only one had caught his eye. Who else could he draw?

—

Today, the Prince Consort’s wife had returned to her maiden home, and the Duke’s mansion had set up a family feast in the inner court. After eating, the Duke’s eldest daughter-in-law accompanied the Prince Consort’s wife for a digestive walk in the garden, with Wen An also accompanying them.

The two sisters-in-law’s conversation revolved around either Song Qingzhao’s examination or children’s marriages. Wen An found it boring and slowed her pace, staying far behind to play and joke with the young maids.

“County Lady Wen An.” A clear male voice came from behind.

Wen An stopped and turned to look – it was Song Qingzhao standing five steps away, bowing to her.

“Cousin, why so formal? We’re family, just call me by name,” she said lazily.

Song Qingzhao returned a smile and asked, “County Lady, are you going to Fan Tai for spring viewing tomorrow?”

Wen An had never liked this cousin since childhood. Song Qingzhao appeared cold and aloof, yet everyone praised him, even her parents often mentioned him. Out of rebelliousness, she found fault with him in everything.

Hearing his question, she casually answered, “Yes, my mother, aunt, and sisters will all go…” Halfway through her answer, she suddenly felt something was amiss, “Why do you ask?”

Song Qingzhao rarely involved himself in women’s affairs, so why ask about this?

“Well…” Song Qingzhao unusually hesitated.

“You’re not asking about my close friend, are you? Are you asking about Ming Shu?” Wen An suddenly became interested, her lazy demeanor disappearing completely.

Song Qingzhao simply nodded: “Last time she sent me an amulet through you, I want to thank her.”

Wen An snickered: “Cousin, that’s quite a poor excuse. If you want to see her, just say so directly. Why mention the amulet? What’s so special about it? If it were from another girl, you would have thrown it away long ago. Why specifically thank her?”

Her words hit right at Song Qingzhao’s heart, causing him to blush slightly, but he didn’t answer.

“She sent you the amulet merely as a reciprocal gesture, don’t read too much into it. You’re the Duke’s second son, about to be listed on the golden roll, your value multiplying. Aunt is looking for suitable young ladies from noble families for you. Ming Shu isn’t suitable for you, don’t harm her,” Wen An said quickly.

She instinctively felt that her aunt wouldn’t want Ming Shu as a daughter-in-law, and Ming Shu might not be willing to marry into the Duke’s family either. The gap between their social status was too great – the Duke’s family’s status was too high. It wasn’t that Ming Shu wasn’t worthy, but marrying into the Duke’s family meant becoming a proper, rule-abiding wife, and from what she knew of Ming Shu, she wasn’t someone willing to be confined to the inner court for life. From any perspective, Ming Shu and Song Qingzhao were not suitable for each other.

Perhaps because Wen An’s words were too blunt, Song Qingzhao’s face gradually darkened. He originally didn’t want to argue with Wen An, but when he heard her last few sentences, he truly couldn’t hold back.

“How do you know we’re not suitable? I won’t harm her.”

This time Wen An was truly surprised. Though her words were direct, she only intended to enlighten Song Qingzhao, never expecting to force out his true feelings.

“You…” Wen An looked at him in disbelief.

Song Qingzhao realized he had spoken out of turn, bowed slightly to her, and left coldly.