It’s always the case that the person you least want to see is the one who shows up.
Lu Chang was sent to boil water for tea, but his ears were perked high listening to the activity outside. He really didn’t want to let Song Qing Zhao in, but just days ago he had acted generous in front of Ming Shu. Now he could only silently endure this bitter situation.
People are just that contradictory – thinking one thing is one matter, but facing reality is another entirely.
He realized he couldn’t be so generous after all.
Laughter filtered in from outside, Ming Shu’s clear giggles mixing with Song Qing Zhao’s chuckles, nearly causing Lu Chang to crush the teacup in his hand.
Quickly brewing the tea, Lu Chang brought it out on a tray to the hall, only to see Ming Shu and Song Qing Zhao facing each other with smiling faces. Though Song Qing Zhao appeared cold to others, he always wore a faint smile when facing Ming Shu. To Lu Chang’s eyes, he looked like a thief coveting his family’s treasure – irritating no matter how you looked at it.
Lu Chang was Ming Shu’s elder brother, and although the two men were constantly competing subtly, Song Qing Zhao still treated him very politely. He stood up and accepted the tea with both hands. After Ming Shu said “Thank you, Brother,” he followed almost as if possessed: “Thank you, Brother… Thank you, Brother Lu.”
Seeing Lu Chang’s expression changed again, he coldly replied: “I dare not accept the term ‘Brother.’ You should just call me Lu Chang.”
Ming Shu poked her horsetail whisk, feeling these two might start fighting at any moment. They had worked together quite pleasantly at the Song Ling Academy, yet why were they always like this in private?
Perhaps they were just too idle.
“Let’s not waste time, quickly tell me about the Wei family situation,” Ming Shu hurriedly said. She had specifically waited for Lu Chang to come out before getting to the main topic.
“What would you like to know?” Song Qing Zhao asked as everyone took their seats.
Ming Shu’s meeting with Second Madam Wei that day had been rather hurried, as she seemed unable to stay out long, so they had only discussed superficial matters before parting. After considering for a moment, Ming Shu spoke: “Tell me everything you know?”
“I don’t know much, only what I’ve heard from my mother. The Wei family was originally just an ordinary family in Bianjing, with no officials in their ancestry. Wei Xian enlisted in the army as a commoner, starting as an ordinary soldier and working his way up to Commander of the Imperial Guard – truly a self-made man. His wife, Du Wen Hui, was my mother’s closest friend back then, born into an official family. Her father once served as Vice Minister of Works at his highest position, but later… about six or seven years ago, he was demoted due to mishandling a water conservancy project. From then on, he never recovered, and the Du family’s fortunes declined with him, never returning to their former glory.”
Song Qing Zhao spoke while recalling, and both Ming Shu and Lu Chang listened attentively.
“Wei Xian enlisted as a commoner and must have taken considerable time to climb to his current position, while Du Wen Hui was the daughter of an official family back then. Their social status was quite different, with a large gap between them. Why would the Du family agree to marry Du Wen Hui to Wei Xian?” Ming Shu asked, puzzled.
Since he was self-made, Wei Xian must have been just a low-ranking soldier when he married. The Du family should have been at their peak then, and it was already uncommon for civil officials’ daughters to marry military men, let alone mere soldiers. This seemed strange.
“My mother often sighs when mentioning this matter. Back then, Aunt Hui, the Royal Consort, and my mother were all close friends. Their family backgrounds were similar, with the Royal Consort’s being the highest, while Aunt Hui and my mother were slightly lower. Even if Aunt Hui were to marry beneath her station, it shouldn’t have been to Wei Xian. Yet she had taken a liking to him. To marry Wei Xian, she stubbornly argued with her family several times. Finally, the Du family elders couldn’t resist her, and seeing that Wei Xian was indeed ambitious, they simply agreed to the marriage and sent Aunt Hui to the Wei family.”
“I see.” Ming Shu nodded. “What happened after?”
“The first few years after their marriage were fine, but something changed at some point. Aunt Hui gradually reduced her contact with my mother and the Royal Consort. On the rare occasions they met, she always seemed melancholic. My mother thought she wasn’t happy in the Wei family, but when asked, Aunt Hui always said everything was fine. My mother and the Royal Consort secretly inquired about the Wei family situation, but all they heard were reports of a harmonious marriage. Later, when the Du family faced troubles and declined year by year, Aunt Hui met with them even less. Mostly my mother and the Royal Consort would seek her out, returning with shaking heads, saying Aunt Hui’s physical and mental health was deteriorating day by day.” Song Qing Zhao continued, then noticing Ming Shu refilling his tea, said, “Thank you.”
“In all these years of marriage, do they have any children?” Lu Chang asked.
“They have one son, but I heard he suffered brain damage from a fever shortly after birth, so he’s been confined at home since childhood, rarely seen by others,” Song Qing Zhao replied.
“Has he taken any concubines?”
“He seems to have taken two concubines, but both died of illness without leaving any children. In recent years, he brought home a courtesan from a pleasure house as a concubine, but I haven’t heard of any children from her either.” After finishing, Song Qing Zhao added, “That’s all I know. Ming Shu, Wei Xian may be a military man, but his household is as secure as a fortress. Very little information about the Wei family leaks out. If even my mother and the Royal Consort can’t learn much about their affairs, the household must be strictly controlled. If you rush in and Wei Xian discovers your purpose, I’m worried…”
On this point, Lu Chang and Song Qing Zhao rarely found themselves in agreement.
“Ming Shu, the Wei residence is different from Song Ling Academy. You won’t have anyone there to watch out for you. If you encounter danger, I…” Lu Chang also said.
“Brother, I won’t act recklessly. I’m just going to investigate the haunting, and Second Madam Wei will help me. I won’t take any risks – my life is precious, and I’m very afraid of dying,” Ming Shu reassured him.
Looking at her expression, Lu Chang thought she didn’t look afraid of death at all.
Having learned enough about the Wei family, Ming Shu glanced at the sun outside – it was nearly noon.
“It’s getting late, I should take my leave,” Song Qing Zhao also checked the time and stood up.
Ming Shu invited him to stay: “You’ve helped so much today, why not stay for a simple meal?”
She was just being polite, thinking their humble fare wouldn’t appeal to such a noble young master as Song Qing Zhao. To her surprise, after looking at her twice, he cheerfully accepted: “In that case, I’ll impose on your hospitality.”
Ming Shu was stunned and instinctively looked at Lu Chang, whose face all but screamed refusal – Madam Zeng wasn’t home, Ming Shu couldn’t cook, and usually Lu Chang did the cooking, but he only wanted to cook for his mother and Ming Shu, not Song Qing Zhao.
“I… I’ll cook. Please wait here a while,” Ming Shu had to say reluctantly.
“Thank you for the trouble,” Song Qing Zhao seemed very interested in Ming Shu’s cooking skills.
Ming Shu, however, was just hoping she wouldn’t burn down the kitchen or poison Song Qing Zhao.
Lu Chang truly couldn’t bear to watch this. He stood up and said: “I’ll go help her. Please excuse me.”
With that, he followed her into the kitchen.
————
Ming Shu stood in the kitchen staring blankly at the stove, feeling completely at a loss. Just as she was considering going back out to suggest eating at a restaurant instead, the curtain behind her was lifted, and Lu Chang entered with a cold expression.
“Brother.” Ming Shu saw him as her saving grace.
Lu Chang gave her a cold look, said nothing, and went straight to the stove to start the fire. Ming Shu quickly handed him firewood.
She knew her brother wouldn’t bear to see her embarrassed.
She secretly stuck out her tongue and didn’t leave, instead staying to help Lu Chang in the kitchen.
Lu Chang rolled up his sleeves, heating the wok while skillfully chopping vegetables, directing Ming Shu to do simple tasks like washing vegetables. Ming Shu particularly enjoyed watching him cook. The usually cold man became filled with warmth when busy at the stove, not appearing undignified as others might think, but rather appearing gallant and mighty in Ming Shu’s eyes.
“What are you looking at?” Lu Chang finished cutting the bamboo shoots and turned to find Ming Shu staring at him unblinkingly, her bright eyes holding some indescribable meaning. Feeling his ears grow hot under her gaze, he flicked her forehead.
Ming Shu came to her senses: “Brother is so handsome. I wonder which lucky girl will become my sister-in-law.”
Lu Chang didn’t answer, just reached out his hand: “Bring the dough.”
The dough had been prepared by Madam Zeng before she left, needing only to be rolled out before eating, and the chicken soup had been simmering since early morning. Lu Chang moved very quickly, and by the time the soup was boiling, he had already rolled out the noodles.
Soon, a pot of bamboo shoots and shredded chicken noodles was ready, making Ming Shu’s mouth water.
“It smells so good!” Ming Shu couldn’t wait, scooping some noodles and soup into a small bowl. Ignoring the heat, she tasted it with little hissing sounds, satisfied like a cat who’d stolen cream. “Delicious! Brother, try some too.”
Lu Chang was about to lift the pot when he turned to her voice to see Ming Shu already holding up some noodles to his mouth with her chopsticks.
Those chopsticks…
He froze for a moment, then accepted the noodles under Ming Shu’s clear gaze.
Indeed, it was sweet.
Whether from the stove’s heat or something else, Lu Chang felt his whole body grow warm, his ears and face burning.
Ming Shu had already turned to get pickled vegetables from the urn for a cold dish.
Soon, three bowls of bamboo shoot and shredded chicken noodles were brought out from the kitchen, along with three plates of cold dishes, and Lu Chang, Ming Shu, and Song Qing Zhao took their seats.
“It’s simple fare, I apologize, Brother Song,” Lu Chang said.
Though born privileged, Song Qing Zhao showed no airs in his manner, saying only: “I should be the one thanking you both for your hospitality. I came to apologize yet ended up imposing on you for a meal.”
Ming Shu, most impatient with such formalities, just nodded toward the soup and noodles in front of him: “Quick, try it.”
Song Qing Zhao thanked them again before picking up his chopsticks and spoon, first sipping the soup, and then tasting the noodles. His eyes immediately brightened.
“The noodles are perfectly chewy, the soup is delicious, the bamboo shoots are crisp, and the timing is just right. Ming Shu has excellent cooking skills,” he praised.
Ming Shu scratched her head, seeing that Lu Chang didn’t want Song Qing Zhao to know who had actually cooked, and could only laugh awkwardly: “You’re too kind.”
Inadvertently, she had taken credit for her brother’s work.
How sinful.
————
After seeing Song Qing Zhao off, Ming Shu helped Lu Chang clean up the bowls and table, and the two sat in the hall drinking digestive tea.
“Ming Shu, what are your plans regarding the Wei family?” Lu Chang asked her.
“I want to first ask around the Wei residence neighborhood, see if I can discover any clues, before entering the mansion,” Ming Shu wasn’t in a hurry to enter the Wei residence, preferring to make thorough preparations first.
Lu Chang nodded. He couldn’t stop her, so he said: “Very well, I won’t prevent you, but I have one requirement. After you enter the Wei residence, you can stay for no more than three days. If you haven’t come out after three days, I will enter to find you. Additionally, you must leave me a note every morning at the corner gate’s wall base. I will visit daily to confirm your safety. If I don’t receive your safety signal, I will likewise enter the residence to find you. Remember this clearly.”
“Brother…” Ming Shu’s hand holding the teacup froze in mid-air. She stared at Lu Chang for a long while before speaking, “Am I being somewhat willful? Always making you worry.”
“Since you know I worry, protect yourself well,” Lu Chang said.
Ming Shu looked at him and smiled sweetly: “I definitely will.”