Before Mingshu could ask anything, Lu Chang and Third Miss Lu were already slowly helping Madam Zeng walk over to them.
“Mother twisted her ankle in the grove,” Lu Chang answered Mingshu’s unspoken question, saying, “Third Miss Lu’s maid went to find help and brought me here. I just arrived a moment before you.”
His tone remained calm and even, explaining everything concisely.
“Mother is injured? How serious is it?” Upon hearing this, Mingshu hurried to her mother’s side, but with Lu Chang and Third Miss Lu flanking her mother, she couldn’t help at all and could only worry anxiously, feeling like an outsider.
She stared intently at her mother’s foot, feeling deeply guilty. If she had stayed by her mother’s side, this wouldn’t have happened.
Madam Zeng was worried they would make a fuss over her ankle injury and almost wanted to jump around to prove she was fine. She immediately said, “I haven’t…”
Before she could finish, Third Miss Lu interrupted: “It’s all my fault. You entrusted Madam to me, but I didn’t take proper care of her. Mingshu, I’m so sorry.”
As she spoke, she lowered her eyes, showing an expression of guilt and sadness, as if she were Madam Zeng’s daughter instead.
Her words were cleverly crafted—a simple self-reproach that subtly implied Mingshu had abandoned her mother to go play, shifting the responsibility to herself. In comparison, one appeared irresponsible and pleasure-seeking, while the other showed refinement and filial respect. How could such a well-bred young lady not win favor?
If outsiders were present, they would surely privately praise Third Miss Lu.
“It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have left Mother—how could I blame you?” Even Mingshu felt deeply remorseful, like a child who had done wrong.
“It has nothing to do with Mingshu. I was the one who called her away,” Song Qingzhao quickly explained.
Lu Chang took a deep breath, suppressing the impulse in his chest, and said: “What’s all this about? No one is blaming anyone!” Then to Mingshu, he said, “Third Miss Lu injured her hand while helping Mother. You quickly support Mother now, don’t let her strain herself further.”
Mingshu nodded and moved to take over from Third Miss Lu: “Miss Lu, let me help.”
Unexpectedly, Third Miss Lu showed no intention of letting go, instead holding on tighter: “It’s fine, let me continue.”
They had reached the entrance of the small path, where people could be vaguely seen outside. Lu Chang and Third Miss Lu were still supporting Madam Zeng, creating a scene that invited speculation.
Seeing that Third Miss Lu wouldn’t let go, Lu Chang released his hold and said: “Mingshu, come take Mother’s arm.”
Only then did Mingshu run to Lu Chang’s side to replace him in supporting Madam Zeng. This arrangement now had Mingshu and Third Miss Lu supporting Madam Zeng, with Lu Chang walking beside Mingshu, and Song Qingzhao leading the way in front, guiding them to a nearby flower hall in the Duke’s mansion to rest.
No sooner had Madam Zeng stepped into the flower hall than the doctor arrived.
“I’m fine! There’s no need for everyone to make such a fuss. Go check on Miss Lu instead.”
Despite Madam Zeng’s repeated insistence that she was fine, the doctor still insisted on examining her ankle. Soon after, Lady Xu and Madam Feng, Third Miss Lu’s mother, also hurried over, quickly filling the small flower hall with people. Madam Zeng had no choice but to summon her energy to respond to the noble ladies’ concerned inquiries, finding it extremely taxing.
Finally, after the doctor completed the examination and confirmed that Madam Zeng’s ankle was unharmed, everyone let her be and went to show concern for Third Miss Lu.
Only Mingshu, Lu Chang, and Qingshao remained with Madam Zeng. She wiped the fine sweat from her brow and, looking at the shadows behind the screen, finally had a chance to say quietly: “I’m not so delicate. During the refugee times, I walked hundreds of miles gritting my teeth—what’s a twisted ankle? Why are they all so concerned?”
She couldn’t understand the ways of wealthy families—making such a fuss over something so trivial by calling for a doctor?
“Mother, an ankle sprain can be serious or minor. It’s better to check thoroughly, otherwise if the bone is injured it could be troublesome,” Mingshu consoled her.
Madam Zeng replied: “Wouldn’t I know if I’d injured a bone? I told Miss Lu earlier that I was fine, but she insisted on sending her maid to call for help, even bringing Lu Chang here… Oh yes, Lu Chang, I hope we haven’t disrupted anything important?”
“No disruption. I’ve already explained to the Third Prince,” Lu Chang said.
“That’s good then,” Madam Zeng relaxed. “Today, you must thank Miss Lu for me.”
“Of course.” Lu Chang readily agreed but passed it to Mingshu, “She’s your friend, remember to thank her.”
Mingshu tilted her head and gave him a sidelong glance: “Brother, she didn’t befriend me for my sake—she had other intentions.”
“So?” Lu Chang asked in return.
“Third Miss Lu is quite nice—gentle, graceful, understanding, from a good family, and quite pretty too…” Before she could finish, Lu Chang placed his hand on her head.
“Shut up.” Lu Chang couldn’t bear to hear more, fixing her with an unfriendly gaze, looking as if he might devour her if she said another word.
Mingshu gave a fake smile.
Being as clever as she was, how could she not see the purpose of today’s banquet? It was nothing more than various family matrons gathering to look for suitable marriage matches for their children. Lu Chang, with his brilliant future and handsome appearance, was the most desirable catch at this banquet—she had witnessed his charm since the Imperial Examination parade.
Earlier, while accompanying Madam Zeng in conversation with the various ladies, she had noticed how Lady Xu kept bringing Madam Feng, Third Miss Lu’s mother, closer to Madam Zeng, constantly mentioning Third Miss Lu—clearly intending to play matchmaker. She hadn’t felt much about it then, but seeing Lu Chang and Third Miss Lu supporting Madam Zeng together in the grove gave her a strange feeling as if they were already family and she was just an irrelevant observer.
Mingshu couldn’t quite describe the feeling, but it wasn’t pleasant—it was like having something precious suddenly snatched away, leaving her uncomfortable. Yet she also understood that Lu Chang would eventually marry, and she would marry too. They were like all siblings in the world, destined to become independent and have their own families, never again to be as close as in their youth.
She had to learn to get used to it.
Voices and footsteps came from behind the screen as the doctor finished examining Third Miss Lu’s hand, and the ladies were coming over. Lu Chang frowned slightly and said: “You stay with Mother. I need to return to the Third Prince’s side.”
With these words, he hurried out of the flower hall before the others arrived, as if his seat was on fire, unwilling to stay even a moment longer. When Third Miss Lu came over with the other ladies and saw Lu Chang was no longer in the hall, a trace of disappointment showed in her eyes, but she quickly restored her smile. She came forward to greet Madam Zeng warmly, changing her form of address to “Aunt Zeng” and calling Mingshu “Sister Shui,” acting as close as family.
Madam Feng’s attitude toward Madam Zeng and Mingshu also grew increasingly warm and affectionate, and with Lady Xu beside them speaking words of praise, everyone present understood the situation and joined in with playful agreement.
Mingshu seized a moment to quietly wave to Qingshao, and the two slipped out of the flower hall unnoticed.
“Tell me exactly what happened after I left Mother,” Mingshu asked. “Be specific.”
Qingshao scratched her head in confusion, then recalled: “After Madam Meng called you away, Miss Lu stayed with Madam. At that time, many people were gathering around to look at a precious peony, and all the ladies crowded together to admire it. I was originally behind Madam, but someone pushed me, and I got squeezed to the outside of the crowd. I thought I’d wait outside until people dispersed and then follow Madam again, but when the crowd cleared, both Madam and Miss Lu disappeared. I searched around nearby but couldn’t see them, so I asked a Song family maid, who told me she thought she saw Madam and Third Miss Lu heading toward Crane Flying Rock. I went looking in that direction, only to find out it was the opposite way.”
As she spoke, she revealed a wronged expression—as a personal maid, losing track of her mistress was a serious dereliction of duty.
Mingshu asked her: “Do you remember what that Song family maid looked like?”
Qingshao nodded: “Yes, she was dressed like other ordinary Song family maids, with a round face, ordinary features, about my height, with two small moles on her left cheek, and wearing silver gourd-shaped earrings. If I see her again, I must ask why she gave me such wrong directions.”
“Alright, I understand. Go back and stay with Madam, and don’t leave her side again,” Mingshu said.
Just then, Song Qingzhao returned from seeing the doctor. Mingshu, standing in the corridor, waved to him: “Master Song.”
“Mingshu?” Song Qingzhao walked over to her in a few steps, asking puzzledly, “Why are you standing out here?”
Mingshu shook her head, not explaining, only saying: “Master Song, I have something to ask you about.”
“Didn’t I tell you not to call me Master Song?” Song Qingzhao was displeased with her formality and asked, “What is it? Just tell me.”
“Does your household have a maid about this height…” She indicated a height with her hand, “Round-faced, with two small moles on her left cheek, wearing silver gourd earrings today.”
This stumped Song Qingzhao: “The maids in my household… there are so many, and I usually don’t pay attention to them. This person you described, I…”
He couldn’t think of anyone matching that description.
“It’s fine, I’ll look for her myself,” Mingshu didn’t want to trouble him further.
“Wait, let me call the head maid who manages the servants. She might know,” Song Qingzhao quickly said.
In less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Song household’s head maid located the maid matching Mingshu’s description.
She was a third-rank maid of the Duke’s mansion named Xingxiang, assigned to duty in the Hundred Flowers Garden today, responsible for basic tasks like guiding guests. When Mingshu found her, she was in the garden, head down, fiddling with a ring in her hands.
“Thank you for your trouble, Ma’am. You may go about your business,” Having found the person, Mingshu no longer needed the head maid’s help.
Song Qingzhao nodded to the head maid, and she acknowledged and withdrew. Song Qingzhao stood with Mingshu to the side, asking puzzledly: “What do you want with her? Has she done something wrong?”
Mingshu didn’t answer, only giving Song Qingzhao a strange look before saying: “When the meat is too fragrant, many will covet it. One or two might inevitably harbor ill intentions.”
While it was fine to admire her brother, if someone truly liked him, they should pursue him openly and properly—success or failure would depend on fate, and she would naturally give her blessing. However, if anyone dared to employ the dirty tactics of the backcourt and try to use her mother…
She would protect Lu Chang.