In truth, the Lu family’s theft case wasn’t particularly complex. The kidnapper and wet nurse Tian had already confirmed their roles. There was no longer any doubt about Lu Ruishan’s identity – she was indeed Madam Cai’s biological daughter, swapped at birth, and not the infant stolen from the Lu family years ago. The most challenging part of this case now was determining how to find the real Third Miss Lu, who had been abandoned by Madam Cai.
Ming Shu and Ying Xun were just one step away from the truth. If they could have gotten Madam Cai to talk, they would have learned the whereabouts of the real Third Miss Lu and provided closure for Liu Wan’er. However, Madam Cai’s attempt to silence Liu Wan’er had occurred at this crucial moment.
The only person who knew the true Third Miss Lu’s location had died, yet this indirectly confirmed Liu Wan’er’s background.
The case seemed to be resolved.
Ming Shu remained frustrated that she couldn’t hear the truth about the abandoned infant directly from Madam Cai.
“The trial is today. Are you still worried about Liu Wan’er’s case?” Lu Chang asked, emerging from the bedroom after changing. He found Ming Shu sitting in the flower hall, waiting for him with a furrowed brow.
As a key witness, Ming Shu was also required to go to the yamen today.
“Mm-hmm,” Ming Shu responded glumly. Her eyes scanned Lu Chang, and she unconsciously stood up and walked to him. While pondering the case, she reached out to adjust his collar, complaining, “You can’t even dress properly.”
“My arrow wound hasn’t fully healed. It’s difficult to move,” Lu Chang lifted his chin, allowing Ming Shu to fix his collar.
Ming Shu straightened his collar and adjusted his belt before coming to her senses.
“Are you doing this on purpose? Always making me help you?”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Lu Chang smiled, then lowered his head and said seriously, “Ming Shu, today you’re a witness. In court, you only need to truthfully recount what you’ve seen and know about the case. Passing judgment isn’t your responsibility; you don’t need to take that burden upon yourself.”
“I understand,” Ming Shu glanced at him sideways. “Are we ready to leave now?”
“After you,” Lu Chang extended his hand.
This was Ming Shu’s first time in court, and she felt nervous. Today, not only she but also Wet Nurse Tian, Madam Peng, and Yu Lian were brought to the magistrate’s office. As witnesses, they waited outside for their summons. Two bailiffs guarded the room, preventing them from talking freely. After a silent wait, a bailiff finally came to call Ming Shu.
In the courtroom, everyone had arrived. The judge sat in the center, with the clerk recording to his right. Two bailiffs stood on each side of the hall. Lu Chang sat to the judge’s left and nodded at Ming Shu as she entered. Seeing him, Ming Shu felt slightly relieved. Liu Wan’er, the first to be summoned, was kneeling and answering questions, with Ying Xun standing beside her.
Three days had passed since the incident. Liu Wan’er’s head was still bandaged, and she wore a light apricot-colored dress. She looked even thinner than before, her delicate features more gaunt. With reddened eyes, she gazed at a couple sitting opposite Lu Chang.
The couple consisted of a man in his forties wearing an official robe with a neatly trimmed beard, his expression calm. The woman, also in her forties, was elegantly dressed. She stared at Liu Wan’er in disbelief, covering her mouth in shock.
Undoubtedly, these were Lu San Niang’s parents: Lu Zegang, the current Minister of Works, and his wife, Madam Feng.
Compared to Madam Feng’s astonishment, Lu Zegang appeared much colder, barely glancing at the kneeling figure. When Lu San Niang had shown interest in Lu Chang, Ming Shu inquired about the Lu family. She learned that Lu Zegang had one wife and two concubines, with three or four daughters in total. Madam Feng had given birth to the eldest son and two legitimate daughters, while the remaining four children were born to concubines. Lu Zegang greatly favored his son but was indifferent towards his daughters, providing for them lavishly only to secure advantageous marriages and strengthen his position in court.
After understanding the Lu family’s situation, Ming Shu, although still disapproving of Lu Ruishan’s actions, could somewhat comprehend her feelings. As a woman herself, Ming Shu naturally understood the injustice faced by women and could relate to the urgency of wanting to break free from predetermined fates.
Seeing them today, Ming Shu was even more certain that of the Lu couple, only Madam Feng truly loved her daughter.
The judge presided over the hearing, with Ying Xun presenting the case and summoning witnesses one by one. After Liu Wan’er’s testimony, it was Ming Shu’s turn to testify. She began by recounting Liu Wan’er’s visit to check her body, mentioning the longevity lock and silk handkerchief. A bailiff then presented these items on a tray for Ming Shu to confirm.
Ming Shu had handed over these two pieces of evidence to Ying Xun three days earlier.
“Your Honor, this longevity lock and silk handkerchief are indeed the two pieces of evidence Liu Niang left with me when she sought my help,” Ming Shu confirmed after a brief examination.
The bailiff then presented the tray to the Lu couple for confirmation. Lu Zegang stroked his beard silently, while Madam Feng picked up the lock and handkerchief, examining them through tears. “These are indeed my child’s belongings. I fastened this lock for her, and I placed this handkerchief in her swaddling clothes…”
As she caressed these old items, she wept and looked at Liu Wan’er, who also began to cry. Both were speechless.
The trial continued, and Ying Xun proceeded to question Ming Shu. She recounted her investigations one by one, calling upon each witness as she mentioned them. Soon, Wet Nurse Tian, Madam Peng, and Yu Lian were summoned to the courtroom to testify and confront each other, bringing the old case to light. Finally, they reached the arson case. Ming Shu’s testimony concluded, and she stepped aside.
Next came the arson case, still presented by Ying Xun.
Cai Shi’s autopsy report was submitted to the court, and the coroner was called to explain her cause of death and Liu Wan’er’s injuries. Eyewitness accounts and physical evidence were presented one by one, piecing together the entire case. Consequently, the Lu family’s seventeen-year-old missing child case was fully brought to light.
The judge delivered the verdict: Cai Shi’s death during her failed break-in was ruled accidental, and Liu Wan’er’s act of pushing Cai Shi was deemed self-defense, thus free of guilt.
The gavel fell, concluding the case.
Madam Feng stood up and rushed towards Liu Wan’er. They gazed at each other, speechless, until Madam Feng finally broke down in tears, crouching down to say, “Child, you’ve suffered so much…”
Liu Wan’er, already sobbing uncontrollably, threw herself into Madam Feng’s arms.
Lu Zegang approached, glancing briefly at Liu Wan’er before saying, “Since she’s of Lu family blood, let’s take her home.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a cry came from outside the courtroom: “Mother!”
Ming Shu looked towards the sound and saw the false Lu San Niang being held back by bailiffs outside the courtroom, with her maid desperately trying to restrain her. The case had spread like wildfire throughout Bianjing, and upon hearing the news and seeing her parents summoned to the magistrate’s office, she had secretly followed them, hiding among the crowd outside.
“Mother, I am… I am your daughter…” she cried, standing outside and looking at Madam Feng and Liu Wan’er, her face streaked with tears.
Madam Feng, as if awakening from a trance, looked towards her. Seventeen years of mother-daughter bond instinctively made her reach out, wanting to embrace her as well. But her hand stopped midair and fell back, her tear-filled eyes full of struggle and conflict. Lu Zegang, observing the three weeping women, frowned deeply, his face showing impatience. He barked coldly, “Disgraceful creature, take her away at once!” Then, cupping his hands towards Lu Chang and the judge, he left with a swish of his sleeves.
“Mother! Mother!” Lu Ruishan cried out.
As the Lu family attendants came to drag her away, Lu Ruishan struggled fiercely, breaking free from their grasp. She took advantage of the moment to push past the bailiffs guarding the door and ran into the courtroom, crying and shouting.
The sudden change from being the precious daughter of a high-ranking official to the child of a human trafficker was an earth-shattering transformation for her, one she couldn’t accept or believe. Seeing Madam Feng still holding Liu Wan’er tightly, with a gaze full of conflicting emotions, her heart felt as cold as if she had drunk frost and snow.
“It’s you, isn’t it? You’re taking revenge on me, right?” Seeing no one coming to her aid, she turned and caught sight of Ming Shu. She quickly rushed forward, grabbing Ming Shu and sobbing, “I was wrong, I admit it. I shouldn’t have opposed you, shouldn’t have sent people to bully you. I’ll apologize to you, I’ll give you anything you want. Please, tell them this isn’t true, can you? I beg you… please…”
Lu Ruishan’s sudden outburst caught Ming Shu off guard, her grip painfully tight on Ming Shu’s wrist. Unable to break free, Ming Shu could only furrow her brow and try to calm her: “San Niang, please calm down…”
At this point, the situation was beyond Ming Shu’s control.
“Let go!” A stern voice commanded, followed by a swift hand motion that broke Lu Ruishan’s grip, pulling Ming Shu behind for protection.
Lu Ruishan, seeing Lu Chang’s angry face, lost all hope of appealing to Ming Shu. She tried to approach Madam Feng again, but before she could reach her, she was caught by the Lu family servants.
“Mother!” Her heart-wrenching cries grew fainter as she was led away.
Madam Feng finally couldn’t bear it anymore. She stood up, tears streaming down her face, watching as Lu Ruishan was taken away.
“Are you alright?” Lu Chang turned to ask Ming Shu.
Ming Shu shook her head. “I’m fine, just feeling a bit stifled. I’d like to go outside.”
Her heart felt heavy, and Lu Ruishan’s cries had given her a throbbing headache. She was eager to leave this place.
With the case concluded, the remaining matters were no longer their concern. Lu Chang bid farewell to the judge, Ying Xun, and the others, then led Ming Shu out of the magistrate’s office.
As the fresh air rushed in, Ming Shu slowly exhaled the stale air from her lungs, walking side by side with Lu Chang through the streets and alleys.
They walked in silence for a while before Lu Chang asked, “Feeling better?”
“Much better, thank you, Brother,” she replied. Her affected mood gradually improved, and she stretched her arms towards the sky. “Shall we head home?”
They had spent the entire day at the magistrate’s office, and as evening approached, it was indeed time to return home.
Lu Chang shook his head. “Your case is resolved. How about I treat you to a meal to celebrate?”
Ming Shu was delighted. “Really? I want to go to Wanjia Tower.”
Wanjia Tower was the most famous restaurant in Bianjing, where one couldn’t leave without spending at least ten or more taels of silver.
Lu Chang coughed and said, “Ming Shu, you know how much my salary is. Most of it goes to Mother for household expenses. Today, perhaps we could…”
Ming Shu burst out laughing. She knew Lu Chang’s financial situation better than anyone. He rarely spent money on himself, with most of his salary either given to Madam Zeng or spent on the household, leaving him with no savings.
“I’m just teasing you,” Ming Shu said. “Let’s go to the Zhouqiao Night Market. There were still many snacks we didn’t try last time.”
The Zhouqiao Night Market wasn’t far, and they could walk there. As they approached, the streets became livelier, with more and more people around them. Ming Shu looked around, searching for something that caught her eye. She spotted a crowded pancake shop and wanted to try their marrow pancakes. Lu Chang told her to wait under a tree by the street while he went to queue.
Ming Shu waited, watching Lu Chang.
In the smoke-filled, ordinary alleyways, among the simple, common people, Lu Chang blended into the crowd. He stood out with his refined elegance yet also possessed a simplicity that allowed him to merge into the mundane world. This contradiction had always been what Ming Shu found most unique about him.
It was captivating.
As the queue neared Lu Chang, he turned back and met Ming Shu’s gaze, returning a smile.
Ming Shu unconsciously smiled back, pressing her lips together.
Someone hurriedly walked by, accidentally bumping into her shoulder. She turned to look, and the person quickly apologized before walking away. Ming Shu didn’t mind, but a moment later, she instinctively reached for her waist—her purse was gone.
That was her money pouch!
“Stop right there! Don’t run!”
When Lu Chang turned at the sound of Ming Shu’s shout, she had already run far after the person who had bumped into her. He quickly took the marrow pancakes from the shopkeeper and ran after Ming Shu.
The night market was crowded, and the thief was experienced, slipping through the crowd like a slippery fish after grabbing the purse. Ming Shu couldn’t catch up, and no one around was willing to help. She watched helplessly as the thief disappeared into a dark alley, not daring to pursue further. She bent over, hands on her knees, panting heavily.
Lu Chang caught up from behind, hearing Ming Shu angrily cursing the thief for stealing her money. He handed her the marrow pancakes and dashed into the dark alley.
“Brother, don’t chase him!” Ming Shu couldn’t stop him in time.
In the past, she wouldn’t have worried; a few petty thieves were no match for Lu Chang. But now, with his arrow wound not fully healed, she didn’t want him to risk further injury.
“Brother!” She was extremely worried.
After a moment, just as she was about to follow him into the alley, Lu Chang’s figure appeared at the entrance.
“There were too many branching paths inside, I couldn’t catch up. I only found this,” Lu Chang said, handing the purse to Ming Shu.
Ming Shu took the purse, annoyed. “Who told you to chase after them? If the money’s gone, it’s gone. What if you got hurt again? Have you forgotten what you promised me?”
“I know my limits, don’t worry,” Lu Chang reassured her.
Ming Shu gave him a reproachful look, then squeezed the purse and turned it inside out. It was empty.
It seemed the thief had taken the money and discarded the empty purse on the ground.
“Well, let’s consider it a financial loss to ward off bad luck,” Ming Shu said, reattaching the purse to her waist and trying to comfort herself.
Due to their encounter with the thief, Ming Shu lost her enthusiasm for exploring the night market. They bought some food and headed home with Lu Chang.
That night, the moon was hidden, and stars were absent from the sky, signaling an approaching storm. Outside, the wind howled fiercely, causing tree shadows to dance wildly. Ming Shu tossed and turned in bed, her mind in turmoil. She watched the time tick by, unable to fall asleep.
Scenes from the courtroom flashed before her eyes: Liu Wan’er’s face, Madam Feng’s face, Lu Ruishan’s face… They flickered past, frustrating her. She hugged her head and rolled over, somehow recalling the incident at Zhouqiao Night Market.
Nothing had gone smoothly today. That purse had contained nearly ten taels of silver. Curse that thief!
As she thought about her emptied purse, she felt the pain of loss again. Suddenly, she sat up in bed.
After sitting for a moment, she threw off her covers and got up, walking to the table to pick up her empty purse. She squeezed it absent-mindedly, then, as if realizing something, she turned and ran out of her room.
It was late, and the small courtyard where the Lu family lived was dark, everyone had retired for the night. Only the candlelight in Lu Chang’s room remained lit; he usually worked on official matters until late.
He had already removed his outer robe and was wearing only his middle garment, preparing for bed when he heard urgent knocking at his door.
The door creaked open, and Ming Shu burst in, grasping Lu Chang’s arms with both hands, her face full of alarm.
“Brother, I’ve figured it out,” she said.
Lu Chang looked down at her—she must have just jumped out of bed and rushed here without a thought. Her long hair was loose, now disheveled by the strong wind outside. She was barefoot and wearing summer sleeping attire: loose Song-style trousers with only a short-sleeved shirt on top.
The wind from outside blew into the room, causing a chill. Lu Chang frowned, quickly closing the door. Without asking what was wrong, he turned and walked away.
Ming Shu followed him: “Brother, I know why I kept feeling something was off. There’s something strange about the Lu family affair. That Liu Wan’er… she’s not right…”
Before she could finish, a piece of clothing was thrown over her head.
Ming Shu was stunned for a moment. The next instant, Lu Chang had draped his outer robe over her shoulders and swiftly picked her up, placing her on a small couch by the window. He crouched in front of her, putting his soft-soled shoes on her feet while calmly asking, “What could be so urgent that you’d make such a fuss? Tell me, what’s wrong with Liu Wan’er?”
Ming Shu, wearing his outer robe and shoes, came to her senses and blushed deeply.
After a long pause, she finally spoke again: “Why did the longevity lock and silk handkerchief end up in Liu Wan’er’s possession?”
Even the thief who stole her purse today knew to take the valuable items. Child traffickers do it for money, so the golden longevity lock was valuable. Why, then, after staying with the traffickers for nearly half a year, was Liu Wan’er still wearing the most valuable item?
It made no sense!