Lu Chang kept his word and confined Ming Shu at home, having people guard her constantly. Under such strict surveillance, Ming Shu’s temper flared, and she had intense arguments with Lu Chang that seemed irreconcilable. In the past, when they argued, the anger would naturally dissipate—either Lu Chang would yield, or Ming Shu would soften, and they would quickly reconcile. But this time, Lu Chang was adamantly refusing to give in to Ming Shu’s wishes.
He feared that if he loosened his grip even slightly, she would slip away like a slippery fish through some unseen gap.
Ming Shu’s temper seemed to pass some time, and by the end of July, she suddenly contained her anger, returning to her former agreeable self. She even invited Ying Xun to visit, and they would huddle together whispering about something unknown.
As long as Ming Shu didn’t leave, Lu Chang acceded to her wishes, even happy to have more people visit to help distract her.
After several days like this, Ming Shu suddenly approached Lu Chang, asking to go out.
On a clear day in late July.
With Lu Chang dismissed from his post and idle at home, he accompanied Ming Shu on this outing.
Ming Shu had arranged to meet someone on Baokang Street. While waiting, she and Lu Chang entered a nearby fragrant tea shop to rest. When the owner brought over their ordered drinks, Ming Shu said, “Please send a bowl to that brother standing outside the door.”
The owner looked outside and saw a man standing with his arms crossed. Though surprised, he didn’t ask questions and complied.
“How distrustful are you?” Ming Shu saw Lu Chang’s silence and lightly mocked him.
That man wasn’t just anyone—he was one of the guards Lu Chang had assigned to watch her. Even with Lu Chang personally accompanying her, the guard still followed.
“I’m sorry.” Lu Chang had nothing else to say. He lowered his head to sip his drink, then asked, “Who are you meeting?”
“Madam Feng,” Ming Shu replied, and fearing he wouldn’t know who that was, added, “Lu San Niang’s mother.”
Lu Chang raised his head in surprise, questioning with his gaze.
“I asked my master to investigate Lu San’s whereabouts. Although Old Woman Peng doesn’t know exactly where Madam Cai abandoned Lu San, she knows the general location—somewhere in the alleys of Niuhang Street,” Ming Shu slowly explained, looking at her drink. “My master and I reviewed the infant records of Niuhang Street from seventeen years ago, when Lu San was abandoned and found two families had adopted abandoned infants that year. One was a boy, one a girl. My master went to speak with the girl’s adoptive parents, and based on when she was found, the circumstances, and her age, this girl is very likely the real Lu San Niang.”
“But this is Baokang Street, three main streets away from Niuhang Street,” Lu Chang questioned.
Ming Shu was about to explain when a woman’s voice came from outside—Madam Feng had arrived with a matron and a maid.
The Ullambana Festival had ended barely half a month ago, but Madam Feng looked completely different from her former spirited self.
Ming Shu had heard that after the Ullambana Festival incident, Lu Zegang, the Minister of Works, had been dismissed from office like Lu Chang and was now frantically trying to network for reinstatement. He had originally hoped to use Liu Wan’er to connect with high society and gain prominence, but now he had lost both his position and face. With nowhere to direct his anger, he took it out on his family. Knowing that Madam Feng was desperately trying to find her daughter, one could imagine how difficult her situation at home must be.
Madam Feng seemed to have aged considerably; even thick layers of powder couldn’t hide the dark circles under her eyes and her haggard appearance. Ming Shu rose to greet her, exchanging only brief pleasantries before walking outside. Madam Feng showed little warmth toward Ming Shu, barely maintaining politeness. Ming Shu understood—from Madam Feng’s perspective, she had sent away the false Lu San who they had raised for seventeen years, only to bring in another false daughter who had brought disaster to the whole family…
Lu Chang paid the bill and followed them. The group quickly walked to Ding’s Flatbread Shop in West Jia Alley on Baokang Street.
The shop was already open, with a small storefront but many varieties of flatbread, all listed on wooden signs hung at the front. There was no dining area inside; they sold one batch at a time, with many regular customers exchanging friendly greetings.
It was a husband-and-wife shop, with the husband baking and the wife handling money, working together efficiently. However, three months ago, the wife had just had a daughter and couldn’t manage everything, so they hired an assistant. But the wife wasn’t entirely at ease, so she would come with her daughter, sitting nearby to watch, occasionally helping out.
The husband doted on his wife, and whenever there was a brief lull in his busy work, he would come over to chat with her and pat their child’s head. The wife would remind him to drink water as he wiped his sweat… They appeared to be a very harmonious couple.
“Her name is Jiang Ying—she’s the child who was abandoned on Niuhang Street back then. Her adoptive parents treated her well, arranged a good marriage for her, and she married last year. Now she’s already a mother,” Ming Shu pointed at the young woman holding the baby in the shop.
Madam Feng looked where indicated. The woman appeared to be seventeen or eighteen, rather plump from recent childbirth, with rosy cheeks and a gentle smile. Her features bore a five or six-tenths resemblance to Madam Feng.
Madam Feng’s eyes instantly reddened.
“Do you want to reclaim her?” Ming Shu asked.
Madam Feng took a handkerchief from her maid to dab her eyes, shaking her head: “No… being recognized by the Lu family would do her no good. She’s doing well now… living peacefully…”
Living an ordinary, peaceful life was far better than returning to the Lu family to be used as a pawn.
“I’ll go buy some flatbread,” Madam Feng wiped her eyes and walked toward Ding’s shop, then turned back after a few steps, “Miss Ming Shu, thank you.”
Ming Shu nodded, watching her go, observing from afar as she reached the shop and had her servants queue for bread while she chatted casually with Jiang Ying. Jiang Ying smiled sweetly, enthusiastically showing her the swaddled baby. Madam Feng reached out to play with the infant, her face lighting up with joy.
This was probably the most heartwarming scene in recent days.
There were all kinds of parents in this world—fathers like Lu Zegang who viewed their children as pawns, beasts like Wei Xian, and those like her father Jian Jinhai who loved their daughters dearly; mothers like Madam Feng who loved their daughters but were weak and powerless, those like Mother Lü who would do anything for their daughters, and those like Aunt Zeng who were open-minded and understanding… The contrasts in human nature were vast.
“Let’s go,” Ming Shu didn’t watch any longer, turning to leave.
Under the clear, cloudless sky with blazing sunlight, Ming Shu and Lu Chang walked in the tree shade along the road.
“I didn’t expect you to be investigating Lu San’s matter,” Lu Chang was surprised by this.
“It’s better to give people closure,” Ming Shu said quietly.
She did this not for Madam Feng, but to give herself closure, to completely resolve this matter in her heart.
Lu Chang understood her persistence, though at times he wasn’t sure if this persistence was good or bad.
“Where do you want to go now?” Lu Chang asked her.
Since they were already out, he didn’t want her to return so quickly.
Ming Shu suddenly broke into a smile: “How about I take you to eat at the small tavern by the Bian River? Then we can visit the Zhouqiao night market after dark. I haven’t been in a long time, and I miss it.”
That smile made Lu Chang feel as if he had returned to the past.
“Alright. Whatever you want,” Lu Chang said softly.
“That tavern was introduced to me by County Lady Wen’an. It has a unique style, and their sashimi and chrysanthemum wine are exceptional—you’ll definitely like them!” Ming Shu stretched lazily, seemingly in good spirits. She looked at the man following them and complained, “He’s been following me for many days now, won’t you let him rest?”
Lu Chang looked at the guard but before he could answer, Ming Shu continued: “Can’t you give me one peaceful day? Besides, you’re personally accompanying me—are you afraid I’ll run away?”
As she spoke, she reached out to take Lu Chang’s hand: “I just want to spend time alone with you. Having someone following makes me uncomfortable, and you wouldn’t want people to see…”
As she spoke, she glanced at the follower again, who had already turned his face away upon seeing them holding hands.
Lu Chang was also uncomfortable, his ears reddening, but he wouldn’t let go of her hand. After some thought, he said to the guard: “Alright, you don’t need to follow today. Go rest.”
The man complied and left. Ming Shu let out a happy exclamation, and Lu Chang held her hand firmly in his palm: “Now that he’s gone, you’ll have to stay even closer to me.”
With that, he pulled her to his side, holding her tight.
Ming Shu smiled and suddenly ran forward, pulling him along with her.
The street scenery rushed past as they ran, passing the blurred faces of hurrying pedestrians. In Lu Chang’s eyes, only her radiant smile remained, hazily reminiscent of their childhood when she would pull him running through the streets of Jiangning.
The small tavern by the Bian River was built with bamboo, situated by the water, and quite elegant. As luck would have it, there were no other customers today, leaving the entire tavern quiet for just the two of them at lunch.
Ming Shu had visited here several times with Wen’an and Shujun and was already familiar with the proprietress. She didn’t need to look at the menu, expertly ordering dishes, a jar of chrysanthemum wine, and a pot of preserved plum juice, then sat down with Lu Chang on the rattan mat by the water, facing each other across a low table.
“The chrysanthemum wine here is exceptional, you must try it properly. It’s a pity I’m in mourning and can’t drink with you,” Ming Shu saw the wine had been brought, reached out to take it, and personally poured for Lu Chang.
Lu Chang watched the amber liquid fill the cup and said: “You’re not trying to get me drunk so you can run away, are you?”
“Well then, are you drinking or not? If you’re afraid, don’t drink,” Ming Shu’s temper flared suddenly, picking up the cup and pouring the wine into the river, raising an eyebrow at him.
Lu Chang couldn’t stop her in time, and could only press down her hand: “I was just joking, why are you angry? I know I’ve been wrong to keep you confined at home these past days, but Ming Shu, I had no other choice…”
Ming Shu covered her ears: “Can we not talk about this? Let me have one relaxing day, even if just for an hour.”
Lu Chang closed his mouth and changed the subject: “Alright, we won’t discuss it.”
Ming Shu poured him another cup of wine and poured herself some preserved plum juice, raising her cup to toast him: “Lu Chang, I toast you with plum juice instead of wine, thanking you for saving my life that day.”
With that, she drank it all in one go. Without waiting for Lu Chang to return the toast, she poured another cup to toast him again.
“This cup is to thank you for risking your life and position to bring me to the capital!”
After finishing that cup, she poured another.
“Ming Shu…” Lu Chang frowned, wanting to stop her.
“Let me finish, I’ve wanted to say this for a long time.” She raised her cup again and continued, “This cup is to thank you for taking care of me these past six months, never abandoning me.”
She drained it and poured it again.
“This cup is to thank you for sacrificing your official career to help avenge my Jian family!”
“This cup is for our ten years of friendship… this cup is for our six months of siblinghood…”
She kept drinking as she spoke, and before long the jar of plum juice was empty.
Lu Chang couldn’t keep up with her pace. After she finished, he returned three cups of wine, also drinking each in one go.
Ming Shu was very happy as she served him food: “Try this, it’s freshly caught perch.”
Lu Chang tried it, and indeed the sashimi was exceptionally fresh.
“Lu Chang, did you not like me before?” Ming Shu poured him more wine and sat beside him, asking softly.
Lu Chang’s face was slightly flushed, though whether from the wine or her question was unclear. He drank another cup and said: “I… don’t know. At that time, I was completely focused on my studies, with no thought for romance.”
This was true—he had only wanted to earn his credentials, and since they had few chances to interact as they grew up, he had never considered whether he had feelings for her. Yet unknowingly, during those ten years, those feelings had already taken root in his heart.
“You don’t know? Who doesn’t know whether they like someone or not? Did you hate me?” Ming Shu stared at him intently, pouring him more wine.
“No, I never hated you, I just… didn’t like your family’s ways. Your…” he thought carefully, deliberately avoiding mentioning Jian Jinhai, “your family was looking at many young men for you at that time. I was just one among many. Whoever had the better credentials, you would marry them. It could have been Zhang San or Li Si, but not necessarily me, right?”
He was just one of many candidates the Jian family had considered. Ming Shu wasn’t bound to him—she had many choices, and there was no shortage of good men around her…
Ming Shu’s eyes widened in surprise; this answer was different from what she had expected.
“You’re not trying to tell me that you rejected me mainly because… you were jealous?”
As soon as she said this, she saw Lu Chang take another big drink of wine.
Ming Shu immediately burst into laughter, pounding the table: “I never thought of that reason!” She laughed until tears nearly fell.
But Lu Chang didn’t respond further—at that young age, seeing her pursued by many men, seeing the Jian family’s aggressive attitude, seeing the trend of seeking power connections, his pride was real, his unwillingness to follow the crowd was real, his dislike of marriage becoming a transaction was real, his uncertainty about whether her feelings were genuine was also… Various complex reasons intertwined, pulling him away from her.
Another cup of wine was presented, and Lu Chang drank it without thinking.
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness hit him.
He shook his head—was he drunk?
Impossible, his alcohol tolerance wasn’t this low—he shook the wine jar, not even two-thirds of the small jar had been consumed.
Ming Shu’s voice rang out again: “Actually, thinking about it now, it’s fortunate you rejected me that day. If you had stayed in Jiangning, you might have also suffered this undeserved disaster.”
“Ming Shu…” he shook his head again, feeling her voice becoming distant and near alternately, sensing something was wrong, “In this wine…”
As the thought arose, he frantically felt around his waist.
“Don’t bother looking, you don’t have any antidote on you,” Ming Shu said.
She knew him too well—carrying aromatic pills to counter sleeping drugs was Lu Chang’s habit, but Ming Shu had been managing Lu Chang’s daily life, making it easy for her to tamper with things.
“You drugged the wine…” Lu Chang struggled to stand, but the drug worked quickly. Besides dizziness, his body was also becoming weak, unable to muster any strength.
With a crash, his movement knocked the dishes off the table. He lay on the table, barely managing to prop himself up to look at her.
He knew she wanted to leave, but he never thought she would use such methods.
“Lu Chang, I’m sorry…” Ming Shu’s smile had vanished. She knelt beside him, her previously curved eyes now filled with tears, “You and Aunt Zeng, stay well in the capital… I will take care of myself, don’t worry about me, just… pretend you never saved me, never brought me to the capital, we never met again…”
“Ming Shu!” With blurring vision, Lu Chang clung to his last bit of consciousness, reaching out to grasp her wrist and refusing to let go. “Impossible… to pretend… it never happened… don’t go…”
Ming Shu allowed him to hold her wrist, feeling his grip gradually weakening, and closed her eyes briefly.
“I’m sorry…”
“Ming Shu… don’t go… don’t go alone… I beg you… please…” Lu Chang used his last remaining strength to try to keep her there. His usually cool eyes were completely reddened, but the strength in his hand was failing…
“Ming… Shu…” As the final syllable fell, his hand dropped limply, and he collapsed softly onto the table, falling silent.
Ming Shu stared at him for a moment, wiped away her tears as she stood up, and called for the proprietress.
“I’m booking this entire place. Please don’t take any other customers today, let him sleep well. When night falls, please trouble yourself to go to the Wei mansion and have someone come to collect him. Here’s a letter, please deliver it to Madam Zeng at the Wei mansion as well. Thank you for your trouble.”
As she gave these instructions, she settled the bill and asked for a blanket and quilt, helping Lu Chang lie down properly.
She brushed aside the disheveled hair at his temples, tucked him in carefully, and poked his cheek, laughing at herself—
How had she fallen so deeply in love with this man?
Well then, let this be our farewell.