In Jiangning County during January, the festive atmosphere of the New Year still lingered. Though the Lantern Festival had passed many days ago, lanterns still adorned the streets, their presence a reminder of the recent celebrations, like lingering echoes of a grand feast.
The Jian mansion in Jiangning, silent for an entire year, suddenly opened its gates.
Outside, white funeral banners hung everywhere and mourning flags stood erect. The Jian family’s missing daughter had returned to properly conduct the family’s funeral rites.
Inside, a new memorial hall was set up. Under the black character for “mourning,” knelt a young woman dressed entirely in white mourning clothes. Apart from her dark eyes and black hair, she seemed devoid of all color.
This was a funeral without coffins, only thirty-seven memorial tablets that moved observers to tears and broke listeners’ hearts.
Ming Shu didn’t cry. She calmly managed all the funeral arrangements, courteously received every visitor who came to pay respects and conducted herself with impeccable grace. The bright young lady from Bianjing seemed to have vanished.
After the funeral came the relocation of the graves. Ming Shu chose a new site with auspicious feng shui to rebury them. On the day of the relocation, the procession was magnificent, appearing like a white dragon winding through the mountains when viewed from afar.
Ming Shu’s tears finally fell at Jian Jin Hai’s grave.
“Father, I’ve returned. I’m sorry I couldn’t see you one last time, but please rest assured, your revenge – the Jian family’s vengeance – your daughter has avenged it all…”
Only after exacting revenge did she feel worthy to face them.
Lu Chang knelt beside her and kowtowed three times before gathering the tearful Ming Shu into his arms, letting her cry to her heart’s content.
After the funeral, Ming Shu didn’t rest.
The Jian family business needed to be rebuilt, and she alone had to shoulder this burden. She neither could nor wanted to rest.
The gold workshop had been closed for many days, most shops were shuttered, and the gold business had completely stalled. Her first task was to recall all the old employees and managers of the Jian family’s gold shops back to the Jian household.
The grand meeting hall was packed with men both young and old, while Ming Shu sat at the head. In her white mourning clothes, with just two or three pearl hairpins in her dark hair and no makeup on her face, her clear eyes held an authority beyond her years. She faced the various gazes from those below without timidity or hesitation.
This was Lu Chang’s first time seeing Ming Shu like this.
In his memory, she was still the bright and vivacious young lady from Bianjing or the adorable little girl from their childhood. But in the blink of an eye, she had become the capable head of the household. All that childhood innocence and naivety had vanished completely.
This was the true Young Lady of the Jian family.
“To the uncles and brothers willing to return, Ming Shu thanks you all on behalf of my father and the Jian family. This kindness I will remember always. For those unwilling to return, Ming Shu won’t force you. Each person has their aspirations, Ming Shu understands, and wishes you all great success…”
At some point, Ming Shu had walked to the center of the hall and cupped her hands in greeting to everyone around her. Her clear voice rang out like jade striking stone.
A chorus of responses rose from below as everyone returned her gesture, reminiscent of the business meetings when Jian Jin Hai was still alive.
Deep into the night, candles burned brightly in the room.
“It’s so sore, so sore! Yes, right there!” Ming Shu exclaimed, her neck creaking as she turned it.
Warm hands kneaded her shoulders and neck, bringing waves of relief.
“You’ve been bent over for too long. You need to move around,” Lu Chang advised while massaging. “I know you’re eager to sort out the gold shop’s accounts and get business back on track, but you must take care of yourself too.”
“Just a little bit left,” Ming Shu said, closing her eyes in comfort.
Lu Chang glanced at the desk – her “little bit” consisted of countless account books piled high.
How could he leave with peace of mind?
A hand suddenly covered his, and Ming Shu said, “Lu Chang, you’re leaving for Zhang Yang early tomorrow morning, yet I’ve kept you here helping me with accounts without properly sending you off.”
“Between us, what need is there for such formalities?” Lu Chang bent down, his lips brushing against her upturned temple.
There lay a faint pink scar.
“Stop it, that tickles!” she giggled, turning her face away.
Lu Chang suddenly held her face, his lips sweeping across her cheek before finding her mouth.
Ming Shu whimpered softly as he captured her lips.
After a long, tender moment, he finally released her, merely stroking her lips with his thumb as he said, “Ming Shu, you should sleep.”
Ming Shu wrapped her arms around his neck, giving a soft “mm” in response as he lifted her into his arms.
Lu Chang resignedly carried her back to her chambers, internally sighing.
He still had three years to wait.
On the day of departure, the weather was fine. Peach blossoms had already bloomed outside the city. The spring breeze scattered pink and white petals everywhere, and when horses galloped past, their hooves kicked up the petals, sending them dancing toward distant places.
“When you arrive, remember to write to me. If you need anything, just tell me, and I’ll have someone send it to you. I’ve marked all the gifts in the carriage, keep the rest for yourself, especially that package of emergency medicine. Zhang Yang is a poor place, lacking in doctors and medicine, you…” Ming Shu’s voice trailed off as she sniffled.
Lu Chang looked at the fully loaded cart following his carriage and couldn’t help but smile.
For this journey to Zhang Yang, he had planned to travel light, bringing only Come An as his page and four personal guards. He had arranged for his other trusted men to stay with Ming Shu and Madam Zeng. His luggage consisted of just a few simple boxes that would easily fit in one carriage, but Ming Shu had insisted on preparing an entire cartload of items for him to take.
Clothes and shoes for all seasons, emergency medicine, writing materials, snacks, and dried food… she had practically tried to move the entire household there.
“I’ll take care of myself,” Lu Chang had never imagined there would come a day when their roles would reverse, with Ming Shu worrying about his daily needs.
“Zhang Yang is not a peaceful place. As the court-appointed magistrate, you’ll be a target for everyone. You must be very careful,” Ming Shu added.
The early spring wind gusted into their clothes, bringing a chill. Lu Chang tightened her cloak around her, saying only, “The same goes for you. Though the Jian family business is important, don’t push yourself too hard.”
Ming Shu nodded, glanced at the sky, and pushed him: “Enough, we could go on forever. It’s getting late, you… should go now.”
“Then I’m leaving.” Lu Chang squeezed her cold hand, let go, and turned toward the carriage.
But just as he reached the carriage, he heard a sudden call from behind.
“Lu Chang!” Ming Shu came running, throwing herself straight into his outstretched arms.
Lu Chang held her tight.
A gust of wind passed, showering them with peach blossoms.
Time flew swiftly, and another year passed from winter to spring.
The Jian family’s gold shops had recovered to eighty percent of their former glory. Ming Shu, ambitious as ever, had expanded the business to the capital with Man Tang Hui’s help, spending the end of the year rushing between Bianjing and Jiangning. She spent New Year’s in Bianjing with Wei Zhuo and Madam Zeng, but stayed only one day before hurrying back to Jiangning, causing Madam Zeng much concern.
She and Lu Chang hadn’t seen each other for over a year, communicating only through letters. The stack of correspondence had grown thick, kept locked in her vanity drawer with a key hidden in her bracelet. When tired, she would open it and read it again.
Throughout the year, news from Zhang Yang arrived constantly, mostly good.
Zhang Yang was a harsh and poor place, where many who couldn’t afford food turned to banditry and robbery, harboring resentment against the court. It was quite unstable, with several uprisings. Though the court repeatedly sent troops to suppress them, as one wave settled, another would rise. Every official assigned there complained bitterly.
After Lu Chang arrived as the seventh-ranked minor magistrate, he implemented several effective measures, first organizing village militia to protect against bandits and ensure public safety, then promoting water conservation and agriculture to strengthen the people’s foundation.
After more than a year, Zhang Yang had become much more peaceful, and news of Lu Chang’s achievements reached Bianjing, earning imperial praise.
Just as things seemed to be improving, disaster struck in the summer of that year. Several cities around Zhang Yang suffered months of severe drought, ruining the autumn harvest. As people’s grain reserves dwindled, famine struck, and with winter approaching, the combined threat of hunger and cold left Zhang Yang’s officials at their wit’s end.
Lu Chang was no exception.
“Sir, the granary is almost empty.”
Half a month ago, Lu Chang had ordered the granaries opened for disaster relief, but a county’s grain stores were finite, barely enough to last half a month.
“Have the accountant calculate how much silver we have left in the office and how much grain we can buy,” Lu Chang said gravely from behind his desk.
Opening the granaries could no longer handle the increasingly severe famine. Purchasing grain was urgent, but Zhang Yang was poor, with insufficient tax revenue over the years. The office’s silver reserves barely kept the county running.
“Several cities are experiencing famine now, and grain prices have soared in nearby areas. Our silver won’t buy much.”
“The court’s disaster relief funds and grain still haven’t arrived. If this continues…”
Under the dual pressure of cold and hunger, change was inevitable – death from freezing and starvation, outbreak of disease, people fleeing in all directions, resurgence of banditry…
Lu Chang was massaging his temples as he listened to his subordinate’s report on Zhang Yang’s situation and considered countermeasures when suddenly a yamen runner came to report.
“Magistrate Lu, there’s a lady outside the yamen claiming to be your sister…”
“Sister?” Lu Chang looked up in surprise. He didn’t have any sister, unless… could it be?
“Quick, invite her in,” he ordered, standing abruptly.
“Sir, you’d better go see for yourself,” the runner said awkwardly. “She brought many carts of goods, all stopped in front of the yamen.”
Though winter was approaching, the white sun still beat down on the earth.
Lu Chang hurried out of the yamen, breaking into a sweat after just a few steps. From afar, he could see several carriages stopped outside, with escort flags flying in the wind, bearing the characters “Wei Yuan” in flowing calligraphy.
By the lead carriage stood a familiar face he hadn’t seen in long – Zhao Ting Yun, the head of the Wei Shun Escort Agency.
Lu Chang’s steps faltered briefly before he quickly went forward to cup his hands in greeting Zhao Ting Yun. After brief pleasantries, he looked around – but didn’t see Ming Shu.
“Where’s Ming Shu?” he asked Zhao Ting Yun.
Only Ming Shu would claim to be his sister and hire the Wei Shun Escort Agency.
“Brother, I’m here!”
The familiar voice seemed to come from above. Lu Chang suddenly looked up to see someone sitting atop the high-stacked boxes on the carriage, swinging their legs as they looked down at him. The sun’s halo rippled behind her head in concentric circles. Though he couldn’t make out her features clearly, his heart began to beat uncontrollably.
“Catch me!” she laughed as she jumped down from the boxes.
Lu Chang opened his arms and caught her, asking joyfully, “Why did you come?”
“I missed you!” Ming Shu nuzzled his chest before looking up. “Brother, you’ve gotten thinner and darker!”
Lu Chang wore coarse cloth robes and had become much more robust, while Ming Shu remained the same – white and soft like a little dumpling.
“Sir, this is…” someone who had followed Lu Chang out asked.
“His sister.”
“My fiancée.”
They spoke simultaneously but said different things, confusing the questioner.
Lu Chang glared at Ming Shu before saying, “She is my fiancée, Jian Ming Shu.”
Ming Shu giggled and stopped teasing him.
Lu Chang looked again at the caravan – it was even longer than he’d first noticed, stretching out of the street, each carriage piled high with goods.
“Ming Shu, what is all this?”
“The Jian family’s silver, the Jian family’s grain – unless you don’t want it?” Ming Shu tilted her chin up proudly.
She had come to save them.
Though Lu Chang had never mentioned it in his letters, news of Zhang Yang’s drought had reached her ears, and she naturally had ways to learn about Zhang Yang’s situation.
“Ming Shu…” Lu Chang stared at the long line of carriages, speechless for a long while.
The sun was still scorching as Lu Chang ordered his subordinates to handle the timely delivery of relief supplies while he pulled Ming Shu into the shade of a tree.
Her face was already sunburned.
Lu Chang gently wiped the sweat from her brow with his sleeve, saying, “Don’t mind the dirt, I just changed clothes this morning, they’re just a bit old.”
Ming Shu contentedly enjoyed his attention as a yamen runner brought tea. She drank a large bowl, exclaiming, “How refreshing!”
Lu Chang stepped back half a pace and suddenly bowed deeply to her: “Ming Shu, on behalf of the people of Zhang Yang, I thank you. You’ve saved many lives.”
Ming Shu stared at him silently before saying, “Lu Chang, I’m not that noble a person. I came here because of you.”
Lu Chang felt great warmth in his chest but remained bowing: “Then Lu Chang… thanks his lady!”
Ming Shu pulled him up, pressed close, and whispered something in his ear.
Lu Chang’s heart trembled violently as he turned to embrace her tightly.
What she had whispered in his ear was—
“Lu Chang, you bring blessings to the people, while I… came to bring blessings to you!”
She was his little moon.
——The End——