In the Huai Xiu Pavilion of the Yin residence, Madam Li, the wife of the eldest son, sat in the hall wiping tears with her handkerchief. Her husband Yin Li Cheng paced back and forth in the room, from left to right and right to left, until finally, he slammed his palm on the table. The impact shattered the lidded bowl on the table, creating a startling noise.
“Cry, cry, cry! All you do is cry! Why don’t you discipline that precious daughter of yours? That troublemaker pushed the Imperial Lady’s servant into the lake last year, and this year she beat a maid who had served us for ten years half to death… Today she even threw a tantrum in front of the palace servants sent by the Third Prince to visit her father! Go tell her if she’s tired of living, she might as well end it herself rather than stay here bringing disaster to our family!”
“My lord, she is your daughter!” Madam Li threw down her handkerchief angrily, crying as she spoke.
“It’s precisely because she’s my daughter that I’ve been so patient, but look at her! She doesn’t have a single trait of a noble young lady. Even a village woman would show better manners than her. Do you still hope to find her a good marriage? With her temperament, if she marries into a noble family, who knows what trouble she’ll bring to our family.”
“My lord…” Madam Li cried even louder.
Annoyed by her crying, Yin Li Cheng left with a final statement: “Now even Father has spoken. If she still refuses to change her ways, we’ll send her to the family temple to cultivate herself. We’ll discuss the marriage with the Third Prince separately – she’s not our only daughter!”
As he stormed out and entered the garden, he encountered Tao Yi Qian and Ming Shu standing there.
“Nephew comes to pay respects to Uncle and Aunt,” Tao Yi Qian quickly bowed.
Ming Shu lowered her head alongside him.
Yin Li Cheng was too irritated to ask who Ming Shu was, and simply said, “Go in and console your aunt.”
After Yin Li Cheng left, Ming Shu stuck out her tongue at Tao Yi Qian – they had come at an awkward time, walking into a couple’s quarrel that was loud enough to hear from the garden.
At the doorway, as a maid lifted the curtain, Ming Shu suddenly remembered something and called Tao Yi Qian back, whispering: “Don’t mention that I’m Lu Chang’s sister.”
Tao Yi Qian looked at her puzzled, and she explained concisely: “I don’t want to affect my brother’s career.”
Lu Chang was the top scholar of Jiangning Prefecture, renowned publicly and a hot favorite for the golden list of this year’s examination candidates. His future connections would all be high-ranking officials. As his sister, her working as a companion reader in this household, though not technically a servant, was little different from being one. If Lu Chang passed the examination, this fact wouldn’t sound good if it got out. Moreover, the Yin family were imperial relatives by marriage, and the complicated relationships in official circles meant no one could predict how they might view her role as a companion reader in the Yin household.
Better to avoid potential issues.
“Alright,” Tao Yi Qian agreed readily and led her inside.
Hearing their approach, Madam Li had already dried her tears and sat properly on the wooden couch. In her thirties, she had delicate skin and a somewhat plump figure. She looked at the entering Tao Yi Qian with a kind smile, appearing very affectionate.
“Aunt,” Tao Yi Qian greeted before asking, “Did you quarrel with Uncle about cousin again?”
“Shu Jun caused trouble again today, let’s not speak of it.” With outsiders present, Madam Li didn’t wish to discuss family matters. She ordered tea to be served and asked Ming Shu, “This young lady is…?”
“Aunt, I’ve come about cousin Shu Jun’s matter. Some days ago you mentioned wanting to find her a companion reader, so I’ve brought someone. This lady’s surname is Lu, given name Ming Shu. She comes from a scholarly family, though they’ve fallen on hard times. She moved to the capital with her mother from Jiangning to stay with relatives, currently living in Sheng Min District.”
Madam Li beckoned Ming Shu forward. Ming Shu obediently approached, allowing Madam Li to take her hand and examine it carefully.
Her hands were fair and smooth – the hands of someone from a wealthy family.
“Such a lovely appearance, what a pity about her circumstances,” Madam Li sighed, then asked Tao Yi Qian, “Have you told Lady Lu about your cousin’s situation?”
“I’ve mentioned some details.”
Madam Li proceeded to ask Ming Shu about her age, education, and literacy. Ming Shu answered each question, and Madam Li nodded with satisfaction before continuing: “As Shu Jun’s companion, other matters are secondary. The most crucial thing is discretion. Since Ming Yuan recommended you, I trust him. However, I must be frank – though you’re not officially our servant and I don’t hold your contract, if you speak of things you shouldn’t outside this house, neither the Yin family nor my maiden family will forgive you.”
Madam Li’s maiden family was the Earl’s mansion.
“Ming Shu understands. Please rest assured, Madam,” Ming Shu nodded in agreement.
After the warning, Madam Li didn’t forget to show generosity: “Don’t be afraid. You’ll be well rewarded for serving me. As a companion reader, your monthly allowance will be the same as our young ladies – five taels of silver. If you can relieve my worries, there will be additional generous compensation.”
“Thank you, Madam. Ming Shu will serve diligently and help ease your concerns.”
With this conversation, Ming Shu’s position as Yin Shu Jun’s companion reader was settled. Having just quarreled with her husband, Madam Li was preoccupied and didn’t wish to talk further. Tao Yi Qian led Ming Shu out, though before leaving, Madam Li had someone bring two sets of new clothes for Ming Shu.
A companion reader in the Yin household couldn’t appear too shabby.
The matter of the companion reader was thus decided. Ming Shu carried the clothes as Tao Yi Qian showed her around the Yin residence.
The family school, Run Wen Hall, was located on the south side of the Yin residence. The hall employed famous teachers from Bianjing City to teach literature and writing, along with three female instructors responsible for teaching women’s virtues, appearance, speech, and skills.
Yin Shu Jun had passed her coming-of-age ceremony and mainly attended women’s courses, with one rest day every five days. During these five days of classes, Ming Shu would stay at the Yin residence, returning home on the rest day.
However, since Yin Shu Jun had caused trouble again and was punished by Old Master Yin to kneel in the Buddhist hall for three days, Ming Shu didn’t need to start immediately.
She needed to return home first to convince her mother – five taels of silver monthly, and at least a hundred taels if she could resolve Yin Shu Jun’s issues would be a significant income for their family.
In the Yin family’s Buddhist hall, the light was dim with only candles illuminating the shrine. The young woman kneeling on the ground was struggling to bend over to copy scriptures, her features shrouded in the yellowish candlelight.
The silence was suddenly broken by the sound of opening doors as a young maid carrying a red-lacquered food box entered the Buddhist hall.
The maid was young, around thirteen, and seemed afraid of the hall’s atmosphere. She tiptoed to the young woman’s side and knelt, opening the food box to reveal plain congee and steamed buns, with nothing else.
“Is this food for prisoners?” the young woman’s soft voice rang out, seeming to carry a hint of amusement.
The little maid cautiously advised: “It’s only three days, Young Miss. Just bear with it.”
The young woman remained silent, neither accepting the food nor continuing her scripture copying. The little maid knew her temperament and didn’t dare provoke her. After setting out the food, she prepared to leave, but couldn’t help adding: “Today, Madam found a companion reader for Young Miss, about the same age as you.”
The young woman’s brush suddenly made a heavy stroke, leaving a deep ink mark on the paper. She abruptly raised her head and threw her brush toward the shrine. The brush missed the shrine but grazed the candlestick, making the flame flicker and illuminating the young woman’s face.
A pale face with a sinister smile.
The little maid was frightened and dared not say more, quickly turning to flee.
Ming Shu could imagine Lu Chang’s reaction to her becoming a companion reader in the Yin household even with her toes.
“Lu Ming Shu, can’t you just stay quietly at home instead of causing trouble outside? The waters run deep in noble households. If nothing was wrong with the Yin family, why would a proper young lady suddenly change her temperament so drastically? Anyway, I don’t approve – you’re not allowed to go!”
“Pff!” Madam Zeng was packing Lu Chang’s bundle when she saw Ming Shu leaning by the window imitating Lu Chang. She couldn’t help but double over with laughter.
Indeed, Lu Chang had exactly that tone and expression – Ming Shu had captured about eighty percent of his essence.
“Child, is this how you mock your brother?” she said, stuffing the bundle into Ming Shu’s arms and tapping her forehead.
Ming Shu smiled sweetly: “Did I imitate him well?”
Her brother was a good brother, just that he treated her too much like a child, protecting her too carefully.
That’s why she didn’t plan to tell Lu Chang about this matter, only telling Madam Zeng. Faced with Ming Shu’s sweet talk, coquettish behavior, and cute, Madam Zeng was completely defenseless and agreed directly.
“It does look quite like him. Your brother… is just like that…” Madam Zeng thought of Ming Shu’s earlier performance and couldn’t stop smiling.
After finishing laughing, she said, “Go on then, take those two jars of pickled vegetables to him.”
Lu Chang had been gone for over half a month, and they didn’t know how he was doing at the academy. Both mother and daughter missed him dearly. Since Ming Shu still had three days before starting at the Yin household, she thought she might as well visit Lu Chang at Song Ling Academy, as she wouldn’t have free time once she started at the Yin household.
Soon everything was ready, and the hired carriage arrived. Ming Shu shouldered her bundle, carried a jar of pickled vegetables in each hand, got into the carriage, and waved goodbye to Madam Zeng as she headed for Song Ling Academy.
Song Ling Academy sat halfway up a mountain, surrounded by greenery – a serene and elegant place perfect for study. Now in spring, when grass grew tall and orioles sang, mountain vegetation was sprouting, and the wilderness echoed only with bird calls and insect sounds, harmonizing with the clear reading voices from the academy, making one feel especially refreshed.
Song Ling Academy has a hundred years of history and its method of nurturing talent, producing countless capable individuals. It was renowned throughout the Great An Dynasty, rivaling government schools. Many noble families’ children gave up their hereditary privileges to enter government schools, choosing instead to test into Song Ling Academy as ordinary students. Besides accepting suitable young students from Bianjing City, the academy also welcomed students like Lu Chang who were selected and recommended from various regions. When these students passed the imperial examinations, they would be considered half-disciples of Song Ling Academy.
Without a doubt, Song Ling Academy was where elite candidates gathered before each imperial examination.
These examination candidates had to rise at dawn, first reciting for half an hour, then running a lap around the academy for exercise. They ate breakfast at the third quarter of the dawn watch and started their first class at the first earthly branch. Classes only lasted through the morning, ending at noon, with the remaining time for students to do homework and review freely. In such an environment, facing fierce competition, no student at the academy slacked off. Although they had half a day of free time, everyone studied intensely, unwilling to waste a moment. Some of the most diligent studied until the third watch of the night, sleeping only two hours a day.
Amid such intense examination preparation, there was one exception.
That person was Lu Chang.
Though the academy waived his tuition and provided room and board, and Jiangning Prefecture had given assistance, when he should have been focused entirely on studying, he instead requested from the Academy Master the job of sweeping the academy corridors and library for a monthly wage of two taels of silver. He secretly took on copying work for others and even sold copies of his study notes and essays.
Such money-focused behavior naturally drew contempt from his classmates. But what angered them most was that even though Lu Chang devoted much energy to outside work, his academic performance remained outstanding. Thus, these people secretly looked down on Lu Chang while having to buy his notes and essays.
Despite the swirling rumors, Lu Chang paid them no mind. He was saving for next month’s living expenses for Madam Zeng and Ming Shu. His previous savings would only last through this month. Though Madam Zeng would probably do some embroidery work to supplement their income, adding his earnings from the academy should be enough to sustain them for another month.
He hadn’t counted on Ming Shu – Ming Shu should just stay quietly at home.
By his calculation, he had been at the academy for over half a month, and his unusual emotions when facing Ming Shu had settled, his mindset returning to its former peaceful state. He felt his abnormal feelings might have just been youthful impulses at work – after all, he was a young man in his prime, and Ming Shu wasn’t his sister.
During his days at the academy, he constantly reminded himself to view Ming Shu as a true sister, and with his focus on his studies, he had indeed calmed down over time. However, in the quiet of the night, he still inevitably thought of Madam Zeng and Ming Shu.
He wondered if she had made clothes from the fabric he bought her before leaving. Though it couldn’t compare to the materials she used to wear, at least the color was bright and would complement her beautiful features.
What would she look like wearing it?
“Brother!”
A familiar clear call.
Lu Chang turned his head, looking puzzled.
At the end of the corridor stood a radiant young woman carrying a bundle on her back and a heavy pottery jar in each hand, wearing a new peach-red dress made from the fabric he had bought, smiling brightly at him.
An illusion?
Ming Shu’s second call quickly brought Lu Chang back to reality.
Seeing Ming Shu suddenly was like a spring breeze entering his heart, stirring his emotions – half a month of spiritual cultivation, shattered in an instant.
“Why did you come?” Though both surprised and delighted, Lu Chang maintained his usual expression as he took the pottery jars from her hands.
After thanking the academy servant who had guided her, Ming Shu answered: “To visit you, of course. Mother made you a lined jacket, and there are two jars of pickled vegetables… they were so heavy.” As she spoke, she took off her bundle and placed it on the corridor’s beauty rest, then suddenly noticed the broom in Lu Chang’s hand with confusion, “Brother, what are you doing?”
It was past noon, morning classes had ended, and it was Lu Chang’s time to sweep the corridor.
“Sweeping.” Lu Chang placed the jars on the beauty rest and answered concisely.
“The academy assigns you chores?” Ming Shu didn’t quite understand but quickly forgot about it, tugging at his sleeve instead, “Where’s your outer robe? Aren’t you cold-wearing so little?”
“It’s being washed.” Lu Chang only had one thick outer robe, so when it was being washed he had to wear the thin academy uniform.
“Spring is still chilly, especially up in the mountains. Don’t catch a cold! Thankfully Mother had me bring the lined jacket.” Ming Shu tried to grab his broom, “I’ll help you sweep, you go put on the jacket.”
“No need, I’ll do it myself.” Lu Chang moved her hand away, “Just this section of corridor left, wait here for a moment.”
Ming Shu knew that with Lu Chang present, he would never let her do manual labor, so she didn’t argue and sat on the beauty rest to wait. Lu Chang worked efficiently and soon finished sweeping. Ming Shu was tired from traveling half the day, so she rested her chin on her hands and leaned on the beauty rest, gazing at the scenery beyond the corridor.
Outside the corridor was a small pavilion with windows on three sides, bamboo blinds half-rolled up, and beneath them stood a young man studying by the window.
The young man was tall and slender, wearing a light blue uniform as he stood sideways by the window, his eyes downcast. Ming Shu could only see his chin, but she gradually raised her head from her hands, staring at him intently.
Perhaps sensing Ming Shu’s gaze, the young man turned his head, saw Ming Shu in the distant corridor, gave her a cold glance, then lowered his head again, returning his attention to his book as if Ming Shu were invisible.
Just that one glance seemed to pierce Ming Shu’s heart.
From such a distance, she couldn’t see his features, but she could make out his general appearance – he looked exactly like someone.
The blurry image was awakened by this scene and overlapped with the young man by the pavilion window. It was someone buried deep in her memories, someone she couldn’t forget, but who exactly was it? The answer seemed just out of reach. She couldn’t remember who that person was, she just knew…
“I want to marry him.”
She murmured.
Crack–
Lu Chang stood beside her, snapping the broom in his hands.
Author’s Note: Yesterday’s comments were brilliant, haha! Dear readers, your imaginations are wilder than mine. I bow to you all and learn from your creativity!