Lu Chang approached Ming Shu’s side while she was staring blankly at another man. He called out to her once, but couldn’t bring back her wandering spirit. Instead, he heard those heart-stopping words from her mouth.

Lu Chang’s composure suddenly shattered, like a snapped bowstring.

The sound of the bamboo broom breaking startled Ming Shu back to her senses. She whipped her head around to see Lu Chang staring at her with a greenish face, his cold gaze containing traces of inexplicable anger. Only then did she realize she had spoken her thoughts aloud. She immediately smacked her forehead in frustration, planning to sincerely apologize, but before she could finish saying “Brother,” Lu Chang had already shouldered the bundle, picked up the two pottery jars, and walked straight toward the other end of the corridor without calling for her.

Ming Shu stamped her foot, wanting to slap herself – how could she have been possessed to say such shameless words?

No wonder Brother was angry. If she had a sister who said she wanted to marry a man after just one glance, she too would be furious enough to give that sister a beating.

“Brother—” Ming Shu followed Lu Chang, calling “Brother” left and right, sincerely apologizing, “I spoke wrongly, don’t be angry… Hey, slow down!”

Lu Chang ignored her completely. His face was extremely dark, and his heartfelt suffocatingly blocked as if there was a pressure in his chest threatening to split him apart.

His mind was filled with images of Ming Shu gazing blankly at that other man, her expression, her gaze, and that “I want to marry him” – playing over and over in his mind like a lantern show, endlessly.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, as if someone was hammering his heart. His chest pounded heavily, and he couldn’t calm down. He could only walk faster and faster as if venting his anger through his footsteps. Yet Ming Shu flew beside him like a little bird, calling him “Brother” repeatedly.

And that “Brother” which usually melted his heart suddenly became jarring.

Past the corridor and through a small bamboo grove lay the students’ dormitory area. These examination candidates each had their room, Lu Chang included. The room was tiny – after fitting a bed and desk with chairs, there was only enough space in the corner for a trunk and a noodle rack, leaving just enough room in the middle for a person to turn around.

The room had Lu Chang’s clean scent, like pine resin, or perhaps bamboo. Books that hadn’t been put away were piled on the desk, but the bedding was neatly folded. The room was full of signs of life – not spotless, but not messy either.

Ming Shu followed Lu Chang into his room, calling him with a worried face: “Brother, say something.”

They had walked the whole way with Lu Chang not uttering a single word, completely different from his delighted appearance when he first saw her.

Ming Shu knew Brother was truly angry. He never argued with people – at most, he would close his mouth and ignore them when extremely angry. His previous shows of anger and scolding toward her had all been pretense; he never truly took it to heart. Today was the first time she had seen him genuinely angry.

After entering the room, Lu Chang didn’t acknowledge her, just started tidying up and organizing the books, brushes, ink, and paper in the corner of the desk. Ming Shu blamed herself for speaking wrongly and followed him around, trying to say nice things and help him clean, but he wouldn’t let her help or speak to her.

Back and forth like this, Ming Shu’s heart gradually began to flame with anger too.

She closed her mouth and sat glumly on the edge of the bed, staring at Lu Chang’s back for a moment before saying huffily: “Brother, do you plan to never speak to me again?”

Lu Chang’s movements paused briefly, but he still didn’t turn around.

“Fine, don’t speak then!” She answered her question angrily, thinking about how she had traveled across half of Bianjing City early in the morning with packages to see him, hadn’t even eaten lunch, and was now being given the cold shoulder just for saying one wrong thing. She felt increasingly wronged.

She stood up abruptly, saying: “I’m going back.”

As she spoke, she turned to leave, but her arm was suddenly grabbed.

“Sit and wait for me.” Lu Chang only said these words.

Ming Shu was pulled by him back to sit on the bed edge. She watched him leave, now unable to leave herself, and could only sit there feeling stuffy.

Lu Chang didn’t go for long before returning with a wooden tray – he had gone to get food from the dining hall.

“Eat before you go back.” After going out, Lu Chang seemed somewhat clearer-headed, though his tone remained neither warm nor cold.

There was no other table in the room, so he placed the food on the newly tidied desk. Ming Shu looked over to see two bowls of rice and a large plate of dishes – three dishes combined on one plate: tofu, vegetables, and braised bamboo shoots with meat. The portion was not small, as if the dining hall aunt had scraped the bottom of the pot for him. What Ming Shu didn’t know was that Lu Chang usually missed meal times after finishing his corridor sweeping, but because the dining hall aunt liked him, she always saved food for him. Today, hearing his sister had come to visit, she simply gave him extra food.

Strangely enough, while the academy students looked down on Lu Chang, the servants who worked there all liked him, such as the dining hall aunt, the kitchen cook, and the uncle who tended the gardens.

“You sit first, I’ll go borrow a chair.” Lu Chang went next door to borrow a chair.

By the time he returned with the chair, Ming Shu was already standing at the desk, opening the pottery jars from Madam Zeng and taking out some dried fish. Seeing Lu Chang return, she snorted twice.

Her anger hadn’t subsided.

The two backed chairs were placed side by side, and Lu Chang pulled her to sit down, the two of them facing one plate of dishes. Ming Shu was starving and shoveled several mouthfuls of rice fiercely. Lu Chang didn’t eat himself, just picked up dishes for her. When her anger had mostly subsided, he suddenly said: “Ming Shu, don’t say things like that.”

As an older brother, he had the right to be angry at her careless words, but that inexplicable fury he felt seemed to come from somewhere beyond a brother’s position. He didn’t know what he was so concerned about, just that Ming Shu’s gaze at that time and those words had felt like an arrow to his heart in that instant.

“Then you can’t ignore me.” Ming Shu said with slightly puffed cheeks. She hadn’t thought deeper about it, feeling that her brother was just angry at her slip of the tongue.

Lu Chang gave a low “mm” and just watched her eat – though she ate somewhat quickly, her old cultivated habits remained, and her eating manner wasn’t unsightly, but rather endearing.

Her anger had mostly dissipated, and she ordered him: “I don’t want meat, just tofu. The tofu here is cooked well.” Lu Chang lifted the entire plate and moved all the tofu to her bowl until she quickly said, “That’s enough, that’s enough.” She was smiling again and picked up some braised bamboo shoots with meat for him: “Brother, try this, your cook here has great skills.”

Given Lu Chang’s personality, normally he would have found this inappropriate and insisted she put the bamboo shoots in his bowl, but today for some reason, he stared at her eyes and slowly opened his mouth, accepting the bamboo shoots and meat she fed him.

Ming Shu was stunned. Had Brother been possessed today? The last time she fed him a longan, he had lectured her with principles for half a day.

Lu Chang had already quickly lowered his head, picked up his chopsticks to eat, and wouldn’t look at her again.

Throughout the meal, the anger between the siblings had dissipated.

Ming Shu sipped the red fruit tea Lu Chang had brewed while watching him clean the table, saying teasingly: “Brother, you and Mother will spoil me, not letting me do any work.”

“Is that a problem?” Lu Chang efficiently cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks, wiped the table, and then sat back down in the chair. In no hurry to return the dishes, he raised an eyebrow and asked her, “Is everything well at home?”

“Quite well, just that I’m bored. Mother has taken on embroidery work and has to manage household affairs, it’s quite hard on her. I can’t help much, and you both spoil me so, it’s not good.”

“You’re complaining about being spoiled? Or is there something else you’re not saying? Hmm?”

It must be said, that Lu Chang understood her well. Ming Shu immediately closed her mouth. She had originally wanted to test Lu Chang’s attitude about her going out to work, but seeing his reaction now, she didn’t dare say more, afraid of revealing too much if she spoke too much. She smiled and said: “What complaints? Mother and Brother are the best.”

Lu Chang narrowed his eyes – these words sounded too suspicious.

“Lu Ming Shu, are you sure you’re not hiding something from me?”

“Of course not…” Ming Shu felt guilty and quickly sat in the chair beside him, changing the subject, “Brother, there’s been a strange occurrence in Sheng Min District where we live.”

“What strange occurrence?” Lu Chang asked her.

“There’s a family surnamed Jia, they have a daughter about my age. She used to be a sweet and gentle girl, but two years ago her personality suddenly changed drastically. She started abusing the family’s cats, dogs, and birds, whipping and torturing the servants, not even sparing her maid. She talks back to her elders, speaks rudely, and acts increasingly willfully outside, refusing to change despite repeated teaching. Her parents are so worried they have to confine her at home. Brother, you’re knowledgeable and experienced, analyze this – what usually causes someone to suddenly change their personality like this?” She had modified Yin Shu Jun’s situation and presented it.

“Is there a Jia family in Sheng Min District? And they have servants?” Lu Chang stared at her and asked.

Sheng Min District was where commoners gathered – how could there be wealthy families with servants?

Ming Shu hadn’t expected him to be so astute. She hurriedly said: “Oh my, Sheng Min District is so big, Brother has only stayed there a few days, of course, you haven’t heard of this family. I just heard it from others and was very curious. Brother is so clever, quickly analyze it for me.”

Flattery works best of all, especially when Ming Shu’s flattery is particularly sweet and sincere. Lu Chang finally withdrew his piercing gaze and turned to contemplation.

“A person’s temperament is formed step by step from childhood, closely related to their living environment. Excluding the possibility of deliberate pretense, generally speaking, if the environment undergoes major changes, it could lead to mental and behavioral abnormalities, such as sudden family decline or death of parents or close elders.”

“No, her family hasn’t had any major changes, her parents and elders are all well and the family is wealthy,” Ming Shu said.

“Perhaps something happened that her family doesn’t know about, or it could be caused by illness.”

“Illness?” Ming Shu didn’t understand.

“Yes, some obscure diseases, especially hereditary hysteria, or external injuries. For example, you… after your soul-leaving injury, your personality became different from before.”

“How am I different?” Hearing him use herself as an example, Ming Shu seized the opportunity to ask.

Lu Chang turned to look at her: “Before, you were very well-behaved, very gentle, very obedient…”

Ming Shu frowned suspiciously: “That’s not right, you said before I was a little devil…” Halfway through speaking, she suddenly realized Lu Chang was teasing her, so she punched him, “Brother, you’re making fun of me again.”

Lu Chang covered his smile with his fist, then continued: “Besides these, it could also be due to drugs. There are many drugs in the jianghu that can cause personality changes, like datura and such – long-term use would lead to such after-effects.”

“You mean someone might be poisoning her?” Ming Shu pondered. Yin Shu Jun had started showing abnormalities two years ago, and the situation had been getting increasingly serious, which did match Brother’s point about long-term consumption.

“Though these drugs can cause personality changes, they’re usually accompanied by symptoms like confusion, mania, and delusions,” Lu Chang answered while getting up to refill her empty red fruit tea.

Ming Shu thought further – according to Madam Li and Tao Yi Qian’s descriptions, Yin Shu Jun didn’t seem confused, and if she truly had such obvious symptoms as mania and delusions, the Yin family would have noticed and sought medical treatment long ago.

“She doesn’t have those symptoms, so it doesn’t seem like poisoning. Then what could it be? Spirit possession? Soul replacement?” She unconsciously accepted the tea, talking to herself.

Before she finished speaking, her head received a knock from Lu Chang.

“Don’t talk nonsense. There are no ghosts or spirits in this world, it’s just people causing trouble. You speak so detailedly about this – have you seen this Miss Jia yourself?”

“No, it’s all hearsay.” Ming Shu held the tea to warm her hands.

“Ming Shu, even what you see with your own eyes may not be true, let alone what you hear? Neighborhood gossip is mostly passed on with distortions. Those gossipmongers embellish their tales, only seeking momentary pleasure without caring about truth or falsehood, not realizing they harm the people involved. You must never learn such habits. Miss Jia is in her prime years, about to discuss marriage. If her reputation is damaged, it will greatly affect her future happiness. We shouldn’t spread baseless rumors. The harm of rumors, at its least, can ruin a person’s life; at its worst, can shake a nation’s foundation,” Lu Chang said seriously.

Ming Shu nodded, saying: “Brother, I understand. Rumors should stop with the wise.”

Lu Chang’s guidance seemed to open up her limited thinking. She put down her teacup and unconsciously wrapped her arms around Lu Chang’s arm, smiling brightly: “Brother is so clever.”

Lu Chang’s heart skipped another beat.

He felt she must have forgotten his previous reminder about maintaining proper distance.

“Stop flattering me, and don’t meddle in other people’s affairs.” Lu Chang poked her forehead, then asked again, “Are you not hiding anything from me?”

“No, really not.” Ming Shu released his arm with a grin and walked to the door, leaning there to look at the courtyard scenery.

This dormitory area was connected by long corridors with bamboo blinds hanging, beyond which was a bamboo grove, particularly serene. As Ming Shu looked, her heart suddenly stirred, and she turned her head: “Brother…”

Lu Chang was searching for his money pouch by the bed, planning to take advantage of Ming Shu’s visit to send home the silver he had saved recently. Hearing her call, he turned around, only to see her staring blankly at the bamboo grove outside as she asked him: “That young man we met earlier by the corridor… do you know him? Who is he?”

Lu Chang’s good mood was instantly shattered by this question.

Ming Shu was practically swept out of Song Ling Academy’s main gate by Lu Chang, clutching a money pouch.

Just because she had asked about the identity of the youth she had glimpsed earlier, Lu Chang was angry again.

Ming Shu didn’t know why she couldn’t stop thinking about that young man. Though she had only seen him for a moment and hadn’t even gotten a clear look at his face, she felt his bearing was familiar, as if she had known him for a long time.

It was as if… he was a key to unlock her confused past.

“Everything is fine here, you and Mother don’t need to worry. I need to focus on preparing for the examination now, so unless it’s urgent, don’t come to Song Ling Academy in the future.” Lu Chang helped her into the carriage, his tone still decent, but his tense expression betrayed his emotions.

“I…”

Ming Shu wanted to say something, but Lu Chang ignored her and went straight to the coachman to give some instructions. The carriage set off, leaving Ming Shu only able to sit in the carriage compartment and lift the curtain.

Lu Chang hadn’t left, standing at the academy entrance watching her leave.

She suddenly remembered that Brother often wore cyan-colored clothes, and today he too wore a light cyan academy robe.

As the carriage went further and further, Lu Chang’s figure grew more distant, standing there steadfast like a green bamboo.

After returning from Song Ling Academy, Ming Shu turned her attention to Yin Shu Jun’s matter.

After her conversation with Lu Chang, Ming Shu gained much insight, feeling her thoughts had been opened up, no longer limited to her original speculations. After resting at home for a day, Ming Shu finally put on the clothes gifted by Madam Li and packed simple luggage to head to the Yin residence.

The two sets of clothes Madam Li gave were in fresh colors, with both pattern and fabric much better than what Lu Chang had bought, naturally more suitable for Ming Shu when worn.

“You look good dressed like this,” Madam Zeng said, feeling mixed emotions seeing her somewhat return to her old appearance.

“But I still prefer the clothes Mother made for me.” Ming Shu smiled, carefully folding the outfit Madam Zeng had sewn and placing it carefully in her trunk before bidding farewell to Madam Zeng and leaving.

The Yin family’s carriage was waiting outside. Though she was just a companion reader, the Yin family still sent someone to pick her up, and Tao Yi Qian volunteered for this task. When Ming Shu came out in her new attire, Tao Yi Qian’s eyes lit up.

“Fifth Young Master…” Ming Shu lifted the curtain after sitting in the carriage.

Tao Yi Qian quickly drove the horse alongside the carriage, saying: “Don’t be so formal, call me Ming Yuan or… Fifth Brother.”

Ming Shu thought for a moment and simply said: “Alright, Fifth Brother.”

Tao Yi Qian was delighted by this “Fifth Brother,” then heard her ask: “Fifth Brother, aren’t you returning to Lin’an?”

“Not for now. The family has entrusted me with managing several shops in the capital, so I’ll be staying here for a while.”

Ming Shu nodded, then asked him: “By the way, Fifth Brother, I forgot to ask last time, Miss Shu Jun is seventeen this year, right? Has she been betrothed? Or is there any young man she favors?”

“Nothing’s been decided yet, but I heard my mother mention that Her Highness… my aunt seems interested in matching her with Third Prince.”

“Your family already has one Imperial Consort, if you have another Princess Consort, that would truly be glory upon glory,” Ming Shu said.

“Indeed, Grandfather and Uncle are hoping this match can work out, but with Shu Jun’s condition, if she marries into the royal family, wouldn’t that bring trouble to our family? I fear this marriage won’t happen.”

“Doesn’t your maternal grandfather have other eligible daughters?” Ming Shu asked again.

“The eldest branch only has Shu Jun as a legitimate daughter, though there is a sister just a year younger than her, named Liang Jun, but Liang Jun is born of a concubine, she couldn’t possibly marry into the royal family unless she could gain my aunt’s favor and be recorded as her legitimate daughter, then she might have a chance.”

“Then what’s the relationship between your sister Liang Jun and Miss Shu Jun…”

“I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry, Liang Jun is a kind and lovely girl…” Tao Yi Qian, afraid Ming Shu wouldn’t believe him, added, “Charming like you, you’ll see when you meet her. She and Shu Jun have had a good relationship since childhood. After Shu Jun’s personality changed, none of the siblings in the family wanted to be near her, even her brother didn’t like her, only Liang Jun still often kept her company and talked with her to relieve her boredom.”

Ming Shu nodded, wanting to ask more, but saw Tao Yi Qian raise his eyebrows with a smile and point ahead: “We’re here. Look, Liang Jun has come out to meet you.”

Ming Shu poked her head out the carriage window and indeed saw a young lady in yellow standing on the stone steps of the side gate, eagerly waiting.

Soon the carriage stopped at the side gate, and Ming Shu stepped down using the small stool, immediately encountering a bright smiling face.

“How could I deserve Third Miss coming to receive me?” Ming Shu said while starting to curtsy, but before she could bend her knees, Yin Liang Jun stopped her. Yin Liang Jun was third in the family, so Ming Shu addressed her by rank.

“Sister, don’t be so formal. When I heard Mother say she had found a companion reader for Big Sister, I was so happy to have another sister, and after hearing Fifth Brother tell of how Sister cleverly captured mountain bandits and saved their lives on the road, I admired you greatly. Knowing Fifth Brother was going to pick you up today, I couldn’t wait to meet you, so I came out to wait,” Yin Liang Jun said smilingly while warmly taking Ming Shu’s hand.

Ming Shu let her hold her hand but turned her head to look at Tao Yi Qian, who smiled sheepishly and whispered: “I only mentioned your deeds, didn’t mention your brother, don’t worry.”

Ming Shu then turned back, saying: “Third Miss overpraises me, that day I was just forced by circumstances, it’s not worth mentioning.”

“But Sister must be clever enough to turn danger into safety. Someone clumsy like me couldn’t do it, I would just burden Fifth Brother.” As she spoke, she stuck out her tongue.

Seeing this, Tao Yi Qian knocked her head, saying: “What nonsense are you talking about? If you were there, Fifth Brother would protect you with his life.”

Yin Liang Jun smiled again. She was naturally beautiful, with a pointed chin, watery eyes, and a slender figure with a delicate air. When she smiled she was sweet, and when not smiling she had a pitiful charm that made people want to protect her.

“Sister Ming Shu, come on, let me take you to meet the other sisters, they’re all waiting in the study.” Yin Liang Jun excitedly pulled Ming Shu toward the study.

But Ming Shu stopped, smiling slightly: “Third Miss, Madam ordered me to be Miss Shu Jun’s companion reader, I should first pay my respects to Miss Shu Jun, then go to the study with her.”

Yin Liang Jun was startled, but Tao Yi Qian said: “That’s right, I’ll take you to see Shu Jun first.”

“Why don’t I take Sister Ming Shu?” Yin Liang Jun volunteered.

“That’s good too, you girls can talk better, I won’t interfere. Ming Shu, give me your luggage, I’ll have someone take it to your room. Sister Liang Jun, help me look after Ming Shu.” Tao Yi Qian thought it better for the girls to go together, so he took Ming Shu’s luggage.

“Don’t worry,” Yin Liang Jun patted her chest.

Meanwhile, Tao Yi Qian instructed Ming Shu: “If you encounter any difficulties, just find me, and be careful yourself.”

After thanking Tao Yi Qian, Ming Shu bid farewell and left with Yin Liang Jun.

As the eldest legitimate daughter, Yin Shu Jun had her embroidery tower called “Lan Cui Pavilion,” surrounded by a small courtyard with exclusive views – extremely comfortable, showing how much her family doted on her. It was puzzling how she had suddenly changed her personality for no apparent reason.

Ming Shu followed Yin Liang Jun along the way, encountering many Yin household servants who all greeted Yin Liang Jun with smiles. Yin Liang Jun responded to each with a smile, calling out everyone’s names. Watching from the side, Ming Shu thought Yin Liang Jun had excellent relationships with the servants.

Yin Liang Jun introduced Ming Shu’s identity to everyone, and when they heard Ming Shu was coming to be Yin Shu Jun’s companion reader, they all showed complex expressions. Ming Shu pretended not to understand and asked Yin Liang Jun: “Why do they look at me that way?”

Yin Liang Jun seemed to have been waiting for this question, but hesitated before answering: “My sister has a somewhat strict temperament, they fear her.” After speaking, she bit her lip and whispered in Ming Shu’s ear, “Sister Ming Shu, please be patient when serving beside my sister. If you encounter any difficulties with her, you can tell me.”

Ming Shu raised her eyebrows in surprise: “Your sister is so…”

“Shh, we’re here.” Yin Liang Jun made a silencing gesture, as if afraid of disturbing the garden’s residents.

Weren’t these sisters supposed to have a good relationship? It didn’t seem so.

The garden gate was tightly closed. As Yin Liang Jun went to knock, Ming Shu’s brows slightly furrowed after she turned away.

Such mystification!

Ming Shu and Yin Liang Jun didn’t find Yin Shu Jun in the embroidery tower. According to the servants, Yin Shu Jun had gone to the family school early today.

“How strange, sister went to school on her own today?” Yin Liang Jun muttered as she led Ming Shu to the school.

“Doesn’t she usually go to school?” Ming Shu asked as they walked.

“She does, but usually… not on time, and often skips classes. The teachers and instructors turn a blind eye, and no one dares to provoke her…” Yin Liang Jun said.

“Your sister is so…”

“She’s just a bit willful, nothing else.” Yin Liang Jun quickly defended Yin Shu Jun, but her defense sounded weak and unconvincing.

Ming Shu just smiled without responding.

Soon they reached the school and stopped talking about Yin Shu Jun.

The Yin family school was in Run Wen Hall, divided into east and west sections. The east side was for male family members, the west for daughters, connected by a corridor with a square lotus pond in the middle containing several koi fish – an elegant and serene environment.

The eastern Run Wen Hall had already begun morning recitation, with clear reading voices carrying over, while the western hall hadn’t started classes yet.

When Ming Shu entered the western hall, many young ladies were already seated. Besides the Yin family’s main branch, there seemed to be daughters from secondary branches and other family lines, about seven or eight people almost filling the entire hall, except for one conspicuously empty area.

The hall’s desks were arranged in three rows horizontally and four vertically. A young lady in red clothing sat in the first position on the left side, but the seats behind and to her right were empty, contrasting sharply with the other fully occupied positions.

With so many young ladies and the instructor not yet arrived, it should have been a lively morning, but today no one spoke. The hall was particularly quiet, with everyone’s gaze turned toward the newly arrived Ming Shu. Outside the hall’s covered porch, many maids and matrons were in attendance. One of them, seeing Ming Shu, hurried forward.

“This is Yun Aunt from beside Mother,” Yin Liang Jun whispered to Ming Shu.

“Our Young Miss is already in the classroom, Lady Lu is late.” Yun’s Aunt had a stern appearance and spoke sternly.

“Aunt Yun, it’s my fault… I thought Big Sister was still in her room, so I took Ming Shu to look for her there, don’t blame Ming Shu.” Yin Liang Jun spoke up before Ming Shu could, taking the blame herself.

Hearing this, Yun’s Aunt’s expression softened slightly and just said: “Third Miss, return to your seat.” She then led Ming Shu forward, stopping beside the young lady in red.

“Miss, this is Lady Lu Ming Shu, the companion reader Madam found for you,” Yun’s Aunt introduced. “Ming Shu, this is our Miss Shu Jun, you’ll be her companion from now on.”

Ming Shu looked at the young lady who sat ramrod straight even while everyone else was turning to look at her, smiled slightly, and curtsied, saying: “Ming Shu pays her respects to Miss Shu Jun.”

Yin Shu Jun finally turned her head – and this turn startled Ming Shu.

The startlement was from her stunning beauty.

She had thought the Shu Jun and Liang Jun sisters would look similar, but unexpectedly, Yin Shu Jun was extremely beautiful, surpassing the pitifully lovely Yin Liang Jun by several degrees. Phoenix eyes beneath willow-leaf eyebrows, a jade-like nose, and cherry lips – she was exceptionally stunning. Even Ming Shu, as a woman, had to admire her beauty. Only her complexion was somewhat pale, and her brilliance was mixed with a trace of sharpness, making her seem unapproachable.

“Hmph.” Yin Shu Jun snorted, looking down at Ming Shu with contempt, not giving face to Yun’s Aunt, and said coldly, “Another one to monitor me? This time they’ve brought in an outsider?”

Yun’s Aunt was embarrassed by her words but, being familiar with Yin Shu Jun’s temperament, didn’t say much, just pointed to the seat behind Shu Jun saying: “You’ll sit here from now on. The instructor is coming, prepare for class.”

Ming Shu sat down as instructed, but as soon as she touched the seat, she heard several low gasps from beside her. Looking around in confusion, she saw several pairs of eyes staring at her in terror, though they all quickly looked away when she turned toward them.

Yin Shu Jun in front still sat rigidly, like a stone statue.

“Young ladies, today we’ll start with the ‘Women’s Rules’ as usual. Please take out your books and recite three times.” The instructor appeared, a woman past forty.

The sound of turning pages arose. Ming Shu looked at her desk, which had no books on top but several stuffed in the desk drawer. Seeing the characters for “Women’s Rules” on the cover, she reached in to take one out.

The previously orderly recitation suddenly became scattered, with several faint exclamations mixed in.

Ming Shu’s hand had already reached into the desk drawer when she suddenly froze.

Yin Shu Jun’s ice-cold face showed a malicious smile as she pretentiously began reciting, her eyes glancing backward, waiting for the show to begin.

But after one page was recited, then another, suddenly, Ming Shu’s clear recitation rang out from behind her.

Yin Shu Jun’s smile sank as she turned back in disbelief, only to see Ming Shu with her hands lightly placed on the desk, holding an open book and reciting, her voice clear and bright. Seeing Shu Jun’s gaze, she even returned a friendly smile.

This was impossible!

Yin Shu Jun looked at the desktop, then at the floor, but saw nothing.

Under Ming Shu’s smiling eyes, Yin Shu Jun turned back hatefully, randomly flipping through her “Women’s Rules” without reciting. The instructor frowned at her behavior and was about to say something when suddenly a scream nearly pierced everyone’s ears.

“Ah—”

The young lady sitting at Yin Shu Jun’s right rear and Ming Shu’s right side jumped up pale-faced, trembling as she pointed at Yin Shu Jun’s back, stuttering: “Sp-sp-spider!”

Everyone looked where she pointed, and screams erupted as the hall fell into chaos.

A palm-sized spider was crawling on Yin Shu Jun’s hair that hung down her back, slowly making its way upward.

None of the delicate young ladies had ever seen such a sight, and several nearly fainted. Even the instructor was frightened stiff. Seeing everyone staring at her back, Yin Shu Jun turned to look. One glance nearly scared her soul out of her body, leaving her dazed!

Somehow, the spider she had had someone hide in Ming Shu’s desk drawer had crawled onto her own body.

“Ah—” She screamed even louder but didn’t dare move, afraid the spider would slip into her clothes if she did. “Quick… quick…”

The classroom was in chaos, with all the young ladies huddled in corners, none daring to approach Yin Shu Jun or help her. They left her alone in her fear, her beautiful face growing increasingly pale.

“I’ll… I’ll call someone.” The instructor didn’t dare touch the spider either, just kept calling for help.

Yin Shu Jun glanced sideways – the spider had almost reached her shoulder and was heading toward her face. Its eight-thin legs were inches away. She wanted to faint but couldn’t, almost wishing for death, when suddenly a delicate white hand reached out, easily pinched the spider’s legs, and pulled the palm-sized creature from her hair.

“It’s alright, don’t be afraid.” It was Ming Shu speaking.

Somehow she had already moved behind Yin Shu Jun and removed the spider. She held two of its long legs, while the remaining six legs curled inward, still twitching frighteningly.

“It’s not poisonous and doesn’t bite. Look, it’s quite docile.” Ming Shu held the spider up to Yin Shu Jun’s face.

Yin Shu Jun leaped from her seat and backed away, crying: “Get away! Take it away! Quick!”

The instructor also said: “Throw it away quickly!”

Ming Shu made an “oh” sound, seeming somewhat reluctant as she tossed the spider out the window. The spider disappeared into the grass, and everyone in the hall finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Sister Ming Shu is amazing!” Yin Liang Jun was the first to react, applauding.

The other young ladies came to their senses and looked at Ming Shu with admiring gazes. Ming Shu cupped her hands: “You’re too kind.”

Meanwhile, Yin Shu Jun realized something and rushed to Ming Shu’s face, angrily accusing: “It was you!” – it must have been her trick! Otherwise, how did that spider end up on her back?

Ming Shu continued smiling, placed her hands on Yin Shu Jun’s shoulders, pushed her back to her seat, and said indulgently: “Miss Shu Jun, it’s time for class, don’t make a fuss.” Then she said to the instructor, “Teacher, let’s continue the class.”

The instructor started, then quickly said: “Everyone quiet down, let’s continue class.”

Everyone returned to their seats, Ming Shu included. Yin Shu Jun turned to glare at her viciously, but Ming Shu only responded with a smile.

Outside, Yun’s Aunt, who had rushed to overhear the commotion and witnessed everything, quietly waved away the servants who had come to catch the spider, thinking to herself: Amitabha Buddha, perhaps this Lu Ming Shu really could handle their eldest miss.

The recitation began again, but Ming Shu kept both hands under her desk, her left hand pressing heavily on her constantly trembling right hand.

Such a huge spider! Her heart had almost stopped from fear!

But what could she do? In this first encounter, she couldn’t lose.

For the silver, she had risked everything!