With the Mountain King not leaving, Ming Shu could do nothing.
She could only fret anxiously.
Lu Chang sat serenely in their hall reading, undisturbed even though the open main door faced the busy street, even though the calls of street vendors and crying children drifted in. He maintained the appearance of being completely absorbed in his reading, oblivious to the outside world. In contrast, Ming Shu hopped around the house like a one-legged grasshopper, testing her limits.
“Brother, I’m bored,” she declared after limping in circles twice, finally sitting down across from Lu Chang.
“The door isn’t locked,” Lu Chang replied without looking up.
Ming Shu glanced at the door—it was indeed open, but in front stood two fierce dogs, one being Zhao Bao, and the other… well, she didn’t dare step outside.
She slumped dejectedly onto the table. Madam Zeng brought breakfast with an amused smile—toasted mantou slices, crispy and fluffy, served with watery rice porridge and a boiled egg.
“Just talk things through properly with your brother. He’s not an unreasonable person,” Madam Zeng patted Ming Shu’s back.
Ming Shu was about to speak when Lu Chang beat her to it, slapping a book onto the table: “If you’re so idle, read this.”
“…” Ming Shu was silenced by the “Book of Rites and Its Correct Meanings.”
“Memorize it, and your mind will be at peace. Then you won’t think about any Miss Jia or other young ladies,” Lu Chang added.
“…” Ming Shu was struck speechless, pulling at Madam Zeng’s sleeve and giving her meaningful looks.
Madam Zeng shrugged—nothing she could do, she had no control over her son.
Memorizing the book was impossible. Ming Shu resigned herself and after eating, sat listlessly by the wall playing with Zhao Bao. Before long, a visitor arrived—it was Tao Yiqian carrying various packages. Ming Shu’s eyes lit up. Though her brother guarded the door preventing her from going out, he couldn’t stop people from coming in. Without waiting for Tao Yiqian to greet anyone, she leaned against the wall and pulled him inside.
“Be careful,” Tao Yiqian could only smile at Lu Chang and Madam Zeng. Seeing Ming Shu’s difficulty moving, he wanted to help her but couldn’t free his hands from all the packages.
Lu Chang finally looked up then, rising to walk toward them. Tao Yiqian thought he was coming to help with the packages and hurriedly tried to hand them over, but Lu Chang merely glanced at them before walking straight to Ming Shu’s side and taking her arm to help her inside. Tao Yiqian was left awkwardly holding out the packages to empty the air, but fortunately, Madam Zeng came forward to smooth things over, taking the items from him.
Besides Ming Shu’s bedding from the Yin residence, Tao Yiqian had brought medicine prescribed by the doctor last night and various tonics.
Ming Shu only cared about one thing.
“Where’s my notebook?”
“Here, here.” Tao Yiqian quickly pulled the little notebook from his chest and handed it to her.
She clutched it to her chest like a treasure, then asked Tao Yiqian: “How is Shu Jun?”
“Still confined in the ancestral hall. Yesterday happened to be when Grandfather was entertaining guests, with many officials visiting the mansion. Grandfather and Uncle were showing them around the garden when they, unfortunately, witnessed that dangerous scene. With such an incident occurring in front of so many outsiders, how could Grandfather not be angry? He berated Uncle and Aunt all night, then ordered Shu Jun confined, refusing to listen to anyone’s pleas. Even when Aunt begged for Shu Jun, she was punished too. Before I left today, I heard they might send Shu Jun to stay at the southern estate for a while to calm her temperament.”
“Why are you all so certain it was Shu Jun, not even giving her a chance to explain?” Ming Shu sat on a bench by the wall, taking two roasted sweet potatoes from Madam Zeng and sharing one with Tao Yiqian.
Tao Yiqian sat beside her without hesitation, peeling his sweet potato as he explained: “They questioned people through the night, with Uncle conducting the interrogation himself. A maid personally saw Shuang Yan sneaking up to Miaosheng Heights, and when questioned, Shuang Yan confessed to setting a trap for you. Now everyone in the household believes she caused you to fall from the mountain.”
“Shu Jun’s tricks were just putting bugs in my desk, locking me in the outhouse, and that day at Miaosheng Heights when someone balanced a bucket of water on the Xiangxiang Pavilion door—that’s the kind of childish prank Shu Jun would do. I’m not so easily fooled,” Ming Shu had eaten recently and couldn’t finish the sweet potato, just holding it to warm her hands. “She didn’t confess, did she?”
“No, but she couldn’t explain anything properly either. Since she had that public confrontation with you before, which everyone witnessed, and Shuang Yan followed her orders to set a trap for you at Miaosheng Heights, no one listened to her explanations. When trouble happened before, Grandfather said he’d give her one last chance. Who would have thought that so soon after the new year, another incident would occur? Who would still believe her?” Tao Yiqian explained.
“Fifth Brother, Shu Jun’s trap was set in Xiangxiang Pavilion, but I was pushed off at the edge of Dieshi Mountain in Miaosheng Heights. At that time, Shu Jun and Shuang Yan were at the foot of the mountain, not on it!” Ming Shu suddenly stood up. She hadn’t expected the Yin family to distrust Shu Jun to such an extent. If she’d known, she wouldn’t have left with Lu Chang last night. “Take me back to the Yin residence. I need to speak with the First Madam or your uncle.”
“What? Did someone push you? Did you see who it was?” Tao Yiqian was so shocked he lowered his half-eaten sweet potato.
“No, I didn’t,” Ming Shu said.
“You didn’t? Then do you have any evidence?” Tao Yiqian asked.
Ming Shu shook her head again.
Tao Yiqian slumped dejectedly: “If you neither saw anyone nor have evidence, what makes you think it wasn’t Shu Jun? Maybe it was someone Shu Jun arranged—when one plan failed, she created another to push you down the mountain?”
If even Tao Yiqian thought this way, one could imagine what others in the Yin household were thinking.
Two years of rumors, piling up like feathers—each feather as light as snow, perhaps weightless alone, but thousands upon thousands of accumulated feathers could crush a person.
“I don’t believe Shu Jun is that kind of person. Can you take me to see your uncle or aunt?” Ming Shu asked Tao Yiqian.
Tao Yiqian shook his head helplessly: “Aunt is under house arrest for pleading for Shu Jun, and Uncle is still angry about Grandfather’s punishment. He’s declared he won’t see anyone speaking on Shu Jun’s behalf, and you… can’t return to the Yin residence anymore.” He added, “But don’t worry, the family will take full responsibility for your medical expenses.”
Ming Shu cared nothing about medical expenses. She forcefully broke her sweet potato in half, asking in frustration: “Then is there any way to see them? What about requesting an audience with your grandfather?”
Tao Yiqian looked at her with obvious difficulty.
Meanwhile, Madam Zeng sat across from Lu Chang eating her sweet potato, watching Ming Shu and Tao Yiqian talk.
Though she didn’t know what they were discussing, after watching for a while she smiled and sighed: “They do make a good match.”
Lu Chang had been listening with furrowed brows, but hearing this, he turned to look at his mother. Madam Zeng had something of a mother-in-law’s appraising look as she said to Lu Chang: “Look at your sister—doesn’t she match well with the Tao family’s fifth son?”
Women of a certain age loved matchmaking, and Madam Zeng was no exception. Seeing young people together, she viewed them all as potential couples, eager to pair them up.
“They don’t match!” Lu Chang immediately crushed his mother’s fantasy and stood up, walking toward Ming Shu.
“You’re saying your fall from Dieshi Mountain wasn’t an accident, but deliberately caused by someone?”
Ming Shu was deep in thought when Lu Chang’s voice suddenly rang out. She turned to see her brother standing beside her. Her eyes rolled thoughtfully before she grabbed Lu Chang’s arm, complaining pitifully: “Yes, someone pushed me down. Your sister was bullied!”
Lu Chang allowed her to hold his arm as he asked: “Want revenge?”
Ming Shu nodded vigorously.
“But you don’t even know who did it. How can you take revenge?” Lu Chang asked.
“Though I don’t have evidence yet, I’m eighty percent certain. If I can just get back into the Yin residence, I have ways to make that person reveal!” Ming Shu declared firmly.
“What’s so difficult about entering the Yin residence?” Lu Chang replied.
“Easy for you to say. Didn’t you hear Fifth Brother? The Yin family won’t discuss this matter anymore and won’t let me enter,” Ming Shu hung her head, pulling his hand resentfully.
“Is this something they can just dismiss as they please? Pushing someone down a mountain is attempted murder—you survived only by luck. This can be reported to the authorities!” Lu Chang’s face remained cold, but his fingertip unconsciously brushed her palm, stirring strange feelings.
“Report to the authorities…” Ming Shu mulled over Lu Chang’s words, not yet fully comprehending.
“But Ming Shu neither saw anyone nor has evidence. What use would reporting it be? Wouldn’t it still target Shu Jun?” Tao Yiqian didn’t understand Lu Chang’s meaning.
Lu Chang didn’t explain to him, but Ming Shu suddenly broke into a smile: “Fifth Brother, don’t be silly! Brother means that those with nothing to lose don’t fear those who have everything! Reporting to the authorities isn’t our main goal—seeing your grandfather and uncle is. The Yin family has status and reputation; they definitely won’t want to be involved in such a case. Then I’ll have the upper hand, and seeing your grandfather and uncle will be easy as pie!” She then turned proudly to Lu Chang: “Brother, am I right?”
Her brother, who appeared to be such a proper gentleman, could come up with such a devious plan. He truly was her brother.
“Brilliant! Brother Lu’s plan is brilliant!” Tao Yiqian was enlightened, clapping his hands in praise—though halfway through the clap, he suddenly realized he was helping outsiders against his own extended family, and his face fell—these siblings had led him astray.
“Brother… so you’re allowing me to handle this matter?” Ming Shu was in high spirits, swinging Lu Chang’s hand coquettishly.
Lu Chang turned to look at her, expressionless: “I’m not permitting you to meddle in others’ affairs, but since you were harmed, this debt must be settled! I give you three days to resolve this matter. Is that enough?”
Ming Shu gritted her teeth: “Enough.”
With the military order set, Ming Shu didn’t waste a moment. She carefully repeated her previous instructions to Tao Yiqian about several matters, insisting he complete them within three days, and discussed the details with him once more before letting him leave.
Time was short but Tao Yiqian had many complex tasks to handle, so he declined even Madam Zeng’s invitation to stay for a meal, hurrying off to work separately from Ming Shu.
After a hasty meal, Ming Shu hid in her room, writing and drawing in her little notebook, no longer bothering Lu Chang.
As dusk fell, Ming Shu finally worked out a plan, sprawling lazily in her chair to relax when Lu Chang knocked on her door.
“Brother.” She let Lu Chang enter but remained lounging indolently in her chair.
Lu Chang was used to this. He set down his tray on the table and said: “Stretch out your foot.”
Ming Shu paused, then understood—Lu Chang wanted to change her bandages.
“I can do it myself.” With the injury on her foot requiring the removal of shoes and socks, she felt somewhat embarrassed.
Lu Chang had already sat on the edge of the bed, opening the medicine box. Hearing her words, he merely raised an eyebrow. Ming Shu had no choice but to slowly… slowly raise her leg onto the bed, whereupon he gently took it and placed it on his knee.
Removing shoes and socks, and unwinding the old bandages layer by layer, the purple bruising and swollen ankle were revealed to Lu Chang’s eyes.
Lu Chang’s gaze darkened. He scooped up a large dollop of medicine and spread it on the injury, then used his warmed hands to work in the salve, gradually increasing pressure. Though Ming Shu was in considerable pain, she didn’t cry out, letting Lu Chang disperse the blood stasis. Only after the medicine was applied and new bandages wrapped did Lu Chang look at Ming Shu—fine beads of sweat had formed on her forehead.
Seeing his look, Ming Shu just said: “Brother, you’re so good to me.”
Lu Chang seemed unmoved by her gratitude, coldly replying: “Now put away your pig’s trotter.”
Pig’s trotter?!
Fine, she took back her touched feelings!
Ming Shu angrily put on her socks. Watching Lu Chang lower his head to pack up the medicine and bandages, she suddenly climbed onto the bed, quickly sat beside him, wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, and tilted her head close to his ear: “Brother, you’re not angry with me anymore, are you?”
“…” Lu Chang was suddenly speechless.
Not angry? He could barely breathe.