Ming Shu agreed to Lu Chang’s request very readily.
Her overly quick “okay” made Lu Chang frown—not even a moment of hesitation or struggle. Her thoughts were truly difficult to grasp.
Just as Lu Chang was puzzled, Ming Shu also whispered in his ear.
Her breath passed his ear enticingly, but her words weren’t so pleasant: “Brother, are you jealous of Song Qingzhao?”
Lu Chang suddenly trembled, feeling as if someone had pierced through his confused and muddled thoughts.
“Brother!” Ming Shu patted her brother’s back with great significance, “Don’t be jealous of him. Although he’s ranked first among the favorites for the golden list, the spring examinations are about real ability. My brother will take first place. These current rankings are just empty fame—we don’t need them!”
After she finished speaking, she found Lu Chang staring at her intently.
What? Did she have rice on her face again?
“Brother?” She touched her face as she called to him.
Ming Shu didn’t get Lu Chang’s answer, but she heard his soft laughter.
Lu Chang stroked his head, his lips curving upward, eyes crinkling, though it wasn’t clear what he was laughing at.
Ming Shu was very puzzled, but… Lu Chang should smile more often. When he smiled, he was like the warm sun of early summer, warming people’s hearts.
“Hurry and eat. After eating, I’ll take you to meet someone,” Lu Chang sat back down and urged.
“Meet who?” Ming Shu asked curiously.
“Someone who can let you stay at the academy.”
————
The afternoon at the academy was bright and sunny, with green everywhere. A gentle breeze made it particularly pleasant and comfortable.
But the person standing in the courtyard right now was not at ease.
A woman in her forties wearing a tea-colored lined jacket, her hair in a neat bun, with a plump face, was anxiously telling the matron beside her in the courtyard: “We allowed Xinliu to visit family before the new year, and she still hasn’t returned. Last month, Zhuzi needed to get married, so we gave him a month to go home and take a bride. The academy is already short-handed on workers, and now Qiuyun has fallen ill. In a few days, the Third Prince and the Minister of Rites will visit the academy, but we’re short-staffed—we can’t even find enough people to serve tea!”
“But it’s not easy to find people in such a hurry. With the Third Prince coming, if we accidentally hire someone unsavory and cause trouble, our academy can’t bear the responsibility,” the elderly matron beside her worried along.
“That’s exactly right. It’s giving me such a headache,” the woman said again.
This was what Ming Shu heard when she entered the two-courtyard residence with Lu Chang.
This was Headmaster Xu Yan’s residence within Songling Academy. While the headmaster managed the academy’s external affairs, internal matters were left to his wife, Madam He. The person speaking was Madam He herself.
Though Madam He’s words were somewhat exaggerated—the academy did have people to serve tea—with such important visitors coming, those few hands probably wouldn’t be enough.
“Master’s Wife,” Lu Chang’s voice rang out.
Madam, He turned her head, and upon seeing Lu Chang, her anxious expression was replaced with affection: “Lu Chang? What brings you here?”
She was very familiar with Lu Chang. Although the academy had many poor and struggling students, Lu Chang was the only one who, despite ranking among the poorest, never tried to hide it and faced it with dignity. To make a living, he studied while taking on odd jobs. Even Xu Yan had praised him several times, and Madam He felt great pity and love for him in her heart.
“Today I heard from the headmaster that Master’s Wife was worried about the academy being short-staffed. This student thought perhaps he could help ease Master’s Wife’s concerns,” Lu Chang clasped his hands and explained his purpose.
“Oh?” Madam He was overjoyed to hear this—it was exactly what she needed, coming at just the right time.
“Greetings, Master’s Wife,” Ming Shu immediately called out.
“And this is…?”
“My younger sister, Lu Ming Shu. She came to the academy today to bring me clothes. If Master’s Wife doesn’t mind, she could help at the academy for a few days,” Lu Chang continued.
Madam He’s eyes brightened upon seeing Ming Shu. After looking her up and down several times, she praised: “Your mother is truly blessed to have given birth to two such outstanding children. It makes one quite envious.”
“Master’s Wife is too kind, this student is unworthy. My younger sister is unruly, always making mischief at home…”
“I do not!” Ming Shu protested.
Lu Chang smiled slightly: “But she’s Mother’s only daughter and my only sister, so we’ve always indulged her at home. She rarely does heavy work, but serving tea and such tasks, she can manage. I don’t know if that would meet Master’s Wife’s requirements.”
Madam He covered her mouth and smiled: “Oh Lu Chang, Lu Chang, I usually see you so serious, thought you were cold inside and out, but it seems I was wrong. Your heart… isn’t cold at all. You want your sister to work at the academy but don’t want her to tire herself?”
Having been seen through by Madam He, Lu Chang didn’t defend himself, only lowered his head slightly, appearing obedient and ready to accept the elder’s instruction.
Ming Shu was amazed—was this still the brother she knew? So well-behaved? So shy? Had he been possessed by a spirit?
No wonder the older people at the academy all liked him. Who wouldn’t feel tenderness seeing Lu Chang like this?
“Alright, I understand. The academy doesn’t have much heavy work anyway, and with your sister being such a lovely young lady, I wouldn’t want her doing heavy labor either. The main thing is that when the Third Prince and Lord Lu come, she’ll need to be quick-witted,” Madam He said.
“Lord Lu?” Lu Chang asked puzzled, he only knew about the Third Prince’s visit.
“Yes, Minister of Rites Lu Wenhan. Although His Majesty has entrusted the Third Prince to preside over this spring examination, the Ministry of Rites is still mainly responsible, so the two will come together,” Madam He explained.
For each imperial examination, the high officials would routinely inspect the famous academies in the capital, firstly to encourage the candidates, and secondly to assess the quality of this batch of examinees. As the most famous academy in Great An, Songling naturally received the most distinguished visitors.
Ming Shu covered her mouth—the Third Prince? Wasn’t that Yin Shujun’s rumored potential husband? The Emperor’s son! And the Minister of Rites? The head of the Six Ministries? These were truly important figures! She felt this trip to the academy hadn’t been wasted. Even if she couldn’t uncover anything about Xie Xi, getting to be so close to such important figures was worth it.
“These next few days, Ming Shu can follow Matron Lin to familiarize herself with the environment. Matron Lin, please teach her,” Madam He had already decided to keep Ming Shu, gave a few instructions, then said to Ming Shu, “By the way, Ming Shu dear, there’s one thing I need to make clear. The academy is mostly male, and with candidates about to take the examinations, they can’t be distracted. You…”
Madam He spoke tactfully. The academy was full of young men in their prime, and to avoid any unspeakable problems, not only did the academy refuse female visitors except family members, but the women they hired were mostly older or plain-looking, never having hired someone as beautiful as Ming Shu.
“Master’s Wife, don’t worry. Ming Shu understands. I will stay with Matron Lin and won’t wander around,” Ming Shu immediately understood Madam He’s implied meaning.
Madam He was very satisfied with her perceptiveness, and continued: “I’m afraid we’ll have to trouble you a bit—these few days you won’t be able to dress up like other young ladies.”
“No problem,” Ming Shu agreed immediately.
Madam He nodded and instructed Matron Lin: “Find her a set of study boy’s clothes to change into.”
Matron Lin acknowledged and led Ming Shu away.
Meanwhile, Madam He held Lu Chang back to talk: “Good child, you’ve helped me greatly. By the way, how old is your sister this year?”
“Eighteen,” Lu Chang said.
“Just the right age for marriage. Has she been promised to anyone?” Madam He asked kindly.
“No,” Lu Chang had barely finished speaking when he realized his mistake. He looked up—
Sure enough, Master’s Wife’s eyes were gleaming.
Besides managing the academy’s internal affairs, the Master’s Wife of Songling Academy had one greatest hobby: matchmaking.
“Very good, very good,” Madam He smiled with utmost kindness.
Lu Chang suddenly wanted to slap himself.
Just then, a clear voice called out.
“Brother, Master’s Wife!” Someone came running along the corridor, quickly arriving at Lu Chang’s side.
Lu Chang looked carefully, his pupils contracting imperceptibly.
Ming Shu had changed into a study boy’s attire—a simple jade-green belted cross-collared robe, all her hair gathered into a bun hidden under a headscarf, her fresh appearance catching the eye.
Actually… this attire didn’t hide her beauty at all, but rather brought out a different kind of charm.
Ming Shu officially started her position as a study boy at the academy the next day. Though Madam He had decided to keep her on the first day, she still returned to Shengmin Ward to explain everything clearly and came back early the next morning to change into her clothes and formally begin familiarizing herself with the academy environment under Matron Lin’s guidance.
Previously when she had entered the academy, she had only taken one path straight through, never really exploring Songling Academy. But in reality, Songling Academy was quite large, built against a mountain with a serene environment—a perfect place for focused study. To the east were the teaching areas and Confucian temple, with three separate courtyards for different teaching responsibilities.
The students’ dormitories were in the Yusong Pavilion to the south, mostly housing two or four people per room. However, the candidates about to take the examinations weren’t among them—they lived in a separately designated dormitory area surrounded by bamboo, hence called the Bamboo Grove Realm. Besides these, the academy had a library and guest quarters to the west, while the dining hall, internal affairs office, and staff quarters were located to the north.
The remaining area consisted of gardens built against the mountain, including various pavilions and towers, most of which were usually open for students to find places to study.
Matron Lin managed most of the miscellaneous affairs for Madam He, such as purchasing ingredients for the dining hall, replenishing supplies throughout the academy, and distributing daily necessities to the students’ dormitories. She was busy all day, running all over Songling Academy. Ming Shu followed her for an afternoon before barely getting familiar with the academy’s layout.
“Girl, what are you writing and drawing on that paper?” After running around for most of the day, Matron Lin sat down on a roadside stone to rest, curious about Ming Shu’s constant writing and drawing.
“Drawing a layout map of the academy,” Ming Shu showed her notebook to Matron Lin.
While the drawings were fine, the densely packed tiny characters were too much for Matron Lin, who pushed the notebook away: “What are you drawing this for?”
“The academy is so large, with many rules, and I’m not like you, Matron, who knows every corner like the back of your hand and can find your way with your eyes closed. I’m afraid of going the wrong way and not only delaying tasks but also accidentally entering somewhere I shouldn’t. I remember your teachings well—I can’t enter the teaching area without instructions, and I absolutely cannot enter the Yusong Pavilion or the Bamboo Grove Realm! Moreover, in a few days when the Third Prince and Lord Lu come, I can’t let the academy down. What if His Highness wants tea and I deliver it to the wrong place? That would be terrible.” Ming Shu explained with a smile. She had entered the Bamboo Grove Realm as Lu Chang’s sister before, but now that she was an academy study boy, she couldn’t enter anymore.
This half-explanation, half-flattery made Matron Lin laugh: “You girl, have you eaten some immortality pill? Your silver tongue is so different from your brother.”
Ming Shu gave a little laugh, helping Matron Lin stand up as they headed to their final destination.
Because Ming Shu could read and count, on the first day Matron Lin assigned her to inventory a new batch of scholarly supplies. While this might have been difficult for others, it was easy work for Ming Shu. In less than half an hour, she had counted all the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, completed the registry, and stored everything in the academy’s warehouse, delighting Matron Lin who praised her again.
The first day passed this way, with Ming Shu neither seeing Lu Chang nor encountering Xie Xi.
However, she wasn’t in a hurry.
————
While everything went smoothly during the day, the night wasn’t so pleasant.
The room arranged for Ming Shu was shared with Ma Dame from the kitchen. Ma Dame herself was fine, except for one troublesome habit—she snored at night.
The academy was particularly quiet at night, making the snoring sound like thunder. Ming Shu tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep, thinking that adapting to life here might take some effort.
After struggling for half the night, she had barely dozed off when she was awakened by Ma Dame getting up.
Ma Dame managed the kitchen and had to rise at the end of the Yin hour to start the fires and cook for everyone in the academy.
Ming Shu lay there for another half hour, unable to fall back asleep, so she simply got up to dress and wash. When she stretched and went outside, dawn was breaking. Though tired from her sleepless night, the mountain morning breeze refreshed her somewhat. The academy was still very quiet at this hour, with only smoke rising from the dining hall kitchen. With nowhere else to go, Ming Shu went to the kitchen.
Ma Dame knew about her bad habit, and seeing Ming Shu appear so early, guessed she had been disturbed last night. She gave her a full bowl of freshly cooked porridge and a newly steamed bamboo shoot bun.
Ming Shu thanked her and took them, warming her hands with the porridge bowl as she left the dining hall. She sat down on a pine rock near the dining hall, slowly sipping the hot porridge while enjoying the dawn light at the academy.
But before she could finish even one bun, footsteps approached from nearby, quickly reaching the cobblestone path closest to Ming Shu.
Ming Shu put down her food and took a couple of puzzled steps forward—who would be running here so early in the morning?
Before she could remember the academy’s morning running rules, more than ten young men emerged in the dim morning light.
Ming Shu stood shocked in place, forgetting even to swallow the bite of the bun in her mouth.
In her dozen or so years of life, she had probably never seen such a sight.
More than ten young men of similar age wearing identical light exercise clothes came running with the wind, their hurried footsteps accompanied by breathing, laughter, complaints, and various other sounds, full of vitality like this morning’s sunlight.
After her initial shock, Ming Shu quickly hid back—wouldn’t it be mortifyingly awkward to run into them?
Fortunately, she was already standing under a tree beside the cobblestone path, not too conspicuous. The young men saw only a study boy without noticing her appearance, laughing and running past. Only the lead runner suddenly slowed down, took a few steps back, and stopped where he had spotted Ming Shu.
Song Qingzhao wiped the sweat from his brow, feeling he must be seeing things.
Hadn’t Lu Chang’s sister left the academy two days ago? Why would she appear so early in the morning, dressed as a study boy?
Ming Shu nearly choked on her bun, staring at Song Qingzhao for a moment before he came to his senses first and said: “Lady Lu? Is it you? You…”
Ming Shu swallowed her bun, turned her head away coldly, and seemed to give a “hmph.”
Song Qingzhao was puzzled by her attitude. In their first two meetings she had smiled, but now seeing him again, she acted as if seeing an enemy. Could it be… that his aggressive attitude that day had angered her?
Ming Shu was already walking back the way she came, crying inside.
She had promised her brother to stay away from Song Qingzhao, and she was keeping her word. Surely this performance would pass her brother’s inspection?
The running group had gone far ahead, and Ming Shu had walked out of sight. Song Qingzhao turned back with many questions.
Behind him was a pair of watchful eyes.
Lu Chang stood there, staring.