Ming Shu had an act-on-impulse personality. After preliminary discussions with Wen An and Yin Shu Jun in the carriage, she lost all interest in playing around. Her mind was filled with thoughts about the shop, wishing it could open the very next day.

However, she understood that haste makes waste. Since all three shared the same mindset, everything needed careful, long-term planning and preparation.

Yin Shu Jun had two shop premises in prime locations, prepared by her mother as part of her dowry. They were already under her name, but the Yin family lacked business talent. They had opened a large silk shop and hired a manager to run it, but whether due to poor management or other reasons, the shop barely broke even. It would have been more comfortable to just rent it out. Yin Shu Jun’s mother had long intended to close the business and seek other opportunities. However, whether they could successfully acquire this shop would depend on Yin Shu Jun reporting to her mother first.

Wen An would only provide money, and her connections were broader than Ming Shu’s and Yin Shu Jun’s, familiar with both palace and civilian circles. She had a keen eye and knew the fashion trends among Bianjing’s nobility. With her involvement, they wouldn’t need to worry about customers, but this also brought many challenges. Since they would be serving noble clients, the shop’s renovation, furnishings, and staffing had to be top-notch. Those ladies and noble daughters had high standards, and the merchandise must be exquisite.

Consequently, the startup costs increased significantly. Although they had Wen An as their little wealth god, costs still needed to be controlled. Ming Shu didn’t want to be wasteful, and since Wen An and Yin Shu Jun couldn’t handle the shop’s preparation and operations, everything fell on her shoulders.

Suddenly, Ming Shu felt immense pressure.

She thought she would be clueless, but after the initial excitement, she quickly calmed down and began thinking through each aspect of establishing the shop—as if she had done this before or had prior experience. Though complex, it didn’t feel unfamiliar.

————

That night, Ming Shu told Madam Zeng about this matter.

To Ming Shu’s great surprise, Madam Zeng didn’t oppose her decision but strongly supported it. Ming Shu had expected to need considerable persuasion to convince her mother, but Madam Zeng agreed readily. Overjoyed, Ming Shu hugged her mother tightly, sweetly calling her “dear Mother, good Mother” for quite a while.

Madam Zeng smiled: “Did you think Mother would object?”

“Yes. Women appearing in public easily invite criticism. I thought Mother would…”  Ming Shu had expected her mother to stop her.

“Silly child.” Madam Zeng gently stroked Ming Shu’s hand, “This world isn’t easy for women, which is precisely why women should be self-reliant. Since you have the determination to advance, how could I hinder you? Why care about others’ criticism? Some things must be held in your own hands—that’s your future foundation for facing others proudly. The rest doesn’t matter.”

Ming Shu stared at Madam Zeng in amazement.

Madam Zeng’s beautiful features and delicate frame might make one think she was a woman who needed to depend on men, but, during the prime of her life, she had spent twenty long years as a widow, raising children alone, never depending on anyone. She was an insightful woman, perhaps due to her past experiences. Though unconventional, her views aligned perfectly with Ming Shu’s.

She thought that her brother and mother were indeed different from other families.

“Mother, I understand,” Ming Shu whispered, nestled in Madam Zeng’s embrace.

“Go, open that trunk…” Madam Zeng pointed to a trunk in the room.

Ming Shu followed her instructions, opening the trunk and, as directed, taking out four embroidered pieces, and laying them out on the bed.

“Such beautiful Su embroidery! Such exquisite needlework must be rare even in the palace.” Ming Shu marveled at the lifelike flowers, birds, insects, and animals in the embroidery.

“Not to boast, but back in Jiangnan, your mother was a renowned embroiderer. For all these years, I supported myself and raised Lu Chang… and you with these needlework skills.” Madam Zeng looked at her embroidery with unmistakable pride.

“I haven’t inherited even a fraction of Mother’s skill,” Ming Shu said sheepishly.

Madam Zeng continued: “I embroidered these in my early years. Now my eyesight isn’t good enough for such delicate work anymore. If you like them, take them to mount as scrolls or make them into screens for your shop. Didn’t you say your shop will serve officials and nobles? You’ll need some fine pieces for decoration.”

“For me?” Ming Shu pointed at her nose, then suddenly remembered something, “Mother, weren’t you keeping this embroidery for Brother’s future wife?”

Madam Zeng smiled slightly: “Originally yes, but now… whether it’s for him or you, it’s all the same. Whoever needs it can take it first.”

Ming Shu felt warmth flood her heart, her eyes moistening. She wanted to refuse, but seeing her mother’s eyes full of expectation, she swallowed her words and promised, patting her chest: “Mother, don’t worry, I won’t disappoint you. I’ll also take care of Brother’s marriage. I’ll earn money for his future wife’s betrothal gifts!”

Madam Zeng smiled even more brightly: “His marriage is his worry, I’m not concerned.”

Ming Shu didn’t understand her meaning, only noticing her mother’s eyes were penetrating and bright as snow.

————

With her mother’s support, Ming Shu began working freely.

During the days of Lu Chang’s examination, she wandered through Bianjing City, thoroughly exploring the busiest streets and carefully studying other shops to gain a better understanding.

On the third day, good news came first from Yin Shu Jun.

Lady Yin agreed to let Yin Shu Jun, Ming Shu, and Wen An manage the shop. This wouldn’t have been so smooth, but because of how Yin Liang Jun had harmed Yin Shu Jun with rumors, Lady Yin felt guilty toward her daughter. Thinking that Shu Jun was naturally simple and needed experience in human affairs to prepare for managing her future household, Lady Yin agreed to this venture.

With the shop location settled Ming Shu went to find Tao Yi Qian to discuss merchandise.

The Tao family specialized in jade, supplying not only to the palace but also to several major jewelry merchants in the Great An Dynasty. Since they wanted to do business with women, jewelry was naturally the top choice, and as women of the time favored gold and jade jewelry, the two agreed to focus on gold and jade accessories.

Thus, Ming Shu settled several matters in just nine days, though the new shop still lacked a name when the imperial examinations ended.

————

On the day Lu Chang returned, Madam Zeng prepared a large feast at home. Ming Shu set aside her work to personally meet him at the examination hall gates.

“Brother!” As soon as Lu Chang exited the examination hall gates, he heard Ming Shu’s voice. Before he could focus his eyes, she had already fluttered to his side like a little bird.

“Let me carry that!” Ming Shu snatched the wicker basket from his hands, looking up at him with a bright smile.

Lu Chang’s face showed a hint of a smile, but then, as if remembering something, the smile suddenly vanished, and he walked straight ahead. Ming Shu followed with the basket, running to his side saying: “Brother, slow down, I can’t keep up.”

Lu Chang turned and took the basket back from her hands.

“Brother, let me see if you’ve lost weight. I heard the examination cells were small and damp. Staying in there for so many days must have been exhausting.” Ming Shu jumped in front of him, walking backward to face him.

Lu Chang remained silent, so Ming Shu carefully examined his face before declaring: “Not bad, you haven’t lost weight. Still as handsome and elegant as ever!”

“Walk properly!” Lu Chang finally spoke, “Watch out—”

Before he could finish saying “Watch your step,” Ming Shu’s heel caught on a stone, interrupting her backward steps. She began falling backward.

With a thud, Lu Chang released his right hand, dropping the examination basket. Quick as lightning, he grabbed her hand and pulled her into his embrace.

Ming Shu fell against his chest, her forehead hitting his chest hard.

By the time she came to her senses, Lu Chang had already let go and was looking at her irritably. She could only smile sheepishly: “Brother has such quick reflexes, amazing!”

Lu Chang gave her a cold glance, bent to pick up the examination basket, and continued walking. Ming Shu followed again, this time not daring to walk backward, properly-staying by Lu Chang’s side.

The siblings returned home amid Ming Shu’s constant chatter and laughter.

————

When they arrived home, Madam Zeng hadn’t finished cooking. Lu Chang went straight upstairs, with Ming Shu following.

“Here, returning this to you.” Once in the room, Lu Chang took off something hanging around his neck and tossed it to Ming Shu.

Ming Shu caught it casually and looked—it was the talisman she had gotten for him. The red cord and pouch still carried his body warmth, showing he had worn it close to his skin.

“I got this for you, why are you returning it?” Ming Shu asked, holding the talisman, unsure what had upset him again.

“Don’t want to wear the same thing as someone else.” Lu Chang said while washing his hands at the basin.

“…” Ming Shu thought for a long while before remembering her words to Song Qing Zhao on the day of the examination.

Nine days had passed, and he still remembered. When did Brother become so petty?

Lu Chang finished washing and turned around: “Aren’t you leaving?”

Ming Shu stared at him, pressing her lips together.

“I need to change!” Lu Chang added.

Ming Shu bit her lip and said: “Don’t undress, wait for me to come back!”

She ran to Madam Zeng’s room, took a bundle from the trunk, and returned, opening it in front of Lu Chang.

“One of a kind, do you want it?”

Inside the bundle was a crimson robe.

Lu Chang froze for a moment, then heard her say: “My brother will surely succeed, so I prepared this for your palace examination. Do you want it? If not… I’ll give it to Song Qing Zhao.”

The three words “Song Qing Zhao” were like a magic spell.

“I want it!” Lu Chang quickly snatched the robe.

Ming Shu finally smiled: “Try it on, let me see if it fits.”

She turned and left the room, closing the door to let Lu Chang change. Soon after, he gently opened the door. Ming Shu was leaning by the stairs playing with her fingers. When she heard the movement and looked up, she saw Lu Chang standing in the doorway.

Candlelight on his shoulders, the red robe blazing like fire.

Lu Chang rarely wore such bright colors, yet this vibrant hue suited him perfectly.

His usual cool demeanor melted away, leaving only a radiant young man before her.

Though Ming Shu was long accustomed to Lu Chang’s handsomeness, seeing him in the crimson robe still left her stunned.

Her heart seemed to be struck by something, suddenly giving rise to a strange feeling. This scene before her seemed to have appeared in her dreams many times, like some obscure yet joyful expectation…

“How is it?” Lu Chang’s voice broke through.

Ming Shu came back to her senses and quickly said: “Beautiful, Brother looks good in red.”

But in her heart, she cursed herself: Ming Shu, ah Ming Shu, what are you thinking? The person before you is your brother!

What a sin.