“Ming Shu had been holding onto her anger until she returned home.
“I’m furious at their arrogance, looking down on us like that!” Ming Shu thumped the carriage window frame. “Brother Ah show them what we’re made of, let’s make our mark!”
“You’ve been angry for most of the day, how will you let go of it?” Ming Shu was angry, and Lu Chang could only helplessly console her.
“I brought in the kite I made for you myself,” Ming Shu remembered the beautiful kite Lu Chang had crafted and tied for her.
“I’ll paint ten more for you another day!” Lu Chang held up five fingers, teasingly.
Ming Shu quickly grabbed his hand. “It’s not your fault… your hands are meant for greater things…”
“Do you want it?” Lu Chang asked again.
“Yes! Just… casually make three more!” Ming Shu finally smiled.
Lu Chang smiled back, somewhat resigned.
“Brother Ah I feel like you’ve been smiling more lately,” Ming Shu stared at him directly.
“Really? Perhaps it’s because of the company I keep,” Lu Chang didn’t deny her observation.
“Then it must be because of my company!” Ming Shu patted her chest proudly.
For once, Lu Chang didn’t argue with her, instead asking, “How did your talk with your sisters go today?”
Upon mentioning this, Ming Shu’s demeanor changed. “Yin Niang said the shop space will be ready in another month. We’ll need to renovate it, so I’ll start planning for materials and hiring carpenters soon. In a few days, I’ll have someone look at the space and draw up plans. Also, we need to start buying decorations and hiring assistants. Most importantly, I’ll need to discuss merchandise with Fifth Brother. It’ll take a month for renovations and another month for preparations, so we could open as early as June this year.”
Ming Shu was more adept in business than Lu Chang, and her plans were thorough, leaving little need for his input. Lu Chang simply listened quietly, watching her animated expressions.
As Ming Shu spoke, she seemed uncertain. “Brother Ah if you pass the imperial examinations and secure an official position, while I become a mere merchant, will my choices affect your career?”
Lu Chang gently touched her forehead. “I’ve spent ten years studying for this path, all to protect those I care about. If I can’t protect you, what’s the point of this journey?”
Once, it was his mother; now, Ming Shu was added to that list.
“Brother Ah…” Ming Shu blinked her big eyes. “Thank you.”
No more was said.
The next day, the sky was overcast, and spring rain was imminent.
Lu Chang had left early in the morning. With the release of exam results approaching, and the palace examination soon after, he had much to prepare for. When Ming Shu descended the stairs, only Zeng Shi was downstairs, holding a sealed letter by the door.
“Mother,” Ming Shu called out.
Zeng Shi turned around. “You’re just in time. A child delivered a letter to our door, addressed to you.”
Who would send her a letter so early in the morning?
Ming Shu took the letter with suspicion. It was indeed addressed to “Lu Ming Shu,” with the seal intact.
She opened it and read, her brows furrowing.
“Who sent you this letter?” Zeng Shi asked.
Ming Shu didn’t hide it from her, handing the letter to Zeng Shi as she replied, “It’s from the Second Lady of Wei, the Commandant of the Front Court… she wants to meet with me.”
The letter stated that she had heard of Ming Shu’s deeds in the capital and wished to meet her.
“If it’s about investigating the affairs of the Yin family or the Yun’an and Songling Academy, she’s likely seeking my expertise,” Ming Shu reasoned. With the impending opening of Man Tang Hui, she planned to take on such cases and had no reason to refuse.
“Remember to take an umbrella. It looks like it’s going to rain,” Zeng Shi reminded her, accustomed to her outings.
Ming Shu nodded, grabbing an oil-paper umbrella as she headed out.
“After Ming Shu left, Zeng Shi closed the main door and busied herself in the kitchen with other tasks.
About half an hour later, there was a knock at the door—three knocks followed by a pause. Assuming it was Ming Shu returning, Zeng Shi hurriedly set aside her work, wiped her hands on her apron, and called out, ‘Coming, coming!’ as she opened the door.
The wooden door creaked open, but it wasn’t Ming Shu standing outside.
‘Yùqīng,’ the man addressed her by her maiden name.
Zeng Shi, known as Yùqīng, froze, staring at the richly dressed man outside. For a moment, she was speechless, until he glanced inside and asked, ‘May I come in for a talk?’
Zeng Shi finally regained her composure and calmly swung the door wide open. Once he entered, she shut the door with a firm click and bolted it shut.
The inevitable visitor had finally arrived.
With the water just boiling in the kitchen, Zeng Shi didn’t bother with formalities. She went straight to the stove. When she returned with a cup of tea, the man was already seated at the table. His gaze as he watched her bring the tea carried a hint of the tenderness from eighteen years ago, but his eyes were cold and distant.
‘Master Lu, I’m sorry we don’t have fine tea. Please accept this to refresh yourself,’ her voice remained soft and melodious, evoking pity even in indifference.
‘Yùqīng, it’s been over eighteen years since our separation. Both children have grown up. You’ve worked hard all these years,’ Lu Wenhǎn picked up the tea, blew off the foam, and took a sip.
Zeng Shi clenched the hand resting on her abdomen. ‘Are you here for the children?’
‘Don’t misunderstand. I’m not here to claim our children. I saw Lu Chang and Ming Shu at the Songling Academy. They are indeed bright. You’ve raised them well. I owe you that,’ Lu Wenhǎn said.
Zeng Shi smiled, a smile tinged with mockery and bitterness.
Eighteen years had passed. The reckless youth in luxurious clothes had been worn down, all sharp edges blunted. The formalities now were devoid of the heated arguments and unyielding stances from their past.
And she had let go of her old grievances.
Once a young couple in love, now strangers meeting again.
‘I raised my children well. You don’t need to thank me, nor do you need to feel indebted,’ Zeng Shi replied.
Lu Wenhǎn nodded. ‘I’ve also taken a look at Lu Chang. As for Ming Shu, I didn’t get to see her when we parted ways.’
At the mention of Ming Shu, Zeng Shi’s brows furrowed deeply. She wanted to explain, but considering Ming Shu’s situation, she hesitated and swallowed her words.
The child she had conceived during their separation had been lost three days after he left.
‘Why have you come here?’ She didn’t want to dwell on the past and asked directly.
‘Yùqīng, do those two children not know their biological father is still alive?’ Lu Wenhǎn asked.
‘No, I’ve told them their father passed away,’ Zeng Shi replied.
Lu Wenhǎn’s brow furrowed slightly, reminiscent of Lu Chang.
“Yùqīng, I merely separated from you, yet you concealed from them my continued existence in this world?”
“How could I reveal your identity to them? When we married, I did not know you were the youngest son of the Lù family. When we parted, I did not know where you went. Eighteen years later, I still do not know that you are now the esteemed Minister of Personnel. How could I explain?”
Her words left Lù Wénhàn speechless.
—
Sure enough, it began to rain the next day. Míngshū hurried to the shelter of the Jùyuán Tea House before the rain intensified, shaking off the water droplets from her clothes as she entered. The second madam of the Wèi family, Mrs. Liú, had arranged to meet her in a private room. Míngshū followed the tea house attendant to the room outside.
She expected a dignified and elegant second madam but instead was greeted by a loud and plump woman. Not only was Mrs. Liú loud, but she also gripped Míngshū’s hand tightly, exclaiming, “Finally, you’ve arrived!” It took a servant girl’s reminder for her to lower her voice.
Míngshū was startled by her behavior and took a closer look at the second madam. Mrs. Liú was dressed appropriately, though plump, her round face fair and quite amiable. Yet, she wore a large, shining Buddha pendant around her neck and several strings of Buddhist beads on her wrists, which clashed with her attire.
“Second Madam, why have you summoned me?” Míngshū sat down on a stool and asked before the servant girl could serve tea.
Mrs. Liú grabbed her wrist tighter. “Taoist priests and monks have been sought out, but to no avail. I’ve heard of you—you resolved the issue with the illegitimate daughter of the Yīn family and solved the murder case at the Sōnglíng Academy. Now there’s a ghost in my house, and I need you to investigate its origins and whereabouts. I’ll have someone catch it!”
Míngshū was almost speechless. Investigating living people was one thing, but now she was being asked to investigate ghosts.
She tried to persuade Mrs. Liú, but Mrs. Liú slammed something heavy onto the table.
“A generous reward!” Mrs. Liú held Míngshū’s hand. Míngshū stared at the chubby, golden ingot for a while, then reluctantly agreed.
Investigating ghosts was not easy. Míngshū needed to plan carefully. After asking Mrs. Liú a few questions, she decided to return home first.
The rain grew heavier as Míngshū hurried under her umbrella towards her home’s entrance. Lost in thoughts of the Wèi family’s matter, she shook off the raindrops from her oil-paper umbrella. Suddenly, she heard someone calling her.
“Lù Niángzi.”
Míngshū turned around and saw a woman in her thirties walking towards her on the street. This woman had a glossy hairstyle adorned with golden hairpins and wore either translucent jade or shimmering gold rings on her fingers. Her overall demeanor, accompanied by two little maidservants, was superior to that of ordinary girls. She approached Míngshū slowly.
Upon meeting eyes, the woman introduced herself as the steward of the Duke’s residence, a trusted confidante of Madam Du, the wife of the Duke. Míngshū understood: this was Sòng Qīngzhǎo’s mother, her mother-in-law.
It seemed this was related to yesterday’s incident at the Fān Terrace. She had spoken in anger at that time, offending the woman. After all, she was Sòng Qīngzhǎo’s mother. Despite her anger, Míngshū felt she had been disrespectful to her elder. Therefore, she wanted to explain herself. She politely invited this steward inside for tea.
The steward, surnamed Sūn, had a round face, her expression growing darker as she glanced at Míngshū. Seeing that Míngshū’s house was small, she did not plan to open the door but decided to stand and talk to Míngshū, to make her point clear in the rain.
“Lady Lù, you are intelligent and must understand the status of the Duke’s residence. It’s a noble family with a century-old heritage, associating with either imperial relatives or high-ranking families. Though our young master is not the eldest son, he is the legitimate grandson of the Duke’s prestigious lineage. His marriage prospects are watched over by the noble figures in the palace and the old Duke himself. The woman he will marry in the future will surely be a prominent lady from a distinguished family in Bianjing. Madam, I hope you can understand this mother’s heartfelt concern. Please keep your distance from our young master. Otherwise…”
“Otherwise what?” Míngshū initially smiled, intending to explain, but Mrs. Sūn’s words began to unsettle her. Her pretty face turned cold.
“Do you want me to spell it out for you? With your family background—even if your elder brother is a top scholar—you are not worthy of our young master. I hope you understand your place.” Mrs. Sūn’s voice sharpened, seemingly about to let everyone around hear, embarrassing Míngshū.
Míngshū’s anger surged. Defiant, she confronted Mrs. Sūn, saying, “I want to marry your young master. What can you do about it, huh?”
“You shameless girl! Is this how your family raised you? No wonder, being raised by a widow, born without a father…”
Mrs. Sūn was infuriated, her words becoming even harsher. Before she could finish, the door behind Míngshū suddenly swung open. Without seeing who it was, Mrs. Sūn received a harsh kick and fell to the ground.
“Outrageous!” A voice filled with anger echoed, “Go back and tell that old man Sòng Cháng that Lù Wénhàn’s daughter can marry into even the royal family. What is your Sòng family compared to us?!”
Sòng Cháng was the courtesy name of the old Duke. In all of Bianjing, one could hardly find ten people bold enough to address the old Duke directly by his courtesy name.
Mrs. Sūn lay in the rain, her face pale with shock as she stared at Lù Wénhàn.
Míngshū stood stunned.
Lù Wénhàn turned back, his anger now softened into gentleness as he addressed Míngshū, “Do you want to marry Sòng Qīngzhǎo? As long as you agree, I will arrange for him to come with three letters and six rites to formally propose to you.”
Míngshū’s mind was filled with confusion. Who could tell her what had just happened?
As she turned her head, Mrs. Zēng stood dumbfounded by the door.