Early April brought fine weather.
The Wei residence was located in the southern part of the city, a five-courtyard mansion with gardens and ponds to the east and an extended garden connected by a moon gate to the west. The main branch of the Wei family lived in the center, while the second branch resided in the western corner. Though the family hadn’t formally divided, they lived separately. The entire Wei family relied on Wei Xian alone – besides daily household expenses, even the second branch’s livelihood depended on construction projects from the military that Wei Xian helped secure through his connections.
One could say that Wei Xian was the absolute authority in the Wei family. Even the Wei family patriarch didn’t dare casually say “no” to him, let alone anyone else going against his wishes.
Ming Shu had asked around but couldn’t learn anything about the inner workings of the Wei household.
Indeed, as Song Qing Zhao had said, the Wei family’s inner court was as secure as a fortress, with not even a hint of information leaking out. Outsiders couldn’t find anything to criticize. Not only was there no idle gossip about the Wei family in Bianjing’s noble circles, but even among the common folk, the only widely circulated story was that Wei Xian loved his wife.
“Loves his wife? If he cherishes his wife so much, why did he take two concubines and bring home a courtesan?” Ming Shu couldn’t understand.
“Immortal doesn’t know, though Lord Wei has taken these concubines, his love for Madam Wei hasn’t diminished in over ten years. He hasn’t even blamed her for their lack of offspring. For men, some dalliances outside are inevitable, and wealthy families often have multiple wives and concubines. The key is that Lord Wei still deeply cherishes Madam Wei at home,” the waiter, having received a few copper coins from Ming Shu, spilled everything he knew about the Wei family like beans from a jar. “Last month when Lord Wei accompanied Madam Wei out, I saw them from afar. Lord Wei was so tender and attentive… it made all the young ladies nearby envious.”
Ming Shu, dressed as a female Taoist today, had come to gather information near the Wei residence. This teahouse was directly opposite the Wei mansion, and its waiters were the first to notice any activity from the Wei household.
She remained skeptical but saw no point in arguing with the waiter. Instead, she asked, “What about the haunting at the Wei residence? Have you heard anything about that, young man?”
“How could I not?” The waiter immediately nodded.
Matters involving ghosts and spirits inspired awe in most people, so unlike ordinary household matters, some information had leaked out.
“A few days ago, their purchasing manager Mother Lu went to a nearby Taoist temple for some talismans to paste at her bedhead. I heard quite a few people in their household have encountered this ghost, with Madam Wei suffering the worst – she was so frightened she became bedridden. Immortal, why do you ask about these things?” The waiter answered and then questioned Ming Shu.
Ming Shu affected a mysterious air and coldly said, “Amitabha. I saw demonic energy rising above the Wei residence and feared evil spirits were at work, so I came to investigate. You mortals must not speak of this outside, lest you invite trouble upon yourselves.”
The waiter was startled and trembled, “There… there are demons? Could Immortal grant me some talismans for protection?”
“Give me your hand,” Ming Shu didn’t refuse.
The waiter opened his palm, and Ming Shu made a serious show of forming a sword finger seal, drawing meaningless lines in the air in his palm, then using her horsetail whisk to close his hand, saying, “It is done.”
“That’s it?” The waiter looked dubiously at his empty palm.
“Divine beings reside in one’s heart; how can mortal eyes see sacred talismans?” Ming Shu swished her whisk and stood up. “Don’t worry.”
“Thank you, Immortal, thank you,” the waiter repeatedly bowed with clasped hands.
Ming Shu had already coldly departed, with the man from the neighboring table following her out of the teahouse.
————
“Brother, did I look convincing?”
After reaching an empty alley, Ming Shu finally stopped and turned to the man behind her.
The person behind her was, of course, Lu Chang. Worried about her information gathering near the Wei residence today, he had accompanied her.
Looking at her proud, smiling face, Lu Chang pinched between his brows and said gravely, “Don’t think fooling one or two people means your disguise is perfect and foolproof.”
Ming Shu grinned and flattered him: “Brother’s divine eye naturally can’t be deceived, but other ordinary people aren’t like you, Brother. How could they be as formidable as you and see through me at a glance?”
It must be said that Ming Shu had mastered the art of flattering Lu Chang, finding ways to compliment him in any situation.
“You…” Lu Chang wasn’t pleased, but before he could continue, his attention was drawn to someone running past the alley entrance carrying a brass gong.
“The results—are—out—” The announcement echoed as it passed by and faded into the distance.
Along with the clamorous gong, the entire street erupted in excitement.
Though they knew the examination results would be posted these days, neither sibling had expected it to be today.
“Brother! The results are out!” Ming Shu nearly jumped up.
Lu Chang was also somewhat surprised, watching groups of people surge toward the posting site through the alley entrance. He simply said, “Let’s go home.”
“Go home?” Ming Shu wore an expression that said “Are you crazy?”
“If I pass, a golden notification will be delivered to our residence later. There’s no need to squeeze through the crowd at the posting site.” Lu Chang remained exceptionally calm about the results.
Ming Shu was different – she grabbed Lu Chang’s hand and started running, saying as they ran, “No way, I can’t wait to know Brother’s results.”
Lu Chang was pulled along, his hand firmly held in hers. The young lady’s soft hand was warm and smooth as jade, unexpectedly reminding him of her gentleness when applying ointment for him during their journey to the capital.
After a few steps, Ming Shu suddenly felt her hand gripped tighter. Looking back, she saw Lu Chang had reversed their grip to hold her hand properly.
“Stop running, be careful not to fall,” Lu Chang calmly walked to her side, still holding her hand. “Let’s go see the results, but don’t get separated in the crowd.”
Ming Shu smiled happily, but after a few steps suddenly stopped him: “Wait, let me find a place to change clothes.”
She couldn’t go see the results with Brother while wearing Taoist robes.
————
The examination results posting site was already packed several layers deep with people, including not just candidates and their families but also common folk coming to join the excitement. Some families celebrated while others grieved – there were those crying tears of joy after passing, those covering their faces in disappointment after failing, and all sorts of congratulatory voices rising and falling.
Naturally, there was also “groom hunting” at the posting site.
The wealthy families of Bianjing had been eyeing the site eagerly, ready to surround any successful candidate regardless of their appearance or background. Many lone candidates found themselves awkwardly surrounded.
Ming Shu and Lu Chang couldn’t squeeze through at all and could only stand on tiptoe at the crowd’s edge, but they were too far away to see the posted list. Ming Shu wanted to push into the crowd, but Lu Chang held her hand tightly, not letting her go forward lest she get hurt.
After watching from the crowd’s edge for a long while, Ming Shu was getting discouraged when suddenly someone in the crowd shouted: “Lu Chang is here!”
The previously noisy crowd suddenly fell silent, with more than half the people at the posting site turning around in unison.
These countless staring eyes made Ming Shu nervous, and Lu Chang also frowned slightly, discreetly moving Ming Shu behind him.
“Brother, what’s wrong with them?” Ming Shu asked softly.
“I don’t know,” Lu Chang shook his head. “Just stay close to me.”
The quiet crowd erupted again in the next moment, with voices calling out one after another: “The Principal Graduate is here!”
“Quick, the Principal Graduate has come!”
…
Ming Shu’s ears perked up, and she exchanged looks with Lu Chang.
“Brother, did I hear wrong? They’re calling you Principal Graduate?”
Principal Graduate was the title for the first-place candidate in the metropolitan examination.
It felt like a dream.
“Let’s head back first.” Lu Chang wasn’t surprised about passing, and whether he was a Principal Graduate or not didn’t concern him. Right now, he only felt that he and Ming Shu would be swallowed by the crowd, and fearing trouble, he didn’t want to stay.
“Alright.” Ming Shu saw the surrounding gazes that seemed ready to devour Lu Chang and also sensed trouble.
However, the crowd didn’t give Lu Chang and Ming Shu a chance to leave, quickly surrounding the siblings. They had underestimated the frenzy of groom hunting in Bianjing – even Lu Chang hadn’t expected that compared to Bianjing, the groom hunting at Jiangning’s provincial examination had been far gentler.
Here, “hunting” should be replaced with “snatching.”
“Young Master Lu, we’ve prepared a feast and would like to celebrate with you. Please come with us.”
“Principal Graduate Lu, congratulations! I’ve arranged a celebratory banquet at the Wan Jia Tower, just waiting for you to attend.”
…
Countless voices arose, causing Lu Chang to frown deeply, his expression darkening as he said: “My mother is waiting for news at home. I must return to inform her first. I thank you all for your kindness, but I must take my leave.”
As he spoke, he held Ming Shu’s hand tightly and tried to retreat, but the surrounding people wouldn’t let him leave so easily. Several servants, following their masters’ subtle signals, reached out to grab him, intending to force Lu Chang to attend their so-called “banquets.”
The crowd became chaotic, and because they weren’t truly malicious people, Lu Chang couldn’t openly fight back at the examination posting site, so he could only dodge left and right while protecting Ming Shu. Those people hadn’t expected Lu Chang to be unlike other scholars who were physically weak, and after several failed attempts to grab him, under pressure from their masters, they had to use more force.
Ming Shu hadn’t expected the situation to become so chaotic and was almost separated from Lu Chang’s side, but fortunately, he kept protecting her tightly.
Just as they were growing anxious, suddenly a hand reached out from the shadows, striking at Ming Shu’s hand that Lu Chang was holding, attempting to separate them.
Lu Chang only heard Ming Shu’s light cry, and turning his head, saw her recoiling in pain from the strike to her wrist. Seeing she was about to be swept away by the crowd, his eyes turned cold. No longer caring where they were, he spun around, first firmly gripping that person’s wrist and twisting it, then throwing them hard into the crowd, before pulling Ming Shu into his arms.
The movements were swift and fluid, executed in one breath. Before that person could touch Lu Chang’s hand, they had already been thrown out, landing heavily on the ground. The crowd was forced to retreat, seeming somewhat frightened, all looking at him in surprise, no longer approaching.
This Lu Chang was no weak scholar – he had some martial arts skills.
“Enough!” Lu Chang took advantage of this momentum and shouted angrily, “I appreciate everyone’s kindness and understand your intentions, but…”
He glanced at Ming Shu and announced clearly: “I am already betrothed.”
Ming Shu, who had been dusting off her dress, heard these words and looked up in astonishment, meeting Lu Chang’s gaze.
“My fiancée is a noble young lady from our hometown in Jiangning. I will marry no one else, so I must disappoint everyone’s intentions today. Farewell.”
With that, he led Ming Shu away.
Ming Shu was completely shocked – when had her brother gotten engaged? How did she not know about this, and why had Mother never mentioned it?
A young lady from their hometown in Jiangning – who could it be?