The scene was momentarily tense. Madam Zeng remained indifferent to Lu Wenhao’s sudden appearance, but Wei Zhuo’s demeanor had turned stern from the outset. He greeted Lu Wenhao with a nod and calmly remarked, “General Wei pays a visit to the mother of his former comrade-in-arms. There’s no distinction of rank here. It is rather unexpected to see Lord Lu here today.”
“General, no need for surprise. Just as you have senior comrades present, I also have family here. If you can come, naturally so can I,” replied Lu Wenhao as he approached them. Hearing reports of Wei Zhuo before, he had doubted them, but seeing him now made disbelief impossible.
Li Lao Tai’s house and Madam Zeng’s rented place were on the same street. To reach Madam Zeng’s residence, they had to pass Li Lao Tai’s door. Lu Wenhao had barely entered the alley when he found Wei Zhuo, Madam Zeng, and Ming Shu standing by the street, chatting amicably. The sight was warm and harmonious, resembling a small family.
Ming Shu glanced at Lu Wenhao upon hearing him—thankfully, he hadn’t mentioned anything about his wife. If he had, her mother would likely have reacted angrily.
Lu Wenhao approached her skillfully, his piercing gaze visibly softening, and he gave her a smile that could be described as “affectionate.” Ming Shu shivered slightly; she wasn’t used to such sudden and overt displays of affection.
“I see,” Wei Zhuo nodded without saying much, merely acknowledging.
The widely-discussed relationship between Lu Wenhao and Lu Chang was now confirmed.
“Well then, please, General, allow me to have a moment with…,” Lu Wenhao hesitated, then continued, “Yue Qing and Miss Ming Shu, for some casual conversation.”
The mention of “Yue Qing” revealed an unusual closeness.
Before Wei Zhuo could respond, Madam Zeng spoke up first, “General, please don’t misunderstand. Lord Lu and I parted ways nineteen years ago, and since then, we’ve had no contact. There’s no connection between me and the Lu family.”
She spoke frankly and confidently, without any hint of regret or self-pity over past events, earning admiration and respect from those present.
In this world, good looks may attract favor, and romantic feelings often arise, but it is one’s integrity and grace that linger in the mind.
Madam Zeng was a person deserving of both love and respect.
Wei Zhuo smiled and simply replied, “I understand.”
“Yue Qing…” Lu Wenhao’s brows furrowed heavily. He refrained from saying more in Wei Zhuo’s presence, expressing calmly, “General, regardless, the three of us have old matters to discuss. It wouldn’t be appropriate for outsiders to listen in. I hope you understand.”
“Lord Lu, what I had to say was made clear earlier. There’s nothing left between us. I haven’t stopped you from seeing your daughter. Why do you persist in bothering me?” Madam Zeng stated firmly.
“The reason I came to see you today is to talk to you privately,” Lu Wenhao replied.
He had visited several times before, but whether through emissaries or in person, Madam Zeng had refused to see him. It was only when her daughter was present that Madam Zeng wouldn’t shut him out completely. However, now Wei Zhuo was standing between them, seemingly unable to understand the situation, lingering between the two.
Speaking in a stern voice to Wei Zhuo, Lu Wenhao said, “General, this is a matter concerning my family. Could you please give us some privacy?” His tone was no longer polite.
Most people would have backed off in the face of such authority, but unfortunately, Wei Zhuo was not one to yield easily. He smiled and asked Madam Zeng, “Madam, would you like to grant Lord Lu some privacy?”
“No, I have nothing to say to him,” Madam Zeng refused unequivocally.
“Yue Qing!” Lu Wenhao frowned slightly, attempting to keep pace with Madam Zeng, but Wei Zhuo intercepted him.
“I’m sorry, Lord Lu, Madam Zeng doesn’t wish to talk further with you. Please don’t make things difficult for her,” Wei Zhuo smiled, but an air of menace radiated from him, like a drawn sword between them. He then turned to Madam Zeng, “Madam, allow me to escort you home.”
“Thank you, General,” Madam Zeng nodded and walked away without hesitation.
“Wei Zhuo!” Lu Wenhao’s smile vanished from his face, no longer polite.
Wei Zhuo halted and glanced sideways.
“Are you trying to snatch her away from me?” Lu Wenhao’s tone was cold.
Wei Zhuo smirked, looking at Madam Zeng’s departing figure, “What’s wrong with that?”
With that statement, he followed Madam Zeng.
It was unclear if Madam Zeng heard Wei Zhuo’s response. Her steps hesitated briefly before she continued towards her home.
Lu Wenhao hadn’t faced such indignation in years. Having navigated the political arena for so long, he had developed a tough exterior. But today, he felt like an immature youngster caught in a rivalry, and it was embarrassing… His face flushed with anger, he turned and saw Ming Shu still standing nearby, unnoticed.
Ming Shu had been forgotten amid the drama. She bit her lip, wide-eyed, taking in the intense scene before her.
Both Wei Zhuo and Lu Wenhao were formidable figures in court. Their exchange, though only in words, resembled a battle without bloodshed, each refusing to yield. However, in the current situation, the Prefect seemed to have the upper hand.
“Ming Shu,” Lu Wenhao quickly adjusted his demeanor upon seeing her, smiling once more.
“Lord Lu,” Ming Shu bowed. Since Madam Zeng herself hadn’t refused Lu Wenhao as she had, Ming Shu saw no reason to avoid him.
Upon hearing her address him, Lu Wenhao’s smile faltered. “Still calling me ‘Lord’?”
“If not ‘Lord,’ then what?” Ming Shu blinked innocently at him.
“I am your father, you must call me ‘Dad’,” Lu Wenhao said warmly. They say daughters are like warm cotton jackets, and without one by his side, Lu Wenhao felt a fondness upon seeing Ming Shu. Despite Madam Zeng’s resistance towards him, Lu Chang was ruthless. Ming Shu, with her soft and gentle nature, was perhaps the easiest of the three to approach. If he could win her over, maybe he could make a breakthrough.
“Oh,” Ming Shu opened her mouth, meeting his expectant gaze, “but I won’t call you that.”
Lu Wenhao was almost choked by her response. “Do you blame me for leaving you and your mother for over ten years?”
Ming Shu shook her head. Unlike Madam Zeng and Lu Chang’s resistance towards Lu Wenhao, perhaps due to her memory loss, she felt no bitterness from past hardships nor did she long for paternal affection. To her, Lu Wenhao was a stranger with whom she held no emotional ties.
Asking her to call a stranger “Dad”? She couldn’t bring herself to do it.
“Why won’t you acknowledge me then? Ming Shu, it was my fault for abandoning you three. If you resent me for that, it’s understandable. But now that we’ve reunited, can’t we be a family again? Can’t you return to being the true Miss Lu?” Lu Wenhao appealed emotionally, reasoning with her.
“I can’t decide. It’s up to Mother. If Mother wants a reunion, then we will. If she doesn’t, then we won’t. After you left us, you remarried, didn’t you? Your late wife left you a son, isn’t that right? With such a large extended family, forget about being Miss Lu, I’m not even interested in being the lady of the house,” Ming Shu shook her head again, stopping Lu Wenhao’s attempted persuasion, “Mr. Lu, your efforts are wasted on me. Don’t waste your time.”
He might have been thinking of a reunion like mending a broken mirror, but it wasn’t what she wanted.
As a woman, she only cared about making her mother happy. If her mother wasn’t happy, nothing else mattered.
“You…” Lu Wenhao didn’t expect this soft-spoken girl to be so stubborn. She didn’t give him any face and could make someone angry. Seeing that retreat was the best option, he said, “Fine, I won’t force you. But could you stop calling me ‘Mr. Lu’?”
Ming Shu frowned. If she didn’t call him “Mr. Lu,” then what should she call him? He was already old, almost like a general in his twilight years. But what…
Seeing her hesitation, Lu Wenhao’s face showed a hint of pleasure. But before she could speak, he was struck by her addressing him as “Uncle Lu.”
“…,” Lu Wenhao’s face turned dark.
What was once a “Dad” had now become an “Uncle.” The relationship was all in chaos.
“Ming Shu—” a voice called from afar.
Ming Shu turned and saw Lu Chang standing at her doorstep. Madam Zeng had returned home under Wei Zhuo’s protection and Lu Chang had come to call her.
She answered with a word, and said to Lu Wenhao: “Uncle Lu, I’m going back first.” Then she turned and ran back home without waiting for Lu Wenhao’s response.
Upon reaching the door, Lu Chang asked her, “What did you say to the unrelated person?”
“What do you think he wants to do?” Ming Shu came up to hold Lu Chang’s hand, smiling, “He said he wanted me to come back and be the Miss of the Lu family.”
“And you?” Lu Chang gave her a sidelong glance.
“I’m originally the sister of Ah Xiong, so I don’t care about the other families,” Ming Shu said sweetly.
Lu Chang’s smile appeared on his lips.
Seizing the opportunity, Ming Shu said, “Ah Xiong, your sister asks you when the prohibition order will be lifted.”
Lu Chang’s smile suddenly faded, “Little sister, for at least one month, you should also perform, otherwise, you won’t learn.”
Ming Shu was so angry that she threw his hand and went into the house.
Lu Chang followed behind, with a smile on his lips again.
The moon and the sunlight were just right, the flowers were in full bloom, and Lu Chang and his family of three moved out of Shengmin Square and into the first mansion given to the champion.
Finally, Ming Shu had her room, with three rooms in the west wing, all given to her, a small flower hall, a small study, and a sleeping room, all decorated according to her preferences, making her feel very happy.
After settling in, Ming Shu continued to help Madam Zeng manage the family. Although she was under house arrest, she was not idle at all.
In the blink of an eye, May, the summer solstice.
The house sent invitations.