On the day the invitations arrived, it happened to be a day off for Lu Chang. The household staff and Man Tang Hui’s employees had been chosen together. Ming Shu had picked a total of four people: a middle-aged couple named Qu, with Mr. Qu taking on the role of gatekeeper and overseer, while Mrs. Qu managed the kitchen.
A young servant was assigned to assist Lu Chang, and there was also a four-year-old maid who served Madam Zeng closely. As for Ming Shu herself, she didn’t need anyone to accompany her for the time being.
Although Mrs. Qu was in charge of the kitchen, Madam Zeng still liked to cook herself. That day, she made red bean soup and asked Ming Shu to take it to Lu Chang. Lu Chang was in his study, handling the official business he had brought back, and when Ming Shu arrived, the servant, Lai An, was leaning against a pillar in the corridor, yawning. Upon seeing Ming Shu, he immediately straightened up.
“Why are you standing outside?” Ming Shu asked him.
“The young master said he doesn’t need my service,” Lai An said, feeling distant and troubled.
Knowing Lu Chang’s temperament, Ming Shu couldn’t help but smile. “You’ve worked hard. Go to the kitchen and have a bowl of red bean soup.”
In their small household, Ming Shu didn’t impose many strict rules and often acted according to her preferences.
“Thank you, ma’am,” Lai An gratefully went off to the kitchen for a break.
Ming Shu knocked on the door and heard Lu Chang’s response from inside before entering. The study was well-lit, with Lu Chang seated behind his desk. Seeing her with the red bean soup, he glanced at the door and stood up to take it from her.
“Don’t bother looking, I sent Lai An to the kitchen to eat the red bean soup. Why… are you always leaving Lai An hanging? Do you know Lai An’s monthly salary is the highest among all the servants? You’re wasting family money!” Ming Shu frowned unhappily.
Her standards for the servants she chose for Lu Chang were high—they needed to be literate, sensible, and responsible. It was normal for someone with such qualities to have a high salary, but Lu Chang wasn’t particularly fond of using him.
“Not used to it,” Lu Chang said lightly.
“Then get used to it. Cultivating a trustworthy aide isn’t easy. The rapport between servants and masters needs nurturing. Although Lai An is smart, you should spend more time with him to broaden his horizons. In the future, he could become your right-hand man. Don’t tell me you plan to navigate the officialdom alone. Brother, as someone who holds office, finding help for yourself isn’t a bad thing,” Ming Shu followed him to the desk.
When it came to these matters, Lu Chang couldn’t match Ming Shu, so he could only listen to her lecturing.
“I understand, I’ll spend more time with him in the future,” Lu Chang nodded without arguing.
“Try the red bean soup that Mother cooked herself,” Ming Shu let him off.
Lu Chang didn’t care much for sweets, but he still picked up the spoon and tasted the dessert that Ming Shu had brought. She leaned over his desk curiously, and Lu Chang set the empty bowl aside, placing his hand on the official documents on the desk, saying, “These are confidential official documents. You can’t look at them.”
The letter had been folded and placed face down in its envelope before she came in.
“I won’t look,” Ming Shu withdrew her gaze.
Lu Chang opened a small drawer and put all the papers on the desk into it.
Pouting, Ming Shu watched as Lu Chang finished the red bean soup and put the empty bowl back on the tray.
“Is there anything else?” Lu Chang asked her.
“Can’t I stay a little longer if there’s nothing else?” Ming Shu stared at Lu Chang with a look that said, “Brother, you weren’t like this before.”
“Yes, but I see you don’t look like you’re here just to keep me company. What’s the matter?” Lu Chang saw through her with one glance.
Putting down the tray she had just picked up, Ming Shu moved closer to Lu Chang and said, “Brother, I heard… the trial of Lv Chunlian’s case is starting?”
“Yes,” Lu Chang nodded.
“This case has sparked public outrage,” Ming Shu continued.
Lv Chunlian’s case had caused quite a stir, and even though Ming Shu was under house arrest, she had heard about it. Lv Chunlian had publicly forced Huang Laosi into a confession and revealed the secrets of the Wei family, which had stirred public anger on the spot. News spread throughout the capital, and more and more people sympathized with Lv’s mother. Although the evidence of Lv Chunlian’s murder was conclusive and she did not deny it, according to the law, she should be executed. However, in the face of such strong public opinion, the officials in charge of the trial hesitated to decide for fear of stirring up public opinion and causing chaos.
It was a struggle between law and justice.
“Yes, this case has reached the court, and it has alarmed His Majesty,” Lu Chang said. “Now the court and the upper echelons are discussing this case, divided into two factions.”
One faction naturally insisted on strict punishment according to the law, without any leniency. The other faction believed that there were reasons behind the incident, and Lv Chunlian deserved a reduced sentence.
“These two factions are led by Prince Yu and the Third Hall, respectively, and they are at odds. His Majesty is also troubled by this,” Lu Chang added.
Prince Yu?
This was the second time Ming Shu had heard this title recently.
Prince Yu, Zhao Jingyang, was the eldest son of the current emperor. His mother had already passed away, and she was an old acquaintance of the current emperor during his early days as a hidden dragon. However, their ranks were far apart. She was just a good sister. She died in the second year of the emperor’s succession, and she was posthumously conferred as the Shufei for having given birth to the eldest son. Prince Zhao Jingyang moved out of the Zhao family and moved into the Prince’s mansion at the age of three, the most highly regarded of the emperor’s sons.
Another highly favored son, naturally born from the Empress, was the Third Prince Zhao Jingran, who was admired by the sages.
After Tang Li left the Songling Academy, he leveraged Xie Xi’s influence to gain favor with Prince Yu’s residence.
“Elder brother, what are your thoughts? Which side do you stand on?” Ming Shu pondered for a moment and asked.
Lu Chang did not reveal his stance, only saying, “The struggle between the two factions in the court involves the position of the Prefect of Bianjing. Prince Yu will not easily let it go. However, His Majesty rules with benevolence, but his inclinations may lean towards the Third Prince. It’s just lacking the right opportunity…”
As he spoke, he took out a neatly folded letter from the drawer, its back covered in densely packed ink, but Ming Shu didn’t know its contents. Lu Chang pushed the letter towards Ming Shu but pressed down heavily when Ming Shu tried to take it.
“This should help Lady Lu Chunlian,” Lu Chang said, “but you must promise me not to intervene personally.”
Facing Lu Chang’s gaze, Ming Shu felt as though he could see through her thoughts.
Lu Chang must have prepared this letter long before she asked.
“What’s this?” Ming Shu asked.
Lu Chang withdrew his hand, and Ming Shu unfolded the thin paper, murmuring the words on it, “‘Petition of the Ten Thousand People’…”
The words on the paper were clear and forceful. It was a petition written by Lu Chang himself, detailing the intricate relationships between the Lu family, the Wei family, Huang Laosi, and Du Wenhui, evoking deep sympathy and sadness in those who read it.
Lu Chang’s penmanship was beyond doubt.
“Obtain signatures from the people of Bianjing within three days and deliver them to the Prefect of Bianjing. It should help Lady Lu Chunlian, preferably with Du Wenhui’s involvement for maximum effect,” Lu Chang leaned back in his chair and said.
Ming Shu had finished reading the entire letter, her habitual playful expression replaced by seriousness.
“Elder brother, are you doing this out of sympathy for Lady Lu Chunlian, or because you wish to assist the Third Prince?”
Lu Chang looked at her for a long time before answering, “Neither.”
“Then…”
“For you,” Lu Chang said.
Ming Shu was stunned, unable to speak for a long time, looking into Lu Chang’s eyes.
“I don’t want to see you sighing and lamenting all the time,” Lu Chang casually remarked, pointing to his shoulder, “I’m getting stiff and sore.”
Ming Shu immediately understood, walking behind him.
“Elder brother, thank you.”
Her warm hands massaged his shoulders and neck, gentle yet powerful, easing the stiffness in his neck and shoulders. Lu Chang closed his eyes, not responding to Ming Shu’s gratitude, only feeling her tenderness at this moment.
“The world is unfair to women, like Lady Lu and Madam Su, and many others. The laws are inadequate. Who else can help them before tragedies occur?” Ming Shu spoke passionately, gradually slowing her movements.
“A stone can cause a thousand ripples. Do you know that Lady Lu’s case has prompted the Dali Temple to draft revisions to marriage laws? Our dynasty’s marriage laws, inherited from the previous dynasty, are full of loopholes and no longer suitable. Apart from divorce and separation, there’s also the ancient practice of ‘yi jue,’ aimed at cases of spousal murder. The previous dynasty’s laws were unclear and heavily favored husbands, leading to numerous tragedies like Lady Lu’s in recent years. The court intends to revise these marriage laws, which would be the best help for them.” Lu Chang continued calmly, still with closed eyes, discussing state affairs. When he finished, he added, “Customs and laws evolve through the ages. Many things are built upon the efforts of our predecessors, benefiting future generations. Ming Shu, you…”
Lu Chang was about to say more when his voice abruptly stopped.
His eyes suddenly opened, staring ahead in confusion, afraid to turn his head. Unconsciously, someone had embraced his neck with both arms, leaning against his back.
It was almost like a hug.
“You’re wonderful,” Ming Shu murmured.
She, who usually disliked listening to lectures, found an exception in Lu Chang’s words. His voice was gentle, like the melody he played on his flute, carrying a captivating power that gradually made her forget everything.
For a moment, she forgot who he was.
Lu Chang dared not speak, afraid of startling her. He remained still, his body somewhat stiff.
After a brief silence, Ming Shu suddenly came to her senses, quickly retracting her hands as if struck by lightning, unable to believe what she had just done.
Did she just… disrespect Lu Chang?!
“E-El… Elder brother, I’m sorry…” Ming Shu took three steps back, her face flushed, and rushed towards the door, not daring to look back at Lu Chang’s expression.
“Ming Shu!” Lu Chang helplessly called out, “The letter!”
Ming Shu turned her head, closed her eyes, groped for the edge of the desk, swiftly grabbed the petition letter, and darted out of Lu Chang’s study like an arrow.
As soon as she left the study, Ming Shu, gasping for breath, collided with Ceng Shi who had come looking for her.
Ceng Shi held an invitation with a faint fragrance and hurriedly approached, “Ming Shu, come take a look. The Duke’s mansion has invited us to the Dragon Boat Festival banquet.”
The invitations were for Ceng Shi and Ming Shu.