Ming Shu initially thought that Lu Chang had only arranged for Qiu Ming and Pan Shun to protect her. However, when she reached the carriage, she realized this was not the case. There were additional guards stationed around the carriage, making a total of seven people accompanying her, including the driver and the two guards. The setup was rather exaggerated.
“Miss Lu, please board the carriage,” Qiu Ming requested.
Ming Shu glanced at Ying Xun, who maintained a businesslike expression, showing no extra emotion. She gritted her teeth and got into the carriage.
The carriage moved along slowly and soon arrived at Mantang Hui.
The guards sent by Wei Zhuo were thorough, ensuring Ming Shu’s safety without a hitch. Before she even entered the shop, they had already gone inside, meticulously checking every corner to ensure no one was hiding. While the shop was secure, the employees of Mantang Hui were startled, standing in the main hall with puzzled and worried expressions, unsure of what was happening.
It took some effort for Ming Shu to calm them down. Once they were reassured, she and Ying Xun went into the back hall, leaving Qiu Ming and Pan Shun to guard the entrance. The other guards remained outside the shop.
As the day dawned, Ming Shu found herself particularly relaxed at Mantang Hui. There were indeed a pile of tasks accumulated at the shop, so she temporarily put Ying Xun aside and called the employees together for a morning meeting. She spent an hour understanding the events of the previous day and assigning tasks to everyone for the next two days. By the time she finished, more than an hour had passed, and Ying Xun had been left waiting.
Ming Shu dismissed the staff and apologized to Ying Xun.
“Hurry up and take a look,” Ying Xun said, without any pretense, tossing two case files onto her desk.
“Two case files?” Ming Shu asked, surprised.
“One is Peng Qing’s abduction case, and the other is the Lu family’s missing girl case. Although the two cases are related, they were filed separately,” Ying Xun explained.
He was meticulous in his work, knowing that Ming Shu was investigating Liu Wan’er’s connection to the Lu family. He had therefore pulled out the case file of the Lu family’s missing infant as well.
Ming Shu picked up the abduction case file and began to read it carefully.
Seventeen years ago, the mastermind of the abduction, Peng Qing, had already been prosecuted. According to the laws of Da’an, those who abduct children for labor were exiled three thousand li, while those who sold them as heirs to others were sentenced to three years of penal servitude. Peng Qing had committed both crimes and was sentenced to the more severe punishment of exile, and was no longer in Bianjing.
In addition, there were two accomplices: Peng Qing’s wife and his sister, both of whom received three-year sentences and had been released by now.
Ming Shu extracted a page from the file, which detailed the children Peng Qing had not yet sold when he was captured. Among them was Lu Ruishan.
“These three specifically targeted crowded places in Bianjing to steal and abduct children. The authorities noticed this, and after half a year of covert investigation, they finally captured them. Lu Ruishan was lucky; she was almost sold to a buyer who later backed out due to the heightened vigilance, so Peng Qing kept her at home until the authorities rescued her and returned her to her family,” Ying Xun explained, having already read through the files.
Ming Shu nodded and turned to the Lu family’s case file.
When the Lu family’s third daughter was abducted, the Lu family immediately reported the case, leading to a separate investigation. This file provided even more details about Lu Ruishan’s abduction.
At the time, Lu San Niang was only a month old, and the Lu family was just an ordinary official household in Bianjing. Lu’s father, Lu Guangchun, was not yet the Minister of Works, but a minor official. Lu San Niang’s mother, Madam Feng, had hired a wet nurse to take care of the baby.
According to the records from Madam Feng and the wet nurse, Lu San Niang was a difficult baby who cried frequently at night. Madam Feng, needing to recover and manage the household, had the wet nurse take the baby out to soothe her at night. This caught Peng Qing’s attention. After watching for two days, Peng Qing struck, knocking down the wet nurse and stealing the baby. The Lu family reported the case immediately and searched everywhere but found no news.
After several months of despair, news came that Peng Qing and his gang had been captured. The authorities recovered some children from their home, and a public notice was issued to identify them. Madam Feng took the wet nurse to identify Lu San Niang.
The detailed identification process was recorded, and Ming Shu read it carefully.
“Ying Constable, do you think it’s possible for a mother to not recognize her own child?” Ming Shu asked as she read.
Ying Xun pondered, “It’s hard to say. I know what you’re getting at. Babies’ appearances change rapidly in a few months. If a mother hasn’t been personally taking care of the baby and only sees them after six months, it’s possible she might not recognize the child. But Madam Feng had the wet nurse with her, who was the main caregiver. How could there be a mistake?”
The records showed no irregularities during the identification process.
“But according to the records, Madam Feng couldn’t confirm the child and it was ultimately the wet nurse who identified her,” Ming Shu pointed out.
“The wet nurse had spent the most time with the baby. Isn’t it normal for her to recognize the child?” Ying Xun replied, not looking down at the records he had already read thoroughly.
“Normally, it wouldn’t be suspicious. But now we have Liu Wan’er. If the Lu family didn’t make a mistake, then what about her? Where did her gold lock and handkerchief come from?” Ming Shu pressed.
Ying Xun replied, “Based on the case files, there are no doubts about the case. If you want to investigate thoroughly, you’ll have to question everyone involved. That includes Peng Qing’s wife and sister, the wet nurse, and even Madam Lu.”
That would indeed be troublesome.
Ming Shu thought for a moment and said, “Since they were involved in the case, the authorities should have records. Finding the first three shouldn’t be difficult.”
Ying Xun felt he was getting himself into more trouble.
“Yes, it’s possible to find them. But as usual…”
Before he could finish, Ming Shu interrupted, “You need to get permission from your superior! I understand, I’ll handle it myself. Is that fine?”
“Good to see you know the rules,” Ying Xun said, ignoring her teasing, strictly businesslike.
Ming Shu closed the case files with a smile. “Constable Ying, you really don’t bend the rules at all.”
“So?” Ying Xun asked.
“So I admire you for it. We need people like you to solve cases,” Ming Shu admitted.
Having personal principles is not easy.
“I recall someone once accusing me of causing countless wrongful convictions,” Ying Xun said, a rare smile playing at his lips.
“I was just angry! Don’t take it to heart,” Ming Shu poured him a cup of tea. “Constable Ying, I have something to ask you.”
“Go ahead,” Ying Xun replied, knowing her sudden praise was not without reason.
“Do you take apprentices?” Ming Shu asked.
Ying Xun paused mid-sip. “What do you mean?”
“I want to find a master to learn some investigative skills…” she began.
Before she could finish, Ying Xun set down his tea and swiftly took back the case files. “Keep dreaming. If you’ve finished reading, I’ll take these back. The yamen has important matters to attend to. Goodbye.”
With that, he turned and left without looking back.
Ming Shu laughed and called out to a clerk, “See my master off.”
Ying Xun hurried away even faster.
As the sky darkened and evening arrived, Ming Shu realized that to get to the bottom of Liu Wan’er’s matter, she would have to wait until Ying Xun found the whereabouts of the three individuals involved. Only by personally questioning them could she reach a conclusion. For now, she set the matter aside and busied herself with the shop’s affairs, losing track of time until the bell at the door rang, and Lu Chang appeared. It was then that she noticed it had already grown dark.
Lu Chang, dressed in his official attire, had come straight to the shop after meeting with the emperor and discussing follow-up matters with Wei Zhuo at the Third Prince’s residence. He anticipated that Ming Shu wouldn’t have returned home, so he came to fetch her.
“Brother, you’re here? Just wait a moment, I’ll be done soon!” Ming Shu called out as she stood in the back room, checking and arranging items on the treasure shelf. Upon hearing the sound of footsteps, she turned around to see Lu Chang.
Lu Chang entered the back room and immediately saw Ming Shu on her tiptoes, trying to place a small box on the highest shelf of the treasure shelf. Despite her efforts, she couldn’t quite reach it.
“Brother, could you bring the small stool over?” she asked, just as the box was taken from her hand and effortlessly placed on the top shelf.
“Is this the right spot?” Lu Chang asked.
Ming Shu nodded and thanked him as she turned around, finding herself only a couple of fists away from him. Lu Chang hadn’t stepped back after placing the item, and his presence was overwhelming.
His scent enveloped her, making her feel a bit stiff. Yet, his voice remained calm. “Do all these need to be placed up there?” he asked, pointing to the wooden boxes piled on the table nearby.
“Yes,” she replied, but then stopped him. “Your injury hasn’t healed yet. Let me do it.”
“Where should this go?” Lu Chang asked, already picking up another box.
With a sigh of resignation, Ming Shu instructed him on where to place it. Since she couldn’t move away, she ended up working alongside him to organize the treasure shelf, partially leaning into his chest.
Both of them broke into a sweat.
Ming Shu finally sat back in her chair to rest and thought of the Lu family’s matter. She asked, “Brother, you knew I was investigating the Lu family. Why pretend not to know?”
“You didn’t want me to find out, did you?” Lu Chang replied as he placed a food box on the table and opened it. “These fruits are a gift from the Third Prince, a tribute from the palace. Try some.”
A faint mist emanated from the food box, revealing ice cubes inside. Lu Chang took out a small plate with chilled peaches, their delicate pink color resembling a young maiden’s blushing cheeks, full and juicy.
After washing his hands, Lu Chang began peeling a peach.
Ming Shu watched eagerly. “Aren’t you worried I’ll get into trouble again?”
“Have you ever caused trouble? Why don’t I know about it?” Lu Chang replied calmly. He preferred her to have something to focus on rather than let her thoughts run wild. He understood that this period was difficult for her, even if she showed no signs on the surface. Inside, she must be in turmoil, though she never spoke of it.
His movements were slow and meticulous, the translucent peach juice dripping down his slender fingers, making Ming Shu unconsciously lick her lips.
“If that’s what you think, I’m all for it! I have something to ask you,” Ming Shu said, smiling as she reached for the peeled peach.
Lu Chang swiftly pulled his hand back. “You need a favor from me?”
“Yes,” Ming Shu nodded eagerly.
“Then this form of address…”
Here we go again! Ming Shu glared at him. “Lu Chang! Lu Chang, Lu Chang, Lu Chang! Is that enough?”
Lu Chang smiled and handed the peach to her, listening to her request. “Ying Xun will handle it tomorrow.”
Ming Shu took a big bite of the peach, the juice glistening on her lips, translucent and tempting. Unconsciously, Lu Chang licked his own lips, a desire to taste it himself welling up inside him.