Zhangyang was poor, with harsh conditions. Even Lu Chang’s official residence was quite austere.
Ming Shu’s arrival was sudden, leaving Lu Chang no time to find more suitable accommodations. He could only clear out a few clerks’ quarters for Zhao Tingyun and his men, giving his courtyard to Ming Shu while he temporarily moved to the main hall where he worked.
After overseeing the storage of the grain and silver Ming Shu had brought, and handling several official matters, Lu Chang hurried back to the courtyard as night fell.
Ming Shu sat in his room, surveying his living space.
“It’s modest here. Bear with it for now,” Lu Chang said, entering with the evening meal. Seeing her sitting there alone, he felt guilty.
“Bear with what? It’s not like we haven’t lived like this before,” Ming Shu replied nonchalantly, taking the tray from Lu Chang. She nodded towards the washbasin, “Go wash your face.”
Lu Chang remembered their tight financial situation when they first arrived in the capital from Jiangning, stretching every coin as far as it would go.
In the blink of an eye, more than two years had passed.
“Where’s Lai’an? Why isn’t he attending to you?” Ming Shu asked as she set out the meal.
He had brought Lai’an and four attendants when he arrived, but now he seemed to be doing everything himself.
“He’s running an errand for me,” Lu Chang replied, his voice muffled by the face towel. “We’re short-staffed in Zhangyang, with much to do at the yamen. I’ve had him fill a vacant position. With the recent famine, things are unsettled, so I’ve sent the others out as well.”
Ming Shu nodded, unsurprised by his approach.
“Is this what you usually eat?” she asked, looking at the meal.
Lu Chang glanced at the dinner—two vegetarian buns, a large pot of tofu soup, a dish of steamed eggs, and some sauce.
“With the famine outside, people are struggling, and the yamen is no exception. You’ve come at a difficult time. We can’t offer lavish meals, I’m afraid you’ll have to make do,” Lu Chang explained, his gentle gaze filled with guilt.
Even these few dishes were more than usual; the eggs were added because of her visit. When alone, he often made do with just buns and sauce.
“I’m not put out. I just feel for you,” Ming Shu said, sitting beside him and breaking the buns into the soup. “You say I’ve come at a bad time, but if I’d come any later, who knows how bad things might have gotten.”
“Indeed. If not for your arrival, I might have lost my official position,” Lu Chang agreed.
The grain and silver she brought were indeed timely, just enough to tide them over until the government’s relief supplies arrived.
“Honey-tongued, aren’t you?” Ming Shu smiled sweetly.
The old Lu Chang never spoke like this.
“Would you like a taste?” Lu Chang asked, his eyelids lowered.
Ming Shu blushed, pushing the remaining half of her bun to his lips.
“Just eat your meal!”
Lu Chang bit into the bun from her hand, no longer teasing her.
As they ate, they chatted about family matters.
“I visited Aunt Zeng twice in Bianjing. She’s doing well,” she said, addressing his concern for Madam Zeng.
“Marrying the Commander of the Imperial Guard must be stressful for Mother. Is she being treated well?” Lu Chang asked.
If Zhangyang’s conditions weren’t so harsh, he wouldn’t have wanted to bring his mother here to suffer. Otherwise, their marriage might not have been arranged so quickly.
Ming Shu shook her head, smiling mischievously: “Aunt Zeng may seem gentle, but she’s tough inside. Uncle Wei wouldn’t dare mistreat her. When I last visited, they were quarreling over some small matter. She almost moved back to the Zhuangyuan mansion, but Uncle Wei begged and pleaded until she calmed down. Don’t worry, the Zhuangyuan mansion is her safety net. She doesn’t need money or power, so she can leave if she wants. Uncle Wei can’t stop her, especially…” her smile grew more impish, “with your birth father watching closely, hoping for a chance to step in. Uncle Wei is very careful.”
“Oh, and Uncle Wei adopted two children, orphans of his subordinates. A boy and a girl, both seven or eight years old, very well-behaved. The boy, Su Chen, is learning martial arts from Uncle Wei. The girl, Lin Zan, is being taught by Aunt Zeng. They’re adorable,” Ming Shu continued, talking about matters Lu Chang cared about.
Lu Chang nodded, “Mother mentioned these two children in her letters, praising them highly.”
“Alas, so we’ve both been forgotten by Mother,” Ming Shu sighed dramatically.
“Are you still jealous of Mother’s affection?” Lu Chang laughed, then looked at her oddly, “Wait, what did you just call my mother?”
What did she call her?
She had said “Mother.”
Ming Shu clapped a hand over her mouth—she had misspoken.
After a year of habitually saying “Mother,” it felt awkward to switch back to “Aunt Zeng.”
“It was just a slip,” Ming Shu said defensively.
“A slip is fine. No need to change it. We only have a year and a half left anyway,” Lu Chang said, his lips curving upward.
In three years, he would return to the capital, just as her mourning period ended—perfect timing for their wedding.
“A lot can change in a year and a half,” Ming Shu said, moving behind him. “Perhaps… I might still consider you my brother.”
Lu Chang frowned slightly, then felt her breath tickle his ear as she leaned close.
“Brother…” she whispered.
Lu Chang felt weak at her proximity. Without thinking, he turned and pulled her onto his lap.
“Say it again,” he said, uncharacteristically.
“?” Ming Shu had expected him to be angry, not react like this.
Seeing her confused look, he leaned in: “Calling me ‘brother’ isn’t so bad. When we’re alone, you can call me whatever you like…”
In truth, her whispered “brother” was quite alluring.
But only for his ears alone.