Lu Shi became silent, spending more and more time in the stables, eating faster and faster.

When the teacher asked why, he answered, “I always feel there are many books I haven’t comprehended thoroughly. Time is running out.”

These words weren’t false.

Chu Yanling’s appearance made Lu Shi truly understand the saying “comparing people will anger you to death.”

Born into a scholarly family, enlightened by famous teachers from childhood, though only fourteen years old, he already held the title of Provincial Graduate.

Except for being nine years older, Lu Shi couldn’t match him in anything else.

On this day, the teacher didn’t return home for dinner. As usual, he ate hurriedly then went to the stables to read.

Late into the night, the girl came.

His instinct told him something was wrong. Normally at this time she’d be long asleep.

“What happened?”

“Father was summoned to the palace and still hasn’t returned after several shichen.”

“Have you sent someone to the Crown Prince’s residence to inquire?”

“We’ve asked. His Highness was also called to the palace.”

“What are you worried about?”

She bit her lip, then after a long while said, “The ruler’s heart is unfathomable.”

These four words made Lu Shi inexplicably tense.

“Don’t be afraid. Go back to your room first. I’ll go to the Crown Prince’s residence again to inquire.”

“Senior Brother, what if…”

“There’s no ‘what if.'”

He said to Lin Bi in the distance, “Give me two servants. If there’s any news, I’ll have them bring word back.”

“Yes.”

Lu Shi went to the Crown Prince’s residence, but unexpectedly everyone there was also anxious. The Crown Princess was even waiting anxiously at the second gate.

In that instant, Lu Shi suddenly felt these nobles were quite pitiful too.

Their wealth and poverty, life and death, joy and sorrow were all controlled by one person.

Heaven and hell lay in that person’s single thought.

Lu Shi had a servant return to report to the eldest miss while he took another servant to the palace gates.

The palace gates were tightly shut with no movement. He could only wait.

Also waiting at the palace gates was a steward from the Crown Prince’s residence.

The steward waited until midnight and couldn’t hold on any longer, so he went to the carriage to doze.

Lu Shi couldn’t sleep. He just stood there reciting texts.

After reciting all night, there was still no news of the two men. By now dawn had broken. The Crown Prince’s steward was so anxious he paced in circles, his face pale as a ghost.

Lu Shi thought for a moment and called over the other servant.

“Go back and tell Miss that no news is the best news. Tell her to eat breakfast with peace of mind.”

“Young Master Lu, isn’t this…”

“Just tell Miss exactly what I said.”

Lu Shi’s expression turned severe. “Not one word more, not one word less. Go quickly.”

The servant was frightened by the fierceness on his face. “Yes!”

Lu Shi was anxious inside, but he couldn’t show it. Years of experience had taught him that when people panic, they make mistakes.

Unfortunately, not everyone understood this principle. That servant had obviously said too much. In less than half a shichen, she arrived by carriage in haste.

Not returning home all night was unprecedented.

Lu Shi looked at the girl’s pale face, said nothing, and simply raised his hand to gently rub her head a few times.

The girl also said nothing, naturally resting her head against his arm.

Lu Shi suddenly felt that this child was actually quite fragile inside—just maintaining a hard exterior.

“Where’s Chu Yanling?”

“Sleeping.”

The girl snorted. “He says it’s fine.”

Lu Shi thought: That kid is still just a child after all!

“Tang Zhiwei.”

In the silence, he suddenly called out. “What meaning did the teacher have in giving you this name?”

“Before the mulberry leaves fall, how lush and tender they are.”

“That’s not the meaning.”

She looked up at him, puzzled.

He looked back at her and said softly, “Tang Zhiwei, not yet sweet.”

What is sweet?

Carefree is sweet, fine clothes and food are sweet, marrying a good man is sweet, children and grandchildren filling the halls is sweet.

Girl, don’t worry—your fate is good.

Tang Zhiwei first paused, then smiled gently.

…

The Crown Prince and teacher emerged from the palace in the evening. Neither said much. They boarded their respective carriages and immediately headed home.

Only then did Lu Shi learn that the teacher had knelt with the Crown Prince for half the night because the Crown Prince had said the wrong thing to His Majesty.

The teacher’s legs took several days to slowly recover.

But from that day on, he looked at Lu Shi differently, and pressed him even harder in his studies. At the slightest dissatisfaction, he’d blow his beard and glare.

That girl also seemed different, starting to find fault with Chu Yanling at every turn.

The dinner table still had four people, the study still had four people, but the dialogue changed to this:

“Junior Sister, how’s my calligraphy?”

“Not good.”

“Senior Brother Lu’s characters are even worse than mine.”

“Who says Senior Brother Lu’s are poor? His are self-formed and distinctive.”

“…”

“Junior Sister, let’s play chess later?”

“All you know is play. Can’t you be like Senior Brother Lu and properly, quietly write an essay?”

“That’s because Senior Brother Lu isn’t as clever as me.”

“Don’t flatter yourself. Senior Brother Lu has great wisdom that appears foolish.”

“…”

“Junior Sister, this dish is my favorite. Why are you moving it to Senior Brother Lu’s side?”

“You’re too fat, Senior Brother Lu is too thin. You should eat less, he should eat more. Senior Brother Lu, eat…”

The young woman smiled at Lu Shi in the candlelight, adding an inexplicable intimacy.

“Senior Brother Lu, look how Junior Sister keeps bullying me.” Chu Yanling looked aggrieved.

Lu Shi suddenly felt this kid wasn’t so annoying after all. He actually had some redeeming qualities.

…

The days slipped quietly by in this growing closeness.

Again came the second of the second month—Junior Sister’s birthday.

This year, Junior Sister turned fourteen. He’d been with the Lu family for two years.

The first year, with barely any silver to his name, he could only wash Brain until he was spotless and serve as her groom for half a day.

This year, he used every rest day to work at San Pang’s good brother’s smithy. In one year he’d saved six liang of silver.

He used these six liang to buy a box of rouge from the capital’s finest cosmetics shop.

On the second of the second month, the Tang household was bustling with guests coming and going in endless streams.

As the teacher’s eldest disciple, he changed into his most presentable garments and helped the teacher receive guests.

Lu Shi was naturally not the type for social niceties. He could only follow silently behind the teacher, nodding to this person, bowing to that one.

On the contrary, Chu Yanling was like a fish in water in such situations, handling everything with perfect propriety in word and deed.

He even brought someone—a person named Tang Zhen, refined and fair-complexioned, clearly an intelligent person at first glance.

Tang Zhen came to become a disciple. The teacher only asked him a few questions before bestowing the courtesy name Jianxi.

The teacher said this child had considerable spiritual energy nurtured by mountains and waters, his mind was pure, one could see through to his core at a glance—very clear.

Tang Jianxi thus became his junior disciple.

He was thirteen days older than Junior Sister.

When the junior disciple came to bow to him, he was also surprised.

This kid was even worse at hiding things than Chu Yanling. He stared wide-eyed at Lu Shi for a long time before sighing.

“Eldest Senior Brother, how are you so old already?”

Lu Shi: “…”

Tang Jianxi: “Eldest Senior Brother, are you married?”

Lu Shi shook his head.

Tang Jianxi’s eyes nearly popped out. “Eldest Senior Brother, you’re this old and still not married—is there some problem?”

In his heart, Lu Shi replied with one word: Damn!