The Noble Son-in-Law - Chapter 21 Part 1

Lu Chang walked to Mingshu’s side just as she was foolishly staring at another man.

He called her name, but couldn’t pull her back to reality. Instead, what came out of her mouth was a shocking statement.

In an instant, Lu Chang’s calmness snapped, like a bowstring breaking.

The sound of a bamboo broom snapping brought Mingshu back to her senses. She turned her head abruptly and saw Lu Chang glaring at her, his face turning green. His cold eyes held a hint of anger, though it was difficult to discern its meaning. It was only then that she realized she had spoken her thoughts out loud. Frustrated, she slapped her forehead, intending to sincerely apologize. But before she could even get out a full “Brother,” Lu Chang slung his bag over his shoulder, picked up the two clay jars, and turned to walk down the corridor without a word, not even calling for Mingshu.

Mingshu stomped her foot, feeling the urge to slap herself—how could she have blurted out such an embarrassing thing?

No wonder her brother was angry. If she had a younger sister who said she wanted to marry a man after just one glance, she would’ve slapped her too.

“Brother—” Mingshu hurried to catch up with Lu Chang, calling out again and again, “Brother, Brother!” sincerely apologizing. “I spoke out of turn. Don’t be mad… Hey, slow down!”

Lu Chang acted like he couldn’t hear her. His expression was terrible, and his chest was tight with frustration, as if something was trapped inside, ready to explode.

His mind was filled with the image of Mingshu gazing blankly at another man—the look in her eyes, her expression, and those words: “I want to marry him.” The scene replayed endlessly in his head, like a revolving lantern that wouldn’t stop.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, as if someone were hammering his heart with a small mallet. His chest pounded fiercely, and he couldn’t calm down. Instead, he walked faster and faster, as if venting his anger through his steps. Yet, Mingshu flitted around him like a little bird, calling “Brother” with every breath.

The “Brother” that used to melt his heart suddenly became grating.

After walking through the corridor and passing a small bamboo grove, they reached the student dormitories. Each student preparing for their exams had a room to themselves, and Lu Chang was no exception. The room was small, with just enough space for a bed, a desk with chairs, and a corner where a chest was tucked away. The remaining space was barely enough to turn around in.

The room carried a fresh scent that was distinctively Lu Chang’s, like pine resin, or perhaps bamboo. There were books piled on the desk, not yet put away, but the bed was neatly made. The room had a lived-in feel—far from spotless, but not messy either.

Mingshu followed Lu Chang into his room, frowning as she called out, “Brother, say something!”

All this way, Lu Chang hadn’t said a single word, a stark contrast to the joy he showed when he first saw her.

Mingshu knew that her brother was truly angry this time. He didn’t argue with people, and when he was upset, the most he did was go silent and ignore them. Even when he scolded her before, it was all for show—he never took it to heart. But today, this was the first time she saw him truly angry.

After Lu Chang entered the room, he didn’t acknowledge her. He simply began tidying up, organizing the books, ink, paper, and brushes on his desk, placing them neatly in the corner. Mingshu, feeling guilty for what she had said, followed beside him, offering kind words and trying to help him clean up. But he wouldn’t let her lend a hand, nor did he say a word.

After a while, Mingshu’s frustration began to rise as well.

She closed her mouth and sat down moodily on the edge of the bed, staring at Lu Chang’s back for a moment before angrily blurting out, “Is Brother planning to never speak to me again?”

Lu Chang’s hands paused for a moment, but he still didn’t turn around.

“Fine, don’t speak!” she grumbled to herself. She began to feel even more wronged, thinking about how she had crossed most of Bianjing City early in the morning with bags in hand just to see him, and hadn’t even eaten lunch. Yet here she was, being ignored by him over one careless remark.

Suddenly, she stood up and said, “I’m leaving!”

As soon as the words left her mouth and she turned to go, her arm was unexpectedly grabbed.

“Sit and wait for me,” Lu Chang said, uttering just one sentence.

Pulled back down onto the bed by him, Mingshu watched as he left the room. Now that he had asked her to stay, she couldn’t just leave, so she sat there, stewing in her thoughts.

Lu Chang wasn’t gone for long before he returned, carrying a wooden tray. It turned out he had gone to the dining hall to get food.

“Eat first, then go back.” After stepping out for a bit, Lu Chang seemed to have calmed down, but his tone was still indifferent.

There was no other table in the room, so he placed the food on the desk he had just tidied up. Mingshu glanced at the tray—it held two bowls of rice and a large plate of food. The dish was a mix of three items: tofu, greens, and pork with bamboo shoots. The portions were quite generous, as if the woman serving had scraped the bottom of the pot for him. What Mingshu didn’t know was that Lu Chang usually missed the regular meal times after cleaning the corridor. However, the woman at the dining hall liked him, so she always saved him food. Today, hearing that his sister was visiting, she gave him even more.

It was strange, really—though the scholars at the academy didn’t think much of Lu Chang, the servants who worked there all liked him, such as the woman in the dining hall, the cooks, and the gardener.

“You sit first, I’ll go borrow a chair,” Lu Chang said, heading next door to borrow one.

By the time he returned, Mingshu was already standing at the desk, opening the clay jar Mrs. Zeng had given her, pulling out two pieces of preserved fish. When she saw Lu Chang return, she let out two snorts through her nose.

She was still angry.

Two wooden chairs were placed side by side, and Lu Chang gently pulled her to sit down. The two of them sat facing a single plate of food. Mingshu, starving by now, quickly grabbed her chopsticks and took a few large bites of rice. Lu Chang didn’t eat but kept placing food in her bowl. Once she had eaten enough to calm down, he suddenly said, “Mingshu, don’t say things like that.”

As her older brother, he had every right to be upset with her for speaking carelessly, but the anger that surged within him seemed to come from somewhere deeper, not just the position of a brother. He wasn’t sure what exactly was bothering him, but Mingshu’s gaze and those words in that moment pierced his heart like an arrow, making him feel unbearable discomfort.

“Then you’re not allowed to ignore me,” Mingshu pouted slightly. She didn’t think much of it, assuming her brother was just mad at her for misspeaking.

Lu Chang let out a low “hmm” and simply watched her eat. Although she was eating a bit quickly, her upbringing still showed—her table manners weren’t ungraceful, and in fact, they made her look quite endearing.

Her anger had mostly subsided, and she began to boss him around: “I don’t want any meat, just tofu. The tofu here is really tasty.” Lu Chang picked up the entire plate and scooped all the tofu into her bowl. Mingshu quickly protested, “That’s enough, that’s enough,” but she was smiling brightly as she picked up a piece of pork with bamboo shoots and offered it to him. “Brother, try this. The cook here is really skilled.”

Normally, Lu Chang’s personality would have found this gesture inappropriate, and he would have insisted she put the food in his bowl instead. But today, for some reason, he slowly opened his mouth, accepting the piece of pork and bamboo shoots she fed him, his eyes fixed on hers the entire time.

Mingshu froze. What’s gotten into him today? Last time she fed him just one berry, and he gave her a lecture for half the day!

Lu Chang quickly lowered his head, picked up his chopsticks, and focused on his meal, avoiding her gaze.

After the meal, both siblings’ anger had completely dissipated.

Mingshu held the hawthorn tea Lu Chang brewed, sipping it slowly while watching him clean the table. With a smile, she teased, “Brother, you and Mom are going to spoil me rotten. You never let me do any work.”

“Is there a problem with that?” Lu Chang swiftly tidied up the dishes, wiped the table, and then sat back down in the chair without rushing to return the dishes. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “Is everything at home okay?”

“Everything’s fine, but I’ve been feeling so bored. Mom’s taken on some embroidery work, and she’s also managing the household. It’s a lot of hard work, and I can’t help with anything. You both spoil me too much—it’s not good.”

“So now you have a complaint about being spoiled? Or is there something else you’re trying to say? Hmm?”

Lu Chang really knew her well. Mingshu immediately fell silent. She had been trying to feel him out, curious about his attitude toward her finding work outside. But seeing his reaction, she didn’t dare say more, afraid that if she pushed too far, he would catch on to her intentions. Smiling, she replied, “How could I have any complaints? You and Mom are the best.”

Lu Chang narrowed his eyes. Something about that didn’t sit right.

“Mingshu, are you sure you’re not hiding anything from me?”

“Of course not…” Mingshu, feeling guilty, quickly sat down on the chair next to him and changed the topic. “Brother, something strange happened recently in our neighborhood, Shengmin District.”

“What strange thing?” Lu Chang asked.

“There’s this family with the surname Jia. They have a daughter about my age. She used to be sweet and gentle, but two years ago, she suddenly had a complete change of character. She started mistreating the family’s cats, dogs, and birds, and even whipped and abused the servants. She didn’t even spare her personal maid, and she began talking back to her elders with disrespect. Her behavior outside became more and more reckless, and despite being reprimanded many times, she wouldn’t change. Her parents were so worried that they had to keep her locked up at home. Brother, you’re well-versed in these things. What do you think causes someone to change their personality so drastically?” She disguised the story of Yin Shujun as a different tale.

“A family named Jia lives in Shengmin District? And they have servants?” Lu Chang stared at her and questioned.

Shengmin District was a commoner’s neighborhood—there wouldn’t be any wealthy families with servants living there.

Mingshu hadn’t expected him to catch on so quickly and hurriedly replied, “Oh come on, Shengmin District is so big, Brother. You’ve only been there a few days, so of course you wouldn’t have heard of them. I heard it from someone else and was really curious. You’re so clever—please analyze it for me!”

Flattery always works, and Mingshu’s was particularly sincere and charming. Lu Chang finally eased his sharp gaze and began to ponder.

“A person’s temperament is shaped gradually over time and is closely related to their environment. If we rule out the possibility of this person deliberately pretending, then generally speaking, any significant change in their surroundings could cause mental or behavioral abnormalities. For example, if their family suddenly faced ruin or if close relatives, like parents, passed away.”

“But no, her family hasn’t gone through any major changes. Her parents and elders are all alive, and they’re quite well-off,” Mingshu replied.

“Perhaps something happened that her family doesn’t know about, or it could be due to a medical condition.”

“A medical condition?” Mingshu was puzzled.

“Yes, some hidden illnesses, particularly ones with a family history, like hysteria, or even an injury. For instance, after you fell and developed that dissociative condition, your personality changed too.”

“How did I change?” Hearing him use her as an example, Mingshu seized the moment to ask.

Lu Chang turned to look at her. “You used to be very well-behaved, gentle, and obedient…”

Mingshu frowned, suspicious. “That’s not right. You used to call me a little troublemaker…” Midway through her sentence, she suddenly realized he was teasing her, so she playfully hit him. “Brother, you’re making fun of me again.”

Lu Chang covered his smile with a fist and continued, “Besides those reasons, it could also be caused by drugs. There are many substances out there that can alter someone’s personality, like datura. Prolonged use can lead to these kinds of side effects.”

“Are you saying someone might be poisoning her?” Mingshu thought to herself. Yin Shujun’s condition had started to worsen two years ago, which did fit with what her brother said about prolonged use.

“These drugs can cause personality changes, but they usually come with symptoms like confusion, madness, or delusions,” Lu Chang said as he got up to refill her cup of hawthorn tea.

Mingshu considered this. According to Mrs. Yin and Tao Yiqian’s descriptions, Yin Shujun didn’t seem confused or out of touch with reality. If she were truly exhibiting such obvious symptoms of madness or delusions, her family would have noticed and sought treatment long ago.

“Those symptoms aren’t there. So maybe it’s not poison after all. What could it be, then? Possession by a spirit? A soul takeover?” She absentmindedly took the cup of tea, muttering to herself.

Before she could finish her sentence, Lu Chang flicked her on the forehead.

“Stop talking nonsense. There’s no such thing as ghosts or spirits—it’s just people causing trouble. You sound like you’ve seen that Jia girl in person to know so much.”

“No, I just heard about it,” Mingshu said, holding the tea to warm her hands.

“Mingshu, even what we see with our own eyes might not be the truth, let alone things we hear. Rumors spread in the streets are often exaggerated by gossipers just for a bit of excitement, without any regard for the truth. They don’t realize how much harm they could cause to the people involved. You must not pick up such habits. That Jia girl is of marriageable age, and if her reputation is damaged, it could ruin her chances for a happy future.”

“We shouldn’t spread or discuss rumors recklessly. The harm of rumors, on a small scale, can ruin a person’s life; on a larger scale, it can undermine the very foundation of a country,” Lu Chang said solemnly.

Mingshu nodded and said, “Brother, I understand. Rumors should be stopped by the wise.”

Lu Chang’s advice seemed to have broadened her perspective. She placed the tea cup on the table and, forgetting herself, wrapped her arms around Lu Chang’s hands with a beaming smile. “Brother, you’re really smart.”

Lu Chang’s heart skipped a beat.

He thought she must have forgotten the advice he had given her about avoiding suspicion last time.

“Stop flattering me. Don’t involve yourself in other people’s business,” Lu Chang said, tapping her forehead. “Are you really not hiding anything from me?”

“No, really not,” Mingshu replied cheerfully, releasing her hold and moving to the door to admire the view of the courtyard.

The room was connected to a corridor adorned with Xiangfei bamboo curtains, and beyond the curtains was a tranquil bamboo grove. As she gazed out, Mingshu suddenly had a thought and turned to ask, “Brother…”

Lu Chang was searching for his coin pouch by the bed, intending to have Mingshu take the savings he had accumulated during her visit back home. Hearing her call, he turned to see her staring absentmindedly at the bamboo grove and asking, “The young man we saw in the corridor earlier—do you know who he is?”

Lu Chang’s good mood was instantly shattered by the question.

Mingshu, clutching the coin pouch, was sent out of Songling Academy by Lu Chang.

Just because she had asked him about the identity of the young man she had glimpsed earlier, Lu Chang was angry again.

Mingshu didn’t understand why she couldn’t get the young man out of her mind. Although she had only seen him for a moment and hadn’t even had a good look at his face, she felt an inexplicable familiarity with his demeanor, as if she had known him for a long time.

It was as if he was a key to unlocking a chaotic past.

“I’m fine here, so you and Mother don’t need to worry. I need to focus on my studies from now on, so please don’t come to Songling Academy unless it’s urgent,” Lu Chang said as he saw her off to the carriage. His tone was polite, but his tense expression betrayed his emotions.

“I—”

Mingshu tried to say something, but Lu Chang ignored her. He went straight to speak with the coachman, and the carriage started moving. Mingshu could only sit in the carriage and pull down the curtain.

Lu Chang didn’t leave; he stood at the academy’s gate, watching her depart.

She suddenly remembered that her brother often wore blue clothes, and today, he was also dressed in a light blue robe.