The Noble Son-in-Law - Chapter 21 Part 2

As the carriage moved farther away, Lu Chang’s figure also grew more distant. He stood there, motionless, as if he had become a piece of green bamboo.

After returning from Songling Academy, Mingshu focused her attention on the matter of Yin Shujun.

The conversation with Lu Chang had been very enlightening for her, opening up new avenues of thought and moving beyond her initial guesses. After resting at home for a day, Mingshu finally changed into the clothes given to her by Mrs. Yin and packed her things to head to the Yin residence.

Mrs. Yin had gifted her two sets of clothes, both in refreshing colors and of much better quality in terms of style and fabric compared to the ones Lu Chang had bought. They fit Mingshu much better.

“You look good in this outfit,” Mrs. Zeng said, seeing Mingshu appear somewhat like her old self again, her emotions mixed.

“But I still like the dress Mother made for me,” Mingshu replied with a smile, carefully folding the dress that Mrs. Zeng had sewn and packing it away in her trunk before bidding Mrs. Zeng farewell and heading out.

Outside, a carriage from the Yin family was waiting. Although she was only going as a companion for study, the Yin family had sent someone to pick her up, and Tao Yiqian had volunteered for the task. As Mingshu stepped out in her new outfit, Tao Yiqian’s eyes brightened.

“Fifth Master…” Mingshu lifted the curtain as she entered the carriage.

Tao Yiqian quickly drove the horses and followed the carriage, saying, “Don’t be so formal. Just call me Mingyuan or… Fifth Brother.”

Mingshu thought for a moment and then said, “Alright, Fifth Brother.”

Tao Yiqian was delighted by the title “Fifth Brother.” He then heard her ask, “Fifth Brother, aren’t you going back to Lin’an?”

“Not for now. My family has entrusted me with managing a few shops in the capital, so I’ll be staying here for a while.”

Mingshu nodded and then asked, “By the way, Fifth Brother, I forgot to ask you last time. Miss Shujun is seventeen this year, right? Has she been promised to someone, or does she have a particular suitor in mind?”

“She hasn’t been betrothed yet. However, I’ve heard my mother mention that my aunt seems to be interested in arranging a match between her and the Third Prince.”

“You already have a princess in your family. If another member were to become a royal consort, it would indeed be a remarkable honor,” Mingshu said.

“Indeed, my grandfather and eldest uncle are also hoping for this match to happen. But with Shujun’s current situation, marrying into the royal family might bring trouble to the family. I don’t think this marriage will work out,” Tao Yiqian replied.

“Does your grandfather have any other eligible daughters?” Mingshu asked.

“There is only Shujun as the legitimate daughter of the first branch. However, there is a younger sister, Liangjun, who is only a year younger than Shujun. Liangjun is a secondary-born, so she can’t marry into the royal family unless she is favored by my aunt and registered as a legitimate daughter under my aunt’s name. Then, there might be a chance.”

“And how does Liangjun get along with Miss Shujun?”

“I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry. Liangjun is a kind and lovely girl…” Tao Yiqian, worried that Mingshu might not believe him, added, “She’s as likable as you. You’ll see for yourself when you meet her. Her relationship with Shujun has always been good since childhood. When Shujun’s temperament changed, none of the family members wanted to be near her, not even her younger brother. Only Liangjun still frequently goes to accompany her and talk to her to alleviate her loneliness.”

Mingshu nodded, wanting to ask more, but saw Tao Yiqian raise his eyebrows with a smile and point ahead, saying, “We’ve arrived. Look, Liangjun is out to greet you.”

Mingshu leaned out of the carriage window and saw a young lady in yellow standing on the stone steps of the side gate, eagerly waiting.

The carriage soon stopped in front of the side gate. Mingshu stepped down using the small stool and was immediately greeted by a bright, smiling face.

“Mingshu, how could you trouble Third Miss to come out here to meet me?” Mingshu said, preparing to bow, but before she could kneel, Yin Liangjun supported her. Yin Liangjun, as the third daughter in her family, was addressed accordingly.

“Please don’t be so formal, Sister. I heard from my mother that a companion was found for my elder sister, and I was delighted to have another sister. When I also heard about your heroic act of rescuing the five of you from mountain bandits, I admired you greatly. When I learned that Fifth Brother was coming to pick you up today, I couldn’t wait to meet you, so I came out to wait,” Yin Liangjun said with a smile, warmly taking Mingshu’s hand.

Mingshu allowed her to hold her hand but glanced over at Tao Yiqian. Tao Yiqian, with an awkward smile, whispered, “I only mentioned your situation but didn’t mention your brother. Don’t worry.”

Mingshu then looked back at Liangjun and said, “Third Miss, you flatter me. It was merely a matter of circumstance; it’s nothing to mention.”

“Even so, it takes someone as clever as you to turn danger into safety. Someone like me, with my clumsy hands and feet, would only drag Fifth Brother down,” Liangjun said, sticking out her tongue playfully.

Tao Yiqian, seeing this, gave her a light tap on the head and said, “Stop talking nonsense. If you were in danger, I’d risk everything to protect you.”

Liangjun smiled again. She was naturally beautiful, with a pointed chin, sparkling eyes, and a delicate, slender figure. When she smiled, it was very sweet, and even when not smiling, she had a charming, delicate air that made her all the more endearing and worth protecting.

“Mingshu, let’s go! I’ll take you to meet the other sisters at home. They’ve all been waiting at the academy,” Yin Liangjun said enthusiastically, pulling Mingshu toward the academy.

Mingshu stopped and smiled, “Third Miss, the Madam instructed me to be a companion to Miss Shujun. I should first visit her and then go to the academy with her.”

Liangjun was momentarily surprised, but Tao Yiqian said, “That’s right. I’ll take you to see Miss Shujun first.”

“Why don’t I take Sister Mingshu?” Liangjun volunteered again.

“That’s fine. You girls know how to handle these things. I won’t interfere. Mingshu, hand your luggage to me, and I’ll have someone take it to your room. Liangjun, please take care of Mingshu,” Tao Yiqian said, taking Mingshu’s luggage, given that they were all girls, he felt it more appropriate to step aside.

“Don’t worry,” Liangjun said, patting her chest.

Tao Yiqian then turned to Mingshu and advised, “If you encounter any difficulties, just let me know. Be careful.”

Mingshu thanked Tao Yiqian and then bid farewell to Liangjun.

Yin Shujun, the eldest legitimate daughter in the family, lived alone in a building called “Lan Cui Pavilion,” which was surrounded by a small garden, offering a view and privacy. It was evident how much the family cherished her, yet it was unclear why her demeanor had changed so suddenly.

As Mingshu followed Yin Liangjun, they encountered many of the Yin family’s servants along the way. Each servant greeted Yin Liangjun with a smile and showed respect. Yin Liangjun responded warmly, addressing everyone by name. Mingshu observed from the side and thought that Yin Liangjun was very well-liked among the servants.

Yin Liangjun introduced Mingshu to everyone, and when they learned that Mingshu had come to be a companion reader for Yin Shujun, their expressions grew complicated. Mingshu pretended not to understand and asked Yin Liangjun, “Why do they look at me like that?”

Yin Liangjun seemed to be waiting for her to ask. After a moment of hesitation, she finally said, “My elder sister has a somewhat strict nature, and they are afraid of her.” She then bit her lip and leaned closer to whisper in Mingshu’s ear, “Sister Mingshu, be patient while serving my elder sister. If you encounter any difficulties, you can come to me.”

Mingshu raised an eyebrow, surprised. “Your sister is like that?”

“Shh, we’ve arrived.” Yin Liangjun made a hush gesture, as if afraid of disturbing the people inside the garden.

Isn’t it said that the sisters have a good relationship? It doesn’t seem like it.

The gate to the garden was tightly closed. Yin Liangjun went to knock on the door, and Mingshu’s eyebrows furrowed slightly after she turned away.

What a mystery!

Mingshu and Yin Liangjun did not find Yin Shujun in the embroidery building. According to the servants, Yin Shujun had gone to the family school early in the morning.

“It’s really unusual that my sister actually went to the school on her own today,” Yin Liangjun said, leading Mingshu toward the school and mumbling to herself.

“Doesn’t she usually go to the school?” Mingshu asked as they walked.

“She does, but usually… she’s not very punctual and often skips classes. The teachers and tutors just turn a blind eye; no one dares to challenge her,” Yin Liangjun replied.

“Your sister is like that…”

“She’s just a bit willful; there’s nothing else to it,” Yin Liangjun quickly defended Yin Shujun, but her explanation sounded weak and unconvincing.

Mingshu simply smiled and did not respond further.

By the time they reached the school, the two of them had stopped discussing Yin Shujun.

The Yin family school is located in Runwen Pavilion, which is divided into two parts: the eastern side for the male members of the family and the western side for the daughters. The two sides are connected by a long corridor, and in the center is a square lotus pond with a few koi fish. The environment is elegant and serene.

The eastern wing of Runwen Pavilion had already started the morning recitations, with the sound of reading filling the air, while the western wing had yet to begin classes.

As Mingshu entered the western wing, she saw that many young ladies of tender age were already seated. Apart from the main branch of the Yin family, there were also girls from the secondary branches and collateral lines. Scanning the room, Mingshu estimated there were around seven or eight girls, nearly filling the entire classroom, except for one empty spot.

The classroom’s desks and chairs were arranged in a grid. At the first seat on the left, a girl in red clothing was sitting, but the seats behind and to the right of her were empty, in stark contrast to the other positions which were fully occupied.

Despite the large number of girls, the tutor had not yet arrived. The morning, which should have been bustling, was unusually quiet, with everyone’s eyes turning to the newcomer, Mingshu. Outside the classroom, several maidservants and nannies were waiting in the corridor. One of them, upon seeing Mingshu, hurried forward.

“This is Yuniang, one of the ladies-in-waiting to my mother,” Yin Liangjun whispered to Mingshu.

“Our eldest daughter has already arrived at the school, and Lady Lu is late,” Yuniang said sternly, with a severe tone.

“Yuniang, it’s my fault… I thought my elder sister was still in her room, so I brought Mingshu to find her. Please don’t blame Mingshu,” Yin Liangjun quickly interjected, taking the responsibility upon herself.

Yuniang’s expression softened slightly upon hearing this and simply said, “Third Miss, please return to your seat.” She then guided Mingshu forward, stopping beside the girl in the red dress.

“Madam, this is Lady Lu Mingshu, the companion that Madam arranged for you,” Yuniang introduced, “Mingshu, this is our Miss Shujun. From now on, you will be her companion.”

Mingshu looked at the young lady in front of her, who remained seated with a straight posture despite everyone’s scrutiny. She gave a faint smile, performed a respectful curtsy, and said, “Mingshu pays her respects to Miss Shujun.”

At this moment, Miss Shujun turned her head—this turn of the head took Mingshu by surprise.

It was a surprising beauty.

She had expected Shujun and Liangjun to be similar in appearance, but she found that Shujun was exceptionally beautiful, surpassing Liangjun in elegance. With phoenix eyes and willow-shaped brows, a delicate nose, and cherry lips, Shujun was strikingly attractive. Even Mingshu, as a woman herself, couldn’t help but admire her beauty. However, Shujun’s complexion was slightly pale, and her radiant beauty was tinged with an air of sharpness, making her seem unapproachable.

“Hmph.” Miss Shujun snorted dismissively, casting a scornful glance at Mingshu. She showed no regard for Yuniang and said coldly, “Another one to keep an eye on me? This time it’s someone from outside?”

Yuniang, feeling awkward but familiar with Shujun’s temperament, didn’t press the matter further. Instead, she pointed to a seat behind Shujun and said, “From now on, you will sit here. The tutor is coming soon, so prepare for class.”

Mingshu followed the instructions and sat down in her designated spot. However, as soon as she settled onto the seat, she heard several low gasps from nearby. Puzzled, she glanced around and saw several pairs of eyes staring at her in fear, but as soon as she turned her head, they all quickly looked away, avoiding eye contact.

In front of her, Miss Shujun remained seated like a statue.

“Ladies, as usual, we will begin today with the ‘Nu Ze.’ Please take out your books and read it three times,” said the tutor, a woman in her forties.

As the sound of pages turning began, Mingshu noticed that there were no books on her desk, but several were stuffed inside the drawer, with the title “Nu Ze” faintly visible on the cover. She reached in to retrieve them.

Amid the orderly recital of verses, the room suddenly became disordered, with several faint whispers mixed in.

Mingshu’s hand had already reached into the drawer when she suddenly froze.

Miss Shujun, sitting in front, displayed a malicious smile on her otherwise cold face and began to recite in a pretentious manner, her eyes glancing back, eagerly waiting for the show to begin.

However, after turning a page and then another, suddenly Mingshu’s clear and resonant voice filled the space behind her. Miss Shujun’s smile faltered, and she turned around in disbelief to see Mingshu, who had neatly placed the book on the desk, reciting confidently with a bright and clear voice. Seeing Miss Shujun’s gaze, Mingshu even returned a friendly smile.

This is impossible!

Yin Shujun glanced at the desk and then at the floor but saw nothing.

Under Mingshu’s smiling gaze, Yin Shujun angrily turned back, flipping through the “Nü Zé” in her hand without continuing the recitation. The tutor frowned at her behavior and was about to reprimand her when a sudden scream from the hall nearly pierced everyone’s ears.

“Ah—”

A girl sitting to Yin Shujun’s right rear, and thus to Mingshu’s right, jumped up in terror. Trembling, she pointed at Yin Shujun’s back and stammered, “S… S… Spider!”

Everyone turned to look, and screams erupted, causing chaos in the entire hall.

A palm-sized spider was crawling up the back of Yin Shujun’s hair, inch by inch.

The delicate young ladies, who had never seen such a sight, were terrified, with some nearly fainting. Even the tutor was stunned. Seeing everyone’s gaze fixed on her back, Yin Shujun turned to look and was utterly horrified. Her eyes widened in shock!

Unbeknownst to her, the spider hidden in the compartment of Mingshu’s desk had made its way onto her.

“Ah—” She screamed even louder but was too frightened to move, fearing that any movement would cause the spider to crawl into her clothing. “Hurry… hurry…”

The classroom was in chaos. All the young ladies shrank back into corners, too frightened to approach Yin Shujun, and no one dared to step in and help. They let Yin Shujun suffer alone, her once-beautiful face growing increasingly pale.

“I… I’ll go get someone,” the tutor said, also too frightened to deal with the spider and repeatedly calling for help.

Yin Shujun glanced sideways and saw the spider almost reaching her shoulder, making its way towards her face. Its eight long legs were dangerously close. She felt faint and nearly desperate. Just then, a delicate white hand reached out and effortlessly grabbed the spider’s legs, removing the palm-sized arachnid from her hair.

“It’s alright, don’t be afraid,” said Mingshu.

She had somehow moved behind Yin Shujun and, with a quick motion, pinched the spider. The spider’s two long legs were held tightly by Mingshu, while the remaining six legs curled inward and twitched, still quite alarming.

“It’s not poisonous and won’t bite. Look, it’s quite docile,” Mingshu said, holding the spider up to Yin Shujun’s face.

Yin Shujun jumped up from her seat and recoiled, shouting, “Get it away! Take it away! Hurry up!”

The tutor also urged, “Just get rid of it.”

Mingshu gave a small “oh” as if reluctantly parting with the spider and tossed it out the window. The spider disappeared into the grass, and the crowd in the hall finally breathed a sigh of relief, with a few sighs of relief being heard.

“Mingshu, you’re amazing!” Yin Liangjun was the first to react, applauding.

The other young ladies gradually regained their composure, and each looked at Mingshu with admiration. Mingshu gave a modest bow and said, “You’re too kind.”

Yin Shujun, realizing who had caused the commotion, stormed up to Mingshu and glared angrily. “It was you!” She accused, believing that Mingshu had somehow orchestrated the spider incident to trouble her.

Mingshu remained calm and smiling. She gently placed a hand on Yin Shujun’s shoulder and guided her back to her seat. “Yin Shujun, it’s time for class. Let’s not make a fuss.” Turning to the tutor, she added, “Please, continue with the lesson.”

The tutor was momentarily taken aback but quickly responded, “Everyone, quiet down and let’s resume the class.”

The students returned to their seats, and Mingshu did the same. Yin Shujun shot her a fierce look, which Mingshu met with a smile.

Outside, Yunjie, who had witnessed the entire scene, discreetly waved away the young servant who had been about to catch the spider. She thought to herself, “Thank goodness. Maybe Mingshu really can handle our eldest miss.”

The recitation resumed, but Mingshu kept her hands under the desk, pressing her trembling right hand with her left.

A spider that large! Her heart nearly stopped from fright!

But what could she do? She couldn’t afford to lose in this first encounter.

For the sake of the reward, she had to brave it!