Chapter Fifteen: The Boy's Youth Missed

The boys of the Black Team burst into cheers, crowding around Ming Chu as if she were a rising star. Chen Shanglu squeezed through them with a grin and said, “I lost, so I must accept my punishment. I’m ready—go ahead.”

Ming Chu cast him a sidelong glance and replied seriously, “The point of competition lies not in victory or defeat, but in the joy of the game. Today, my third brother considered you a distinguished guest of the Prince of Jiang’s household and went easy on you. I hope you, Young Master Chen, will not become too arrogant because of it.”

For a moment, Chen Shanglu was taken aback. Then he put away his smile, bowed his head, and said, “It was thoughtless of me. Still, since I lost, I shouldn’t shirk my punishment. I beg the Fifth Miss to grant me my due.”

Ming Chu couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of her mouth. What kind of request was this, to ask to be beaten? She had never encountered such a thing before.

“Well, I’ll keep that in mind for now. I have something else to attend to.” With a wave of her hand, Ming Chu walked off toward Ming Wan.

Chen Shanglu watched her, his gaze playful. Ming Chu—what an unusual girl.

He watched as she climbed over the wall and was astonished yet again. “Are all the ladies of the Prince of Jiang’s household so bold and unrestrained?” The corners of his lips lifted in amusement.

Ming Wan had been sitting atop the wall, watching the whole time. Before jumping down, she deliberately glanced back at Chen Shanglu and noticed his eyes lingering on Ming Chu.

“Chu’er, how are you so capable?” she asked.

Ming Chu took Ming Wan’s hand and laughed, “I prefer swords to rouge, that’s all. Sometimes I have Yuewu teach me a few simple moves—you know, Yuewu is exceptionally skilled.”

By the time they left Lianzi Residence, the sun was already setting. Second Aunt was standing at the doorway, waving warmly. “Chu’er, take care on your way!” Ming Wan stood beside her, her expression unreadable.

After Ming Chu had gone, Ming Wan said softly, “Mother, why weren’t you born a princess?”

Her mother shushed her. “Silly girl, don’t talk nonsense. The prince has said we must no longer mention anything about Ming Chu’s mother’s identity—don’t you know that?” She quickly covered Ming Wan’s mouth.

“I just want you to marry someone of high rank and status, so I can gain some honor and bask in your glory,” her mother added.

“Don’t worry, Mother. I will,” Ming Wan replied, a cold smile flickering across her face.

As Ming Chu passed through the garden, a figure suddenly appeared from behind a clump of flowers.

“What are you doing, Jiang Zhenyuan? Are you trying to scare me to death?” Ming Chu clutched her chest in annoyance.

Jiang Zhenyuan shook his head earnestly. “No, I wasn’t trying to scare you. Although I did hide here on purpose.”

“Then why were you hiding?”

“I… I…” Jiang Zhenyuan’s face turned red.

“If you won’t say, I’m leaving.”

“I wanted to thank you,” he finally mumbled, lowering his head. “Thank you for helping me save face today.”

Ming Chu raised her brow. “You’re my brother—wouldn’t it be odd if I didn’t help you? What’s there to thank me for?”

She bent down to look at him, smiled at his flushed face, and said, “We’re family, aren’t we?”

With that, she skipped away.

Jiang Zhenyuan watched her retreating figure for a long time. What right do I have to call myself your brother? I’ve never done anything a brother ought to do.

Chen Lin stayed at the Prince of Jiang’s residence for a day before preparing to return home. Chen Shanglu wandered all over the estate, but never once ran into Ming Chu.

He sighed in regret, but was also pleased that Ming Chu was still young and unwed.

After bidding farewell to the family, Chen Lin left first in his sedan chair. Chen Shanglu lingered on purpose at the gate.

When he spotted a familiar figure trying to slip away unnoticed, he couldn’t help but shout, “Chu’er, I still owe you something, and I will surely repay it!”

Everyone at the Prince of Jiang’s residence turned to look at Ming Chu, who was just about to cross the threshold. Now, she was caught in an awkward predicament—neither advancing nor retreating, neither able to set her foot down nor to draw it back. Her face flushed with embarrassment.

“Uh…” Ming Chu glared at Chen Shanglu in annoyance. He must be doing this on purpose! Since when was he allowed to call her Chu’er? They weren’t that close yet, were they?

Chen Shanglu beamed, his smile innocent and harmless. After bidding farewell to the prince again, he mounted his handsome white horse and rode away.

The prince asked Ming Chu what it was that Chen Shanglu owed her. Before she could answer, Jiang Zhenyuan jumped in and recounted the ball game, carefully omitting his own defeat.

In the end, he grumbled, “Ming Chu, you should have given him a thrashing then and there. He was far too cheeky with you—clearly up to no good.”

Ming Chu nodded solemnly. “Next time, I won’t let him off so easily.”

Ming Rou teased, “Oh my, since when are you two so united against him?” Zhenning clapped Jiang Zhenyuan on the shoulder and joked, “Zhenyuan’s growing up—he knows how to look out for his little sister now.”

Jiang Zhenyuan blushed and ran into the house alone.

“Did I see that right? Zhenyuan was blushing! I always thought he was too thick-skinned to ever turn red,” Ming Rou laughed. Everyone entered the residence together, while Ming Wan and Second Aunt walked quietly at the back.

Early the next morning, a servant from the prince’s side came to Ruohua Pavilion with a message: Lord Du, assistant minister of the Ministry of War, was coming with his son to propose marriage, and all the ladies of the household were to gather for the occasion.

Yunxi was braiding Ming Chu’s hair when she heard the news, prompting Ming Chu to leap up in excitement.

“So that means I don’t have to go to the academy, or practice music or dance today?” she giggled.

Yunxi laughed as well, and the old nurse asked, “Do we know which young lady Lord Du is proposing for? The eldest or the fourth?”

“So long as it’s not for our most beautiful, most adorable Fifth Miss, that’s all that matters,” Yunxi said, her eyes darting mischievously. “If my lady gets married, I won’t be able to stay by her side any longer—how terribly sad that would be.”

“Yunxi, I love hearing you talk, I really do. I couldn’t bear to be without you,” Ming Chu replied sincerely.

“No other mistress would want a gluttonous, lazy girl like her anyway,” the old nurse interjected mercilessly.

Yunxi stuck out her tongue. After washing up, the nurse went to fetch water while Yunxi chose a pomegranate-red cross-collared skirt for Ming Chu.

“It’s a joyful day, so red is most auspicious.”

As usual, Ming Chu ran outside, but didn’t see the familiar figure she was looking for.

She went to check Yuewu’s room. It was empty, the bedding neatly folded, as if no one had slept there at all.

“Nurse, where’s Yuewu?” She hadn’t seen him the night before and assumed he’d simply gone to bed early.

“Yuewu? Madam summoned him yesterday afternoon.”

Ming Chu was surprised. “Why would the mistress want Yuewu?” But there was no time to ponder—the ever-impatient Yunxi was already urging her to hurry.