Lu Yu listened to his blabbering sister as he walked along the stone pathways of the Lu manor. The bricks had greyed with the passage of time, no longer as clean and white as he remembered. Tufts of moss could be spotted between the cracks, striving with life. Individual blocks stood elevated from the rest; a result of the flourishing roots. As Lu Chuxiang talked brightly with the Old Madam, Lu Yu focused on the path, steering them away from such tripping hazards.
"Grandma, you don't know how wronged I feel. My brother's brain is filled with books, scriptures and calligraphy. Guess what he brought me? Ink blocks. Stinky, hard, lifeless ink blocks. I'm a young girl in the prime of her youth! He can't think of anything else for a gift?"
Lu Yu looked up, widening his eyes in innocence. He turned his head, asking for a witness to clear his name, but no one spoke. Xiaowan and Xing'er shot each other a look, silently agreeing not to remind their mistress of the box of pastries she'd conveniently failed to bring up. Seizing this opportunity, Lu Chuxiang continued,
"See? He's got nothing to say. That means he's guilty."
"Indeed, indeed. Your father used to look like that when he felt shameful. That expression must have been passed down to this rascal."
Lu Chuxiang's eyes gleamed at the mention of her father. Lu Feng had died six years ago when Chuxiang was eight, old enough to understand what was happening, but also able to get over the sadness quickly. Out of the three siblings, she was the one who adjusted the best, enjoying her days in Pingzhou after a few months of proper mourning for the funeral. Now whenever her father is mentioned in the Lu house, she answers with curiosity, even making the Old Madam tell her many old stories.
"Really? I must be right then. Humph! Brother is too mean!"
"Alright, that's enough. Your brother just got back from Pingzhou. Don't go too far."
"Who's the one going too far? He's the one going too far. His sister is angry, yet he doesn't even comfort her. I might as well have a stick for a brother."
'Comfort? How am I supposed to comfort you, my great ancestor?' Lu Yu thought helplessly, then saw Chuxiang winking with intent. 'Oh,' he realized.
"Ahem, then how about I come with you to that poetry conference tomorrow?"
"Nonsense! You have exams, how could you go out at this time? Chuxiang knows better-"
"Alright!"
The Old Madam looked at her grandaughter in surprise. Chuxiang continued,
"Grandma, you know how it is. They keep bullying me, saying I don't have a brother. How could I let that be? Please let him go this once, just this once. I won't ask ever again, I promise. Please?" she begged coquettishly, softly pushing on the Old Madam's arm.
"No. He needs to prepare for the exam. Poetry conferences can wait."
"But all the examinees are invited. They can converse with each other. Even Gu Qiuming will be there! He might have some information about the exam. Brother shouldn't miss this!"
"Gu Qiuming? Grand Tutor Gu's grandson? He'll be going to this type of congregation before the exam? Ai, I don't understand these young people anymore. Alright, I will talk about it with your uncle, but if he doesn't agree, that's the end of it." Lu Chuxiang nodded happily. Slowing her steps, she rearranged her clothes and hair ornaments before continuing in a lady-like manner.
They reached Fengwan Qiao, a bridge that separated the backyard from the front yard in the Lu Manor. Crossing to the other side, it seemed as though Lu Chuxiang had flipped a switch. Instantly, she became the demure princess of the Lu family, an elegant little petal that had been protected from wind and rain. Lu Yu didn't question the sudden change in behavior, continuing forward without a second glance.
Before long, they arrived at the banquet guided by the clamoring sounds of an opera performance, and the occasional applause. Stopping at the door, Lu Yu took a deep breath, preparing for what was to come. The Old Madam smiled and clenched his hand.
Entering the courtyard, all eyes turned away from the acrobatic show, onto the Old Madam and the siblings who supported her at either side. There were no less than a hundred people, each bearing an expression of unconcealed eagerness upon seeing Lu Feng's son. Lu Yu looked forwards, a practiced smile hung on the corners of his lips, a mask to cover his nervousness.
The complaints that Lu Chuxiang voiced earlier were all legitimate; her brother was stiff and wooden, or more accurately, guarded. Lu Yu had changed drastically over the years, no longer the lively boy he once was. Ever since their father's death, he was surrounded by an air of melancholy, but now, he seemed laden with reservations. Chuxiang couldn't put a finger on it. All she knew was that he smiled less, talked less, and held himself back from laughing with everyone.
'He's acting like someone haunted by their Master for missing their schoolwork.' Lu Chuxiang thought to herself, which wasn't far from the truth. Master Yang was indeed haunting Lu Yu for something: 60 000 taels of debt wasn't something so easily shaken off, considering Lu Yu had just gotten the news a few hours prior. However, on this occasion, her brother was reticent for another reason.
All the members of the Lu family who currently resided in the capital had arrived for this family banquet. This includes Lu Yu's uncles, and their wives, the people who had arranged Lu Ming's marriage without so much as notifying Lu Yu, her brother. It wasn't as if he could do anything once the matter was settled, but even so, they took extra measures so he couldn't step in. Considering who she married, it wasn't surprising that they were extra cautious.
Passing through the courtyard where the tables were set for distant relatives, Lu Yu entered the Heqing hall where the direct descendants of the Lu family were seated. A separate table designated specifically for the Elders was set here as well, however since this is a family banquet celebrating a younger generation's homecoming, it wasn't certain how many would actually show up.
Greeting his aunts and uncles, the best Lu Yu could do was keep a straight face while bending his back. With a practiced motion, he stopped each time at 90 degrees. Any more, and it's too strenuous, any less wouldn't be polite enough. As he brought the Old Madam and Lu Chuxiao to the women's table, he was pulled over to sit down by his second aunt, Jia Hailing.