Although the newborn’s arrival had Fu Tingyun and Zhao Ling scrambling, they found more joy than trouble in it.

Fu Tingyun, with a kerchief wrapped around her head, sat on the kang bed cradling her sleeping daughter. She smiled warmly while conversing with Master Muo’s wife: “I had agreed with the Ninth Master that when you came to the capital, we would visit your home to offer congratulations. Who would have thought I’d go into labor…”

“This is what we call destiny!” Madam Muo, in her thirties with a slightly plump figure and fair skin, was quite imposing despite her average looks, due to her tall stature. She smiled and gently touched the child’s head. “Your daughter is wonderful!” Her gaze at Youyou was affectionate, but contained even more envy.

Madam Muo had given birth to four sons, and her greatest wish now was to have a daughter.

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but smile with pursed lips.

Youyou were not only beautiful but also had a good temperament. Unless she was hungry or needed to urinate, she would sleep quietly. Occasionally, when she woke, she would look around with her crystal-clear eyes, appearing extremely adorable.

Zheng Sanniang said that babies at this age couldn’t see anything, but Fu Tingyun didn’t believe it. She always felt that with eyes so bright, how could her daughter not see? She simply couldn’t speak yet.

At such times, she would chatter endlessly with Youyou.

As this thought flashed through her mind, Youyou suddenly opened her eyes.

The wet nurse nearby quickly took her to use the chamber pot, then brought her back to Fu Tingyun.

Madam Muo marveled: “Look at those eyes, so bright and clear. How could she possibly look like a newborn baby?”

“Everyone says the same thing,” Fu Tingyun smiled. “They also say she’s big for her age, but I have no experience to tell.”

Madam Muo carefully examined Youyou for a moment, then said: “Compared to other babies, she is larger.”

“I heard from my mother that I was also very big when I was young,” Fu Tingyun continued their casual conversation. “At ten years old, I was already taller than children who were twelve or thirteen. My mother was quite worried that I would grow taller than men. But after I turned thirteen, I never grew taller again.”

“My experience was exactly the opposite,” Madam Muo smiled, stroking her hand. “When I was twelve or thirteen, I only reached my mother’s shoulder. Who would have thought that within two years, I’d grow taller than my father? My mother worried I wouldn’t find a husband, but fortunately, there was Huanzhi, who is even taller than me.”

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but laugh: “Then your sons must also be very tall?”

Madam Muo nodded: “Taller than children from other families. Even among their cousins, they’re the tallest.”

Just then, Zhenzhu entered to report: “Madam, the First Lady of the Chen family has arrived.”

The First Lady of the Chen family was Chen Shi, the eldest daughter-in-law of Chen Yunsheng, the Front Commander of the Jinwu Guards, who had served as the full-blessing person for Fu Tingyun’s delivery.

Fu Tingyun quickly had her invited in and introduced her to Madam Muo.

Madam Muo held an imperial title that far outranked Chen Shi, but she still politely exchanged formal greetings. After Madam Muo sat back down, Chen Shi approached to see the baby.

“Why did you hold the full-month celebration so early?” she asked after praising the child and sitting on an embroidered stool by the bed. “The children at our home are still paying respects to the Smallpox Goddess. I calculated that you still had some time, and was planning to visit you in a few days, but then received your invitation for your daughter’s full-month celebration…”

According to custom, after a child is born, the full-month celebration could be held when the month turns. But for Youyou, who was only about ten days old, and not from a poor family needing the celebration gifts to help the new mother through her confinement, it seemed too rushed!

Fu Tingyun also felt the date had been set too hastily.

However, when Yu Wei went to report the good news to Madam Fu, not only did she give Youyou a longevity lock made of white silver, but she also set the date for the child’s full-month celebration. She said the date had been carefully calculated by an enlightened monk based on their mother-daughter birth dates, bringing good fortune to both her and the child. Fu Tingyun had intended to have Yu Wei ask her mother for a different date, but Zhao Ling said: “It’s just a date for the full-month ceremony. Since it’s the elder’s wish, we should comply. Why disappoint the mother-in-law’s good intentions?”

Since Zhao Ling had spoken thus, Fu Tingyun had nothing more to say.

The date was set for the tenth day of the fifth month.

Today was Youyou’s full-month celebration.

Fearing they might disturb the baby, they didn’t invite a theater troupe, but Zhao Ling’s friends and colleagues, about fifteen tables of guests, were still in attendance.

Fu Tingyun couldn’t explain these details to Chen Shi, so she simply said vaguely: “The date was set by the elders, and it wasn’t appropriate to refuse.”

Chen Shi and the others didn’t press further upon hearing this. Moreover, as this was Chen Shi’s first meeting with Madam Muo, she was cautious because of Madam Muo’s status, speaking and acting with extra care. Nevertheless, everyone chatted and laughed, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Soon after, the wife of Li Yunxiang, the Deputy Commander of the Left Banner Guards, arrived. Madam Wu from next door and Madam Ji from Bensi Hutong also arrived one after another. Just then, it was time to begin the feast, with female guests in the hall and male guests in the main courtyard.

Zhao Ling carried the child out for a round of introductions and returned with many gifts of longevity locks, gold ingots, and silver ingots.

After the feast, some of Zhao Ling’s colleagues needed to return to their official duties, while others who had just come to join the celebration left first. Muo Yi and a few others remained and went to the south room’s hall for tea and conversation. Jin Yuanbao and Yang Yucheng hurried over to help entertain guests in the south hall. Madam Wu, Madam Ji, and others bid farewell first. Madam Muo, concerned about her children at home, chatted with Fu Tingyun for a while before departing. Chen Shi stayed to talk with Fu Tingyun, offering advice on childcare tips and matters requiring attention, only leaving after the evening meal.

Since Fu Tingyun was still in confinement and couldn’t move around freely, Zheng San and Yu Wei took charge—one supervising the dismantling of decorations and removal of tables and chairs, while the other settled accounts in the south ear room of the east wing. By the time lanterns were lit, the house had returned to its original tranquility.

Zhao Ling, slightly intoxicated, leaned against the pillow on the large kang bed by the window, watching Fu Tingyun pat the baby to sleep in the dim yellow light, making casual conversation: “Why has summer come so early this year? Fortunately, my mother-in-law chose this date. In a few more days, the weather will only get hotter, and if we had held the banquet then, the guests would have been drenched in sweat!”

Seeing her daughter’s breathing becoming more stable, Fu Tingyun turned back and smiled at Zhao Ling.

Zhao Ling sat up and said: “Qin, when your confinement period ends, let’s go to Tanzhe Temple to fulfill our vow.”

“What vow?” Fu Tingyun asked, puzzled.

She had prayed for a son, but now that she had given birth to a daughter, there was naturally no need to fulfill any vow.

Zhao Ling moved closer and took her hand: “I made a vow to the Bodhisattva that if we could have a daughter as beautiful as you, I would donate one hundred taels of silver as an offering.”

Fu Tingyun’s eyes widened: “You…”

She didn’t know what to say.

Zhao Ling then spoke earnestly: “I know you wanted a son, but I felt it would be better for you to have a daughter first—a daughter is her mother’s little cotton jacket, close to the heart.”

Fu Tingyun felt her heart stir at his words and hesitantly asked: “Are you… Are you going to Guizhou?”

Zhao Ling was silent for a while, then said softly: “Today, Master Gan mentioned this matter to me again… In recent days, they’ve transferred much grain and fodder from Huguang to Guizhou… It will probably happen within the month.”

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but grip his sleeve tightly.

“Don’t worry!” Zhao Ling gently embraced Fu Tingyun. “Jin Yuanbao was present at the time, and he asked Master Gan to transfer him to the Five Cities Military Affairs Bureau, so he could look after you. From Master Gan’s reaction, he seemed to strongly approve. If I go to Guizhou, if anything happens at home, you can turn to Jin Yuanbao.” Then he continued, “As for Zuo Junjie’s matter, I’ve carefully questioned some beggars. It seems Zuo Junjie begged his way to the capital. Wherever he went, he would seek out the local beggar chief, stay for two or three months, and then move on. I reckon since he fled the capital, he certainly won’t return these days. He previously stayed in Tongzhou for two months. People usually prefer to stay in familiar places, so there’s a possibility he returned to Tongzhou, or some other place he’s familiar with…”

Fu Tingyun’s eyes brightened as she sat up straight: “What you say makes sense!”

“I’ve told Jin Yuanbao about this,” Zhao Ling said. “He’ll look into it in Tongzhou these days. Don’t worry, focus on your confinement period and avoid developing any chronic conditions.”

Fu Tingyun nodded repeatedly, now confident they would find Zuo Junjie.

Early the next morning, Zhao Ling and Fu Tingyun were sleeping deeply, having stayed up until dawn playing with Youyou. Suddenly, Yu Wei’s urgent voice came from outside the window: “Madam, Madam, please wake up quickly! There’s a message from Sixi Hutong.”

Fu Tingyun was still rubbing her sleepy eyes when Zhao Ling shot up: “Who brought the message? Quickly invite them in.” As he spoke, he got off the bed and slipped into his shoes.

“It’s Xiu Zhu’s wife,” Yu Wei hesitated briefly, then said softly, “I’ll bring her in now.”

Fu Tingyun felt a jolt, and for some reason, a sense of foreboding rose in her heart.

“What happened?” she grabbed Zhao Ling’s arm.

Still wrapped in the warm quilt, Fu Tingyun’s fingers were ice-cold.

Zhao Ling avoided her gaze and said: “I don’t know either… let’s find out!”

Fu Tingyun’s heart began to race inexplicably, and she felt panicked.

Just as she was about to release Zhao Ling’s hand, Xiu Zhu’s wife’s choked voice came from outside: “Young Master, Young Mistress, last night at the second quarter of the Dog Hour, the Madam passed away!”

“What did you say?” Fu Tingyun stumbled off the kang and rushed out unsteadily.

Xiu Zhu’s wife was kneeling in front of the curtain, weeping bitterly.

“Young Mistress…” she covered her mouth, “the Madam, the old Madam, is gone…”

Fu Tingyun immediately burst into tears: “How could this be? How could this happen?”

Zhao Ling rushed out and quickly supported Fu Tingyun: “Don’t cry, you’re still in confinement!”

Fu Tingyun turned and clutched Zhao Ling’s arm, looking at him with a pleading gaze: “Did you already know?” Tears instantly blurred her vision.

Otherwise, Youyou’s full-month celebration wouldn’t have been arranged so hastily…

Zhao Ling’s eyes glistened with tears as he gently nodded.