After sending off Madam Fu’s coffin and past the Mid-Autumn Festival, Fu Tingyun arranged for Zheng San to escort Xiu Zhu’s wife back to Shaanxi: “…Since we still need to settle Xiu Zhu and the two children, you should make the trip. While you’re there, check on Master Lü and Madam Lü’s health so I can have peace of mind.”

Zheng San agreed with a smile, but Xiu Zhu’s wife firmly refused: “A round trip would cost quite a bit. I can simply take a commercial carriage to Yang Liu Lane in Xi’an Prefecture to find Master Lü.”

“You served my mother, and I cannot treat you with such disregard,” Fu Tingyun would not let her argue further. She had Yu Wei pack the clothes made for her, along with jewelry and some silver rewards, all loaded into trunks and placed on the carriage.

Xiu Zhu’s wife still hesitated: “If I use the carriage, what will the Madam use?”

“I’m still in mourning!” Fu Tingyun replied. “I won’t be going anywhere!”

Xiu Zhu’s wife thought this made sense and repeatedly exhorted Fu Tingyun to “take care of yourself” before returning to Huayin.

Fu Tingyun focused all her attention on Youyou.

Whatever Youyou ate and any changes she showed, Fu Tingyun wrote to inform Zhao Ling.

Zhao Ling’s replies were not as frequent as Fu Tingyun’s letters, but between the lines, one could see that the Guizhou campaign was going smoothly. His relationship with the Duke of Longping was also quite good. Not only that, he would sometimes subtly speak up for Muo Yi in front of the Duke of Longping, or help the Duke explain his position to Muo Yi, easing the tension between Muo Yi and the Duke of Longping.

Fu Tingyun breathed a long sigh of relief.

If the relationships among the higher-ups were not properly managed, even a large army would be useless.

After a Minor Cold, news of victory arrived from Guizhou—the Duke of Longping had quelled the rebellions in three villages, including A’hei.

Fu Tingyun and the others were overjoyed.

Yu Wei brought her the list of New Year’s gifts for her review.

Fu Tingyun crossed out Sixi Hutong.

Although Yu Wei was very surprised, she said nothing, curtsied, and withdrew.

On the day of the Laba Festival, near noon, the palace bestowed Laba porridge.

Everyone immediately became excited.

“They say only those old ministers receive such rewards. Does this mean our Ninth Master is about to be promoted again?” Zheng Sanniang spoke with great anticipation, even more enthusiastically than Fu Tingyun, making her laugh: “It’s still uncertain, but receiving gifts from the palace is certainly a good sign.”

Zheng Sanniang nodded repeatedly and said: “Madam, for the ancestral sacrifice on New Year’s Eve, don’t forget to mention this to the ancestors.”

This made even Zhenzhu and the others laugh.

A’sen came from school to pay his respects.

Zheng Sanniang quickly told him about the porridge reward: “…This is the second time the Emperor has bestowed gifts on our household.”

“Shouldn’t it be the third time?” A’sen corrected. “The first was when the Emperor ascended the throne, the second was when the Ninth Master got married, so this should be the third…”

“The wedding doesn’t count; that was bestowed by the Grand Empress Dowager,” Zheng Sanniang pouted. “By your count, it should be the fourth time—didn’t the Madam’s side also receive gifts?”

A’sen was unimpressed but didn’t bother to argue with Zheng Sanniang. His gaze turned to the bowl of porridge: “Sister-in-law, can we drink this porridge? Or should we display it as an offering?”

“Even if it’s food bestowed by the Emperor, it will spoil if left too long!” Fu Tingyun smiled. “Of course we should eat it.” Then she instructed Zheng Sanniang, “Divide it up. Let everyone taste it and see how the palace porridge differs from what we usually cook.”

Everyone gathered bowls, chopsticks, and spoons, and quickly divided the porridge.

It was only two spoonfuls per person, but Zheng Sanniang and the others exclaimed how delicious it was. A’sen, however, pouted: “I think it’s not as tasty as what Xuemei cooks!”

“Ah!” Xuemei’s mouth fell open.

Zheng Sanniang made a “tsk” sound at him: “How can you say such things? What if someone heard you?”

Everyone covered their mouths and laughed.

The lively and cheerful Kou’er immediately said: “So Zheng Sanniang thinks the same as Young Master A’sen?”

Zheng Sanniang was embarrassed.

Everyone laughed again.

Youyou was now nine months old, and her features were beginning to resemble Fu Tingyun’s. She wore a bright red cocoon silk padded jacket and was being held by the wet nurse, playing with a spoon in her hand. Seeing everyone in the hall laughing, she also began to laugh.

Her eyes curved like crescent moons, exuding innocence that made everyone’s hearts feel pure. She was incredibly adorable.

A’sen ran over to play with Youyou: “You also think what Sanniang said is funny, don’t you?”

Whether intentionally or not, Youyou nodded.

A’sen immediately shouted: “Sister-in-law, Sister-in-law, look, Youyou is nodding, Youyou is nodding…” Then he asked Youyou again, “Do you also think what Sanniang said is funny?”

Everyone’s gaze fell on Youyou, creating an atmosphere of bated breath.

Youyou lowered her head, burying her face in the wet nurse’s embrace.

“Alas!” A’sen sighed with disappointment.

The wet nurse quickly said: “The young miss is still little; it will be some time before she understands these things.”

“Indeed!” Zheng Sanniang also came over to touch Youyou’s little hand. “The young miss is already the smartest child I’ve ever seen. The children in our village at her age only knew how to eat and sleep, sleep and eat. How could they understand jokes?” She continued, making an “oh” sound. “Speaking of which, since joining the Ninth Master and Madam, even our Linchun seems to have become much smarter. The other day she pointed at a character on the screen wall and told me it reads ‘fu’ (fortune)!”

“That’s thanks to Young Master A’sen’s efforts,” Kou’er argued, causing another round of laughter in the hall.

Yanqing announced through the curtain: “Madam, Second Young Master, Master Jin has returned, and Master Yang has come with him.”

During this period, Jin Yuanbao had been staying at the house, and occasionally Yang Yucheng, San Fu, and Shi Zhu would also visit.

Hearing this, before Fu Tingyun could give instructions, Zheng Sanniang immediately said: “Madam, I’ll prepare some dishes for the two masters to have with their wine.”

Fu Tingyun nodded with a smile.

Zheng Sanniang withdrew with Madam Zhou, one of the two women they had purchased. Madam Zhou was dull but honest, and since the household now had more guests, Fu Tingyun had assigned Madam Zhou to the kitchen to help Zheng Sanniang, allowing her to rest occasionally.

“Then I’ll go see Brother Yucheng and Brother Yuanbao!” A’sen was also about to leave.

“Don’t neglect your studies,” Fu Tingyun reminded him.

“Even if you didn’t say it, Brother Yuanbao would nag me about it,” A’sen said with a pouty smile.

Fu Tingyun smiled in amusement.

This was indeed true. Since Jin Yuanbao had moved in, he had been quite strict with A’sen.

Seeing everyone leaving, Youyou also wanted to follow.

Fu Tingyun took her daughter from the wet nurse: “Youyou, shall we go play with the little ducks?”

Youyou thought for a moment, nodded, and nestled obediently in her mother’s arms.

Fu Tingyun smiled, stroking her daughter’s smooth black hair, and carried her to the inner room.

On the kang bed were scattered little toys—a duck, a tiger, and a dog—that Fu Tingyun had made from scraps of patterned cloth.

Youyou pounced forward and hugged the little duck to her chest, smiling at her mother.

“The young miss is truly clever!” the wet nurse and Madam Tong exclaimed in unison.

Fu Tingyun’s smile showed a hint of pride as she asked Youyou, “Which one is the little tiger?” and “Which one is the little dog?”

Youyou pointed them out to her mother.

A simple and monotonous game, yet mother and daughter never tired of it.

A’sen returned: “Sister-in-law, Brother Yucheng wants to see you!”

“See me?” Fu Tingyun was somewhat surprised. “Please invite him to the hall.” Then she asked A’sen, “Do you know why he’s looking for me?”

A’sen giggled: “I don’t know either!”

Keeping secrets!

But judging from A’sen’s demeanor, so full of joy, it surely wasn’t bad news.

Fu Tingyun felt relief.

These days, though she appeared calm and composed on the surface, she had been constantly worried about Zhao Ling, fearing that someone might suddenly visit with bad news about him…

She handed Youyou over to the wet nurse and Madam Tong, changed her clothes, and went to the hall.

Having shed his identity as a salt smuggler, now able to stand in the sunlight and conduct himself openly and honorably, Yang Yucheng’s demeanor had gained a sense of frankness and righteousness, making him appear even more dashing and elegant. Beside him, Jin Yuanbao’s bearing was steady and his brilliance subdued, not at all overshadowed by Yang’s imposing presence. Standing side by side, they gave the impression of two precious gems gleaming together, with no distinction of superiority.

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but reflect on this.

It seemed there was truth to the saying, “One’s temperament changes with one’s livelihood, and one’s manner changes with one’s dwelling.”

Everyone sat according to their positions. Zhenzhu served tea, and Fu Tingyun smiled: “What matter brings Uncle Yang to see me?”

Since Youyou’s birth, she had followed Youyou’s way of addressing Yang Yucheng, Jin Yuanbao, and the others.

Usually quite straightforward, Yang Yucheng this time stammered for a long while without clearly explaining his purpose.

Fu Tingyun looked toward Jin Yuanbao.

Jin Yuanbao smiled silently, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes, and said: “Sister-in-law, Yucheng’s superior, the Commander of Daxing Guard, Master Liu’s wife’s elder brother, has taken a liking to Yucheng and wants to take him as a son-in-law. Yucheng is uncertain and wishes to ask for your help in assessing the match and making a decision!”

Hearing this, Fu Tingyun was both surprised and delighted: “So Uncle Yang is going to get married! This is wonderful news—what’s there to be embarrassed about telling people? May I ask which family’s daughter is so fortunate? “

Yang Yucheng was very embarrassed, his face reddening as he said: “The family surname is Zhang, from the Patrol Inspector of Zhangjia Bay, a hereditary position. Once when Inspector Zhang was passing through Daxing on business, Commander Liu hosted a banquet for him and had me accompany them… Somehow, Inspector Zhang expressed his wish to marry his daughter to me…”

“It’s like a pie falling from the sky,” Jin Yuanbao added from the side. “Yucheng is worried that the Zhang family’s daughter might have some shortcomings…”

A hereditary Patrol Inspector, and one stationed at Zhangjia Bay—a key point that all canal transport and Hangzhou shipments must pass through to reach the capital—the family’s wealth was self-evident. Although Yang Yucheng and Jin Yuanbao now held official positions, in terms of both rank and family background, there was a vast difference between them and the Zhang family. No wonder they felt uneasy.

Fu Tingyun smiled: “Although Uncle Yang is only a Standard Bearer, he is young, handsome, of upright character, and has a simple family situation. In the eyes of parents who cherish their daughters, he is already a rare good match.”

The two men were slightly taken aback.

Fu Tingyun continued with a smile: “This is a matter concerning your lifelong happiness, and I, as your sister-in-law, should naturally help without question. However, as I am still in mourning, it would not be appropriate for me to take the lead. Why don’t I ask Chen Shi, the eldest daughter-in-law of Commander Chen of the Front Guard of the Jinwu, to help inquire about this? What do you think?”

Yang Yucheng was well aware that those in mourning should not be involved in wedding arrangements, but besides Fu Tingyun, he truly couldn’t find someone he trusted more. Hearing Fu Tingyun’s tone of great confidence in Chen Shi, he thought there wouldn’t be any mistake, and hurriedly stood up to bow: “Then I’ll trouble Sister-in-law!”