“In this world, there are no completely wrong parents, nor completely wrong children,” Fu Tingyun stood under the grape trellis in the courtyard, gazing at the fiery sunset on the horizon, and said softly. “Besides, Young Master Yu inherited three family lines, so he should be even more precious. If he wanted to break off the engagement, even if the elders were unwilling and threatened him, there would always be ways to make them yield. Yet he took such a destructive path, doing things that cost lives…” She pondered, “And as for the two masters of the Fu family, who have been officials for many years, with broad knowledge and familiarity with our dynasty’s laws, how could Young Master Yu’s words frighten them into inaction, obediently following the orders of a mere youth? It’s too unreasonable!”
Jin Yuanbao, standing beside her, raised his eyebrows and hesitantly asked, “What do you mean?”
“I think to solve this mystery, we can only start with Zuo Junjie,” Fu Tingyun said, turning to smile at Jin Yuanbao. “So I’d like to ask Uncle Jin for a favor—no matter what, we can’t let anything happen to Zuo Junjie. As long as Zuo Junjie is in our hands, whether confronting the Yu family or seeking an explanation from the Fu family, they will be restrained…”
“Rest assured, sister-in-law,” Jin Yuanbao hurriedly bowed to Fu Tingyun. “As long as I, Jin Yuanbao, am alive, Zuo Junjie will never escape from our hands.”
Seeing his solemn expression, as if making a life-or-death pledge, Fu Tingyun felt uneasy.
Man proposes, God disposes. Who could guarantee such things? He had already helped her so much; how could she bear to add to his burden?
“How could Zuo Junjie’s life be as precious as Uncle Jin’s?” she smiled. “Please don’t speak like that, it makes things seem distant. If I need to ask for your help in the future, I would feel uncomfortable.”
Jin Yuanbao realized his expression was too serious. Hearing her, he smiled awkwardly and changed the subject: “Is your sister-in-law planning to go to Sixi Hutong first? Or to the Yu family? I heard the Yu family lives on Jiado Street off Chang’an Avenue, which is half an hour by carriage from here. Yang Yucheng is guarding here, so there won’t be any problems. I happen to have time off these days, so I could drive for you and guide you—you’d have someone at your service!”
He must be worried about her safety.
Fu Tingyun felt grateful, and Jin Yuanbao’s concerns were not without reason—this matter was so strange, who knew what else might happen?
“Then I won’t stand on ceremony,” Fu Tingyun smiled and shared her plan. “I’m planning to have A Sen go to the Yu residence early tomorrow morning to deliver a letter to Young Master Yu, inviting him to meet at the nearby Dongshun Teahouse. I’ll take that opportunity to clarify some matters. I’ll need to ask both uncles to be present to help me speak.”
Jin Yuanbao was somewhat surprised: “You’re not going to Sixi Hutong first?”
After all, that was where her father was…
“No need,” Fu Tingyun said coldly. “If my husband still had fatherly feelings, even if he was forced to try to kill me before, since I survived and came to him, he should have acknowledged me privately… But he repeatedly drove me away, and even Ninth Master suffered because of me. It’s clear that in his heart, I’m already an outsider. Now that we’ve finally captured Zuo Junjie, going to him for help would be giving him leverage against us—how is that different from digging our own grave?” She added, “Whether it’s the Yu family or the Fu family, we must be cautious of both!”
Without the consent of the Fu family elders, Young Master Yu couldn’t possibly break off the engagement, no matter how capable he was.
When Jin Yuanbao first heard about this matter, he had harbored some doubts, but out of respect for the father-daughter relationship, he hadn’t spoken up. Now seeing that Fu Tingyun had realized this, he couldn’t help but let out a long sigh of relief and smiled: “I’ll be staying at home these days. When the day is set, sister-in-law can just have A Sen call me.”
After finalizing some details, they returned to Shi Family Alley together.
Fu Tingyun took a bath, organized her thoughts, and wrote a letter by the bright candlelight in the study, concisely informing Young Master Yu of Zuo Junjie’s words and inviting him to meet.
A Sen received the letter and got up early the next morning. He was just getting dressed when Yan Qing rushed in: “Second Young Master, Second Young Master, there’s someone outside who claims to be Yu Jingxiu and wishes to see Madam.”
A Sen was greatly surprised. He hastily fastened his clothes and hurried out: “Come, let’s go see!”
On the way, he nearly collided with Zhenzhu, who was carrying hot water to help Fu Tingyun with her morning toilette.
“Where is Second Young Master going?” Zhenzhu muttered. “So early in the morning…”
“Quickly go tell sister-in-law that Yu Jingxiu has arrived,” A Sen tossed these words back without turning his head, taking two steps at a time as he exited through the outer gate.
Zhenzhu hurriedly informed Fu Tingyun.
Fu Tingyun was stunned. She had Zhenzhu inform Jin Yuanbao while calling Yu Wei to help her get ready.
“What is he coming for?” Fu Tingyun sat at the dressing table, looking at the woman with slightly furrowed brows in the mirror, puzzled. “By all reasoning, he shouldn’t have known so quickly that Zuo Junjie is in our hands!”
“Perhaps it’s for something else?” Yu Wei unconvincingly reassured Fu Tingyun. “When the enemy comes, we defend; when water comes, we raise the soil. No matter what, this is our home. What can he do as a mere guest, no matter how aggressive? You needn’t worry. When you meet him, you’ll naturally know.”
“It can’t be for anything else!” Fu Tingyun shook her head gently. “Such a quick reaction shows that Zuo Junjie’s concerns were not without reason.”
Wearing an ordinary rose-red plain Hangzhou silk robe, her black hair arranged in a peony bun adorned with a twin lotus flower, Fu Tingyun went to the hall in the southern quarters.
Jin Yuanbao was hosting the guest on behalf of Zhao Ling.
The visitor was a young man about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with handsome features, tall and straight, wearing a slightly worn cyan Hangzhou silk robe. His eyes were bright, giving him a spirited appearance, as gentle and bright as sunshine.
Fu Tingyun was somewhat surprised.
She had never met Yu Jingxiu before.
Whenever the Fu family mentioned him, they always spoke of how scholarly he was, how noble his ancestors were, but she hadn’t expected him to be such a handsome and dignified man.
Yu Jingxiu’s eyes flickered slightly when he saw Fu Tingyun enter.
He had seen Fu Tingyun once when he was young.
At that time, she was sitting in his family’s flower hall, her head lowered as she ate Goubuli dumplings.
Tall, white, and plump.
He had fled in panic.
But now, while she was still tall, her skin still as white and delicate as fine jade, with curves like mountains and streams, to his eyes—tempered by time and experience—she had become bewitchingly beautiful, radiantly charming.
For some reason, Yu Jingxiu smiled self-mockingly.
But he quickly realized his impropriety and hastily composed himself, standing up with enthusiasm yet restraint, taking the initiative to exchange pleasantries with Fu Tingyun: “You must be Madam Zhao? My surname is Yu, given name Jingxiu, courtesy name Depu, a native of Fengle Ward in Nanjing. As it happens, our two families are old friends. However, I was previously focused on my studies, and later busy with official duties, so I’ve been somewhat negligent of social matters. If I hadn’t gone to pay respects to Madam Fu after her passing and discovered that Master Zhao and Madam Zhao had set up an altar for her, I might not have known that Madam Zhao had come to the capital! I had intended to visit earlier, but Master Zhao had left the capital, which was inconvenient. Yesterday, when I heard your home had been visited by thieves, I thought Madam Zhao might be alone and worried that there might be something I could help with, so I hastily came to visit.” As he spoke, he smiled kindly at Jin Yuanbao, “I didn’t expect that Master Zhao, concerned for his wife’s safety, had already arranged for brothers to stay at home. I was indeed late to know.”
His speech was gentle and friendly, his smile bright and generous, completely presenting the image of a humble gentleman.
Fu Tingyun’s heart tensed.
If she had been somewhat doubtful of Zuo Junjie’s words before, after hearing Yu Jingxiu’s words, she now had no doubts.
Zuo Junjie had barely been captured by them, and he had fearlessly followed, even mentioning their visit to pay respects to her mother. It was clear that this Young Master Yu had been watching her for at least half a year, yet he only appeared after Zuo Junjie’s incident came to light, showing the depth of his scheming…
Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but coldly smile.
When encountering such a person, the best approach was to take the initiative. Otherwise, if he gained the upper hand, she might fall into his trap without even knowing…
“Young Master Yu even knows about my husband and me paying respects to my mother.” her gaze at Young Master Yu was as sharp as a blade. “I didn’t expect Young Master Yu to be so concerned about my husband, with his every move under your eyes. No wonder when our home was burglarized, Young Master Yu immediately knew!”
Her incisive words were so incongruous with her soft appearance that Young Master Yu’s face flashed with surprise. He hurriedly said, “Madam Zhao misunderstands. Knowing that you went to pay respects to Madam Fu was just a coincidence. As for your home being burglarized, it was because there was such a commotion the night before last that everyone in the capital was discussing it…”
“If that’s the case, I must thank Young Master Yu for his concern.” Fu Tingyun wasn’t swayed by his approach and coldly continued. Fortunately, the thief was discovered early, and our home didn’t suffer any losses. Young Master Yu can rest easy. When my husband returns, I will convey Young Master Yu’s concern.” As she spoke, she sat up straight, looking directly into Young Master Yu’s eyes, and said word by word, “Speaking of which, Young Master Yu also knows the thief. His name is Zuo Junjie, and he is related to our family by marriage. According to him, he met Young Master Yu four years ago and was directed by Young Master Yu to falsely accuse me of having an affair with him, to break off an engagement. I was very surprised to hear this and was preparing to ask Young Master Yu about it. I didn’t expect that as soon as Young Master Yu heard about our home being burglarized, he would rush over, suggesting that Young Master Yu is also very anxious about this matter…”
She had spoken so directly that she expected Young Master Yu to be shocked or flustered, or at the very least, embarrassed. But unexpectedly, after listening, Young Master Yu merely smiled slightly and said: “Madam Zhao has spoken to my heart. When I heard that Zuo Junjie had fallen into your hands, I was extremely anxious and rushed over immediately. However, I came not for myself, but for the dignity of our two families!”
Fu Tingyun sneered disdainfully.
Young Master Yu, however, was unfazed, smiling faintly, his smile as gentle and warm as the spring breeze in March: “You should know that breaking off an engagement is not something I alone can decide. For some matters, Madam Zhao should ask your father.” As he spoke, he changed his tone, half-serious and half-teasing: “Of course, to be honest, I indeed do not wish to marry into the Fu family, but it’s not because of Madam Zhao. Rather, it’s because I genuinely despise the two masters of the Fu family and don’t want such in-laws…” In his every gesture, there was an indescribable air of ease.