As Asen ground the ink, Fu Tingyun wrote a letter to her uncle in the hall of the south wing, then handed it to Jin Yuanbao: “The sooner you can deliver this to my uncle, the better. If it’s too late, I’m afraid we’ll miss all the excitement!”

“Don’t worry, sister-in-law,” Jin Yuanbao smiled. “I know what to do.”

Fu Tingyun nodded with a smile.

Zheng San hurried in: “Madam, Official Fu from Sixi Alley has arrived!”

So quickly!

Fu Tingyun and Jin Yuanbao couldn’t help exchanging a look that said “just as expected.”

“Sister-in-law,” Jin Yuanbao said in a low voice, “let me accompany you to meet Official Fu?”

To his surprise, Fu Tingyun smiled and said: “No need, hurry and arrange the delivery of the letter!”

Jin Yuanbao was quite surprised and said: “Sister-in-law, with an outsider present, Official Fu will surely be more restrained…”

Although Zhao Ling hadn’t said anything, Jin Yuanbao could guess from various clues about the Fifth Master Fu’s attitude toward Zhao Ling and Fu Tingyun. With Zhao Ling around, things would be manageable, but now that Zhao Ling was far away in Guizhou, Fifth Master Fu would inevitably put on airs as an elder, and Fu Tingyun would certainly be at a disadvantage.

Fu Tingyun shook her head as she listened, signaling him not to say more.

Jin Yuanbao’s lips twitched slightly, about to persuade her further, when Fu Tingyun’s voice reached his ears: “Zheng San, go tell Official Fu that my husband is not home, and there are only women in the household, so it’s not convenient to receive guests. If Master Fu doesn’t have any urgent business, perhaps he could wait until my husband returns; if there is something urgent,” she paused, then looked around at everyone in the room, as if unsure who should handle this, and mused, “then let Yu Wei help convey a message!”

Far from going out to welcome him, she gave every impression of not taking Fifth Master Fu seriously at all, seemingly intent on shutting the door in his face.

Everyone in the room was stunned.

Jin Yuanbao called out anxiously, “Sister-in-law,” and said: “This might not be appropriate…”

“What’s inappropriate about it?” Before he could finish, Fu Tingyun interrupted him with a smile, “Fifth Master Fu is a Secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, while my husband is a General dispatched by imperial order to suppress bandits in Guizhou. The civil and military paths are distinct, and there’s no real connection between them. If there’s any bond at all, it’s merely that we’re all from Shaanxi Province. But how many people from Shaanxi are there in the imperial court? I can’t disregard the separation between men and women and show my face to entertain every fellow provincial who comes, can I? That would be asking too much!” She winked at Jin Yuanbao and instructed Zheng San, “If Fifth Master Fu is displeased, just repeat my words to him exactly. Fifth Master Fu comes from a prestigious family in Huayin and is known for his strict family traditions. He should understand my position.”

Young Master Yu had gone to Sixi Alley, and without guessing, she knew he must be trying to get Fifth Master Fu to intervene, using filial piety to pressure her into dropping the matter.

How could she possibly let him succeed?

Hadn’t Fifth Master Fu repeatedly said he had no such daughter?

Very well, she wouldn’t be a daughter of the Fu family then.

In that case, when Fifth Master Fu came to see her, she would receive him strictly according to proper etiquette for guests. That wasn’t excessive, was it?

Fu Tingyun laughed coldly to herself.

Zheng San acknowledged the orders with a smile and left.

“Sister-in-law’s idea is excellent,” Asen applauded. “This is called using one’s spear against one’s shield. Let’s see if he dares to give his sister-in-law any more attitude in the future.”

Was that an appropriate way to speak?

Jin Yuanbao couldn’t help but glare at Asen.

Asen stuck out his tongue and hid behind Fu Tingyun.

Fu Tingyun patted his shoulder with a smile and said to Jin Yuanbao: “His words match my thoughts exactly.”

Jin Yuanbao gave an awkward smile.

Asen made a face at Jin Yuanbao.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside.

It seemed that Fifth Master Fu was very displeased with her message…

As Fu Tingyun pondered this, the commotion drew closer, and among the noise, she could hear Fifth Master Fu’s indignant roar: “…I want to see what you can do to stop me!”

“Sister-in-law!” Asen nervously tugged at Fu Tingyun’s sleeve, while Jin Yuanbao stepped forward to shield her.

Fu Tingyun felt a warmth in her heart and reassured them: “It’s all right! With Zheng San’s skills, ordinary people are no match for him. He’s just being mindful of Official Fu’s status and doesn’t want to block him…”

Before she could finish, Fifth Master Fu had stormed in, fuming: “Fu Tingyun, is this how a child should behave?” Behind him stood Zheng San, looking embarrassed.

Fu Tingyun smiled and nodded at Zheng San before turning to Fifth Master Fu: “Official Fu’s words are strange indeed. Don’t you have only one son and one daughter? According to what you said, your daughter died of illness at Biyun Temple in Huayin four years ago, so how have I suddenly become your daughter? Have you encountered some unclean spirit these days that makes you talk nonsense?” She called out loudly for “Zheng San’s wife” and asked, “Which temple’s abbot did Madam Wu say was very efficacious the other day?” She glanced at Fifth Master Fu with contempt showing in her expression, “Official Fu may be busy with official duties, but you must take care of your health. In my opinion, Official Fu should find time to visit a temple and pay respects, to avoid being haunted by unclean spirits and becoming confused. If you make a mistake in your official duties, endangering your fifth-rank position, that would be a real shame. You know, that’s a lucrative post, and many people have their eyes on it!”

“You…” Fifth Master Fu trembled with rage at her thinly veiled insults, unable to speak for a long time.

Fu Tingyun paid no attention to this and scolded Zheng San: “Didn’t I tell you? The master isn’t home, and as a woman of the inner chambers, how can I properly receive guests? Quickly escort Official Fu out!” Then she complained, “Really, you’re a servant, so it’s understandable if you don’t know these rules, but Official Fu is a Hanlin Academy graduate who knows protocols and rituals best. Couldn’t you be more clever and ask Official Fu for guidance?”

Zheng San naturally knew that Fu Tingyun was putting on an act with him and immediately adopted a wronged expression, saying with a pained face: “Official Fu is an honored guest, how could I dare offend him!”

“Nonsense!” Fu Tingyun pretended to look stern and rebuked him: “Confucius said, ‘When walking with three people, one of them must be my teacher.’ How could it be offensive to seek knowledge from Official Fu?” She put on an expression of sudden realization, “I suppose you saw Official Fu losing his temper with a mere servant over a small matter, lacking the composure of a scholar, so you didn’t dare to humbly seek guidance…”

“Enough!” Fifth Master Fu was so angry that blood rushed to his head. He shouted, “Stop playing dumb! I came today about the matter of your broken engagement with the Yu family. If you want to know, find a quiet place and I’ll tell you everything about what happened back then. If you don’t want to know, I’ll leave right now…” He looked Fu Tingyun up and down with impatience, “And don’t ever come before me again asking questions and crying injustice!”

For a moment, Fu Tingyun truly wanted to find a quiet place as Fifth Master Fu suggested to properly discuss what had happened back then, but when she saw the impatience on his face, her heart sank.

If Young Master Yu hadn’t intervened, would he ever have told her the truth?

The answer was obvious.

She now held the initiative, yet both Young Master Yu and Fifth Master Fu, despite needing something from her, still maintained their arrogant demeanor in front of her. When it came down to it, one relied on his prominent family background, the other on being her father… Was this why they had treated her as they pleased back then? Was this why they had so callously disregarded her life?

A wave of desolation washed over Fu Tingyun.

Without Zhao Ling, the grass on her grave would probably be taller than a person by now, wouldn’t it?

But to this day, they had never shown any regret or guilt for what they had done. Instead, they blamed her for being ungrateful and insisting on uncovering the truth about the past!

Did she have no other options without them?

Fu Tingyun’s mind flashed with images of her eldest uncle, her grandmother, Zuo Junjie, then Zhao Ling, Yang Yucheng, and Jin Yuanbao… Some had suffered wrongful accusations for twenty years before being exonerated. Her grievance was only four years old, and all those involved were still alive. Besides, she had her husband and friends as close as siblings to help her. What did she have to fear?

She was suddenly filled with courage.

“Whatever you have to say, Official Fu, say it here!” She gazed at Fifth Master Fu with bright eyes, her expression showing unwavering determination. “I’ve done nothing wrong, so there’s no reason not to speak openly and honestly!”

Fifth Master Fu was taken aback.

Fu Tingyun stood there silently, staring at him intently.

Her gaze was so bright, her expression so composed, as if she had everything under control.

Fifth Master Fu thought of what had happened years ago… and felt a pang of guilt, then remembered Young Master Yu’s visit… and his scalp tingled with dread… He could only darken his expression and bark: “Is this how you speak to your father? Filial piety is the foundation of all virtues. Don’t think that having the Emperor’s support means you can disregard the natural bond between father and daughter…”

When he needed her to compromise, he suddenly became her father; when he didn’t need her, she became a stranger!

Fu Tingyun erupted in anger: “Father? You dare speak to me of being a father?” Her eyes blazed as she walked step by step toward Fifth Master Fu. “Back then, when I was praying day and night at Biyun Temple, where were you? When Chen Mama was forcing medicine down my throat and I cried out loudly for my father, where were you? When I went to find you with a heart full of joy, what did you say? When I knelt before you begging you to acknowledge me, what did you say? Now, with Zuo Junjie in my hands, Young Master Yu hurriedly seeks you out, and suddenly you remember you’re my father? Is there such a thing in this world? For four years, I’ve wanted to know what exactly happened back then that could make a father treat his daughter as a sacrifice, but I know even more clearly that if I want to uncover the truth about the past, I cannot be manipulated by anyone!”

Her eyes seemed to burn with fire, her gaze so scorching that Fifth Master Fu instinctively wanted to escape. He kept retreating until his back pressed against a pillar in the corridor, only then realizing his loss of composure. He flushed with embarrassment and glanced around, only to see faces displaying contempt and disdain.

“Official Fu,” Fu Tingyun stopped walking, maintaining a relatively distant position from Fifth Master Fu, and said coolly, “If you want to tell me what happened back then, and you feel your words might involve others’ privacy, I can have them temporarily withdraw. But if you want me to go somewhere private with you to listen to your nonsense, I’m afraid I don’t have the time and must ask you to leave!”