Those contemptuous faces had already caused Fifth Master Fu to feel deeply humiliated, and now with Fu Tingyun directly telling him to leave, Fifth Master Fu trembled with anger and growled in a low voice: “Truly, long hair but short vision. Don’t think that just because Zhao Ling is the Emperor’s favored official, you can do whatever you please. You should know that our dynasty has always valued civil governance over military might. Those who rise through imperial favor are at best mere court entertainers! How can that compare to the Yu family, who have produced officials for generations, controlled the Imperial Academy for decades, with disciples all over the world and a reputation that spans the nine provinces? You should carefully consider which is more important. Otherwise, you’ll offend the Yu family and regret it bitterly when you suffer the consequences…”
Fu Tingyun’s eyebrows shot up in anger as she interrupted Fifth Master Fu: “No matter how prestigious the Yu family is, Young Master Yu’s behavior is nothing but that of a petty man. Zhao Ling may be of humble origins, but he conducts himself with dignity and honor. Comparing the two, I’m afraid someone like Official Fu, whose eyes are blinded by wealth and glory, may not see clearly which is superior. Fortunately, while Official Fu considers us ignorant of what truly matters, we find Official Fu equally ignorant of what is decent. Since we view each other with such mutual disdain, I won’t make Official Fu stay where he’s uncomfortable.” As she spoke, she loudly instructed Zheng San, “Official Fu is ready to return home, why aren’t you escorting him out?”
Zheng San and the others had only been holding back out of respect for Fu Tingyun, not daring to forcefully block Fifth Master Fu. Now, seeing the father and daughter at such odds, what reservations did they have left? Zheng San responded loudly, called for Yan Qing, and together they flanked Fifth Master Fu, half-dragging and half-pulling him out.
“Fu Tingyun, how dare you…” Fifth Master Fu was both ashamed and angry, so furious that he didn’t know what to say.
Fu Tingyun couldn’t be bothered with him and gestured for Jin Yuanbao to go check: “Although my husband cares about appearances, I’m afraid he might start making a scene outside and damage the Ninth Master’s reputation!”
Jin Yuanbao understood and hurried after them.
Fu Tingyun also strained to listen.
She could only hear a few low mutterings.
She sighed in relief.
A father, after all, still valued his face the most.
Jin Yuanbao returned.
“Sister-in-law,” he said softly, “Official Fu was still shouting in the courtyard, but as soon as he left the main gate, he immediately fell silent and pushed Yan Qing away. Yan Qing is very perceptive and immediately released Official Fu, helping him into the carriage… It seems Official Fu doesn’t want others to know about this, so sister-in-law needn’t worry.”
Fu Tingyun nodded dejectedly and said to Jin Yuanbao: “Do you still have the letter I wrote to my eldest uncle? Please return it to me. I want to write him a new letter.”
Jin Yuanbao, somewhat puzzled, took the letter from his sleeve and handed it to Fu Tingyun.
Fu Tingyun took the letter and went to the hall in the south wing.
Asen hurried to grind the ink.
Fu Tingyun quietly explained to Jin Yuanbao, who had followed her, “Official Fu came at Young Master Yu Jingxiu’s request to intercede. Not only does Official Fu have no intention of reasoning with us now, but even if he did, he would likely speak in Yu Jingxiu’s favor. The truth about the past would probably be quite distorted. Rather than this, we might as well try another approach!”
Jin Yuanbao, always a strategic thinker, immediately understood and pondered: “Sister-in-law wants to use a strategy of sowing discord?”
Fu Tingyun nodded slightly.
“Since being confined at Biyun Temple, I’ve been heartbroken and filled with indignation and anger. In the quiet of the night, thinking of everything that happened, although I felt things were suspicious, I still couldn’t believe my father would harm me, and I always placed the responsibility on my eldest uncle. Now thinking carefully, I realize I was wrong.” She said softly, “No matter what, I’m still the daughter of the fifth branch of the family. Even if my eldest uncle is the head of the household, not only is Zuo Junjie’s web of lies untrustworthy, but even if Zuo Junjie and I were truly found to have some involvement, with both my parents alive, he couldn’t have dealt with me without my father’s approval…” She paused, “So this matter must have received my father’s consent.”
Jin Yuanbao saw her eyes welling with tears even as she forced a smile, and his heart ached for her. He called out “Sister-in-law” and tried to comfort her: “This is something no one could have anticipated. It’s not too late that you now see clearly…”
Fu Tingyun smiled at Jin Yuanbao upon hearing this: “I have to thank the Ninth Master for this! If he hadn’t seen through it early on, openly and subtly protecting me, and comforting my mother in various ways, I might have been trapped in ‘filial piety’ with no way out, manipulated by them. How could I have understood so quickly? How could I have confidently stood my ground against Official Fu?”
Her smile was different from her earlier forced one; it was genuine, sweet as honey, spreading to the corners of her eyes and eyebrows, making her whole face light up.
Sister-in-law always looks like this when she mentions the Ninth Master…
Jin Yuanbao smiled somewhat awkwardly.
Their marital affection is truly wonderful!
Asen, however, turned his head directly to ask Fu Tingyun: “Sister-in-law, are you thinking about the Ninth Master?”
Fu Tingyun blushed and instinctively wanted to deny it, but seeing Asen’s bright, expectant eyes, she suddenly felt she was being too reserved.
They were husband and wife; what was wrong with missing him?
“Yes!” She pressed her lips together, “I hope the Ninth Master returns soon!”
Asen chuckled, seemingly proud of guessing correctly.
Jin Yuanbao said: “The fighting ended in February. By my calculations, the Ninth Master should return by mid-May!”
Fu Tingyun couldn’t help feeling regretful: “It would be nice if he could be back for Youyou’s first birthday.”
“That’s hard to say for certain,” Jin Yuanbao smiled. “These days I’ve asked colleagues to keep an eye out for news. If there’s any information, I’ll send someone to tell sister-in-law immediately.”
Fu Tingyun nodded as Asen announced: “Sister-in-law, the ink is ready.”
She moved to the desk, wrote a new letter, and handed it to Jin Yuanbao, repeatedly reminding him: “Make sure to take good care of Zuo Junjie. He is my trump card.”
“Don’t worry, sister-in-law,” Jin Yuanbao assured her again, “I understand the critical nature of this situation.”
Fu Tingyun felt somewhat reassured, but still said: “I remember that my eldest uncle once had an opportunity to form a marriage alliance with Hao Jianfeng from the Ministry of Personnel, but my eldest uncle, mindful of his reputation, ultimately declined politely. For someone like him who values reputation above all else, even to the point of disregarding gain or loss, the family has first suffered from Zuo Junjie’s false accusations, then had the incident with my eldest sister-in-law secretly releasing someone, and now must rely on the Yu family for reinstatement, acting according to the Yu family’s wishes. With my eldest uncle’s temperament, he’s likely already full of grievances and complaints. This is our good opportunity. It’s fleeting—if we seize it, we won’t need to place all our hopes on Zuo Junjie. Zuo Junjie is not only callous but also weak. If we truly come into direct conflict with the Yu family, how he will choose is still uncertain!”
“I understand,” Jin Yuanbao nodded repeatedly. “I’ll arrange for someone to deliver the letter to Jinhua right away!”
Fu Tingyun gave him a few more instructions before letting Jin Yuanbao go.
In the afternoon, Jin Yuanbao returned, saying the letter had been sent: “Six hundred li express delivery, it will reach Jinhua in four or five days at most.”
“Let’s hope it arrives in time!” Fu Tingyun said as Zheng San walked in with a strange expression: “Madam, Official Fu has come again!”
Fu Tingyun was surprised, thought briefly, and still said: “Repeat what I said this morning to Official Fu.” She also instructed Zheng San, “I truly don’t want to see this person again; it’s not just talk.”
Zheng San blushed slightly, bowed his head, and left.
Voices of commotion came from outside.
Fu Tingyun rose and returned to the main room.
March in the capital was still somewhat cold, but the wind on one’s face no longer carried a chill. Tong Shi and the wet nurse were holding Youyou, sunbathing in the main courtyard. Seeing her mother enter, Youyou immediately opened her arms and babbled excitedly.
Fu Tingyun quickly took her daughter with a smile, kissed her rosy little face, and then asked the wet nurse: “Has Youyou been behaving well?”
“Yes, yes!” The wet nurse, who was very fond of the well-behaved Youyou, beamed with joy when speaking of her. “The young miss has been playing so nicely—earlier, when Miss Yu Wei was embroidering, she tried to imitate Miss Yu Wei by sorting threads, but ended up tangling them all. Pearl and Miss Yu Wei are still sorting them out!”
“You little troublemaker!” Fu Tingyun affectionately pinched her daughter’s nose.
Youyou giggled.
That innocent laughter echoed in the main courtyard, lighting Fu Tingyun’s mood.
In the following days, the Zhang family officially sent a deputy commissioner and a deputy warehouse manager from the Zhangjiawei Patrol Office to propose marriage. Yang Yucheng invited a vice prefect and a colonel from the Daxing Guard to act as matchmakers. Yang Yucheng had bought a small courtyard house in Daxing as their new home. Besides the thirty-six-carrier dowry, the Zhang family also provided four hundred mu of prime fields in Zhangjiawei, two shops in Daxing, two maids, and a servant household as dowry. After consulting with Fu Tingyun, they set the wedding date for the tenth day of the tenth month.
Among Yang Yucheng’s colleagues, some enviously teased him about treating them to a celebration, while others jealously made sour remarks.
Fu Tingyun, worried that he might feel embarrassed and act pretentiously in front of the Zhang family, specially summoned Yang Yucheng to advise him: “…When you got engaged, you already knew the Zhang family was more well-off than yours. This isn’t Miss Zhang’s fault. You mustn’t show any attitude towards Miss Zhang or your future parents-in-law because of this.”
Yang Yucheng smiled with a red face: “Don’t worry, I will learn from the Ninth Master.”
“What does this have to do with the Ninth Master?” Fu Tingyun chided.
Yang Yucheng smiled: “The Ninth Master said that sister-in-law cherished his affection for you, so whether eating bran and vegetables or wearing fine silks and satins, you would always follow him. I will also treat Miss Zhang well, so she’ll willingly follow me back to Hu County.”
Fu Tingyun glared at him.
Yang Yucheng wasn’t bothered and continued smiling to himself.
Jin Yuanbao and Asen walked in, both smiling.
Jin Yuanbao was composed, but Asen’s grin stretched nearly to his ears.
He hastily greeted Yang Yucheng, then blinked at Fu Tingyun: “Sister-in-law, guess what happened?”
Fu Tingyun’s eyes brightened: “Is the Ninth Master coming back?”
Asen scratched his head, smiled awkwardly, and said weakly: “No, it’s something else.”
Fu Tingyun let out an “Oh,” thought for a moment, and said: “Has your teacher said you’re eligible to take the county examination next year?”
In February, six students from Bowen Private School had taken the county examination, and all had passed. Asen had been talking about it at home for several days.
“No!” Asen’s face darkened further.
“Stop keeping us in suspense,” Jin Yuanbao glanced at the grinning Asen, then said to Fu Tingyun with an unwavering smile: “Last night, someone tried to sneak into the cellar where Zuo Junjie is being held. We caught two of them and sent them to the Shuntian Prefecture as thieves.”