By evening, the couple met up, both feeling too exhausted to speak.
Fu Tingyun quickly washed up and retired to the side room with Youyou.
When she got up in the middle of the night to drink some tea, she noticed the dim yellow light filtering through the bamboo curtain separating the inner chamber from the side room.
After a moment’s hesitation, she put on a robe and went to the inner chamber.
Zhao Ling was sitting on the large kang bed by the window, wearing a middle garment and looking at a gift list. Hearing movement, he looked up and smiled at Fu Tingyun.
That smile was clean and bright, making her heart pound like a drum for a few beats.
Fu Tingyun blushed and, as if trying to hide something, straightened her back and sat down gracefully on the edge of the bed, asking softly: “What is Ninth Master looking at?”
Zhao Ling didn’t speak but handed her the gift list.
Fu Tingyun took it and was surprised to see it was the Marquis of Yingchuan’s gift list.
She looked at Zhao Ling in confusion.
Zhao Ling sighed deeply and said quietly: “Have you noticed? For Youyou’s birthday, although the Marquis of Yingchuan sent generous gifts, on the actual day, he didn’t even send a decent steward…”
Fu Tingyun was taken aback.
Zhao Ling wasn’t a petty person; if he mentioned this, he certainly had his reasons…
She said seriously, “I thought it was because the Fu Guogong Mansion hasn’t divided the household yet.”
The Fu Guogong Mansion had also sent gifts, but just two ordinary sets of children’s clothes, delivered by a third-rank steward who offered brief congratulations.
“I’m afraid it’s not just that,” Zhao Ling stared at the gift list, pondering. “When we got married, apart from the Fu Guogong Mansion, the Marquis of Yingchuan also sent gifts and had a steward attend the wedding feast…”
Hearing this, Fu Tingyun had a flash of insight and recalled the message Concubine Xiao had the steward convey to her days ago: “…she invited me to visit her home when I have time, but I felt the Fu Guogong Mansion had too many affairs, so I didn’t take it to heart. Do you think these two matters might be connected?” She continued, “Why don’t I use the excuse that they sent gifts but didn’t send anyone to the feast to return the gesture and meet with Concubine Xiao at the Fu Guogong Mansion?”
“No need,” Zhao Ling felt that Fu Tingyun had suffered enough and didn’t want her to worry about this matter. He smiled and said, “If the Marquis of Yingchuan has something to discuss, he would summon me directly. As for Concubine Xiao, it’s better if you don’t meet her. I’ve heard that since the death of the Marquis of Yingchuan’s original wife, Madam Mei, their two sons have been raised in the Old Madam’s quarters. Now that the Marquis of Yingchuan is going to Liaodong, logically, Concubine Xiao should accompany him to his post, but the Old Madam said she’s getting too old and lacks the energy to guide the two young masters. Since Concubine Xiao was Madam Mei’s maid who served her and is honest and dutiful, she wants Concubine Xiao to stay at the Fu Guogong Mansion to help her take care of the two young masters, while selecting another virtuous woman to attend to the Marquis of Yingchuan’s daily needs…”
Fu Tingyun was greatly surprised: “What did the Marquis of Yingchuan say?”
“The Marquis of Yingchuan agreed,” Zhao Ling said. “It’s said that the Old Madam has her eye on a distant niece from her maiden family, born to a concubine.”
Fu Tingyun became even more reluctant to meet Concubine Xiao.
Unexpectedly, a few days later, Concubine Xiao personally came to visit.
With an apologetic expression, she said to Fu Tingyun: “The Marquis will be departing for Liaodong in a few days, and I will stay behind to look after the two young masters. I had thought, since the Marquis’s smooth journey to Liaodong is much thanks to Mr. Zhao’s strategy, and with the Marquis traveling thousands of miles away, if anything were to happen to the two young masters, having Mr. Zhao in the capital would provide some support. That’s why I wanted to meet Mrs. Zhao. After the Marquis learned of this, he severely reprimanded me, saying that in the future, the Marquis would be an official serving outside the capital, while if Mr. Zhao remains in the capital, he would be a court official, and court officials associating with external officials is a great taboo; if he is assigned to the frontier, he would be a significant official, which could raise suspicions of forming factions. By doing this, I was putting Mr. Zhao in a position of disloyalty and impropriety. I was horrified to hear this and have come specifically to apologize to Mrs. Zhao and ask her to convey to Mr. Zhao that if I have done anything inappropriate, I hope Mr. Zhao will be understanding and forgive my unintentional mistake.”
Fu Tingyun’s heart suddenly surged like turbulent waves.
So, the Marquis of Yingchuan had sent generous gifts for Youyou’s birthday to thank Zhao Ling for his garrison rotation strategy, while simultaneously drawing a clear line—from now on, they would only have the camaraderie of colleagues, no longer the relationship of superior and subordinate.
After seeing Concubine Xiao off, Fu Tingyun hurriedly called for Zheng San: “Ninth Master has gone to the Ministry of War. Go there to find him, and when you see him leave, ask him to return as soon as possible. Tell him I have an urgent matter to discuss.”
Zheng San acknowledged and left.
Fu Tingyun absent-mindedly played cat’s cradle with Youyou.
Yan Qing came in to report: “Madam, Yu Kuai’an, that steward from the Yu family, has come again, saying he’s bringing Dragon Boat Festival gifts for our family.”
Fu Tingyun frowned slightly and said: “Just have him leave the gift list and go.”
Yan Qing was startled.
Fu Tingyun also felt this was somewhat discourteous and softened her tone: “Tell him that Ninth Master has gone to the government office, and there are only women at home, so it’s not convenient to receive guests. Have him leave the gift list, and when Ninth Master returns, he will go to express thanks.”
It was still having Yu Kuai’an leave the gift list and depart, just with more tactful words.
Yan Qing sighed in relief and went to the hall in the south wing.
Yu Wei hesitantly asked: “Should we also prepare some return gifts?”
“What return gifts?” Fu Tingyun dismissed the idea. “I have no intention of maintaining relations with their family. If they want to send gifts, let them. If they expect me to exchange courtesies with them, they don’t have that privilege.”
Having received clear instructions, Yu Wei took out the list of Dragon Boat Festival gifts to be sent and gave it to Fu Tingyun.
Fu Tingyun saw that “Fu Guogong Mansion” and “Marquis of Yingchuan” were prominently written at the top of the list. After some thought, she kept the list: “Let me discuss it with Ninth Master first. Isn’t the Dragon Boat Festival still seven or eight days away?”
Yu Wei smiled and acknowledged, then asked Youyou: “Shall I play cat’s cradle with you?”
Youyou crawled up and pounced on Fu Tingyun’s back: “Mother, mother, mother…” looking as if she feared Fu Tingyun wouldn’t play with her.
Everyone burst into laughter.
…
Yu Kuai’an, however, had an inexplicable anger in his heart.
In the capital, no one had dared to treat him so lightly.
He was representing the Yu family to deliver gifts, yet the Zhao family not only received him with a mere servant but didn’t even offer him a cup of tea before sending him away…
When Yu Kuai’an reported back to Madam Yu, he couldn’t help but express some dissatisfaction.
Madam Yu, however, calmly smiled while holding her teacup: “I recall when the father of Shu Hong, the chief steward of Grand Secretary Shen’s household, passed away, the master had you travel to Huzhou, Shu Hong’s hometown, to attend the funeral. The eldest master and third master didn’t think much of it, but in the end, when the master gained the favor of Grand Secretary Shen, Chief Steward Shu played no small part… Some matters shouldn’t be judged solely by their immediate appearance.”
Yu Kuai’an lowered his head in acknowledgment and cautiously withdrew.
Shu Mama brought forward cherries in a crystal dish with a smile: “Madam, please try some. I picked them myself, each one sweeter than the last.”
Madam Yu nodded, listlessly ate a cherry, and put down the toothpick.
Shu Mama seemed hesitant to speak.
Madam Yu took out a handkerchief to wipe the corner of her mouth and said: “If you have something to say, just say it. This hesitation, I don’t know who you learned it from.”
Hearing this, Shu Mama quickly smiled and said: “I was just thinking how well Madam treats that Miss Fu. Even with Manager Yu being so busy, you specifically had him go there in person…”
“What do you know!” Madam Yu said with a sigh. “In this matter, our family has wronged her… especially Depu… I’m doing this to accumulate good karma for him!”
Shu Mama fell silent.
A young maid came in to report: “The eldest young master has arrived.”
Madam Yu glanced at Shu Mama, who astutely changed the subject and personally went forward to lift the curtain.
Yu Jingxiu, wearing a lake-colored Hangzhou silk straight robe, walked in with a graceful demeanor.
Seeing him, joy welled up in Madam Yu’s eyes.
She quickly instructed the maids to serve tea and snacks, then took her son’s hand and asked with concern: “Why have you returned so early?”
“The Emperor went to Xiyuan, and there wasn’t much to do today, so Minister Hu let us leave early,” Yu Jingxiu sat beside his mother, massaging her shoulders. “I stopped by Jiangxiangyuan to buy a few catties of the mixed pickles that mother loves the most, and specifically asked the shopkeeper to add more radish… There will be an extra dish on Mother’s table for dinner tonight.”
Hearing this, Madam Yu’s face revealed a gratified smile.
Yu Jingxiu then asked about the Dragon Boat Festival gifts: “…I heard Kuai’an went to Shijia Hutong early this morning?”
Madam Yu’s smile gradually faded, and she responded with a somewhat displeased “Mm.”
Yu Jingxiu smiled and said: “Regardless, Kuai’an is our household’s chief steward; how could we have him deliver gifts? If there’s such a matter next time, just instruct me…”
His tone was light, as if casually chatting with his mother during leisure time.
Hearing this, Madam Yu raised her eyebrows and instructed the servants around her: “All of you, go out!”
Everyone in the room was surprised but quickly curtsied and withdrew.
When only mother and son remained in the room, Madam Yu finally said: “The Court of State Ceremonial has many affairs, and you’re so busy every day that your feet barely touch the ground. Did your wife tell you about Kuai’an delivering festival gifts?”
“No, no,” Yu Jingxiu’s expression flashed with regret. He had only inquired because he saw his wife’s mood was somewhat low these past few days and couldn’t determine the reason. After asking around, he learned that his mother disliked his wife and always thought the worst of her… He should have spoken more tactfully, so his mother wouldn’t have blamed his wife again… As these thoughts flashed through his mind, he quickly said: “I met Kuai’an at the door…”
“Kuai’an isn’t one to gossip; otherwise, he wouldn’t have risen to the position of chief steward on Jiadao Street,” Madam Yu coldly interrupted him. “That Zuo Junjie, have you found him yet?”
His father had instructed him not to tell his mother, so how did she know?
Caught off guard, Yu Jingxiu was alarmed.
Madam Yu’s gaze was piercing, her brow carrying a hint of coldness as she looked at him and said: “You haven’t found him, have you!”
“Mother!” Yu Jingxiu was somewhat flustered.
Madam Yu’s gaze grew colder, though her tone became more nonchalant: “What I despise about your wife is her pettiness. At a time like this, she only knows how to be jealous. If she were truly virtuous, she should be figuring out how to help you through this crisis! As the saying goes, ‘No one strikes a smiling face.’ Since you can’t find Zuo Junjie now, and having invited the Zhao couple to your home for discussions only to part on bad terms, I have no choice but to work on these small matters, hoping to move Fu and provide you with a way out.” As she spoke, her expression became increasingly stern. “This should have been your wife’s responsibility, but unfortunately, not only does she not think of it, even when she sees me doing it, she doesn’t appreciate my good intentions… Now I have to humble myself and face others’ cold reception!” After saying this, she twisted her mouth into a smile and self-mockingly said: “Who would have thought that after half a lifetime of prominence, now when I should be enjoying my golden years playing with grandchildren, I would be humbling myself and paying attention to the moods of a younger generation.”
“Mother!” Yu Jingxiu, both ashamed and remorseful, lowered his head.