With her awareness of being pregnant, though there were no symptoms yet, Fu Tingyun drew on her previous experience and proceeded with extreme caution in everything she did. After helping Yang Yucheng bring the Zhang family’s daughter into his home, representing Yang’s closest relatives by drinking tea with the new sister-in-law, and giving out meeting gifts, Fu Tingyun returned to the capital after the Yang couple’s third-day visit to the bride’s family.

She carefully passed more than a month, then eagerly invited a doctor to check her pulse. Confirming it was indeed the pulse of pregnancy, joy spilled uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes and the edges of her brows.

Fu Tingyun quickly wrote a letter to Zhao Ling.

Zhao Ling was ecstatic. Not only did he reply with a letter over ten pages long, listing all the precautions he knew one by one, but he also had Anxin bring back many medicinal herbs and a cart full of chicken, duck, fish, and meat.

Zheng San’s wife laughed and said, “It’s fortunate the weather is cold, otherwise all these good things would have spoiled.”

Fu Tingyun felt both sweet and embarrassed. She called Anxin to the main hall and questioned him in detail about Zhao Ling’s diet and daily routine.

“…He specially invited two famous old women from the surrounding villages to manage the kitchen affairs,” Anxin said. “There are also dedicated women for washing clothes. Ninth Master and General Mo say the snow is heavy this year, and they fear Tartar invasions, so they’re busy training troops before the ice becomes three feet thick!”

Hearing that all was well with Zhao Ling, Fu Tingyun felt at ease.

Anxin then took out a very ordinary envelope from his bosom and said, “Ninth Master instructed me to deliver this to Madam privately when I saw you.”

Since it was meant to be private, it wasn’t appropriate to open it in front of everyone. Fu Tingyun took the envelope and instructed Yu Wei to take Anxin down for a meal: “…Since he says he needs to return tomorrow, have Zheng San drive him to the ready-made clothing shop later to buy Anxin some seasonal clothes. The weather looks gloomy, and he might encounter snow on his return journey.”

Anxin hurriedly knelt, kowtowed to Fu Tingyun in gratitude, and then followed Yu Wei away.

Fu Tingyun dismissed those serving her and went to the western study.

Inside the envelope were seven or eight bank notes, some in large denominations of five hundred taels, others as small as fifty taels, totaling more than two thousand taels of silver.

Fu Tingyun frowned slightly. In the evening, she called Anxin over again to ask questions: “Who does Ninth Master usually socialize with?”

“Many people,” Anxin said, his expression animated. “General Mo only manages the training of troops, while Ninth Master handles everything else. From officials in the prefecture government to minor clerks delivering provisions, everyone seeks to speak with Ninth Master!” After finishing, he seemed to recall something and exclaimed, “Oh! There’s also Third Master Ye, who now manages the Ye family’s grain business in Datong and Xuantong, and frequently visits Ninth Master.”

Ever since he had rushed about gathering information for Zhao Ling during the siege of the capital, Manager Ye’s relationship with the Zhao family had gradually grown closer. Although he was often away from the capital due to business, he never missed sending congratulatory gifts for any occasion at the Zhao household.

Fu Tingyun was somewhat concerned and wrote a letter to Zhao Ling that night, mentioning the harvest in Xi’an: “…With favorable weather conditions, plus the rent from the shops, there is an annual income of five to six hundred taels of silver. The household’s annual expenses are four hundred taels, which is sufficient. Each year, there are two hundred taels placed in the bank to earn interest, supplementing my expenditure on powder and rouge. Ninth Master need not worry about household expenses.” She handed the letter to Anxin, who was returning to Xuantong early the next morning.

After a few days, Zhao Ling replied, telling her not to worry, saying he would only take what was rightfully his, and not a wen more of what wasn’t.

Fu Tingyun didn’t harp on the matter anymore.

By November, after receiving the income from the estate delivered by Manager Lü, Zhao Ling again had Anxin bring back two carts of New Year goods from Xuantong.

How could they possibly consume all this?

Fu Tingyun consulted with Zheng San’s wife, then asked Jin Yuanbao to help make arrangements. Zheng San’s wife and Zhou Shi took some of the excess items to the marketplace and sold them for three hundred taels of silver.

She then rewarded them with two taels of silver each.

Zhou Shi was somewhat surprised, but Zheng San’s wife knew that Fu Tingyun had always been considerate of others. She waved the reward silver in her hand and asked Youyou, “What would the young miss like to eat? Nanny Zheng is treating!”

Youyou giggled and said in her childish voice, “I want to eat maltose candy.”

She could now speak in sentences.

Zheng San’s wife chuckled, bought a packet of candy for Youyou, an inkstone for Asen, and two brushes for Lin Chun—Lin Chun would be seven years old after the Spring Festival, and Fu Tingyun was sending him to Bowen Private School in Chunshu Hutong with Asen for his initial education.

The children were all jubilant, experiencing the festivity of the New Year season even before it had arrived.

Fu Tingyun then had Zheng San take fifty taels of silver to the silversmith’s shop and had fifty silver tokens made, one tael each, with designs like “Top Scholar Success,” “Abundance Year After Year,” and “Three Sheep Bringing Prosperity.” During the New Year, she rewarded each person with a pair.

The unexpected rewards left everyone feeling pleasantly surprised, with smiles on every face, adding to the festive New Year atmosphere.

After the Lantern Festival, the now Madam Yang, formerly Miss Zhang, sent news of her pregnancy.

Fu Tingyun was overjoyed and, escorted by Jin Yuanbao, took Youyou to Zhang Family Bay to visit Madam Yang.

Madam Zhang was at her son-in-law’s house taking care of her daughter.

When the two women met, they had endless topics to discuss.

Meanwhile, Jin Yuanbao kept teasing Yang Yucheng.

Yang Yucheng, who usually enjoyed bantering with Jin Yuanbao, now just grinned foolishly no matter what Jin Yuanbao said. His joy was evident, causing Jin Yuanbao to shake his head.

Fu Tingyun was struck by a thought. On the way back, she tested Jin Yuanbao’s feelings: “…Is there any family you favor? I know some ladies, and could help you make inquiries.”

“I spend all day dealing with criminals, where would I meet anyone?” Jin Yuanbao showed a rare bashfulness. “Please don’t tease me, Sister-in-law.”

“Then let me be your matchmaker!” Fu Tingyun said.

Jin Yuanbao hemmed and hawed, declining.

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but smile secretively.

A few days later, she invited Chen Shi’s wife to her home as a guest and asked her to help as a go-between.

After explaining Jin Yuanbao’s situation, Chen Shi’s wife remembered a distant cousin from her maiden family: “…Her father works in the Shuntian Prefecture warehouse, and she has a paternal uncle who serves as an Assistant Commissioner in the Right Division of the Five Military Commission. Her family is quite well-off. Her appearance and character are no worse than Madam Yang’s, though she is seven or eight years younger than Mr. Jin.” She added, “But an older man tends to be more caring.” She seemed very satisfied with Jin Yuanbao.

Fu Tingyun was intrigued and asked Chen Shi’s wife to arrange a secret meeting with Miss Shi.

Miss Shi’s appearance wasn’t as striking as Madam Yang’s, but she seemed more composed in her behavior.

Thinking of Jin Yuanbao’s personality, Fu Tingyun couldn’t help nodding slightly.

After returning, she told Jin Yuanbao about the matter.

Jin Yuanbao’s face instantly turned bright red. He said, “I’ll defer to Sister-in-law’s judgment,” then, looking somewhat flustered, picked up Youyou and said, “Let’s go swing in the backyard!”

Youyou clapped her hands in approval.

Fu Tingyun and Yu Wei both covered their mouths and laughed.

Jin Yuanbao’s figure appeared somewhat awkward as he left.

Fu Tingyun and Yu Wei laughed even harder.

When Yang Yucheng heard about this, he volunteered to accompany Jin Yuanbao to meet Miss Shi.

Fu Tingyun then busied herself with Asen’s children’s examination.

Asen was very nervous and asked her, “What if I fail the exam?”

Fu Tingyun spat in disapproval and said, “Where has that spirited Asen gone, the one who knew to grab a stick and hit someone when he saw me being bullied?”

Asen smiled sheepishly.

Fu Tingyun took the opportunity to encourage him: “If you don’t pass this time, we’ll go back, study well, and try again next year. What is there to worry about?”

Asen was only afraid of disappointing Fu Tingyun. Seeing her relaxed demeanor, he nodded repeatedly, his expression becoming more spirited.

Lin Chun, who had been listening nearby, suddenly clenched his little fists and shouted at Asen, “Second Young Master will definitely pass, definitely pass!”

His indignant little appearance, as if Asen had suffered some grievance, made both Fu Tingyun and Asen laugh, dispelling the tense atmosphere.

Asen couldn’t help but stroke Lin Chun’s head and said to Fu Tingyun, “I will do my best in the exam.”

Fu Tingyun nodded with a smile.

Dong Gu, on Madam Wang’s orders, brought over the four treasures of the study.

Fu Tingyun thanked her profusely.

Dong Gu then took out a pouch made of bright red Hangzhou silk from her bosom: “This is a top scholar charm that the eldest young miss and second young miss sought for Young Master Asen. They said to let Young Master Asen carry it when taking the children’s examination, to bless him with high achievement.”

Fu Tingyun was surprised, then smilingly asked Dong Gu to convey her thanks to the two misses. She also packed a box of famous Beijing snacks for Dong Gu to take back: “As treats for the two young misses.”

Dong Gu accepted with a smile and was escorted to the main gate by Yu Wei.

Fu Tingyun took the pouch to Asen.

“Both of the Wang family’s young misses are cheering for you, so you mustn’t lose heart,” she hung the pouch on Asen’s belt. “You must live up to yourself, after all.”

Asen nodded repeatedly: “Sister-in-law, don’t worry, I will do my best in the exam.” He indeed looked spirited.

Fu Tingyun’s anxious heart finally eased.

On the ninth day of the second month, despite her somewhat bulky body, she rose at the crack of dawn to worship the ancestors, then rode in a carriage driven by Zheng San to accompany Asen to the examination site.

When they returned, it was still early, with the sun just showing half its face.

She thought of bringing back some sugar strips and melon seeds as snacks for Youyou and instructed the carriage to detour to Gulou Street. They stopped for a while at Beijing’s most famous Jin Lan Zhai tea food shop. With Yu Wei’s support, she browsed the shop, bought some pastries, and then was helped out by Yu Wei.

Across from Jin Lan Zhai tea food shop was Jiang Xiang Yuan.

A black-lacquered, level-topped carriage with green curtains was parked beside Jiang Xiang Yuan.

Just as Fu Tingyun was leaving, a dubious “Hmm?” came from a woman inside that carriage.

At the carriage window, Madam Yu still lifted the green gauze window with her hand and turned to say to Shu Mama beside her, “Look, is that Miss Fu?”

Shu Mama leaned forward and saw Fu Tingyun being supported into the carriage by a person dressed as a maid with very beautiful features.

She was wearing a rose-red gold-threaded jacket, her belly prominently protruding, her complexion ruddy, making her features appear even more strikingly beautiful.

“I think it looks like Miss Fu from the Fu family,” Shu Mama hesitated and said, “It seems she’s pregnant again.”

Madam Yu looked out of the carriage window.

The Zhao family’s carriage had already slowly moved away from Jin Lan Zhai tea shop.

“Then I wasn’t mistaken!” Madam Yu said, her voice tinged with bitterness.

Shu Mama didn’t know how to respond for a moment.