Zheng San went to the hall in the south wing, while Fu Tingyun sat on the large kang by the window, reading the letter by the light coming through the latticed window.

In just a few moments, her face changed dramatically.

Yu Wei, who was serving at her side, became extremely anxious.

The Ninth Master had said he would return in early March. Counting the days, he should arrive around now. What could be so urgent that he couldn’t wait to tell Madam in person, instead entrusting an official to deliver a letter…

Her mind began racing.

Could it be that the Ninth Master had found someone outside? Now that he was returning, he had to inform Madam to legitimize the situation…

Yu Wei couldn’t help but carefully observe Fu Tingyun.

She saw Fu Tingyun’s delicate eyebrows tightly knitted, her once rosy complexion turning increasingly pale as if struck by frost, with beads of sweat forming on her forehead…

No longer mindful of the master-servant hierarchy, she urgently asked, “Madam, Madam, what did the Ninth Master write in his letter?”

Fu Tingyun looked up, her eyes glistening with tears: “He says that after the New Year, they discovered traces of Tartars near Xuanfu. Moyi personally led troops several times to eliminate them but returned without success. He and Moyi both feel something is suspicious about this, and they’re afraid the Tartars might take advantage of their absence to invade. They’ve decided to postpone their return to the capital…”

So that was it!

Yu Wei couldn’t help but let out a long sigh of relief.

Fu Tingyun was surprised and displeased: “There might be a war in Xuanfu!”

Yu Wei belatedly realized, “Then, then will the Ninth Master be in danger?”

“Who knows!” As Fu Tingyun spoke, the string in her heart tightened again. “The Ninth Master… he only ever tells me the good news, never the bad. Look at these two years he’s been in Xuanfu, when has he ever mentioned fighting? If it weren’t for his inability to return as scheduled, he probably wouldn’t have told me, just like before…” At this point, her heart ached, and tears welled up in her eyes.

“The Ninth Master will be fine,” Yu Wei hurriedly consoled her. “The Ninth Master’s skills are so exceptional that even the Emperor praises him endlessly. Who could be his match? Besides, General Mo is the Commander-in-Chief. If Tartars invade, General Mo should be the one commanding the troops…”

“You’ve been in this household for several years now,” Fu Tingyun said. “Haven’t you figured out the Ninth Master’s temperament? Is he the kind of person who would hide behind others in the face of danger? It would be good enough if he doesn’t actively seek out the enemy!”

Yu Wei thought carefully and realized this was indeed the case!

“Then, then what should we do?” she asked anxiously.

With the whip too short to reach… Fu Tingyun also didn’t know what to do!

Her tears fell steadily.

Zhenzhu reported from beyond the curtain: “Zheng San has arrived!”

Fu Tingyun quickly wiped away her tears and, supported by Yu Wei, rose to go to the hall.

Zheng San was pacing back and forth. Seeing Fu Tingyun, he hurried to greet her.

“Madam,” he saluted with cupped hands, his expression somewhat grave, “Mr. He says there might be a war in Xuanfu…”

“I already know,” Fu Tingyun gestured for Zheng San to sit down and talk. “The Ninth Master wrote about it in his letter. What else did Mr. He say?”

After Fu Tingyun was seated, Zheng San also half-sat on the armchair: “Mr. He also said that according to custom, when Gansu’s Commander-in-Chief changes, the Mongols and Tartars invariably gather troops at Jiayuguan to test the new Commander’s abilities. But after Mr. He went to Zhangye, Jiayuguan remained quiet, while the whereabouts of Mongols or Tartars were occasionally discovered in Xuanfu and Datong. The Emperor has appointed General Mo as the Governor of Xuanfu and Datong, controlling the military forces there…”

Fu Tingyun bit her lip silently after hearing this.

This Zhao Ling—the situation was already tense with weapons drawn, yet he still wrote in his letter that “if all goes well, I might return before Young Master Xi’s first birthday celebration”…

She couldn’t help but say fiercely: “What else did Mr. He say?”

Zheng San found Fu Tingyun’s anger somewhat puzzling, but still respectfully replied: “Mr. He’s father passed away three years ago. As the eldest son, Mr. He wants to succeed his father as the Commander of Yulin Guard. He originally wanted the Marquis of Yingchuan to help speak to the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War, but the Marquis politely declined, suggesting that if it was difficult, perhaps our Ninth Master could help. So Mr. He went to Xuanfu. Just as this matter arose, the Ninth Master entrusted him to bring some things to the household, and also gave him his name card, telling Mr. He that if he faced any difficulties, he could seek help from Secretary Qin…”

Fu Tingyun was slightly taken aback.

The He family’s position as Commander was hereditary, and as the eldest son, He Xiulin should inherit it according to law. However, such hereditary positions came in two types: with actual duties or without. With duties meant a real position; without duties meant only enjoying the benefits of inheritance. If one wanted to inherit a position with duties, one had to go through the proper channels at the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War.

For the Marquis of Yingchuan, this would have been a simple favor.

He Xiulin was formerly an Assistant Commander in the Ganzhou Guard, a subordinate of his. Yet he declined… It showed that he was determined to remain secluded and no longer involve himself in such matters.

Qin Feiyu was the Emperor’s favored official. If Zhao Ling introduced He Xiulin to Qin Feiyu, Qin Feiyu would likely report to the Emperor… This was also good… Success or failure would then be the Emperor’s grace.

Fu Tingyun instructed Yu Wei: “Go to Madam Mo’s place and see if she has any news.”

Yu Wei acknowledged and left.

Fu Tingyun leaned against the large pillow, thinking.

Madam Mo came from a military family with many relatives in the army. If there were any changes in Xuanfu, she should know quickly if she was interested.

A few days later, a message came from Madam Mo: “Fighting has broken out in Xuanfu and Datong…”

Such news naturally kept Fu Tingyun anxious day and night, unable to sleep. But for the common people of the capital, it was merely a topic of conversation at breakfast, and for those ladies in deep chambers, it was something completely negligible.

Fan asked Mozhuan to extinguish the lamp and lower the gauze curtain. As the inside of the curtain turned pitch black, she opened the small sandalwood box in her hand.

A soft glow appeared inside the curtain.

“Ah!” Mozhuan exclaimed softly, “How beautiful!” Then she added admiringly, “The Young Master truly cherishes the Young Mistress!”

Fan remained silent, covering her mouth as she smiled, her brow filled with intense joy: “It was a gift from a friend. He didn’t want it at first, but then he thought about how I’ve been staying at home during my pregnancy and feeling quite bored, so he brought it back for me to play with…”

“Young Mistress,” Mozhuan exclaimed again, “there’s no one in the world who treats his wife better than the Young Master! Just because he was afraid you’d be bored, he brought you a priceless night-luminous pearl to play with…”

Fan smiled contentedly.

Light footsteps could be heard from outside.

Fan’s brow furrowed slightly.

Hearing this, Mozhuan shouted: “Who’s there? Didn’t I say that the Young Mistress needs rest for her pregnancy? No one is allowed to intrude without permission!” Her voice was filled with deep displeasure.

“Sister Mozhuan,” the young maid’s voice was trembling with fear, “it’s, it’s Concubine Wu from the back courtyard. The matrons are asking how her clothes should be made.”

It was already March, and according to custom, the household members should add summer clothes. A concubine was entitled to two more sets of clothes than a first-class maid.

Fan’s face fell as she heard this, and she closed the box with a “snap.”

The curtained area immediately became pitch dark.

“How annoying!” Fan’s faint voice came from behind the curtain. “Lift the curtain!”

“Yes!” Mozhuan dared not delay and hurriedly got up to hang the curtain.

Bright light shone in, highlighting Fan’s snow-white skin.

She extended her hand.

Mozhuan quickly helped her down from the bed.

“Come, let’s go to the back courtyard.”

Mozhuan glanced at Fan in surprise, then quickly lowered her eyes and responded with a “Yes.”

The young maid who had come to deliver the message began to cry anxiously: “Young Mistress, Young Mistress…”

“Why are you crying?” Fan smiled gently. “If you’re worried, just come with me.” After speaking, she turned and left the inner chamber.

The young maid was caught in a dilemma. Looking at Fan’s receding figure, she thought for a moment, then ran after her.

Fan did not enter Concubine Wu’s room but stood on the steps in front of the door. She looked at Concubine Wu, who stood with her hands at her sides, appearing somewhat bewildered, her abdomen flat. Then she looked at the maids, wives, and matrons who had been called over by Mozhuan and were standing in the courtyard with lowered eyes. Her voice wasn’t loud, but her tone was stern: “Rules are rules. No matter what, Concubine Wu was brought into the Yu family in a sedan chair; she is a proper concubine of the Yu family, and according to custom, she should have whatever is due to her. Today, someone asked me how Concubine Wu’s clothes should be made.” As she spoke, her gaze swept over a matron wearing a lilac silk-padded jacket. “From today on, I don’t want to hear anyone asking such questions again! If I hear it again, that person need not serve in my courtyard anymore. Does everyone understand?”

All the maids, wives, and matrons responded with a “Yes” while bending their knees, making Concubine Wu, who remained standing, appear particularly conspicuous.

Fan’s gaze fell on Concubine Wu.

“You are now carrying the Young Master’s flesh and blood and should rest peacefully,” her expression was solemn, with a hint of sharpness. “It’s just two sets of clothes, you don’t need to go to such lengths to test me. I’m not a harsh person. In the future, if there are such matters, just have your maid ask Mozhuan. Don’t do such petty things again. It not only embarrasses me but also displeases the Young Master.”

Concubine Wu looked at Fan in surprise.

Was she saying that the matron who went to ask her about what standard to use for making summer clothes was acting on her instructions?

“Young Mistress,” this matter could be taken either way—interpreted charitably, it was merely her humble background and shallow perspective; interpreted severely, it was using her pregnancy to compete for favor. Concubine Wu couldn’t help but defend herself: “I didn’t ask anyone to inquire about summer clothes…”

Before she could finish speaking, the matron in the lilac clothes had already knelt before Fan with a start: “Young Mistress, it was all this old servant’s confusion. Seeing that Concubine Wu had no one to serve her, I was incited by Concubine Wu to speak nonsense to the Young Mistress. Please forgive me this once!” With that, she began to kowtow repeatedly.

“You…” Concubine Wu felt only shame at being someone else’s concubine and didn’t dare speak forcefully about anything, but she wasn’t stupid. Looking at the matron kowtowing to Fan, she immediately trembled with anger, her gaze involuntarily falling on Fan.

Fan was just marveling at how such a clever matron had spent most of her life working in the sewing room when she felt a gaze that seemed to penetrate worldly affairs.

She couldn’t help but turn her head and met Concubine Wu’s gaze directly.