This was all they could do now!

Fu Tingyun dejectedly saw Lady Chen Shi off.

Ah Sen also became somewhat downcast upon hearing the news.

The atmosphere in the household suddenly turned oppressive. Kou’er, Zhenzhu, and others tiptoed around, and Youyou kept watching her mother’s expression with her big almond eyes.

Seeing this, Ah Sen took a deep breath and forced a smile: “Sister-in-law, didn’t you say that man proposes but God disposes? We’ve done what we should, and I have no regrets. Please don’t be sad.” Then he waved to Youyou: “Come, Second Uncle will teach you how to use a slingshot!”

“Great!” Youyou’s expression immediately brightened, her face showing joy, but then she seemed to remember something, her expression becoming more restrained as she glanced at Fu Tingyun, as if afraid of being scolded.

Fu Tingyun felt a pang in her heart but forced a smile: “Go ahead! Just be careful not to hit anyone!”

“I’ll be good and listen to Second Uncle,” Youyou beamed, her little face as radiant as a blooming flower, holding out her arms to Ah Sen.

Ah Sen smiled and picked up Youyou.

The two went to the back courtyard, laughing and chatting.

Soon, sounds of joy and laughter came from the back courtyard.

“Don’t let your hand shake, look at the jujubes on the tree, then aim a little lower, and shoot…”

“I hit it! I hit it!”

“Wow, Young Miss is amazing!”

“Young Miss, aim for that red jujube!”

Occasional “thunk” sounds of stones hitting their targets came through the back window.

Fu Tingyun laughed silently, her mood improving considerably, and went to the kitchen.

Zheng San Niang was venting her temper at Zhou Shi: “…Who sold you this mutton? Look at this meat, it’s dark red, this is goat meat, don’t you know? The Ninth Master is coming home, and you want to serve him this!”

Zhou Shi timidly looked at Zheng San Niang: “It was Chen San who always sells mutton to our household…”

Zheng San Niang held up the meat firmly: “I’ll go find him myself.”

Fu Tingyun stepped aside to avoid them.

Zheng San Niang and Zhou Shi walked out of the gate one after another.

Fu Tingyun smiled and shook her head.

Turning around, she saw Yu Wei leading Kou’er and Zhenzhu in dusting.

She couldn’t help but laugh: “This is almost like preparing for the New Year!”

Yu Wei was unfazed: “The Ninth Master is coming back, and that’s even more exciting than the New Year.”

Yan Qing hurried in: “Madam, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Chen family has arrived.”

Could there be some change with the Wang family?

Fu Tingyun felt a glimmer of hope rising in her heart and went to the gate.

Lady Chen Shi was approaching with a somewhat triumphant smile at the corners of her eyes and mouth.

Fu Tingyun’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly took Lady Chen Shi’s hand: “Has the other side agreed?”

“Quanhui!” Lady Chen Shi pretended to be displeased, “Getting straight to the point, not even letting me enjoy my moment.”

Fu Tingyun raised her eyebrows and smiled: “So it’s true?” She happily led her to sit in the main room, “I thought that even if there was any change, it would take a few days. I didn’t expect it to be so quick! Tell me, what happened?”

Lady Chen Shi didn’t stand on ceremony with her, sat down, took a sip of tea, and said: “When looking for a son-in-law to marry into the family, one hopes to support the family’s standing. But how many capable men are willing to be a live-in son-in-law? Master Wang understands this. He chose his nephew to marry into the family only because he saw that his nephew was honest and dutiful. His daughter surpasses his nephew in both character and appearance, and he hoped that after his nephew entered the family, with some effort to win him over, even if he couldn’t handle everything independently, at least he wouldn’t act recklessly and embarrass the Wang family. It was a decision made out of necessity.”

“So when they heard your family had this intention, Master Wang was even more anxious than you. He said that although he intended to have his nephew marry into the family, some matters hadn’t been discussed yet. Early this morning, he sent Madam Wang to get a definite answer… so I had to rush over.”

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, saying: “It’s fortunate that I shamelessly asked, otherwise this opportunity would have truly been missed.” Then she pondered: “However, for Ah Sen to marry into their family, I have two conditions. Please relay them to Madam Wang to see if they’re acceptable.”

Lady Chen Shi listened and showed a serious expression: “Tell me, I’ll help pass the message.”

Fu Tingyun thought for a moment and said: “First, he won’t change his surname. Our Ah Sen has grown up under Madam Wang’s watch, and she knows his character better than anyone. In a way, Ah Sen and the Wang family’s eldest daughter are childhood sweethearts. If he didn’t care for her, I wouldn’t stubbornly ask even knowing Master Wang intended to have his nephew marry into the family. Second, if they have three sons after marriage, the youngest son must take Ah Sen’s Zhao surname to continue his family line.”

Lady Chen Shi nodded in understanding and smiled: “I was wondering why you suddenly agreed to let Ah Sen marry into their family. So this was your consideration.” She added, “Both of your conditions are reasonable and can be negotiated.” She stood up, “I’ll go give Madam Wang an answer, so she won’t keep worrying about this matter.”

Fu Tingyun escorted Lady Chen Shi out: “Thank you for your help with this matter, sister. Please help mediate, as we sincerely wish to form this marriage alliance.”

“I know what to say,” Lady Chen Shi smiled, “I’ll earn those matchmaker’s shoes from you!”

As they chatted and laughed, they looked up to see Ah Sen carrying Youyou coming their way.

Fu Tingyun quickly gave Lady Chen Shi a look, whispering: “Don’t mention it yet.”

Lady Chen Shi nodded in understanding, smiled and greeted Ah Sen, played with Youyou for a bit, and then left.

Youyou boasted to her mother: “Mother, I hit many jujubes!”

Fu Tingyun took Youyou and smiled: “Many? How many?”

Youyou counted on her little fingers for a long time but couldn’t get it right.

Fu Tingyun carried her back to the main room and found an abacus to teach Youyou how to count.

Ah Sen accompanied them the whole time. Only when Youyou complained of thirst and followed Tong Shi down to get water did he find a chance to ask Fu Tingyun: “What did the eldest daughter-in-law of the Chen family come for?”

Fu Tingyun secretly found this amusing and said: “She asked if I’m going to the Western Garden to watch the dragon boat races on the Dragon Boat Festival.”

“Then, are you going?” Ah Sen’s eyes widened, his face full of expectation.

“The Ninth Master is coming back,” Fu Tingyun said, “I don’t want to go.”

Hearing this, Ah Sen felt somewhat disappointed and listlessly played with Youyou for a while before finding an excuse to return to his room.

Fu Tingyun privately felt relieved that she hadn’t told him the reason for Lady Chen Shi’s visit. If the Wang family called off the marriage because of her two conditions, Ah Sen would likely be even more heartbroken. But she couldn’t bear to let Ah Sen simply marry into the Wang family as is.

Amid her hopes and fears, the Wang family quickly responded.

They agreed to both conditions and wanted to formally settle the matter after Zhao Ling’s return.

Only then did Fu Tingyun tell Ah Sen the news.

Ah Sen couldn’t help but beam with joy.

Fu Tingyun, however, felt some melancholy, like a parent watching a daughter come of age. But seeing Ah Sen walking with a spring in his step, her little melancholy soon vanished.

On the eighteenth day, before dawn, Ah Sen had already prepared and harnessed the carriage.

“Sister-in-law, I’ll drive today,” he said spiritedly, urging Fu Tingyun to depart, “…We’ll go through the West Straight Gate where the water gate is. They open the city gates at the hour of the Ox (1-3 am).” He smiled and asked the yawning Youyou, “Do you remember the Ninth Master?”

Youyou nestled in Tong Shi’s arms, drowsy-eyed, nodding and answering irrelevantly: “I want to go meet Father.”

Xiege, however, wouldn’t wake up no matter how they tried.

Fu Tingyun could only sigh.

Seeing that both children were properly dressed, she boarded the carriage with Yu Wei’s assistance.

By the time they reached the ten-li pavilion, the sky was just beginning to brighten, and the breeze felt cool against their skin.

Fu Tingyun chatted intermittently with Yu Wei, watching the dawn gradually appear on the horizon, and then seeing the sun rise, shining brightly and warmly on the ground.

“Why haven’t they arrived yet?” She was burning with impatience, each moment feeling as long as a year, so she lifted the curtain to look outside.

In the distance, a procession of official sedan chairs approached and stopped at a pavilion not far from them.

The curtains were lifted, and officials wearing blue or green court robes alighted from the sedan chairs and rested in the pavilion.

Ah Sen exclaimed excitedly: “Those are people from the Ministry of Rites and the Foreign Office… The Ninth Master and his party should be arriving soon.”

Fu Tingyun perked up.

Youyou drooped like a wilted vegetable on her mother’s lap, while Xiege, feeling constrained, wriggled in Yu Wei’s arms, making little noises.

Yu Wei, feeling sorry for Xiege, hesitated: “Should I take the young master for a little walk outside?”

Their carriage was parked in the shade of trees by the roadside, with occasional breezes making the leaves rustle.

“Don’t go too far,” Fu Tingyun instructed Yu Wei, “The sun is too strong.”

Yu Wei smiled and nodded, carrying Xiege to play with grass under the trees.

Ah Sen followed to join the fun.

From the west came the sound of hoofbeats.

A group of horsemen approached.

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but crane her neck to look.

Amid the flying dust, silver-white armor gleamed blindingly bright like the scorching sun.

Fu Tingyun’s heart began to pound like a drum.

She couldn’t help but jump down from the carriage.

The mounted party stopped in front of the pavilion.

The leader was a tall man. As he dismounted, those behind him followed suit. The officials resting in the pavilion came out to greet him.

That agile figure, those composed manners had appeared in Fu Tingyun’s dreams countless times. She could pick him out from a crowd with just a glance.

Her gaze suddenly became intense.

Zhao Ling, Zhao Ling… do you know I’m standing by a carriage just a stone’s throw away? Do you know I’ve come to welcome you?

The wind gently blew, lifting the red tassel on his helmet, but he remained with his face turned to the side, talking with the group of officials.

Fu Tingyun felt somewhat discouraged.

From behind came Youyou’s urgent call: “Mother, Mother…”

Fu Tingyun quickly turned around.

Her daughter had somehow climbed out of the carriage and was now perched on the shaft, looking as if she wanted to jump down but didn’t dare.

Fu Tingyun smiled, picked up Youyou, pointed to Zhao Ling, who stood out in the crowd, and said softly: “That’s your father!”

Youyou was silent, tilting her head to look at Zhao Ling.

Fu Tingyun smiled bitterly, not knowing whether she was consoling herself or Youyou: “Father has official duties and can’t come over…”

Before she could finish, Zhao Ling suddenly turned around.

A faint smile immediately spread across his lips, and his gaze, fixed on her, was brighter than his armor.

Fu Tingyun’s heart surged with emotion, and her cheeks grew slightly warm.

A flash of light crossed Zhao Ling’s eyes, and his smile deepened.

Fu Tingyun looked at him, her heart full of happiness.

She murmured to her daughter: “Youyou, look, Father is watching us…” But her eyes couldn’t move away from him for a moment, as if in this world, only Zhao Ling smiling at her remained.