“…She was brought into the household in the tenth month of last year, and was already with child when she arrived. Then the Yu family’s young mistress also announced her pregnancy.” Zhao Ling frowned as he continued, “Isn’t it almost the Ghost Festival now? She was accompanying Madam Yu and the young mistress to offer incense at Tanzhe Temple. When Concubine Wu was seeing them off, she somehow slipped and fell. Two days later, she miscarried.” He paused slightly, his tone revealing a trace of melancholy, “It was a male child, already seven months along… He was still alive when delivered… but passed away after two hours…”
Having become parents themselves, they naturally felt compassion when speaking of children. How could one not be moved by such a tragic scene?
Even though it was Yu Jingxiu’s child, thinking of Miss Wu as the mother, Fu Tingyun couldn’t help feeling a sting in her eyes: “How could this happen?” She remained speechless for a while.
Seeing the somber atmosphere, Zhao Ling said: “If there’s anyone to blame, it’s that the child chose the wrong womb!” Then he consoled her, “When Yu Jingxiu committed such heinous acts, Elder Yu merely reprimanded him. In such a family, if trouble doesn’t come now, it will come later. This was the child’s fate, beyond anyone’s control.”
Fu Tingyun felt his words made sense and nodded: “I just think the child is truly pitiful!”
Zhao Ling said: “That’s why I think Master Wang is doing the right thing. Rather than taking concubines for the sake of a son and throwing the household into chaos, it’s better to raise his daughter well, find a son-in-law to marry into the family, and raise grandchildren. It amounts to the same thing.”
Fu Tingyun joked with him: “So if I give birth to a daughter, you won’t take a concubine either?”
“Of course not,” Zhao Ling replied righteously. “Whether one has sons or daughters is predestined. Forcing the issue will exact a price—either family discord or a loss of fortune and blessing. It’s better to let nature take its course.”
After all, it was someone else’s affair. The couple chatted briefly, their mood improved, and they put the matter behind them.
Fu Tingyun brought up Ah-Sen’s engagement: “Madam Wang thinks the twenty-sixth day of the seventh month is an auspicious date and asks for our opinion.”
“Then the twenty-sixth it is,” Zhao Ling said. “Since we’ve entrusted Madam Wang with selecting the date, we shouldn’t complicate matters. Let’s follow the Wang family’s arrangements for the wedding. Would Madam Wang and Master Wang have ulterior motives regarding their daughter?”
“That’s true,” Fu Tingyun smiled. “I heard the Tatars will enter the capital on the twenty-second. They’re worried about interfering with your duties, aren’t they?”
“I’m only responsible for the ceremony,” Zhao Ling smiled. “On the twenty-second, with the Emperor, the Elders, and all the Ministers present, I probably won’t even have a place to stand… It’s the perfect time to take care of Ah-Sen’s engagement.”
Fu Tingyun sent a reply to the Wang family, and they sent over the uxorilocal marriage document.
According to custom, this document detailed the responsibilities and obligations of both parties, including how to care for the elderly, funeral and ancestral worship arrangements, and property distribution.
Perhaps because they were satisfied with Ah-Sen as a son-in-law, or perhaps out of gratitude to Fu Tingyun for consistently prioritizing the Wang family’s interests in this marriage, the Wang family’s document stipulated that Ah-Sen would not change his surname, and if there were three sons, the youngest would take the father’s surname. They also added a clause stating that if there were only two sons, after three generations, the second branch would return to their original ancestry.
Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but admire: “Madam Wang truly has an upright character!”
Chen Shi also sighed with emotion: “Though I don’t often act as a matchmaker, I frequently serve as a ceremonial attendant. On wedding days, many people argue over details. Couples like you who communicate well and respect each other tenfold when shown an inch of respect are rare.”
“That’s exactly why I wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Wang family,” Fu Tingyun smiled. “I’ve always respected Master and Madam Wang’s conduct.”
Chen Shi smiled and nodded. The two spent the entire day finalizing the betrothal arrangements.
Early on the twenty-sixth, Jin Yuanbao and Yang Yucheng, as Ah-Sen’s sworn brothers, went to the Wang family to formalize the engagement.
Mo Yi had also returned to the capital and was chatting with Qin Feiyu and others in the outer courtyard, while Madam Mo and the other ladies conversed with Fu Tingyun in the inner courtyard.
Madam Wu personally delivered her congratulations.
Fu Tingyun was wary of her but received her with a smile, carefully avoiding any opportunity for a private conversation.
Madam Wu left disappointed.
Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
However, unexpectedly, Madam Wu visited again the next day.
Fu Tingyun had no choice but to receive her reluctantly.
Madam Wu brought her some fine West Lake Dragon Well tea.
“Try it. How does it taste?”
Seeing that the gift was neither expensive nor rare, and noticing Madam Wu watching her expectantly, Fu Tingyun felt there might be something suspicious but wasn’t afraid. She smiled and asked Yu Wei to brew a pot of tea.
“Well?” After Fu Tingyun had tasted it, Madam Wu smiled. “The flavor is quite good, isn’t it?”
The tea was clear and sweet.
“It’s acceptable!” Fu Tingyun replied honestly.
Hearing this, Madam Wu smiled and said: “Actually, this isn’t from me. Someone asked me to give it to you.”
Here it comes!
Fu Tingyun thought to herself but maintained a neutral expression, looking at Madam Wu with slight surprise.
Madam Wu moved closer to Fu Tingyun and whispered: “Madam Zhao, has General Zhao mentioned anything to you about the Zhao family of Songjiang?”
So she was acting as a mediator for the Zhao family.
Fu Tingyun couldn’t hide her astonishment.
Seeing her reaction, Madam Wu understood.
Zhao Ling had probably told Fu Tingyun everything.
She continued without reservation: “…The former Sixth Master of the Zhao family has grown old and confused and no longer manages affairs. The current head of the Zhao family is Eighth Master Zhao, the nephew of Sixth Master. Eighth Master says that the past troubles were all caused by Sixth Master. After the Sixth Master stepped down, everyone realized it was a misunderstanding. The Zhao family feels they’ve wronged General Zhao. They sent people to look for him, but many years had passed, and they didn’t expect General Zhao to have gone to the northwest. Having no news of him, they assumed he had passed away and erected a cenotaph next to the graves of his parents.”
“If not for the Zhao family needing to transfer funds through the Datong Bank recently, Eighth Master wouldn’t have known General Zhao was still alive!”
“They originally wanted to reconnect, but knowing they were in the wrong, they felt uneasy. They feared General Zhao might still harbor resentment over the past events, worried that if the conversation became tense, there would be no room for reconciliation.” As she spoke, she picked up her teacup and smiled, “You see, our Wu family and the Zhao family are both prominent households from Jiangnan, with various connections, and we’re even related by marriage. After much consideration, knowing that I live next door to you, they sought my assistance. They admit they were entirely at fault back then. They don’t seek General Zhao’s forgiveness, only that he, as a magnanimous man, won’t hold a grudge against them. They’re willing to accept any scolding or punishment. After all, two Zhao families can’t be written with a single stroke—they hope to resume relations as before. As for the properties left by General Zhao’s father, some were merged with the Zhao family’s communal assets, and some fell into the Sixth Master’s hands. Regardless, Eighth Master promises to return everything in full.”
After saying this, she leaned closer to Fu Tingyun’s ear and whispered, “Eighth Master also said that if General Zhao agrees to this reconciliation, he’s willing to transfer four hundred mu of prime farmland outside Dingjia Bridge in Songjiang, as well as three silk shops in Wenli Lane in Hangzhou, to Madam Zhao’s name as a personal allowance. For future education, betrothals, and weddings of your children, there will be additional funds and gifts.”
In other words, if she could persuade Zhao Ling not to seek revenge against the Zhao family, they would give her the so-called four hundred mu of prime farmland outside Dingjia Bridge in Songjiang and three silk shops in Wenli Lane in Hangzhou as her private funds, and they would also cover the children’s pocket money in the future.
Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but laugh coldly to herself.
The Zhao family’s imagination was running wild!
Not to mention that she and her husband had always been honest with each other—what’s yours is mine, and what’s mine is yours—so there was no such thing as private funds. Even if she wanted some private money, she wouldn’t need to reach out to the Zhao family. The Zhao family currently had no officials among them, and as the saying goes, “A county magistrate can break a family, a prefect can exterminate a clan.” Though the Zhao family might appear prosperous now, they were as fragile as paper houses—how could they withstand any turbulence? If she accepted anything from the Zhao family, they would likely come looking for her at the slightest sign of trouble… She wasn’t a fool!
Though these were her thoughts, she raised an eyebrow slightly and mused: “Madam Wu, this is a significant matter. Please allow me to consider it carefully.”
Hearing her tone, which suggested there might be room for negotiation, Madam Wu’s heart leaped with joy. She quickly smiled and said: “Of course, of course.” Thinking that Fu Tingyun might need time to calculate her advantage, she stood up. “I’ll take my leave then. They’re waiting for my response.” She added in a low voice, “Please make your decision soon. Everything is an opportunity. If General Zhao becomes angry and the two families have a falling out, the Zhao family has nothing to lose. If they decide to make trouble, they have nothing to hold back for.”
Implying that the private funds would then disappear.
Fu Tingyun smiled without responding and saw Madam Wu to the door.
Yu Wei spat in the direction of Madam Wu’s back: “She’s as blind as a dog!”
“Her dog eyes are quite adept at reading the wind,” Fu Tingyun thought of Miss Wu and couldn’t help making a sarcastic remark, which surprised Yu Wei.
Fu Tingyun had already entered the room.
When Zhao Ling returned, she told him about the incident: “…What are your plans?”
Zhao Ling gave a cold laugh and said: “You keep stalling them. I have my ideas.”
“Mmm!” Fu Tingyun responded, a trace of worry appearing on her face.
“Don’t worry,” Zhao Ling said, seeing this, and took her hand. “Qin Feiyu has given me a hint that the imperial rewards will be announced in the next few days. If the Zhao family has good intelligence, they’ve probably heard the news, but until the imperial edict is officially issued, they’ll likely hold out hope. If they haven’t heard, they probably want to shift the blame to Fifth Master to appease my anger. Whether it’s the former or the latter, once the rewards are officially announced, they’ll only become more anxious. We’ll see how to proceed then.”
Most people fear the unknown.
By delaying and not giving a clear answer, they could frighten the Zhao family a bit, which would be like collecting some interest in advance.
Fu Tingyun smiled and nodded, following the plan to stall and ignore the matter.
Madam Wu waited for several days, only to hear the news that Zhao Ling’s father, Zhao Xiang, had been posthumously awarded the title of Jiayi Dafu of the third rank, and his mother, Madam Meng, had been posthumously awarded the title of Lady of the third rank.
The Zhao family panicked and sent someone to tell Madam Wu: “…Our Eighth Mistress arrived from Songjiang the day before yesterday. She said that if not for your kindness, we wouldn’t even know where General Zhao’s door faces! She visited the capital once ten years ago and heard that the Baoqing Silver Shop has recently commissioned several sets of innovative headdresses from the Suo family of Jiangnan. She was wondering if you might have time to accompany her to take a look.” The messenger continued, “People fear confrontation. Our Eighth Mistress suggests that you bring her to meet Madam Zhao. After all, Eighth Mistress is General Zhao’s aunt. When the time comes, our Eighth Mistress will kneel before Madam Zhao—surely Madam Zhao wouldn’t strike someone who comes with a smiling face?”
The Zhao family was now speaking carelessly, beginning to address Fu Tingyun as “Madam.”