“…People in Huayin are saying that since the household has fallen into the eldest master’s hands, it’s bound to decline. Many hold this view. A few days ago, Manager Ding requested the Old Madam to release him from service. The Old Madam was so angered that she didn’t speak for several days. But for some reason, Manager Ding and his family were still allowed to leave. My cousin and others discussed privately that Manager Ding offered a large sum of silver and, having managed the Fu family estate for two generations, had good relationships with county clerks. Recently, the Fu family had a dispute with the Shi family over water for the estate, and they only prevailed because they went through those clerks. Manager Ding asked those clerks to speak on his behalf, so the Fu family had no choice but to let him go. Then rumors spread that the family is no longer what it once was, just an empty shell, so whoever got the money dared to accept it.” At this point, Yi Tong paused, her expression hesitant.

Fu Tingyun was already dumbfounded.

A household manager daring to request his release, and the Fu family unable to control even a servant, actually having to appease those clerks…

Seeing Yi Tong hesitating to continue, she urgently asked: “What other absurd rumors are there?”

Upon hearing this, Yi Tong glanced at Yu Wei.

Yu Wei didn’t avoid Yi Tong’s gaze but said frankly: “Sister Yi Tong, Madam has spent these years traveling north and south with the Ninth Master. The Ninth Master went to the northwest, and the household relied entirely on Madam. She’s no longer the sheltered young lady of the past. There are no outsiders here, so just say what you need to say. Madam can handle it.”

From her tone, Yu Wei also knew what Yi Tong was about to say.

Fu Tingyun’s face revealed a hint of doubt.

Yi Tong finally said in a low voice: “A merchant family offered thirty thousand taels of silver to marry the fourteenth miss. The First Madam refused, but the Old Madam…”

The fourteenth miss was the concubine-born daughter of the fourth master of the Fu family.

Fu Tingyun rose in shock: “How could this be?” Her face showed disbelief, “Who said this? Who else knows?”

If she didn’t believe it was true, why would she ask who else knew?

Perhaps deep in the Ninth Miss’s heart, though she found it shocking, she couldn’t help but acknowledge the possibility…

Yi Tong pondered, her eyes revealing some dejection: “The matchmaker has already seen the Old Madam, but the First Madam is firmly opposed, so it’s not settled yet.” After a slight hesitation, she added, “I’m afraid this matter will be decided sooner or later—the Fourth Madam is very pleased with this match and has even quarreled with the First Madam over it.”

Fu Tingyun sank back into her seat.

She suddenly recalled Zhao Ling’s contemptuous expression when he heard about the three chastity memorial arches in the Fu family…

Had he anticipated such an outcome?

Fu Tingyun felt somewhat bewildered and murmured: “Has the Old Madam become senile? If the fourteenth sister is married off in this way, how will the married sisters be treated in their husbands’ families?”

“Exactly…” Yi Tong’s expression also darkened, “I don’t know what the Old Madam is thinking!”

Indeed!

The Old Madam had married into the Fu family at fourteen or fifteen, rising from a grandson’s wife to the Old Madam, managing the household with her children. Before her marriage, Fu Tingyun hadn’t realized it, but after marrying and experiencing the hardship of fleeing with Zhao Ling, she looked back and appreciated the Old Madam’s remarkable qualities. Such a person, though advanced in years, shouldn’t make such a self-destructive error!

The thought flashed past, and Fu Tingyun’s expression froze, her gaze suddenly losing focus as she stared at Yi Tong.

“Madam, Madam,” Yi Tong was frightened and quickly stood up, “What’s wrong with you?”

Standing behind Fu Tingyun, Yu Wei only now noticed her unusual state.

She was also startled and gently pushed Fu Tingyun’s shoulder: “Madam, Madam!” She called out in a panicked tone.

Fu Tingyun came to her senses as if waking from a dream.

She let out a long sigh, her expression somewhat obscure, and asked Yi Tong in a low voice: “These past two years, have the two masters sent any money home? Or has the family sent someone to ask them for advice on any difficulties?”

Yi Tong was somewhat puzzled, thought carefully, and shook her head gently: “No!”

“I understand now!” Fu Tingyun’s obscure expression became tinged with bitterness, “A granddaughter may be important, the Fu family’s reputation may be important, but compared to sons, these are nothing… Without sons, where would the Fu family be…”

Though her voice was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz, Yi Tong and Yu Wei, who were fully focused on her, heard every word.

The two exchanged puzzled glances.

Yu Wei, relying on her years of close service to Fu Tingyun, who treated her like family, quietly asked: “What does Madam understand?”

Fu Tingyun now understood why she had been poisoned by the First Madam.

All along, she had thought the First Madam had done it behind the Old Madam’s back. But given the Old Madam’s shrewdness and capability, she couldn’t have missed the strangeness of the situation.

The Old Madam had noticed, but compared to her son’s future and the Fu family’s prospects, she had chosen the lesser option.

So, despite knowing she was still alive, the Old Madam hadn’t sent her any message.

At first, she thought the Old Madam felt guilty, not knowing how to face her wronged granddaughter… Now she realized she had oversimplified the matter.

She had been debating whether to visit the Old Madam!

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but smile self-mockingly and said: “It’s a good thing the Fifth Master refused to acknowledge me. If he had, I probably would have died of disgust!”

These words seemed disconnected, and Yu Wei and Yi Tong couldn’t help but reveal worried expressions.

Discussing such matters only discouraged people.

Fu Tingyun smiled sardonically and said: “What expressions are those? I mutter a few words to myself, and you need to get to the bottom of it? Is this how you serve people?” Her tone carried a hint of teasing.

Both of them simultaneously sighed in relief.

Yu Wei even joked: “Isn’t this taking advantage of seniority?”

“You’re considered old?” Fu Tingyun, wanting to dispel the earlier solemnity, joked with Yu Wei, “I don’t feel old at all!” Then she turned to Yi Tong, “Do you have a suitable family? Hurry and marry off this sister of yours! Otherwise, she’ll continue to act like an elder in my room!”

Yi Tong played along: “She’s too old, there’s no suitable match!”

“You two…” Yu Wei’s face turned crimson with embarrassment. Not daring to rebuke Fu Tingyun, she directed her frustration at Yi Tong, “Is this how a wife behaves? Daring to say anything?”

Fu Tingyun and Yi Tong burst into laughter.

Mama Tong led Youyou and young Master Xi in.

Fu Tingyun introduced them to Yi Tong: “This is Youyou, and this is young Master Xi!”

Yi Tong respectfully kowtowed to Youyou and young Master Xi according to custom.

Youyou called Yi Tong “Sister.”

Yi Tong repeatedly declined the honor and took two longevity locks from her bosom, handing them to Yu Wei: “These are my humble gifts for the young miss and young master… I just haven’t had the opportunity to present them.”

Fu Tingyun saw that the longevity locks were quite novel in design, though somewhat crude in craftsmanship. Knowing Yi Tong had specially commissioned them, she was moved and had Youyou and young Master Xi thank Yi Tong.

Yi Tong turned aside, unwilling to accept their respects.

“You served me, so why can’t you accept their respect?” Fu Tingyun insisted that Youyou and young Master Xi bow.

The room was filled with cheerful activity.

Madam Lü’s maid, Shi Jue, entered: “Madam, Madam Yao asks to see you. She says she’s your fifth cousin.”

Fu Tingyun was shocked.

Everyone in the room quietly looked at her, and it suddenly became so silent you could hear a pin drop.

“How did she know I was here?” Fu Tingyun asked happily, but then revealed hints of confusion, hesitation, and bewilderment…

Yi Tong understood and bit her lip, saying softly: “It was me. I had someone spread the news…” Her tone conveyed worry and fear.

Seeing this, Yu Wei quickly stood beside Yi Tong, discreetly observing Fu Tingyun’s expression while saying: “Madam, it was me too…”

Fu Tingyun looked at them in surprise.

Yi Tong dared not speak.

Yu Wei could only continue reluctantly: “Why should they mistreat you and then act as if nothing happened? You’ve returned this time, not knowing when you’ll come back again, and you were unwilling to return to Huayin… so I just…” She saw Fu Tingyun’s face darken and dared not continue.

Youyou and young Master Xi clung tightly to Mama Tong, not daring to make a sound.

“You’ve taken it upon yourself to make decisions for me!” Fu Tingyun coldly glanced at Yu Wei.

Yu Wei and Yi Tong were so frightened their legs trembled, and they quickly knelt.

They lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

They were also doing it for her benefit.

To distance herself from her father and repay him for raising her, she had decided not to go to the Fu family ancestral hall to clarify the past events, but surely she should explain to her close sisters!

If this could indirectly convey the message back to the Fu family, it would also be a way to clear her name.

Fu Tingyun’s heart softened, and she said: “You may all rise. Don’t make such decisions on your own again.” Her tone became gentler.

“We won’t dare do it again.” Yi Tong and Yu Wei, seeing that Fu Tingyun had forgiven them, both revealed joyful smiles and eagerly promised.

Fu Tingyun then instructed Shi Jue: “Please invite Madam Yao in!”

Shi Jue, already dumbfounded by the series of changes in the room, responded with an “Oh” and hurriedly left the hall.

Youyou threw herself into her mother’s arms: “Mother, hold me!”

Young Master Xi also twisted toward his mother: “Mother, Mother, Xi-gege!” Meaning he also wanted to be held.

Fu Tingyun was both annoyed and amused, comfortingly hugging her children as Shi Jue led in the Fifth Madam of the Fu family.

“Quanhui, it’s you!” Looking at Fu Tingyun holding her children, her eyes widened, “You, you’re alive!” Before she could finish speaking, tears welled up in her eyes, “If you were alive, why didn’t you come find me?” She stepped forward, reaching out as if to grab her seemingly proper but mischievous and playful sister as she did when they were young. But her eyes fell on the gold step-shake ornament in Fu Tingyun’s hair, which flashed brilliantly in the room’s changing light… In that moment, she suddenly realized that the cousin who had once practiced the zither with her in the water pavilion and played tricks on their teacher had long disappeared in the river of time. The person before her now was the wife of a third-rank military official who enjoyed the emperor’s favor for his loyalty and who commanded a region, receiving flattery and compliments from officials both great and small in Shaanxi…