Fifth Cousin Sister’s hand froze in midair.

Fu Tingyun was being fussed over by her children and hadn’t noticed her Fifth Cousin Sister’s unusual reaction. She hurriedly put the children down on the ground and pointed to Fifth Cousin Sister, saying: “This is your Fifth Aunt, quickly pay your respects to Fifth Aunt!” Thinking of how close she had been with this Fifth Sister when she lived in the Fu family, yet had never sent her a message afterward, she felt somewhat guilty. Awkwardly, she pointed to her pair of children and said: “This is my eldest daughter, Youyou, and this is my eldest son, Xige.”

Youyou and Xige stepped forward to pay your respects to Fifth Cousin Sister.

Fifth Cousin Sister was momentarily at a loss. After thinking for a moment, she pulled out the silver “Peaceful Year After Year” hairpin from her hair and removed the twisted silver bracelet from her wrist, giving them to the two children: “These are Fifth Aunt’s greeting gifts.” It was an impromptu decision; she hadn’t prepared anything beforehand.

Nanny Tong looked toward Fu Tingyun.

Fu Tingyun nodded slightly.

Nanny Tong smiled and stepped forward to accept the gifts.

Youyou and Xige quickly thanked Fifth Cousin Sister.

The two children—one with a clear, pleasant voice, the other with indistinct speech—were both equally delicate and adorable.

Fifth Miss Fu couldn’t help but exclaim: “These two children look just like you did when you were little…” As she spoke, she couldn’t resist picking up the younger Xige.

Xige squirmed in her arms, reaching out toward his mother.

Fifth Miss Fu realized the child was unfamiliar with her and feeling shy, so she quickly handed him back to Fu Tingyun. When she looked up, she saw Yu Wei standing behind Fu Tingyun. Her eyes widened in shock: “Yu Wei, you, how are you still…” As she spoke, her face turned pale as paper, and she stepped back several paces. She pressed her palms together toward Yu Wei, murmuring, “My Ninth Sister never wronged you, please be reasonable. If you have any matters, just appear in dreams, but you shouldn’t come looking for her. She still has a pair of children to care for…” In broad daylight, she had mistaken Yu Wei for a ghost.

Fu Tingyun didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but felt somewhat touched. She handed the children to Nanny Tong and took Fifth Cousin Sister’s hand: “Let’s talk inside.”

Fifth Cousin Sister quickly grasped Fu Tingyun’s hand, her expression slightly steadying, but then she caught sight of Yi Tong.

Her eyes grew even wider.

Fifth Cousin Sister was the legitimate daughter of the Fourth Mistress, and the Fourth Mistress loved to gossip and was greedy and petty.

Yi Tong didn’t want to tell her about Fu Tingyun’s affairs, nor did she want to lie and deceive Fifth Cousin Sister, betraying her duty as a servant. So she spoke vaguely: “A few days ago, Yu Wei came to see me, and that’s when I learned Ninth Miss had returned. I came along with Yu Wei to pay respects to Ninth Miss.”

Fifth Cousin Sister looked toward Fu Tingyun, her face full of suspicion.

Fu Tingyun sighed and led her directly into the inner chamber.

…

“…So you’re saying that Yu Jingxiu and his teacher’s daughter had an improper relationship and desperately wanted to break off the engagement, so they instigated Zuo Junjie to falsely accuse you?” After hearing Fu Tingyun’s explanation, Fifth Cousin Sister was stunned for a long while before responding with shock.

Fu Tingyun nodded: “I found Zuo Junjie, and the Yu family also admitted to this matter.”

As soon as she heard this, Fifth Cousin Sister jumped up: “How is that possible? Marriage is arranged by parents and facilitated by matchmakers. Even if the Yu family agreed, how could Elder Uncle and Fifth Uncle possibly consent? Besides, in this matter, the Yu family was clearly in the wrong. Even if Elder Uncle and Fifth Uncle were temporarily deceived by the Yu family, causing you to suffer wrongly, once the truth came to light, why wouldn’t they privately acknowledge you, even if they couldn’t publicly clear your name for the sake of the Yu family’s reputation…” She didn’t finish her sentence and revealed an unusual expression. “Could it be that Elder Uncle’s reinstatement and Fifth Uncle’s promotion are somehow connected to the Yu family?”

Her Fifth Sister, though born to Fourth Aunt, had been raised by Grandmother, who disapproved of Fourth Aunt’s conduct. Fifth Sister greatly resembled Grandmother—not only was she capable and efficient, but also clever and astute. This was why she had always gotten along well with Fifth Sister since childhood.

Fu Tingyun glanced at Fifth Cousin Sister without replying.

Fifth Cousin Sister was alarmed: “Could it be that I’ve guessed correctly?”

“Though not entirely accurate, you’re not far off,” Fu Tingyun said. “As for the rest, I shouldn’t say. If you want to know, why not ask Grandmother? She would know. Or, you could ask Elder Aunt!”

Fifth Cousin Sister fell silent.

Since Fu Tingyun found it inappropriate to speak further, it must involve the elders, and indeed it wasn’t proper for her to inquire further.

Looking at her, Fu Tingyun thought of another matter and said: “I heard that a merchant family offered thirty thousand taels of silver to betroth Fourteenth Sister?”

“That’s precisely why I’ve come,” Fifth Cousin Sister straightened up and said. “The rumors are spreading everywhere—I even heard about it in Lintong. At first, I thought someone was spreading false rumors.” She smiled bitterly. “You don’t know, but ever since your ‘death from illness,’ the gossip about the Fu family has never stopped… At first, I was just annoyed and sent someone to investigate, but they came back with detailed information about the suitor’s name, birthplace, and even his position in his family…”

She glanced at Fu Tingyun. “Since the Fu family was attacked by refugees, Grandmother’s spirits have deteriorated. Last year, she began frequently calling her servants by the wrong names. Sometimes when you speak to her about one thing, she responds about something else entirely. Fearing Grandmother might be confused, I hurried back from Lintong… But Grandmother’s mind was clear… She just told me not to interfere, saying she had her plan. So I went to see my mother, who was venting her anger at Elder Aunt.”

“I scolded my mother and then apologized to Elder Aunt. Just as I was about to return to Lintong, I heard from a servant who once attended to you, saying that you were still alive and had been rescued by the current Emperor. The Grand Empress Dowager had arranged your marriage to Zhao Ling, the Deputy General of Xuanfu, who had merit for supporting the imperial cause. Five months ago, Zhao Ling was recognized for defending the borders, and both his parents were posthumously honored. You had returned from the capital to erect tombstones for your parents-in-law and were resting at your uncle-in-law Zhao Ling’s home in Yangliuxiang, Chongyi District, Xi’an Prefecture.”

“I was astonished when I heard this.”

“I originally wanted to ask Elder Aunt, but considering she was upset with my mother, and since the servant was so certain—and the Yao family’s lacquerware business has been operating in Xi’an Prefecture for years, and I’ve visited Xi’an several times with your brother-in-law—I was afraid of making a mistake and being laughed at. So I sent a steward ahead to inquire…” At this point, her expression grew excited as she took Fu Tingyun’s hand. “I never expected that you were truly still alive, and had indeed married an official, and even had a pair of children…” She sighed, her brow showing a trace of hesitation, and asked softly, “That Lord Zhao, does he have a good temper?”

She was tactfully asking if Zhao Ling treated her well.

“His temper is not good,” Fu Tingyun said, thinking of Zhao Ling, a smile unconsciously spreading across her face, “but he treats me well.” Feeling that this statement didn’t adequately convey even a tenth of how Zhao Ling treated her, she added, “In matters big and small, he always puts me first.”

Hearing this, Fifth Cousin Sister let out a long breath: “That’s good, that’s good.”

Fu Tingyun smiled faintly.

Fifth Cousin Sister wanted to ask about her current plans, but then remembered that the family elders refused to mention that Fu Tingyun was still alive, and Fu Tingyun showed no intention of returning to Huayin. She realized that the resentments involved couldn’t be easily explained, and as a married daughter whose husband was merely a xiucai scholar, she had no right to interfere. So she simply didn’t ask and instead spoke of sisterly matters: “Eldest Sister and Second Sister surely don’t know you’re alive yet. I think we should let them know.” Then she sighed, “Seventh Sister recently gave birth to a son. When we went to celebrate the full month, she mentioned you, and Second Sister was quietly wiping away tears!”

Since Fifth Sister had already been informed, the other sisters would find out sooner or later. Rather than having them think she was showing favoritism, why not take this opportunity to invite all the sisters for a gathering? She didn’t know when she would return to Xi’an again, or what circumstances she would find when she did.

“Then please help arrange it, Fifth Sister!” Fu Tingyun said tactfully. “If any sister cannot get away from home, there’s no need to force the matter.”

Fifth Cousin Sister understood and nodded: “I understand!”

Fu Tingyun then asked about Fourteenth Sister’s marriage: “Although Grandmother understands, some matters still need to be clarified. Three people claiming to have seen a tiger make others believe there is one.”

If this matter weren’t explained clearly, it would seem as if her mother was selling her daughter for gain. But explaining would inevitably involve Grandmother and Elder Aunt…

Fifth Cousin Sister thought for a moment, but blood ties prevailed.

She said softly: “When Third Sister married, the family had already begun selling fields and land. It was just done secretly, so no one knew. By the time refugees attacked the Fu family, most of the valuable items in the family’s public treasury had disappeared, and the family fortunes gradually declined… This household will eventually be handed over to Elder Aunt, so Grandmother did this only to make Elder Aunt take over the household management.” She hesitated for a moment, then lowered her voice, “Elder Aunt’s brothers have been thriving in business these past few years, and consequently, Elder Aunt’s dowry has yielded substantial returns… Perhaps because of this, if Elder Aunt insists on dividing the family assets, sacrificing pawns to save the chariot, the other branches would become side branches, but at least some dignity could be preserved.”

Grandmother had planned well.

If Elder Aunt didn’t want to be pointed at and called “unfilial,” she would have to use her dowry money to supplement the household expenses.

Fu Tingyun inwardly sneered.

As if things weren’t complicated enough, Fifth Cousin Sister continued: “You probably don’t know, but Third Sister’s mother-in-law passed away two years ago. Now Third Sister manages the household affairs. I vaguely recall hearing my mother mention that Grandmother once borrowed money from Third Sister. Since Third Sister had just taken over the household, she consulted with her husband and used money from her dowry. Because of this, Second Aunt even specially sent her maid to Third Sister’s home… I really can’t say how the family is doing now!”

Fu Tingyun remembered that Third Sister’s husband was a widower named Shen, whose two daughters from his previous wife had died young. He was quite wealthy, and when Third Sister married him, he was already a successful candidate in the provincial examinations.

She couldn’t help asking: “How is Third Sister doing now?”

“Third Sister’s husband ranked thirteenth in the second class in last year’s examinations and was registered with the Ministry of Personnel. When his mother passed away, he went into mourning at home.” Fifth Cousin Sister smiled. “Third Sister’s husband is also a practical man; he lets Third Sister manage the household affairs. These past two years, Second Sister has relied on Third Sister’s support.”

As they were talking, Pearl came to report: “Madam, a lady claiming to be your Seventh Cousin Sister requests to see you!”