The third elder sister glanced at the angry and annoyed Fifth Master Fu, then immediately ran out after Fu Tingyun.

“Ninth Sister, let me see you off!” She stepped forward and took Fu Tingyun’s arm, only to notice a glimmer of tears in the corner of Fu Tingyun’s eyes.

“Quanhui…” she murmured, calling Fu Tingyun by name and letting out a long sigh.

“I’m fine,” Fu Tingyun smiled and patted her third elder sister’s hand. “Now you understand why I don’t want to see Master Fu, don’t you?”

The third elder sister remained silent.

The two walked quietly out through the main gate.

Zheng San brought the carriage over.

The third elder sister helped Fu Tingyun into the carriage.

Yu Wei lowered the curtain.

But the third elder sister raised her hand and held the carriage curtain.

“Ninth Sister,” she gazed at Fu Tingyun, her expression very solemn, “don’t be too sad. The past is gone like flowing water. Look ahead. You may have lost the Fifth Uncle, but you still have us sisters.”

If previously the third elder sister had extended a helping hand to Fu Tingyun out of sisterly affection and sympathy for her plight, without directly conflicting with the Fu family, now she was choosing between Fu Tingyun and the Fifth Master Fu out of anger and contempt for his actions.

Fu Tingyun looked deeply at her third elder sister and nodded gently.

The third elder sister’s lips curved slightly, revealing a gentle smile.

“Let’s go!” Fu Tingyun smiled and instructed Zheng San.

Zheng San raised his whip, and the carriage clattered away down the hutong.

The third elder sister watched Fu Tingyun’s carriage until it disappeared from sight before returning to the hall.

The Fifth Master Fu was anxiously pacing back and forth in the hall. Seeing the third elder sister enter, he said with a stern face: “You saw how she treated me…”

But the third elder sister didn’t stand there to listen to his scolding or appease him with smiles. As soon as he began speaking, she smiled and said: “Ninth Sister has suffered so many grievances, so it’s only natural that her temper is a bit strong. Fifth Uncle is a man of insight, so you must understand.” Then she changed the subject, saying, “Fifth Uncle, a servant just informed me that my husband has been detained by Vice Minister Hao to copy documents that need to be announced throughout the country. He’ll be staying in the duty room tonight and won’t be coming back. I wonder what Fifth Uncle had to discuss with my husband? If it’s inconvenient to tell me, perhaps you could leave a note, and I’ll pass it to him when he returns.”

The Fifth Master Fu had followed Fu Tingyun’s carriage after seeing it on the road back to Sixi Hutong. He had come for Fu Tingyun, not because he had business with the third brother-in-law. Now the third elder sister’s intention to send him off was obvious, and she hadn’t even offered the polite gesture of inviting him to stay for dinner. He was furious and stormed off.

The third elder sister’s maid couldn’t help but worry: “Is this appropriate? The Fifth Master is an elder after all. If the Second Master finds out, he might be displeased.”

“What do you know?” the third elder sister reprimanded in a low voice. “The Fifth Uncle only cares about promotion and wealth, disregarding everything else. He’s most likely to cause trouble or even go astray… Don’t speak carelessly about this matter.”

The personal maid complied with repeated assents.

The third elder sister then instructed her to grind ink: “I need to write a letter to Father… Regarding the Fifth Uncle, if no one can persuade him, we must ask Father to pay close attention and think of countermeasures early. We can’t let him ruin the Fu family’s century-old reputation.”

Given the gravity of the matter, the personal maid didn’t dare to be negligent and hurriedly brought in brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone.

The third elder sister bent over her desk to write.

The third brother-in-law returned.

The third elder sister put down her brush, left the study, and helped her husband change his clothes.

The third brother-in-law noticed faint ink marks on his wife’s fingertips and smiled: “Didn’t you say you were going with Ninth Sister to look at houses? What happened? You didn’t see the house but ended up practicing calligraphy at home?”

The third elder sister followed her husband’s gaze and saw the ink marks on her fingers.

The matter regarding the Fifth Master Fu was not something to be proud of, and the third elder sister had not originally planned to tell her husband.

She had started tracing characters at the age of three, and after the age of eight, she had never again stained her fingers with ink.

Could this be fate?

Based on their previous assessment, although the position of Left Giving Official in the Ministry of Personnel was minor, it had unlimited prospects. Her husband and the Fifth Uncle served in the same court. The Fifth Uncle was an elder, and the words of an elder could not be defied, but with the Fifth Uncle’s character… And her husband was unaware of the situation. If he were to follow the Fifth Uncle blindly just because he was an elder, it might cause trouble for her husband.

Thinking of this, the third elder sister told her husband about the Fifth Master Fu’s visit: “…I had to tell him you wouldn’t be coming back today and sent him away.”

As the third brother-in-law listened, his expression gradually became serious. After the third elder sister finished, he pondered and said: “I find Ninth Sister to be quite agreeable, yet she and her father are at odds. Your concerns are reasonable. It’s best if we don’t get too close to the Fifth Uncle.”

Seeing that her husband shared her thoughts, the third elder sister felt even more convinced she had done the right thing, and reminded her husband: “Should we also inform Seventh Brother-in-law?”

“Yes, let’s do that,” the third brother-in-law thought for a moment and said, “And we should also inform Fifth Brother-in-law. As for the others, if they’ll listen, that’s good; if not, we won’t force them.”

“Alright!” The third elder sister responded, then called for a maid to serve dinner.

…

At this time, Concubine Wu on Jiadao Street had finished her evening meal and was sitting on the large kang by the window, lost in thought, with a teacup in her hand.

Zelan, who had finished clearing away the bowls and chopsticks, came in and couldn’t help but glance at Concubine Wu.

Ever since Concubine Wu had returned from the Wu family after attending the birthday celebration of the Wu family’s third young madam, she had been sitting on the kang, lost in thought every day. Who knew what had happened when she went to the Wu family?

As Zelan was thinking this, the door was suddenly pushed open with a “bang,” and Lian Xin burst in rashly: “Concubine, Concubine, something terrible has happened!”

No wonder after three years in the household she could still only mix with those insignificant little maids.

Zelan looked at Lian Xin’s ashen face and secretly criticized her in her heart.

Concubine Wu was startled and said: “What’s happened now?” But looking up, she saw Zelan standing calmly at the head of the kang. Her tone softened as she said to Lian Xin: “Whatever it is, just say it slowly. What’s the rush?” She added, “This is something you should learn well from Miss Zelan.”

Her hint was so obvious that normally, Lian Xin would have closed her mouth and smiled at Zelan. But today, not only did she not stop, but she took a few steps forward, rushing to Concubine Wu’s side, and anxiously said: “Someone from the Nanjing family home has arrived… It’s Mama Fei from the First Madam’s side… Mama Fei has accompanied two young misses here… From what Mama Shu implied, they are to be arranged in the Master’s quarters, just waiting for the First Madam to go and inspect them, then they’ll move you out…”

Concubine Wu drew in a sharp breath.

After the First Madam gave birth to a daughter, she had already been cast into the cold palace. She had not been without thoughts that the Yu family would take another concubine for Yu Jingxiu. But seeing that Lady Yu and Yu Jingxiu were both focused on the frail Pearl, she thought this matter would wait for two or three years. She never expected it to happen so quickly, and with people sent from the First Madam of the old family home in Nanjing.

Zelan, who had been calm until now, jumped up upon hearing this: “How is that possible? Did you mishear? Even if the Master wants to take a concubine, it should be decided by the First Madam or Lady Yu. How could the First Madam suddenly send people over?” She was full of doubt, which made Lian Xin unhappy: “Why would I lie to you? If you don’t believe me, go to the main courtyard and see for yourself. The two young misses, one surnamed Fei, who is from the First Madam’s maiden family, and one surnamed Liu, who is from the Third Madam’s maiden family…”

Each with a significant background.

As Concubine Wu listened, for some reason, she felt a leisure similar to viewing scenery from an embroidery tower.

She said to Zelan: “The Master’s line lacks heirs, so the First Madam and Third Madam are anxious and have selected people to serve the Master. This is just the concern of elders, nothing to be surprised about.”

“You don’t understand,” Zelan said. In recent days, Concubine Wu had been polite to Zelan, and Zelan had gradually become less reserved with Concubine Wu, speaking with fewer inhibitions. She continued with confusion, “The ladies appear harmonious, but each has her thoughts. Especially the Third Madam. The Third Master has been at the old home for several years, and the Master often accompanies the Third Master on social occasions. The Third Madam treats the Master like her own son, accommodating him in everything and agreeing to everything. The Master is also very close to the Third Madam, liking to tell her everything. When he lacks silver and doesn’t dare ask Lady Yu, he asks the Third Madam. The Third Madam takes from her savings to supplement the Master’s expenses. Once, when the Master wanted to buy some kind of tripod, the Third Madam gave him five thousand taels of silver in one go. Because of this, Lady Yu and the Third Madam quarreled. Afterward, Lady Yu kept a very strict watch over the Master. All those serving in the Master’s quarters are Lady Yu’s people. The First Madam and Third Madam can’t even place a sweeper there.”

“When the Master’s line lacks heirs, whoever gives birth to the eldest son becomes the meritorious official of the Yu family. Everyone understands this principle. How could Lady Yu possibly allow the First Madam and Third Madam’s people into the Master’s quarters… Would the grandson then be close to the First Madam, the Third Madam, or Lady Yu?”

These were all the Yu family’s secrets, known only to someone like Zelan, who had served the Yu family for generations and worked in Lady Yu’s quarters.

Concubine Wu couldn’t help but ask: “Are you saying that the First Madam and Third Madam both want to please the Master, so they both spoil him?”

Zelan regretted her words as soon as they were spoken. She stammered a response and then excused herself to go to the main courtyard to see what was happening.

Lian Xin then said: “Concubine, should I go inquire further, to see if the two young misses have been arranged in the Master’s quarters?”

“No need,” Concubine Wu smiled. “What’s there to inquire about? If we’re discovered, people might think we’re jealous!” She added, “The more people, the merrier. The Yu family follows rules, and my status is secure. What do you have to worry about?”

Lian Xin smiled awkwardly.

Concubine Wu then instructed her: “Let’s prepare for bed! The two young misses are the First Madam’s concern.”

Lian Xin smiled and responded, “Yes,” then went to instruct the menial old woman to fetch water.

Concubine Wu muttered softly to herself, “How strange. “If Lady Yu was afraid that the First Madam and Third Madam would spoil the Master and had been guarding against it so strictly, why would she easily agree to let the two young misses serve in the Master’s quarters?” After pondering for a long time without understanding, she simply gave up and continued talking to herself, “I wonder if Madam Wu has found out anything? What could it be that made Madam Zhao so angry?”