After downing a cup of wine, Third Sister’s husband turned around and couldn’t see Hao Jianfeng. Looking again, he noticed that Fifth Master Fu’s seat was also empty.

A single oversight among many precautions! In the end, he still couldn’t stop Fifth Master Fu.

Third Sister’s husband smiled bitterly, voluntarily drank another cup, and left the private room amid the noisy atmosphere. He saw Hao Jianfeng and Fifth Master Fu standing in the stairwell talking.

Hao Jianfeng appeared righteously indignant, while Fifth Master Fu was speaking non-stop with a face full of resentment.

Third Sister’s husband smiled wryly and called over his attendant: “Go tell the madam that it’s getting late. If we don’t leave soon, it will be too late. Ask her to hurry Official Fu along. If Official Fu can’t get away immediately, tell the madam to go ahead first.”

The attendant acknowledged and left.

Third Sister’s husband returned to the private room.

Having finally engaged Hao Jianfeng in conversation, Fifth Master Fu was reluctant to leave at this moment. Meanwhile, Hao Jianfeng, having learned what he wanted to know, felt it no longer mattered whether he paid attention to Fifth Master Fu or not.

Entering the private room, he drank half a cup of wine, then signaled to Master Jiang that the banquet should end. Master Jiang didn’t disappoint him and rather abruptly stood up with a smile: “…I still need to travel. If it gets any later, I won’t be able to reach the post station for lodging. The gentlemen should continue drinking at your leisure. I’ll take my leave first. When I come to the capital again someday, I’ll treat everyone to drinks.”

Everyone had come to see Master Jiang off. With the guest of honor leaving, naturally, the drinking stopped.

The group escorted Master Jiang to his carriage.

Fifth Master Fu had said so much but felt he needed to have a serious conversation with Hao Jianfeng, as he hadn’t yet secured a promise of help. After Master Jiang’s carriage had gone some distance, he saw Scholar Zhou, Official Zheng, and others bowing to each other in farewell. He pushed his way toward Hao Jianfeng.

However, Hao Jianfeng, feigning drunkenness, cupped his hands toward everyone: “When drinking with close friends, a thousand cups seem too few. Today, however, I’ve had a bit too much. I need to lie down, so I’ll leave first. Please forgive my rudeness, gentlemen. Yesterday I held a banquet at Penglai Pavilion to apologize.” With that, he swiftly boarded his carriage, dropped the curtain, and the carriage clattered away from Yanguan.

Fifth Master Fu was somewhat dumbfounded and inexplicably began to feel uneasy.

He carefully recalled Hao Jianfeng’s every action just now, when Official Wang came over to bow: “Official Fu, have a safe journey. When you return to the capital, let’s gather again properly.”

Fifth Master Fu hurriedly returned the greeting and exchanged a few pleasantries. This left him no time to think deeply, and he could only temporarily suppress his confusion.

As soon as Hao Jianfeng’s carriage had traveled beyond the ten-mile post station, he immediately sat up, spiritedly instructing the driver: “Go to Official Wu’s place in Shi Family Alley.”

There was not a trace of the drunkenness he had displayed earlier.

The carriage driver responded loudly, whipped the horses, and headed for Shi Family Alley.

Official Wu had just returned from the government office, and the two men met at the entrance.

“Let’s talk in the study,” Hao Jianfeng gave Official Wu a meaningful look.

Without asking anything, Official Wu led Hao Jianfeng directly to the study. After a servant brought tea, he dismissed all attendants, then leaned forward and asked: “Is there something urgent?”

“Guess who I met today?” Hao Jianfeng’s expression showed traces of excitement as he said, “I went to see off Shandong Provincial Inspector Jiang Sen today, and at the ten-mile post, I encountered Secretary Fu.” He recounted the sequence of events to Official Wu, “…it turns out that Yu Jingxiu and the daughter of Dignitary Fan had a private agreement, and then they wanted to break off the engagement. The Fu family, having no choice, could only agree. They told others that the Fu daughter had died, but in reality, they arranged for her to practice religious devotion at the family temple. Who would have thought that Huayin would encounter a famine, and refugees would rush into the family temple? Miss Fu fled in panic with the protection of her maids and servants, was rescued by Zhao Ling, and then by imperial decree, the Grand Empress Dowager bestowed marriage, and she became Zhao Ling’s wife.”

“Later, when his daughter found him, he didn’t dare acknowledge her. His daughter became estranged from him because of this and was willing to help Shen Rensi instead of helping him!”

Official Wu perked up as he listened, showing some interest.

“‘The Fu family had no choice but to agree,'” he smiled at Hao Jianfeng and said, “You believe such nonsense?”

Hao Jianfeng chuckled and said, “Who’s right or wrong doesn’t matter. What matters is that we now know the relationships between these families. If anything happens, we can devise countermeasures early.”

Official Wu quite agreed with this point.

He smiled as he picked up his teacup and took a sip, saying: “So what do you plan to do?”

Instead of answering directly, Hao Jianfeng asked: “What do you think about my helping Secretary Fu to persuade Mrs. Zhao?”

Such family matters always had two sides to the story—each party believing they were in the right. Usually, intervention would make things worse, and one could easily offend both sides. A typically thankless task. Hao Jianfeng, having managed the Ministry of Personnel for many years, dealt with people for a living and was well aware of this. His suggestion was merely seeking a natural opportunity to become involved with the Zhao family.

How could Official Wu not understand this?

“Not good!” he said without thinking, “Zhao Ling is vindictive. We don’t know what he’s thinking yet. Barging in like this seems inappropriate.”

“That day when we went to see off Master Jiang, Minister Shen was also present,” Hao Jianfeng said with piercing eyes. “What Official Fu told me, he will surely know a little later. How about we approach through Minister Shen?”

Official Wu nodded as he listened and smiled: “That’s not a bad idea. However, I find Shen Rensi to be quite smooth and perhaps not easy to talk to.”

“This is a Zhao family matter,” Hao Jianfeng said suggestively. “His surname is Shen. If he prevents us from mediating between father and daughter, it would seem unreasonable by any standard!”

Official Wu cast an appreciative glance at Hao Jianfeng.

Hao Jianfeng sighed with some emotion: “I’m really out of options here. By the time the positions of the senior ministers become clear, if we try to align ourselves with them, then it will be too late. Qian Donglin and Chen Danting may not remember us.” His tone revealed deep helplessness.

Upon hearing this, Official Wu’s expression darkened.

Footsteps sounded from outside.

He frowned involuntarily.

A servant announced from behind the curtain: “Sir, the madam requests your presence in the main room.”

Official Wu’s face darkened as he asked: “Didn’t you tell the madam that I have a guest here?”

“I did!” The servant’s voice trembled a bit, but he dared not refuse to answer, “The madam said, said that Concubine Wu has arrived and has brought, brought many things for the Fourth Miss… She requests that you go speak with Concubine Wu regardless.”

Even if Concubine Wu were not Yu Jingxiu’s concubine but instead a concubine of Minister Shen bringing gifts, he would not lower himself to meet a guest in the flower hall.

Madam Wu would not make such a basic mistake.

There was only one possibility.

Concubine Wu had brought news from the Yu family.

And this news was important to him.

The thought flashed through his mind, and Official Wu stood up, saying to Hao Jianfeng: “I’ll go see and be right back!”

Hao Jianfeng knew the relationships in the Wu household intimately and naturally knew who this Concubine Wu was. The fact that Madam Wu would ask Official Wu to come to the main room immediately, knowing he was meeting with a guest, suggested that very important news had come from the Yu family.

He also wanted to know what was happening with the Yu family.

Hao Jianfeng didn’t stand on ceremony: “I’ll wait for you here.”

With the relationships between the Zhao, Yu, and Fu families being so complex and unclear, Official Wu also needed someone level-headed and calm to help analyze the situation.

“I’ll be right back,” Official Wu instructed and followed the servant to the main room.

In the main room, Concubine Wu, with a face full of anxiety, was wringing her hands and murmuring to Madam Wu: “It would be better if you spoke to Uncle… I’ve said all I can say, and repeating it would just be the same words…”

Madam Wu took Concubine Wu’s hand, with a kind smile reassuring her: “Your uncle has great foresight, different from the perspective of us women in the inner chambers. What I’ve asked you, your uncle may not care about, but what I haven’t asked might be exactly what your uncle wants to know.” She continued, “Don’t blame him. Your uncle is a gentle person. Just say what you should say when the time comes, and don’t hold anything back, which might lead your uncle astray.”

Concubine Wu’s peripheral vision fell on Madam Wu’s well-maintained, jade-white hands, and she secretly sighed.

Madam Wu’s words sounded nice, but her grip on her hand was like a vise that couldn’t be shaken off. It was clear she was forcibly detaining her. What else could she say?

The Wu family’s third daughter-in-law had given birth to a daughter, and proper relatives naturally came to offer congratulations. As a mere concubine, how could there be a place for her? Yet after the child’s full-month celebration, Madam Wu had sent her maid to invite her back to the mansion, saying something like, “You’ve always been close with the third young madam, you should go see her.” Although Mrs. Yu was displeased, thinking it wasn’t a proper visiting day, she still prepared gifts for her to bring.

She had been suspicious in her heart, wondering what Madam Wu wanted from her. As soon as she entered the mansion, Madam Wu started asking about recent events in the Yu household.

She didn’t know what Mrs. Yu had said to the master, but some days ago, the master had formally recognized two young female cousins who had come from Nanjing, who now served in the first madam’s chambers. But since they were nominally relatives, the first madam couldn’t order them around. Plus, with Precious Sister falling ill recently, the first madam grew increasingly irritable and wanted to send the two cousins to live with her in the back chambers. Miss Fei from the Fei family, related to the first madam, was obedient and quietly moved next door to her. Miss Chen, who came through the third madam’s side, was troublesome. She did move, but then complained to the master, saying the first madam couldn’t tolerate others and lacked the bearing of a proper mistress of the house. Annoyed, the master confined Miss Chen to her quarters. Miss Chen immediately went to Mama Shu, asking to return to Nanjing.

This angered the first madam so much she nearly fainted, unable to speak for a long time.

The master then called for Miss Chen to be sent away.

Whether Miss Chen was trying to ensnare the master or truly didn’t want to stay in the Yu household, she packed her belongings and went to Mrs. Yu, kowtowing to take her leave, asking Mrs. Yu to allow her to take the trunks she had brought with her.

How could Mrs. Yu let a concubine manipulate her?

Without saying a single extra word, she had people escort Miss Chen back to Nanjing.

After that, Mrs. Yu never spoke another word to the master.

No matter how much the master joked and cajoled in front of Mrs. Yu, she simply wouldn’t speak to him.

And now Madam Wu had called her here to ask in detail about these trivial matters of the Yu household…

Thinking of this, she couldn’t help looking up at Madam Wu.

In Madam Wu’s eyes, she saw a trace of worry and gravity.