Fu Tingyun looked at her Third Sister’s expression and felt something strangely amiss, as if the Sixth Uncle’s demand to divide the family property somehow involved her!

She couldn’t help saying: “What exactly is going on? The Shu family has been officials for generations, valuing scholarship and culture. How could they incite a son to propose dividing the family property when his mother’s body is barely cold? Such disloyal, unfilial, unkind, and unjust behavior—why would they urge Sixth Uncle to do this? Is there some misunderstanding?” After saying this, she couldn’t help adding, “Although Uncle Shu enjoys teasing me, apart from that, he’s steady and respectful of propriety. Now that he’s passed the imperial examination and become an official, his actions should be even more considerate. How could he let Sixth Uncle propose dividing the family?” Her face showed complete confusion, still unable to believe this was something Shu Ming would do.

Hearing this, the Third Sister blurted out: “You certainly understand Uncle Shu well!” But before she finished speaking, a flash of regret crossed her eyes, and she quickly added with a smile, as if to remedy her words, “I mean, among all us sisters, Uncle Shu most enjoys teasing you, often making you jump around like a cat whose tail has been stepped on. I didn’t expect you to be so fair-minded toward Uncle Shu.”

“One shouldn’t generalize,” Fu Tingyun said. “I’m not a child anymore; I understand this principle.” Despite saying this, for some reason, she felt that her Third Sister seemed to have some hidden meaning in her words.

“This matter has something to do with you,” the Third Sister continued, now as composed and natural as usual, smiling as she explained Sixth Master Fu’s proposal to divide the family. “Somehow, Uncle Shu learned about your situation. It’s said he was furious. First, he had his adviser bring a message to Sixth Uncle and Sixth Aunt, asking them to uphold justice. At that time, Grandmother was already bedridden, so Sixth Uncle and Sixth Aunt couldn’t say much. Later, Uncle Shu personally rushed back from Meng County. He arrived just in time for Grandmother’s passing. He closed the door and had a private conversation with Sixth Uncle. No one knows exactly what they discussed—even my mother couldn’t find out—but afterward, Sixth Uncle looked terrible and lingered before Grandmother’s spirit tablet for several days.”

“At the time, we thought Uncle Shu had quarreled with Sixth Uncle about his frequent travels and neglect of family affairs. Who would have thought that as soon as Grandmother’s funeral was arranged, Sixth Uncle would propose dividing the family? And he even said that this matter had already been discussed with the Shu family.”

“When First Uncle heard this, he was furious and berated Sixth Uncle: ‘Are you a son of the Fu family or a son-in-law of the Shu family?'”

“Fifth Uncle also told Sixth Uncle: ‘How can you be so manipulated by your wife’s family, especially with such an inappropriate proposal?'”

“You know that normally Sixth Uncle greatly respects First Uncle and Fifth Uncle, but this time he didn’t utter a word in response, only insisting on dividing the family. When Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle saw his determination, they urged him: ‘You should at least give a reason, otherwise how can we explain this to relatives and friends?'”

“Only then did Sixth Uncle reveal that you were still alive and had been wronged by Yu Jingxiu. He also said, ‘When a husband keeps a mistress outside, the wife is usually the last to know. It’s not that I want to divide the family, but I have a wife and children. My wife still needs to visit her family, and my children need to arrange marriages. I must maintain some dignity for them…'”

Fu Tingyun was astonished and interrupted her Third Sister: “Isn’t Uncle Shu in Meng County? How did he come to know about all this?” Then, thinking of how rumors hurt people, she sighed and asked, “What are people saying?”

“How many people in this world don’t enjoy watching drama? Especially in our family,” the Third Sister recalled this matter and found it troubling, her expression becoming heavy. “Uncle Shu supposedly heard it from someone in the Shu family. From Sixth Uncle’s words, it seems that all respectable families in Shaanxi know about this matter. When they speak of you, most pity you for being harmed by Yu Jingxiu, unable to return home, and forced into a distant marriage. They also criticize Yu Jingxiu, considering him too despicable for even plotting against his in-laws. Despite his scholarship, his moral character is deplorable. But most of the criticism is directed at First Uncle and Fifth Uncle, saying they are cunning and profit-seeking, disregarding the hundred-year good reputation of the Fu family and the scholar’s principles of propriety, justice, integrity, and shame, exchanging their daughter’s life for their glory and wealth… Before I left, Old Master Huang from the east side of the city passed away, and they didn’t even send a funeral invitation to the Fu family!” Saying this, she sighed and smiled bitterly: “I haven’t dared tell your brother-in-law about these things, afraid he would laugh!”

Fu Tingyun had appeared at her most awkward before Zhao Ling, so she didn’t share these concerns. Listening to all this, she felt mixed emotions and discomfort, murmuring: “It seems the saying ‘justice exists in people’s hearts’ has some truth to it. As the person involved, I thought of the Fu family’s kindness in raising me and couldn’t bear to ruin their century-old reputation, so I swallowed all my grievances. I never expected that in the end, paper cannot wrap up fire…” Then, thinking of Shu Ming, she said: “However, Uncle Shu was too impulsive. This is, after all, a Fu family matter. Others will say he’s meddling… And shouldn’t Uncle Shu be in Fang County now? Has something changed that he suddenly returned to Huayin?”

She felt somewhat uneasy.

The Third Sister, however, was thinking of the scene when Shu Ming heard the news of Fu Tingyun’s death.

At that time, Shu Ming was on his way to Beijing for the imperial examination. Upon hearing the news, he insisted on turning back. The Shu family steward who accompanied him tried to dissuade him but failed, so they had to turn back midway.

After returning, he offered three incense sticks at Fu Tingyun’s grave.

As an in-law, he had shown his feelings and fulfilled propriety.

But in the middle of the night, he secretly went back to Fu Tingyun’s grave and lay there crying. The grave keeper thought it was a ghost and called people to drive away the spirit. Only then did they realize the person crying at the grave was Shu Ming.

After that, Madam Shu reduced her interactions with the Fu family.

This time, when he heard that Fu Tingyun was still alive, he abandoned his duties and rushed back, asking her how Fu Tingyun hadn’t returned. What kind of person was Zhao Ling? Did he treat Fu Tingyun well? Had Fu Tingyun gained or lost weight? How many children did she have? Were the children obedient? Who did they resemble?… He asked about everything in detail. Even Fifth Uncle Fu probably hadn’t shown such concern for Fu Tingyun. And now, disregarding propriety, he had incited Sixth Uncle to divide the family…

When she was younger, she only thought Shu Ming was more patient with Fu Tingyun than with other sisters, and that Fu Tingyun had always been good at winning the affection of elders. She had assumed Shu Ming, like others, simply appreciated Fu Tingyun’s intelligence and cleverness. Now that she was grown and married, understanding matters between men and women, looking at Shu Ming again made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.

But the two of them hadn’t seen each other since Fu Tingyun’s engagement to Yu Jingxiu, so she could only keep these feelings to herself, unable to offer any words of advice. Yet if she said nothing, next spring when Shu Ming’s three-year term as county magistrate ended, he would come to Beijing to report on his work. When they met then… she was vaguely worried that Shu Ming might lose his head again and do something as absurd as running to her grave to cry.

“That man is so clever; what could happen to him?” Although Shu Ming was their elder, he was three years younger than the Third Sister. Having played together since childhood, the Third Sister spoke of him with more familiarity and less respect. “He heard about your situation and specifically returned to Huayin…” As soon as she said this, she felt her words were somewhat ambiguous, so she continued in a straightforward tone, “You know what kind of person he is—scholarly since childhood, the youngest son, most favored by Madam Shu, raised with a young master’s temperament. He’s usually calm, but once provoked, even nine oxen couldn’t pull him back. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have persuaded Sixth Uncle to divide the family. He served as county deputy magistrate in Meng County for three years, received a ‘good’ rating in his assessment, and was promoted to county magistrate. Next year, he’ll return to Beijing to report on his work. With his temperament, he’ll come to see you. I’m just afraid he might act rashly and do something that would make people both laugh and cry.”

Fu Tingyun thought of the things Shu Ming had done when she was little and couldn’t help but laugh, saying: “Third Sister’s concerns are not without reason. However, I’m not a child anymore. Even if he wants to incite me, it depends on whether I agree or not!”

“I’m glad you remember what you said,” the Third Sister repeatedly urged. “You are both parents now and cannot act selfishly, losing the dignity of elders.”

“Could Uncle Shu still pull my hair when we meet?” Fu Tingyun laughed. “Don’t worry, Uncle Shu is not a child anymore.”

After repeated admonitions, the Third Sister finally left.

Fu Tingyun then wrote a letter to Zhao Ling. Besides mentioning Hao Jianfeng’s matter, she also told Zhao Ling about Shu Ming, saying: “Uncle Shu was mischievous since childhood. It’s hard to imagine him sitting sternly in court hearing cases…”

Zhao Ling’s reply arrived after the Lantern Festival. He advised Fu Tingyun to remain passive and not actively inquire about Hao Jianfeng’s matter, saying: “I have written a letter and had it sent urgently by a 600-li express to Master Xian. If any of them want you to mediate, they will seek you out. Just act according to the situation.” Regarding Shu Ming, he wrote: “It proves that justice exists in people’s hearts. Not everyone is like First Master Fu and Fifth Master Fu—it’s just that most people don’t know the truth. As long as we live well and make our lives better day by day, eventually everyone will despise the Yu family. In this world, there are always more people who add flowers to brocade than those who send charcoal in snow.”

Reflecting on recent events, Fu Tingyun found Zhao Ling’s words quite reasonable. Recalling that Lady Mo had mentioned that all the large and small tribal villages in Guizhou were now peaceful and orderly, she wanted to ask about the battle situation in Guizhou in her reply.

Just as she picked up her brush, Bao Shu came in to report: “Madam Wu from next door and Madam Hao have come to visit you.”

Surname Hao… that should be Hao Jianfeng’s second wife.

The last time Madam Wu held a welcoming feast for the Third Sister, she had specially introduced Madam Hao.

Madam Wu never came without a purpose; surely this visit with Madam Hao meant they had something to discuss with her.

With this in mind, Fu Tingyun asked Bao Shu to escort the two women to the main hall while she changed her clothes and went to meet them.

Madam Hao was only about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, quite plump, and always smiling. When she saw Fu Tingyun enter, she immediately stood up and rather eagerly called out “Madam Zhao.”

Madam Wu also stood up but smiled and said: “We haven’t seen each other for a few days, yet Madam Zhao looks as spirited as ever. It seems these days have been smooth and satisfying for Madam Zhao!”

“Madam Wu is too kind,” Fu Tingyun came forward and greeted the two ladies. “I simply adapt to circumstances and maintain a peaceful mind, which keeps me in good health.”

Madam Hao hurriedly said, “How could Madam Zhao be plump? Look at that waistline—even seventeen or eighteen-year-old girls can’t compare. As for us, one like a barrel, one like a teapot, with no proper shape left.”

Hearing this, Madam Wu burst into laughter.

Fu Tingyun also laughed and chatted idly with Madam Wu and Madam Hao for some time. Finally, after the maid brought tea and snacks, Madam Wu gave Madam Hao a meaningful look. Madam Hao then smiled, with a hint of caution, and said: “Actually, I’ve come this time because there’s something I’d like to ask for Madam Zhao’s help with!”