“Learn some martial arts from Master An?” Fu Tingyun was taken aback by Third Sister’s husband’s request.

“Yes!” Third Sister smiled, “As long as it can strengthen their bodies!”

“Then I’ll speak to Master An about it?” Fu Tingyun couldn’t give a direct answer to this matter.

“Of course.” Third Sister’s husband was very grateful. After exchanging a few casual words with Fu Tingyun, he left with Third Sister.

Fu Tingyun thought for a moment, wrapped two taels of the Da Hong Pao tea that Seventh Sister’s husband had sent a few days ago, and went to the back courtyard.

Daoist An was holding a palm-leaf fan, lying on a reclining chair under the eaves to enjoy the cool breeze. Seeing Fu Tingyun approach, he smiled and sat up, calling his attendant to pour tea.

“Let’s use the tea I’ve brought for you!” Fu Tingyun smiled as she handed the red box containing the tea to the attendant. “It’s Da Hong Pao. Please try it and see how it tastes.”

Daoist An didn’t stand on ceremony and instructed his attendant to brew the tea.

Fu Tingyun then asked about the two children: “…Are they learning well? Have they given you any trouble?”

“Both children are very obedient,” Daoist An said, with warm smiles in his eyes, clearly showing his fondness for the two children. “They also endure hardship well. The elder is more honest, the younger more clever. Zhao Ling is blessed.”

Hearing the teacher praise her sons, Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but show joy at the corners of her eyes and brows: “This is because you guide the two children, that’s why they are so well-behaved.” As she spoke, the attendant brought the tea over.

From a distance, they could already smell the fragrance.

Daoist An’s brow twitched slightly.

Fu Tingyun also stopped speaking.

By the time the attendant walked over, Daoist An was already somewhat impatient. He picked up the teacup, lowered his head to smell the tea’s aroma, and then took a small sip.

“Excellent tea!” Daoist An’s eyes brightened as he praised, “It has both the fresh fragrance of Longjing and the richness of Min Hong. Truly worthy of being an imperial tribute.”

She hadn’t expected Daoist An to be a tea enthusiast.

Fu Tingyun smiled and said: “A fine sword should be given to a hero. I have a few more taels of premium Xinyang Maojian tea, which I’ll have my maid bring to you later.”

Hearing this, Daoist An laughed heartily and said: “Don’t tell me you have something to ask of me?” This made Fu Tingyun blush deeply.

“No matter, no matter,” he said with a smile. “Just tell me what it is.”

Fu Tingyun somewhat embarrassedly explained Third Sister’s husband’s wish for Chun Bing and Yuan Xiao to learn martial arts from him.

“This is a good thing,” Daoist An agreed readily. “There’s no need for any formal discipleship. Just have them wake up with Xiao Gongzi and Xu Gongzi tomorrow morning and come find me in the back courtyard.”

This… was that considered agreement?

Fu Tingyun was momentarily perplexed.

She had thought she would be refused or scolded by Daoist An!

Coming back to her senses, she repeatedly expressed her thanks.

“What thanks!” Daoist An laughed. “Having those two boys come will also provide company for Xiao Gongzi and Xu Gongzi, so they won’t always be thinking about playing with Yuan Xiao.” He added, “In the future, if anyone else wants to learn martial arts from me, just bring them here to me.”

He was extremely generous.

Fu Tingyun repeatedly agreed, exchanged a few more pleasantries with Daoist An, and then went to inform Third Sister and her husband.

The two were naturally delighted. Following the custom of giving gifts to family tutors, Third Sister’s husband personally delivered clothes and silver.

Daoist An didn’t decline and had his attendant accept them.

From then on, every early morning, Chun Bing and Yuan Xiao joined the group in the back courtyard.

Days passed imperceptibly until the end of July. Although it was still very hot at noon, thin blankets were needed at night. Fu Tingyun’s pregnancy was showing, and Third Sister discussed going down the mountain with her: “You need to prepare for childbirth on your side.”

The two sisters had the same thought. They chose an auspicious day according to the almanac, and escorted by Third Sister’s husband, the two families descended the mountain in a grand procession.

Because Fu Tingyun was pregnant and had three children, Third Sister and her husband first escorted them back to Shi Family Alley, directing their own maids and elderly maidservants to help Fu Tingyun’s family with their trunks.

There was a commotion of carriages and horses in front of the Zhao residence, and neighbors on both sides knew they had returned from Yuming Mountain.

Third Sister bid farewell to Fu Tingyun at the decorated gate: “…I don’t know how chaotic our home has become, I need to go back and tidy up. I’ll come see you in a few days. If you need anything, just send Zheng San Niang to pass me a message.”

Fu Tingyun nodded with a smile and called for Youyou, Xiao Gongzi, and Xu Gongzi to see Third Sister’s family off.

Since Third Sister’s husband and Fu Tingyun had already arranged for Chun Bing and Yuan Xiao to come every five days to seek guidance from Master An, and practice by themselves at home the rest of the time, the children, although parting was imminent, didn’t show any sadness. Instead, they gathered together, chattering away.

Third Sister’s husband couldn’t help but smile wryly, patting Chun Bing and Yuan Xiao’s shoulders, and said: “If your studies are not good, don’t come anymore.”

Chun Bing quickly said: “Father, don’t worry, we will study diligently.” When he first started learning martial arts from Master An, he was so tired he couldn’t even lift his arms, but after persevering, he felt his body become lighter when walking and found it easier to concentrate when reading. He greatly valued the opportunity to learn martial arts from Master An.

Yuan Xiao, however, treated martial arts practice as an opportunity to play with Xiao Gongzi and wasn’t as dedicated to his studies as before.

Hearing this, he hung his head and responded with a rather listless “Yes.”

Xiao Gongzi, hiding behind Fu Tingyun, made faces at him, somewhat gloating.

Yuan Xiao glared at Xiao Gongzi several times before finally leaving with his parents.

Although they had lived on the mountain for two to three months, Zhou Mama and others who stayed at home had kept the courtyard clean, and had also seasonally changed the cotton curtains and blue silk mosquito nets. They only needed to unpack the trunks and make the beds to be able to rest.

Fu Tingyun praised Zhou Mama and the others who had stayed at home for their work. Just then, a young maid ran in to report: “Madam Wu has come to visit, Madam.”

“What is she here for?” Fu Tingyun muttered under her breath, looking at the servants coming and going in the courtyard, then instructed the young maid, “Please invite her to sit in the hall of the south wing.”

The young maid acknowledged and left.

Fu Tingyun washed up, changed her clothes, and went to the hall in the south wing.

“Just returned from the mountain, the house is in disarray,” she smiled as she entered, explaining to Madam Wu. “I can only trouble Madam to have tea in the south wing.”

“It’s no trouble, no trouble,” Madam Wu smiled as she stepped forward, warmly taking Fu Tingyun’s hand. “I haven’t seen you for months and have been missing you.” As she spoke, her expression changed, and she let out an “Oh my!” stepping back a few paces, looking Fu Tingyun up and down. “You’re pregnant again?” She appeared very surprised.

Fu Tingyun’s face reddened slightly, and she said: “Almost five months now.”

“My goodness,” Madam Wu immediately smiled and said, “Then at the end of the year, we’ll have wine to drink again.” Her expression was filled with joy.

Fu Tingyun vaguely acknowledged with a sound and changed the subject, inquiring after Madam Wu: “Have you been well these days?”

It was just a polite question, but unexpectedly, Madam Wu let out a long sigh and said: “How can I be well? I’ve been bothered to the point of headache by that Madam Li.”

Fu Tingyun was surprised.

Madam Wu continued: “Wasn’t there some misunderstanding between their Thirteenth Young Master and your eldest daughter? She wrote a letter to Master Li, who was extremely angry and immediately sent an adviser to bring the Li family’s Thirteenth Young Master to his post. Madam Li wanted to speak with you, but you were staying at Yuming Mountain the whole time. She came several times but didn’t meet you, and being somewhat shy, she was too embarrassed to go up the mountain to disturb you. So she entrusted me, asking that as soon as you returned, I should tell you. She was afraid I wouldn’t be diligent enough, so she sent a servant to ask every few days. Now that you’ve returned, I’ve come to see you right away, so I can report back to Madam Li.”

Hearing that the Li family’s Thirteenth Young Master was no longer in the capital, Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Madam Li probably wanted to ask Madam Wu to help mediate, right?

Anyone involved in such a matter would feel ashamed.

She could understand quite well.

Since she had no intention of becoming close with the Li family anyway, she smiled and said: “Then please help me tell Madam Li that children play and make trouble for fun, and she shouldn’t take it to heart. Being so formal about it makes me feel uncomfortable.”

Seeing that Fu Tingyun was so easy to talk to, Madam Wu was visibly delighted. She said many flattering things like “Madam Zhao is truly broad-minded” before finally standing up to leave.

In private, Yu Wei grumbled to Fu Tingyun: “Who knows how many favors Madam Wu received from Madam Li to be working so hard.”

“Who cares how many favors she received!” Fu Tingyun smiled. “The sooner this matter can be resolved with the Li family, the better.”

Yu Wei nodded continuously.

Nevertheless, the next day, Madam Li brought many gifts to visit Fu Tingyun and Youyou.

Fu Tingyun repeatedly assured her that she did not blame Li Thirteen, and only then did Madam Li leave with a red face.

Yu Wei couldn’t help but sigh: “A beautiful flower stuck in cow dung.”

“What nonsense are you talking?” Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but laugh as she scolded her.

Yu Wei covered her mouth and laughed.

Zhenzhu came in: “Madam, there’s a maid who calls herself Lian Xin, entrusted by her mistress, who has urgent business to see you.”

“Mistress?” Fu Tingyun and Yu Wei looked at each other in confusion. She thought for a long time and said perplexedly, “I can’t recall having any dealings with someone of that title…”

Yu Wei, however, had a thought and said: “Could it be that one?” As she spoke, she pointed to the courtyard next door.

Fu Tingyun thought for a moment and hesitantly said: “That’s quite possible.”

Yu Wei pursed her lips: “What do their family matters have to do with us? It’s already good enough that we’re not looking for trouble with him. Does she expect our Madam to meddle in her affairs?” After speaking, she stared intently at Fu Tingyun, almost pulling at Fu Tingyun’s sleeve to make her refuse.

“Let’s still meet her!” Fu Tingyun pondered and said, “I once said that if she had any matters, she could have her maid come tell me… If we can help, we might as well. If we can’t help, we should make it clear to Concubine Wu, so she doesn’t pin her hopes on us.” She added, “You don’t know, when people are desperate, even though they know a straw is useless, they will still clutch it tightly in their hands.”

Yu Wei, recalling her own experiences, lowered her head in some shame.

Fu Tingyun then had Zhenzhu bring the person in.

The little maid looked only twelve or thirteen years old. She was very nervous when she saw Fu Tingyun, her voice tense, speaking with a tremor, and her eyes not daring to look up even once: “The mistress said that our Master often goes to a Miss Min’s place in Needle Craftsman Alley, and she would like to ask Madam to help investigate what Miss Min’s background is…”

Fu Tingyun was astonished.

Given their relationship, it didn’t seem like they were close enough for her to help inquire about such matters, did it?