Fu Tingyun had sent Anxin to deliver the letter she wrote to Zhao Ling to Guizhou. Upon hearing Baoshu’s report, she quickly had Baoshu bring Anxin in.
Anxin’s eyes and brows revealed undisguisable joy: “Madam, there’s a matter at Needle Craftsman Alley…” As he spoke, he glanced at Third Sister.
Seeing this, Third Sister smiled and rose, saying: “I’ll go check on Youyou!”
Fu Tingyun felt that everyone would eventually know about this matter anyway, so there was no need to exclude Third Sister. She smiled and tried to detain her: “It’s about that Yu Jingxiu, nothing urgent!”
But Third Sister was even more determined to withdraw.
It was well known that the Zhao and Yu families were mortal enemies. The Yu family had frequently set up obstacles for the Zhao family, and given Zhao Ling’s temperament, he would certainly not let the Yu family live in peace.
Judging by Anxin’s expression, it was likely that the Zhao family had caused some trouble for the Yu family.
Some things could be done but not spoken of, could be spoken of but not heard.
The Third Sister insisted on going to the side room.
Seeing that she couldn’t keep her, Fu Tingyun let her go.
“What happened at Needle Craftsman Alley?” Fu Tingyun asked Anxin.
Anxin stepped forward and said in a low voice: “The kitchen woman just had someone pass a message to me. Yesterday at noon, a young man about twenty years old suddenly appeared at Needle Craftsman Alley. When Miss Min’s attendant saw this young man, her face changed dramatically. Despite having plenty of food at home, she asked the kitchen woman to go to a restaurant far from Needle Craftsman Alley to order some dishes, clearly intending to send her away so they could talk privately. The kitchen woman is shrewd—she gave a neighboring boy ten or so coins to run the errand while she secretly returned and hid behind the house to eavesdrop.”
“It turns out that young man is Miss Min’s fiancé…”
“Ah!” Fu Tingyun was greatly surprised, then showed an expression of sudden realization. “I knew something seemed missing in Miss Min’s story—she’s not young anymore and should have been engaged. With such a major family crisis, why was there no support from her fiancé’s family? Even if they looked down on her family’s predicament, there should have been some reaction. How could she appear so helpless!” She then urged Anxin, “What happened next?”
“You guessed correctly,” Anxin smiled. “Miss Min’s fiancé’s family name is Guo. When Master Min served as county magistrate, Mr. Guo was the deputy magistrate. After Master Min got into trouble, the Guo family looked down on Miss Min’s fallen circumstances and wanted to break the engagement. But young Master Guo deeply admired Miss Min and was unwilling to break it off. The Guo family feared that if young Master Guo made a fuss, people would accuse them of abandoning the poor to pursue the rich, so the matter was left unsettled. Later, when young Master Guo heard about Miss Min’s family troubles and that she remained in the capital, he came searching for her. From what young Master Guo said, he had already persuaded his grandmother to intervene, and his father had agreed not to mention breaking the engagement again…”
Fu Tingyun couldn’t help sighing: “I’m afraid young Master Guo came too late. Miss Min might not be willing to return with him.”
“You’ve guessed correctly again,” Anxin smiled. “However, Miss Min’s explanation was quite interesting. She didn’t mention her unwillingness, only saying that her family members couldn’t accommodate her, and if she returned, her life might be in danger. If she went to stay temporarily at the Guo family with young Master Guo, given that Mr. Guo already looked down on her for being poor, living off the Guo family would only make Mr. Guo despise her more. Even if she forced herself to marry into their family, Mr. Guo would hold this against her, and she would never be able to hold her head high for the rest of her life.”
“Upon hearing this, young Master Guo sternly questioned Miss Min, asking if she no longer intended to return with him.”
Fu Tingyun was slightly surprised and said: “This young Master Guo seems not to be a muddled person.”
“Anyone who saw Miss Min’s situation would likely have suspicions,” Anxin said. “Not only does she have maids, matrons, and servants, but even the residence is worth several hundred taels of silver. How could a fatherless young woman afford all this?”
Fu Tingyun nodded.
Anxin continued: “Miss Min then swore an oath, saying that once she found her brother, her branch of the family would have a male heir, and she would have someone to rely on. At that time, she would return. Miss Min also mentioned Yu Jingxiu, saying he was a good person, that the residence belonged to his family, and the servants were from the Yu family too. He only lent them to her out of pity. If young Master Guo didn’t believe her, he could inquire with the neighbors, or she could invite Yu Jingxiu to come and confront young Master Guo face to face. After saying this, she started crying again, lamenting how difficult her life was, and accused young Master Guo of blaming her unjustly. She said if she had known it would be like this, she should have accepted the engagement tokens returned by Mr. Guo from the beginning. She also said that if it weren’t for finding her brother, why would she stay in such an ambiguous situation? Then she challenged young Master Guo, saying if he could help her find her brother, she would pack her bags and leave with him right away…”
“Oh!” Fu Tingyun raised her eyebrows. “It seems this Miss Min is not a simple character.”
Anxin smiled and nodded, saying: “When young Master Guo heard this, he deflated. He only mumbled, asking when she would return. Miss Min said she had agreed with Yu Jingxiu that tomorrow, regardless of whether she found her brother or not, she would leave…”
Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but smile: “Miss Min should finish her mourning period next year, right? What she said isn’t exactly wrong.”
Anxin also laughed: “Later, Miss Min invited young Master Guo to stay for dinner and sent him to a nearby inn to rest for the night. This morning, Miss Min’s matron went to the inn and said something to young Master Guo. Young Master Guo left the capital early, and then Miss Min’s matron also left the capital.”
Fu Tingyun was very surprised: “Have you found out what that matron went to do?”
“It’s not clear yet,” Anxin said discreetly. “We only know that the matron and young Master Guo took the same road. It seems they were headed to the same place! I’ve already had someone follow the matron. If there’s any movement, they will report to me immediately.”
“You’ve worked hard these days,” Fu Tingyun felt Anxin handled matters reliably and looked at him with a satisfied smile, then asked about the letter to Zhao Ling: “Has it been sent?”
“It has,” Anxin smiled. “It should reach the Ninth Master’s hands in fifteen or sixteen days.”
By the time Zhao Ling’s reply arrived, it would be a month later, and the situation would have already developed.
Fu Tingyun praised Anxin, offered tea as she saw him out, then called Zhenzhu to help her change clothes and fix her hair, instructing Yu Wei to have Zheng San prepare the carriage.
Third Sister said: “Why don’t I accompany you?”
“That would be good,” Fu Tingyun smiled. “I’ll have someone to talk to on the way.”
The Third Sister accompanied Fu Tingyun to Tanzhe Temple.
Master Yan was somewhat surprised when the young novice monk reported that Fu Tingyun had come.
For Fu Tingyun to visit him at this time, there must be some important matter!
He had the young novice invite Fu Tingyun to the hall for tea.
Fu Tingyun asked Third Sister to wait in the side hall for tea, while she went alone to see Master Yan.
Since Master Yan could strategize for the nation, if he was willing, there was nothing he couldn’t accomplish.
Fu Tingyun felt there was no need to hide anything from him—of course, even if she wanted to, she might not be able to. Therefore, she didn’t beat around the bush with Master Yan and frankly told him her concerns: “…If she were seeking Youyou as a bride for her illegitimate son, that would be easier to handle. For such an unsuitable match, I could refuse, and no one would think me impolite. Rather, they would think the Marchioness of Wuding was acting thoughtlessly. What I fear is that she might be proposing on behalf of one of the young masters from the Fuguo Duke’s mansion… Your second son also seems to be of marriageable age! And I’ve heard that since the Marquis of Yingchuan went to Liaodong, he hasn’t returned. The Duke of Fuguo is getting older, with diminishing energy, and household affairs are managed by various voices, sometimes even the heir of the Duke of Fuguo can’t control them. Some people in the Meng family want the Marquis of Yingchuan to speak up, even if not taking sides, to give the heir a headache.”
“Your concerns are not without reason,” Master Yan listened with a grave expression and nodded. “If I remember correctly, the Fifth Prince is also of marriageable age, isn’t he?”
Fu Tingyun was so shocked that she froze.
Master Yan burst into laughter at the sight.
Fu Tingyun then realized that Master Yan was joking with her.
“Frightening people like that could scare them to death,” Fu Tingyun reproached him. “I’ve been respecting you like a national teacher in vain.”
Master Yan chuckled, showing a hint of discomfort in his expression. But soon, he regained his original scholarly demeanor and gently asked her: “What’s the matter? You don’t want a marriage alliance with the royal family?”
“A parent knows her child,” Fu Tingyun said seriously. “Our family is simple, and Youyou has a lively disposition. She’s not suitable for marriage into those grand families. Rather than seeking empty prestige, it’s better to live a solid, grounded life.”
Master Yan smiled slightly, seemingly in agreement, and said: “You don’t need to worry. If Madam Meng proposes a match for someone from the Fuguo Duke’s mansion, just have someone inform me. I have ways to make her abandon the idea.”
With Master Yan’s assurance, Fu Tingyun’s anxiety subsided. She smiled and chatted with Master Yan about young Master Han. Seeing that it was getting late, she rose to take her leave.
Master Yan sent several guards to escort them back to the city.
Halfway there, they encountered Third Sister’s husband.
Unlike his usual calm demeanor, Third Sister’s husband appeared somewhat disheveled.
He lifted the curtain of their carriage and urgently asked: “Did you go to Tanzhe Temple? Did you see Master Yan? What did you talk about?” The questions came one after another, each more urgent than the last.
Third Sister asked in surprise: “We didn’t say much…”
Before she could finish, her husband said in exasperation: “I only told you to inform Ninth Sister, how did you end up going to Tanzhe Temple with her? Is that a place you can casually visit? When I returned from the ministry and found you hadn’t returned home, I knew things had gone wrong… Can’t you take fewer steps? Say fewer words? The waters outside are deep—is that something a woman from the inner chambers like you can wade through?”
Being questioned by her husband in front of so many people was unprecedented. Third Sister felt embarrassed, but with so many people present, she couldn’t defend herself. She was so angry that her fingertips trembled, and her face turned bright red.
Fu Tingyun quickly said, “Third Brother-in-law, please calm down. I went to Tanzhe Temple for a private matter to ask Master Yan…”
Hearing this, Third Sister’s husband became even more anxious: “Ninth Sister, trying to guess the Emperor’s intentions is most undesirable. In some matters, it’s better to remain still than to act…”
Fu Tingyun then understood—Third Sister’s husband thought she had gone to Tanzhe Temple to seek favor for Zhao Ling’s official position based on Third Sister’s suggestion.
Looking at Third Sister’s husband with his forehead covered in sweat, she felt very grateful.
“Third Brother-in-law, we didn’t go to Tanzhe Temple for the Ninth Master’s affairs,” Fu Tingyun hurriedly explained. “It was for another matter.”