Zhao Ling was turning his face aside, listening to Qin Feiyu speak: “…Although that area isn’t as orderly as this one, it’s situated by Shichahai Lake. Every household can channel fresh water into their courtyards and create small gardens reminiscent of those in the South. I think you might as well move there too. Our two families could also keep each other company.”

Water was scarce in the capital, and residences with access to fresh water were typically priceless.

Qin Feiyu had recently purchased a residence near Shichahai.

“I’m not like Brother Qin, familiar with the capital and its ways, where everything is convenient. Right now, I’m just a country person who came to the city; I can barely tell east from west!” Zhao Ling noticed Ah-Sen coming in and joked with Qin Feiyu a few times before beckoning Ah-Sen over. “What is it?”

Ah-Sen smiled, bowed to Qin Feiyu and the others, and then said, “Manager Ye from Datong Company learned that the master has returned and sent over a banquet. Madam asked me to inform you.”

Manager Ye knew that Zhao Ling had just returned home and would need time to speak with his wife, check his children’s studies, and entertain relatives and old friends. He had already made it clear that he would come to pay a visit in a few days.

Hearing this, Zhao Ling immediately understood that Ah-Sen had something to tell him. He said, “I have two jin of premium Biluochun tea in the bottom shelf of the curio cabinet in my study. Please present it to Manager Ye’s messenger as a reward.”

The implication was that Ah-Sen should wait for him in the study.

Ah-Sen smiled and agreed.

Qin Feiyu, however, pulled Ah-Sen aside to talk: “It’s been some time since we’ve met, and you’ve grown increasingly steady. I heard that Lord Wang wanted you to inherit his hereditary post of centurion, but you politely declined. Perhaps you intend to follow the path of scholars, seeking office through the imperial examinations?”

Ah-Sen smiled and said, “My father is still young, so there’s no rush to pass the centurion position to me. This gives me a good opportunity to study for a few years and broaden my horizons.”

Qin Feiyu nodded with a smile.

Ah-Sen bowed and withdrew.

Lin Chi then asked Qin Feiyu, “How was the Cheng family matter ultimately resolved?”

He was inquiring about Lord Wang’s brother-in-law, the husband of Lady Wang’s elder sister.

Qin Feiyu looked around to ensure that only trusted people were present, then lowered his voice and said, “Lord Wang gave that dissolute Cheng fellow a severe beating and threatened to beat him again every time he learned of any disrespect toward his wife. Believe it or not, it’s truly a case of finding the right method to subdue someone. Though that Cheng fellow still indulges in eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling these past two years, he no longer dares to beat his wife.”

Everyone couldn’t help but laugh.

Tao Mu then recounted an anecdote from the capital: “A similar incident to Lord Wang’s brother-in-law happened in Wei Family Alley. Previously, the father-in-law had tried everything to reason with his son-in-law, but it fell on deaf ears. Eventually, his daughter couldn’t bear it anymore and would rather become a nun than continue living with her husband. The father-in-law thought, ‘I’ve wasted so many kind words, and since we’ll go our separate ways anyway, I might as well invite a few nephews from the clan to give my son-in-law a thorough beating.’ They frightened the son-in-law so badly that not only did he stop hitting his wife, but when she wanted a divorce, he knelt and cried, refusing to agree. He figured, ‘As a son-in-law, my in-laws can beat me like this; if we become strangers, wouldn’t I lose my life…'”

Everyone burst into laughter again.

Zhao Ling took this opportunity to go to his study.

Ah-Sen was anxiously waiting for Zhao Ling, scratching his ears and cheeks. Upon seeing Zhao Ling, he ran up to meet him and informed him about Yu Jingxiu’s intention to bring Min Shi into his household.

Zhao Ling thought for a moment and said, “The Yu family will definitely not agree to Min Shi entering their household, and Yu Jingxiu probably knows this. Yet he’s urgently trying to bring Min Shi in, which suggests there might be something unusual going on. Find a way to get clear information on this, and then we’ll make plans.”

Ah-Sen happily agreed with an “Mmm.” Zhao Ling returned to the hall to continue chatting with Qin Feiyu and the others, while Ah-Sen bid farewell to Fu Tingyun, using the excuse of having matters to attend to at home.

In the following days, Zhao Ling was extremely busy paying court to the Emperor, meeting colleagues, and visiting relatives and friends.

Meanwhile, Ah-Sen was frequently coming and going in Zhenjiang Alley, quickly getting to the bottom of the matter.

He skipped lunch and went directly to Shi Family Alley.

Zhao Ling was taking his midday rest at home.

Ah-Sen headed straight for the main building.

Zheng San was so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead. He grabbed Ah-Sen and pulled him to the east wing: “Wait here. I’ll have Miss Yu Wei go inform the master.”

“I have urgent business,” Ah-Sen urged him. “Hurry and let them know.”

“You’re a father now, yet you still act like a child,” Zheng San muttered as he went to inform Yu Wei.

Yu Wei reluctantly went to knock on the door of the inner chamber.

Fu Tingyun came to answer the door.

Yu Wei was too embarrassed to look at Fu Tingyun and kept her eyes lowered as she softly explained why she was there.

Fu Tingyun turned directly to call Zhao Ling.

Yu Wei then noticed that Zhao Ling was holding a book while reclining on a large kang bed by the window, with Youyou, Young Master Xi, Young Master Xu, and Young Master Han sleeping in disarray around him.

She couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

It seemed she had overthought things… and not just her; everyone seemed to have overthought things a bit…

While pondering this, she saw Zhao Ling carefully extract his arm from under Youyou’s neck and tiptoe out of the inner chamber.

“Where is Ah-Sen?” he asked Yu Wei in a low voice, afraid of waking the children.

Yu Wei quickly pointed to the east wing: “Second Master is waiting for you there!”

Zhao Ling nodded slightly and went to the east wing.

Fu Tingyun leaned against the doorway, looking outward: “Do you know what business Ah-Sen has with the Ninth Master?”

“I’ll go prepare tea and refreshments for the Second Master,” Yu Wei tactfully responded.

“No need,” Fu Tingyun smiled. “I was just asking. If there’s anything important, the Ninth Master will tell me later.”

With this interruption, the afternoon nap was no longer possible.

Yu Wei smiled and brought water for Fu Tingyun to freshen up.

After a while, Zhao Ling returned.

Yu Wei withdrew.

Zhao Ling then told Fu Tingyun, “Ah-Sen just informed me that Min Shi is pregnant. Yu Jingxiu doesn’t want his child to be without status, so he wants to bring Min Shi into his household. The Yu family doesn’t agree, and Yu Jingxiu has already moved out of the Yu family home because of this.”

Fu Tingyun was speechless.

Yu Jingxiu always had actions that were beyond people’s expectations.

Since Zhao Ling had been keeping an eye on Yu Jingxiu, he must have already made arrangements for this situation.

She asked, “What do you plan to do?”

“Originally, I thought that since Elder Yu and the Marquis of Xiping have been close these past few years, Feng Tong, with his audacity, could completely implicate Elder Yu in the horse matter. However, doing so would benefit Yu Jingxiu,” Zhao Ling pondered. “So I thought to wait a while. I refuse to believe that Yu Jingxiu is a cat that doesn’t steal fish. As soon as there’s movement in Zhenjiang Alley, we’ll support people from the Guo family to accuse Yu Jingxiu of ‘killing the husband to take the wife,’ and then expose Elder Yu’s connections with external officials. Even with the Yu family’s extensive network of old acquaintances in the court, no one would dare to defy the world to speak for Elder Yu.”

As he spoke, Fu Tingyun carefully considered his words. When he finished, Fu Tingyun hesitantly said, “You mean that Yu Jingxiu’s matter should explode before Elder Yu’s… because Elder Yu’s issue is too significant, and if it explodes first, people might not pay as much attention to Yu Jingxiu’s affair.”

Zhao Ling nodded with a smile and said, “If the Zhenjiang Alley incident comes to light first, everyone will notice what Yu Jingxiu has done. If Elder Yu’s matter is exposed first, people might think that those who hate the Yu family are kicking them when they’re down, deliberately smearing Yu Jingxiu.”

“Will the Guo family be willing to come forward and identify Yu Jingxiu?”

“I’ve already asked Ah-Sen to handle this,” Zhao Ling said. “Although Elder Yu may seem untouchable to ordinary officials, I now have some influence myself. Besides, where there’s a generous reward, there will be brave men, and we’re not wrongfully accusing Yu Jingxiu!” As he spoke, he smiled and took Fu Tingyun’s hand. “Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore. Get ready, and in a few days, we’ll take the children to see the elephant performance…”

Before he could finish, Youyou’s clear and melodious voice came from the inner chamber: “Father, Father, are we going to see the elephants now?”

Zhao Ling and Fu Tingyun turned around to see their daughter standing on the kang, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

The two couldn’t help but smile at each other.

Zhao Ling went forward and hugged Youyou: “Silly girl, it’s not even the eighth day of the fourth month yet!”

“But I dreamed that Father took me and my brothers to see the elephants!” Youyou giggled and hugged her father. “Xi brother ate a lot of cherries, and when we got home at night, his teeth were so sore he couldn’t eat anything. Father bought Xu brother a real big knife, and Xu brother cut down the jujube tree behind the courtyard. Master An praised Xu brother, but Mother made him kneel on the washboard…”

“You’re the one who should kneel on the washboard!” Xu brother had woken up at some point and protested loudly, unwilling to accept this.

Zhao Ling laughed heartily and put his arm around Xu brother as well: “You shouldn’t talk back to your sister!”

“I’m not talking back to her!” Xu brother pouted, his lips sticking out enough to hang an oil bottle. “Cousin Chunbing indulges sister, Cousin Yuanxiao, and Big Brother all indulge her. If I indulge her too, she might forget her place, and that would lead to trouble. I’m doing this for her good.” By the end of his speech, his little face was tightly drawn, appearing very serious.

Zhao Ling was momentarily stunned.

Youyou was already stomping her feet in anger: “Mother, look at Second Brother!”

Fu Tingyun stood to the side, smiling with pursed lips.

Zhao Ling had no choice but to smooth things over: “Alright, alright, the sun is so beautiful today, let’s go swing on the swings in the backyard!”

The children cheered and eagerly jumped off the kang to put on their shoes.

Zhao Ling smiled and went to the backyard with the children.

Fu Tingyun and Yu Wei went to the kitchen to make wine-fermented glutinous rice balls for Zhao Ling and the children.

From outside came the high and melodious cry of a peddler: “Sweet-heart radishes… sweet and crisp sweet-heart radishes…”

The eldest son, Young Master Xi, appeared from somewhere: “Mother, Mother, I want to eat sweetheart radishes!”

Fu Tingyun smiled, wiped her hands, and went back to the room to get ten wen for Young Master Xi: “Buy some for your father, sister, and brothers too.”

Young Master Xi responded with an “Alright” and happily went out.

Youyou poked her head out: “Mother, where’s Big Brother?”

Fu Tingyun turned around to see Young Master Xu standing behind Youyou with an unimpressed look on his face: “When Big Brother heard someone hawking goods, he went to buy something.”

Just as they were speaking, Young Master Xi came running back with an armful of radishes.

“Sister, Second Brother,” he said happily, “there are radishes to eat.”

Young Master Xu made a dismissive “hmph” sound.

Youyou was quite annoyed and glared at Young Master Xu before going forward to help Young Master Xi with the radishes: “Why did you buy so many?”

“Not too many, not too many,” Young Master Xi said with a beaming smile, either not noticing the unusual atmosphere between his sister and brother or simply not feeling it. “There are so many people in our family, at most half a radish per person.”

Young Master Xu said, “I don’t want any. I’ll give my half to you.”

Before he finished speaking, Zhao Ling came walking along the corridor with Young Master Han in his arms: “Hey! How come Young Master Xi disappeared, and you all followed?”

Young Master Xu kept his mouth shut.

Youyou looked at Young Master Xi.

Young Master Xi, however, still wore a smile and handed a tender water radish to Zhao Ling: “Father, have a radish!”

Zhao Ling smiled and accepted the radish.

Young Master Han hugged his father’s neck and swayed back and forth: “Father, I don’t want radish, I want the swing, I want the swing.”

Fu Tingyun looked at her husband and children, feeling that the spring sunshine was so beautiful, and that time was peaceful and tranquil. She couldn’t help but curl the corners of her mouth, revealing a bright and beautiful smile.