Mother didn’t believe it.

Zuo Junjie seemed to read her mind.

“Whether it’s a misunderstanding or not, Fifth Madam will know after seeing this.” He pulled out a stomach protector from his bosom. “This is the token of love my cousin gave me!”

Despite her mother’s years of household management and handling countless emergencies, she visibly paled. Looking at the stomach protector—a somewhat worn sapphire-blue silk with blooming purple magnolias, the petals outlined in pink thread—it featured her daughter’s favorite colors, patterns, and her characteristic needlework style.

“You…” Mother could no longer maintain her composure and stood up in alarm.

Could her daughter have done such a foolish thing…

Mother hastily reached out to take it for a closer look, to determine its authenticity, but from the corner of her eye, she caught a flash of smug satisfaction on Zuo Junjie’s face—so obvious, so glaring, as if slapping her in the face.

Mother was filled with shame and indignation but dared not lose her temper.

People love gossip, especially this kind. Even nonexistent matters would be spread with vivid details, let alone if Zuo Junjie made a scene. If even a whisper of this leaked out, not only would the Fu family’s century-old reputation be instantly ruined, but her own and her mother’s reputations would also be destroyed. At best, they would be ridiculed and forced to live with their heads down for the rest of their lives; at worst, they would be driven out of the Fu family with nowhere to stand.

But simply yielding to Zuo Junjie’s manipulation would only embolden his arrogance and make the situation increasingly unmanageable.

Mother withdrew her hand that had been suspended in mid-air.

She needed to put him in his place.

Otherwise, he would think the fifth branch was easy to bully.

Mother slowly sat back down: “If every concubine and mistress came crying about lost jewelry or silver, and I interrogated all the maids and wives in the household, I might as well not be the mistress anymore.” Without any courtesy, she dismissed him, “I happen to have something to discuss with your sister, so I won’t detain Master Zuo!” She also warned him, “Although Master Zuo’s circumstances have improved, I’ve never heard of a juren scholar filing a lawsuit against a jinshi scholar. If that happens, Master Zuo will certainly become notorious, alarming officials in both the provincial and capital governments. As it happens, those officials are either my husband’s examination classmates or former colleagues. My husband has always been a modest person, and if he learns that he has incurred the favor of old acquaintances because of this matter, I fear he will be furious. I’m considering whether to write a letter to my husband in advance to explain, so that when the time comes, he won’t blame me, as his wife, for lax household management and absurd actions!”

Zuo Junjie’s forehead veins bulged as he stood up in fury.

She dared to mock him like a concubine or mistress… to use his sister to pressure him, and to hint that the Fifth Master had private connections with provincial officials who could ruin his reputation…

His eyes flashed with menace.

Mother watched in trepidation, but with nowhere to retreat, she could only call out loudly to her maid: “The young master is leaving, please see him out!” Her voice was already trembling slightly.

The latticed door was immediately pushed open, and the waiting servants entered with measured steps.

Zuo Junjie stared fixedly at his mother.

He hadn’t expected that this normally quiet Fifth Madam, who usually just agreed with whatever was said, would display such composure. He had underestimated this woman. It seemed he needed to administer a stronger medicine!

“Since the Fifth Madam thinks this matter should be reported to the Fifth Master, I’ll wait for his response,” he said ominously. “When the Ninth Young Lady marries into our Zuo family, I hope the Fifth Madam won’t regret it!” With that, he tossed down the stomach protector. “I have many more things embroidered by the Ninth Young Lady. I’ll leave this one for the Fifth Madam as a keepsake!” Then he strode away.

Many more…

Mother was thunderstruck by these words. Her show of strength before Zuo Junjie quickly melted away like ice. Anxiously, she instructed the entering maid: “Quick, summon the Ninth Young Lady and Bibo’s wife!”

Bibo’s wife, named Rushi, was mother’s dowry maid who later married father’s manservant Bibo, and was most trusted by mother.

They arrived at their mother’s room one after the other.

“Close the door!” Mother sat coldly on the master’s chair and commanded her attendants, then flung a bundle toward them.

“Look what you’ve done!” The object fell lightly to the ground—it was a somewhat worn sapphire-blue stomach protector.

They looked at each other in confusion, their eyes simultaneously falling on the stomach protector, quickly noticing something amiss.

“This, this isn’t mine… How did it get here?” She was greatly startled, immediately sensing something was wrong. “What happened?”

Bibo’s wife looked at her mother with a puzzled expression.

Mother gave a cold “hmph” and recounted what had transpired.

She was both shocked and aggrieved, both angry and fearful: “Mother, I’ve never even spoken to Zuo Junjie, how could I have a relationship with him?” She knelt before her mother. “Though the Fu family may not be extremely prestigious, we are certainly not a humble household. In all my years, when have I ever been without attendants? What I’ve done or haven’t done, even if I could hide it from you, I couldn’t hide it from those around me. If mother doesn’t believe me, you can ask my nurse, you can ask Yi Tong and Yu Wei…” She then cursed and swore, “If I have done such a shameless thing that would disgrace our family, may heaven strike me down with thunder…” Being a person of clear conscience, yet falsely accused by Zuo Junjie and having to defend herself before her mother and Bibo’s wife, was unbearable.

She sadly began to weep.

“Stand up and speak properly,” mother glared at her. “Let me ask you, is this item yours?”

Fu Tingyun hesitated, unable to utter a “yes.”

“How did your belongings end up in Zuo Junjie’s hands?” Mother pressed relentlessly, her deliberately lowered voice filled with anger to avoid being overheard. “Instead of thinking about who might have done this, you just cry and wail and shout. How will you manage a household when you marry into the Yu family? How will you be the mistress? I’ve wasted all these years teaching you.”

“Mother!” She looked at her mother in astonishment, her eyes red, tears streaming down her face.

Mother’s heart softened at the sight.

Her daughter was still young and inexperienced in such matters, naturally becoming somewhat flustered. Perhaps she had been too harsh in her expectations.

“If I don’t trust the Fu family’s rules, would I not trust the daughter I’ve raised?” Her tone softened considerably. “I know you wouldn’t do such a thing!”

She tightly embraced her mother.

At this moment, what could be more moving and warming than the trust of a family member?

Yet why couldn’t the sorrow and bitterness in her heart dissipate…

Bibo’s wife had been anxiously pacing and only now dared to speak: “What should we do? What should we do? The Yu family is about to send people to arrange the wedding date. If the Yu family learns of this, whether it’s true or not, they’ll likely harbor doubts. Even if they don’t break off the engagement, the Ninth Young Lady might not have a good life after marrying into their family. What will happen to the Ninth Young Lady then?”

“I called you here precisely for this matter,” mother took out a handkerchief to wipe her face, saying worriedly. “This Zuo Junjie, though of poor character, is a clever man. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have swallowed his pride to return to the Fu family. Since he dared to speak to me in such a manner, he must have thoroughly planned it out. Today he left in anger after my provocation, but who knows what mischief he might cause tomorrow. Those who know Tingyun’s habits must be someone close to her. Even if they didn’t do it themselves, they must be involved.” Mother particularly hated servants who plotted behind her back, her tone was severe. “The urgent task is to find this ungrateful, disloyal person and determine exactly what else is missing from Tingyun’s room. Otherwise, we’ll be in the light while Zuo Junjie operates in the shadows, making it impossible to defend against him. We can only passively endure his attacks.”

“Fifth Madam, leave this matter to me!” Bibo’s wife immediately responded with shared indignation. “In all these years helping you manage affairs, I know all about the maids and wives in the Ninth Young Lady’s room. It will be convenient for me to investigate…”

“No, I’ll handle this personally!” Mother’s eyes flashed with a cold light as she instructed Bibo’s wife. “Go pack our things and have the outer courtyard prepare carriages. We’ll go to Biyun Temple tomorrow to offer incense.”

Going to offer incense at a time like this…

Bibo’s wife looked at her mother in surprise.

Mother nodded: “Zuo Junjie is related to the eldest uncle by marriage, and it was the eldest uncle’s idea to let him stay with us. With him causing such trouble, I have no choice but to ask the eldest uncle to intervene.” Mother expressed some concern. “However, given Zuo Junjie’s current state, I’m not sure if the eldest uncle can control him. If he can, that’s good, but if not, he might cause even more trouble… Tingyun should go away for a while.” Mother said in a low voice, “My maids, Lu’E and Hanyan, are honest, obedient, and trustworthy. Take these two maids with you. Just say that Tingyun suffered from heat exhaustion from the carriage journey and needs to rest quietly in the temple. I’ll return with the others, while you, Lu’E, and Hanyan stay to serve Tingyun. Once this matter is resolved, I’ll send someone to bring you back!”

This was a good plan.

If Zuo Junjie made a scene, at least the Ninth Young Lady wouldn’t have to suffer at home.

Bibo’s wife curtsied and responded with a “Yes,” then withdrew.

Fu Tingyun had been standing with her head lowered, silent.

There are no completely windproof walls; this matter would eventually spread.

With so many sisters in the family, why had Zuo Junjie chosen her?

After Bibo’s wife left, she couldn’t help but ask her mother: “I’ve never offended him, and I’ve always been respectful to the eldest sister-in-law. Why does he want to harm me?” Tears began to fall again.

This was truly a bolt from the blue!

Mother’s eyes also reddened as she comforted her daughter: “He’s just a mad dog, biting people indiscriminately!”

She looked straight at mother: “The eldest uncle has shown great kindness to Zuo Junjie. He… he will surely listen to the eldest uncle, won’t he?”

If Zuo Junjie still valued old favors, how could he do such a despicable thing?

Looking at her hopeful face, mother couldn’t bring herself to say what she truly thought. Instead, she forced a smile: “That’s why I’m going to ask your eldest uncle to give him a severe scolding, and then he’ll behave.”

Really?

Then why did mother’s gaze keep shifting?

“Mother, please write a letter to father!” She suddenly grabbed mother’s sleeve, pleading, “Father is an Instructor in the Hanlin Academy; even the Emperor listens to his lectures. He must have a way… He must have a way…”

“Yes, I’ll write to your father!” Mother embraced her, tears dampening the clothes on her shoulder. “Stay well in Biyun Temple and don’t go anywhere. If anyone comes to tell you anything, pretend you don’t know. I’ll come to get you soon!”

She nodded blankly, a dull pain in her heart.