Fu Tingyun’s peripheral vision caught the dawdling manner of the carriage driver parked in front of the Wu family’s door. Looking at Mrs. Wu’s personal maid’s enthusiastic smile before her, and thinking of the heavy flower trees, a mischievous thought suddenly arose—Mrs. Wu liked to say pleasant things to everyone, but when there was any real trouble, she would disappear without a trace. Since you’ve learned your mistress’s ways so perfectly, don’t blame me for not being polite…

With this fleeting thought, Fu Tingyun said formally: “I was just worrying about how to move these flower trees! In that case, I’ll trouble you to call a few strong maidservants to help us!”

Not just Mrs. Wu’s maid, but everyone standing at the Wu family’s door was stunned.

Anyone could understand that the offer of help was merely a polite gesture, but unexpectedly, Fu Tingyun had taken it seriously… However, since the words had already been spoken, how could they go back on them?

Mrs. Wu’s maid could only smile and respond “alright,” then sternly instructed a young maid beside her: “Hurry and call a few maidservants to help Mrs. Zhao move the flower trees.”

The young maid retreated with a hint of panic to call for help.

Fu Tingyun thanked Mrs. Wu’s maid: “…I just returned from Fengtai. I’ll change my clothes and then come to thank Mrs. Wu!”

“It’s just a small matter.” At this point, further words were useless. Mrs. Wu’s maid put aside her resentment and exchanged pleasantries with Fu Tingyun with a smile. “Mrs. Zhao is too polite.”

The forty-year-old woman who had been standing quietly beside them listened and gave Fu Tingyun another look.

The carriage driver who had made way for Fu Tingyun called out, “It’s done!”

Zheng San heard this and repeatedly expressed his thanks, calling for the hired cart to come forward.

Everyone’s attention was drawn there.

The hired cart driver carefully pulled the reins, trying several times to let the cart pass through, but hearing the rustling sound of the tree branches scraping against the carriage in front of the Wu family’s door, he retreated several times.

Zheng San became somewhat anxious watching this. He grabbed the hired cart driver and said, “Let me!”

You do it, then if the flowers and trees are damaged, it has nothing to do with me!

The hired cart driver wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling relieved.

Zheng San drove the cart halfway but didn’t dare to move forward recklessly. He called out to the carriage driver in front of the Wu family’s door: “Brother, please move a bit more to the side!”

The carriage driver was already unwilling. Hearing Mrs. Wu’s maid call Fu Tingyun “Madam,” he knew she had no official title; at most, she would be a “Ruren” of the seventh rank. Neighbors would exaggeratedly call each other “Madam” out of mutual respect. This made him even more reluctant. Hearing this, he couldn’t help but purse his lips and impatiently said: “My carriage is already against the wall. Where else do you want me to move?”

Fu Tingyun looked toward the carriage upon hearing this.

The carriage was still about two or three feet from the wall.

She was quite displeased.

Zheng San knew he had troubled others, but the cart had already moved halfway, with the front wheels wedged in the middle, making it difficult to back up. His smile carried both apology and ingratiation: “How about you get down and take a rest, brother? I’ll try to see if I can maneuver the two carriages to pass each other…”

The carriage driver gave a cold smile without saying a word.

Zheng San’s smile became more embarrassed, and he said softly: “Please help, brother!”

The carriage driver glanced at the forty-year-old woman, saw her slightly frowning, and grew even bolder. He looked at Zheng San out of the corner of his eye and said condescendingly: “What do you mean? I’ve been driving carriages for decades, and the people I’ve served are all rich and noble, all well-traveled and respectable people. Which one doesn’t give me a thumbs up and praise me for driving well…”

Fu Tingyun saw that the carriage driver had looked at the forty-year-old woman, but she remained silent. She couldn’t help but snort coldly in her heart and instructed Zheng San: “Since the cart can’t get through, then carry the flower trees one by one into the house!”

The carriage driver raised his eyebrows when he heard this, revealing a hint of severity.

Bundle Mama had already reached the main gate of the Wu family and was about to return. There were over a dozen or twenty pots of flowers on the cart, all with lush branches and leaves. If they were to be carried into the house one by one, it would take at least half an hour. If the flower cart hadn’t become wedged halfway through, it would have been easy; he could have driven out from the other end of the alley. But now the flower cart was stuck in the middle. He either had to make way for them to pass or remain stuck there.

If he were to make way for them, he had already said the carriage couldn’t move anymore. If he changed his words now, it would seem like he was deliberately making things difficult for them. If Bundle Mama wasn’t present, it would be easier to explain, but with Bundle Mama there… The mistress had once said that Beijing was full of hidden talents and distinguished families. If someone relied on the Yu family’s reputation to cause trouble outside, the Yu family would not only not intervene, but all the relatives working for the Yu family would also be implicated and driven away… It would be terrible if Bundle Mama reported this to the mistress. If he didn’t make way, were they to wait half an hour, watching them move all the flower trees before leaving?

Never mind, once Bundle Mama and the others got on the carriage, he would drive out from the other end of the alley.

Whether the flower trees lived or died had nothing to do with him.

It wasn’t he who had driven the cart between the two carriages.

Having made up his mind, he was about to call Bundle Mama when he heard Mrs. Zhao’s cheerful voice: “Zheng San, tell those people moving the flower trees to be careful. That poinsettia cost me one hundred taels of silver, and that purple magnolia wasn’t cheap either, eighty taels of silver per pot… Be careful not to damage them anywhere.”

The madam wasn’t usually an ostentatious person, and the poinsettia had only cost five taels of silver, and the two purple magnolias had only cost three taels of silver… But when he caught a glimpse of the carriage driver’s astonished face out of the corner of his eye, Zheng San immediately understood.

He pretended to look anxious, smiling with a hint of flattery: “Don’t worry, Madam. I’ll personally watch them move the trees, and they won’t damage a single branch or leaf of those flower trees.”

Fu Tingyun nodded.

Bundle Mama was a perceptive person. Earlier, she had been hesitating whether to step forward and greet Fu Tingyun. Later, seeing Fu Tingyun making an issue of the flower trees, she knew the other party was angry. Thinking that Madam Yu had always hoped to soften Fu Tingyun’s attitude and thus resolve the grudge between the two families, she knew that if this matter wasn’t clarified, it might cause a commotion.

She couldn’t help but smile bitterly, taking three steps in two and walking up to Fu Tingyun. She bent her knees in a salute, respectfully called out “Mrs. Zhao,” and introduced herself: “This servant is Madam Yu’s maid. Earlier, I saw you were talking and didn’t want to interrupt to pay my respects…” As she spoke, she curtseyed again and rebuked the driver: “Hurry up and help move the flower trees!”

Her tone carried not only an explanatory flavor but also a peacemaking, fawning quality.

Not just the Yu family’s carriage driver but also Mrs. Wu’s maid widened their eyes.

Fu Tingyun thought Bundle Mama looked somewhat familiar, but couldn’t recall where she had seen her before. It was only when Bundle Mama stepped forward to salute that she remembered.

She already had a poor impression of the Yu family, and after seeing the carriage driver’s behavior, she despised them even more. However, if the Yu family’s people were willing to help for free, she wouldn’t refuse.

Fu Tingyun nodded coldly to Bundle Mama, instructed Zheng San to “keep an eye on things,” then turned to Mrs. Wu’s maid and said, “I’m tired from the journey. I’ll come to thank Mrs. Wu later,” before carrying her child and turning to go home.

Mrs. Wu’s maid was speechless, and after a long moment, she said: “Bundle Mama, you, you also know Mrs. Zhao!”

“Yes!” Bundle Mama had been enjoying good fortune during her years with Madam Yu and had never experienced such coldness. She felt as if something was stuck in her throat, but she couldn’t express it and absently chatted with Mrs. Wu’s maid.

Zheng San had already been annoyed by the Yu family’s carriage driver’s imperious manner. Now, being able to legitimately order him around, he wouldn’t be polite.

At one point, he said, “The mamas from the Wu family are, after all, women. These flower trees are too heavy. If they drop them on the ground, it would be troublesome. Please, brother, use some strength,” making him carry a pot of flowers through the door; then he said, “This western side gets the afternoon sun. These flower trees will be replanted in a few days. If they get damaged by the sun, I can’t explain it to our madam. Please, brother, help move this pot of flowers to the east side.” then he said, “This is too close to the walkway. What if a servant or maid accidentally kicks the flower pot? Please, brother, lend a hand and move it to the wall”… Back and forth, he tired him like a dog, constantly cursing inwardly.

Why not say it directly instead of making me go back and forth like this!

The Yu family’s carriage driver threw up his hands.

I quit!

He turned and walked toward the outside.

A small lesson had been sufficient.

Zheng San smiled contemptuously and called after him: “Hey, you’re just leaving the flower trees in the pathway. If someone knocks them over, who will I find to compensate?”

The Yu family’s carriage driver paused in anger, barely restraining himself from responding. He angrily left the Zhao family’s residence and went to speak with Bundle Mama.

Bundle Mama was also quite displeased. After some thought, she said: “Forget it, they’ve finished moving their flower trees. Let’s go back first!” She didn’t say a single word of apology.

The driver was stunned.

Bundle Mama had already held a maid’s hand to get into the carriage.

One of the young maids who had just had her hair done and looked somewhat timid brightened her eyes, then lowered her head, silently waiting for everyone to board before carefully climbing onto the back of the carriage.

Upon returning to the Yu family, Bundle Mama told Madam Yu about this incident.

Madam Yu dismissively said, “It’s just a carriage driver. What does it matter if he suffers a little grievance on behalf of his master’s family!” Then she added appreciatively, “In this family, you’re the one who understands me!”

Bundle Mama felt aggrieved for Madam Yu, thinking that since Fu Tingyun was ungrateful, they should let it go. A simple nod when meeting would have fulfilled the proprieties; there was no need to humble themselves like this. Hearing Madam Yu speak this way, she couldn’t bring herself to say what she had been thinking.

Madam Yu naturally understood Bundle Mama and spoke candidly: “Even murderers can be forgiven. If someday Depu’s matter is impeached, everything I did today will be evidence of our sincere compensation to the Fu family, which might help overturn the case.”

“Madam!” Bundle Mama was both surprised and delighted, looking at Madam Yu with admiration.

Madam Yu smiled faintly and said: “Alright, alright, let’s not talk about this anymore. I remember I have a hundred-year-old wild ginseng in my storehouse. Ask the manager to send word to Nanjing to have that ginseng sent over. In case anything happens during Concubine Wu’s delivery, it can help sustain her.”

Bundle Mama hesitated: “But that was being saved for your use…”

Madam Yu waved her hand, interrupting Bundle Mama: “Without a grandson, living to a hundred years is just troublesome. With a grandson, when I go to meet my ancestors, someone will wear mourning clothes, and I can go with peace of mind.” Not wishing to discuss these matters of life and death further, she asked, “How has Fan been treating Concubine Wu these days?”