The law doesn’t exclude human feelings. Miss Wu was Concubine Yu in the Yu family. Though a concubine’s relatives weren’t considered proper family, they had still entered the Yu household, and as they lived together daily, as long as the concubine’s behavior wasn’t too excessive, the legal wife would generally show some respect to the concubine’s family. This way, she could also gain a reputation for magnanimity. Moreover, Master Wu was a proper third-rank official in court, while Madam Fan was merely a daughter-in-law of the Yu family with Madam Yu still above her. Since Concubine Wu had been personally selected by Madam Yu, it was understandable that she would interact frequently with Madam Wu.

Shu Mama must have been sent by Madam Yu to visit Madam Wu!

The thought flashed through Fu Tingyun’s mind as she smiled and stepped back, making room for Madam Wu and Shu Mama.

Shu Mama, however, was curiously examining Fu Tingyun.

Seeing this, Madam Wu smiled and said: “Master Zhao has earned military merit. The Emperor has posthumously conferred on Master Zhao’s father the title of Jiayi Dafu of the third rank, and on his mother the title of Shuren of the third rank. Madam Zhao is hurrying back home to pay respects to her ancestors!”

“I see.” Shu Mama sighed in relief upon hearing this.

She had heard that Zhao Ling had achieved great military merit and thought perhaps he had been promoted, and the Zhao family was moving to a better, larger residence.

If that were the case, the grudge between the Zhao family and the eldest young master would be even harder to resolve.

Shu Mama smiled and bowed to Fu Tingyun, exchanging greetings with her with some enthusiasm and politeness: “I didn’t know Madam Zhao was departing today. Otherwise, our mistress would certainly have sent a parting gift.” As she spoke, she hurriedly instructed the maid behind her, “Quickly go buy a few boxes of pastries.” Then she smiled at Fu Tingyun, “They can serve as snacks for your daughter and son on the journey.”

“That’s not necessary!” Fu Tingyun smiled. “We’re about to depart now. If we delay any further, we’ll miss lunch—the Ten Li Inn is always crowded with travelers!”

Shu Mama was about to say something more, but her eyes inadvertently glanced at Madam Wu, seeing her look of surprise. Fearing that her closeness with Fu Tingyun might arouse Madam Wu’s suspicion, she could only nod with a smile and say: “If that’s the case, I’ll report to our mistress, and when Madam Zhao returns from her hometown, we’ll come to pay our respects.”

Fu Tingyun nodded slightly and smiled, saying a few words to Madam Wu like “You have a guest, I won’t disturb you.” Seeing that everything was nearly packed, she led the children onto the carriage.

Madam Wu had planned to see them off at the Ten Li Inn and naturally approached the carriage to say a few words, wishing them a safe journey. She watched as Fu Tingyun and the others left Shi Family Alley before returning to her house with Shu Mama.

After the carriage left the alley and turned the corner, with the alley scene no longer visible, Yu Wei finally lowered the carriage curtain and sat down, saying: “The Yu family’s mama has entered the Wu house!”

Fu Tingyun smiled slightly: “That’s obvious.” But she knew that Yu Wei was still somewhat resentful—as the main culprit, Yu Jingxiu continued his glorious life as a noble young master, while they couldn’t bring him down. Whenever Yu Wei thought of this, she would feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Fu Tingyun felt the same way.

So after a moment’s thought, she said softly: “Yu Wei, a gentleman’s revenge may take ten years. Causing trouble now would only damage his reputation, at most causing him to lose his position. After a few years, when the storm has passed, he might be reinstated, and by then, these matters will have no power against him. Better to wait for the right moment, when we can make him never able to hold his head up again!” By the end of her speech, her tone carried a cold chill, frightening Youyou, who shrank into her embrace: “Mother, Mother, don’t be angry!”

Fu Tingyun’s heart immediately softened. She controlled her emotions, smiled and hugged Youyou, comforting her gently: “Mother isn’t angry with Youyou! Mother and Yu Wei were talking about someone else. Don’t be afraid, Youyou!”

Youyou raised her head from her mother’s embrace, blinking her large almond eyes to gauge her mother’s expression.

Seeing that her mother had returned to her usual gentle and kind self, her expression relaxed.

Watching this, Fu Tingyun felt somewhat regretful.

Why let unrelated people and matters disturb her daughter?

She smiled warmly at Youyou and chatted with her: “…Didn’t you say you wanted to sing to entertain me? What songs did you learn from Mama Tong yesterday?”

Youyou was, after all, young, and what Fu Tingyun mentioned was something she took pride in. Her attention was immediately diverted, and her mood became enthusiastic: “Mother, Mother, Mama Tong taught me to sing ‘The Tea-Picking Song’!” As she spoke, she cleared her throat and excitedly said, “Mother, I’ll sing it for you… In March, the partridges roam the mountains, in April, the river water flows everywhere, the tea-picking girls walk the tea mountains, the tea song flies up to the white-haired elders…” Her childish voice was as melodious as an oriole’s. Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but praise her daughter: “Youyou sings so beautifully!” Hearing this, Youyou’s brow showed a hint of pride.

Yu Wei, however, had a flash of hesitation in her eyes and said softly: “Madam, these are…” She was too embarrassed to say “vulgar.” “Anyway, the young miss is still young. If she likes it, perhaps we should invite someone well-versed in music…”

“Children lack constancy. Let her do whatever she likes for now!” Fu Tingyun didn’t mind and smiled, “After some time, when she’s decided what she wants to learn, then she can study diligently, rain or shine, without missing a day.”

The implication was that it was too early to worry about such things now.

Yu Wei recalled that even the young ladies in the Fu family only began studying with tutors at four or five years old, so she said no more.

Youyou sang a couple of lines here and there, filling their journey with laughter and joy as they passed through Chaoyang Gate.

Madam Mo, Madam Wang, Madam Li, Madam Chen, and others had come to see her off.

Several carriages surrounded the city gate, blocking the bustling pedestrians and causing some inconvenience and minor commotion. Fortunately, Zheng San and the carriage drivers from Da Tong Company were highly skilled and quickly moved the carriages to the roadside, making way for others, and the road returned to its original busy state.

Even so, some people were still dissatisfied.

A curtain was lifted on an entering city carriage—a tung oil flat-topped carriage with bright blue coarse printed curtains—revealing a young face that could either smile pleasantly or pout prettily.

“Whose family is this?” She slightly furrowed her painted eyebrows and muttered quietly, “How ostentatious!”

Inside the carriage, a personal maidservant responded with a smile: “The capital is at the emperor’s feet, an important region around Beijing. All sorts of people are here, unlike our small place. Once you’ve lived in the capital long enough, madam will get used to it.”

The lady nodded and lowered the curtain.

The carriage passed by Fu Tingyun’s.

Fu Tingyun greeted Madam Mo and the others through the carriage window, and everyone followed Madam Mo’s carriage into the “Yanguan” restaurant at the Ten Li Inn—she had already reserved a banquet there to see Fu Tingyun off.

After lunch, everyone bid farewell with reluctance.

Fu Tingyun headed west to Shaanxi, while Madam Mo and the others returned to the capital.

They stayed at the same postal station, even in the same best guest room as before, but this time she held Zhao Ling’s calling card and the Tengji Guard’s official documents.

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but feel emotional.

Yu Wei, however, recalled her reunion with Fu Tingyun.

She hesitantly asked Fu Tingyun: “Do you think we’ll see Fourth Aunt and Fifth Aunt and the others?”

Back then, Fu Tingyun had the best relationship with these two cousins.

“Everything depends on fate.” After everything that had happened, Fu Tingyun had gained perspective. “Even if I were still the Fu family’s ninth miss, and Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister had already married, we might not be able to meet often.”

Yu Wei was silent for a moment, then said: “I want to see Sister Yi Tong!”

Previously, she feared that seeing Yi Tong would cause trouble for her—she still had a large family depending on the Fu family for survival. Now, it should be fine, right?

She wouldn’t constantly mention her background, but she wouldn’t deliberately conceal it either.

“As long as there’s time,” Fu Tingyun smiled, “If you want to go back for a visit, I’ll have Zheng San accompany you to Huayin!”

Yu Wei was somewhat surprised: “Doesn’t madam want to go back for a visit?”

“No!” Fu Tingyun answered decisively. “Why should I present a warm face to a cold one? Perhaps Youyou and young Master Xi would suffer along with me. What’s the point?”

That was true.

Yu Wei nodded, suddenly breaking into a smile: “Then when the time comes, please let Zheng San accompany me back to Huayin?” Some things were inappropriate for the mistress to do, but she didn’t need to be so mindful.

What’s the point of wearing brocade in the dark?

Fu Tingyun’s mind was focused on setting up tombstones for her parents-in-law, and although she sensed Yu Wei’s hidden thoughts, thinking of Yu Wei’s sufferings, she said nothing. The two occasionally discussed past and future matters, sometimes lifting the curtain to point out scenery along the road to Youyou and young Master Xi. By mid-September, they arrived in Xi’an Prefecture.

Old Master Lü had already received word and had been waiting at the city gate every day.

Seeing Fu Tingyun’s carriage, he immediately came forward to greet her.

Fu Tingyun poked her head out of the carriage window, smiling and greeting Old Master Lü.

Old Master Lü was very excited, exchanged a few greetings, and then peered into the carriage: “Where are the young miss and young master? How was the journey?” Compared to his earlier greetings, this showed more genuine emotion.

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but smile.

Since Zheng San had been traveling to Xi’an Prefecture to reconcile accounts with Old Master Lü for the farm’s income these past two years, Old Master Lü had seen Youyou only once when she was seven months old, and he had never seen young Master Xi. No wonder he was so excited.

She hurriedly lifted the carriage curtain, letting Youyou bow to Old Master Lü, and held up the deeply sleeping young Master Xi for Old Master Lü to see.

Old Master Lü immediately had tears in his eyes: “Good, good, good… Like the golden boy and jade girl before Guanyin Bodhisattva… This truly shows that good people receive good rewards… Ninth Master’s blessings are abundant… The young miss and young master are also blessed…” As he spoke, he hurriedly wiped his tears with his sleeve.

Fu Tingyun looked at Old Master Lü’s graying hair, felt a lump in her throat, and her vision became somewhat blurry.

Yu Wei also had tears in her eyes, but was more concerned that the raised carriage curtain would let cold wind blow in and affect the children. She hastily said: “It’s quite cold at the city gate. Let’s hurry back!” She added, “The Tengji Guards who accompanied us have been working hard all the way. We should also find a place with hot water and good accommodation for them.”

Only then did Old Master Lü realize that the respectful-looking guards beside the carriage were officials from the Tengji Guard. He was quite startled, then felt amazed that in just four or five short years, Zhao Ling had soared like a wild goose. Given that he was still so young, who knew what great prospects he would have in the future!

Thinking of how Zhao Ling had gone from having nothing to establishing a family and career… he again felt a sense of gratification. Smiling happily, he led them to Willow Lane.