Guangren Temple was still as lively and bustling as ever, and Willow Lane remained peaceful and quiet.

Fu Tingyun stepped down from the carriage and gazed at the old locust tree extending beyond the wall, feeling a sudden wave of emotion.

Madam Lü, who had just received the news, was hurriedly walking out, supported by a young maid who had just finished doing her hair, breathing heavily.

“Madam!” Seeing Fu Tingyun, her eyes reddened, “We’ve been looking forward to your arrival.” As she spoke, her eyes were already looking past her, “Where is the young miss? Where is the young master? Weren’t they supposed to come with you?” Her expression revealed some urgency.

Madam Lü had not yet met the two children.

As they spoke, Yu Wei had already carried young Master Xi down.

Madam Lü immediately approached: “This, this is the young master, right?”

Although they had never met, Yu Wei had heard Fu Tingyun mention Madam Lü more than once. Upon meeting her and seeing her kind face and concern for Youyou and young Master Xi, she couldn’t help but feel increased affection. She quickly smiled and replied: “Yes, this is the young master!”

Madam Lü’s gaze revealed joy as she looked at young Master Xi: “He looks so good… like Madam… he’ll surely be a graceful and handsome young gentleman in the future…” She stroked young Master Xi’s head, her expression very loving.

Young Master Xi was somewhat shy around strangers and turned his head, burying it against Yu Wei’s shoulder.

Yu Wei smiled apologetically and explained: “This is the young master’s first time traveling!”

As they spoke, Mama Tong had already brought Youyou down.

Madam Lü walked over to her.

“You must be the young miss?” She squatted in front of Youyou, taking her small hand, “I am your Mama Lü!” As she spoke, she looked Youyou up and down, as if trying to engrave Youyou’s appearance in her heart.

A journey of over twenty days seemed monotonous and lonely even for adults, let alone children.

Knowing this was Youyou’s first return to Chang’an County, Fu Tingyun had told her about the people and stories of Chang’an as bedtime stories. When Madam Lü spoke, Youyou immediately knew who she was.

She respectfully bowed to Madam Lü, loudly calling her “Great-Aunt.”

Children imitating adults are inherently cute in their clumsiness, especially Youyou with her melodious voice. At such a young age, without adult prompting, she already knew some etiquette for dealing with people. Mama Lü was momentarily stunned, then filled with boundless joy.

“This won’t do, this won’t do!” She repeatedly shook her head, “How can I deserve the young miss calling me ‘Great-Aunt’?” She looked toward Fu Tingyun, “Without the Ninth Master, our old couple’s bones would have long been who knows where! Calling me ‘Aunt’ was just a temporary measure back then; how could it be taken seriously? Madam, how could you belittle yourself like this?”

“If it weren’t for you and your husband helping the Ninth Master guard the property in Willow Lane, how could he have focused on his career outside?” Fu Tingyun smiled as she walked over, “Even blood-related aunts couldn’t do better! Please don’t be so formal with us!” As she spoke, she somewhat forcefully took Madam Lü’s hand, “Let the younger generation pay their respects to you, to express our gratitude.”

Madam Lü repeatedly declined.

Fu Tingyun could understand Madam Lü’s insistence, knowing that continuing the discussion would lead nowhere. She simply ignored her protests and had Yu Wei carry young Master Xi to bow to Madam Lü.

Madam Lü inevitably felt undeserving, her face flushing red as she murmured, “This won’t do! This won’t do!” She seemed somewhat at a loss.

Seeing this, Yu Wei signaled Zhenzhu to come forward and support Madam Lü, smiling as she said: “Madam will be staying in Xi’an for over twenty days, there will be plenty of time. Madam Lü will have many opportunities to speak with Madam, but this is not the place for such discussions!”

Only then did Madam Lü come to her senses, patting her forehead in self-reproach: “Look at me…” Then she stepped aside to invite Fu Tingyun and the others in, personally serving tea and water for Fu Tingyun to freshen up, while Old Master Lü arranged accommodations for Ah-Sen and the attendants. It wasn’t until dusk that everything was settled.

Fu Tingyun then invited Old Master Lü to inquire about purchasing burial grounds and memorial fields.

“I think it’s best if the burial grounds and memorial fields are together. This way, it will be convenient if we want to erect memorial arches in the future,” Old Master Lü said. “I’ve looked at several places, and the feng shui masters all say they’re good. However, this matter is of great importance, and with my limited knowledge, I dare not make the decision. I’ve been waiting for Madam to see them before making a final decision.”

That would be the location of the Zhao family’s ancestral graves, and feng shui was important for blessing future generations. Additionally, having the memorial fields with the burial grounds would allow them to convert the fields into burial grounds when needed in the future. Indeed, Old Master Lü couldn’t make such a decision on his own.

Fu Tingyun thought for a moment and said: “Very well, I’ll go with you tomorrow to look at the land.” She added, “I expect the Ninth Master will return from Jiangnan by mid-October. We still need to carve tombstones, lay stone paths… This matter needs to be settled soon!”

Upon hearing this, Yu Wei bit her lip and interjected: “Madam, you’re pregnant! The Ninth Master has sent many people to inquire about you on the journey from Beijing to Xi’an… Now that you’ve safely arrived in Xi’an Prefecture, you should rest for a few days first!”

Fu Tingyun blushed.

Old Master Lü exclaimed in surprise: “Madam, you’re pregnant?”

Fu Tingyun was embarrassed.

Old Master Lü’s face lit up with joy: “Then Madam should rest at home! I’ll have someone draw maps of those parcels of land for you to see. If you approve, we can take a sedan chair to see them later.”

Fu Tingyun knew that now that Old Master Lü was aware of her condition, he would never allow her to travel around jostling in carriages.

She could only nod in agreement.

Madam Lü, who was outside helping Zhenzhu arrange the room, also learned of this.

She came in with a smile, showing concern by asking about her daily routine.

Fu Tingyun answered each question, adding: “My pregnancy has always been good, and this isn’t my first child. The people around me also have experience, so you needn’t worry.”

Madam Lü nodded as she listened but still caringly advised her to “avoid tiring herself” and “let me know if you want anything to eat.” The next day, she stewed an old hen soup for Fu Tingyun before dawn: “…The journey was so tiring, you need to replenish your strength.”

Fu Tingyun didn’t want to disappoint her kind intentions and was also a bit concerned that the travels might have affected the child in her womb. She allowed Madam Lü to pamper her, stewing chicken soup one day and sea cucumber soup the next, while she discussed the purchase of burial grounds with Old Master Lü.

After finally selecting four or five locations, Old Master Lü hired the best sedan chair in Xi’an Prefecture, and with the escort of the Tengji Guards, they went to see the burial grounds.

This inevitably caused a stir among the people of Xi’an Prefecture.

The Xi’an Prefect and the Shaanxi Provincial Administration Commissioner both sent people with gifts and calling cards.

Ah-Sen, as Zhao Ling’s brother and a xiucai scholar, represented the Zhao family in social engagements with these Shaanxi officials.

The Shaanxi Regional Military Commissioner naturally couldn’t pretend not to know.

He also sent people with gifts and calling cards.

There were even some officials’ wives who, considering themselves of status and position, came to visit Fu Tingyun.

For a time, Willow Lane was bustling with carriages and horses, even more lively than Guangren Temple.

Fu Tingyun was caught up in social obligations, putting aside her actual business.

Seeing this wasn’t working, she used the excuse of needing to purchase a residence in Chang’an County and went there.

As a result, just as she entered the city, the County Magistrate’s wife’s calling card arrived.

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but smile wryly.

When she met the County Magistrate’s wife, after they exchanged pleasantries, someone led two men in their forties to stand at the foot of the steps outside the hall.

Fu Tingyun was greatly surprised.

The County Magistrate’s wife pointed to the two men and said: “These are Chang’an’s best property brokers. Didn’t you want to buy a house? Just ask them! With me involved, they won’t dare to trick you.”

Fu Tingyun had no choice but to express her thanks repeatedly.

But she had to admit that with the County Magistrate’s wife’s introduction, these two brokers were very diligent. In just two days, they found her seven or eight houses. Fu Tingyun discussed with Old Master Lü and selected a large residence with three sections and three courtyards.

“Then shall I also buy the vegetable garden next door?” Old Master Lü suggested after seeing it, “It can be useful in the future when the family grows.”

Fu Tingyun thought this was a good idea. She stayed in Chang’an County for three days and completed all the arrangements.

“No wonder people say it’s easier to be an official with connections in court,” she privately remarked to Yu Wei, “Without the County Magistrate’s wife, I would have had to stay in Chang’an for at least ten days.” She then instructed Yu Wei to prepare generous gifts for the County Magistrate’s wife, adding, “I don’t have much else to do here now. Didn’t you say you wanted to return to Huayin? Why not set off tomorrow? Just make sure to return before the Ninth Master comes back in early October.”

Yu Wei thought for a moment, then agreed with a smile. She was escorted by Zheng San back to Huayin.

A few days later, she returned.

Accompanying her was Yi Tong.

“Ninth Miss… no, Madam…” she sobbed as she knelt before Fu Tingyun, tears streaming down, “I thought I would never see Madam again…”

Reunited after a long separation, Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but let her tears fall as well.

“Please rise!” She took Yi Tong’s hand, her gaze falling on her appearance.

Perhaps because she had become a mother, Yi Tong had gained weight. She wore a half-new, half-old small jacket of green official Lu silk and only wore a pair of gilded silver lilac earrings.

These were items she had bestowed upon her back then.

Her once delicate, scallion-white fingers had now become yellow and rough, with several cracks.

“You…” Fu Tingyun immediately felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on her heart.

If not for that calamity, even if Yi Tong hadn’t gone with her, she would have had the Fu family’s protection… How could her life have become so difficult?

“Why don’t you discuss with your husband about coming to Beijing with me?” Fu Tingyun suggested, “Or, you could help manage my house in Chang’an! I need someone to oversee things there.”

Yi Tong agreed without hesitation.

Fu Tingyun was somewhat surprised.

Yu Wei smiled, covering her mouth: “In family matters, Brother-in-law Huo listens to Sister Yi Tong.” She continued, “Brother-in-law Huo’s family originally had some modest property, but later, Sister Yi Tong’s father-in-law became bedridden, and their family wealth was gradually depleted. The First Madam once sent someone to ask Sister Yi Tong if she would be willing to return to the Fu family to work, but Sister Yi Tong, not wanting to be seen as disloyal and ungrateful, firmly refused.”

“Yi Tong, why didn’t you come find me in Beijing? After you married, I thought you must be living well…”

“Miss had just arrived in Beijing then,” Yi Tong smiled, “I was afraid of causing you trouble. Besides, although life was hard, he never looked down on me, so it didn’t feel so difficult…”

Yes!

If it hadn’t been for Zhao Ling back then, how could she have what she has today?

If not for that calamity, how would Yi Tong have known the love of a good husband, and how would she have experienced the sweet hardship of difficult times with her husband?

Fu Tingyun nodded, suddenly feeling at peace, and smiled: “Very well, choose a day to move to the house in Chang’an! After you’ve settled in, come and pay your respects to the Ninth Master.”

Yi Tong smiled in agreement and began discussing Huayin matters with Fu Tingyun.