Chapter 130

Fu Tingjun quietly instructed Yuwei, "Go and check things out over at Sixi Hutong."

Yuwei understood and left.

Zheng Sanniang brought two matrons to see Fu Tingjun: "They were introduced by the steward of Lord Wu's household across the street. They've been working at Lord Li's residence in Bensi Hutong ahead. The Li family were originally a wealthy household from Shanxi. In the thirty-second year of Xiping, Lord Li passed the imperial examination and was selected as a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy. Last spring, he was appointed prefect of Huzhou. Now only seven or eight servants remain here to look after the place—just sweeping and cleaning the house, watering the flowers and trees, that sort of thing. They have plenty of free time. When they heard our household was looking for two matrons to help with rough work, they asked the steward of Lord Wu's household to recommend them."

The two matrons, upon hearing this, showed Fu Tingjun somewhat restrained yet ingratiating smiles.

It was clear that both matrons were fairly honest, simple folk.

But Fu Tingjun sighed inwardly.

Zheng Sanniang was, after all, from a respectable family and had grown up in the countryside. She had no idea at all about matters of servitude and household management. It had been fine when they lived in a small place, but now that they were in the capital, some shortcomings were becoming apparent. If it were Yuwei, she would first thoroughly investigate the backgrounds of these matrons, then question them, and only when she felt they were suitable would she come back to report. Only after Fu Tingjun agreed would she bring them to meet her. Bringing them directly before her like this—since they were newcomers and not familiar with the neighbors—made it hard for her to refuse without offending anyone.

"Then I must trouble the two mothers to work hard," she said politely. "If anything comes up, Zheng Sanniang will inform you."

This was her agreement.

The two matrons beamed with joy and thanked her repeatedly.

Fu Tingjun raised her teacup.

Being experienced servants in a large household, the two matrons immediately rose to take their leave.

Fu Tingjun pondered whether she should teach Zheng Sanniang some proper rules, yet vaguely felt that Zheng Sanniang was fine as she was—why turn her into someone else?

For a moment, she found herself hesitating.

Yuwei returned.

Seeing her grave expression, Fu Tingjun's heart gave a start. She went with her to the inner chamber in the eastern room of the main hall.

"I couldn't see the young mistress, but I did see Donggu," she said in a low voice. "Donggu said that the Fifth Master flew into a rage and forbade the young mistress from concerning herself with the young lady's affairs anymore. So the young mistress couldn't even get away to have her pass along a message to us. But the young mistress specifically instructed Donggu that if we came asking again, she should tell us to stay calm and wait until the Fifth Master's temper has passed before doing anything. I also asked about the mistress's illness. Donggu said it's an illness of the heart, and with Xiuzhu's Wife there to care for and keep her company, it's nothing serious—she told the young lady not to worry. As for anything else, I couldn't get anything more out of her."

That day had been so loud—had her mother heard or not? If she had heard, since it was an illness of the heart and she wasn't bedridden and unable to move, why hadn't she come out to see her? If she hadn't heard, the residence was so small, and she wasn't ill enough to be confined to bed—how could she not have heard?

Fu Tingjun was utterly perplexed and felt a vague unease. She sensed that her sister-in-law's words carried more weight of reassurance than anything else.

"Then let's wait another two days," she said thoughtfully. "If there's still no news from Sixi Hutong after two days, I'll go again."

Heaven, earth, sovereign, parents, teachers.

Yuwei wanted to persuade Fu Tingjun further, but seeing that Fu Tingjun had already made up her mind, and thinking of Zuo Junjie still at large and unpunished, she swallowed her words of counsel.

Fu Tingjun then instructed her: "Tomorrow two matrons will come to help Zheng Sanniang with some rough work. Take a careful look at them when the time comes. If they seem acceptable, keep them. If not, wait a few days and find a proper excuse to send them off with dignity." She then explained the origins of the two matrons.

Yuwei acknowledged the instruction, and Zheng Sanniang walked in: "Miss, there's a woman asking to see you. She says she's a fellow townsman of yours and, having learned you've come to the capital, came specially to pay a visit."

A fellow townsman?

Fu Tingjun exchanged a glance with Yuwei. "Please, invite her in!"

Zheng Sanniang smiled and acknowledged, turning to fetch the visitor.

Fu Tingjun and Yuwei, however, braced themselves as if facing a formidable enemy—one sitting up straight and proper, the other holding her breath.

Before long, footsteps grew nearer from outside.

Zheng Sanniang smiled and lifted the curtain: "This good sister, please come in!"

The visitor thanked her warmly and politely.

That familiar voice made Fu Tingjun exclaim "Ah!" and rise to her feet. Before she could even get a look at the visitor, she cried out involuntarily: "Xiuzhu's Wife!"

"Miss!" Xiuzhu's Wife, wearing a lilac-colored Hangzhou silk jacket with a vase pattern, called out as tears rolled down her cheeks.

She bent her knees to curtsy to Fu Tingjun, but Fu Tingjun caught hold of her: "Rise, rise quickly. How did you come? How is my mother? I went to Sixi Hutong a few days ago—Father wouldn't let me see Mother. Does Mother know?"

Question after question tumbled out, each one unable to wait for the last.

Xiuzhu's Wife saw that she couldn't crouch down and knew Fu Tingjun was anxious inside, so she didn't insist. She said hurriedly, "Madam was in the room at the time. Because she had taken medicine, she was groggy, and I couldn't leave either. After Miss left, Madam only woke up then. I told Madam everything I had heard in the room, and Madam summoned the young mistress to ask questions. After learning the whole story, she was both happy and worried—happy that Miss had found her way here safely, worried that Miss is now at daggers drawn with the Master. If the Master hardens his heart and charges Miss with filial impiety, Miss wouldn't even have a way out. She specifically instructed me to find a way to locate Miss and pass on a message: leave Fifth Master to Madam to handle, and don't let Miss do anything rash. Between father and daughter, how can there be overnight enmity?" At this point, her tone shifted and became much gentler. "Miss, I watched you grow up and know you've never suffered such injustice. But think carefully—whose daughter speaks to her father like that? Isn't it because you know in your heart that both the Master and Madam care about you..."

Fu Tingjun remained silent.

Xiuzhu's Wife couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Yuwei quickly poured tea and brought it over: "Auntie Xiuzhu, won't you sit down and have some tea?" She also tactfully changed the subject. "How did you manage to find us?"

With her mother's message, Fu Tingjun felt greatly reassured.

Thinking it over carefully, she realized that to find Zuo Junjie and seek justice from her eldest cousin-in-law, she truly couldn't do it without her father's involvement.

With Yuwei making the overture, Fu Tingjun went along with it and invited Xiuzhu's Wife to sit in the armchair nearby.

Xiuzhu's Wife didn't dare take a seat at first, but Yuwei moved a small stool to the doorway, and only then did Xiuzhu's Wife sit down, accepting the tea Yuwei handed her.

"The Master was furious with Miss and instructed the gatekeepers not to let any of us leave the house. I thought to myself that since Miss couldn't get news from Sixi Lane, she would surely come looking again. So I told them Madam hadn't been feeling well these past few days and wanted me to keep her company and chat to pass the time. I waited for Miss to send someone to inquire, then used the excuse of forgetting to add oil money for the eternal flame lamp at the temple and followed Yuwei here." As she spoke, she discreetly surveyed the furnishings of the room. "I didn't expect Yuwei to walk so fast—I lost her by the time I reached Chongwenmen Street. So I had to search alley by alley. Just then I happened to hear two older women talking to someone about going to work at a household of the Zhao family in Shijia Lane, who had recently moved from Shaanxi. I decided to try my luck even if it was a long shot, and came looking. Who would have thought it really was the right place..." She said this and took a sip of tea as if parched, but her peripheral gaze remained fixed on Fu Tingjun.

Fu Tingjun was somewhat surprised.

Who would have thought there would be such a coincidence!

She was about to make a teasing remark when she looked up and caught Xiuzhu's Wife's probing gaze.

Xiuzhu's Wife now served as her mother's eyes and ears. Others she could ignore, but Xiuzhu's Wife was someone she had to explain things to.

She felt extremely embarrassed, and a flush of red rose to her cheeks.

"Mother entrusted Master Zhao to rescue me from Biyun Nunnery," Fu Tingjun said with her head lowered, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "I... we..." But the words about their private arrangement simply wouldn't come out no matter what.

Seeing her daughterly shy and bashful appearance, Xiuzhu's Wife understood everything without further explanation. She quickly asked, "Who is this Master Zhao? What does he do for a living? Has he taken a wife or concubines? Does he have elders in his family who can make decisions?" Her tone was entirely that of someone inquiring about a potential match.

Fu Tingjun's whole body burned with heat, but she had no choice but to answer. She stammered, "His name is Zhao Ling. He was originally from Songjiang. His parents died when he was young, and he fled with relatives to Shaanxi, making a living through small trade. Later he fled to Huayin, and when he took shelter at Biyun Nunnery, he met me by chance. I thought he was a good person, so I entrusted him with delivering a letter to my mother..." At this point, thinking of her maternal uncle's family's misfortune, her eyes reddened. "Later, when my uncle's family met with disaster and I had nowhere to go, he had no choice but to take me to Xi'an Prefecture to seek out relatives. Through a relative's introduction, he went to serve under Marquis Meng of Yingchuan, the Commander-in-Chief of the Xi'an Regional Military Commission. He is exceptionally capable and highly valued by the Marquis of Yingchuan. Last summer, when the barbarians invaded the Regional Military Commission, he saved the life of Commander Lu of Zhuanglang Guard, his superior officer. In less than a year, he was promoted from platoon leader to centurion, and the Marquis of Yingchuan also appointed him as acting chiliarch of Nianbo Station."

She wanted to present Zhao Ling's best side to her mother, hoping her mother would speak well of them before her father. As for Zhao Ling's involvement in smuggling salt, she didn't mention it at all.

"He hasn't taken a wife or concubine, and there's no elder in his family who can make decisions. He originally planned to come with me to the capital this spring to meet my father and mother." Her face burned hot. "But then the messenger he sent to deliver a letter to my mother said she was ill. I was so worried that I insisted on returning at once. He had official duties and couldn't get away, so he had his distant uncle by marriage, Master Lyu, personally escort me back to the capital. He also had Master Lyu help purchase this residence, saying that in the future, when he came to the capital, there would be a place to stay..."

Xiuzhu's Wife listened with skepticism and pressed aggressively: "This Master Zhao truly hasn't taken a wife or concubine? Have you made sure of this?"

Fu Tingjun flushed crimson and said with feigned annoyance, "If you don't believe me, go ask Master Lyu yourself!"

To her surprise, Xiuzhu's Wife actually stood up and pointed at Yuwei: "Take me to see Master Lyu!"

Yuwei was embarrassed, knowing that Xiuzhu's Wife must be acting on behalf of the mistress to ask questions. She didn't dare refuse and led her to see Master Lyu.

Fu Tingjun felt both ashamed and embarrassed, calling out to Xiuzhu's Wife: "If you do this, how am I supposed to face people in the future?"

"Better than not being able to face people at all!" Xiuzhu's Wife said earnestly. "If things go well for you, the mistress can speak on your behalf before the master, can't she?"

Fu Tingjun's heart was moved, and she let Yuwei take Xiuzhu's Wife to see Master Lyu.

Master Lyu was a shrewd man. Though inwardly astonished, he answered without a single loophole, and only then did Xiuzhu's Wife feel at ease.

"Then I'll be heading back now!" She looked at Fu Tingjun with three parts emotion, three parts wistfulness, and three parts sorrow. "This is your fate."

Yet she was not overjoyed.

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but feel bewildered.

That she could encounter Zhao Ling at the critical juncture between life and death—she felt it was already heaven's blessing. Why, then, did Xiuzhu's Wife still see regret in it?