Chapter 139

To find out who had recommended First Master Fu for reinstatement, the only option was to ask Young Mistress Fu. But Young Mistress Fu was also at a loss, guessing, "It should have been Father-in-law who found someone to help, right? Father-in-law is currently serving in the Ministry of Personnel!"

Yuwei asked, "Then who recommended Fifth Master to the Ministry of Personnel?"

"It seems it was the late Emperor's wish." Young Mistress Fu's spirits lifted as she spoke, showing a proud expression, "Father-in-law was tasked with overseeing the annotation of Zhouyi Canyi . When Emperor Daizong once visited the Hanlin Academy, he happened to see several drafts of Father-in-law's annotations and was greatly impressed, so he appointed Father-in-law as Director of the Selection Bureau in the Ministry of Personnel..."

Daizong was the posthumous title of the late Emperor.

For some reason, after hearing Yuwei's words, Fu Tingjun felt a sense of relief.

"Perhaps I was overthinking things," she said with a smile. "First Uncle's entry into officialdom is ultimately a good thing."

Yuwei nodded, then hesitated, "Then what about the matter of Eldest Aunt?"

"When Ninth Master is not busy, I'll borrow Anxin from him," Fu Tingjun said. "Even if I don't care about my own reputation, I still need to consider the reputations of the other sisters in the Fu family. I can't drag everyone else down because of the matter between me and Eldest Cousin-in-law—then how would we be any different from Eldest Cousin-in-law? If First Uncle and Eldest Aunt are fair in this matter, I'll resolve it privately with them. If they're not fair, then I'll have to invite the several cousins to come and discuss it openly. I remember Third Cousin, Fifth Cousin, and Seventh Cousin all married quite well. When the time comes, I'll have to make careful inquiries about those brothers-in-law's affairs."

A hint of delight appeared in Yuwei's eyes: "Ninth Miss has thought this through thoroughly. I think I'll go see Young Mistress again in a couple of days to ask about the married young ladies." She added, "Miss shouldn't blame Young Mistress either—she has no choice..."

"I know," Fu Tingjun said with a smile. "Above her is her father-in-law, below her is her husband, and then there's me, this disobedient sister-in-law causing a stir every few days... You don't need to speak up for her—I know she's in a difficult position."

Yuwei smiled sheepishly.

Regardless, Ninth Miss needed to have some family on her side, didn't she? Otherwise, when the wedding came, there wouldn't even be anyone to make the bridal bed—how desolate that would be!

As the two were talking, Zheng Sanniang ran in: "Miss, Miss, Ninth Master sent someone back with four taels of silver, saying it's the reward for the Emperor's ascension to the throne."

"Come on, let's go take a look." Fu Tingjun smiled upon hearing this, and led Yuwei to the hall in the south wing.

The one who delivered the silver was a military officer under Zhao Ling's command. Master Lyu received him in his capacity as the maternal uncle. By the time Fu Tingjun arrived, the man had already left, and Master Lyu was holding the pair of two-tael silver ingots, examining them left and right. Seeing Fu Tingjun enter, he quickly handed the ingots to her: "Look at this quality—imperial gifts are truly different!" He added, "But these can't be spent; they should be enshrined in the ancestral hall." Then, thinking that Zhao Ling had only now established his career, he quickly said, "Perhaps we should set aside a room specifically to enshrine the imperial gifts? Ninth Master is now a close minister to the Emperor—there will be many more such rewards in the future."

Fu Tingjun didn't find anything particularly remarkable about the pair of silver ingots, but hearing Master Lyu's words, she couldn't help laughing: "When Ninth Master returns, I'll discuss it with him first!"

This was a significant matter, so naturally Zhao Ling needed to be consulted.

Master Lyu nodded repeatedly.

Everyone gathered around the pair of silver ingots for a good while before Fu Tingjun put them away.

Fu Tingjun temporarily set aside the Fu family matters, bought fashionable fabric to make two summer garments for Zhao Ling, and then began rushing to make autumn garments.

Master Lyu, meanwhile, summoned a matchmaker surnamed Xia and purchased four maidservants, all around ten years old. Among the four maidservants, one was called Wuyue, one Xuemei, and the other two were both called Zhaodi. Fu Tingjun renamed one of the round-faced Zhaodis as Zhenzhu, and the other with curved brows as Kou'er, entrusting them all to Yuwei to learn proper conduct.

Seeing that Wuyue was clever and quick-witted, Fu Tingjun assigned her to serve A Sen. Xuemei, being steady and composed, was assigned to Zheng Sanniang to handle kitchen matters. She also entrusted Master Lyu with another matter: "A Sen is not young anymore. I'm thinking either to find a tutor to teach him at home, or to send him to a well-known academy in the capital to study. He'll also need a page boy."

Master Lyu agreed with a smile, again finding Madam Xia, and purchased a page boy about the same age as A Sen, naming him Yanqing.

A Sen came to Fu Tingjun with a red face: "I... I can dress myself, and I can go to the academy on my own."

Fu Tingjun smiled and helped him straighten his moon-white cocoon silk robe, saying, "Since the people have been assigned to you, if you want them to do something, just give the orders directly—no need to report to me. But since you've come to ask, I'll say a few words. The residence is this large, and never mind anything else—even just wiping the window lattices and railings clean is no easy task. Now that you're living alone in the small side courtyard of the south wing, you'll need to manage matters in that courtyard yourself."

A Sen's eyes lit up, and after exchanging a few absent-minded words with Fu Tingjun, he ran off.

Fu Tingjun sent Yuwei to find out how A Sen had assigned tasks to Wuyue and Yanqing.

Yuwei returned and reported: "Young Master A Sen has Wuyue in charge of washing and cleaning the rooms, and Yanqing helping sweep the courtyard, wipe the window lattices, and tend to the flowers and trees. As for the writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones—he handles those himself."

Fu Tingjun nodded approvingly and instructed Yuwei: "Keep an eye on matters over at A Sen's place. If anything seems off, give him a gentle nudge."

Yuwei smiled and acknowledged the instruction, then remarked with some feeling: "Young Master A Sen has a pure and kind nature."

Which was all the more reason he must not be allowed to grow crooked.

Fu Tingjun mused silently to herself.

Zheng Sanniang came over: "There are only a few people in this household altogether, and the kitchen isn't busy. You should assign Xuemei another duty!"

Fu Tingjun laughed heartily and said, "Since Ninth Master has stayed in the capital, there will be no shortage of social engagements and banquets in this household from now on. You have to manage the stove work and worry about sauces, vinegar, salt, and tea—how could you possibly keep up with it all? I'm even afraid one person is too few!" Then, with a serious expression, she added, "Zheng San will only get busier from now on. Linchun is growing up—whether he should study or practice martial arts is something you and your husband need to decide. From now on, you only need to manage the cooking for me, so you'll have time to look after your father and son."

"Miss!" Zheng Sanniang kowtowed to Fu Tingjun in gratitude.

Fu Tingjun quickly signaled Yuwei to help her up: "I think that girl Xuemei shows promise. Teach her well. A Sen's washing is handled by Wuyue, the inner courtyard by Yuwei—you only need to manage your own quarters."

Zheng Sanniang acknowledged repeatedly.

From then on, matters of the outer courtyard went to Zheng San, matters of the inner courtyard to Yuwei, and matters of the kitchen to Zheng Sanniang, while the estate in Xi'an Prefecture was entrusted to Master Lyu. By mid-July, when Zhao Ling's official duties had smoothed out and he could return home for his rest days, everything in the household was in perfect order, already bearing the air of a great family.

That evening, with a bright full moon hanging in the sky, Zhao Ling sat on the cool bamboo couch wearing a new moon-white Daoist robe of Hangzhou silk, eating watermelon chilled in well water, feeling so comfortable he didn't even want to go to the palace for duty.

He asked Fu Tingjun: "Have you seen your mother?"

Zhao Ling wanted to settle the wedding date as soon as possible.

Fu Tingjun was knotting a cord in the moonlight. Her hand paused slightly as she said, "Why ask about that all of a sudden? Is something important happening?"

Zhao Ling gazed at her quietly without speaking. Suddenly he set down the watermelon in his hand and snatched the cord from her grasp: "Stop knotting—careful, you'll strain your eyes." Then he said, "Mid-Autumn Festival is coming up. Since I have a rest day, why don't we go see your mother tomorrow?"

If he had a rest day, Fifth Master Fu would have one too.

If her father treated her like this, how much worse would it be for Zhao Ling?

Fu Tingjun said, "You rarely get a full day of rest at home, and the weather is so hot. I was planning to make you some cold jelly noodles tomorrow. How about we wait until the weather cools down a bit before going?"

"Chill the jelly noodles in the well—when we come back in the evening, they'll be perfect for beating the heat." Zhao Ling took her hand, half coaxing and half persuading: "I'm a third-rank official now, and with the new emperor ascended to the throne, your father will surely show respect for the monk for the sake of the Buddha—he wouldn't dare throw us out, would he? His Majesty has privately told Teacher Yao that with a hundred things awaiting revival, having already moved against military officials, it's best not to move against civil officials anymore. Miss this chance, and there won't be another."

Every dynasty has its own courtiers.

Someone like Zhao Ling, who had the merit of following the dragon, naturally rode the wave of success, while old officials like her father had seen their original networks severed—whether they could keep their posts depended on whether they could forge connections with the newly favored nobles who had followed the dragon. And since the emperor had risen through arms, he naturally kept a firm grip on military officials; the first thing he did upon ascending the throne was purge dissidents among the military ranks, which only made the civil officials more anxious and uneasy...

Fu Tingjun thought of the barely concealed excitement in her father's eyes when he mentioned the Yu family, and had to admit that Zhao Ling's words made sense.

"Well then—let's go back tomorrow, then," she said helplessly.

She hoped her father would at least treat them with some courtesy for Zhao Ling's sake.

As if reading her thoughts, Zhao Ling patted her hand: "Don't worry—I'm here."

Fu Tingjun sighed inwardly and instructed Yuwei to prepare gifts. At dawn the next day, she rose and got ready.

Since it was the height of the dog days of summer, she wore only an ordinary white fine-cloth blouse and a bright blue eight-panel Hunan skirt, while Zhao Ling was dressed in his full regalia.

Fu Tingjun couldn't help chiding him: "Don't act like a nouveau riche—Father may not like it."

Zhao Ling grinned shamelessly: "Can't help it—this is the only thing I have that's presentable."

Fu Tingjun pressed her lips together in a smile and went with him to Sixi Hutong.

The old locust tree leaves in Sixi Hutong were as green as if freshly washed, rustling softly in the breeze and bringing a hint of coolness.

Yuwei went to knock on the door.

The one who answered was the very page boy who had been scolded as a fool by Fifth Master Fu that day. Seeing Fu Tingjun, he shuddered, forgot even the most basic etiquette, and ran frantically toward the courtyard, shouting as he ran, "The young lady is here! The young lady is here!" as if she were a tiger.

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but glance at Zhao Ling.

She saw Zhao Ling turn his face away, his shoulders shaking slightly, as if he were stifling a laugh.

Fu Tingjun's face alternated between pale and flushed.

Fu Tingzheng and Fifth Master Fu had already hurried out one after the other. Both wore hairnets and plain cloth Daoist robes for home attire, with expressions of shock still lingering on their faces from hearing of her arrival.

"You still have the nerve to come back!" Fu Tingzheng's opening words were hostile, while Fifth Master Fu's gloomy gaze fell upon Zhao Ling.

Zhao Ling smiled slightly and gave a courteous bow with refined grace: "I am Zhao Ling, Commander of the Left Guard of the Imperial Brocade Guard, and I have come specifically to pay my respects to Lord Fu."

Fu Tingjun's eyes widened.

Was this... was this the same Zhao Ling who had seemed like a bandit?

Fu Tingzheng's eyes widened as well, and he looked toward Fifth Master Fu in bewilderment.

Fifth Master Fu narrowed his eyes and said with a faint smile, "So it's the newly appointed Commander Zhao. This old man has never made your acquaintance, and with the distinction between civil and military office, I wonder what business Commander Zhao has with me?" He remained standing at the door without moving.