Chapter 142

Fu Tingjun had assumed that her words, while not provoking a thunderous rage from her mother, would at least stir some displeasure. To her surprise, her mother merely let out a faint sigh, smiled, and called her a "foolish child" before instructing Xiuzhu's Wife to fetch the almanac. Flipping through its pages, she murmured, "The sixth day of the eighth month is an auspicious day..."

Zhao Ling's face lit up with surprise and joy. Before Madam Fu could finish her sentence, he had already knelt before the bed: "I wish to seek your daughter's hand in marriage on the sixth day of the eighth month. I beg you, Madam, to grant this union!"

His delight was so infectious, his wit so quick, that not only Madam Fu but even Xiuzhu's Wife could not help but laugh.

The oppressive atmosphere in the room lifted, replaced by a light and cheerful mood.

Only Fu Tingjun was caught off guard. She had just been earnestly laying out her feelings to her mother, and in the blink of an eye, her mother was already discussing her marriage. The sudden turn of events left her reeling. She stared wide-eyed at her mother, utterly bewildered.

Watching her, Madam Fu was reminded of her daughter's innocent childhood and found her utterly endearing. Her smile deepened.

Fu Tingjun, flushed crimson under her mother's gaze, clung to her mother's arm and called out "Mother" in a coquettish tone. Yet, uncertain of her mother's stance, a hint of hesitation crept into her expression.

Madam Fu's smile gradually faded. "You are grown now, having experienced much from Huayin to the capital. Since you have already made up your mind, I will not try to dissuade you." Her expression turned solemn as she continued, "However, no matter what your father has done, he is still your father. The bonds of ruler and subject, father and son—these are the great principles of human relations. You must not commit any act of filial impiety, lest it tarnish your own reputation..."

Fu Tingjun's almond-shaped eyes flew wide open. "Mother, why do you speak thus? Could it be that Father..." She trailed off, the words dying on her lips as fear seized her.

She stared at her mother, her gaze fraught with complexity.

A flicker of sorrow passed through Madam Fu's eyes, but it vanished in an instant as she resumed her normal demeanor. "Regardless, your father's failure to stand up for you is his fault!"

Hearing this, Fu Tingjun, for reasons she could not explain, felt an immense wave of relief wash over her.

Madam Fu cast a sidelong glance at Zhao Ling.

Zhao Ling kept his eyes lowered, his gaze fixed on his nose, his mind on his heart, as if he had heard nothing.

Madam Fu shook her head inwardly. "The Fu family gave you a bowl of poison, cutting off your very life. No matter how much gratitude you owed them, you have repaid it in full—especially since they struck your name from the family register! If you encounter members of the Fu family in the future, it would be narrow-minded and lacking in magnanimity to repay old grievances with petty vengeance. But to cling to blood ties and abandon all reason, humbling yourself and warming cold faces with your own—that would be foolish beyond measure. What matters is to live your own life well. That is the true path to prosperity."

This was exactly what Fu Tingjun had been thinking.

Yet in her heart, she still cherished the bond between father and daughter.

Her mother's words were like a great stone lifted from her chest, leaving her light and free.

"Mother!" She gazed at her mother with gratitude, tears welling in her eyes.

Madam Fu smiled and turned to Zhao Ling. "This room is cramped and stifling. Lord Zhao, why not step outside with Xiuzhu's Wife for a cup of tea? I have some private words I wish to share with Quanhui."

Zhao Ling immediately responded with a respectful "Yes" and withdrew with Xiuzhu's Wife.

Sounds of movement came from beyond the door.

Madam Fu's expression cooled slightly.

Fu Tingjun, her cheeks burning and her heart flustered, did not notice. She merely lowered her head shyly and called out, "Mother."

Madam Fu's demeanor grew stern. She did not relax simply because she was about to speak privately with her daughter; if anything, she was more serious than when Zhao Ling had been present. "Do you know that the eldest son of the Yu family has been named Zhuangyuan and now serves as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy?"

At this, Fu Tingjun replied calmly, "I heard about it. I also heard that this year there will be no examination for Hanlin bachelors, and only the top three have remained in the Hanlin Academy."

She was somewhat surprised. Logically speaking, since the Fu family had spread word of her death and returned the Yu family's betrothal card, she and the eldest Yu son no longer had any connection. She wondered why her mother was bringing this up now.

Madam Fu fixed her gaze on Fu Tingjun, but saw her daughter composed and at ease, her bright eyes clear as spring water, untainted by any impurity. She pressed her hand to her forehead and laughed at herself. "It seems I was overthinking things."

Fu Tingjun was puzzled.

Madam Fu said, "I was worried that your decision to be with Lord Zhao was made out of necessity, and that your heart still yearned for the eldest young master of the Yu family. But I can see you are far more clear-headed than I imagined." Yet she could not help adding, "Most men in this world would rather bow their backs for official advancement than show weakness before a woman. Lord Zhao saved your life, forced his way into the Fu residence for your sake, and knelt to seek your hand in marriage without regard for his own reputation. He has treated you with deep affection and righteousness—you should cherish that. Do not, under any circumstances, compare the eldest young master of the Yu family with Lord Zhao. No matter how fine the eldest young master of the Yu family may be, he is still an outsider; no matter how lacking Lord Zhao may be, he is the one who will grow old with you and carry on your lineage. You must remember this." She urged her earnestly, afraid that her daughter might develop a covetous heart.

This was the heart of a loving mother.

Fu Tingjun's eyes reddened slightly as she nodded repeatedly: "Mother, rest assured. Zhao... Ling," mentioning that man's name before her mother made her cheeks burn with heat, and she said in a low voice, "treats me very well." Fearing her mother would not believe her, she added, "Extremely well, extremely well." As if that still did not suffice, she murmured, "He... he promised me that between the two of us, there will be no one else."

Between the two of them, no one else!

They were both young now, Zhao Ling had only just gained his position, and her daughter was as beautiful as a flower—naturally, between the two of them, there could be no one else.

But as time passed, who could say for certain?

Only a child like her daughter, who did not yet know how merciless the years could be, would believe that having no one else between them meant they were a perfect immortal couple with nothing more to worry about.

Madam Fu let out a soft sigh.

Every woman had a few good years. Let her daughter enjoy these few good years to the fullest—why should she pour cold water on her?

Madam Fu smiled and patted Fu Tingjun's hand, saying, "Then you must all the more live well with Lord Zhao."

Fu Tingjun nodded with a face as red as rosy clouds, her heart filled with shy embarrassment. Fearing her mother would continue, she changed the subject, recalling the confusion in her heart, and said, "Mother, do you know why Father was unwilling to stand up for me back then? Could it be that he suspected something between me and that Zuo Junjie...? And what about Eldest Uncle—since he had already taken Zuo Junjie into custody, why didn't he settle the matter quickly instead of keeping him confined at home for two or three months, letting things spiral out of control? Whose idea was it to force the medicine on me? And why did Grandmother agree to it as well..."

Seeing her daughter's anxious expression, Madam Fu pressed her lips together and interrupted Fu Tingjun's words: "Some matters—each side has their own justification. If anyone is to blame, it is your uncle and father for coveting empty reputation and ruining your life..." Her tone was low, as if she had a thousand feelings she did not know how to express.

Fu Tingjun thought of the precious jewelry and the two thousand taels of private savings her mother had asked Zhao Ling to deliver to her; thought of how her mother, upon learning she was still alive, had sent Xiuzhu's Wife frantically searching for news of her in every direction; thought of her mother's test of Zhao Ling and her heartfelt words of comfort... She fell silent.

Her mother loved her so dearly, yet even she could only stand by helplessly and watch when Fu Tingjun was confined—this showed how complicated the situation had been. And that was not even mentioning that it involved Eldest Uncle and her own father!

She felt a slight disappointment, but thinking of how her mother supported her in investigating what had happened back then, her spirits lifted again. She hesitated and said, "Mother, why are you living here? I..." Thinking of the irreconcilable rift between her father and herself, and how she was utterly powerless to improve her mother's situation, she changed tack and said, "I think Sister-in-law is a very good person. How about I mention it to her..."

"No need." Madam Fu interrupted Fu Tingjun's words again, saying calmly, "It is my choice to live here. It is peaceful here." She added, "Don't concern yourself with this matter. Though my health is failing, my mind is perfectly clear—I have my own plans."

Could it be that she was sulking with Father over her matter?

Fu Tingjun pondered this, then heard Madam Fu say, "Do you still have the two thousand taels I gave you?"

She had used them when purchasing the house.

But fearing her mother might misunderstand and think Zhao Ling had spent her money, she quickly nodded: "Yes, I still have them, still have them."

"That's good." Madam Fu said with a sigh, "I heard from Xiuzhu's Wife that Zhao Ling has purchased a residence on Shi Family Lane, and in Xi'an Prefecture he has three shops and over a thousand mu of fine farmland. That is very good." As she spoke, a look of shame came into her eyes. "Your maternal uncle is gone now. Those two thousand taels were the private savings I accumulated over the years. When you marry, I have nothing else to give you, so use that money to furnish yourself with some things! What belongs to the Zhao family is the Zhao family's; what is yours is yours..."

At the mention of her maternal uncle, Fu Tingjun's nose tingled with sorrow.

She remembered how her uncle, pitying her father's post in a minor government office and fearing her mother and she would suffer hardship, had sent them several thousand taels every year for their expenses, and had once promised that when she married, he would add ten thousand taels to her dowry chest...

Madam Fu's eyes reddened as well.

Fu Tingjun quickly comforted her mother, saying, "Rest assured, I know what to do!" Then she spoke of her maternal uncle, "...At the time, without proper justification, I didn't dare linger in Weinan. I only observed nine months of mourning for my uncle and held a memorial service for him at Daxingshan Temple. Once I'm settled somewhere, I'll return to Weinan and personally pay my respects at his grave."

Madam Fu nodded and said, "I've spoken to your father about having the esteemed Fifth Elder of the Xie family, who is highly respected, select a honest and dependable child to carry on your uncle's lineage. If you go back, you might meet with the child, and should he ever come seeking your help in the future, you can offer him guidance."

Although her uncle's residence had been burned down, he still had fertile fields and shops. No doubt many in the Xie family would covet them. For her uncle's sake, she should at least lend a hand.

"Mother, rest assured, I will definitely go see the child."

Madam Fu's expression relaxed, and she said, "In a couple of days, I'll have Xiuzhu's Wife go over to help you make arrangements." With that, she smiled.

It was to help prepare for her marriage, wasn't it?

But if Xiuzhu's Wife went, who would attend to her mother?

Given how things looked today, neither her father nor her sister-in-law could be counted on.

She feigned a coquettish pout and said, "Don't worry about my affairs. I've made inquiries—there are shops outside that specialize in handling weddings and funerals. I'll hire someone to help with the preparations. What about you? What did the doctor say? What medicine have you been taking lately? Is Xiuzhu's Wife managing to attend to you alone?" She thought of how, at the Fu household in Huayin, her mother had four personal maids, not to mention the married women servants and elderly maidservants, and her heart felt bitter. "Perhaps I should buy a capable woman to serve you and send her over. If Father asks, just say you bought her yourself—I'll cover her monthly wages!"