Chapter 168

Madam Fu's hearse grew distant amid the funeral music, leaving only snowflake-like paper money scattered across the ground.

Zhao Ling helped up Fu Tingjun, who had cried herself nearly breathless, and coaxed her gently: "Let's go back first! In a few days we'll need to go to Cuifeng Nunnery to offer incense and hold a memorial service for your mother. If you exhaust yourself, we won't be able to go..."

Fu Tingjun nodded repeatedly at his words, but her tears fell as fast as she wiped them away, with no end in sight.

Once they were both in the carriage, Zhao Ling simply gathered her into his arms: "Close your eyes and get some sleep. If you keep crying like this, you'll hurt your eyes."

Did Fu Tingjun not know this herself? She simply couldn't control her emotions.

At his words, she obediently nestled into Zhao Ling's embrace.

Perhaps it was because she hadn't rested well these past few days, or perhaps she was exhausted from crying—amid the rumbling of the carriage wheels, Fu Tingjun fell asleep.

When she woke, she found herself still curled up in Zhao Ling's arms, still in the carriage, though the carriage had stopped at some point.

"You're awake!" Zhao Ling helped her sit up and shook his numb arm, saying, "Since you were sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to wake you, so I had Zheng San park the carriage in the alley." Then he smiled, "Feeling better? Do you want to lie down a bit more in the carriage? Or shall we get out and head home now?"

His expression was gentle and calm, making his whole demeanor serene and steady—like a great mountain or vast sea, silently waiting there so that the moment you turn around, you can see it.

The grief and loneliness from her mother's death slowly receded, replaced by warmth and security.

She took Zhao Ling's hand: "Let's go home!"

Zhao Ling smiled and nodded, carefully carrying Fu Tingjun down from the carriage.

Zheng Sanniang and Mrs. Tong, who had been waiting at the hanging flower gate, immediately gathered around—one asking, "Is the mistress alright? Is she feeling unwell anywhere?" while the other said, "The young miss has been very good—neither crying nor fussing. She's sleeping in the eastern ear room with Miss Yuwei and the wet nurse."

Just as they finished speaking, Zhenzhu and Kou'er came forward—one saying, "The mistress has returned," and the other, "Mistress, let me help you in." Even Yuwei, who had been looking after Youyou in the ear room, heard the commotion and lifted the curtain to say: "The weather is hot, mistress—please go back to your room and rest!"

Looking at the courtyard that had become lively again, Fu Tingjun felt warmth in her heart and nodded continuously.

...

Just as dusk was falling, Jin Yuanbao arrived.

Fu Tingjun was greatly surprised: "His matter was settled that quickly?"

Zhao Ling laughed: "Mo Yi was afraid I wouldn't follow him to Guizhou, so he's been pressing on this matter every day! How could it not be quick?"

Fu Tingjun couldn't help muttering: "Why is he always so anxious to have you with him?"

"You can't blame him for this," Zhao Ling said with a smile. "For this campaign to suppress the rebellion in Guizhou, the Huguang Regional Military Commission is responsible for gathering provisions, while the Guangxi and Guangdong commissions are responsible for deploying troops. Guangdong's Regional Commander Mo Shang is Mo Yi's clan uncle, and Guangxi's Regional Commander Li Zai is Mo Yi's mentor. Tell me—if Mo Yi doesn't take the position of commander-in-chief, who will? He can't refuse, so he had to drag me in to help mediate."

"Your temper is certainly difficult enough," Fu Tingjun laughed. "Just don't fail to help and instead drag Mo Yi down with you." Then she urged him, "Go see Jin Yuanbao quickly, so he doesn't wait too long."

Zhao Ling smiled and went to the reception hall in the south wing, where he stayed for dinner, returning only at the hour of xu.

"I've had Jin Yuanbao stay in the guest room in the south wing. With an extra person in the house, you'll feel safer."

Fu Tingjun nodded and said, "How about we have Kou'er temporarily serve there?"

This time, Anxin would be following Zhao Ling to Guizhou.

The two discussed it and the next day assigned Kou'er to serve in the south wing guest room, while Jin Yuanbao reported to the Five Cities Military Command.

A messenger from the palace arrived, summoning Zhao Ling to an audience with the emperor on the twenty-first.

Zhao Ling was full of guilt.

Before a minister leaves the capital, he must go to the palace the day prior to kowtow in gratitude for imperial favor and receive the emperor's instructions.

In other words, he might depart on the twenty-second, and Fu Tingjun hadn't even completed her month of confinement, let alone accompany her to Cuifeng Nunnery to offer incense and hold the memorial service for Madam Fu.

"I need to find a little notebook to write down all the times you've broken your promises to me." Before Zhao Ling could speak, Fu Tingjun had already pressed her lips together and smiled. "If ever you make me unhappy, I'll take out that notebook and settle accounts with you."

"Fine, fine, fine." Zhao Ling held his wife tightly. "If ever I make you unhappy, you can settle accounts with me." But his eyes were slightly moist.

Fu Tingjun leaned against his shoulder and softly urged him: "Even though you're going with the main army, you must still be careful. Remember that here in the capital, Youyou and I need your protection—never act recklessly..."

"I know, I know." Zhao Ling gently kissed his wife's forehead and softly promised.

The couple talked through half the night.

The next day, when he entered the palace, the emperor gave his customary instructions and then told them with a smile: "The twenty-sixth of this month is an auspicious day—depart on that day!" As he spoke, he cast a subtle glance at Zhao Ling.

Zhao Ling was stunned.

When he returned, he told Fu Tingjun: "...Could it be that I imagined it?"

Fu Tingjun, however, felt a surge of joy, like finding a hidden path after mountains and rivers seemed to end. "Find an opportunity to thank His Majesty! Whatever the reason for choosing the twenty-sixth, it has resolved our predicament."

Zhao Ling gave a slight nod.

Fu Tingjun busied herself packing his belongings. By the twenty-fifth, Zheng San drove the carriage, and the family of three, along with Yuwei, went to Cuifeng Nunnery.

Madam Fu's coffin was placed in a small side room behind the nunnery hall. Xiuzhu's Wife lived in a small flat-roofed house not far from there, tending to the incense and candles for Madam Fu on a daily basis.

Fu Tingjun and Zhao Ling offered incense before Madam Fu's memorial tablet. Xiuzhu's Wife and Yuwei helped Zhao Ling arrange the sacrificial offerings. Zhao Ling went to discuss with the abbess about holding a requiem ceremony for Madam Fu. Meanwhile, Xiuzhu's Wife took the opportunity to thank Fu Tingjun: "Many thanks to the young mistress for sending someone to fetch my husband and the two children to the estate in Chang'an County."

"This is only proper." As Fu Tingjun spoke, her gaze fell upon her mother's memorial tablet, which bore only a few short words—"Lady Xie, Virtuous Lady of the Fu Family"—yet they summed up her mother's entire life. A wave of sorrow suddenly welled up in her heart, and her voice grew subdued. "You served Mother with all your heart and devotion; it's time you enjoyed some well-earned rest." She paused, then added, "In the future, you'll live permanently at the estate in Chang'an County. I'll rely on you to take good care of Mother's memorial rites."

Fifth Master Fu had already consulted a geomancer to select an auspicious date and decided that on the fourth day of the eighth month, Fu Tingzheng would escort the coffin back to their hometown.

At that time, Madam Fu would be buried in the Fu family's ancestral graveyard, located forty li outside the city of Huayin.

"The young mistress speaks too gravely." Xiuzhu's Wife followed Fu Tingjun's gaze and saw Madam Fu's memorial tablet, and tears welled up in her eyes. "Whatever you have instructed, I have noted it all."

Fu Tingjun nodded gently. She took Youyou from Yuwei's arms and, pointing at Madam Fu's memorial tablet, softly said to her sleeping daughter, "Youyou, this is your grandmother. You never got to meet her... yet she always thought of you... but in the end, she never got to see you even once..." As she spoke, tears blurred her vision.

Behind her came the soft sobbing of Yuwei and Xiuzhu's Wife... and faintly, the tolling of the nunnery's bell, deep and lingering, filling Fu Tingjun's heart with peace and tranquility.

...

On the twenty-first day after Madam Fu's death, Fu Tingjun visited Cuifeng Nunnery again.

The young novice leading the way smiled and said, "Your relatives are certainly devoted! Someone came early this morning to pay respects to Madam Fu."

Fu Tingjun was surprised.

When they reached the place where Madam Fu's coffin rested, she indeed saw offerings and incense.

She asked Xiuzhu's Wife, "Who came?"

Xiuzhu's Wife hesitated.

Fu Tingjun dismissed the novice, paid her respects to her mother, and only then did Xiuzhu's Wife speak: "It was Madam Yu—she sent her most trusted Mama Shu, especially to pay respects to the lady."

Fu Tingjun was stunned.

Xiuzhu's Wife lowered her head and murmured, "Madam Yu has always been very concerned about the lady. When the lady passed away, she even came personally to offer incense before the coffin... and this time she sent her most intimate nurse..."

Fu Tingjun was silent for a moment, then said, "I'll remember this kindness. When the opportunity arises, I'll find a way to repay it."

Xiuzhu's Wife breathed a sigh of relief.

...

A married daughter observes one year of mourning for her deceased parents, and a granddaughter observes five months for her grandparents. Thus, Youyou did not have a hundred-day celebration. But unexpectedly, Lady Chen Shi remembered it and came that day bearing gifts.

"An elder in the family has passed away." Fu Tingjun wore a white velvet flower. "I'm afraid I can only offer you a bowl of plain noodles."

"Not at all," Lady Chen Shi said with a smile. "It is I who have been remiss." Then she joked, "I thought you were so busy you'd forgotten to send me an invitation, so I came specially to demand an explanation."

Her words made Fu Tingjun laugh.

Lady Chen Shi then asked with concern, "May I ask which elder of the family has passed away? We should also go pay our respects."

"The matter is already over, so I didn't trouble everyone." Fu Tingjun smiled and changed the subject. "There's been so much going on that I haven't had the chance to ask—has your child's chickenpox fully recovered?"

"There are still two small pockmarks left on his face." Lady Chen Shi sighed. "Fortunately, he's a boy; otherwise, it would have been a real problem." She then went on to describe the dangers of the pox and what precautions should be taken, and Fu Tingjun listened attentively.

Zhenzhu came in to announce, "Madam Mo has arrived."

Fu Tingjun was somewhat surprised and, together with Lady Chen Shi, welcomed Madam Mo inside.

"I thought you'd forgotten all about me," Madam Mo said, surveying the courtyard furnishings. "So you really didn't hold a hundred-day celebration for the young miss! Even if Zhao Ling isn't at home, aren't we still here? You've been far too careless about this."

Before she finished speaking, Kou'er hurried in: "Madam, Madam Wu and Madam Ji have sent their nurses with gifts, saying they've come to congratulate the young miss on her hundredth day."

Fu Tingjun smiled wryly. "It seems we'll have to wait a few days and invite the ladies and madams over for a meal."

Madam Mo and Lady Chen Shi both laughed and said in unison, "We don't care about the others, but we'll definitely be coming to ask for a bowl of noodles."

Fu Tingjun repeatedly apologized.

Everyone laughed and made their way to the main hall.

From then on, Lady Chen Shi and Madam Mo often came to visit, and in the process, Lady Chen Shi and Madam Mo also became more familiar with each other. Through Lady Chen Shi, Fu Tingjun and Madam Mo came to know several young mistresses and madams from the families of the deputy commanders and staff officers of the Imperial Guard. Through Fu Tingjun and Madam Mo, Lady Chen Shi also came to know the wives of Lin Chi and Tao Mu. Gradually, Fu Tingjun came to know quite a few people in the capital as well.