Chapter 169

After seeing off Madam Fu's coffin and passing the Mid-Autumn Festival, Fu Tingjun arranged for Zheng San to escort Xiuzhu's Wife back to Shaanxi: "...Since there are still Xiuzhu and the two children to settle, you should make the trip and also check on Master Lyu and Madam Lyu's health along the way, so I can rest easy."

Zheng San agreed with a smile, but Xiuzhu's Wife insisted on declining: "A round trip costs no small amount. I'll just take a carriage from the transport company to Willow Lane in Xi'an Prefecture and find Master Lyu."

"You served my mother—I cannot treat you so shabbily." Fu Tingjun would not hear otherwise, and had Yuwei pack the clothes made for her, the jewelry crafted for her, and some extra silver into trunks, which were loaded onto the carriage.

Xiuzhu's Wife still hesitated: "If I take the carriage, what will you use, Madam?"

"I'm still in mourning!" Fu Tingjun said. "I won't be going anywhere!"

Xiuzhu's Wife thought that made sense, and after repeatedly urging Fu Tingjun to "take care of herself" and similar words, she returned to Huayin.

Fu Tingjun devoted all her attention to Youyou.

Whatever Youyou ate, whatever changes she showed, she wrote to Zhao Ling about it all.

Zhao Ling's replies were not as frequent as Fu Tingjun's letters, but between the lines it was clear that his trip to Guizhou was going smoothly, and his relationship with Marquis Longping was being handled very well. Moreover, he sometimes subtly spoke up for Mo Yi in front of Marquis Longping, or spoke up for Marquis Longping in front of Mo Yi, and the tension between Mo Yi and Marquis Longping had eased somewhat.

Fu Tingjun let out a long sigh of relief.

If the relationships between one's superiors were not handled well, even having more troops would be useless.

After the Lesser Cold solar term, news of victory came from Guizhou—Marquis Longping had put down the rebellion of the three stockades including Ahei.

Fu Tingjun and the others were overjoyed.

Yuwei brought the list of New Year gifts for her review.

Fu Tingjun crossed out Four Happiness Lane.

Though Yuwei was surprised, she said nothing, curtsied, and withdrew.

On the day of the Laba Festival, around noon, the palace bestowed Laba porridge.

Everyone immediately buzzed with excitement.

"They say only the grand secretaries receive such honors—does this mean our Ninth Master is due for another promotion!" Zheng Sanniang said with great anticipation, even more enthusiastic than Fu Tingjun, which made Fu Tingjun laugh: "It's still uncertain for now, but receiving a gift is a good thing after all."

Zheng Sanniang nodded vigorously and said, "Madam, at the ancestral rites on New Year's Eve, be sure to mention it to the ancestors."

At that, even Zhenzhu and the others burst out laughing.

A Sen came from his studies to pay his respects.

Zheng Sanniang hurriedly told him about the bestowed porridge: "...This is already the second time the emperor has bestowed something on our household."

"It should be the third time, right?" A Sen corrected. "The first was when the emperor ascended the throne, the second was when Ninth Master married, so this should be the third..."

"Marriage doesn't count—that was bestowed by the Grand Empress Dowager." Zheng Sanniang muttered. "By your reckoning, it should be the fourth—Madam's side also received gifts!"

A Sen didn't think much of it, but he wasn't about to argue with Zheng Sanniang. His gaze shifted to the bowl of porridge: "Sister-in-law, can this porridge be eaten? Or should it be offered up?"

"Even food bestowed by the emperor goes bad if kept too long!" Fu Tingjun laughed. "Naturally, we should eat it." Then she instructed Zheng Sanniang, "Divide it up, won't you? Let everyone have a taste and see how the palace porridge differs from what we usually cook."

Everyone fetched bowls, chopsticks, and spoons, and quickly divided the porridge.

It was only two spoonfuls per person, yet Zheng Sanniang and the others exclaimed how delicious it was, while A Sen pouted: "I don't think it's as good as Xuemei's cooking!"

"Ah!" Xuemei's mouth fell open.

Zheng Sanniang, on the other hand, spat at him: "How can you say such a thing? What if someone overheard?"

Everyone covered their mouths and laughed.

The lively and cheerful Kou'er immediately said, "So Zheng Sanniang thinks the same as Young Master A Sen?"

Zheng Sanniang was embarrassed.

Everyone laughed again.

Youyou was already nine months old, and traces of Fu Tingjun could be seen in her features. She wore a bright red cocoon silk padded jacket and was playing with a spoon in her wet nurse's arms. Seeing everyone in the hall laughing, she laughed too.

Her eyes curved like crescent moons, radiating innocence that made one's heart feel pure—utterly adorable.

A Sen ran over to tease Youyou: "You think Sanniang's words are funny too, don't you?"

Whether by accident or on purpose, Youyou actually nodded.

A Sen immediately shouted, "Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, look, Youyou nodded, Youyou nodded!" Then he asked Youyou again, "Do you also think Sanniang's words are funny?"

Everyone's gaze fell on Youyou, and there was almost a breathless hush in the air.

Youyou lowered her head and buried her face in her wet nurse's embrace.

"Alas!" A Sen let out a disappointed long sigh.

The wet nurse quickly said, "The young miss is still little; she won't understand such things for a while yet."

"Yes, indeed!" Zheng Sanniang also came over and touched Youyou's little hand. "The young miss is already the smartest child I've ever seen. The children in our village at her age only know how to eat and sleep, eat and sleep—they don't even know how to listen to jokes." As she spoke, she let out an "Eh?" and said, "Come to think of it, ever since we started following Ninth Master and the Mistress, our Linchun seems to have gotten much smarter too. A couple of days ago, she even pointed at the characters on the screen wall and told me that one reads 'fortune'!"

"That's all thanks to Young Master A Sen's efforts," Kou'er retorted, and another round of laughter filled the hall.

Yanqing announced from behind the curtain: "Mistress, Second Young Master, Lord Jin has returned, and Lord Yang has come along with him."

These days, Jin Yuanbao had been staying at the residence, and occasionally Yang Yucheng, Sanfu, and Shizhu would also drop by for a visit.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Sanniang, without waiting for Fu Tingjun's instruction, immediately said, "Mistress, I'll go prepare some dishes to go with the wine for the two lords."

Fu Tingjun smiled and nodded.

Zheng Sanniang withdrew with Mrs. Zhou—of the two women they had purchased, Mrs. Zhou was simple and honest. Since the household now had more guests, Fu Tingjun had assigned Mrs. Zhou to the kitchen to assist Zheng Sanniang, which allowed Zheng Sanniang to rest occasionally as well.

"Then I'll go see Brother Yucheng and Brother Yuanbao!" A Sen also made to leave.

"Don't neglect your studies," Fu Tingjun reminded him.

"Even if you didn't say so, Brother Yuanbao would nag me about it anyway." A Sen pouted with a smile.

Fu Tingjun smiled indulgently.

That was true enough—since Jin Yuanbao had moved in, he had been quite strict with A Sen as well.

Seeing that everyone was leaving, Youyou wanted to follow along too.

Fu Tingjun took her daughter from the wet nurse's arms: "Youyou, shall we go play with the little ducks, alright?"

Youyou thought for a moment, nodded, and nestled obediently into her mother's embrace.

Fu Tingjun smiled and stroked her daughter's glossy black hair, then carried her into the inner chamber.

On the kang lay little ducks, little tigers, and little dogs that Fu Tingjun had sewn from scraps of patterned cloth.

Youyou pounced over and hugged the little duck to her chest, beaming at her mother.

"The young miss is truly clever!" The wet nurse and Mrs. Tong, who had followed them in, praised in unison.

Fu Tingjun's smile carried a hint of pride as she asked Youyou, "Which one is the little tiger?" and "Which one is the little dog?"

Youyou pointed them out to her mother.

It was a simple, monotonous game, yet mother and daughter never tired of it.

But A Sen came back: "Sister-in-law, Brother Yucheng would like to see you!"

"See me?" Fu Tingjun was somewhat surprised. "Do invite him to sit in the hall." Then she asked A Sen, "Do you know what he wants to see me about?"

A Sen chuckled. "I don't know either!"

Keeping it a secret, was he?

But judging by A Sen's expression—all cheerful and bright—it probably wasn't anything bad.

Fu Tingjun felt a weight lift from her heart. These past days, she had appeared calm and composed on the surface, but inwardly she had been worried about Zhao Ling the whole time, dreading that someone might suddenly arrive with bad news about him...

She handed Youyou to the wet nurse and Mrs. Tong, changed her clothes, and went to the hall.

Having shed the identity of a salt smuggler and now able to stand in the sunlight and act openly and aboveboard, Yang Yucheng's brow carried more candor and more confidence, making him appear even more dashing and elegant. Meanwhile, Jin Yuanbao, who sat beside him, was composed and restrained, his inner brilliance concealed, in no way overshadowed by the other's bearing. The two stood shoulder to shoulder, giving the impression of jade and pearl shining together, each matching the other.

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but marvel.

This just proved the saying, "Nurture changes the spirit; surroundings change the body."

Everyone took their seats according to rank, Zhenzhu served tea, and Fu Tingjun smiled and said, "Uncle Yang, what business do you have with me?"

Now that she had Youyou, she addressed Yang Yucheng, Jin Yuanbao, and the others the way her daughter did.

Yang Yucheng, who was usually quite forthright, hemmed and hawed this time without making himself clear even after a long while.

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but look toward Jin Yuanbao.

Jin Yuanbao smiled silently, a hint of mischief flashing in his eyes, and said, "Sister-in-law, Yucheng's superior—that is, the brother-in-law of Lord Liu, the Commander of Daxing Guard—has taken a liking to Yucheng and wants to take him as a son-in-law. Yucheng has no idea what to do and would like to ask you to help size up the situation and offer some advice!"

Fu Tingjun was both surprised and delighted upon hearing this: "So Uncle Yang is to be married! This is wonderful news—what's there to be shy about! Which family's young lady has such good fortune?"

Yang Yucheng was very embarrassed and said with a red face, "The family's surname is Zhang. The head is the patrol inspector of Zhangjiawan Inspection Post, a hereditary position. Once, Inspector Zhang was passing through Daxing on business, and Lord Liu hosted a banquet in his honor, with me called in to keep him company... Somehow or other, Inspector Zhang said he wanted to marry his daughter to me..."

"It's like a pie falling from the sky," Jin Yuanbao added from the side, "and Yucheng is worried that the Zhang girl might have some shortcoming..."

As a hereditary patrol inspector stationed at Zhangjiawan—a necessary stop for grain and tribute boats heading to the capital—the depth of the Zhang family's wealth went without saying. Though Yang Yucheng and Jin Yuanbao now held official positions, they were worlds apart from the Zhang family in both rank and fortune, which explained their unease.

Fu Tingjun smiled and said, "Though Uncle Yang is only a centurion, he is young and handsome, of upright character, and comes from a simple household. In the eyes of parents who dote on their daughters, he is already a rare and worthy match."

The two men were momentarily taken aback.

Fu Tingjun continued with a smile, "This is a matter concerning your lifelong happiness, and as your sister-in-law, I should by all means take responsibility. However, I am still in mourning and cannot properly involve myself. How about this—I will ask Lady Chen Shi, the eldest daughter-in-law of Commander Chen of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Forward Guard, to help make inquiries on your behalf. What do you think?"

Yang Yucheng knew well that someone in mourning should not assist in arranging wedding festivities, but aside from Fu Tingjun, he could not think of anyone he trusted more. Hearing the confidence in Fu Tingjun's tone regarding Lady Chen Shi, he felt assured there would be no mistake. He quickly rose and bowed, saying, "Then I shall trouble you, sister-in-law!"