Chapter 181

Zhao Ling naturally knew why Fu Tingjun looked so downcast.

Did he want to go to Xuantong?

"Don't worry." Zhao Ling put an arm around Fu Tingjun's shoulder. "After dinner, I'll pay a visit to Chen Yunsheng, Commander of the Forward Guard of the Imperial Guard—he's served in the imperial forces for over twenty years and has the best connections. Most of the imperial guard are sons of distinguished families and meritorious nobles. If I let it slip that Mo Yi is going to Xuantong as Commander-in-Chief and still needs a Vice-Commander, there'll be no shortage of people fighting tooth and nail for the post..."

Besieging Wei to rescue Zhao!

This man...

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but smile, yet she felt uneasy. "Xuantong is one of the nine Grand Commander garrisons. Being posted there as Vice-Commander would be immensely beneficial to your career..."

"I'm only twenty-five, and His Majesty is barely thirty." Zhao Ling smiled to reassure her. "There will be plenty of opportunities in the future." He added, "The reason I've come this far is simply that His Majesty remembers old ties. To stand firm and go far, I need more tempering. Being sent out this early—well, the tallest tree catches the wind. It might not be a good thing."

Only then did Fu Tingjun nod.

Zhao Ling then said, "Tomorrow is likely to be a trap. Stay home with Youyou; I'll go alone."

"No, I'll go with you." Fu Tingjun objected. "Since he invited me, if I don't show my face, they'll think I'm afraid, and they'll keep pestering us. Better to take this opportunity to settle things openly and squarely."

Zhao Ling felt she had a point and said no more.

The couple talked intimately for a long while. After dinner, Zhao Ling played with Youyou for a bit before heading off to Chen Yunsheng's residence.

Fu Tingjun, meanwhile, instructed Yuwei to prepare congratulatory gifts for the Marquis of Yingchuan, busied herself writing a letter to Madam Wang, coaxed Youyou to sleep, and prepared gifts for the two young ladies of the Wang family. It wasn't until midnight, when Zhao Ling returned, that they finally retired together.

Early the next morning, they went to Jiadao Street.

Jiadao Street was a narrow lane connecting Chang'an Avenue and Chaoyang Avenue. Though called a lane, it was over two zhang wide. Since both Chang'an and Chaoyang Avenues were among the capital's nine main thoroughfares, Jiadao Street commanded considerable prestige, lined on both sides with the capital's most powerful silver shops and antique houses. The Yu residence stood in a quiet alley off Jiadao Street.

The one who came to receive them was Yu Huaian, the chief steward of the Yu household in the capital.

He was a hereditary servant of the Yu family, having attended Grand Secretary Yu since childhood. As Grand Secretary Yu's official rank rose and more people came seeking his favor, Yu Huaian's standing in the Yu family and in the capital had risen accordingly. Not only did the Yu family's stewards treat him with respect, even ordinary fourth- and fifth-rank officials in the capital would greet him warmly with a cupped-fist salute and address him as "old brother."

Seeing Zhao Ling help Fu Tingjun down from the carriage and stride straight in without ceremony, he cast a surprised glance at Zhao Ling.

Zhao Ling gave him a cold look.

Yu Huaian thought of the two Lords Fu who had arrived early and were now smiling obsequiously at his master, and a chill ran through him. He quickly lowered his head and respectfully led Zhao Ling and Fu Tingjun to the small flower hall beside Grand Secretary Yu's outer study, where he usually received honored guests.

It was now the fourth month. In front of the small flower hall grew several hydrangea bushes, their blossoms a riot of purple and red, clustered in heavy balls, blooming at their peak.

From a distance, Fu Tingjun and Zhao Ling heard a familiar, hearty laugh.

After everything that had happened, they could still come to the Yu residence and chat and laugh as if nothing were wrong...

Fu Tingjun felt embarrassed on their behalf. She couldn't help turning back to Zhao Ling with a smile and said, "These hydrangeas are blooming beautifully—all chattering together in one cluster, so lively."

Zhao Ling gave a slight nod, his expression unchanged.

Yu Huaian smiled and was about to make a pleasant remark—"These were planted by our young master when he was a child"—but then remembered the dispute between the two families and swallowed the words. He hurried up the steps, stood respectfully before the bamboo curtain, and announced, "Lord Zhao and Lady Zhao are here."

There was a brief silence within.

Then a steady, gentle voice said, "Ask them in quickly."

Yu Huaian lifted the curtain.

Zhao Ling and Fu Tingjun entered one after the other.

The small flower hall had half-open windows, polished stone floors, carved red-lacquered furniture, and peonies as large as bowls in blue-and-white porcelain vases—an air of opulent splendor greeted them.

But Fu Tingjun's gaze fell on an unfamiliar old man in his fifties seated in the hall.

He wore a half-worn lilac-colored Hangzhou silk robe with round floral patterns. He was lean but vigorous, with a gentle expression. Seeing them enter, he chuckled and turned to First Master Fu, who sat below him, saying, "Truly a fine-looking couple—Lord Zhao and Lady Zhao are like a pair of golden boy and jade girl. How enviable!"

His eyes held a smile, his tone carried praise, like a kind and generous elder.

Fu Tingjun's eyes narrowed slightly.

First Master Fu leaned forward with a smile and said, "Indeed." Then he called out loudly to Zhao Ling and Fu Tingjun, "Come quickly and pay your respects to Grand Secretary Yu."

Fu Tingjun was deeply averse to this attitude of playing the role of an elder whenever it suited their needs. But seeing Zhao Ling respectfully greet Grand Secretary Yu according to propriety, she still performed a slight bow.

Grand Secretary Yu gestured toward the seat below Fifth Master Fu and said amiably, "Sit down and let's talk!"

Zhao Ling, however, sat directly across from Fifth Master Fu and exchanged pleasantries with Grand Secretary Yu: "Upon entering, I saw a thriving display of hydrangeas. It seems Grand Secretary Yu is also a lover of flowers—the purple magnolias must be blooming most luxuriantly as well."

He and Zhao Ling had encountered each other a few times in the court and at the palace. Though their paths differed—one civil, one military—and they had never dealt directly with one another, as a favored minister with the merit of following the dragon by the emperor's side, Zhao Ling had long become a figure of attention to many, including Grand Secretary Yu.

Seeing Zhao Ling draw such a clear line, Grand Secretary Yu was somewhat surprised.

With the great victory in Guizhou, Zhao Ling had demonstrated exceptional coordinating ability. Although Fu Tingjun had suffered injustice, she had at least kept her life. Unbeknownst to himself, he had also helped the Fu family considerably. Moreover, given his elevated status now and his proactive gesture of reconciliation, a man of Zhao Ling's character should well understand what this meant—so why had he suddenly become so unyielding?

He thought of the conduct of the two masters of the Fu family...

Could the problem lie with the two masters of the Fu family?

But there was no time for him to dwell on this now.

Grand Secretary Yu cast a slightly guilty glance at Fu Tingjun, then with a somewhat solemn expression, said candidly, "Lord Zhao, speaking of admiring flowers was merely an excuse. The reason I invited the two Masters Fu and the two of you to my home today is for the sake of my unfilial son..." He trailed off, revealing a hint of helplessness. "It's all my fault—being occupied with official duties all day, I failed to discipline him strictly, allowing him to develop an arrogant and overbearing nature, leading him to do such a reckless thing... In truth, it's all my fault."

The moment he finished speaking, before Zhao Ling and Fu Tingjun could respond, First Master Fu interjected, "How could this possibly be your fault? You have long served as an official away from home, and Compiler Yu was educated by his teachers—it's inevitable that there would be oversights..." Then, recalling that Yu Jingxiu's teacher was his own father-in-law, he showed a trace of embarrassment.

Fifth Master Fu, who had remained silent until now, quickly chimed in to support him: "Compiler Yu is still young; it's natural for him to be somewhat impetuous. In a few years, as his experience grows, he will gradually become more steady. Everyone goes through this."

Seeing how accommodating the two Masters Fu were, Grand Secretary Yu nodded inwardly and turned his gaze toward Zhao Ling.

Zhao Ling had long known of Fu Tingjun's wishes. But first, the two Masters Fu were her elders, and arguing with them would make her appear deficient in filial piety in others' eyes. Second, he had long seen through their true natures—First Master Fu, despite his unease, was still thinking of how to protect himself, while Fifth Master Fu, not believing he had done any wrong, continued to blame Fu Tingjun with righteous indignation. He had no desire to waste words with them. Third, he wanted to hear what Grand Secretary Yu would say, so he could respond accordingly—this was why he had remained silent all along.

Seeing Grand Secretary Yu silently asking him, he smiled faintly and was about to speak when he felt Fu Tingjun tug at his sleeve.

Fu Tingjun believed that with Zhao Ling's abilities, he could handle matters perfectly according to his own wishes. But she was, after all, the party directly involved, and she was determined to have the Yu family give her an explanation. As a father, Grand Secretary Yu could not possibly be entirely impartial. In such circumstances, no matter how reasonable Zhao Ling's words and actions were, Grand Secretary Yu would inevitably perceive them as Zhao Ling's own ideas. Rather than let Zhao Ling take the blame, it would be better for her to step forward and agree herself—even if others accused her of "overstepping her bounds," it would still be better than damaging Zhao Ling's reputation.

She rose to her feet and said softly, "There is one matter I do not understand, and I would like to seek Grand Secretary Yu's guidance."

Grand Secretary Yu was taken aback and glanced at Zhao Ling.

Though Zhao Ling did not know what Fu Tingjun intended to do, he would unconditionally support whatever she wished to do.

"Please do enlighten us, Grand Secretary Yu!" He immediately voiced his support for his wife.

Grand Secretary Yu could hardly conceal his astonishment, but quickly resumed his genial expression: "Please speak, Mrs. Zhao."

"If you had invited us to admire the flowers, I would have nothing to say. But you just said that you invited us to discuss Yu Jingxiu's instigation of Zuo Junjie to falsely accuse me. I wonder what purpose the two Masters Fu serve in this gathering?" Fu Tingjun spoke, a hint of sternness emerging between her brows. "The Fu family has long since removed me from their registry. I have no connection whatsoever with the two Masters Fu now. Some matters may not be appropriate for outsiders to meddle in, wouldn't you agree?"

Grand Secretary Yu was stunned.

First Master Fu's face turned crimson.

Fifth Master Fu flew into a rage, springing to his feet with eyes blazing and brows furrowed, bellowing "Wretch!": "Are you plotting an act of defiance against your elders?"

Fu Tingjun did not even glance at him, but looked directly into Grand Secretary Yu's eyes and said, "Striking or plotting to murder one's grandparents or parents is considered 'evil rebellion.' I no longer have parents, so how can there be any talk of 'evil rebellion'? I would ask Lord Fu not to casually pin such a label of the Ten Abominations on me—I cannot bear such an accusation."

This was from the legal code; even most men might not know it, yet she, a woman of the inner chambers, could quote the classics and speak with ease... No wonder his wife had always been full of praise for this woman from the Fu family of Huayin.

He could not help but take a closer look at Fu Tingjun.

She was tall in stature, with a delicate and graceful figure, a ruddy complexion, a clear and resonant voice, and a pair of bright, spirited eyes that radiated vitality.

Indeed, she was in excellent health.

Grand Secretary Yu thought of his own daughter-in-law... In the account book Huaian had brought yesterday, there was an expenditure of silver for buying bird's nest for her... He could not help but furrow his brow slightly... Lady Fan had originally been frail of constitution, but there had never been any mention of illness. Yet after marrying into the family for barely two or three years, it was ginseng or bird's nest every day, or else she would have someone make Yangrong Pills for her to take. Even so, she still called for a physician to take her pulse every few days...