Chapter 183

First Master Fu grew more convinced of his reasoning and couldn't help but shoot another fierce glare at his younger brother.

Fifth Master Fu looked somewhat embarrassed.

Had he known this would happen, he should have set aside his pride and come to consult Grand Secretary Yu from the very start... A flicker of regret passed through his mind, but he quickly consoled himself with the thought: even if the elders of the Yu family were ever so fond of Yu Tingjun, Yu Jingxiu was not. As Yu Jingxiu himself had said, he would marry her and keep her as a mere ornament, leaving his chambers empty. When the Yu elders learned the truth, could they really force water down an ox's throat? They would secretly blame Fu Tingjun for failing to win her husband's affection, and would bestow concubines upon him. Once a concubine bore a child and Yu Jingxiu gave her a slight elevation, the Yu elders couldn't very well keep watch over Yu Jingxiu's private chambers day and night. Fu Tingjun's days would only grow harder. Add to that his own cheating in the imperial examinations—the Yu family would likely look down on them in their hearts. For the Fu family, forget about borrowing influence; it would be fortunate if no rift formed between the two families. Better to let the matter rest. The Yu elders, recalling that the two families had once been joined by marriage, and with Yu Jingxiu mediating from within, would naturally feel a greater warmth toward the Fu family. If the Fu family encountered any trouble and the Yu family lent a hand, outsiders would see it as the Yu family cherishing old ties, praising both families for their loyalty and righteousness—nothing that could be construed as forming a partisan clique. It would benefit both the Yu and Fu families alike...

With these thoughts, he straightened his back and, feigning ignorance, picked up his teacup and took a few sips.

Seeing his brother so obstinate in refusing to admit fault, First Master Fu could only sigh inwardly, resolving to inform their mother of this matter, hoping she might discipline their younger brother.

At this point, it could be said that their visit to the Yu family had achieved nothing at all.

Not only had relations with Fu Tingjun grown even more strained, but they had also failed to leave a favorable impression on Grand Secretary Yu.

First Master Fu felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles, forcing himself to remain seated nearby, sipping his tea absentmindedly.

When Fu Tingjun heard Grand Secretary Yu say they were merely small trinkets, she did not decline further and smiled her thanks. Grand Secretary Yu then began to discourse on the art of tea.

Zhao Ling was himself a lover of tea. Seeing that Grand Secretary Yu was in a talkative mood and that Fu Tingjun could keep up with the conversation, and recalling the humiliation Yu Jingxiu had inflicted upon her, he was determined to let Fu Tingjun shine before the Yu family, so that they might come to appreciate her worth. He simply sat to the side, watching her with encouraging eyes and a smile.

Fu Tingjun did not know what Zhao Ling was plotting, but since he wanted her to take the lead in socializing, she naturally would not show weakness before Grand Secretary Yu.

One was an official of many years with vast experience; the other was naturally brilliant and widely read. Their conversation was not only witty and sparkling but also humorous and entertaining. Even First Master Fu, who had been sitting there in silence, found himself perking up his ears. When he heard them discussing the tea-whisking contests of the previous dynasty, he could not help but interject: "I once saw a treasured silver-gilt tea scoop in the home of my superior, Lord Chen. It had a lotus-seed handle and a lotus-blossom bowl—magnificent and ornate, truly a rare sight."

Grand Secretary Yu smiled faintly and remarked in a flat tone, "Tea values simplicity and naturalness," then turned back to Fu Tingjun to discuss tea stands: "...For Tieguanyin and oolong teas, rosewood is best; for green tea, bamboo is preferable."

Fu Tingjun's heart stirred slightly at this.

Was Grand Secretary Yu simply uninterested in First Master Fu's topic? Or had he perceived the discord between father and daughter and wished to avoid appearing too intimate with the two Fu masters, lest it alienate her?

Her mind raced, but her lips responded smoothly: "If one used mottled bamboo or purple bamboo to make it, that would be even better..."

"Exactly so." Grand Secretary Yu laughed. "It seems Mrs. Zhao is also a connoisseur of tea. As it happens, I have a tea stand made of purple bamboo—why don't I gift it to you, Mrs. Zhao?"

"A gentleman does not take what another treasures." Fu Tingjun smiled. "Grand Secretary Yu must not lead me into impropriety."

Grand Secretary Yu laughed heartily, then praised her to Zhao Ling: "Mrs. Zhao is truly a person of genuine character."

"Indeed she is." Zhao Ling was not modest in the least. He laughed and said, "That is why, wherever she goes, she always manages to make a great many friends."

Grand Secretary Yu had not expected Zhao Ling to be so forthright. He paused briefly, then smiled: "Lord Zhao and his wife share a deep affection!"

Zhao Ling smiled without speaking, his gaze turning toward Fu Tingjun, his eyes filled with unconcealed tenderness and lingering affection, causing Grand Secretary Yu to pause once again.

As for Fu Tingjun, being looked at that way by Zhao Ling made her feel somewhat embarrassed. Not wanting to say anything in front of Grand Secretary Yu, she gave a soft cough, blushed, and lowered her head to sip her tea.

Grand Secretary Yu's eyes flickered with a hint of something unusual, then he let out a few hearty laughs with the air of an old man deeply gratified, and sighed with emotion: "Fortunately, Mrs. Zhao married Lord Zhao and found a happy ending. Otherwise, my son's sins would be even heavier!" Having said this, without waiting for anyone to speak, he leaned forward slightly and said to Zhao Ling with a solemn expression: "In the final analysis, this matter is entirely my son's fault. After I learned of it, I severely punished him. He also knows he was wrong and has always wanted to offer you both his apologies, but was uncertain of Lord Zhao and Mrs. Zhao's intentions, and so has been waiting in the study all along... I hope Lord Zhao and Mrs. Zhao will be magnanimous and give him a chance to reform himself. Having received such a lesson, he will naturally think twice before acting in the future." With that, he rose to his feet and clasped his hands toward Zhao Ling.

Given his status and position, such humility was already showing great deference to Zhao Ling and Fu Tingjun.

First Master Fu and Fifth Master Fu exchanged a glance.

But Zhao Ling sat there impassively, as if Grand Secretary Yu's conduct had not yet demonstrated sufficient sincerity.

"Grand Secretary Yu." His eyes were like cold stars as he looked into Grand Secretary Yu's eyes. "Not everything can be given a second chance..."

"I know, I know." Grand Secretary Yu said hurriedly, "That's why I say this time is my son's good fortune..." Then, as if to cut off Zhao Ling's words, he called out loudly, "Huai'an": "Go and summon the eldest young master!"

A figure flickered beyond the curtain.

Grand Secretary Yu was already wearing a face full of apology: "I beg Lord Zhao and Lady Zhao to forgive my son!"

Just as he finished speaking, with a clatter of the curtain, the tall and elegant Yu Jingxiu entered with his head bowed.

From a distance, he bowed with clasped hands toward Zhao Ling and Fu Tingjun: "Lord Zhao, Mrs. Zhao... I beg you, my lord, not to hold the faults of a petty man against him..." Before he could finish, his face had turned crimson.

Yu Jingxiu had been known for his intelligence since childhood. Born into a distinguished family, he had achieved the rank of zhuangyuan—the top scholar in the imperial examinations—before he was even twenty, fulfilling the dreams of all scholars. One could well imagine how proud and arrogant he was.

Falsely accusing Fu Tingjun was certainly wrong of him, but with the Yu family's power and influence, why did they need to go to such lengths...

In his heart, he did not think it was such a big deal.

But under the pressure of his father's authority, he had no choice but to yield.

Even so, this first apology of his life was stammering and difficult to get out.

Zhao Ling saw this clearly.

If he had known he was wrong long ago, why had he sent people to abduct Zuo Junjie?

He sneered and was about to speak up in rebuke when Fu Tingjun, sitting beside him, suddenly gave a soft cough. Setting down her teacup, she composed herself and said: "Young Master Yu, when you and I first met, I said that I had already been removed from the Fu family, and that you and I were two people with no connection to each other. But you owed me a reason for breaking off the engagement, and I had every right to demand it. At that time, you also said that if there were no justification, the Fu family would not agree to the annulment. Now that the elders of both the Fu and Yu families are present, I will say the same thing again: why did you break off the engagement?"

"I was too young then, and my sole ambition was to succeed in the examinations." Relieved that he no longer had to speak those shameful words, Yu Jingxiu said with some urgency, "When I suddenly heard that Young Lord Fu had cheated in the examinations, I simply could not accept it..." As he spoke, he glanced at Fifth Master Fu, his expression unable to conceal his contempt. "That was why I..."

The faces of the two Fu masters instantly flushed as red as blood.

But Fu Tingjun let out a sudden chuckle.

Everyone in the flower hall stared at her in astonishment.

Seeing this, Fu Tingjun smiled radiantly and said in a clear voice: "Young Master Yu, Grand Secretary Yu has shown such sincerity that even I, who came here nursing resentment, have been moved. As his son, seeing how Grand Secretary Yu has gone to such lengths for you, if you remain unmoved and continue to spout lies, how can it not be laughable?" Then her face hardened, and her gaze fell upon Yu Jingxiu like frost. "And how can it not make one's teeth chill with contempt?"

Yu Jingxiu was taken aback.

Grand Secretary Yu remained calm and unperturbed, as immovable as a mountain.

Zhao Ling watched, and a chill ran through his heart.

A cold glint flashed through Fu Tingjun's eyes, but she spoke in a teasing tone with a smile: "What? Is Young Master Yu too embarrassed to say it?"

Yu Jingxiu's expression grew slightly flustered, and the corner of his eye darted toward Grand Secretary Yu.

Grand Secretary Yu laughed heartily: "Foolish things done in youth are inevitably hard to speak of."

First Master Fu also wiped his sweat and said: "Those are all things of the past, all things of the past..."

"Oh!" Fu Tingjun raised an eyebrow. "I have heard that Young Master Yu's father-in-law, Master Fan, is a man of upright character. He was extremely particular about his eldest daughter's marriage, and she was not betrothed until she was eighteen. But in the matter of his second daughter's marriage, he seemed rather free-spirited. Less than a year after news of my 'death' spread, he had already agreed to the Yu family's proposal. It seems Master Fan had long held Young Master Yu in high regard..."

Yu Jingxiu's face changed drastically, and he angrily cut her off: "Mrs. Zhao, what do you mean by that?"

Fu Tingjun slammed the table and rose to her feet. "I was just about to ask Young Master Yu what exactly you mean by this!" She cast a mocking sidelong glance at Yu Jingxiu. "You claim you cannot accept cheating in the imperial examinations, yet you have taken Liu Shutong as your teacher and freely leaf through his early examination essays, which are famous for their unrestrained wildness. And in a moment of anger, you managed to track down Zuo Junjie with great diligence, using the promise of helping him pass the jinshi examination as bait to make him frame me." She paused, then cast a cold look at Fifth Master Fu. "Do you take everyone else for fools who act without thinking, letting you say east is east and west is west?" She turned a solemn face to Grand Secretary Yu. "Is this what you call an apology? Is this what you call acknowledging your mistakes? I'm afraid I cannot accept it!"

Watching the teacup roll to a stop at his feet, Fifth Master Fu was shaken to the core. He stared blankly at Fu Tingjun, as if he had never truly seen her before.

First Master Fu turned his face away.

Grand Secretary Yu looked somewhat embarrassed.

For a moment, the room was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

Zhao Ling slowly rose to his feet. "Let us go back. It seems we came to the wrong place."

Fu Tingjun nodded and followed Zhao Ling toward the door.

"Please stay, Lord Zhao," Grand Secretary Yu said hastily. "Let us speak properly. Losing one's temper like this will not solve anything." He added, "It is commendable for young people to have passion, but if one has nothing but passion, it is all too easy to invite disaster. In these peaceful times, here in the capital, someone has openly committed robbery and assault. The magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture has been too lenient in his governance—it is time to make an example of someone to warn the rest. What does Lord Zhao think of this?"