Chapter 187

Madam Yu turned and entered the inner chamber.

Mama Shu hurriedly followed, treading lightly.

But Madam Yu said, "All of you, leave! I wish to rest alone for a while."

Mama Shu and the serving maids in the room quickly acknowledged with a bow, helped Madam Yu lie down, and filed out of the inner chamber.

Madam Yu's personal senior maid led a junior maid to stand guard at the inner chamber's doorway, while Mama Shu was served tea in the side room by a young maid whose hair had not yet been bound up. Several maids chatted quietly under the flower trellis in the courtyard.

The tranquil main courtyard was as peaceful and harmonious as ever.

But Mama Shu's mind was in a turmoil.

Ever since she learned that Miss Fu was still alive, Madam Yu had seemed somewhat off. Later, when the young master came to pay his respects, he was only asked, "When did you learn that the Fu family's daughter was still alive?" At the time, the young master had seemed a bit uncomfortable and said he had run into her by chance when Miss Fu went to pay respects at Madam Fu's funeral. Madam Yu had nodded and asked nothing more. But afterward, she sent people to inquire about Miss Fu, even learning exactly when Miss Fu's daughter had been born. She even prepared congratulatory gifts and had Yu Huaian deliver them in person. Moreover, upon learning how Yu Huaian had been received at the Zhao household, she praised him for handling matters properly, neither humble nor overbearing...

Miss Fu was already married, and Lady Fan was already the Yu family's eldest young mistress—but in Madam Yu's heart, there was still a thorn after all!

Madam Yu had been strong-willed her entire life, yet the young master insisted on going against her. How could she not be heartbroken!

At this thought, her head only ached more. She instructed the young maid attending her, "Brew me a cup of hot tea."

The young maid acknowledged and rose to lift the curtain, only to find someone standing right outside. The person smiled and said, "What a coincidence—I was just about to come in, and here you are about to go out..."

The young maid hastily called out, "Sister Mozhuan."

Mama Shu's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly at the sound, and she sat up.

Wearing a willow-green Hangzhou silk jacket, Mozhuan walked in with a smile.

"The young mistress made some honeysuckle flower dew a couple of days ago. Seeing that the weather is hot, she had me bring a few bottles over for the sisters to cool off with." She bent her knees in a salute to Mama Shu. "But I didn't see you, Mama. I heard you were resting in the side room, so I came specially to pay my respects."

"Please convey my thanks to the young mistress for her thoughtfulness," Mama Shu said, rising to invite Mozhuan to sit.

The young maid served tea and quietly withdrew.

Mozhuan then pulled a small square of folded paper from her sleeve. "The young mistress heard recently that your grandson Paiming has been sweating at night, so she specially searched out this prescription from an ancient text and had me deliver it. She says it's extremely effective—you might try it for Paiming, Mama."

Paiming was Mama Shu's young grandson.

Mama Shu's gaze fell on the prescription, and she silently cursed Mozhuan in her heart.

She was the young mistress's dowry maid, her most trusted person. Instead of persuading the young mistress to take a concubine into the household to expand the Yu family line, she was running around every day, calling one person "sister" and befriending another—putting the cart before the horse. No wonder the young mistress still didn't think she had done anything wrong!

As the thought flashed through her mind, a hint of mockery crept into Mama Shu's expression. "If the young mistress has such a heart and such skill, wouldn't it be better to find a prescription for bearing sons?"

Mozhuan's face flushed crimson.

Mama Shu picked up her teacup in a clear gesture of dismissal.

Mozhuan had no choice but to swallow her embarrassment and ask about Yu Huaian's gift delivery. "...I wonder who it is that carries such face? It's just a pity that our young mistress hasn't been in the family long and isn't familiar with some of the Yu family's old connections. By rights, she should also send a congratulatory gift."

Seeing that Madam Yu had not intended to keep the matter secret, Mama Shu thought for a moment and told Mozhuan the matter directly.

Perhaps when the young mistress learned of this, she would grow anxious and help the young master take a concubine into the household.

Mozhuan's face alternated between pale and flushed. She exchanged a few brief words with Mama Shu and hurried back to Lady Fan's quarters.

She dared not mention Mama Shu's disrespect, only relaying the matter of Yu Huaian's gift delivery.

Lady Fan's expression turned very ugly upon hearing this. "Yu Huaian is the Yu family's chief steward in the capital—his actions represent the Yu household. Go and inquire further: does the master know about this?"

Mozhuan's expression sharpened. She acknowledged hastily and went to the outer courtyard.

Lady Fan's heart was in utter chaos.

Hadn't Miss Fu died of illness? How had she suddenly reappeared? And why did both her father-in-law and mother-in-law regard this Madam Fu with such special favor—one inviting her to view the flowers at the house, the other sending congratulatory gifts for her daughter...

Could it be that the Yu family regretted marrying her in?

The thought flashed through her mind, and her heart felt as though it were being cut with a knife.

Although Father had many disciples, none was as handsome, witty, and charming as Yu Jingxiu. As time passed, she came to admire his learning and cultivation more and more. Sometimes she even thought—if only Yu Jingxiu could live in her home forever... That was why, when she heard that Yu Jingxiu had long been betrothed to a daughter of the Fu family of Huayin, she could not help but hide in her room and cry for days on end, until Yu Jingxiu noticed something amiss about her...

She still remembered that day when they stood beneath an elm tree, golden sunlight dappling through the leaves and branches to fall upon their lapels. Yu Jingxiu's gaze was fixed intently upon her, his eyes even more scorching and brilliant than the sunlight itself, as he declared in a clear voice: "Rest assured, I will marry you!"

How she had answered, she could no longer recall.

She only remembered her cheeks burning hot, and when she ran back to her embroidery room, she did not even notice when the newly made embroidered skirt had been snagged and torn by the thorny bushes beside the flower garden...

But who could have imagined that the young lady of the Fu family would die of a sudden illness... Not long after, the Yu family came to propose marriage.

It was all so coincidental!

She dared not think too deeply about it.

Kneeling on the prayer mat in the Buddhist shrine, she asked the Bodhisattva: "Could this be Heaven's will?"

The Bodhisattva smiled faintly, her serene countenance like a silent encouragement.

Disregarding her father's warning that "a great match is not a good match," she begged her mother to persuade her father, and in the end, the marriage was agreed upon.

After their wedding, they lived in perfect harmony, sharing the same interests and affections—there was no better husband than Depu... So her mother-in-law's displeasure and the emptiness of her own womb, she took them all as Heaven's jealousy and trials for her...

At the beginning of this year, she began to devote herself to Buddhism, observing vegetarian fasts on the first and fifteenth of each month.

Lady Fan always believed that since the Old Man Under the Moon had tied their red threads together, after enduring hardships, happiness was sure to follow.

But these days, her father-in-law's suppressed anger, her mother-in-law's sudden humiliation, and her husband's frequent restlessness all filled her with an inexplicable dread...

Thinking of all this, Lady Fan could not help but touch the white mutton-fat jade pomegranate pendant hanging at her chest.

It was a gift from her mother before she married.

A wish that she would bear many children and bring prosperity to the Yu family.

Why was there still no news from her?

Was she truly to take a concubine for Depu?

The thought flashed through her mind, and she bit her lip tightly.

If a concubine's son were born before the legitimate heir... would there still be a place for her in this household?

No, no...

She shook her head and quickly cast the thought aside.

She was merely like her mother—slow to conceive—but not incapable of bearing children...

Lady Fan was encouraging herself inwardly when Mozhuan hurried in.

She whispered something into Lady Fan's ear.

Lady Fan's expression changed drastically: "You mean to say, not only Father-in-law, but even my husband—he knew about this all along?"

Mozhuan nodded gloomily.

Lady Fan collapsed onto the edge of the bed.

Seeing this, Mozhuan could not help but console her: "But Steward Yu also said that the Old Master was not in favor of it either. The Mistress said that this Miss Fu now has no home to return to, and her circumstances are truly pitiable. She said that not only because of Miss Fu's connection to the Yu family, but even a stranger who saw her plight would lend a helping hand if they had the means. It was only then that the Old Master stopped objecting."

Lady Fan felt as though a knife had been thrust into her body.

She said sharply: "Miss Fu's circumstances are pitiable? Who among us has not had their share of ups and downs? If Mother-in-law has so much heart to spare for others, why doesn't she spare a thought for her own son and daughter-in-law? Her words are so sharp and cutting—even the best mood turns gloomy just looking at her..." Before she could finish, she realized she had spoken out of turn and quickly fell silent.

Mozhuan's heart ached at the sight.

Her eyes grew slightly moist, and she hesitated before saying: "Young Mistress, perhaps you should go along with the Mistress's wishes and take in a concubine for the Young Master..."

"No," Lady Fan interrupted Mozhuan without a second thought. "My husband and I have a five-year pact. If I have not borne a child within five years, then I will take in a woman for him—keep the child and send the mother away..."

Mozhuan thought of how well Yu Jingxiu treated Lady Fan, and could not help but sigh in relief, saying joyfully: "That's good, that's good..."

...

Unlike the gloomy atmosphere at the Yu residence on Jiadao Street, the Zhao residence on Shijia Hutong was filled with cheerful spirits.

On the twenty-third day of the fourth month, leaving the dejected-looking Yanqing at home to mind the house, Zhao Ling, Fu Tingjun, Youyou, Yang Yucheng, Jin Yuanbao, A Sen, and a large group of others left Shijia Hutong just as dawn was breaking, arriving at Tanzhe Temple just as the sun was rising.

They paid respects to the Bodhisattva, fulfilled their vows, drew fortune sticks, and ate vegetarian fare at the temple. Zhao Ling, along with Yang Yucheng, Jin Yuanbao, and A Sen, spent half the day wandering about the temple grounds, while Fu Tingjun, Youyou, Yuwei, and the others went to a small hall where the temple's guest monk told them stories of karma and retribution for half the afternoon. It was not until dusk that they all returned together to Shijia Hutong.

Yanqing rushed out, sweating profusely: "The stewards from the Marquis of Longping's household and the Marquis of Wuding's household both sent congratulatory gifts for the young lady. Since none of you were home, I invited them to have tea in the hall of the southern wing, and then brought out the Second Young Master's snacks to entertain the guests..." He wasn't sure whether he had handled things properly, and looked somewhat uneasy. "There were many others too, people I didn't recognize, but I carefully stored away all the gift lists—not a single one was missed."

"Good, very good." Fu Tingjun hurriedly praised him with a smile. "Having spent these days with A Sen, I don't know about other things, but you've certainly made progress in handling people and affairs."

Yanqing grinned broadly upon hearing this.

A Sen also felt proud of the compliment, his joy evident in his expression. He stepped forward eagerly to help Zheng San hold the horse's reins.

Yang Yucheng couldn't resist teasing him: "Dressed in a dragon robe, you still don't look like a crown prince—since when does a young master help hold the reins?"

A Sen pulled a long face at this, but it only made everyone burst into laughter.

The next day was even livelier.

Of those who had sent congratulatory gifts, most came in person—except for those like the Marquis of Longping who were away from the capital, or those of high rank and authority like the Marquis of Yingchuan. Zhao Ling received the guests in the outer courtyard, while Fu Tingjun, holding Youyou in her arms, entertained the ladies in the inner courtyard. Zheng Sanniang and Zhou Shi worked in the kitchen, cooking one pot of longevity noodles after another. The spacious courtyard was filled with people standing everywhere.