Chapter 188

By evening, when the couple met, both were too exhausted to speak.

Fu Tingjun washed up hastily and retired with Youyou to the side chamber.

Waking in the middle of the night for tea, she saw a dim yellow lamplight filtering through the bamboo curtain separating the inner chamber from the side chamber.

She hesitated for a moment, then draped a robe over her shoulders and went into the inner chamber.

Zhao Ling sat on the large kang by the window in his underrobe, studying a gift list. Hearing the sound, he looked up and smiled at Fu Tingjun.

That smile was clean and hearty, and it made her heart pound like a drum.

Fu Tingjun's face flushed. Straightening her back as if to hide something, she moved gracefully to sit on the edge of the bed and asked softly, "What is Ninth Master reading?"

Zhao Ling said nothing, simply handing her the gift list.

Fu Tingjun took it and was surprised to see it was the gift list from the Marquis of Yingchuan.

She looked at Zhao Ling with some confusion.

Zhao Ling let out a long sigh and said quietly, "Have you noticed? For Youyou's birthday, although the Marquis of Yingchuan sent generous gifts, on the actual day, he didn't even send a respectable steward to offer congratulations..."

Fu Tingjun was taken aback.

Zhao Ling was not a petty man; if he was bringing this up, there must be a reason...

She said seriously, "I thought it was because the Duke of Fuguo's household hasn't yet divided the family property."

The Duke of Fuguo's household had also sent gifts—just two ordinary sets of children's clothing, with a third-rank steward sent to offer congratulations.

"I'm afraid it's more than that." Zhao Ling stared at the gift list, pondering. "When we got married, besides the Duke of Fuguo's household, the Marquis of Yingchuan also sent gifts and dispatched a steward to attend the wedding banquet..."

A flash of insight struck Fu Tingjun. She recalled the message Concubine Xiao had sent via a steward some days ago: "...telling me to visit the household when I had free time. I thought the Duke of Fuguo's household had too many affairs, so I didn't take it to heart. Do you think these two matters might be connected?" She added, "Or perhaps I could use the excuse that they sent gifts but no one came to the banquet, and go to the Duke of Fuguo's household to return the courtesy and see Concubine Xiao?"

"No need." Zhao Ling always felt Fu Tingjun had already suffered enough and didn't want her to worry about this matter. He smiled and said, "If the Marquis of Yingchuan has anything to say, he'll call me over directly. As for Concubine Xiao, it's better you don't see her. I've heard that since the Marquis of Yingchuan's first wife, Madam Mei, passed away, the two sons have been raised in Grand Madame's quarters. Now that the Marquis of Yingchuan is going to Liaodong, by rights Concubine Xiao should accompany him to his post. But Grand Madame said she is advanced in years and no longer has the strength to continue instructing the two young masters. Concubine Xiao was Madam Mei's personal maid, someone who served Madam Mei, and is honest and dutiful. So Grand Madame had Concubine Xiao stay at the Duke of Fuguo's household to help her care for the two young masters, and chose another virtuous woman to attend to the Marquis of Yingchuan's daily needs..."

Fu Tingjun was greatly startled: "And what did the Marquis of Yingchuan say?"

"The Marquis agreed." Zhao Ling said, "Apparently Grand Madame has taken a fancy to a distant illegitimate grandniece from her own natal family."

Fu Tingjun was even less inclined to see Concubine Xiao.

But unexpectedly, just a few days later, Concubine Xiao came to call in person.

With a face full of apology, she said to Fu Tingjun, "The Marquis will be departing for Liaodong in a few days. I will stay behind to care for the two young masters. I had thought—since the Marquis's smooth departure for Liaodong was thanks to Lord Zhao's strategy, and with the Marquis going a thousand li away, if anything should happen to the two young masters, having Lord Zhao in the capital would provide some support—I wanted to meet with Mrs. Zhao. But when the Marquis learned of this, he gave me a severe scolding, saying that the Marquis is now an external official, and if Lord Zhao remains in the capital, he would be a capital official. For a capital official to cultivate relations with an external official is a great taboo; and if Lord Zhao were posted to the frontier, he would be a senior minister, which would invite suspicion of factionalism. My actions would have placed Lord Zhao in a position of disloyalty and unrighteousness. Hearing this, I was filled with trepidation, and have come specially to apologize to Mrs. Zhao. Please convey to Lord Zhao that if I have made any misstep, I beg his forbearance and forgiveness for my unintentional error."

Fu Tingjun's heart surged like a stormy sea.

So the Marquis of Yingchuan, using Youyou's birthday as an occasion to send generous gifts, was both thanking Zhao Ling for his strategy regarding the post exchange, and drawing a clear line between them—from now on, theirs was merely a relationship between colleagues, with no further ties of allegiance.

After seeing Concubine Xiao off, Fu Tingjun hastily summoned Zheng San: "Ninth Master has gone to the Ministry of War. Go to the Ministry of War and find Ninth Master. When you see him come out, tell him to return as quickly as possible—say I have urgent matters to discuss with him."

Zheng San acknowledged and left.

Fu Tingjun absentmindedly played cat's cradle with Youyou.

Yanqing came in to report: "Madam, that steward from the Yu family, Yu Huaian, has come again, saying he's here to deliver the Dragon Boat Festival gifts."

Fu Tingjun frowned slightly and said, "Just have him leave the gift list and go."

Yanqing was taken aback.

Fu Tingjun also felt it was somewhat discourteous, and softened her voice: "Tell him that Ninth Master has gone to the yamen, and the household is full of womenfolk, so it's not convenient to receive guests. Have him leave the gift list, and when Ninth Master returns, he will go to offer his thanks in person."

In the end, Yu Huaian was allowed to leave the gift list and go, though the words used were somewhat more tactful.

Yanqing breathed a sigh of relief and went to the reception hall in the south wing.

Yuwei hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Should we prepare some return gifts as well?"

"Why would we prepare return gifts?" Fu Tingjun said dismissively. "I have no intention of associating with their family. If they want to send gifts, let them send. If they expect me to reciprocate in kind, they're not qualified for that."

Having received her answer, Yuwei took out the list of Dragon Boat Festival gifts to show Fu Tingjun.

When Fu Tingjun saw that "Duke of Fuguo's mansion" and "Marquis of Yingchuan's mansion" were written prominently at the top of the list, she thought for a moment and set the list aside. "Let's wait until I've discussed this with Ninth Master. Isn't there still seven or eight days before the Dragon Boat Festival?"

Yuwei smiled and acknowledged her, then asked Youyou, "Shall I play cat's cradle with you?"

Youyou scrambled up and threw herself onto Fu Tingjun's back. "Mother, mother, mother..." as if afraid Fu Tingjun wouldn't play with her.

Everyone burst into laughter.

...

Yu Huaian, however, felt a nameless fire burning in his chest.

In the capital, no one had ever dared to treat him with such disdain.

He had gone to deliver gifts on behalf of the Yu family, and the Zhao family had received him with nothing more than a servant boy—not even offering him a cup of tea before sending him on his way...

When Yu Huaian reported back to Madam Yu, he couldn't help but show some displeasure.

Madam Yu, however, held her teacup and said with a calm smile, "Think back to when Grand Secretary Shen's chief steward, Shu Hong's father passed away. Your master sent you all the way to Huzhou to attend the funeral at Shu Hong's hometown. The eldest master and third master thought it quite unnecessary, but in the end, it was Steward Shu who contributed greatly to your master gaining Grand Secretary Shen's regard... Some things should not be judged by what's immediately in front of you."

Yu Huaian lowered his head in acknowledgment and withdrew carefully.

Mama Shu smiled and brought in a crystal dish of cherries. "Madam, do try these. I picked them out myself—every single one is sweet."

Madam Yu nodded, listlessly ate a cherry, and set down her toothpick.

Mama Shu seemed about to speak but hesitated.

Madam Yu took out her handkerchief and dabbed the corner of her mouth. "If you have something to say, say it. All this hemming and hawing—who did you learn that from?"

Mama Shu hurriedly smiled and said, "I was just thinking how kind you are to that young lady of the Fu family. Steward Yu is so busy, yet you insisted he personally make the trip..."

"What would you know!" Madam Yu said with a melancholy sigh. "In the end, our family wronged her... Especially Depu... I'm doing this to accumulate blessings for him!"

Mama Shu fell silent.

A young maid came in to announce, "The eldest young master has arrived."

Madam Yu glanced at Mama Shu, who nimbly dropped the topic and stepped forward to lift the curtain herself.

Yu Jingxiu, dressed in a lake-blue robe of Hangzhou silk, walked in with an easy, graceful bearing.

The moment Madam Yu saw him, joy welled up in her eyes.

She hurriedly instructed the maids to serve tea and refreshments, then took her son's hand and asked with concern, "Why are you back so early today?"

"The emperor went to the Western Gardens, and there was nothing pressing today, so Lord Hu let us leave early." Yu Jingxiu sat down beside his mother and began massaging her shoulders. "On the way back, I stopped at Fragrant Sauce Garden and bought a few catties of that assorted pickled vegetables you like so much. I even asked the shopkeeper to add extra radish... That way, there'll be an extra dish on your table at dinner."

Madam Yu's face lit up with a gratified smile.

Yu Jingxiu then brought up the Dragon Boat Festival gifts. "...I heard Huaian went to Shi Family Lane early this morning?"

Madam Yu's smile gradually faded, and she gave a displeased "Mm."

Yu Jingxiu smiled and said, "Regardless, Huaian is the chief steward of our household. How could we send him to deliver gifts in person? Next time something like this comes up, just leave it to me..."

His tone was light, as if he were casually chatting with his mother about household matters.

Madam Yu, however, raised an eyebrow and instructed the attendants nearby, "All of you, leave us."

Everyone in the room was taken aback, but they quickly curtsied and withdrew.

Only when mother and son were alone did Madam Yu speak. "The Bureau of Ceremonies keeps you busy—you're run off your feet every day. Huaian going to deliver the festival gifts—your wife told you about that, didn't she?"

"No, no," Yu Jingxiu said, a flicker of regret passing through his expression. He had only noticed that his wife had seemed downcast these past two days, and when he couldn't find out why, he'd made inquiries and learned that his mother didn't care for his wife and always thought the worst of her... He should have phrased it more tactfully, so his mother wouldn't have added this to his wife's account... The thought flashed through his mind, and he quickly said, "I happened to run into Huaian at the gate..."

"Huaian is not one to gossip—otherwise, he could never have risen to chief steward of Jia Street." Madam Yu coldly cut him off. "That Zuo Junjie—have you found him yet?"

His father had told him not to tell his mother—how did she know?

The suddenness of it startled Yu Jingxiu.

Madam Yu's gaze was sharp, with a hint of chill in her brow as she looked at him. "You haven't found him, have you?"

"Mother!" Yu Jingxiu looked somewhat embarrassed.

Madam Yu's gaze grew colder, yet her tone became even more indifferent: "What I despise about your wife is precisely this petty air of hers. What times are these now, and all she knows is jealousy and fussing over trifles. If she were truly virtuous and wise, she should be finding ways to help you through this crisis! As the saying goes, 'A raised hand never strikes a smiling face.' Since you can't locate Zuo Junjie, and you invited the Zhao couple over to discuss matters only to part on bad terms, I have to work on these small details, hoping to move Madam Fu and leave you a way out." As she spoke, the corners of her eyes and brows grew ever more piercing. "This should have been your wife's responsibility. Unfortunately, not only did she fail to think of it, but even watching me do it, she cannot grasp the pains I've taken... So now I have to let this old face of mine go and press against others' cold faces!" Having said this, she curled her lips into a smile and mocked herself: "Who would have thought that after a lifetime of prominence, when I'm old and should be enjoying my grandchildren in comfort, I'd end up humbling myself and watching the expressions of a younger generation."

"Mother!" Yu Jingxiu felt both ashamed and embarrassed, lowering his head.