Chapter 189

At this, Madam Yu's expression softened slightly, and her voice grew gentler: "In such hot weather, you went all the way to Jiangxiang Garden—you must be tired, aren't you? Go back to your room and rest! Come have dinner with your wife this evening. I'll have the kitchen make your favorite braised duck and your wife's favorite tea-scented dumplings."

"I'm not tired." Yu Jingxiu's guilt had yet to ease. He picked up the crystal dish before Madam Yu and served his mother cherries. "I'll just stay here and keep you company."

Madam Yu smiled faintly at this, a hint of nostalgia surfacing in her eyes: "I still remember when you were little—every day after school, you'd nestle in my arms just like this and tell me about your lessons. After you washed up, we'd go together to pay respects to your grandmother... Later, your father felt that your grandmother, your aunts, and I were spoiling you too much, so he decided to send you to the Fan family to study, only allowing you to return during festivals. You have no idea—my heart felt as if it were being twisted, and I soaked several pillows with tears. But thinking of your future, I pretended nothing was wrong and helped you pack your clothes and arrange your brushes and ink..." As she spoke, Madam Yu smiled and stroked her son's head. "In the blink of an eye, you've grown so big. Not only have you taken a wife, but you've also earned official rank. Every time I think of it, I wake up smiling several times in my dreams."

"Mother!" She spoke only of his merits and never mentioned his lack of a son, which made Yu Jingxiu lower his head in both shame and remorse. "Your son is unfilial—I haven't been able to let you hold a grandson..."

"You're both still young; there will be plenty of opportunities." Madam Yu said softly. "Some things can't be rushed. The more anxious you are, the harder they are to come by. That's why there's the saying, 'Plant willows carelessly, and they grow into shade.' But you also can't simply defy your elders. You're my son, so naturally I see you as the best no matter what—but above you, there's your eldest aunt, and below you, your aunt... harmony in the family brings prosperity!" She added, "People outside say how shrewd I am, how formidable, how domineering. But you grew up by my side—have I ever been that kind of person? It's precisely because I gave birth to you that whether it's your eldest aunt or your aunt, haven't I yielded to them in everything? I simply keep in mind the principle that water overflows when full, and the moon wanes when complete—I already have everything. If I don't endure a little frustration, how could I peacefully enjoy such blessings? You're a clever person—you should understand these principles better than I do!"

Water overflows when full, and the moon wanes when complete...

Yu Jingxiu silently repeated this phrase in his mind, his thoughts drifting slightly.

Whenever Grandmother bestowed fine gifts upon her daughters-in-law, or Father brought back some rare trinket from his travels, Mother always let Eldest Aunt and Aunt choose first.

Back then, he was too young to understand and felt indignant on his mother's behalf. But Mother would hold him close with a smile and say, "I already have you—that's the best thing of all. I don't covet anything else..."

Watching him, a glimmer of a smile flashed in Madam Yu's eyes. She picked up her teacup and took a leisurely sip.

...

Yu Jingxiu returned to his room, where his wife, Lady Fan, was praying in the small Buddhist shrine she had set up beside their chambers.

Hearing his footsteps, she smiled and came out to greet him: "Why are you back so early today? Did you go pay your respects to Mother?"

A gentle breeze stirred the air, carrying the rich, fragrant scent of sandalwood.

Yu Jingxiu felt a moment of dazed confusion and asked her, "Since when have you become so diligent in your worship?"

Lady Fan shot him a sideways glance and said with playful reproach, "This Guanyin Bodhisattva was brought back together by you and me from Tanzhe Temple—how could you forget so soon? Clearly, not a single thing about me has ever been on your mind!"

Only then did Yu Jingxiu remember.

This was the statue his wife had asked the eminent monks of Tanzhe Temple to consecrate in hopes of bearing a child...

He quickly clasped his hands in apology and said with a smile, "I beg your forgiveness, my lady!"

Lady Fan covered her mouth and laughed, her expression filled with joy, clearly not having taken such trifles to heart.

Beside them, Mozhuan couldn't help but chime in: "The young mistress says there is no better husband in the world than the young master. She burns three sticks of incense every day, praying that the young master lives a long life, enjoys a smooth official career, and is blessed with many children and much happiness..."

Lady Fan shot Mozhuan a glare. "You talk too much!"

Mozhuan pouted. "I'm not lying! The young mistress says exactly that before the Bodhisattva every day!" She looked quite aggrieved.

Yu Jingxiu smiled and stepped in to mediate for mistress and maid alike: "Alright, alright—go wash up quickly. We'll head over to Mother's place for dinner soon."

Lady Fan's expression stiffened slightly. "Has Mother given any instructions?"

"What instructions could she have?" Yu Jingxiu smiled and put his arm around Lady Fan's shoulders, leading her toward the main hall. "It's just that we haven't had dinner together in a while—she wants a bit of liveliness..."

Hearing this, Lady Fan couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "We just had lunch together two days ago..."

Her mother-in-law had kept a stern face throughout, and whenever she reached for a dish or picked up her bowl, that icy, frost-like gaze would sweep over her. Had she not been confident that her upbringing and manners were beyond reproach, she would likely have knocked over the dishes long ago.

With these thoughts, she felt somewhat uneasy.

Yu Jingxiu was surprised and hesitated, asking, "You don't want to go?" Spending every day with someone who doesn't like you would make anyone feel like each day drags on like a year, but recalling his mother's words from earlier, he couldn't help but advise, "Mother came to the capital for our sake. She doesn't know anyone here and doesn't even have someone to talk to. Can you just be a bit more patient? Once we have a child and Mother's heart is put at ease, things will be different!"

Yes, the key was having a child.

As long as she could carry on the Yu family line, what more could her mother-in-law find to criticize?

At this thought, her spirits lifted, but fearing her husband might have other ideas, she quickly said, "I was just feeling a little upset that no matter what I do, Mother remains cold toward me." Remembering her own mother's advice before her marriage—"The harder the times, the more you should keep a cheerful face—who wants to see a sour expression every day?"—she curled her lips into a sweet smile and said in a voice like silver bells, "Nothing in this world is perfect. I already have a natal family that treasures me like a jewel, a kind father-in-law, and the most considerate husband... There must be some regrets, or even the Bodhisattva would envy my fortune!"

Yu Jingxiu was stunned.

His mother and his wife had both said the same thing!

He said blankly, "You... you think the same way?"

Instead of looking at her with an apologetic gaze as he usually did when she made self-pitying remarks, and then comforting her tenderly...

Lady Fan was taken aback.

Yu Jingxiu had already walked distractedly into the inner chamber.

...

Zhao Ling returned home at around five in the afternoon.

After hearing Fu Tingjun relay Concubine Xiao's words, he smiled bitterly. "I underestimated the Marquis. When it comes to decisiveness and ruthlessness, if the Marquis claims second place, no one dares claim first." It was the first time his tone carried a note of admiration.

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but console him. "Ninth Master appreciates the Marquis's recommendation. You can repay him in the future."

"That's all we can do for now." Zhao Ling sighed deeply and sat down in the armchair. Fu Tingjun personally brewed him some tea. He took the cup, drank a sip, and asked about Madam Fu's mourning-removal ceremony. "...Today the Emperor convened with the grand secretaries at the Western Garden and set the date of the eighth day of the fifth month to welcome the Marquis of Longping back to the capital. I've been assigned to serve in the Ministry of Rites, and the one in charge of this matter is Lord Wu, the Vice Minister of Rites who lives next door. Lord Wu specifically sent a clerk to ask me to come to the Ministry of Rites early tomorrow morning to discuss matters. I'm afraid I'll be busy with this for the next few days. As for your mother's affairs, please take care of them. Whether you go to Sixi Lane or hold a Buddhist service for her at a famous temple, just let me know once you've decided."

"Let's hold a Buddhist service for Mother at Tanzhe Temple!" Fu Tingjun said without hesitation. "Mother's dying wish was also for me not to set foot in the Fu family home again."

Although Zhao Ling disliked the Fu family greatly, if Fu Tingjun wanted to return to Sixi Lane for her mother's affairs, he would still be willing to swallow his pride and accompany her. Now that Fu Tingjun had decided to hold the service at Tanzhe Temple, he called Jin Yuanbao to help make arrangements. "...Youyou is growing bigger and her temper is growing too. She can't walk steadily yet, but she won't let anyone hold her hand or support her. Your sister-in-law can't take her eyes off her for a moment, afraid she'll fall if she's not careful. If you can help out a bit, your sister-in-law can have some relief."

Jin Yuanbao accepted the task and, on his next day off, went to Tanzhe Temple to make all the arrangements.

Zhao Ling had barely managed to welcome the Marquis of Longping and Mo Yi to the capital when the Marquis of Yingchuan and He Fu returned to the capital to meet the Emperor regarding troop rotation. The Marquis of Yingchuan came from a distinguished meritorious family, and He Fu had not been back to the capital for a long time—one needed to bid farewell, the other needed to make preparations. With comings and goings, everyone of any standing in the military was stirred up. On top of that, Mo Yi was determined to tie Zhao Ling to his chariot and brought him along wherever he went, leaving Zhao Ling caught up in endless social obligations, utterly miserable.

Just then, Mrs. Zhang, the mother-in-law of Yang Yucheng, came to town to attend the full-month celebration for the son of her niece on her natal side. She brought some fresh fruits and vegetables for Fu Tingjun along the way and cordially invited them to the countryside to escape the summer heat. "...The wind comes off the river—it's so cool and refreshing!"

Fu Tingjun didn't take it to heart and responded politely, sealing two taels of silver as a congratulatory gift for Mrs. Zhang to pass along to her niece.

Giving a gift between in-laws—this brought face to Mrs. Zhang.

Mrs. Zhang beamed with joy and insisted that Fu Tingjun come along to the celebration.

Fu Tingjun thought it over and went with Mrs. Zhang to her niece's house.

When Zhao Ling returned and didn't see Fu Tingjun, he heard that Mrs. Zhang had come and had invited them to the countryside to escape the heat. His heart stirred. Thinking that his official post hadn't been confirmed yet, he decided that once Madam Fu's mourning-removal ceremony was over, he would notify the Five Armies Supervisory Office, leave Zheng San and his wife to watch the house, and take Fu Tingjun, Youyou, A Sen, and the others to Zhangjiawan.

Yang Yucheng had no family of his own, so the Zhang family treated Zhao Ling as their in-law.

The close relationship between the two families showed that the Zhang family treated others with generosity and kindness.

Lord Zhang was naturally overjoyed and specially selected the most scenic courtyard on his estate for the Zhao couple to stay in. As the Zhang family was a prominent clan, all the aunts and uncles from the extended family came to keep the guests company upon hearing that Lord Zhang's in-laws had arrived to escape the summer heat. Even Yang Yucheng took leave from his duties to join them. They spent several days feasting and drinking together, with Lord Zhang personally accompanying Zhao Ling—sometimes inviting him fishing, sometimes strolling through the fields, sometimes touring the mountains. Poor Yang Yucheng, however, had to attend to them with the deference of a junior, serving at their side throughout.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Zhang and Miss Zhang came every day to keep Fu Tingjun and Youyou company. Sometimes they gathered in the hallway for idle conversation, sometimes they took Youyou to play in the rear garden, and sometimes they sought Fu Tingjun's advice on needlework. Even when the couple, in the deep of night, summoned servants to bring them hot water after their passionate embraces, the Zhang household servants merely attributed it to the hot weather. This gradually put Fu Tingjun's lingering unease to rest, and she let Zhao Ling do as he pleased without restraint.