Chapter 192

Because she was aware of her pregnancy, even though she had no symptoms, drawing on her past experience, Fu Tingjun became extra careful in everything she did. After helping Yang Yucheng bring the Young Miss of the Zhang family into the household as his bride, she drank the younger sister-in-law's tea as a representative of the Yang family's close relatives, distributed the meeting gifts, and after the Yang couple completed their three-day return visit, Fu Tingjun went back to the capital.

She passed a little over a month cautiously, then immediately and impatiently summoned a physician to take her pulse. When it was confirmed that she was with child, the smile could not be concealed as it spilled from the corners of her eyes and brows.

Fu Tingjun promptly wrote a letter to Zhao Ling.

Zhao Ling was overjoyed. Not only did he reply with a letter over a dozen pages long, listing all the precautions he knew, he also had Anxin bring back a large quantity of medicinal herbs and a cartload of chicken, duck, fish, and meat.

Zheng Sanniang laughed, saying, "Good thing the weather is still cold, or all these fine things would have gone bad."

Fu Tingjun felt both sweet and embarrassed. She called Anxin to the main hall and asked in detail about Zhao Ling's daily life and meals.

"...He specially hired two well-known matrons from the surrounding villages to manage the kitchen," Anxin said. "There's also a dedicated woman for washing and laundering. Ninth Master and Commander Mo said the snow this year is heavy, and they fear the Tatars might invade, so they're busy drilling the troops before the ground freezes solid."

Hearing that everything was well with Zhao Ling, Fu Tingjun felt at ease.

Anxin then pulled an ordinary-looking envelope from her bosom: "Ninth Master instructed me to give this to you alone, Madam, when I saw you."

Since it was to be given privately, it could not be opened in front of everyone. Fu Tingjun accepted the envelope and instructed Yuwei to take Anxin down for a meal: "...She says she must head back tomorrow. In a while, have Zheng San drive the cart and take you to the ready-made clothing shop to buy Anxin a few outfits for the season. The weather looks gloomy—she may well run into snow on the way back."

Anxin quickly knelt and kowtowed to Fu Tingjun to express her thanks, then withdrew with Yuwei.

Fu Tingjun dismissed her attendants and went to the west study.

Inside the envelope were seven or eight bank drafts, ranging from large ones of five hundred taels to small ones of fifty taels, adding up to over two thousand taels of silver in total.

Fu Tingjun's brows furrowed slightly. That evening, she called Anxin over again to ask: "With whom does Ninth Master usually socialize?"

"Many people," Anxin said, speaking with some animation. "Commander Mo only handles troop training; everything else is managed by Ninth Master. From officials in the prefectural offices down to minor clerks delivering grain supplies, everyone seeks to have a word with Ninth Master!" Then, as if recalling something, she added, "Oh, and Third Master Ye. He's now in charge of the Ye family's grain business in Datong and Xuantong, and he often goes to see Ninth Master."

Ever since the capital was besieged and Manager Ye had run around making inquiries on Zhao Ling's behalf, the relationship between the Ye family and the Zhao family had gradually grown closer. Although he was often away from the capital due to business, no matter what happened with the Zhao family, his congratulatory gifts had never been lacking.

Fu Tingjun felt somewhat concerned. That night she wrote a letter to Zhao Ling, mentioning the harvest in Xi'an: "...The weather has been favorable, and together with the shop rental income, we bring in five to six hundred taels of silver each year. The household's annual expenses of four hundred taels are more than sufficient, and we still put two hundred taels a year into the silver shop to earn interest, which covers my cosmetics and rouge money. Ninth Master need not worry about household expenses." Then early the next morning, she handed it to Anxin, who was to hurry back to Xuantong.

A few days later, a letter came from Zhao Ling, telling her to rest assured, saying he would only take what was rightfully his—not a single coin of what was not.

Fu Tingjun did not belabor the point.

When November arrived and she received the estate earnings delivered by Shopkeeper Lyu, Zhao Ling also had Anxin bring back two cartloads of New Year goods from Xuantong.

How could they possibly finish all this?

Fu Tingjun discussed it with Zheng Sanniang, and through Jin Yuanbao's help in putting in a word, Zheng Sanniang and Zhou Shi took the surplus items to the market and sold them for three hundred taels of silver.

She then rewarded each of them with two taels.

Zhou Shi was somewhat surprised, but Zheng Sanniang knew that Fu Tingjun had always been considerate. Raising the reward silver in her hand, she asked Youyou: "What does the young miss want to eat? Mother Zheng is treating!"

Youyou giggled and said in her milky voice, "I want to eat wo-si candy."

She could now speak in full sentences.

Zheng Sanniang chuckled and bought Youyou a packet of candy, A Sen an inkstone, and Linchun two writing brushes—Linchun would turn seven after the Spring Festival, and Fu Tingjun had him start his schooling alongside A Sen at the Bowen Private School on Chuntree Lane.

The children were all delighted, and even before the New Year arrived, there was already a festive bustle in the air.

Fu Tingjun then had Zheng San take fifty taels to the silver shop and had fifty silver ingots made in patterns such as "Top Scholar," "Abundance Year After Year," and "Three Rams Bring Fortune," each weighing one tael. During the New Year, everyone was given a pair.

The unexpected bonuses brought both surprise and delight to everyone. Smiles adorned every face, and the festive spirit of the season grew even stronger.

After the Lantern Festival had passed, the Young Miss Zhang, now Madam Yang, brought news of her pregnancy.

Fu Tingjun was overjoyed. Under Jin Yuanbao's escort, she brought Youyou to Zhangjiawan to visit Madam Yang.

Mrs. Zhang was at her son-in-law's home taking care of her daughter.

When the two women met, they immediately had an endless stream of things to talk about.

Jin Yuanbao, meanwhile, kept teasing Yang Yucheng.

Yang Yucheng, who usually loved to argue with Jin Yuanbao, now could only grin foolishly no matter what Jin Yuanbao said, his joy written all over his face—so much so that Jin Yuanbao could only shake his head at the sight.

Fu Tingjun, however, felt a stir in her heart. On the way back, she probed Jin Yuanbao's intentions: "...Is there anyone you have your eye on? I know quite a few ladies as well; I could certainly help you make inquiries."

"I spend all my days dealing with criminals and lawbreakers—where would I meet anyone!" A rare flush of embarrassment appeared on Jin Yuanbao's face. "Sister-in-law, please don't tease me."

"Then let me play matchmaker for you!" Fu Tingjun said.

Jin Yuanbao hemmed and hawed, trying to decline.

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but purse her lips and smile.

A few days later, she invited Lady Chen Shi over as a guest and asked her to help arrange a match.

After explaining Jin Yuanbao's situation, Lady Chen Shi recalled a distant younger cousin on her mother's side: "...Her father serves in the Shuntian Prefecture treasury, and her paternal uncle holds the post of Assistant Commissioner in the Right Army Command of the Five Armies Supervisory Office. The family is quite well-off. In looks and character, she's no less than Madam Yang—she's just seven or eight years younger than Lord Jin." She added, "But when a man is older, he knows better how to cherish his wife." She seemed very pleased with Jin Yuanbao.

Fu Tingjun's interest was piqued. She had Lady Chen Shi arrange for her to secretly meet the young Miss Shi first.

Miss Shi's appearance was not as striking as Madam Yang's, but in her conduct she seemed more composed and steady.

Thinking of Jin Yuanbao's temperament, Fu Tingjun couldn't help but nod slightly.

When she returned, she told Jin Yuanbao about it.

Jin Yuanbao's face instantly flushed crimson. He muttered, "I'll leave everything to Sister-in-law's judgment," then, looking somewhat flustered, scooped up Youyou: "Let's go to the back courtyard and play on the swing!"

Youyou clapped her hands in delight.

Fu Tingjun and Yuwei both covered their mouths and laughed.

Jin Yuanbao's retreating figure looked rather awkward.

Fu Tingjun and Yuwei laughed even harder.

When Yang Yucheng learned of this, he volunteered to accompany Jin Yuanbao to meet Miss Shi for the customary viewing.

Fu Tingjun, meanwhile, busied herself with A Sen's upcoming child examination.

A Sen was very nervous and asked her, "What if I don't pass?"

Fu Tingjun spat a "pah" at him and said, "Where is that A Sen from before—the one full of bold spirit, who grabbed a stick and struck out when he saw me being bullied?"

A Sen gave an embarrassed smile.

Fu Tingjun seized the moment to encourage him: "If you don't pass this time, we'll go back and study hard, then take it again next year. What's there to worry about?"

A Sen had only been afraid of disappointing Fu Tingjun. Seeing her expression so relaxed, he nodded repeatedly, and a hint of spirited confidence returned to his brow.

Linchun, who had been listening nearby, suddenly clenched his little fist and shouted at A Sen: "Second Young Master will definitely pass! He'll definitely pass!"

His indignant little expression, as if A Sen had suffered some great injustice, made both Fu Tingjun and A Sen burst out laughing, sweeping away all the tension in the air.

A Sen couldn't help but pat Linchun on the head, then looked at Fu Tingjun and said, "I'll do my very best on the exam."

Fu Tingjun smiled and nodded.

Donggu arrived, sent by Madam Wang, bearing a gift of the four treasures of the study.

Fu Tingjun thanked her again and again.

Donggu then pulled a pouch made of bright red plain-weave Hangzhou silk from inside her garment: "These are the Scholar's Talismans that the two young ladies of the Wang family prayed for on behalf of Young Master A Sen. They said to have him carry them during the child examination—they'll bless him with success."

Fu Tingjun was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and asked Donggu to convey her thanks to the two young ladies. She also packed a box of famous delicacies from the capital for Donggu to take back: "A little treat for the two young ladies."

Donggu accepted with a smile, and Yuwei saw her to the front gate.

Fu Tingjun took the pouch and went to see A Sen.

"The two young ladies of the Wang family are cheering you on—you mustn't lose heart." She hung the pouch on A Sen's belt. "At the very least, you owe it to yourself."

A Sen nodded vigorously: "Sister-in-law, rest assured—I'll take the exam with all my might." He did indeed look full of spirit.

Only then did Fu Tingjun's suspended heart settle.

On the ninth day of the second month, despite her now somewhat bulky figure, she rose before dawn to pay respects to the ancestors, then rode in the carriage driven by Zheng San to accompany A Sen to the examination hall.

On the way back, it was still early—the sun had only just shown half its face.

She thought of bringing some sugar twists, melon seeds, and other snacks back for Youyou, so she instructed the carriage to detour to Gulou Street. They stopped for a while at Jinlan Zhai, the capital's most famous tea-and-pastry shop, where she browsed a bit with Yuwei's support, bought some pastries, and then was helped out of the shop by Yuwei.

Directly across from Jinlan Zhai was Jiangxiang Yuan.

Beside Jiangxiang Yuan was parked a black-lacquered, flat-topped carriage with green curtains.

Just as Fu Tingjun stepped out of the shop, a woman's doubtful "Eh?" sound came from within that carriage.

At the carriage window, Madam Yu continued to hold up the green gauze curtain with her hand, turning her head to say to Mama Shu beside her, "Take a look, isn't that Miss Fu?"

Mama Shu leaned forward to look and saw Fu Tingjun being helped into a carriage by a maid with a strikingly delicate face.

She was wearing a rose-red double-gold-thread sleeveless jacket, her belly protruding high, her complexion rosy, which made her thick eyebrows and bright eyes appear even more striking and breathtakingly beautiful.

"I do think it looks like the young lady of the Fu family," Mama Shu said hesitantly, "and it seems she is with child again."

Madam Yu looked out the carriage window.

The Zhao family's carriage had already slowly pulled away from the Jinlan Tea House.

"So I wasn't mistaken after all!" Madam Yu said, her voice tinged with bitterness.

Mama Shu was at a loss for how to respond.