Chapter 195

Fu Tingjun sat on the large kang by the window in the inner chamber. Through the half-open lattice window, she could see A Sen standing beneath the wisteria trellis in the main courtyard, speaking with the Wang sisters.

Sunlight fell upon his face—handsome features, striking and spirited.

Whatever he was saying made the eldest Miss Wang cover her mouth and laugh, while the second young miss leaned against her sister's shoulder, giggling uncontrollably.

Madam Wang, sitting shoulder to shoulder with Fu Tingjun on the kang, laughed along as well.

She turned to Fu Tingjun and said, "A Sen has been clever and quick-witted since he was little. Now that he's studied, he's gained even more composure—the more you look at him, the more endearing he becomes." Her tone carried equal parts envy and wistfulness.

"You flatter him," Fu Tingjun replied modestly. A thought flashed through her mind—the Wangs' second daughter was ten this year—and, as if possessed, she added, "Now that you and Lord Wang are reunited, have you considered giving Jingtong and Jingyi a little brother or sister? The midwife Lü who delivered me said the incense at Daci Temple outside Xuanwu Gate is very efficacious. I'm planning to go pay my respects in a couple of days—why don't you come with me and offer incense to the Bodhisattva as well?"

Madam Wang smiled bitterly at this. "I injured my body giving birth to Jingyi. After all these years with no results, I've long since given up that hope."

Such a fine couple, yet with no one to offer incense before their memorial tablets after they pass.

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but feel sorry for them. She consoled her, "Then why not keep one of your daughters at home? It would be the same."

"That's exactly what my husband and I have discussed," Madam Wang said with a smile. "We just can't decide whether it's better to keep Jingtong or Jingyi."

Whichever one they kept at home, preparations would need to begin now.

From outside the window came a burst of bright, cheerful laughter.

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but look out again.

She saw both of the Wang sisters staring intently at A Sen as he spoke with animated enthusiasm.

Fu Tingjun felt a stirring of interest herself... but then she thought of how humble A Sen's origins were—Madam Wang might not even consider him worthy... and a sense of disappointment crept into her heart.

She pushed the refreshments on the kang table toward Madam Wang, smiling. "This is pea-flour cake made by Zheng Sanniang. She claims it's even better than what Jinlan Zhai makes. Do try some!"

Madam Wang smiled and said "Alright," but her gaze lingered on the radiant A Sen for a moment before she looked away.

Fu Tingjun's just-settled heart began to waver again.

That evening, when Zhao Ling returned, he found her sitting at the kang table by the window, propped on her elbow, looking utterly distracted.

He couldn't help but step forward and kiss his wife's cheek. "What are you thinking about?"

"Oh! You're back." Fu Tingjun quickly stood up. "Why didn't you let me know? I didn't even notice." Her tone carried a hint of playful reproach.

Zhao Ling tapped her nose and began undressing himself. "I called out to you when I came in and you didn't even stir, and you say I didn't let you know."

Seeing this, Fu Tingjun stepped forward to help.

Zhao Ling stopped her. "Don't bother with me—take care of yourself first." Then he asked about Youyou. "Already asleep?"

"Mm!" Fu Tingjun replied, sitting back down on the kang.

Zhao Ling changed his clothes, washed his face, and sat down beside her. He asked again, "What happened? Sitting there lost in thought all alone." His voice was very gentle, with a hint of concern.

Fu Tingjun pursed her lips and smiled. After a moment's deliberation, she told Zhao Ling, "A Sen has played well with the two Wang sisters since childhood, and Madam Wang wants to take in a son-in-law..."

"Absolutely not!" Zhao Ling said without a second thought. "A Sen may come from humble origins with no parents or kin to rely on, but since you had him call me his elder brother, he is my own blood brother. How could I let him be taken in as a son-in-law? That would be worse than never having him acknowledge me as his brother at all!" Then, feeling his tone had been a bit harsh, he softened his voice and continued, "I know you mean well for him. Though we brothers may be weak in numbers now, if we manage things well, we may yet establish our own household." He took Fu Tingjun's hand. "Don't worry—we won't stay like this forever."

"Oh my," Fu Tingjun said, "look at you, a vice commander now—you're a different person. I hadn't even finished one sentence, and you've already rattled off a whole speech. If I said two more words, you'd probably pour out a whole basketful."

Zhao Ling looked sheepish. "I was just worried you'd gotten so into matchmaking that you'd made some private promise to Madam Wang behind my back."

"Even if I were addicted to matchmaking, I'd know my limits!" Fu Tingjun pressed her advantage. "How could I give Madam Wang any promise without discussing it with you first?"

"My fault, my fault." Zhao Ling smiled and apologized. "How about this—I'll serve you tonight instead?"

Fu Tingjun spat at him, her face redder than the lanterns under the eaves. "Go on, keep up your nonsense! When you're done, you can sleep in the study tonight."

Zhao Ling shot her a glare, putting on a fierce expression. "Three days without discipline and you're ready to tear the roof off. You actually dared to make me sleep in the study!" With that, he scooped her up and gave her bottom three light pats. "Do you dare do it again?"

Fu Tingjun laughed uncontrollably.

Zhao Ling seized the moment and planted a loud kiss on her cheek.

Fu Tingjun nestled into his embrace.

Holding her, Zhao Ling rested his chin against the top of her head and murmured, "Not angry anymore?"

"When was I ever angry with you?" Fu Tingjun said lazily.

Zhao Ling just smiled.

Fu Tingjun blushed, her jade-white fingers toying with the sash at his waist as she said, "What I meant was, both of the Miss Wangs are quite lovely. I wonder which one Madam Wang will keep at home. When the time comes, we could seek the other one's hand for A Sen. What do you think?"

Zhao Ling was silent for a moment, then said, "Let's hold off on this for now. A Sen's family foundation is too thin. Better to first acquire some property for him. If he could even pass the scholar examination, that would be even better."

"That works too," Fu Tingjun said. "Anyway, the Wang family hasn't decided who to keep yet." Then, with a hint of worry, she added, "What if Madam Wang keeps the one A Sen likes? Should we sound out A Sen's feelings first? That way we can prepare in advance!"

"Nothing has even started yet, and you're already worrying." Zhao Ling smiled and patted her shoulder. "Go to sleep. Didn't you say you had to go to that Daci Nunnery early tomorrow morning?"

But Fu Tingjun remembered another matter. "When do you have free time these days? The Shi family said they'd like to invite us to a meal. But I was thinking—when marrying off a daughter, you raise your head; when taking in a wife, you lower yours. Why don't we host the Shi family instead? What do you think?"

"Fine!" Zhao Ling said. "Let's set it for the day after tomorrow. I'm free then." He added a reminder, "Have Penglai Pavilion deliver the banquet. You're not allowed in the kitchen."

"Zheng Sanniang and the others do the cooking. I'm just watching from the side..." Fu Tingjun said softly.

"Watching isn't allowed either." Zhao Ling said sternly. "Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you've had an easy pregnancy." He asked, "When is Old Lady Lü moving in?"

"Early May," Fu Tingjun said. "Can you stop being so nervous? It's not my first child. Even Old Lady Lü says my pregnancy is going smoothly and nothing will go wrong."

"Childbirth is like walking through the gates of hell..."

Seeing how genuinely worried he was, Fu Tingjun quickly assured him, "I'll have Zheng San order the banquet from Penglai Pavilion!"

Only then did Zhao Ling relent, and he helped Fu Tingjun settle in for the night.

Two days later, they had the meal with the Shi family. Since Zhao Ling wouldn't be back until March of next year, Jin Yuanbao, having learned from Yang Yucheng's lesson, set the date for March of the following year.

Zhao Ling stayed home for a few more days. He personally carried an eight-treat gift box to Old Lady Lü's residence, invited her to move into the house, and only then returned to Xuantong.

The weather grew hotter, and Fu Tingjun's pregnancy advanced further. After sending out the Dragon Boat Festival gifts, she devoted herself entirely to awaiting the birth at home.

Labor pains began on the morning of May tenth. By noon, she delivered a chubby eight-jin baby boy—mother and child both safe.

The women waiting in the inner chamber—Mrs. Zhang, Lady Chen Shi, Madam Wang, and the others—were overjoyed. Even Yang Yucheng's mother, Mrs. Zhang, who was waiting in the outer room, was delighted. She waddled out with her own pregnant belly to deliver the news to Yang Yucheng, Jin Yuanbao, and the others waiting in the southern hall.

Yang Yucheng and Jin Yuanbao were ecstatic. One wrote a letter to Zhao Ling, and the other went to spread the good news to the various households.

In the afternoon, Zheng San brought Youyou back. She had been at the Wang residence playing with the two Miss Wangs, looked after by Mrs. Tong.

Youyou lay at the edge of the bed, curiously studying the baby, and asked Fu Tingjun, "Why is he so big? Which tree did he grow on?"

Fu Tingjun was mortified.

It was all Zhao Ling's fault.

When Youyou had asked why Fu Tingjun's belly was so big, Fu Tingjun had said she'd eaten too much, but Zhao Ling had said she was carrying a little sister or little brother. Youyou had pressed further, asking why Zheng Sanniang said babies jumped out of fruits growing on trees. Zhao Ling had said Zheng Sanniang was wrong—babies were born, not picked from trees. Youyou then asked how they were born... Fu Tingjun had been forced to cut Zhao Ling off, saying Daddy was just teasing her, and Zheng Sanniang was right—babies did jump out of fruits on trees. Only then had she managed to coax Youyou to sleep.

She hadn't expected the child to still remember.

She had no choice but to say, "It's the biggest jujube tree in our backyard. It bore fruit while you were away."

Youyou nodded very seriously and sighed, "That must have been a huge fruit! Why wasn't I home for it?"

Her little-adult manner sent everyone into peals of laughter. But she tilted her head and said solemnly, "Why are you laughing? Did I say something wrong?"

The people in the room were doubled over, tears streaming from their laughter.

...

After the baby's third-day bathing ceremony, Madam Yu received the news.

"Gave birth to a chubby eight-pound boy!" she said somewhat sullenly. "With both a son and a daughter, she's truly blessed!"

Mama Shu dared not chime in, only saying, "Which opera troupe would you like to hire for a private performance on your birthday?"

But Mama Yu answered off-topic, "I recall you mentioned last time that Lord Wu has a distant cousin, a failed scholar whose wife has passed, leaving him with two daughters. He works as a tutor in someone else's home and can't manage to care for them, so he's thinking of sending them off as child brides. Go ask him if he'd be willing to have one become a concubine. If he agrees, everything else can be arranged."

Mama Shu felt a chill in her heart.

The mistress had finally lost her patience.

She responded with a solemn "Yes," changed her clothes, and went to see Madam Wu.

Madam Wu was overjoyed at the news and personally returned to Zhoushan. But her cousin had gone to Songjiang to tutor, so she hurried there as well. Her cousin was unwilling to have his daughter become a concubine, so she stayed there, laying out the pros and cons to him. Unable to withstand her silver tongue, he ultimately let his eldest daughter accompany her back to the capital.

By then it was late autumn, and the wind cut through to the bone.