Chapter 203

Fu Tingjun caught a glimpse of the carriage driver dawdling in front of the Wu residence from the corner of her eye. Looking at the beaming face of Madam Wu's personal mama standing before her, and thinking of those heavy potted trees, a mischievous impulse rose within her—Madam Wu was always quick to say pretty words to everyone, yet when any real difficulty arose, she would vanish without a trace. Since you've learned your mistress's ways to perfection, don't blame me for not standing on ceremony...

The thought flashed through her mind as Fu Tingjun said with a composed expression, "I was just worrying about how to move these potted trees! Since you're so kind, I'll trouble you, Mama, to call a few rough servants to give us a hand!"

Not only Madam Wu's mama, but even the crowd standing at the Wu family's gate was taken aback.

Anyone could tell that the offer of help was merely a polite gesture—no one expected Fu Tingjun to take it seriously... But since the words had already been spoken, how could she go back on them?

Madam Wu's mama had no choice but to smile and say "Of course," then sharply ordered a young maid beside her: "Hurry and call a few servants out to help Mrs. Zhao move her potted trees."

The young maid retreated with a somewhat flustered expression to summon the servants.

Fu Tingjun then thanked Madam Wu's personal mama: "...I've just returned from Fengtai. Once I change my clothes, I'll go thank Madam Wu in person!"

"Such a trifling matter,"—since things had come to this, there was no point in saying more. Madam Wu's personal mama set aside her resentment and responded with a smile, "You're too kind, Mrs. Zhao."

The woman in her forties who had been standing quietly nearby throughout their exchange listened and cast another glance at Fu Tingjun.

The carriage driver who had made way for Fu Tingjun called out "All set."

Zheng San expressed his thanks repeatedly and hailed the hired carriage to come over.

Everyone's attention was drawn over.

The hired carriage driver carefully reined in his horse, attempting several times to bring the carriage through, but each time he retreated upon hearing the rustling sound of the potted trees' branches scraping against the carriage parked in front of the Wu residence.

Zheng San grew anxious watching this. He yanked the hired carriage driver down and said, "Let me do it!"

If you do it, then any damage to the trees won't be my concern!

The hired carriage driver wiped the sweat from his forehead, his heart easing.

Zheng San drove the carriage halfway but didn't dare press forward recklessly. He called out to the driver of the carriage in front of the Wu residence: "Brother, would you mind moving over a bit more?"

That driver had been reluctant from the start. Hearing Madam Wu's personal mama address Fu Tingjun as "Madam" (tàitai), he knew she held no noble title—otherwise, even a seventh-rank "rúrén" would be addressed as "fūren" by neighbors out of mutual courtesy. This made him even more disgruntled. He curled his lip and said impatiently, "My carriage is already pressed against the wall. Where exactly do you expect me to move it?"

Fu Tingjun looked toward the carriage at this.

There was still two or three feet between the carriage and the wall.

She was rather displeased.

Zheng San knew he was putting the other man out, but the carriage was already halfway through, its front wheel wedged in the middle—backing out wouldn't be easy either. His smile took on an apologetic, ingratiating quality: "How about you step down and rest a moment, brother? Let me see if I can maneuver the two carriages past each other..."

The driver gave a cold smile and said nothing.

Zheng San's smile grew somewhat embarrassed as he said in a low voice, "I'd appreciate your help, brother!"

The driver glanced at the woman in her forties, and seeing her brow slightly furrowed, grew bolder. He looked at Zheng San askance and said with an air of superiority, "What do you mean by this? I've been driving carriages for decades—my passengers have all been the wealthy and noble, people of experience and standing. Every one of them would give me a thumbs up and praise my driving..."

Fu Tingjun saw the driver glance at the woman in her forties, who remained completely silent. She gave a cold snort inwardly and instructed Zheng San: "Since the carriage can't get through, just carry the potted trees into the house one by one."

Hearing this, the driver raised an eyebrow, a hint of harshness flashing across his face.

Mama Shu had already reached the Wu family's gate and was about to return. There were some fifteen to twenty potted trees on the carriage, all with lush foliage. If they were to be carried in one by one, it would take at least half an hour. If the tree-laden carriage hadn't gotten half its body stuck, it would have been manageable—he could have driven around from the other end of the alley. But now the tree carriage was wedged halfway, and he would either have to make way for them to pass or remain stuck there.

Let them pass. He had already said the carriage could not be moved any further, and to change his words now would only make it seem as though he were deliberately making things difficult for them. It would have been one thing if Mama Shu were not present, but with Mama Shu there... The lady had once said that the capital was a place where dragons and tigers lay hidden, and there was no telling how many sons of noble families walked its streets. If anyone were to rely on the Yu family's name to stir up trouble outside, the Yus would not only refuse to step in for them if they were beaten or killed, but every relative and connection serving in the Yu household would be implicated and dismissed... What if Mama Shu were to mention this to the lady? That would be disastrous. But if he did not give way, were they simply to wait here for half an hour, watching until they finished moving all the flowering trees?

Forget it. Once Mama Shu and the others boarded the carriage, he would just drive out from the alley side.

Whether the flowering trees lived or died—what business was it of his?

It wasn't as if he had driven his carriage between the two of them.

Having made up his mind, he opened his mouth to call out to Mama Shu, when the crisp voice of Mrs. Zhao reached his ears: "Zheng San, tell those men moving the flowering trees to be careful. That poinsettia cost me a hundred taels of silver, and those purple magnolias weren't cheap either—eighty taels a pot... Mind you don't bruise any part of them."

The lady was not one to show off, and besides, the poinsettia had only cost five taels, and the two purple magnolias a mere three taels... But when the corner of his eye caught the stunned expression on the carriage driver's face, Zheng San understood at once.

He put on a show of unease, and with a hint of fawning flattery, smiled: "Rest assured, madam. I'll personally watch them move the trees—not a single leaf or branch will be harmed."

Fu Tingjun nodded.

Mama Shu was a perceptive woman. Earlier she had merely been hesitating over whether to step forward and greet Fu Tingjun, but when she saw Fu Tingjun making an issue of the flowering trees, she knew the other party was angered. Thinking of how Madam Yu had always hoped to soften Fu Tingjun's attitude and thereby resolve the feud between the two families, she knew that if this matter were not clarified, it might well stir up a storm.

She gave a wry smile, hurried over to stand before Fu Tingjun, bent her knees in a salute, and respectfully addressed her as "Mrs. Zhao," introducing herself: "This servant is a mama in Madam Yu's household. I saw you were in conversation earlier and did not presume to come forward to pay my respects..." With that, she curtsied again and scolded the carriage driver: "Why don't you hurry down and help move the flowering trees!"

Her words carried not only a hint of explanation, but also a flavor of wanting to smooth things over and curry favor.

Not just the Yu family's carriage driver, but even Madam Wu's personal mama widened her eyes in astonishment.

Fu Tingjun thought Mama Shu looked somewhat familiar, but could not recall where she had seen her before. It was only when Mama Shu stepped forward to pay her respects that she remembered.

She had already held a very poor impression of the Yu family, and after witnessing the carriage driver's behavior, her contempt for them only deepened. Still, if the Yu family's people were willing to offer their labor for free, she would not refuse.

Fu Tingjun gave Mama Shu a faint nod, instructed Zheng San to "keep an eye on things," then turned to Madam Wu's personal mama and said, "After the long journey, I will go pay my respects to Madam Wu shortly." Holding the child, she turned and went back inside.

Madam Wu's personal mama stood with her mouth agape, and only after a long moment managed to say: "Mama Shu, you—you know Mrs. Zhao as well?"

"Yes!" Mama Shu had enjoyed smooth sailing throughout her years serving Madam Yu, and had never been treated with such coldness. She felt as though a lump were stuck in her chest, yet she could not give vent to it, and answered Madam Wu's personal mama absentmindedly.

Zheng San had already been disgusted by the Yu family carriage driver's high-and-mighty attitude, and now that he had a legitimate excuse to order him about, he was hardly going to be polite.

First he said, "The mamas of the Wu household are after all womenfolk—these flowering trees are too heavy, and if one were to fall to the ground it would be a real problem. I'd ask this brother to put his back into it," and had him carry a potted tree through the gate. Then he said, "This spot gets the western sun in the afternoon—if these trees are to be transplanted in a few days and get scorched, I won't be able to answer to our madam. I'd ask this brother to help move this pot over to the east side." Then he said, "This spot is too close to the walkway—what if some page boy or maid accidentally kicks the pot? I'd ask this brother to lend a hand and shift it over against the wall"... Back and forth he went, tiring the man out like a dog, who cursed his mother continuously in his heart.

If you have something to say, just say it! What's all this running me back and forth for?

The Yu family carriage driver threw down his hands.

I'm done!

He turned and headed for the door.

A small lesson had been administered, and that was enough.

Zheng San gave a faint, mocking smile and called out after him: "Hey, you're just going to leave those flowering trees sitting in the path like that? If someone knocks them over, who am I supposed to make pay for them?"

The Yu family carriage driver's body stiffened with rage. He barely restrained himself from retorting, and stormed out of the Zhao residence gate, going to find Mama Shu.

Mama Shu was also quite displeased. After a moment's thought, she said: "Forget it—they've finished moving their flowering trees. Let's head back first!" She did not say a single word of complaint.

The driver was dumbfounded.

Mama Shu had already taken the maid's hand and boarded the carriage.

One of the young maidservants, who had just had her hair combed and wore a timid expression, brightened at the sight, then lowered her head. She waited silently until everyone had boarded the carriage before carefully climbing to the back and sitting down.

Upon returning to the Yu household, Mama Shu reported this matter to Madam Yu.

Madam Yu said dismissively, "He's nothing more than a carriage driver. What does it matter if he suffers a little on behalf of his masters!" Then, with a gratified tone, she added, "In this household, you're the only one who truly understands me!"

Mama Shu felt aggrieved on Madam Yu's behalf, thinking that since Madam Fu was ungrateful, it would have been enough to simply exchange nods as a formality—there was really no need to humble herself so. But hearing Madam Yu say this, she found she couldn't voice those words after all.

Madam Yu naturally understood Mama Shu as well, and said with heartfelt sincerity, "Killing a man only requires a nod of the head. If someday Depu's affairs are impeached, everything I've done today will serve as evidence of our sincere recompense to Madam Fu, and perhaps it could even overturn the case."

"Madam!" Mama Shu was both startled and delighted, gazing at Madam Yu with admiration.

Madam Yu smiled faintly and said, "Alright, alright, let's not speak of this matter anymore. I recall there's still a century-old ginseng in my storehouse. Have the steward send word to Nanjing to have that ginseng brought over. In case anything happens during Concubine Wu's delivery, it can be used to sustain her strength."

Mama Shu hesitated and said, "But that was kept for your own use..."

Madam Yu waved her hand, cutting off Mama Shu's words: "Without a grandson, living a hundred years only brings vexation. With a grandson, when I go to meet the ancestors, there will be someone to wear mourning clothes for me, and I can depart in peace." Unwilling to dwell further on matters of life and death, she asked, "How has Lady Fan been treating Concubine Wu these days?"