Chapter 207

Zheng San went to the hall in the south wing, while Fu Tingjun sat on the large kang by the window, reading the letter by the light filtering through the window lattice.

In just a few breaths' time, her expression changed drastically.

Yuwei, who was attending her, grew anxious.

Ninth Master had said he would return in early March, and by her calculations, he should be arriving any day now. What could be so important that he couldn't wait to tell his wife in person, and instead had to entrust a nobleman to deliver a letter to her...

Her mind raced.

Could it be that Ninth Master had found someone else outside? Now that he was about to return, he had to inform his wife and bring the matter into the open...

Yuwei couldn't help but study Fu Tingjun closely.

She saw Fu Tingjun's brows tightly knitted, her usually rosy complexion growing paler and paler as if struck by frost, with fine beads of sweat emerging on her forehead...

Forgetting all decorum between mistress and servant, she asked urgently, "Madam, Madam, what did Ninth Master write in the letter?"

Fu Tingjun looked up, a glimmer of moisture at the corners of her eyes: "He said that after the New Year, they discovered traces of the Tatars near Xuanfu. Mo Yi personally led troops out several times to suppress them but returned without success. Both he and Mo Yi felt something was amiss, and fearing the Tatars might take advantage of their absence to invade, they decided to postpone their journey to the capital..."

So that was it!

Yuwei let out a long sigh of relief.

Fu Tingjun was surprised and displeased: "There might be war at Xuanfu!"

Only then did Yuwei react belatedly: "Then, then nothing will happen to Ninth Master, will it?"

"Who knows!" Fu Tingjun said, the string in her heart tightening again. "That man... he always tells me only the good news, never the bad. Look at these two years he's been at Xuanfu—when has he ever mentioned anything about fighting? If not for this delay in his return, he probably wouldn't have told me this time either, just like before..." At this, her heart ached, and tears began to well up in her eyes.

"Ninth Master will surely be fine," Yuwei hurriedly comforted her. "Ninth Master's martial skills are so outstanding that even the Emperor has praised him endlessly. How many people could be his match? Besides, General Mo is the commander-in-chief. If the Tatars invade, General Mo should be the one leading the troops..."

"You've been in this household for several years now," Fu Tingjun said. "Haven't you seen Ninth Master's temperament? Is he the kind of man who hides behind others when danger arises? It would be a blessing if he doesn't charge out to meet the enemy on his own!"

Yuwei thought about it carefully—it was indeed true!

"Then, then what should we do?" she asked uneasily.

Beyond reach... Fu Tingjun didn't know what to do either!

Her tears fell silently.

Zhenzhu announced from behind the curtain: "Zheng San is here!"

Fu Tingjun quickly wiped away her tears and, supported by Yuwei, rose and went to the hall.

Zheng San was pacing in circles there. Seeing Fu Tingjun, he hurried forward to greet her.

"Madam," he said, cupping his hands in salute, his expression somewhat grave. "Master He said that Xuanfu might be going to war..."

"I already know." Fu Tingjun gestured for Zheng San to sit down and speak. "Ninth Master already wrote about it in his letter. What else did Master He say?"

After Fu Tingjun sat down, Zheng San also perched half-seated on the armchair: "Master He also said that by convention, when the Gansu commander-in-chief's office changes commanders, those Mongols and Tatars would inevitably gather troops at Jiayuguan to test the new commander's abilities. But this time, after Master He went to Zhangye, there had been no movement at Jiayuguan at all. Instead, traces of Mongols or Tatars kept appearing at Xuanfu and Datong. The Emperor has already appointed General Mo as the Grand Coordinator of Xuanfu and Datong, giving him command over the troops in both places..."

Fu Tingjun clenched her teeth upon hearing this.

This Zhao Ling—with the situation already at daggers drawn, he still wrote in his letter something like "If all goes smoothly, perhaps I can return before Xige'er's first birthday celebration"...

She said fiercely, "Then what else did Master He say?"

Zheng San found Fu Tingjun's anger somewhat baffling, but still replied respectfully: "Master He's father passed away three years ago. As the eldest son, Master He wanted to inherit his father's position as Commander of Yulin Guard. He originally wanted to ask the Marquis of Yingchuan to put in a word with the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of War, but the Marquis of Yingchuan politely declined, saying that if it was truly difficult to handle, perhaps he could ask our Ninth Master to intervene. So Master He went to Xuanfu. He happened to encounter this situation, and Ninth Master entrusted him to bring some things home, and also gave Master He one of his name cards, telling him that if he encountered any difficulties, he could seek out Lord Qin..."

Fu Tingjun was slightly taken aback.

The He family held a hereditary commandership, and He Xiulin, being the eldest son, was entitled to inherit it by law. However, the inheritance came in two forms: with actual duties or without. With duties meant holding the substantive post; without duties meant merely enjoying the privileges of the title. To inherit the position with actual duties, one needed connections at the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of War.

For the Marquis of Yingchuan, this would have been a trivial matter.

He Xiulin had once been a vice commander of Ganzhou Garrison and a former subordinate of his. He had even declined him... It was clear he had made up his mind to stay in his corner of the world and no longer concern himself with matters beyond.

Qin Feiyu was a favored minister of the Emperor. If Zhao Ling introduced He Xiulin to Qin Feiyu, Qin Feiyu would most likely report the matter to the Emperor... That was fine too... Whether it succeeded or not, it would be the Emperor's grace.

Fu Tingjun instructed Yuwei, "Go to Madam Mo's place and see if she has any news."

Yuwei acknowledged and left.

Fu Tingjun leaned against the large bolster, lost in thought.

Madam Mo came from a military family, and the Mo family had many members serving in the army. If there were any changes in Xuanfu, she would surely know soon if she were so inclined.

A few days later, word came from Madam Mo: "Xuan and Tong have clashed..."

For Fu Tingjun, news like this naturally kept her anxious day and night, unable to sleep. But for the common folk of the capital, it was merely another topic of conversation at breakfast, and for women secluded in their chambers, it was something entirely negligible.

Lady Fan had Mozhuan extinguish the lamp and let down the gauze bed curtain, plunging the space within into darkness. Only then did she open the small sandalwood box in her hand.

A faint glow appeared within the curtain.

"Ah!" Mozhuan exclaimed in a low voice. "How beautiful!" Then she added enviously, "The young master truly dotes on the young mistress!"

Lady Fan said nothing, covering her mouth with a smile, her brows brimming with deep joy. "It was a gift from a friend. He didn't originally want it, but then he thought of how bored I've been resting at home during my pregnancy, so he brought it back and said I could play with it..."

"Young mistress," Mozhuan marveled again, "there is no one in the world who treats his wife better than the young master! Just because he feared you might be bored, he brought you a priceless night pearl to play with..."

Lady Fan smiled radiantly.

Light footsteps sounded from outside.

Lady Fan's brows furrowed slightly.

Hearing this, Mozhuan called out loudly, "Who is it? Didn't I say that the young mistress needs to rest during her pregnancy and no one is to barge in without permission!" Her voice was thick with displeasure.

"Mo—Mozhuan, elder sister," the young maid's voice trembled with fear, "it's, it's Concubine Wu from the back courtyard. The matrons are asking how her clothes should be made?"

It was already the third month, and by custom, the household should be preparing summer garments. A concubine was entitled to two more sets of clothing than a first-class maid.

Lady Fan's face fell at the words, and with a snap, she closed the box.

The curtain immediately became pitch black.

"How tiresome!" Lady Fan's faint voice came from within the curtain. "Lift the curtain."

"Yes!" Mozhuan dared not delay and quickly got up to draw back the curtain.

Bright light streamed in, making Lady Fan's skin appear as white as snow.

She extended her hand.

Mozhuan hurriedly helped her down from the bed.

"Come, let's go to the back courtyard."

Mozhuan glanced at Lady Fan in surprise, then quickly lowered her eyes and acknowledged with a "Yes."

The young maid who had come to report began to cry in panic. "Young mistress, young mistress..."

"Why are you crying?" Lady Fan said softly with a smile. "If you're worried, come along with me." With that, she turned and left the inner chamber.

The young maid was caught in a dilemma. Watching Lady Fan's retreating figure, she thought for a moment, then hurried after her.

Lady Fan did not enter the side room where Concubine Wu lived. Instead, she stood on the steps before the door, looking at Concubine Wu, who stood below with her hands folded, looking somewhat bewildered, her belly still flat. She then glanced at the maids, married women, and matrons who had been summoned by Mozhuan and now stood demurely in the courtyard. Her voice was not loud but carried a chilling authority. "Rules are rules. Regardless of anything, Concubine Wu was carried into the Yu household in a bridal sedan—she is a proper concubine of the Yu family and is entitled to whatever is prescribed by custom. Yet today, someone actually asked me how Concubine Wu's clothes should be made." As she spoke, her gaze swept past a matron wearing a lilac-colored cocoon silk jacket. "From today onward, I never want to hear such a question again! If I do, that person need no longer serve in my courtyard. Is that clear to everyone?"

All the maids, married women, and matrons bent their knees in acknowledgment, leaving the standing Concubine Wu looking conspicuously out of place.

Lady Fan's gaze then fell upon Concubine Wu.

"You are now carrying the young master's child and should focus on resting and nurturing yourself." Her expression was stern, tinged with sharpness. "They are merely two sets of clothing. There is no need for you to go to such lengths to probe me. I am not a harsh person. Should such matters arise again, simply have your personal maid ask Mozhuan. Do not resort to such petty behavior again. It not only shames me but also displeases the young master."

Concubine Wu stared at Lady Fan in astonishment.

Was she implying that the matron who had asked about the specifications for her summer clothes had done so at her instigation?

“Young Madam,” this matter could be big or small—at the least, it was merely a case of her humble origins and shallow perspective; at the most, it was her relying on her pregnancy to vie for credit and curry favor. Concubine Wu couldn’t help but defend herself, “I didn’t send anyone to ask about making summer clothes...”

Before she could finish speaking, the woman in lilac-colored attire had already, with a start, knelt before Lady Fan: “Young Madam, this old servant’s heart was blinded. Seeing that Concubine Wu had no one to attend to her, I was swayed by her instigation to come and stir up trouble before you. Please forgive me this once!” With that, she began kowtowing with loud thuds.

“You...” Concubine Wu felt only the shame of being someone’s concubine, and dared not speak with confidence about anything—but she was not foolish. Gazing at the woman kowtowing to Lady Fan, she was instantly so furious that her whole body trembled, and her gaze involuntarily fell upon Lady Fan.

Lady Fan was just marveling at how such a clever woman had spent most of her life still serving in the needlework room, when she sensed a gaze that seemed capable of seeing through the ways of the world.

She couldn’t help but turn around, meeting Concubine Wu’s eyes directly.