Chapter 223

Legal principles never override human sentiment. Though Miss Wu's relatives are not formal kin of the Yu family, since she is a concubine who has entered the household and lives among them daily, a proper wife would generally show some courtesy to her family members as long as the concubine's conduct is not excessive—this also earns one a reputation for magnanimity. Moreover, Lord Wu is a proper third-rank official at court, while Lady Fan is merely a daughter-in-law of the Yu family, with Madam Yu above her. Concubine Wu was personally selected by Madam Yu herself, so it is understandable that she would visit Madam Wu frequently.

Mama Shu must have come on Madam Yu's orders to call on Madam Wu!

The thought flashed through her mind, and Fu Tingjun smiled as she stepped back, yielding the space to Madam Wu and Mama Shu.

Mama Shu, however, was studying Fu Tingjun with curiosity.

Seeing this, Madam Wu laughed and said, "Lord Zhao has earned military merit, and the Emperor has posthumously conferred upon his father the title of third-rank Grand Master of Admonishment, and upon his mother the title of third-rank Lady of Virtue. Mrs. Zhao is hurrying back to her hometown to pay respects at the ancestral graves!"

"So that's how it is." Mama Shu breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

She had heard earlier that Zhao Ling had achieved great merit in battle, and had feared it meant he had been promoted and the Zhao family would be moving to a better, larger residence.

If that were the case, the grudge between the Zhao family and the eldest young master would be even harder to resolve.

Mama Shu smiled and curtsied to Fu Tingjun, greeting her with a hint of warmth and courtesy: "Had I known that Mrs. Zhao was departing today, our mistress would surely have sent parting gifts." With that, she hurriedly instructed the maidservant behind her, "Go quickly and buy a few boxes of pastries." Then she said to Fu Tingjun with a smile, "They can serve as snacks for the young miss and young master along the way."

"No need!" Fu Tingjun laughed. "We're about to set off—any later and we'll miss lunch. Shilipu is bustling with traffic every day!"

Mama Shu was about to say more when her gaze inadvertently swept past Madam Wu and caught her look of surprise. Fearing that being too familiar with Fu Tingjun might arouse Madam Wu's suspicion, she could only nod with a smile and say, "In that case, once I've reported to our mistress, I shall come to pay my respects after Mrs. Zhao returns from her hometown."

Fu Tingjun nodded slightly, smiled at Madam Wu with a few words like "Since you have a guest, I won't disturb you further," and seeing that everything was nearly packed, led the children onto the carriage.

Madam Wu had intended to see them off at Shilipu, but could only approach the carriage to offer words of safe travels, watching until Fu Tingjun and her party had left Shijia Hutong before returning to the residence with Mama Shu.

Once the carriage left the hutong and turned the street corner, the scene within the hutong could no longer be seen. Only then did Yuwei lower the window curtain and turn to sit down, saying, "A mama from the Yu family has entered the Wu residence!"

Fu Tingjun smiled faintly. "You needn't have told me that." Yet in her heart, she knew Yuwei still harbored some resentment—Yu Jingxiu, the culprit behind it all, continued his life as a distinguished young nobleman in all his glory, while they could not bring him down to the depths. Thinking of it would inevitably leave Yuwei somewhat disgruntled.

In truth, she felt the same.

So after a moment's reflection, she said softly, "Yuwei, a gentleman avenges himself after ten years. If we strike now, it would only damage his reputation—at most, he'd lose his post. In a few years, once the storm passes, he might well be reinstated, and by then these matters would hold no power to harm him. Better to wait for the right moment and make it so he can never hold his head up again!" By the end of her words, a cold chill had crept into her tone, startling Youyou so much that she burrowed into her arms: "Mother, Mother, please don't be angry!"

Fu Tingjun's heart softened at once. She reined in her emotions, smiled as she embraced Youyou, and soothed her gently: "Mother isn't angry with Youyou! Mother and Yuwei were talking about other people—Youyou needn't be afraid!"

Youyou lifted her head from her mother's embrace, blinking her big almond-shaped eyes as she studied her mother's expression.

Seeing that her mother had already returned to her usual gentle and kind self, her expression relaxed.

Fu Tingjun felt a pang of regret at the sight.

Why let such irrelevant matters disturb her daughter's peace of mind!

She smiled warmly and chatted with Youyou: "…Didn't you say you wanted to sing a song to cheer Mother up? What song did you learn from Mother Tong yesterday?"

Youyou was still young, and since Fu Tingjun was speaking of something she took pride in, her attention was immediately diverted, and her spirits lifted: "Mother, Mother, Mother Tong taught me to sing 'The Tea-Picking Song'!" With that, she cleared her throat and said with great enthusiasm, "Mother, let me sing it for you… In March the partridges roam the hills, in April the river waters flow, the tea-picking maidens walk the tea slopes, tea songs soar past the white clouds…" Her childish voice was as sweet and melodious as an oriole's, and Fu Tingjun couldn't help but praise her daughter: "Youyou sings so beautifully!" Hearing this, a hint of pride crept into Youyou's brow.

Yuwei's eyes flickered with hesitation, and she said in a low voice, "Madam, these are all..." She felt embarrassed to say the words "low-class," and instead said, "Since the eldest young miss is still young, if she likes it, perhaps we should invite someone skilled in music..."

"A child has no settled temperament. If she likes something, let her do it!" Fu Tingjun said dismissively, laughing. "Once she decides what she wants to study in a few days, then she'll have to learn it diligently without fail, rain or shine."

The implication was that it was still too early to talk about such things.

Yuwei thought of how the young ladies of the Fu family also didn't begin studying with tutors until they were four or five years old, and she said no more.

Youyou sang a line here and a line there, and the group made their way out of Chaoyang Gate amid laughter and cheerful voices.

Madam Mo, Madam Wang, Madam Li, Lady Chen Shi, and others all came to see her off.

Several carriages gathered at the city gate, blocking the bustling stream of pedestrians and causing some inconvenience, along with a bit of commotion. Fortunately, Zheng San and the drivers from Datong Hao were highly skilled, and they quickly pulled the carriages to the side of the road, clearing the way and restoring the flow of traffic.

Even so, some people were displeased.

The curtain of a carriage entering the city—a flat-topped, tung-oiled vehicle with a plain top and a bright blue coarse cloth curtain printed with patterns—was lifted, revealing a young face that could charm or anger.

"Whose family is this?" She furrowed her delicate brows and muttered softly. "Why are they so ostentatious?"

A close attendant in the carriage smiled and replied, "The capital is under the emperor's feet, the heart of the realm—all kinds of people can be found here. It's not like our small town. Once you've lived in the capital for a while, Madam will get used to it."

The lady nodded and let the curtain fall.

Her carriage passed by Fu Tingjun's.

Fu Tingjun greeted Madam Mo and the others through the carriage window, and everyone followed Madam Mo's carriage into the "Yangguan" restaurant in Shilipu—she had already reserved a banquet there to see Fu Tingjun off.

After lunch, they parted with reluctant farewells.

Fu Tingjun headed west to Shaanxi, while Madam Mo and the others returned to the capital.

They stayed at the same post station as before, even in the same best guest room, but this time she held Zhao Ling's name card and the Tengji Guard's official credentials.

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

Yuwei, however, was reminded of her reunion with Fu Tingjun.

She asked Fu Tingjun hesitantly, "Do you think we'll see Fourth Aunt and Fifth Aunt?"

Back then, Fu Tingjun had been closest to these two cousins.

"Everything depends on fate." After all that had happened, Fu Tingjun had come to see things more openly. "Even if I were still the Ninth Miss of the Fu family, Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister are already married—we might not have been able to meet often anyway."

Yuwei was silent for a moment, then said, "I want to see Sister Yitong!"

She had been afraid to see Yitong before, afraid of causing her trouble—Yitong still had a whole family dependent on the Fu household. Now, it should be all right, shouldn't it?

She wouldn't constantly bring up her origins, but she also wouldn't deliberately hide them.

"Since we have time," Fu Tingjun said with a smile, "if you want to go back for a visit, I'll have Zheng San accompany you to Huayin!"

Yuwei was a little surprised. "Madam doesn't want to go back and see?"

"No!" Fu Tingjun answered decisively. "Why should I offer my warm face to their cold backsides? Maybe Youyou and Xige'er would have to suffer their snubs along with me. Why bother?"

True enough.

Yuwei nodded, then suddenly broke into a smile. "Then when the time comes, have Zheng San accompany me back to Huayin, all right?" Some things weren't suitable for Madam to do, but she didn't have to worry about so much.

What would be the point of wearing fine clothes in the dark of night!

Fu Tingjun's mind was entirely occupied with the matter of erecting a monument for her in-laws. Though she sensed Yuwei's little scheme, thinking of the hardships Yuwei had endured, she said nothing. The two of them chatted about the past and the future from time to time, occasionally lifting the curtain to point out roadside scenery to Youyou and Xige'er. By mid-September, they arrived at Xi'an Prefecture.

Master Lyu had received word long ago and had been waiting at the city gate every day.

Seeing Fu Tingjun's carriage, he immediately went forward to greet it.

Fu Tingjun poked her head out of the carriage window and greeted Master Lyu with a smile.

Master Lyu was very excited. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he peered into the carriage: "Where are the young miss and young master? Did they have a good journey?" His tone was even more sincere than his earlier greetings.

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but smile.

Because for the past two years, Zheng San had been the one to travel to Xi'an Prefecture to settle accounts with Master Lyu over the estate's earnings, Master Lyu had only seen Youyou once when she was seven months old, and he had never seen Xige'er at all—no wonder he was so excited.

She quickly lifted the carriage curtain, had Youyou greet Master Lyu with a bow, and then held up the soundly sleeping Xige'er for him to see.

Master Lyu's eyes brimmed with tears. "Good, good, good... like the golden boy and jade girl before Guanyin Bodhisattva... This is truly a case of good deeds begetting good fortune... Ninth Master's blessings run deep... and the young miss and young master are equally blessed..." As he spoke, he hastily wiped his tears with his sleeve.

Fu Tingjun looked at Master Lyu's graying hair, her nose stinging and her vision blurring slightly.

Yuwei's eyes held tears as well, but she was more worried that the carriage curtain being lifted would let the cold wind in and chill the children. She quickly said, "It's quite cold here at the city gate—let's hurry back!" Then she added, "These officers of the Tengji Guard who accompanied us have had a long journey as well. We should find a place with hot soup and warm water to properly settle them in."

Only then did Master Lyu realize that these guards standing respectfully beside the carriage were actually officers of the Tengji Guard. He was startled, then felt a surge of emotion—in just four or five short years, Zhao Ling had soared like a swan from obscurity to greatness, and being still so young, who knew what lofty prospects lay ahead of him!

Thinking of how Zhao Ling had risen from having nothing to building a family and establishing himself... he felt a sense of gratification. Smiling warmly, he led them toward Willow Lane.