Chapter 225

The thought flashed through her mind, and Fu Tingjun's expression froze. Her gaze at Yitong suddenly became vacant, losing all focus.

"You two..." Yuwei's face flushed crimson with embarrassment. Not daring to scold Fu Tingjun, she could only vent at Yitong instead, "Is this how married women behave? Saying whatever comes to mind?"

Fu Tingjun was already rendered speechless.

"We won't dare do it again." Seeing that Fu Tingjun had forgiven them, Yitong and Yuwei both broke into delighted smiles and quickly gave their assurances.

Yuwei didn't avoid Yitong's presence but said candidly, "Sister Yitong, the mistress has spent these years traveling north and south with Ninth Master. Now that Ninth Master has gone to the northwest, the household affairs all rest on the mistress. She is no longer the sheltered young lady of years past. There are no outsiders here—if you have something to say, just say it directly. The mistress can handle it."

Fu Tingjun looked at them in surprise.

If word could be passed back to the Fu family through this, it would, in a roundabout way, help clear her name.

Yuwei, emboldened by the years she had spent at Fu Tingjun's side—treated like family—asked in a low voice, "What has the mistress come to understand?"

Fu Tingjun now understood why First Madame had forced that medicine down her throat.

She felt somewhat bewildered and murmured, "Has Grand Madame grown senile? If Fourteenth Sister is married off like this, how are the married elder sisters to hold their heads up in their husbands' households?"

Yitong chimed in playfully: "She's getting on in years—there really is no suitable match!"

She let out a long sigh, her expression turning somewhat somber as she asked Yitong in a low voice, "In these past two years, have the two masters sent any silver back to the household? Or has the family encountered any difficulties that required sending for the two masters' counsel?"

Yitong repeatedly demurred, then drew two longevity locks from her bosom and handed them to Yuwei. "These are my humble gifts for the eldest young miss and the eldest young master... I simply never had the opportunity to present them before."

Youyou called Yitong "elder sister."

Fu Tingjun saw that the longevity locks were of a novel design but somewhat rough in workmanship, and knew that Yitong had specially commissioned them. She was deeply moved and had Youyou and Xige'er thank Yitong properly.

Yitong turned her body aside, unwilling to receive their bows.

"You are the one who serves me—how can you not accept their courtesy?" Fu Tingjun insisted that Youyou and Xige'er perform the bow.

Yitong kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er according to proper etiquette.

"Have you grown so old already?" Fu Tingjun also wished to dispel the earlier heaviness and teased Yuwei, "I certainly don't feel old!" Then she turned to Yitong and said, "Do you know of any suitable match? Quickly marry off this younger sister of yours! Otherwise she'll keep putting on airs of seniority in my chambers!"

Yuwei and Yitong's legs trembled with fright, and they hastily knelt down.

"Madam, madam," Yitong started with a fright and quickly rose to her feet, "What—what is the matter with you?"

Yuwei, who stood behind Fu Tingjun, only then noticed her mistress's strange behavior.

Seeing that Yitong seemed hesitant to speak, Fu Tingjun pressed urgently, "What other wild rumors are there?"

Yitong pondered, and a hint of melancholy crept into her eyes. "The matchmaker has already met with Grand Madame, but First Madame refuses to relent, so nothing has been settled yet." She paused, then added with slight hesitation, "I'm afraid this matter will be decided sooner or later—Fourth Madame is very pleased with this match and even had a quarrel with First Madame over it."

Fu Tingjun was stunned.

She had initially thought Grand Madame felt guilty, unsure how to face her wrongly accused granddaughter... But now it seemed she had underestimated the complexity of the situation.

She slumped back down in her seat.

Yitong and Yuwei, seeing that Fu Tingjun had forgiven them, both breathed sighs of relief.

"Madam, and me too..." Yuwei quickly moved to stand beside Yitong, surreptitiously studying Fu Tingjun's expression.

Fu Tingjun's face showed a trace of doubt.

She suddenly recalled Zhao Ling's contemptuous expression when he had first heard that the Fu family boasted three chastity arches...

These matters, once spoken of, would only dishearten people.

"Madam, what has the mistress understood?" Yuwei asked in a whisper, relying on the years she had spent following Fu Tingjun, who treated her like family.

Fu Tingjun understood why First Madame had drugged her.

She felt somewhat bewildered and murmured, "Has Grand Madame grown senile? If Fourteenth Sister is married off like this, how are the married elder sisters to hold their heads up in their husbands' households?"

Yitong chimed in: "She's getting on in years—there really is no suitable match!"

Fu Tingjun let out a long breath, her expression turning somewhat obscure, and asked Yitong in a low voice, "In these past two years, have the two masters sent silver to the household? Or has the family encountered difficulties requiring the two masters' counsel?"

Yitong repeatedly demurred, then drew two longevity locks from her bosom and handed them to Yuwei. "These are my humble gifts for the eldest young miss and the eldest young master... I simply never had the opportunity to present them before."

Youyou called Yitong "elder sister."

Fu Tingjun saw that the longevity locks were of a novel design but somewhat rough in workmanship, and knew that Yitong had specially commissioned them. She was deeply moved and had Youyou and Xige'er thank Yitong properly.

Yitong turned her body aside, unwilling to receive their bows.

"You are the one who serves me—how can you not accept their courtesy?" Fu Tingjun insisted that Youyou and Xige'er perform the bow.

Yitong kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er according to proper etiquette.

"Have you grown so old already?" Fu Tingjun also wished to dispel the earlier heaviness and teased Yuwei, "I certainly don't feel old!" Then she turned to Yitong and said, "Do you know of any suitable match? Quickly marry off this younger sister of yours! Otherwise she'll keep putting on airs of seniority in my chambers!"

Yuwei laughed. "Isn't that just throwing one's weight around?"

Fu Tingjun and Yitong burst into laughter.

The people in the room all fell silent, watching her—so quiet that a dropped pin could be heard.

Fu Tingjun was both exasperated and amused. She comfortingly embraced her children, and Shihu led in Fifth Madame of the Fu family.

Mother Tong brought Youyou and Xige'er in.

Youyou called Yitong "elder sister."

Yitong, following proper etiquette, kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er.

Fu Tingjun saw that the longevity locks were of a novel design but somewhat rough in workmanship, and knew that Yitong had specially commissioned them. She was deeply moved and had Youyou and Xige'er thank Yitong properly.

Yitong turned her body aside, unwilling to receive their bows.

"You are the one who serves me—how can you not accept their courtesy?" Fu Tingjun insisted that Youyou and Xige'er perform the bow.

Yitong kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er according to proper etiquette.

"Have you grown so old already?" Fu Tingjun also wished to dispel the earlier heaviness and teased Yuwei, "I certainly don't feel old!" Then she turned to Yitong and said, "Do you know of any suitable match? Quickly marry off this younger sister of yours! Otherwise she'll keep putting on airs of seniority in my chambers!"

Yuwei laughed. "Isn't that just throwing one's weight around?"

Fu Tingjun and Yitong burst into laughter.

"Madam, madam," Yitong started with a fright and quickly rose to her feet, "What—what is the matter with you?"

Yuwei, who stood behind Fu Tingjun, only then noticed her mistress's strange behavior.

Seeing that Yitong seemed hesitant to speak, Fu Tingjun pressed urgently, "What other wild rumors are there?"

Yitong pondered, and a hint of melancholy crept into her eyes. "The matchmaker has already met with Grand Madame, but First Madame refuses to relent, so nothing has been settled yet." She paused, then added with slight hesitation, "I'm afraid this matter will be decided sooner or later—Fourth Madame is very pleased with this match and even had a quarrel with First Madame over it."

Fu Tingjun was stunned.

She had initially thought Grand Madame felt guilty, unsure how to face her wrongly accused granddaughter... But now it seemed she had underestimated the complexity of the situation.

She slumped back down in her seat.

Yitong and Yuwei, seeing that Fu Tingjun had forgiven them, both breathed sighs of relief.

"Madam, and me too..." Yuwei quickly moved to stand beside Yitong, surreptitiously studying Fu Tingjun's expression.

Fu Tingjun's face showed a trace of doubt.

She suddenly recalled Zhao Ling's contemptuous expression when he had first heard that the Fu family boasted three chastity arches...

These matters, once spoken of, would only dishearten people.

"Madam, what has the mistress understood?" Yuwei asked in a whisper, relying on the years she had spent following Fu Tingjun, who treated her like family.

Fu Tingjun understood why First Madame had drugged her.

She felt somewhat bewildered and murmured, "Has Grand Madame grown senile? If Fourteenth Sister is married off like this, how are the married elder sisters to hold their heads up in their husbands' households?"

Yitong chimed in: "She's getting on in years—there really is no suitable match!"

Fu Tingjun let out a long breath, her expression turning somewhat obscure, and asked Yitong in a low voice, "In these past two years, have the two masters sent silver to the household? Or has the family encountered difficulties requiring the two masters' counsel?"

Yitong repeatedly demurred, then drew two longevity locks from her bosom and handed them to Yuwei. "These are my humble gifts for the eldest young miss and the eldest young master... I simply never had the opportunity to present them before."

Youyou called Yitong "elder sister."

Fu Tingjun saw that the longevity locks were of a novel design but somewhat rough in workmanship, and knew that Yitong had specially commissioned them. She was deeply moved and had Youyou and Xige'er thank Yitong properly.

Yitong turned her body aside, unwilling to receive their bows.

"You are the one who serves me—how can you not accept their courtesy?" Fu Tingjun insisted that Youyou and Xige'er perform the bow.

Yitong kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er according to proper etiquette.

"Have you grown so old already?" Fu Tingjun also wished to dispel the earlier heaviness and teased Yuwei, "I certainly don't feel old!" Then she turned to Yitong and said, "Do you know of any suitable match? Quickly marry off this younger sister of yours! Otherwise she'll keep putting on airs of seniority in my chambers!"

Yuwei laughed. "Isn't that just throwing one's weight around?"

Fu Tingjun and Yitong burst into laughter.

The people in the room all fell silent, watching her—so quiet that a dropped pin could be heard.

Fu Tingjun was both exasperated and amused. She comfortingly embraced her children, and Shihu led in Fifth Madame of the Fu family.

Mother Tong brought Youyou and Xige'er in.

Youyou called Yitong "elder sister."

Yitong, following proper etiquette, kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er.

Fu Tingjun saw that the longevity locks were of a novel design but somewhat rough in workmanship, and knew that Yitong had specially commissioned them. She was deeply moved and had Youyou and Xige'er thank Yitong properly.

Yitong turned her body aside, unwilling to receive their bows.

"You are the one who serves me—how can you not accept their courtesy?" Fu Tingjun insisted that Youyou and Xige'er perform the bow.

Yitong kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er according to proper etiquette.

"Have you grown so old already?" Fu Tingjun also wished to dispel the earlier heaviness and teased Yuwei, "I certainly don't feel old!" Then she turned to Yitong and said, "Do you know of any suitable match? Quickly marry off this younger sister of yours! Otherwise she'll keep putting on airs of seniority in my chambers!"

Yuwei laughed. "Isn't that just throwing one's weight around?"

Fu Tingjun and Yitong burst into laughter.

"Madam, madam," Yitong started with a fright and quickly rose to her feet, "What—what is the matter with you?"

Yuwei, who stood behind Fu Tingjun, only then noticed her mistress's strange behavior.

Seeing that Yitong seemed hesitant to speak, Fu Tingjun pressed urgently, "What other wild rumors are there?"

Yitong pondered, and a hint of melancholy crept into her eyes. "The matchmaker has already met with Grand Madame, but First Madame refuses to relent, so nothing has been settled yet." She paused, then added with slight hesitation, "I'm afraid this matter will be decided sooner or later—Fourth Madame is very pleased with this match and even had a quarrel with First Madame over it."

Fu Tingjun was stunned.

She had initially thought Grand Madame felt guilty, unsure how to face her wrongly accused granddaughter... But now it seemed she had underestimated the complexity of the situation.

She slumped back down in her seat.

Yitong and Yuwei, seeing that Fu Tingjun had forgiven them, both breathed sighs of relief.

"Madam, and me too..." Yuwei quickly moved to stand beside Yitong, surreptitiously studying Fu Tingjun's expression.

Fu Tingjun's face showed a trace of doubt.

She suddenly recalled Zhao Ling's contemptuous expression when he had first heard that the Fu family boasted three chastity arches...

These matters, once spoken of, would only dishearten people.

"Madam, what has the mistress understood?" Yuwei asked in a whisper, relying on the years she had spent following Fu Tingjun, who treated her like family.

Fu Tingjun understood why First Madame had drugged her.

She felt somewhat bewildered and murmured, "Has Grand Madame grown senile? If Fourteenth Sister is married off like this, how are the married elder sisters to hold their heads up in their husbands' households?"

Yitong chimed in: "She's getting on in years—there really is no suitable match!"

Fu Tingjun let out a long breath, her expression turning somewhat obscure, and asked Yitong in a low voice, "In these past two years, have the two masters sent silver to the household? Or has the family encountered difficulties requiring the two masters' counsel?"

Yitong repeatedly demurred, then drew two longevity locks from her bosom and handed them to Yuwei. "These are my humble gifts for the eldest young miss and the eldest young master... I simply never had the opportunity to present them before."

Youyou called Yitong "elder sister."

Fu Tingjun saw that the longevity locks were of a novel design but somewhat rough in workmanship, and knew that Yitong had specially commissioned them. She was deeply moved and had Youyou and Xige'er thank Yitong properly.

Yitong turned her body aside, unwilling to receive their bows.

"You are the one who serves me—how can you not accept their courtesy?" Fu Tingjun insisted that Youyou and Xige'er perform the bow.

Yitong kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er according to proper etiquette.

"Have you grown so old already?" Fu Tingjun also wished to dispel the earlier heaviness and teased Yuwei, "I certainly don't feel old!" Then she turned to Yitong and said, "Do you know of any suitable match? Quickly marry off this younger sister of yours! Otherwise she'll keep putting on airs of seniority in my chambers!"

Yuwei laughed. "Isn't that just throwing one's weight around?"

Fu Tingjun and Yitong burst into laughter.

The people in the room all fell silent, watching her—so quiet that a dropped pin could be heard.

Fu Tingjun was both exasperated and amused. She comfortingly embraced her children, and Shihu led in Fifth Madame of the Fu family.

Mother Tong brought Youyou and Xige'er in.

Youyou called Yitong "elder sister."

Yitong, following proper etiquette, kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er.

Fu Tingjun saw that the longevity locks were of a novel design but somewhat rough in workmanship, and knew that Yitong had specially commissioned them. She was deeply moved and had Youyou and Xige'er thank Yitong properly.

Yitong turned her body aside, unwilling to receive their bows.

"You are the one who serves me—how can you not accept their courtesy?" Fu Tingjun insisted that Youyou and Xige'er perform the bow.

Yitong kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er according to proper etiquette.

"Have you grown so old already?" Fu Tingjun also wished to dispel the earlier heaviness and teased Yuwei, "I certainly don't feel old!" Then she turned to Yitong and said, "Do you know of any suitable match? Quickly marry off this younger sister of yours! Otherwise she'll keep putting on airs of seniority in my chambers!"

Yuwei laughed. "Isn't that just throwing one's weight around?"

Fu Tingjun and Yitong burst into laughter.

"Madam, madam," Yitong started with a fright and quickly rose to her feet, "What—what is the matter with you?"

Yuwei, who stood behind Fu Tingjun, only then noticed her mistress's strange behavior.

Seeing that Yitong seemed hesitant to speak, Fu Tingjun pressed urgently, "What other wild rumors are there?"

Yitong pondered, and a hint of melancholy crept into her eyes. "The matchmaker has already met with Grand Madame, but First Madame refuses to relent, so nothing has been settled yet." She paused, then added with slight hesitation, "I'm afraid this matter will be decided sooner or later—Fourth Madame is very pleased with this match and even had a quarrel with First Madame over it."

Fu Tingjun was stunned.

She had initially thought Grand Madame felt guilty, unsure how to face her wrongly accused granddaughter... But now it seemed she had underestimated the complexity of the situation.

She slumped back down in her seat.

Yitong and Yuwei, seeing that Fu Tingjun had forgiven them, both breathed sighs of relief.

"Madam, and me too..." Yuwei quickly moved to stand beside Yitong, surreptitiously studying Fu Tingjun's expression.

Fu Tingjun's face showed a trace of doubt.

She suddenly recalled Zhao Ling's contemptuous expression when he had first heard that the Fu family boasted three chastity arches...

These matters, once spoken of, would only dishearten people.

"Madam, what has the mistress understood?" Yuwei asked in a whisper, relying on the years she had spent following Fu Tingjun, who treated her like family.

Fu Tingjun understood why First Madame had drugged her.

She felt somewhat bewildered and murmured, "Has Grand Madame grown senile? If Fourteenth Sister is married off like this, how are the married elder sisters to hold their heads up in their husbands' households?"

Yitong chimed in: "She's getting on in years—there really is no suitable match!"

Fu Tingjun let out a long breath, her expression turning somewhat obscure, and asked Yitong in a low voice, "In these past two years, have the two masters sent silver to the household? Or has the family encountered difficulties requiring the two masters' counsel?"

Yitong repeatedly demurred, then drew two longevity locks from her bosom and handed them to Yuwei. "These are my humble gifts for the eldest young miss and the eldest young master... I simply never had the opportunity to present them before."

Youyou called Yitong "elder sister."

Fu Tingjun saw that the longevity locks were of a novel design but somewhat rough in workmanship, and knew that Yitong had specially commissioned them. She was deeply moved and had Youyou and Xige'er thank Yitong properly.

Yitong turned her body aside, unwilling to receive their bows.

"You are the one who serves me—how can you not accept their courtesy?" Fu Tingjun insisted that Youyou and Xige'er perform the bow.

Yitong kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er according to proper etiquette.

"Have you grown so old already?" Fu Tingjun also wished to dispel the earlier heaviness and teased Yuwei, "I certainly don't feel old!" Then she turned to Yitong and said, "Do you know of any suitable match? Quickly marry off this younger sister of yours! Otherwise she'll keep putting on airs of seniority in my chambers!"

Yuwei laughed. "Isn't that just throwing one's weight around?"

Fu Tingjun and Yitong burst into laughter.

The people in the room all fell silent, watching her—so quiet that a dropped pin could be heard.

Fu Tingjun was both exasperated and amused. She comfortingly embraced her children, and Shihu led in Fifth Madame of the Fu family.

Mother Tong brought Youyou and Xige'er in.

Youyou called Yitong "elder sister."

Yitong, following proper etiquette, kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er.

Fu Tingjun saw that the longevity locks were of a novel design but somewhat rough in workmanship, and knew that Yitong had specially commissioned them. She was deeply moved and had Youyou and Xige'er thank Yitong properly.

Yitong turned her body aside, unwilling to receive their bows.

"You are the one who serves me—how can you not accept their courtesy?" Fu Tingjun insisted that Youyou and Xige'er perform the bow.

Yitong kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er according to proper etiquette.

"Have you grown so old already?" Fu Tingjun also wished to dispel the earlier heaviness and teased Yuwei, "I certainly don't feel old!" Then she turned to Yitong and said, "Do you know of any suitable match? Quickly marry off this younger sister of yours! Otherwise she'll keep putting on airs of seniority in my chambers!"

Yuwei laughed. "Isn't that just throwing one's weight around?"

Fu Tingjun and Yitong burst into laughter.

"Madam, madam," Yitong started with a fright and quickly rose to her feet, "What—what is the matter with you?"

Yuwei, who stood behind Fu Tingjun, only then noticed her mistress's strange behavior.

Seeing that Yitong seemed hesitant to speak, Fu Tingjun pressed urgently, "What other wild rumors are there?"

Yitong pondered, and a hint of melancholy crept into her eyes. "The matchmaker has already met with Grand Madame, but First Madame refuses to relent, so nothing has been settled yet." She paused, then added with slight hesitation, "I'm afraid this matter will be decided sooner or later—Fourth Madame is very pleased with this match and even had a quarrel with First Madame over it."

Fu Tingjun was stunned.

She had initially thought Grand Madame felt guilty, unsure how to face her wrongly accused granddaughter... But now it seemed she had underestimated the complexity of the situation.

She slumped back down in her seat.

Yitong and Yuwei, seeing that Fu Tingjun had forgiven them, both breathed sighs of relief.

"Madam, and me too..." Yuwei quickly moved to stand beside Yitong, surreptitiously studying Fu Tingjun's expression.

Fu Tingjun's face showed a trace of doubt.

She suddenly recalled Zhao Ling's contemptuous expression when he had first heard that the Fu family boasted three chastity arches...

These matters, once spoken of, would only dishearten people.

"Madam, what has the mistress understood?" Yuwei asked in a whisper, relying on the years she had spent following Fu Tingjun, who treated her like family.

Fu Tingjun understood why First Madame had drugged her.

She felt somewhat bewildered and murmured, "Has Grand Madame grown senile? If Fourteenth Sister is married off like this, how are the married elder sisters to hold their heads up in their husbands' households?"

Yitong chimed in: "She's getting on in years—there really is no suitable match!"

Fu Tingjun let out a long breath, her expression turning somewhat obscure, and asked Yitong in a low voice, "In these past two years, have the two masters sent silver to the household? Or has the family encountered difficulties requiring the two masters' counsel?"

Yitong repeatedly demurred, then drew two longevity locks from her bosom and handed them to Yuwei. "These are my humble gifts for the eldest young miss and the eldest young master... I simply never had the opportunity to present them before."

Youyou called Yitong "elder sister."

Fu Tingjun saw that the longevity locks were of a novel design but somewhat rough in workmanship, and knew that Yitong had specially commissioned them. She was deeply moved and had Youyou and Xige'er thank Yitong properly.

Yitong turned her body aside, unwilling to receive their bows.

"You are the one who serves me—how can you not accept their courtesy?" Fu Tingjun insisted that Youyou and Xige'er perform the bow.

Yitong kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er according to proper etiquette.

"Have you grown so old already?" Fu Tingjun also wished to dispel the earlier heaviness and teased Yuwei, "I certainly don't feel old!" Then she turned to Yitong and said, "Do you know of any suitable match? Quickly marry off this younger sister of yours! Otherwise she'll keep putting on airs of seniority in my chambers!"

Yuwei laughed. "Isn't that just throwing one's weight around?"

Fu Tingjun and Yitong burst into laughter.

The people in the room all fell silent, watching her—so quiet that a dropped pin could be heard.

Fu Tingjun was both exasperated and amused. She comfortingly embraced her children, and Shihu led in Fifth Madame of the Fu family.

Mother Tong brought Youyou and Xige'er in.

Youyou called Yitong "elder sister."

Yitong, following proper etiquette, kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er.

Fu Tingjun saw that the longevity locks were of a novel design but somewhat rough in workmanship, and knew that Yitong had specially commissioned them. She was deeply moved and had Youyou and Xige'er thank Yitong properly.

Yitong turned her body aside, unwilling to receive their bows.

"You are the one who serves me—how can you not accept their courtesy?" Fu Tingjun insisted that Youyou and Xige'er perform the bow.

Yitong kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er according to proper etiquette.

"Have you grown so old already?" Fu Tingjun also wished to dispel the earlier heaviness and teased Yuwei, "I certainly don't feel old!" Then she turned to Yitong and said, "Do you know of any suitable match? Quickly marry off this younger sister of yours! Otherwise she'll keep putting on airs of seniority in my chambers!"

Yuwei laughed. "Isn't that just throwing one's weight around?"

Fu Tingjun and Yitong burst into laughter.

"Madam, madam," Yitong started with a fright and quickly rose to her feet, "What—what is the matter with you?"

Yuwei, who stood behind Fu Tingjun, only then noticed her mistress's strange behavior.

Seeing that Yitong seemed hesitant to speak, Fu Tingjun pressed urgently, "What other wild rumors are there?"

Yitong pondered, and a hint of melancholy crept into her eyes. "The matchmaker has already met with Grand Madame, but First Madame refuses to relent, so nothing has been settled yet." She paused, then added with slight hesitation, "I'm afraid this matter will be decided sooner or later—Fourth Madame is very pleased with this match and even had a quarrel with First Madame over it."

Fu Tingjun was stunned.

She had initially thought Grand Madame felt guilty, unsure how to face her wrongly accused granddaughter... But now it seemed she had underestimated the complexity of the situation.

She slumped back down in her seat.

Yitong and Yuwei, seeing that Fu Tingjun had forgiven them, both breathed sighs of relief.

"Madam, and me too..." Yuwei quickly moved to stand beside Yitong, surreptitiously studying Fu Tingjun's expression.

Fu Tingjun's face showed a trace of doubt.

She suddenly recalled Zhao Ling's contemptuous expression when he had first heard that the Fu family boasted three chastity arches...

These matters, once spoken of, would only dishearten people.

"Madam, what has the mistress understood?" Yuwei asked in a whisper, relying on the years she had spent following Fu Tingjun, who treated her like family.

Fu Tingjun understood why First Madame had drugged her.

She felt somewhat bewildered and murmured, "Has Grand Madame grown senile? If Fourteenth Sister is married off like this, how are the married elder sisters to hold their heads up in their husbands' households?"

Yitong chimed in: "She's getting on in years—there really is no suitable match!"

Fu Tingjun let out a long breath, her expression turning somewhat obscure, and asked Yitong in a low voice, "In these past two years, have the two masters sent silver to the household? Or has the family encountered difficulties requiring the two masters' counsel?"

Yitong repeatedly demurred, then drew two longevity locks from her bosom and handed them to Yuwei. "These are my humble gifts for the eldest young miss and the eldest young master... I simply never had the opportunity to present them before."

Youyou called Yitong "elder sister."

Fu Tingjun saw that the longevity locks were of a novel design but somewhat rough in workmanship, and knew that Yitong had specially commissioned them. She was deeply moved and had Youyou and Xige'er thank Yitong properly.

Yitong turned her body aside, unwilling to receive their bows.

"You are the one who serves me—how can you not accept their courtesy?" Fu Tingjun insisted that Youyou and Xige'er perform the bow.

Yitong kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er according to proper etiquette.

"Have you grown so old already?" Fu Tingjun also wished to dispel the earlier heaviness and teased Yuwei, "I certainly don't feel old!" Then she turned to Yitong and said, "Do you know of any suitable match? Quickly marry off this younger sister of yours! Otherwise she'll keep putting on airs of seniority in my chambers!"

Yuwei laughed. "Isn't that just throwing one's weight around?"

Fu Tingjun and Yitong burst into laughter.

The people in the room all fell silent, watching her—so quiet that a dropped pin could be heard.

Fu Tingjun was both exasperated and amused. She comfortingly embraced her children, and Shihu led in Fifth Madame of the Fu family.

Mother Tong brought Youyou and Xige'er in.

Youyou called Yitong "elder sister."

Yitong, following proper etiquette, kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er.

Fu Tingjun saw that the longevity locks were of a novel design but somewhat rough in workmanship, and knew that Yitong had specially commissioned them. She was deeply moved and had Youyou and Xige'er thank Yitong properly.

Yitong turned her body aside, unwilling to receive their bows.

"You are the one who serves me—how can you not accept their courtesy?" Fu Tingjun insisted that Youyou and Xige'er perform the bow.

Yitong kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er according to proper etiquette.

"Have you grown so old already?" Fu Tingjun also wished to dispel the earlier heaviness and teased Yuwei, "I certainly don't feel old!" Then she turned to Yitong and said, "Do you know of any suitable match? Quickly marry off this younger sister of yours! Otherwise she'll keep putting on airs of seniority in my chambers!"

Yuwei laughed. "Isn't that just throwing one's weight around?"

Fu Tingjun and Yitong burst into laughter.

"Madam, madam," Yitong started with a fright and quickly rose to her feet, "What—what is the matter with you?"

Yuwei, who stood behind Fu Tingjun, only then noticed her mistress's strange behavior.

Seeing that Yitong seemed hesitant to speak, Fu Tingjun pressed urgently, "What other wild rumors are there?"

Yitong pondered, and a hint of melancholy crept into her eyes. "The matchmaker has already met with Grand Madame, but First Madame refuses to relent, so nothing has been settled yet." She paused, then added with slight hesitation, "I'm afraid this matter will be decided sooner or later—Fourth Madame is very pleased with this match and even had a quarrel with First Madame over it."

Fu Tingjun was stunned.

She had initially thought Grand Madame felt guilty, unsure how to face her wrongly accused granddaughter... But now it seemed she had underestimated the complexity of the situation.

She slumped back down in her seat.

Yitong and Yuwei, seeing that Fu Tingjun had forgiven them, both breathed sighs of relief.

"Madam, and me too..." Yuwei quickly moved to stand beside Yitong, surreptitiously studying Fu Tingjun's expression.

Fu Tingjun's face showed a trace of doubt.

She suddenly recalled Zhao Ling's contemptuous expression when he had first heard that the Fu family boasted three chastity arches...

These matters, once spoken of, would only dishearten people.

"Madam, what has the mistress understood?" Yuwei asked in a whisper, relying on the years she had spent following Fu Tingjun, who treated her like family.

Fu Tingjun understood why First Madame had drugged her.

She felt somewhat bewildered and murmured, "Has Grand Madame grown senile? If Fourteenth Sister is married off like this, how are the married elder sisters to hold their heads up in their husbands' households?"

Yitong chimed in: "She's getting on in years—there really is no suitable match!"

Fu Tingjun let out a long breath, her expression turning somewhat obscure, and asked Yitong in a low voice, "In these past two years, have the two masters sent silver to the household? Or has the family encountered difficulties requiring the two masters' counsel?"

Yitong repeatedly demurred, then drew two longevity locks from her bosom and handed them to Yuwei. "These are my humble gifts for the eldest young miss and the eldest young master... I simply never had the opportunity to present them before."

Youyou called Yitong "elder sister."

Fu Tingjun saw that the longevity locks were of a novel design but somewhat rough in workmanship, and knew that Yitong had specially commissioned them. She was deeply moved and had Youyou and Xige'er thank Yitong properly.

Yitong turned her body aside, unwilling to receive their bows.

"You are the one who serves me—how can you not accept their courtesy?" Fu Tingjun insisted that Youyou and Xige'er perform the bow.

Yitong kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er according to proper etiquette.

"Have you grown so old already?" Fu Tingjun also wished to dispel the earlier heaviness and teased Yuwei, "I certainly don't feel old!" Then she turned to Yitong and said, "Do you know of any suitable match? Quickly marry off this younger sister of yours! Otherwise she'll keep putting on airs of seniority in my chambers!"

Yuwei laughed. "Isn't that just throwing one's weight around?"

Fu Tingjun and Yitong burst into laughter.

The people in the room all fell silent, watching her—so quiet that a dropped pin could be heard.

Fu Tingjun was both exasperated and amused. She comfortingly embraced her children, and Shihu led in Fifth Madame of the Fu family.

Mother Tong brought Youyou and Xige'er in.

Youyou called Yitong "elder sister."

Yitong, following proper etiquette, kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er.

Fu Tingjun saw that the longevity locks were of a novel design but somewhat rough in workmanship, and knew that Yitong had specially commissioned them. She was deeply moved and had Youyou and Xige'er thank Yitong properly.

Yitong turned her body aside, unwilling to receive their bows.

"You are the one who serves me—how can you not accept their courtesy?" Fu Tingjun insisted that Youyou and Xige'er perform the bow.

Yitong kowtowed respectfully to Youyou and Xige'er according to proper etiquette.

"Have you grown so old already?" Fu Tingjun also wished to dispel the earlier heaviness and teased Yuwei, "I certainly don't feel old!" Then she turned to Yitong and said, "Do you know of any suitable match? Quickly marry off this younger sister of yours! Otherwise she'll keep putting on airs of seniority in my chambers!"

Yuwei laughed. "Isn't that just throwing one's weight around?"

Fu Tingjun and Yitong burst into laughter.

"Madam, madam," Yitong started with a fright and quickly rose to her feet, "What—what is the matter with you?"

Yuwei, who stood behind Fu Tingjun, only then noticed her mistress's strange behavior.

Seeing that Yitong seemed hesitant to speak, Fu Tingjun pressed urgently, "What other wild rumors are there

Fu Tingjun gave a wry smile and said, "What expressions are the two of you making? Do you have to ask about every little thing I mutter to myself? Is this how you serve your mistress?" Her tone carried a hint of teasing.

Youyou and Xige'er clung tightly to Mother Tong, not daring to make a sound.

Indeed!

Fu Tingjun then instructed Shihu: "Invite Madam Yao in!"

Yitong dared not speak.

Xige'er twisted his little body toward his mother: "Mother, mother, Xi-ge wants to be held!" meaning he wanted to be picked up too.

Yitong was somewhat puzzled. She thought it over carefully, then gently shook her head: "No!"

The room was full of lively commotion.

It was only then that Yitong said in a low voice, "A merchant family offered thirty thousand taels of silver to seek marriage with the fourteenth young miss. First Madame refused, but Grand Madame..."

Yitong saw things clearly. She gritted her teeth and said in a low voice, "It was I who had the news spread..." Her tone carried a hint of worry and fear.

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but curl her lips in self-mockery and said, "Good thing Fifth Master was unwilling to acknowledge me. If he had actually claimed me, I'd be sick to death!"

"You're quite good at making decisions for me!" Fu Tingjun shot Yuwei a cold glance.

Even a steward dared to request release from servitude, and the Fu family couldn't even keep their own servants in check, having to curry favor with those petty officials...

In order to draw a clear line between herself and her father, and to repay her father's nurturing kindness, she had decided not to go to the Fu family ancestral hall to clarify matters from back then. But at the very least, she should explain things to her close sisters!

Since she didn't believe it was true, why ask who knew about it?

Grand Madame had seen through it, but compared to her son's future and the Fu family's prospects, Grand Madame had merely chosen to settle for second best.

Though her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, Yitong and Yuwei, whose full attention was on her, heard every word clearly.

Had he foreseen this outcome all along?

Fu Tingjun's heart softened involuntarily. She said, "All of you, get up! You must not act on your own like this again." Her tone had gentled.

Madam Lyu's personal maid Shizhi walked in: "Madam, a certain Madam Yao has come seeking an audience. She also said she is your fifth elder cousin."

"Quanhui, it really is you!" Gazing at Fu Tingjun who was holding the child, her eyes widened enormously. "You, you really are alive!" Before she could finish her sentence, tears were already welling up in her eyes. "Since you're alive, why didn't you come find me?" She stepped forward a few paces, reaching out her hand, wanting to grab hold of this seemingly demure and proper yet actually cunning and mischievous younger cousin as she had when they were children. But what caught her eye was the dazzling golden hairpin in Fu Tingjun's hair, its golden light flickering with the brightness of the indoor light... In that instant, she suddenly realized that the cousin who had once practiced the qin with her in the waterside pavilion and played pranks on their tutor together had long since vanished into the river of time. What she now faced was the wife of a third-rank military official who, having earned merit by following the dragon, was favored by the emperor and stationed to guard one region, courted and flattered by officials great and small throughout Shaanxi...

She too was startled. She gently nudged Fu Tingjun's shoulder: "Madam, madam!" she called out in a flustered manner.

"...People in Huayin all say that with the household now in the hands of First Master, it's likely to decline. Quite a few people harbor such thoughts. A few days ago, Steward Ding approached Grand Madame requesting release from servitude. It made Grand Madame so angry that she didn't speak for several days. But for some unknown reason, Steward Ding's entire family was still released. My cousins discussed it privately, saying that Steward Ding had paid out a large sum of silver, and because two generations of his family had managed the Fu family's estates for them, he was on good terms with some of the petty clerks in the county. The Fu family had recently had a falling out with the Shi family over irrigation water for their fields, and had only suppressed the Shi family by going through those petty clerks' connections. Steward Ding invited those clerks to speak on his behalf, and the Fu family had no choice but to let him go. Then rumors spread that the household was no longer what it once was, just an empty shell, so anyone who got silver dared to take it." Yitong paused here, a hint of hesitation on her face.

"How does she know I'm here?" Fu Tingjun said happily, but then immediately showed a trace of confusion, a trace of hesitation, a trace of bewilderment...

The fourteenth young miss was a concubine's daughter of Fourth Master Fu.

From this tone, Yuwei could also tell what Yitong was about to say.

She had been agonizing over whether to go see Grand Madame!

Grand Madame had married into the Fu family at fourteen or fifteen. She had endured from being a granddaughter-in-law to becoming Grand Madame, and had presided over the Fu family's household affairs. All her children were born of her own body. Before Fu Tingjun had married, she hadn't felt this way, but after marrying and experiencing the experience of fleeing famine with Zhao Ling, she now looked back and realized how extraordinary Grand Madame truly was. A person like that, though advanced in years, should not have made such a mistake of harming herself and ruining the family!

Yuwei had no choice but to steel herself and say, "Why should they bully the mistress like this and then act as if nothing had happened? The mistress has come back this time, and who knows when she'll be able to return again. Yet you refuse to go back to Huayin... so I..." As she spoke, she saw Fu Tingjun's expression darken and dared not continue.

Youyou threw herself into her mother's arms: "Mother, hold me!"

So even though she knew she was still alive, Grand Madame hadn't even sent her a single message.

The two exchanged a bewildered glance with each other.

Fu Tingjun pointed to the children and introduced them to Yitong: "This is Youyou, and this is Xige'er!"

Fu Tingjun looked at them and couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

Shihu had long been stunned by the series of changes in the room. Upon hearing this, she uttered an "Oh" and hurried out of the hall.

Fu Tingjun came back to her senses as if waking from a dream.

"I understand!" Fu Tingjun's already grim expression gained a touch of bitterness as she listened. "A granddaughter is certainly important, and the Fu family's reputation is certainly important, but compared to a son, none of these matter... Without a son, where would the Fu family even be..."

"Who says otherwise..." Yitong's expression also dimmed somewhat. "Who knows what Grand Madame is thinking!"