Chapter 229

Early the next morning, Fifth Sister-in-law rubbed her temples as she made her way to the main hall.

Fu Tingjun and Seventh Sister-in-law were already seated at the table waiting for her to join them for breakfast, and the two were discussing the matter of the invitations: "...For Third Sister's place, I'll have my personal maid deliver the invitation in person. As for Fourth Sister, Sixth Sister, and Eighth Sister, I'll have to trouble you, Fifth Sister, to send your maids to deliver theirs—they live closer together and visit often, so the serving women are familiar with one another..." Hearing the commotion and seeing Fifth Sister-in-law walk in, Seventh Sister-in-law said with a grin, "We thought you wouldn't be up until the sun was high in the sky!"

Fifth Sister-in-law sat down wearily on the embroidered stool below them, first calling for Yitong to brew her a strong cup of tea, then speaking with little energy: "Once you're a daughter-in-law, you get used to rising early—who can sleep peacefully until the sun is high?"

"That's true." Seventh Sister-in-law said with a hint of reflection, "Even when you become a mother-in-law, you may not get to sleep in—sometimes you have to set an example for the younger generation!"

"In any case, once you're married, there's no peace!" Fifth Sister-in-law took the tea that Yuwei offered and drank several mouthfuls before saying, "Are the invitations all arranged?"

Seventh Sister-in-law nodded and said, "Ninth Sister came back to Xi'an on short notice and is staying at her aunt's house with limited staff, so we've sent out servants from both our households."

Fu Tingjun felt there was no need to revisit the past and did not explain Master Lyu's identity to her two sisters-in-law; Fifth and Seventh Sister-in-law still assumed Madam Lyu was Zhao Ling's proper aunt.

"That's only natural." Fifth Sister-in-law said in a matter-of-fact tone, asking, "This also gives us a chance to send word home."

Seventh Sister-in-law then said with a pointed meaning, "I've already instructed my personal maid to go back and report to our master—just saying we've found Ninth Sister and want to spend a few days with her. As for everything else, I'll explain when I return."

"We'll need some explanation when we go back too!" Fifth Sister-in-law laughed. "Huayin is after all our natal home—if things look too disgraceful, we'd lose face as well! I'm easy enough—my husband is an only son—but you have sisters-in-law to deal with; you can't let them have something to laugh about, can you?"

Seventh Sister-in-law smiled and said, "What's so difficult about that? Just say that when the refugees flooded the city and chaos broke out, Ninth Sister fled with the crowd to escape danger and lost contact with the family. The family assumed she had been killed, and fearing for their reputation, only said she had died of illness. Then Ninth Sister happened to be rescued by the Emperor... wouldn't that work?"

"Your mind really does turn quickly." Fifth Sister-in-law found the explanation satisfactory and nodded with a smile. "Then when we gather with the sisters, that's what we'll say."

Fu Tingjun also felt this was the better approach.

The more you say, the more room for error—simplify things and avoid others' malicious speculation.

So Seventh Sister-in-law ground the ink, Fu Tingjun wrote the invitations, and Fifth Sister-in-law dispatched the staff—by mid-morning, all the invitations had been sent out.

Xige'er was fine, but Youyou, seeing two new aunts suddenly in the house and everyone chatting and laughing merrily, wanted to join in the fun, running in and out—one moment bringing in a teacup under Mother Tong's care, saying "Auntie, have some tea!" and the next begging Zheng Sanniang for fruit to present: "Auntie, have some fruit!" Seventh Sister-in-law watched with warm affection and said, "Our Ranran, raised in my mother-in-law's quarters and a girl at that, has been spoiled beyond measure—she fears only me, and runs off the moment she sees me." Then she scooped up Youyou and joked, "Ninth Sister, give Youyou to me as a daughter-in-law! You can pick either of my two sons!"

Fu Tingjun was taken aback, then laughed: "Both your boys are younger than Youyou—that won't do!"

Fifth Sister-in-law laughed heartily and said, "Our eldest boy is the same age as Youyou, but I'm afraid Ninth Brother-in-law wouldn't be willing to part with her."

"You two are her aunts," Fu Tingjun chided, "how can you tease like this in front of a child?"

Everyone's gaze involuntarily fell on Youyou, who was nestled obediently in Seventh Sister-in-law's arms.

Youyou was staring wide-eyed with curiosity at the adults in the room. Seeing everyone look at her and hearing her mother's ambiguous tone, she said anxiously, "Mother, don't give me to Seventh Auntie..."

Her childish words made everyone burst into laughter.

Fu Tingjun scooped up her daughter and said gently with a smile to comfort Youyou: "Seventh Auntie likes you and is just teasing! You're a daughter of our house—how could we give you to someone else's family?"

Youyou let out a long sigh of relief, looking reassured.

Which set Fifth and Seventh Sister-in-law laughing again.

Seventh Sister-in-law then suggested they go visit Guangren Temple later: "It's rare to get out, and without the children tagging along—we really should see a bit of Xi'an!"

Fifth Sister-in-law agreed: "There are still ten-odd days until the second of October; we might as well enjoy ourselves while we're free."

Fu Tingjun recalled how, as a child, she had gone to the temple with her grandmother to offer incense. Her sisters would prepare their clothes and jewelry days in advance, too excited to sleep a wink the night before. Once at the temple, they would rush to bow before the Bodhisattva, chattering so loudly that the young acolytes would glance at them sideways... A smile tugged at the corners of her lips, and she too felt a stir of interest in the outing. "Alright! I'll ask Uncle Lyu to help arrange it."

Fifth Cousin said, "You'd best have Uncle Lyu buy some famous pastries from Xi'an as well. When the sisters gather, they can serve as local gifts!"

Fu Tingjun nodded and gave the order.

That afternoon, she accompanied Fifth Cousin and Seventh Cousin to the nearby Guangren Temple to offer incense, listened to the head monk expound on the sutras, and then turned back.

Shopkeeper Lyu came in to discuss plans with them: "The Daci'en Temple, the Daxingshan Temple, the Qingliang Temple... all of these should be visited, and the silver shops on Baoqing Street are also worth a stroll." His arrangements were most thorough.

The moment Fifth Cousin and Seventh Cousin heard that a trip to Baoqing Street was also planned, they grew excited at once. But once the excitement passed, they began to worry about Fu Tingjun's health. "Perhaps we should just visit the temples and skip Baoqing Street. It's too crowded there."

"It's fine," Fu Tingjun said with a smile. "Visiting the temples still requires walking. If I feel tired, I'll simply rest to the side."

"That works!" Fifth Cousin laughed. "You know your own body best—just don't push yourself."

Fu Tingjun agreed with a smile and accompanied her two cousins on their leisurely outings.

Shopkeeper Lyu, meanwhile, quickly prepared a supply of Xi'an local specialties.

Within a few days, the messengers sent out began to return one by one.

One of them, who had been sent to deliver word to Eldest Cousin, reported: "Madam Eldest said that she has been feeling a bit unwell these past few days and needs to take medicine daily, so she won't be able to come. Once she feels better, she will come to visit Madam Ninth. Madam Second was quite troubled by this and deliberated for a long while before having me bring a child's silver neck ring and a pair of child's silver bracelets as meeting gifts for the young miss and the young master. Being a widow living in seclusion with a daughter of marriageable age at home, she said she would not come herself. If Madam Ninth has free time, she is welcome to visit her home." With that, he handed the gifts that Second Cousin had sent over to Yuwei.

Fifth Cousin's brows shot up at this. "I knew it—she's always been partial to Eldest Aunt, afraid that coming here would be disadvantageous to her." She then complained further, "And Second Sister too—she's gotten so used to serving Eldest Sister that she doesn't think about how Third Sister has treated her all these years."

"You can't say that," Fu Tingjun said, quite understanding of Second Cousin's position. "She's an orphaned widow with a child—she simply doesn't want to get entangled in trouble. If she were merely kowtowing to Eldest Sister in everything, she wouldn't have specially sent meeting gifts for Youyou and Xige'er." As she spoke, she took the neck ring and bracelets from Yuwei's hands, continuing, "Just like me—I didn't want to go looking for our sisters because I was afraid of putting you all in an awkward position."

The large red woolen cloth unfolded to reveal a neck ring and bracelets of simple yet dignified craftsmanship, though some of the patterns on them had turned black—clearly old pieces from years past.

She couldn't help but sigh, showing the items to her two cousins. "These might well have been sent over from Huayin when the young miss celebrated her first birthday! Second Sister's circumstances aren't easy either."

The two fell silent, a pang of bitterness in their hearts.

"We'll just have to find an opportunity to have a good talk with Second Sister," Seventh Cousin murmured.

Fu Tingjun and Fifth Cousin nodded.

The messenger sent to Sixth Cousin returned: "...Madam Sixth said she would come as soon as she had settled matters at home. She then sent her personal nurse to Madam Tenth's residence. Upon hearing that Madam Tenth would be arriving in a couple of days, she left word with Madam Tenth's messenger to have her serve as a guide, and sent me back to report to the ladies."

Fifth Cousin beamed with delight. "Sixth Sister is certainly a straightforward one!"

Fu Tingjun and Seventh Cousin smiled quietly to themselves.

After that, word came from Fourth Cousin that her mother-in-law had fallen ill, and like Second Cousin, she sent longevity locks for Youyou and Xige'er as meeting gifts. Eighth Cousin replied that her younger sister-in-law was about to give birth, and she wouldn't be able to make it by the second day of the tenth month—she asked Fu Tingjun to wait two days for her, promising to arrive before the fifth. Eleventh Cousin sent word that she would come together with Sixth and Tenth Cousins.

Shopkeeper Lyu and Madam Lyu busied themselves—one arranging the banquet and engaging a female storyteller to perform, the other sweeping away the dust and setting up the rooms—both bustling about with great zeal.

Fifth Cousin, however, grew somewhat anxious. "Why is there still no word from Third Sister?"

Seventh Cousin also began to feel uncertain. "Perhaps something has delayed her."

Fu Tingjun smiled wryly, half-reassuring herself and half-comforting her two cousins. "What's the hurry? It's not even the second of the tenth month yet. Knowing Third Sister's temperament, she'll send word whether she's coming or not."

The two nodded.

Yuwei came running in. "Madam, madam," she said, her face flushed red with excitement, "Madam Third has arrived. And she's brought the two young masters with her."

"Ah!" Fu Tingjun and her two sisters exchanged startled glances, then rose to their feet in unison.

"Quick, please invite her in." Fu Tingjun said, smoothing her lapels.

Fifth Cousin was already laughing. "See, I told you Third Cousin would come!" She grabbed Fu Tingjun's arm. "Come on, let's go greet her together."

Fu Tingjun nodded and walked out with Fifth Cousin and Seventh Cousin.

Coming toward them was a tall, slender woman wearing a plain lake-blue outer robe. Her jet-black hair was neatly coiled into a round bun at the nape of her neck, and she wore not a single piece of jewelry—yet every gesture radiated grace and poise that was impossible to overlook.

"Third Cousin..." Fu Tingjun murmured, her eyes fixed on her.

Third Cousin closed the distance in three quick steps and threw her arms around Fu Tingjun.

"Quanhui, how could you be so foolish! Why didn't you come to me?" Before she even finished speaking, she burst into loud sobs.