Chapter 241

Concubine Wu smiled and said, "What business could I possibly have with Steward Yu? I was merely asking."

But it was rare for Concubine Wu to show interest in anything!

Lianxin was still diligently inquiring about Steward Yu's affairs.

So the moment he returned, she knew about it.

She casually sent Zelan off to fetch tea, then whispered to Concubine Wu, "Steward Yu is back tomorrow evening."

Concubine Wu gave an "Oh" and was about to say something when Zelan walked in. Concubine Wu quickly dropped the topic.

Lianxin felt immensely pleased.

In Concubine Wu's heart, she was still the closest.

That night when she was on night duty, the two brought up the matter again: "...Do you know what Steward Yu went to do?"

"I don't know," Lianxin said. "I only heard that he went out on urgent business by the mistress's orders, and once it was settled, he came back."

Concubine Wu listened, thought for a moment, then asked, "Did Steward Yu bring back any local gifts for the other stewards?"

"He did," Lianxin laughed. "Steward Yu brought back several jars of thick wine. Mama Shen's husband got two bottles. Mama Shen said that wine was once only drunk by the emperor—it's extremely precious."

Concubine Wu filed this away in her mind.

A few days later, Zhen-jie'er's hundred-day celebration arrived. As usual, relatives and friends were invited.

Concubine Wu seized a moment to ask Madam Wu, "Where can one buy thick wine?"

Madam Wu was taken aback and said, "Xi'an Prefecture produces thick wine. What do you want thick wine for?"

Concubine Wu smiled and said, "I heard people say thick wine is wine only the emperor can drink, so I was asking—I wanted to buy some to send to my father."

Just as she was speaking, Zelan hurried over with a flustered expression.

Concubine Wu asked her, "What's the matter?"

"Nothing, nothing." She curtsied to Madam Wu and smiled, saying, "I just noticed the concubine was missing and grew worried."

Concubine Wu nodded, looking as though she didn't give it a second thought.

Madam Wu, however, sensed something amiss. Assuming that the Yu family was afraid she might investigate Concubine Wu's miscarriage and was keeping the concubine from lodging complaints with her, she rose and said to Concubine Wu, "Take good care of yourself. If anything comes up, just have Lianxin deliver a message to me." She also admonished her, "Since you've become a concubine, you must behave like one. Never lose your propriety. Madam Yu is the most particular about rules."

Concubine Wu quickly acknowledged this and respectfully saw Madam Wu off to the flower hall where the banquet was being held.

That evening, Zelan went as usual to Mama Shu's place to report on Concubine Wu's affairs.

Thinking that when Concubine Wu had gone missing, she had been whispering with Madam Yu's senior maid, and that it would be hard to explain if Mama Shu asked about it, and also considering that Concubine Wu had only been out of her sight for less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea—not enough time to say anything to Madam Wu even if she wanted to—she concealed the meeting between Madam Wu and Concubine Wu.

Seeing that Concubine Wu was behaving as usual, Mama Shu went to report to Madam Yu.

Madam Yu pressed her temples upon hearing this.

Mama Shu quickly stepped forward and gently massaged her scalp.

Madam Yu immediately felt much more comfortable. Closing her eyes, she half-reclined against the large bolster and spoke to her about Steward Yu's trip to Huayin: "They've been keeping it secret over there too. I don't know who leaked the news, but the married daughters all went to see Madam Fu at the same time, and the matter could no longer be contained. Now everyone in the Fu family knows Madam Fu isn't dead, though few in Huayin know yet. But I think this will eventually become known to all sooner or later. That's a minor matter—I trust the Fu family will find a way to cover up the lie. It's the Fu family's in-laws, mostly prominent households in Shaanxi, whose eyes are sharp as needles—I'm afraid it can't be hidden from them." As she spoke, a flash of ferocity crossed her face: "Don't they, the Fan family, claim to be 'a family that passes down poetry and books'? How did they raise such an undisciplined girl? What did our family do to offend the Fan family, that they should harm us this way? If this hadn't happened back then, and Madam Fu had married into the family, bearing two children a year, I would already have grandchildren playing at my knees, enjoying the sweetness of family..."

Mama Shu dared not interject, feeling cold sweat break out on her forehead.

Madam Yu thought of Fu Tingjun's daughter—delicate as jade, with big, dark, sparkling eyes, clearly a bright and healthy child... It felt as though her own granddaughter had been snatched away by someone else. Her heart ached as if a piece of flesh had been gouged out, and she said bitterly, "How I regret it! Even if he had begged for death back then, I should have gritted my teeth and refused to yield. Perhaps Madam Fu would have come looking for us, and things wouldn't have had to come to such a pass. I think she's a jinx—whoever touches her courts disaster..."

Fu Tingjun, of course, knew nothing of what was happening in the Yu household. Suppressing her worries, she saw Zhao Ling off, and her fifth brother-in-law and fifth cousin-sister were also returning to Lintong: "...Ninth brother-in-law has arranged everything. I'm just eating idle food here. I don't know how the two children at home are doing. We'll come see you again after you give birth."

All banquets must come to an end under heaven.

Fu Tingjun only said things like, "If you have free time, bring Yanxin and Ping'an along," and bought many local specialties from the capital. She chose an auspicious day for travel and sent Fifth Sister's husband and Fifth Cousin back to Lintong.

Before many days had passed, Seventh Sister's husband arrived in the capital. He sent his personal attendant with some local gifts and a name card, saying, "If Ninth Sister-in-law has any matters, she can send someone to the Shaanxi Guild Hall to find me. When Ninth Sister returns, I will come to pay a visit."

He was being cautious to avoid suspicion.

Fu Tingjun instructed Zheng San to order a banquet at Penglai Pavilion and have it delivered to the Shaanxi Guild Hall, as a welcome dinner for Seventh Sister's husband.

Seventh Sister's husband sent his attendant over to express his thanks.

Yuwei couldn't help but laugh, saying, "I think Seventh Uncle-in-law is just as courteous as Third Uncle-in-law."

The child's due date was in mid-May, and with only a few months remaining, Fu Tingjun was sewing small clothes for the baby. She smiled at the remark and said, "Better too much courtesy than none at all." Then she added, "Tell Zheng San to go check on Seventh Uncle-in-law at the Shaanxi Guild Hall every now and then—first, to put my mind at ease, and second, so that if anything comes up, he can lend a hand."

Yuwei acknowledged and went off.

Fu Tingjun focused on her needlework. During this time, Seventh Sister's husband asked Zheng San to accompany him on two outings—once to Pu'an Temple outside the city for a spring outing, and once to visit a great Confucian scholar at a place called Qipan Hutong.

Before they knew it, it was already the third month.

Fu Tingjun received a letter from Zhao Ling, saying that all was well and asking her not to worry. At the end, he asked about the children: "...Though Youyou is still young, try to teach her a few characters as well. Xige'er is the eldest son, so his character is most important—don't spoil him just because he's young." He asked about every detail, great and small.

She smiled and placed the letter in the box by her pillow, then picked up her brush to write a reply to Zhao Ling.

Zhenzhu ran in excitedly: "Madam, madam, Third Madam has arrived in the capital!"

Fu Tingjun was stunned, and only after a moment did she react—Third Sister's husband had finished his mourning period and had come to the capital to seek reinstatement to office.

An irrepressible smile spilled from the corners of her eyes and brows. She stood up: "Quick, quick—invite Third Sister inside to sit."

Zhenzhu acknowledged and trotted out of the inner chamber, and Fu Tingjun followed, going out to greet her.

Third Cousin had come with Chunbing and Yuanxiao.

When the sisters met, there was naturally much to catch up on, but among the children, all one could hear was Yuanxiao chattering away with Youyou, while Chunbing had already been left out in the cold by Youyou.

Just as Fu Tingjun had expected, Third Cousin's family had come to the capital about the reinstatement matter.

"According to your brother-in-law, he wanted to wait until things were settled before saying anything," Third Cousin said with a smile. "But I thought he might not end up staying in the capital, so I insisted on coming along." Then she took Fu Tingjun's hand. "Come, let's take a look at your residence."

Fu Tingjun naturally went along with the suggestion and showed Third Cousin around the entire house.

Only then did Third Cousin give a slight nod, a satisfied smile appearing on her face: "It's clear that Zhao Ling knows how to run a household. Now I can rest easy." She looked as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

Fu Tingjun was puzzled, but then she understood—Third Cousin had been worried that she was only putting on a good front.

She was deeply moved, and teased Third Cousin: "So all that relief you showed before was just an act!"

Third Cousin didn't deny it, and laughed: "Back then, I only hoped you were alive. Now that I know you're living well, and that all of us sisters—except Second Sister—have food and clothing without worry, of course I want even better for you."

The sisters chatted as they returned to the main hall and sat down.

Fu Tingjun then asked about Third Sister's husband's reinstatement: "Are there no positions available in the capital this year?"

Third Cousin sighed at the question: "Your brother-in-law says he's in the prime of his life. If he just stays in the Hanlin Academy doing scholarly work, he might as well take a post outside the capital and do some real work for the common people."

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but apologize: "I'm afraid our family's husband is a military officer and doesn't have much connection with those grand secretaries."

Third Cousin chided her at this: "As if I didn't know that! I came simply to see you and to let the children broaden their horizons. After all, the capital is beneath the emperor's feet—the heart of the realm, densely populated, rich in goods and talent. Who knows if we'll ever have the chance to come again."

Fu Tingjun smiled at this and said: "Very well then—starting tomorrow, I'll accompany Third Sister on a tour of the capital!"

Third Cousin glanced at her belly and laughed: "You'd better stay put at home! I've already hired a carriage driver." Then her gaze fell on Youyou, who was whispering with Yuanxiao. "If you're willing, let Youyou keep me company? What use are two boys—a daughter is so much more attentive!"

When Youyou heard Third Cousin call her name, she looked up, her face full of confusion.

That adorable little expression made Third Cousin envious. She scooped up Youyou and asked her, "How about accompanying your Third Aunt on a tour of the capital tomorrow?"

Youyou's face immediately lit up with joy, but she didn't dare agree, and looked to her mother instead.

How could Fu Tingjun feel at ease entrusting the child to anyone else, even Third Cousin? "Let Zheng San and Mother Tong accompany you both there!"

That counted as agreement.

Youyou and Third Cousin exchanged smiles.

After the evening meal, Third Cousin's husband came to pick up Third Cousin and her son, formally meeting Fu Tingjun: "...When Ninth Brother-in-law returns, I will come to pay a visit again."

Fu Tingjun knew that Third Cousin's husband was being cautious to avoid suspicion, and smilingly agreed, seeing their family off at the door.

Over the next few days, Youyou left early and returned late each day, telling Fu Tingjun about the day's experiences upon coming back.

Seeing that Youyou was having a wonderful time, that Third Cousin cared for her with meticulous attention—even surpassing the care given to her own two sons—and with Zheng San and Mother Tong accompanying them, Fu Tingjun finally felt at ease.

When Seventh Brother-in-law heard that Third Cousin's husband had come to the capital, he went to the place where Third Cousin was renting to pay his respects, and actively helped Third Cousin's husband inquire about filling a vacancy. But by late April, there was still no progress.