Chapter 251

Fu Tingjun felt both grateful and moved. She quickly kept the young novice monk for breakfast at home, rewarded him with two taels of silver, and handed him the Lotus Sutra that her third brother-in-law had managed to procure yesterday: "Take this to Master Zhenghe." She also brought out a bundle: "I made some plain pastries—take these back and share them with the senior and junior monk brothers."

The young novice monk thanked her cheerfully.

Fu Tingjun called for a carriage and sent the novice monk back to Tanzhe Temple. Then she dispatched Yuwei to inform Third Cousin: "...Teacher Yao sent word that he already knows about the matter, and we need not go to Tanzhe Temple to visit him."

As soon as Third Cousin heard this, she hurried over: "Is Teacher Yao displeased about something?" Her tone carried a hint of anxiety.

"He wouldn't be," Fu Tingjun reassured her. "If he were truly displeased, he wouldn't have sent the novice monk specifically to tell us."

Only then did Third Cousin breathe a sigh of relief. She said sheepishly, "These past days, I've been thinking about your brother-in-law's matter even in my sleep, afraid something might go wrong... I've gotten myself all worked up and jittery."

"If I were in such a situation, I'd probably be just like Third Sister," Fu Tingjun said with a smile, making small talk. "Third Sister has kept her composure well. Those who couldn't would probably talk about it a dozen times a day."

Third Cousin shot her a glare and said, "I've been through things in my life, you know—I'm not so bad as to go on about it a dozen times a day, like you said."

Fu Tingjun covered her mouth and laughed.

The two sisters chatted happily, sharing intimate words.

In the inner courtyard of the Yu residence on Jiadao Street, Lady Fan was frowning as she spoke to Zhen-jie'er's wet nurse: "Wasn't she better yesterday? Why has she developed a fever again this morning? Did you not take proper care of her during the night?"

The moment she said this, the maidservants, married women, and elderly matrons in Zhen-jie'er's room all knelt down in a row.

"Madam, please see clearly—we changed shifts every hour and didn't even dare close our eyes," the wet nurse said, kowtowing repeatedly. "She was fine at the hour of Yin. When I went to check at the start of Mao, I only noticed the young miss's face was a bit flushed. I touched her, and her body felt cool. By the time the maidservant came on duty at the middle of Mao, the young miss's body was already warm..."

Lady Fan felt irritated hearing this and said, "Who was on duty at the start of Mao?"

The room fell silent.

Lady Fan slapped her palm hard on the kang table, making the teacups and teapot rattle with a clatter, causing all the maidservants and matrons in the room to change color abruptly.

"Have you all gone mute?" she shouted. "Who was on duty at the start of Mao?" She asked again.

Two young maidservants of fifteen or sixteen crawled out trembling: "M-m-madam, it was, it was us—we were on, on duty!"

Lady Fan glanced at the two with disgust and instructed Mozhuan: "Go fetch a matchmaker!"

Hearing this, the two young maidservants, forgetting all propriety, rushed forward and clung to Lady Fan's legs: "Please spare us, Madam, please spare us... We truly served the young miss the whole time and never once slacked off. Truly—if we're lying, may heaven strike us with lightning..."

Immediately, some matrons stepped forward to pull the two young maidservants away.

The two maidservants struggled and begged Lady Fan for mercy.

In an instant, the room was filled with crying and commotion, thrown into chaos.

Yu Jingxiu, lifting the curtain to enter, couldn't help but darken his face: "What is all this?"

Lady Fan stood up and smiled as she went to greet him: "Husband is back!" She gave a slight bow to Yu Jingxiu and said, "The young maidservants in Zhen-jie'er's room let her develop a fever again, so I've sent people to drag them out and sell them."

Yu Jingxiu nodded indifferently.

Lady Fan signaled the matrons holding the two maidservants with her eyes, indicating they should drag them out quickly and not make a fuss here.

The two matrons understood, covered the maidservants' mouths, and dragged them out.

The room immediately returned to silence.

Lady Fan personally stepped forward to help Yu Jingxiu change his clothes: "Who were you drinking with yesterday? You drank so late that you didn't even come back?" She asked with concern, "Have you had breakfast yet?" Then she wrinkled her nose. "You still reek of alcohol. Shall I have the kitchen prepare a hangover soup for you?"

During yesterday's evening meal, Yu Jingxiu had sent his page to report to her that he was drinking with friends outside and wouldn't return for the night—nothing more than that.

Perhaps because he had been drinking late into the night, Yu Jingxiu looked somewhat weary, and his voice was a bit hoarse as he spoke: "No need. Just help me change into fresh clothes." He added, "I was with Brother Zhongming yesterday, and we talked to our hearts' content. It got too late, and I was afraid of disturbing Father and Mother, so I simply stayed the night at Zhongming's place."

Lady Fan smiled at this and said, "Very well, I'll have someone prepare a four-color selection of pastries to send over—since you disturbed him, you can't very well not even express your thanks, can you?"

Yu Jingxiu didn't concern himself with such trivial matters. He nodded, casually ate his breakfast, and went with Lady Fan to pay their respects to Madam Yu.

Madam Yu didn't see her granddaughter and asked, "Where's Zhen-jie'er?"

Lady Fan hastily said, "She started running a fever again early this morning, so I didn't dare bring her out."

Hearing this, Madam Yu's expression turned slightly displeased. "Why is she ill again? Her constitution has always been weak, so you should be even more attentive in caring for her. Not the slightest carelessness can be tolerated."

Sensing the reproach in Madam Yu's voice, Lady Fan quickly said, "It's all because those maidservants and matrons weren't diligent enough. I've already called the matchmaker and had the two maidservants who were on night duty sold off."

Madam Yu's expression grew even more severe. "When Depu was born, he was perfectly healthy! But since our third branch has only this single heir, I and his wet nurse stayed up day and night without even removing our clothes to care for him. Until Depu turned three, he hadn't even sneezed once, and he grew sturdier than other children. Only then did I dare sleep through the night."

The implication was clear: if the maidservants and matrons couldn't care for the child properly, then she should care for the child herself.

Lady Fan couldn't help biting her lip and softly acknowledged, "Yes."

Madam Yu paid her no further attention. After exchanging a few words with her son, she raised her teacup.

Lady Fan and Yu Jingxiu quickly rose to take their leave.

Madam Yu nodded with a smile.

The two of them exited the room.

Lady Fan's grievances surged up uncontrollably. "Husband, I often go to check on the child in the middle of the night..."

"I know." Before she could finish, Yu Jingxiu smiled and said, "You've grown thinner these past days."

Lady Fan felt a sweetness in her heart.

But then Yu Jingxiu changed his tone. "However, Mother's words do make sense. What do those maidservants and matrons understand? It's better for you to care for the child personally. Zhen-jie'er is our first child."

After all was said and done, he still felt she hadn't cared for the child well enough.

Lady Fan secretly grew annoyed and was about to argue with Yu Jingxiu when he said, "After I leave the yamen later, I still have some matters to attend to. I won't be coming home for dinner today." Then he strode off with Chengxin.

Lady Fan stood there, unable to collect her thoughts for a long while. So the moment she returned to her room, she immediately called for Mozhuan. "The matter I asked you to investigate—how is it going? Why haven't you come to report back to me?"

Mozhuan hesitated, hemming and hawing before finally saying, "The eldest young master has been in low spirits these days... It's said that the master had originally planned to have the eldest young master appointed as Left Supervising Secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, but someone snatched the position away before he could get it..."

Lady Fan was greatly shocked. "It's only a rank 7b position, and someone actually snatched it away?"

Mozhuan nodded, not daring to say more.

Lady Fan's heart began to flutter with unease.

The Yu family had stood for over a hundred years. In her heart, they were like the memorial archway on Jiqing Street—no matter the wind or rain, they would stand unshaken.

How could things suddenly become so precarious and unstable?

She quickly asked Mozhuan, "What else have you heard?"

Mozhuan still hesitated.

Lady Fan said impatiently, "Our fates are intertwined. What is there that you cannot say? If you delay matters because of this, that would truly be a disservice to me."

Only then did Mozhuan speak. "They all say that the master has been too close to Grand Secretary Shen. Now that Grand Secretary Shen has retired, and our master has been in the Grand Secretariat for many years and enjoys popular support, the new Grand Secretary cannot tolerate our master and wants to move against him!"

Lady Fan was stunned speechless, then said in a fluster, "Then—then what should we do? What should we do? We can't just give up being Grand Secretary!"

Mozhuan was also worried. "That's right! Everyone feels uneasy, not knowing what will happen!"

Lady Fan gritted her teeth. "At worst, we can return to Nanjing—the eldest young master was the zhuangyuan of the Jiachen year, and the Yu family has produced several libationers in past generations. Surely we could open an academy!"

Hearing this, Mozhuan's expression relaxed, and she quickly smiled. "That's right! The eldest young master is a zhuangyuan! If he were to open an academy, I'm afraid those seeking to become his disciples would crowd and break down the door."

Though she said this, Lady Fan still felt somewhat indignant that a distinguished zhuangyuan would become a mere teacher.

Her expression was one of deep melancholy.

Perhaps because "deception is kept from superiors but not from subordinates," Concubine Wu also learned of this matter.

She asked Lianxin, "Do you know who snatched away the eldest young master's appointment?"

Lianxin shook her head.

Concubine Wu thought for a moment, then said, "In a couple of days it will be the birthday of the third young mistress of the Wu family. You can deliver some gifts on my behalf. Then ask the people around Madam Wu to find out who snatched away the eldest young master's appointment."

"Mm!" Lianxin nodded repeatedly.

Concubine Wu then mused, "You should also make inquiries—where is Mrs. Zhao from next door? Or where is Lord Zhao from? If no one in the inner courtyard knows, go ask the stewards!"

Lianxin looked bewildered. "Why are you asking about these things?"

"Just a bit curious," Concubine Wu said with a smile. "I heard that Lord Zhao is from the south, but looking at Mrs. Zhao, she seems to be from the north." She added, "Mrs. Zhao is truly beautiful."

Lianxin was relieved and smiled. "Don't worry, Auntie. I'll make sure to find out everything clearly."

Concubine Wu nodded with satisfaction and rewarded Lianxin with a tael of silver. "Buy yourself some flowers to wear."

Lianxin withdrew joyfully.

Concubine Wu went to report to Madam Yu.

Madam Yu naturally agreed and even rewarded her with twenty taels of silver: "When you go, help me pick out something to send over as well."

Concubine Wu thanked her profusely.

After she had left, Mama Shu smiled and flattered Madam Yu, saying, "Madam has such a kind heart. For Concubine Wu to be able to come to our household is a blessing she has cultivated over three lifetimes!"

Madam Yu sighed and said, "I am merely preparing for a rainy day—Lord Wu and the former Vice Minister of Personnel, Hao Jianfeng, were fellow examination graduates and are on very good terms. Hao Jianfeng is also a veteran of the Ministry of Personnel. This time, with Depu's matter, we will inevitably have to seek help under Hao Jianfeng's name."

Mama Shu smiled in acknowledgment and said no more.

On the appointed day, Lianxin rose before dawn to dress and make herself up. After breakfast, she took the Yu family carriage and went to the Wu household in high spirits.

However, just past noon, Lianxin returned.

With a mournful face, she said to Concubine Wu, "Madam Wu says you are to come to the residence immediately."