Chapter 264

Yu Jingxiu was practicing calligraphy in his study when he heard his mother had arrived. He hurried out to greet her.

Madam Yu smiled as her son supported her arm, entering the study. She stood before the large desk and examined her son's calligraphy for a moment: "...You truly have improved considerably!"

She praised her son with a smile.

Yu Jingxiu gently guided his mother to sit on the large kang by the window. Taking the tea that Chengxin had brought, he personally presented it to Madam Yu before saying with a smile, "There are many in the Bureau of Messengers who write well. If I don't work hard, I'll only embarrass myself."

"Your father would be pleased to know you have such a mindset." Madam Yu chatted idly with her son for a while. Having received word, Lady Fan arrived carrying Zhen-jie'er to pay her respects to Madam Yu.

Madam Yu looked at Zhen-jie'er, who was like a little kitten, and could not help but sigh inwardly. She then stated the purpose of her visit: "...Since Miss Chen from the Chen family is unwilling, I won't force her. But since Miss Fei from the Fei family has stayed, I think we should pick an auspicious day and elevate her to the position of concubine."

Her tone was not one of consultation but of command, which made Lady Fan deeply uncomfortable.

Yu Jingxiu's brows also furrowed, but just as he called out "Mother," Madam Yu had already instructed Mozhuan, who stood nearby: "I hear you're very skilled at making almond paste. Today I'd like to taste your craftsmanship." The intent to dismiss her was unmistakable.

Mozhuan dared not linger. She smiled in acknowledgment and withdrew with the serving maids from the room.

Madam Yu looked at her son and daughter-in-law before her and spoke directly: "We have not divided the family from your Eldest Uncle and Third Uncle. Family matters are presided over by your Eldest Uncle and Eldest Aunt. I sent Miss Chen back because she was ill-mannered—she actually came to me with gossip and complaints. If your Third Aunt learned the reason I sent her back, she would not tolerate such arrogance either. But since it has caused your Third Aunt to lose face, she is certainly displeased. She and your Eldest Aunt have remained in the old home in Nanjing, companions for decades—though they are sisters-in-law, they are closer than blood sisters. So there must be some resolution regarding Miss Fei. That way, when your Third Aunt wishes to say something before your Eldest Aunt, she will have some reservations." Having said this, she looked at Lady Fan. "Depu speaks of supporting three branches of the family, but in truth, it is because your father-in-law and your Eldest and Third Uncles are close and none of them wish to see the family property fall into outsiders' hands. Otherwise, why would such an arrangement exist? In fact, many in the collateral branches of the Yu family would love to have their sons adopted into your Eldest Uncle's and Third Uncle's households!"

Lady Fan felt a chill in her heart.

Her mother-in-law was warning her—if she did not appease the Eldest Madam and the Third Madam, this family would fall apart. And the one responsible for that collapse would be her, the eldest daughter-in-law who could not persuade her husband to expand the family line for the ancestral hall.

A bitter smile crept into her expression, and her gaze unconsciously drifted toward Yu Depu.

Meanwhile, Madam Yu was telling Yu Jingxiu what she had just heard from Grand Secretary Yu: "...Back then, Zhao Ling was only a centurion. Now that he has been promoted to commander-in-chief, I fear he has grown even bolder. You must be careful when coming and going—if you see unfamiliar people, try to avoid them. If that Zhao Ling goes mad, who knows what he might do? You are fine porcelain; he is a clay pot. There's no need for us to lower ourselves to his level!"

Yu Jingxiu was stunned and took a long moment to recover. When his mother finished, he could not help but find it absurd: "Mother, you're overthinking this! This is the capital, under the emperor's very nose. No matter how bold Zhao Ling is, he wouldn't dare openly harm a court official. Rest assured."

Madam Yu, however, gave a cold smile and glanced at Lady Fan before saying, "If not for the seeds sown back then, how could we reap this harvest today? In any case, I've already told your father—we're not going to the Censorate. The Bureau of Messengers has produced Grand Secretaries before. Besides, why endure the hardships of traveling everywhere as an inspecting censor?"

"Mother!" Yu Jingxiu was somewhat irritated. "How could you make such a major decision without even consulting me! Every day at the Bureau of Messengers, we draft memorials and deliver imperial edicts. There are plenty of people more senior than me. Even if I manage to distinguish myself, I'd still have to be sent to various ministries for practical experience. Why should I put the cart before the horse and insist on building seniority at the Bureau of Messengers? Out in the field, doing real work, it's easier to achieve something. Then when I return to the Six Ministries, promotion would come much more easily..."

"Say no more." Madam Yu cut off her son. "My mind is made up—without a settled family, how can one establish a career! Without order in the household, how can one govern the realm? Once you have properly arranged matters at home, then we can discuss other things." With that, she stood, called out "Mama Shu," and without so much as a glance at Lady Fan, left the hall leaning on Mama Shu's arm.

Yu Jingxiu slammed his fist onto the black lacquered square table.

A dull thud echoed through the spacious hall.

Lady Fan was startled and hurried over to examine his fist: "Did you hurt yourself?"

Yu Jingxiu shook his head gloomily.

Lady Fan's spirits sank at the sight. She bit her lip, opening her mouth several times as if to speak, but each time the words died in her throat.

Yu Jingxiu stood with a dark expression. "I'm going to the study!"

Lady Fan quickly acknowledged and saw Yu Jingxiu out. Turning back, she summoned Mozhuan and relayed Madam Yu's words, then asked hesitantly, "What on earth should we do about this?"

Mozhuan thought for a moment and said, "Better to wait and see what the Elder Master decides—after all, if the sky falls, there are taller people to hold it up!"

Lady Fan sighed, nodded with some helplessness, then leaned back against the large bolster on the kang and murmured, "I thought since my husband was the top scholar, it would be easy. Who knew that even with his father backing him behind the scenes, it would still be this difficult... No wonder Father resigned and returned to his hometown... It's truly exhausting and draining. I heard that Grand Secretary Chen just passed his fortieth year this year. I wonder how he managed to rise so high?"

Mozhuan could only console Lady Fan: "Grand Secretary Chen served as a county magistrate for many years before that! The Elder Master's fortune simply hasn't arrived yet. Once it does, he'll soar to the heavens. Please set your mind at ease, Eldest Young Madam. Our Elder Master is a top scholar, after all!"

Lady Fan knew that discussing such matters with a young maidservant was futile, but there was no one else she could talk to.

She smiled wryly at herself and waved her hand to dismiss Mozhuan. Lying alone on the large bolster, her mind drifted back to the day she had gone to the Wu residence to congratulate the Fourth Miss on her one-month celebration, when she had overheard a few women whispering among themselves: "He's not even thirty yet, and he's already risen to the rank of full second-grade commander-in-chief. If this continues for a few more years, what will become of him! Wouldn't he be another Marquis of Yingchuan? That Mrs. Zhao is truly fortunate—if Lord Zhao wins another victory in Guizhou, she should be granted a title by imperial decree..."

Lady Fan recalled the faces of those women as they discussed this—filled with both envy and a hint of jealousy... And yet she could only stand by Madam Yu's side, being introduced as "Madam Yu's daughter-in-law," whereupon those women would assume the air of elders, looking down from above with reserved smiles and nodding at her carelessly. She, in turn, had to step forward with a beaming smile, bend her knees in greeting, and respectfully offer her regards. Even so, some people, upon seeing her again, would still whisper to those beside them, "This is Madam Yu's daughter-in-law—what was her surname again?"

As this thought flashed through her mind, she felt stifled with frustration. Grabbing the large bolster beside her, she hurled it at the wooden armchair not far away...

...

In his study, Yu Jingxiu wrote five or six hundred characters in wild cursive script in one breath before the anger in his heart finally subsided somewhat.

He then began to carefully ponder his mother's words.

If Lady Fan could not bear a son, he would naturally discuss taking a concubine with her himself—not like this, where regardless of whether he agreed, found her appealing, or liked her, the decision was forced upon him and the woman pushed before him.

But going against his mother entirely wouldn't do either, as that would offend Eldest Aunt and Third Aunt as well.

Having reasoned all this out, his head throbbed with pain.

He paced around the study for a long while, and then, as if possessed by some inexplicable impulse, he went to Lady Fei's quarters.

Lady Fei was sitting on the kang by the window doing needlework. Seeing Yu Jingxiu enter, she quickly set down her sewing and came forward to offer him a bow of greeting, then personally brewed a cup of tea and presented it to him.

Yu Jingxiu found himself studying Lady Fei carefully.

She was of medium build, with features that were merely delicate rather than striking, but she made up for it with fair skin, a gentle demeanor, and composed bearing. She appeared dignified and serene, carrying herself with the poise of a woman from a distinguished family.

He was somewhat surprised.

To be honest, he had harbored resentment in his heart—whether toward Lady Fei or Madam Chen, he had not given either of them a second glance.

But Lady Fei, noticing his scrutiny, did not shrink back. Instead, she smiled at him.

Yu Jingxiu felt somewhat ill at ease.

He cleared his throat softly and lowered his head to sip his tea, his peripheral vision sweeping over the sewing basket on the kang, where he spotted a piece of lilac-colored satin embroidered with gold thread.

"You're doing needlework!" Yu Jingxiu said, making conversation for the sake of it.

Hearing this, Lady Fei took the fabric from the sewing basket and spread it out before Yu Jingxiu: "With nothing else to do, I've been making a lined robe for Madam Yu. I don't know if she'll like it or not. Since you've come, you can help me take a look. If there's anything not quite right, you can point it out to me."

Yu Jingxiu was stunned once again.

But seeing Lady Fei's composed and natural manner, he felt, for some reason, a weight lift from his heart. He casually glanced at the unfinished lined robe and nodded: "Not bad."

"Since you say it's not bad, it must be fine." Lady Fei seemed genuinely pleased at his words, her smile especially radiant.

Yu Jingxiu suddenly felt a sense of dullness.

Madam Chen had some backbone—she dared to go before his mother and insist on leaving. But this Lady Fei was deeply calculating; no matter how he treated her, she could endure it all.

At that thought, he wanted to leave.

Unexpectedly, Lady Fei across from her smiled and said, "When I came, the Eldest Aunt repeatedly instructed me to serve the Young Master well. She even mentioned that the Young Master loved braised duck the most as a child, and specially told the kitchen maids to teach me how to prepare it. But it's a pity that since I arrived, the Young Master has been constantly busy, and I haven't had the chance to properly serve him a meal."

At the mention of Eldest Aunt, Yu Jingxiu had no choice but to sit back down.

Lady Fei then smiled as she brought over a plate of pastries, asking softly, "Young Master, you must have come for something, right?"

Yu Jingxiu was taken aback.

Lady Fei then spoke seriously, "I know that the Eldest Aunt and the Third Lady sent me and Sister Chen here, and it makes you uncomfortable. That's why Sister Chen wanted to leave. But I'm different from Sister Chen—she can go back and let her parents decide her fate, whereas I lost my parents early and rely on my uncle for survival. If I were sent back, my uncle would lose face, and he might even drown me in the pond himself. So I have no choice but to shamelessly stay."