Chapter 267

When Madam Wu learned that Madam Yu was visiting, she personally went to the hanging-flower gate to welcome her and, smiling warmly, invited Madam Yu to be seated in the main hall.

After the maidservant had served tea and refreshments, Madam Yu tactfully explained the purpose of her visit: "...After all, she is only a concubine, and our family and the Zhao family are merely nodding acquaintances. For her to go calling at someone else's house like that would be rather improper. So I had no choice but to confine Concubine Wu to her quarters. When you see Concubine Wu, Madam, I hope you might also help persuade her."

Had this been any other time, Madam Wu would naturally have murmured assent. But now that she knew of the grievances between the two families—and still could not fathom to this day how Concubine Wu had managed to speak with Fu Tingjun, much less learn what they had discussed—she could not give such an easy answer. She let out an "Aiya!" and laughed. "This is all my fault! I was only thinking of convenience, knowing that Concubine Wu had met Mrs. Zhao a few times before, so I asked her to help pass along a message. I never expected it would cause you to misunderstand!"

Madam Yu was taken aback. "Concubine Wu and Mrs. Zhao... do they meet often?" As she spoke, a hint of confusion flickered in her eyes.

Madam Wu secretly curled her lip.

You're afraid others will find out about the sordid affairs in your family, aren't you?

Such were her thoughts, but her face betrayed nothing. She smiled and said, "Our two families live next door to each other. With heads raised and lowered, we're bound to run into each other—how could we possibly not meet?"

Madam Yu could not help but furrow her brow.

Recalling how Madam Yu had occasionally flashed a hint of disdain when she spoke of household trivialities in the past, Madam Wu now deliberately sought to irritate her. "Have you heard? Lord Zhao has won another victory in Guizhou. At morning court, the Emperor even said, 'Huchen is my thousand-li steed.' I'd say Lord Zhao is due for another promotion!" She even let out a feigned sigh as she continued, "Just think—he's not even thirty, and already a full second-rank official. If he keeps rising at this rate, by the time he reaches our age, won't he be enfeoffed as a duke or marquis? When I think of myself at their age, I was still pinching pennies back in our hometown, praying to the gods and Buddhas that my husband would pass the imperial examinations so we could hold our heads high before the villagers... They truly are blessed!" As she spoke, she covertly studied Madam Yu's expression. Seeing a flicker of discomfort cross Madam Yu's face, a surge of satisfaction rose in her heart. She pressed on with a smile, "Oh, by the way, I heard your eldest son has been appointed to fill a vacancy as Censor in the Censorate. What's wrong—was the Messenger Office not good enough? Censors are tasked with investigating and impeaching all officials—it's a thankless job that makes enemies. Why, back in the day, my husband racked his brains to extricate himself from such a post." Then she added with mock reproach, "Why don't you persuade Grand Secretary Yu to find your son a different position? I think the Hanlin Academy is far better than the Censorate!"

Madam Yu was left speechless with indignation.

What was the Messenger Office? It was a post serving the Son of Heaven directly—countless people would scheme and claw their way to get in. From Madam Wu's words, she seemed to be implying that Madam Yu's son couldn't hold his ground in the Messenger Office and had been forced to take up the Censorate post instead.

This Madam Wu—ignorant and fond of gossip... Yet in the capital, there were no shortage of officials' wives like her. If she thought this way, others might think so too.

Three people spreading a rumor can make a tiger.

If word got out, wouldn't it ruin Depu's reputation!

Madam Yu suppressed her displeasure and explained gently to Madam Wu, "The Messenger Office is fine, but without ten years of grinding away, it's hard to get ahead there. The Censors in the Censorate may work hard, but they achieve visible results more easily, and it's also a chance to gain broader experience of the world—it will benefit Depu in the long run."

"I see!" Madam Wu responded, but her expression was perfunctory, clearly believing that Madam Yu was making excuses for her son's fall from favor, and that she was being magnanimous by not calling it out.

Madam Yu was bitter and frustrated, but there was nothing she could do.

To explain further would only make Madam Wu think she was protesting too much, which would be worse.

With that thought, she found the Wu family's hall cramped and stifling, making it hard to breathe and quite uncomfortable. After exchanging a few pleasantries, she rose to take her leave.

Madam Wu made a show of urging her to stay, then escorted Madam Yu to the front gate.

Madam Wu's personal attendant said with some concern, "Madam, regarding Concubine Wu—should we send someone to check on her?"

"Once she's through their door, she's their family." Madam Wu gave a cold snort. "Even if she's beaten to death, it's the Yu family that's committed murder..."

The attendant knew well that Madam Wu considered Concubine Wu a hopeless case that couldn't be propped up on the wall, and thus held her in low regard. But times had changed, and she couldn't help but whisper a reminder: "I'm just afraid Mrs. Zhao will think us too cold-hearted..."

Madam Wu's expression stiffened at these words.

Right!

How could she have forgotten about that?

She quickly said, "What you say makes sense. No need to send anyone else—you go yourself. Bring some tonics and gift boxes. Tell her to study the rules properly under the Eldest Young Madam, and when she has free time, to stay home doing needlework rather than running about. The Madam's confinement of her this time is out of care, so she must not harbor resentment, but serve the Eldest Young Master and Eldest Young Madam well. If you can also discreetly find out what she and Mrs. Zhao discussed, that would be even better!"

Her trusted mama smiled and acknowledged the order, took Madam Wu's tally, went to the accounts office to draw some funds for herbs and silver, purchased an eight-tray gift box, and headed to the Yu residence.

When Madam Yu heard that no sooner had she left than the Wu family sent someone to see Concubine Wu, she was so angry her face turned red: "What is she trying to do? Back up Concubine Wu? I didn't know that concubines also had family to speak for them!"

Mama Shu quickly stepped forward to pat Madam Yu's back and soothe her, advising, "Don't worry, Madam. Madam Wu is not one to disregard propriety. It's likely that after you reported Concubine Wu's misdeeds, Madam Wu sent someone to discipline her!"

Only then did Madam Yu's expression ease slightly. She instructed Mama Shu, "Go and see! If she truly is disciplining Concubine Wu, then fine—but if she says anything else..." Though Madam Yu left the rest unsaid, Mama Shu understood her meaning perfectly. She smiled and nodded, then went to Yu Jingxiu's courtyard.

Concubine Wu's side room door was half-open, and voices drifted out from within. Next door, Concubine Fei's door was tightly shut, and the rear courtyard was silent with no one in sight.

Mama Shu couldn't help but frown.

This was clearly not a visit to discipline—it was obviously to back Concubine Wu up.

And the Eldest Young Madam—why hadn't she sent a respectable mama over to manage the situation? It would both fulfill the duties of a hostess and prevent the Wu family from speaking out of turn.

At this thought, Mama Shu's brow furrowed even deeper.

She hurried over in quick strides.

But just then, Concubine Wu's door creaked open, and Madam Wu's trusted mama stepped out. As she walked, she turned back to smile at Concubine Wu, who was seeing her off: "The wind is strong outside, Concubine—mind you don't catch a chill. Do go back inside! This isn't my first visit—how could I presume to have you see me off! I'll pay my respects to the Eldest Young Madam and then take my leave. If anything comes up, just send Lianxin back to report to the Madam, and she'll rest easy." She was extremely courteous and proper.

Madam Wu had actually sent her trusted mama!

Mama Shu's expression darkened slightly.

Concubine Wu, as always gentle and polite, said softly, "Then I won't see you off—I'm still under confinement!" Then she called to Lianxin, "See the mama out for me."

As the two spoke, they both looked up and saw Mama Shu.

Madam Wu's trusted mama quickly smiled and stepped forward to greet Mama Shu with a bow. Concubine Wu, not daring to leave her room, gripped the doorframe and called out, "Mama Shu."

Mama Shu smiled and returned the greeting to Madam Wu's trusted mama, then nodded at Concubine Wu and said, "Why leave so soon? Won't you stay a while longer?" She then looked toward Concubine Wu. "Why didn't you keep the mama for a bit more time!"

Before Concubine Wu could speak, Madam Wu's trusted mama laughed and said, "Our Madam is worried about Concubine Wu and is waiting for me to return with word! I won't delay any longer." She insisted on leaving.

When Mama Shu heard her say "our Madam is worried about Concubine Wu," her heart turned cold. Seeing that she was leaving, she accompanied her to see Lady Fan, and then saw her off through the hanging flower gate on Lady Fan's behalf.

Meanwhile, Mozhuan, having seen off Mama Shu and Madam Wu's trusted mama, couldn't help but say to Lady Fan, "What is Madam Wu doing? It's only a concubine being confined, and she sends a respectable mama to visit... One after another, none of them know how to keep things simple!" She was quite indignant on Lady Fan's behalf.

But Lady Fan gave a cold smile and said, "These are all people she brought upon herself—let her deal with the headache. What does it have to do with us?"

Mozhuan naturally knew who Lady Fan meant by "she," yet she felt a faint unease and said, "But in the end, it is a matter of your household..."

"My household's matters," Lady Fan's gaze turned cold as well, "when have I ever been allowed to decide them!"

Mozhuan fell silent.

From outside came a young maid's voice: "The Eldest Young Master has returned!"

Lady Fan glanced at Mozhuan, then greeted him with a full smile.

Yu Jingxiu smiled and asked Lady Fan, "How is Zhen-jie'er today?"

"Zhen-jie'er has been doing well these days." Lady Fan helped Yu Jingxiu change his clothes.

Yu Jingxiu hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "I'll be going to Shandong in a couple of days. I'm afraid I won't be back until after the New Year..."

Lady Fan was startled: "So soon? You're going to Shandong already?"

"I didn't expect it either!" Yu Jingxiu took the handkerchief handed to him by the young maid and wiped his face, saying, "I thought I wouldn't go until after the New Year." He then comforted Lady Fan, "The censor's term is only one year—I'll return to the capital next year."

But once back in the capital, would he be able to secure a better post?

Lady Fan muttered to herself, but considering how fraught with twists and turns this assignment had been, and that Yu Jingxiu's departure was imminent, she set the thought aside for the time being and helped Yu Jingxiu pack his trunks.

Grand Secretary Yu, meanwhile, summoned his son and gave him a round of admonitions.

It was at this moment that Lady Fei arrived with several garments to pay her respects to Lady Fan: "...I had some spare time on my hands, so I made these for the Eldest Young Master. I heard he was to leave the capital, and with the weather turning colder by the day, I thought these might come in handy, so I brought them over." She added, "I didn't know beforehand that the Eldest Young Master would be leaving the capital, so I was focused solely on rushing to finish his winter clothes. The Eldest Young Mistress's and Zhen-jie'er's will have to wait a couple of days."

Lady Fan looked at Lady Fei's ordinary face, which bore a mixture of fawning and cautious timidity, and gave a faint nod, having Mozhuan accept the garments.

Lady Fei let out a long sigh of relief and said, "I was afraid the Eldest Young Mistress might look down on my sewing skills, but I never expected the Eldest Young Mistress to be so generous and kind."

She was simply trying to curry favor.

Lady Fan couldn't be bothered to say much more to Lady Fei. She waved her hand and dismissed her.