Chapter 268

Yu Jingxiu returned from Grand Secretary Yu's residence and, upon entering the room, noticed several brand-new winter garments laid out on the kang table. The patterns were unfamiliar to him, but the colors appeared to be meant for a man's wear, so he couldn't help but take a second look.

Lady Fan felt a surge of irritation.

How could she have forgotten to put those away?

She instinctively didn't want Yu Jingxiu to know these were clothes made by Lady Fei—these days, she had been so busy tending to Zhen-jie'er that it had been a long time since she had personally done any needlework for Yu Jingxiu.

"Thinking about how the weather is getting colder," Lady Fan said with a smile, "I wanted to make a few more winter garments for you, my husband." As she spoke, she shot a glance at Mozhuan, signaling her to put the clothes away.

Mozhuan smiled and went to gather the garments.

But Yu Jingxiu walked over and felt the hem of one, saying, "Your needlework has become even finer—the stitching is tight and even." Then he looked up at Lady Fan. "Don't do this anymore in the future. It strains your eyes, and you still have Zhen-jie'er to look after. What are all those seamstresses we keep in the household for?" There was a tender look in his eyes.

Mozhuan was taken aback and looked toward Lady Fan.

Lady Fan didn't even glance at Mozhuan, but smiled and said, "What did Father call you in for? What did he say?" She deftly changed the subject.

That evening, while Yu Jingxiu was in the study handling some correspondence, Mozhuan approached Lady Fan. "Eldest Young Madam, what about these clothes..."

"Give them to the servants!" Lady Fan said with a somewhat gloomy expression.

Mozhuan acknowledged and left.

Two days later, Yu Jingxiu set the date for his departure. Madam Yu came with Mama Shu to inspect the luggage Lady Fan had prepared for her son. It happened that Yu Jingxiu had just returned from the yamen, and knowing that Lady Fan had never done such things before, he feared his mother might find fault. He hurriedly smiled and said, "The weather has turned cold, and Lady Fan, worried I might catch a chill, specially made me several winter garments."

Lady Fan was startled.

Madam Yu had already let out an interested "Oh" and asked with great curiosity, "What fabrics did she use? What styles did she make?"

Lady Fan looked toward Mozhuan with a somewhat panicked expression.

Mozhuan inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

Those winter garments were not only made of fine fabric but also in the latest styles. Such good things naturally had to be given to those maids and matrons who treated her with great respect on a daily basis! As for who exactly to give them to, she hadn't yet decided, and since Madam Yu had arrived in haste, the items hadn't been distributed yet.

She gave Lady Fan a slight nod to signal that all was well, then turned and fetched the winter garments made by Concubine Fei.

Madam Yu flipped through them, saw that the needlework was fairly meticulous, and smiled approvingly at Lady Fan. "You've worked hard!" She looked quite satisfied.

Lady Fan let out a long, quiet sigh of relief.

Mozhuan, meanwhile, was wiping cold sweat from her brow.

Yu Jingxiu then took his mother's arm and said with a smile, "Mother, now you can rest assured!"

Madam Yu smiled and patted the back of her son's hand resting on her arm. She didn't look any further, gave Yu Jingxiu a few words of advice, and returned to the main hall with Mama Shu.

But Lady Fan had taken a dislike to Lady Fei and constantly called on her to do this and that. For a period of time, Lady Fei had not a single moment of rest.

Lady Fei couldn't help but complain to Concubine Wu: "...Had I known this would happen, I wouldn't have bothered with all that effort. I was just flattering the wrong person."

Concubine Wu laughed at this.

Lady Fei then asked her, "You're always cooped up in your room. How do you stand it? What do you usually do to pass the time?"

"I do some needlework," Concubine Wu said with a smile. "My father recently remarried and gained a new son. My younger sister married a private tutor. I took some scraps of fabric and made them little things—various odds and ends to help them out a bit."

Lady Fei was surprised. "But they're all the way in Zhoushan!"

Concubine Wu smiled. "People from Nanjing often come this way, and the stewards from the Wu household frequently travel to the capital. I just have them carry the things over."

Lady Fei laughed. "Madam Wu certainly doesn't treat you like an outsider!"

Concubine Wu smiled but said nothing.

The two of them often got together to chat. Though it was usually Lady Fei doing most of the talking, with Concubine Wu listening quietly by her side.

On the day of the Laba Festival, the Wu family sent over Laba porridge, and one portion was specifically designated for Concubine Wu. She naturally had to give something in return, so she rummaged through the bottom of her trunk and found a few pouches and handkerchiefs for the mama to take back.

The mama smiled and asked her, "Is there anything for Mrs. Zhao? I can bring that along as well."

Concubine Wu was taken aback.

The mama smiled and said, "The mistress said that since Lord Zhao is away from home, Mrs. Zhao has closed her doors to visitors. Ordinary people can't get in to see her. Since you were able to meet Mrs. Zhao, she must think highly of you. If you have anything you'd like to send to Mrs. Zhao, just let me carry it back."

She probably wanted to use her as a talking point with Mrs. Zhao!

Since Mrs. Zhao wasn't receiving guests, she must have her reasons. Her previous visit had already been an intrusion and a breach of propriety—how could she add more trouble for Mrs. Zhao?

"No," Concubine Wu said with a smile. "I'm just a concubine—how could I presume to send things to Mrs. Zhao? When you return, please convey my thanks to the mistress on my behalf." With that, she stood up to see the guest out.

That mama, seeing Concubine Wu's rudeness, returned to the residence somewhat awkwardly and reported to Madam Wu.

Madam Wu had a bit of a headache and summoned her personal mama: "Has there been any news from the Zhao family these past few days?"

That personal mama smiled and said, "Madam Shen has returned! She brought many gifts for Mrs. Zhao and hasn't left yet!"

Madam Wu's face lit up with joy as she said, "Come, let's go visit Mrs. Zhao."

The personal mama smiled and acknowledged with a "yes," and seeing the strong wind and heavy snow outside, helped Madam Wu put on a gray squirrel fur cloak, took an oil-paper umbrella, and supported Madam Wu as they went to the Zhao residence.

Yuechuan was rather helpless but had no choice but to report to Fu Tingjun.

Fu Tingjun was sitting with Third Cousin on the large heated kang by the window in the inner chamber, chatting. When she heard that Madam Wu had come, she couldn't help but press her hand to her forehead.

Third Cousin, however, smiled and said, "Let her in! Although she enjoys gossiping about household affairs, you've been cooped up at home without going out, so you have no idea what's happening outside. Having her around to chat with will save you the trouble of sending someone to gather news."

"You needn't worry about that," Fu Tingjun said with a smile. "Though I sit indoors, A Sen talks with me every day. I just don't care for Madam Wu's prying eyes." Even so, she still invited Madam Wu in.

Madam Wu brought up her old proposal again—to host a welcome banquet for Third Cousin and have Fu Tingjun accompany them.

Since she was inviting Third Cousin, Fu Tingjun couldn't make the decision on her behalf. Third Cousin, however, laughed heartily and said, "Very well! Then I'll await your invitation, madam. But since the New Year is approaching—this being my first time spending the New Year in the capital, and my husband having just arrived at the Ministry of Personnel with some social obligations to attend to—I'll host a return banquet for you once spring arrives."

Madam Wu was naturally delighted to hear this and promptly settled on the tenth day of the new year.

After seeing Madam Wu off, Fu Tingjun couldn't help but smile and ask Third Cousin, "What scheme are you cooking up in that head of yours, sister?"

Third Cousin pursed her lips and smiled, saying, "This is what your third brother-in-law said—Lord Wu's side connects to Hao Jianfeng, and Hao Jianfeng's side connects to several third-rank officials who formerly followed Grand Secretary Shen. Now that Grand Secretary Qian and Grand Secretary Li are having a difficult time in the Grand Secretariat, the Emperor can ask once, can ask twice, but he can't personally oversee everything. Hao Jianfeng and the others aren't trying to oppose the Emperor, but Grand Secretary Qian and Grand Secretary Li's credentials are too shallow—they can't immediately switch allegiances, and they can't find a suitable way to step down gracefully. If we could get Hao Jianfeng to connect with Teacher Yao, wouldn't that be a ready-made stepping stone? Hao Jianfeng and the others care about face and are unwilling to soften before Grand Secretary Qian and Grand Secretary Li, but Teacher Yao was the Emperor's strategist during his time at the Former Residence of the Emperor. In terms of seniority, he was a jinshi from the twenty-third year of the Xiping reign, class of bingchen. Admitting defeat before Teacher Yao wouldn't be shameful at all!"

Fu Tingjun's eyes widened: "These past days, Third Brother-in-law has been coming every few days to see the children, checking their lessons, and taking time to tutor A Sen—yet he hasn't mentioned a word of this to me!" She added, "Does Third Brother-in-law intend to act as a go-between for Hao Jianfeng?"

"Ninth Brother-in-law isn't at home, so how could he properly discuss such matters with you?" Third Cousin covered her mouth with a laugh, then lowered her voice and said, "Your third sister's opinion is that Hao Jianfeng has spent many years in the Ministry of Personnel with deep connections. If he can't get through your door, he'll certainly find other ways. Rather than that, it's better for you to do him a favor—build goodwill with him while he's in a difficult position. She also said that with Hao Jianfeng's abilities, even if he can't enter the Grand Secretariat and become a grand chancellor, there's absolutely no question he can hold steady at the second-rank position. Zhao Ling is serving in an external post as a general—his grain supplies, military pay, and officers all require deliberation by the grand secretaries. If he had someone like Hao Jianfeng to assist him, wouldn't that achieve twice the results with half the effort?"

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but think seriously about this.

Zhao Ling had won several more battles in Guizhou, and even Madam Mo had personally come to congratulate her.

When he was in Xuanfu, Zhao Ling had frequently returned to the capital to negotiate with the Ministry of War over matters such as grain and military pay for the Xuanfu General's headquarters. If there were someone influential who could speak on Zhao Ling's behalf at court, it would save him a great deal of trouble. Third Brother-in-law's credentials were too shallow—rising to the third rank in ten years was already no small feat. Relying on Third Brother-in-law would likely mean waiting until the flowers had long since wilted. If things were as Third Brother-in-law described, helping Hao Jianfeng would both relieve the Emperor's predicament and forge a connection with Hao Jianfeng—a move that would kill two birds with one stone!

"This matter still needs to be discussed with Ninth Master," she said cautiously. "When it comes to matters of the court, the men see things more clearly."

"Of course," Third Cousin said with a smile. "But it would be best to do it around the New Year. If we delay too long, unforeseen changes may arise."

Fu Tingjun nodded. Thinking that this matter couldn't be accomplished overnight, she changed the subject and asked Third Cousin about her return to Huayin: "Didn't you say you'd come back after the forty-ninth day? Why did you only return now? Are Fifth Cousin and the others doing well?"

“Alas!” Third Cousin sighed bitterly as she spoke. “Good thing you didn’t go back—if you had, you’d have felt ashamed too!” Then she recounted what had happened in Huayin. “…Even before the seventh-day rites were over, Eldest Aunt and Fourth Aunt had a quarrel over expenses. After the forty-nine days, I barely managed to persuade Mother to move to the side courtyard to observe mourning, leaving the affairs of the main house alone. But then Sixth Uncle, who never meddles in anything, suddenly stepped forward and demanded to divide the family… We married daughters were caught in an awkward position—speaking up felt wrong, staying silent felt wrong too. Before the evening lamps were lit, we all hurried back to our natal homes. Yet I was held back by Eldest Aunt, who insisted I mediate. It was only because Mother feigned illness that I managed to escape. Tell me, what kind of mess is this?”

Fu Tingjun was taken aback. “How could Sixth Uncle be the one to propose dividing the family? Don’t the Shu family intervene?”

The Shu family was Sixth Aunt’s natal clan. Besides her elder brother Shu Ming, who had entered officialdom, several jinshi scholars had emerged from the family in recent years.

Third Cousin gave Fu Tingjun a strange look and said, “It seems it was Uncle Shu who urged Sixth Uncle and Sixth Aunt to separate from Eldest Aunt and the others!”