Chapter 291

Because of this incident, Fu Tingjun had Yuwei go and inquire about the Li family's affairs.

When Yuwei returned, she said, "According to that old woman Huang, Madam Li is a second wife. The Thirteenth Young Master Li was born to the previous wife, whose mother passed away from illness before he was even half a year old. The Old Madam Li doted on this grandson and raised him in her own quarters from a young age, spoiling him greatly. Even when Lord Li spoke to him with a stern tone, the Old Madam Li disapproved—let alone Madam Li? Madam Li simply did not dare to discipline him and could only coax him with kind words. When the Tenth Young Master Li went to study at the Imperial Academy, he made a fuss about wanting to come along and see the excitement, so the Old Madam Li had Madam Li bring him to the capital as well. He was usually quite obedient, but no one expected him to act this way this time. Madam Li was frantic with worry. After returning home, she first wrote a letter and sent someone to deliver it to Lord Li before bringing gifts to our house to apologize. The Tenth and Thirteenth Young Masters Li are full brothers born of the same mother. It is said that when the Tenth Young Master learned that Madam Li had written to Lord Li, he made some rather critical remarks, feeling that Madam Li had reported the Thirteenth Young Master's misdeeds to their father, to the point that Madam Li has had a very difficult time these past few days."

Fu Tingjun could not help but frown and decided to leave early for Yuming Mountain to escape the summer heat: "...After all, the Thirteenth Young Master Li is still a child. If he stirs up any more trouble, Madam Li cannot control him, and we would hardly go and reason with a child. Fortunately, the repairs on the courtyard there are nearly finished. The children can go over and help tend to the flowers and trees. For one thing, it will let the children learn about plants and flowers; for another, it will give them something to do with their hands. Wouldn't that be better than staying here and being angry with the Li family?"

Yuwei nodded repeatedly and said with a smile, "That works well. Children are fickle by nature. By the time we come down from the mountain and return home, the Thirteenth Young Master Li may well have forgotten all about this."

Fu Tingjun then had her pass a message to Third Cousin: "Tell her to bring the children and come up the mountain with us. Summer has only just begun, and already the wind carries a heat when it blows on one's skin. This year is likely to be a scorching summer. I hear Third Brother-in-law is strict with the children—Chunbing has to practice three thousand characters a day, and his clothes get soaked through the moment it gets a little warm. Third Sister even bought him a little maidservant specifically to fan him because of it. If they come with us to Yuming Mountain, the children will be more comfortable as well."

Yuwei smiled in acknowledgment, gave instructions for the maids and matrons of each household to pack up the trunks, and then went herself to the Shen residence.

Third Cousin was somewhat hesitant: "Isn't it a bit too early?" There was an intercalary sixth month this year, so it would certainly be hotter than in previous years. Their family was neither wealthy merchants nor high-ranking officials, so they had no way to obtain ice for cooling off. The adults could manage, but as a mother, her heart ached for the children. If she could follow Fu Tingjun to Yuming Mountain and stay for a few months, she would be more than happy. However, if they went up the mountain, they would not only need to bring trunks for the entire summer and the maids and matrons attending them, but to avoid interrupting their studies, the tutors hired for Chunbing and Yuanxiao would also have to come along... Her main concern was that it would be too much of a commotion.

Having served Fu Tingjun for so many years, Yuwei knew well enough how to read the situation.

She said in a low voice with a smile, "There is one more matter for which you are being invited." With that, she paused briefly before continuing, "Our mistress is with child..."

"Ah!" Before Yuwei could finish speaking, Third Cousin's face lit up with a mixture of surprise and delight. "This Quanhui—why didn't she give me a hint?" She then covered her mouth and laughed, saying, "She certainly works fast."

Yuwei laughed along with her. "After all, we are servants. If you could come and keep our mistress company, she would have someone to share her private thoughts with and someone to consult when matters arise..."

"Exactly, exactly." Earlier, Third Cousin had felt a bit awkward about taking advantage of someone else's generosity, but now that she was going to help Fu Tingjun, that discomfort vanished like smoke. She said happily, "I'll go with you right now to see Ninth Sister."

Yuwei acknowledged with a smile and accompanied Third Cousin back to Shi Family Lane.

When the two sisters met, there was no shortage of laughter and teasing. Together they consulted the almanac and decided to set out for Yuming Mountain four days later. As for the Dragon Boat Festival, Third Cousin said with a laugh, "Have your brother-in-law come up the mountain... Yuming Mountain's scenery is famous for its beauty. Isn't he fond of drinking wine and composing poetry? Let him face the trees all over the mountain and lament over sorrow and melancholy."

At that, everyone burst into laughter.

Although Third Cousin had spoken with confidence in front of Fu Tingjun, she still had to discuss the matter with Third Brother-in-law when she returned home.

A father's love for his children lies deep in his heart.

Third Brother-in-law hesitated and said, "I'm just afraid no one will be there to supervise the children's studies?"

Third Cousin had already planned for this and said with a smile, "The children are growing older by the day. We can't keep hovering over them forever, can we? These past years, Chunbing and Yuanxiao have been well-behaved and sensible by your side. This is a perfect opportunity to try letting go a little and see whether the two children have truly taken in your daily teachings. If they start to slack off, you can simply come and bring us back."

Third Cousin's husband found this reasonable, then remembered another matter: "I promised the children I'd take them to the Western Garden to watch the dragon boats on the Dragon Boat Festival."

Third Cousin was taken aback.

A promise made to the children certainly couldn't be broken.

She thought for a moment, then said, "Yuming Mountain isn't Zhangye, after all. We can just go down the mountain early that day and come back the next."

Seeing there was nothing left to worry about, Third Cousin's husband smiled and said, "Fine then! So you'll go stay at the mountain villa with Ninth Sister and the others for a few days?" As he spoke, he looked at Third Cousin with apologetic eyes and said in a low voice, "Next year, I'll find a way to get some ice to cool you and the children off in the summer heat."

Third Cousin felt a warmth in her heart, but her face showed a coy pout as she said, "Wouldn't that just be letting all that breeze in Ninth Sister's family's villa courtyard go to waste?"

Third Cousin's husband burst into laughter.

Then he sighed softly and stepped forward to take Third Cousin's hand.

Third Cousin's face flushed crimson. She tried to pull her hand free from her husband's grip while stammering, "I—I need to go tell the kitchen to prepare dinner!"

Third Cousin's husband grinned widely, and with a slight tug, Third Cousin stumbled into his embrace...

...

The residence at Yuming Mountain was the same as Fu Tingjun's residence on Shi Family Lane—both were three-courtyard compounds. However, the rear building here came with a large courtyard, filled with camphor trees.

Yuanxiao and Xige'er were like birds released from their cages, darting wildly through the grove.

Xu Ge'er watched with envy and ran after them.

Youyou grabbed hold of Xu Ge'er: "You stay with your sister. The grass in the grove is deep—watch out for grasshoppers jumping out to bite you."

"Grasshoppers don't bite people." Xu Ge'er blinked his big eyes, not scared at all. "Master says toads, cockroaches, and bedbugs don't bite people either."

Youyou was at a loss for words and could only say, "Anyway, you're still little—you're not allowed to go." Her tone carried a helpless bossiness, and she coaxed him, "If you listen to your sister obediently, I'll wash some cherries for you to eat later."

Xu Ge'er said, "Even if sister doesn't wash them, Aluo will." He wasn't buying Youyou's offer.

Youyou was both anxious and embarrassed.

Chunbing, who had been standing behind Youyou without saying a word, suddenly spoke up: "You're too small—if you go into the grass, no one will be able to see you. Then we'd all have to go looking for you, and it would delay dinner."

At this, Xu Ge'er began to hesitate.

Youyou's spirits lifted, and she quickly added, "That's right! Every time you run off, we have to search everywhere for you. And if we can't find you, Xige'er will get scolded by Mother..."

Xu Ge'er's hesitation grew even more pronounced.

Chunbing took the opportunity to take Xu Ge'er's hand, and while instructing the young servant beside him, "Go call the Second Young Master and the Young Cousin back," he calmly led Xu Ge'er toward the main hall.

Seeing the young servant acknowledge the order and dash off to find Yuanxiao and Xige'er, Xu Ge'er finally felt at ease and followed Chunbing to the main hall.

Youyou breathed a sigh of relief. After lunch, she directed her maids to arrange her favorite things, and seeing that Aluo was still busy with the maids setting up the rooms, she went alone to the side room south of the western wing where Chunbing was staying.

Chunbing's young servant and maids were arranging the room, while Chunbing was organizing his books. Seeing Youyou come in, he smiled and asked, "Has Xu Ge'er been naughty again?"

"No." Youyou looked a bit sheepish. "He was called away by Master An." As she spoke, she sat down on the embroidered stool nearby and muttered, "He behaves himself as soon as he sees Master An."

"Master An is his teacher—of course he behaves when he sees him." Chunbing smiled nonchalantly, then turned and produced a small pouch from somewhere. "It's peach blossom cake. Father brought it back last time he went to drink at Grand Secretary Chen's house—said it was palace pastry. Would you like to try it?"

At this, Youyou's eyes curved into crescent moons.

She happily took the pouch and opened it to find four or five pieces of pink pastry shaped like peach blossoms, complete with yellow stamens, looking as real as actual flowers.

"So pretty!" Youyou held them in her hands, reluctant to eat them. She hopped down from the tall chair. "I'll go show Mother."

Chunbing's face flushed at her words, and his tone grew somewhat hesitant: "There are only these few pieces—not enough to share around, so I didn't bring them out."

Youyou tilted her head at this and carefully counted the peach blossom cakes: "Mother's, Third Aunt's, Eldest Cousin's, Second Cousin's, Xige'er's..." And then there were none left.

She couldn't help feeling a little deflated.

Chunbing said, "Yuanxiao and I have already had some—you all just go ahead and eat them."

Youyou thought for a moment, then counted again: "Mother's, Third Aunt's, Xige'er's, Xu Ge'er's..." Plus her own, it came out just right.

Her eyes curved back into crescent moons, and clutching the pastries, she skipped happily to her mother's room.

Fu Tingjun was sitting with Third Cousin, sharing intimate words: "...I knew as soon as he came back... I was just afraid people would laugh at me... that's why I didn't say anything."

"You two are a loving couple—others would envy you if they knew. What do you have to be embarrassed about?" Third Cousin said, then noticed Youyou coming in and quickly stopped the topic.

Youyou trotted over to Fu Tingjun and Third Cousin with a bit of a fawning gait, holding up the pastries for them to see: "Mother, Third Aunt, these were given to me by Cousin. He said Third Uncle brought them back from the palace—they're delicious!" Then she carefully took one and handed it to Fu Tingjun, and another to Third Cousin.

Third Cousin let out a surprised "Oh?" and said, "His father brought back a whole box—only twelve in total. I gave five to Chunbing and five to Yuanxiao... I never expected Chunbing to have saved them all along!" She was quite taken aback.

Fu Tingjun was equally surprised.

Knowing that Chunbing had only received five, she placed the peach blossom cake back into Youyou's hands: "You all eat them! Mother won't have any."

Third Cousin also placed her peach blossom cake back into Youyou's hands, smiling, "Aunt has already eaten hers. You all enjoy them!"

Youyou's eyes darted around for a moment, then she said, "Then Aunt and Mother can share one!" And without waiting for a response, she carefully broke the peach blossom cake into two pieces, thoughtfully handing the piece with three petals to Third Aunt and the piece with two petals to her mother.

Third Aunt let out an "Aiyo!" and scooped Youyou up onto her lap: "My dear child, you truly melt my heart." Then she slipped the jade bracelet off her wrist and put it on Youyou's, saying, "Third Aunt won't eat it. This is a gift for you to wear and play with."