Chapter 293

Within a few days, the Dragon Boat Festival arrived.

According to the customs of the capital, people eat zongzi and visit relatives during the Dragon Boat Festival, and dragon boat races are held on the fifteenth day of the fifth month.

Third Brother-in-law came up the mountain the day before the Dragon Boat Festival, bringing zongzi, various pastries, and fruits to see the children.

Fu Tingjun exchanged pleasantries with him: "You didn't have to bring anything—just coming is enough."

Third Brother-in-law smiled and pointed to a few golden melons among the gifts, saying, "These were bestowed by the emperor. When Lord Hao learned I was coming here, he specially sent someone to deliver a few."

Fu Tingjun noticed the children staring wide-eyed at the melons, smiled, and accepted them. After dinner, when everyone gathered in the hall for tea, she instructed Yuwei to cut them open so each person could have a taste.

Third Brother-in-law then brought up the dragon boat race: "Why not let Xige'er and Xu Ge'er come with us to watch the excitement?"

Chunbing, sitting nearby, brightened at the suggestion.

But Fu Tingjun politely declined: "It will be packed with people then. With four or five children, it would be too much for you to manage alone. The dragon boat race at the Western Garden is held every year—there's no rush for them to see it until they're older."

Since it concerned the children's safety, Third Brother-in-law didn't dare insist. He smiled and said, "Then I'll take the children to play another time," and asked about Zhao Ling: "...I heard his memorial of thanks has already reached the capital. Everyone envies him—one milestone every year, and at such a young age, he's already a regional governor."

"Every gain comes with a loss," Fu Tingjun said with a smile, making conversation. "He can't attend to matters at home anymore."

"That's true."

The adults chatted for a while and then dispersed.

Seeing Xige'er and Xu Ge'er both hanging their heads, Fu Tingjun smiled and comforted the two boys: "When your father comes back, he'll take you to the Western Garden."

Only then did the two children perk up again.

But early the next morning, as they watched the Shen family's carriage leave through the main gate, they still couldn't help casting envious glances.

Daoist An had learned of Third Brother-in-law's purpose the day before. Seeing the two boys standing side by side in the middle of the courtyard, gazing longingly in the direction the Shen carriage had gone, his heart softened. He stepped forward and put his arms around the two boys, laughing, "What's this? You want to go too?"

Both boys nodded eagerly. Xu Ge'er added, "Mother is afraid we'll get lost. She said we have to wait until Father comes back to take us." His tone was full of dejection.

Daoist An was over seventy and had lived alone all his life. Since coming to the Zhao household, the two lively, innocent boys had brought much joy to his days, and their dejection now stirred his bold spirit.

He laughed heartily and said, "Isn't it just going to the Western Garden to watch the dragon boat race? Master will take you."

Xige'er and Xu Ge'er broke into delighted expressions.

Daoist An didn't even look at the two boys—he went straight to Fu Tingjun: "...Don't worry. I'll have Yang Tong send attendants to wait on them personally. I guarantee I'll bring the boys back safe and sound."

Fu Tingjun was still hesitant.

Then she saw two little heads peeking out from the doorway.

Their dark, glistening eyes stared at her without blinking, tugging at her heart.

"Then I'll trouble Daoist An," Fu Tingjun said. "I'll have Zheng San escort you there."

At the end of the day, she still couldn't quite let go of her worry.

Daoist An, understanding her motherly concern, took no offense and nodded with a smile.

Xige'er and Xu Ge'er cheered.

Fu Tingjun personally changed the two boys into fresh clothes and repeatedly instructed them to listen to Daoist An, before she and Third Cousin together saw Xige'er and Xu Ge'er onto the carriage.

Back inside, Fu Tingjun wanted to comfort Youyou, who was staying home. But before she could speak, Youyou said on her own initiative, "Mother, there are so many of us—Master An can't look after everyone. I'm the older sister, so I'll stay home with Mother."

"Our Youyou is such a good girl." Third Cousin, who had stayed behind to keep Fu Tingjun company, hugged Youyou and gave her two kisses, saying, "How about Youyou spends today doing needlework with Mother and Auntie? I'll teach you to embroider a little bird—a little bird that pecks at worms!"

Youyou was very intrigued.

Third Cousin had her personal maid bring out tracing paper and showed Youyou how to trace embroidery patterns.

Youyou practiced calligraphy every day and knew how to hold a brush, so she quickly learned to trace the patterns.

Third Cousin kept praising Youyou for being clever.

Fu Tingjun tried to stop her: "Don't spoil the child. When we were her age, didn't we all know how to trace patterns too?"

"But not as well as Youyou," Third Cousin said with a smile. She brought out a few more patterns for Youyou to trace and told her, "Have Aluo keep them safe. When you need them, just take them out and copy them." She looked every bit like she intended to teach Youyou needlework.

Aluo smiled and acknowledged the instruction.

Youyou traced a few more patterns with Third Cousin.

Seeing that they had been busy for nearly an hour, Yuwei brought over tea and refreshments.

Fu Tingjun and the others had just settled into their seats when Baoshu ran in: "Madam, the gatekeeper, Brother Dechuan, noticed two children in tattered clothes lingering around our courtyard. Fearing they might be scouts for thieves, he devised a plan to capture them. But the two children claimed to know you, and they could clearly state what our master does, how many people are in the household, and when you were conferred the title of Third-Class Lady of Virtue. Brother Dechuan said our household may have caught the attention of someone with ill intent, and sent me to ask for your instructions—should we handle this privately or send them to the authorities?"

Everyone was taken aback.

Fu Tingjun thought of Zhao Ling, far away in Guizhou, and said thoughtfully, "First, find out what this is all about. If you truly can't get anything out of them, then invite Second Master over."

Baoshu was about to acknowledge when Yuechuan ran in: "Madam, those two boys are Thirteenth Young Master Li and his personal attendant."

Fu Tingjun and Third Cousin exchanged bewildered glances.

"Is it just the two of them?" Fu Tingjun asked. "Don't they have any servants accompanying them?"

Yuechuan shook her head: "According to Thirteenth Young Master Li's personal attendant, they hired a carriage to come here."

"Third Sister," Fu Tingjun said, rising to her feet, "I'll go take a look and be right back."

"I'll go with you!" Third Cousin, fearing Fu Tingjun might not handle this well, set down her needlework and got off the kang. "I'd also like to know what this is about."

Fu Tingjun nodded and had Baoshu lead the way to the front courtyard.

Youyou's eyes had flickered when Third Cousin got off the kang, and seeing Fu Tingjun and Third Cousin leave, she thought for a moment and followed along.

Thirteenth Young Master Li was wearing a coarse cotton short robe in lilac color, covered in patches, standing there looking somewhat dejected. Had Yuechuan not identified him beforehand, she wouldn't have recognized him at first glance.

Seeing Fu Tingjun and Third Cousin, he immediately straightened up and said in a loud voice, "Madam Zhao, I'm not here to spy on your household—I've come to apologize to your eldest daughter. It was all my fault; I shouldn't have deceived her. But I didn't mean to. At the time, I just shouted something, and who knew your eldest daughter would start crying. I also felt embarrassed to say that I was perfectly fine all along..." As he spoke, he caught sight of Youyou and quickly called out, "Eldest Miss Zhao, don't be angry anymore. I've come specially this time to apologize to you..."

Youyou, however, pursed her lips and ignored him.

A hint of anxiety crept into Thirteenth Young Master Li's expression as he called out to Youyou: "It's true, I really have come to apologize to you..."

Third Cousin frowned deeply: "Is this any way to apologize..."

Fu Tingjun made a gesture for her to stop talking, then said with a smile to Thirteenth Young Master Li, "We appreciate your kind intentions. My daughter is not one to hold grudges. The matter is over, and she won't stay angry with you." Then she asked him with a smile, "When did you leave home? Does your family know you're here? Have you had breakfast? Are you hungry..."

Hearing Fu Tingjun say this, a flash of embarrassment crossed Thirteenth Young Master Li's brow before he quickly recovered. He scratched his head and said, "I left home just as dawn was breaking. My family knows I came here—I wrote a note and had the servant at home deliver it to my mother after I left. They must know by now. I've already had breakfast; I'm not hungry..."

Fu Tingjun smiled and said, "You had breakfast at dawn, and now it's already past noon—how could you not be hungry?" With that, she invited Thirteenth Young Master Li and his personal attendant to come inside with her. "Stay and have lunch with us before you leave!"

Thirteenth Young Master Li hesitated for a moment, but seeing Youyou turn and head into the inner courtyard, he immediately smiled and said, "Then I thank Madam Zhao." He then respectfully bowed to Fu Tingjun, revealing a hint of the elegance of a noble scion.

Fu Tingjun nodded inwardly as she watched.

Though this Young Master Li was doted on by his grandmother, when he behaved himself, his manners were impeccable—clearly the Li family maintained strict standards of propriety in their daily life.

Third Cousin quietly called out "Quanhui."

But Fu Tingjun signaled her not to say more, smiling as she led Young Master Li into the hall, then shot Yuwei a meaningful glance.

Yuwei slipped out of the hall without drawing attention.

Fu Tingjun invited Thirteenth Young Master Li to sit down and asked with a smile, pointing at his clothes, "Where did you get this?"

Thirteenth Young Master Li grinned and said, "I saw a farmer on the road and bought it for five taels of silver."

Fu Tingjun barely suppressed the twitch at the corner of her mouth, then began asking about Madam Li and about Old Woman Huang. When noon arrived, she invited Thirteenth Young Master Li to stay for a meal.

Thirteenth Young Master Li made a show of declining, but in the end, he stayed for lunch.

Noticing that Youyou hadn't taken a seat at the table, he couldn't help asking, "Why isn't the eldest young miss here?"

Fu Tingjun smiled and said, "She is a girl, so she eats in her own room."

Thirteenth Young Master Li let out an "Oh" and his shoulders slumped.

Third Cousin's heart skipped a beat, but Fu Tingjun seemed not to notice and cheerfully urged him to eat more.

Perhaps he was truly hungry, for Thirteenth Young Master Li did not put down his chopsticks until he had eaten two full bowls of rice. Even so, his movements remained composed and unhurried.

Fu Tingjun then invited Thirteenth Young Master Li to the side chamber for tea.

A commotion came from outside the door.

Third Cousin frowned and was about to ask what was happening when she saw Yuwei lift the curtain, and Madam Li rushed in hurriedly.

"Thirteen, what are you doing here?" Madam Li stepped forward and embraced the startled Thirteenth Young Master Li in her arms. "You've worried everyone to death. Your tenth brother has taken several servants and is still searching for you in the Western Garden!"

Thirteenth Young Master Li struggled to break free from Madam Li's embrace.

Only then did Madam Li realize her impropriety. She quickly stepped forward, bent her knees in a curtsey, and greeted Fu Tingjun and Third Cousin.

But Thirteenth Young Master Li took the opportunity to run outside.

Noise erupted from beyond.

Third Cousin looked out.

She saw several burly men who looked like servants carrying Thirteenth Young Master Li away, while Madam Li's voice came through, full of apology: "I apologize for the trouble, Madam Zhao. My husband has sent a letter saying that when he returns to the capital, he will personally come to offer his apologies to Madam Zhao."

"Please don't stand on ceremony, Madam Li." Fu Tingjun smiled. "I was also worried that the boy might have wandered off somewhere else and caused you more trouble searching, so I had Yuwei send you word. Now that he's found, that's all that matters." She then invited Madam Li to stay for tea.

"My family doesn't yet know that I've found Thirteen." Madam Li declined Fu Tingjun's kind offer. "I'll come another day to visit Madam Zhao."

Fu Tingjun did not insist and escorted Madam Li out through the hanging flower gate.