Chapter 300

Fu Tingjun had sent Anxin to deliver the letter she had written to Zhao Ling to Guizhou. When she heard Baoshu's report, she quickly had Baoshu bring Anxin in.

Anxin's eyes and brows were brimming with barely concealed joy: "Madam, something has happened over at Needle Alley..." He paused, glancing at Third Cousin.

Seeing this, Third Cousin smiled and rose, saying, "I'll go check on Youyou!"

Fu Tingjun felt that this matter would eventually become known to everyone, so there was no need to avoid Third Cousin. She smiled and tried to keep her: "It's about that Yu Jingxiu—nothing urgent!"

Third Cousin was even more determined to leave.

One had to understand that the Zhao and Yu families were mortal enemies. The Yu family had never missed an opportunity to trip up the Zhao family, and given Zhao Ling's temperament, he surely wouldn't let the Yu family rest easy either.

Judging by Anxin's expression, it was likely that the Zhao family had gotten the better of the Yu family.

Some things could be done but not spoken of; some things could be spoken of but not listened to.

Third Cousin insisted on going to the side room. Fu Tingjun, seeing she couldn't be persuaded to stay, let her go.

"What happened at Needle Alley?" Fu Tingjun asked Anxin.

Anxin stepped forward a few paces and said in a low voice: "That cook woman just sent word to me that yesterday at noon, a young man of about twenty years old suddenly showed up at Needle Alley. The moment Miss Min's personal maid saw him, her face changed dramatically. Even though there was plenty of food in the house, she still sent the maid out to a restaurant far away from Needle Alley to order several dishes—clearly trying to get rid of her so they could talk privately. But that maid was a sharp one. She gave a few coppers to a boy next door to run the errand for her, then quietly slipped back and hid behind the house to eavesdrop."

"So that young man was Miss Min's fiancé..."

"Ah!" Fu Tingjun was greatly surprised, then a look of sudden realization crossed her face. "I knew it—when I heard about Miss Min's situation, I always felt something was missing. She's not young anymore; she should have been betrothed by now. With such a great calamity befalling her family, why hasn't her husband's family come to help? Even if they looked down on her family for their troubles, there should have been some reaction. Yet she appeared completely helpless and alone!" She urged Anxin, "What happened afterward?"

"You guessed right," Anxin said with a smile. "Miss Min's husband's family is the Guo family. When Magistrate Min was in office, Guo's father was the county deputy. After Miss Min's father fell from grace, the Guo family wanted to break off the engagement because they looked down on Miss Min's fallen family. But Young Master Guo was deeply in love with Miss Min and refused to break it off. The Guo family feared that if Young Master Guo made a fuss, they'd be accused of despising the poor and favoring the rich, so the matter was shelved. Later, when Young Master Guo heard that Miss Min's family had encountered trouble and that she was stranded in the capital, he came looking for her all the way. From Young Master Guo's tone, he had already persuaded his grandmother to intervene, and Guo's father had agreed never to mention breaking off the engagement again..."

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but sigh and said, "I'm afraid Young Master Guo came a little too late. Miss Min may not be willing to go back with him."

"You guessed right again," Anxin said with a laugh. "But Miss Min's words were rather interesting. She didn't say she was unwilling. Instead, she said her family couldn't keep her safe—if she returned, her life might be in danger. And if she went to stay with the Guo family temporarily, Guo's father already looked down on her for her family's poverty; now if she ate the Guo family's food and drank the Guo family's drink, Guo's father would only despise her more. Even if she reluctantly married into the family, Guo's father would hold this over her forever, and she'd never be able to hold her head up for the rest of her life."

"When Young Master Guo heard this, he sternly demanded to know if she intended not to go back with him?"

Fu Tingjun was slightly taken aback and said, "This Young Master Guo is clearly not a muddle-headed man."

"Anyone who saw Miss Min's situation would have their doubts," Anxin said. "She has maids, matrons, and servants all in attendance, not to mention that house—it must be worth several hundred taels of silver. How could a woman who has lost her parents afford all that?"

Fu Tingjun nodded.

Anxin continued: "Miss Min then swore an oath, saying that once she found her younger brother and her branch of the family had a male heir, she would have someone to rely on, and then she would definitely return. Miss Min also brought up Yu Jingxiu, saying he was a good man—that the house was originally their family's property, and the servants were also from the Yu household, and he had only lent it to her out of pity. If Young Master Guo didn't believe her, he could ask the neighbors, or she could invite Yu Jingxiu over to confront Young Master Guo face to face. After saying this, she began to cry again, saying how difficult things had been for her, and that Young Master Guo was still trying to pin dirty accusations on her. If she had known it would come to this, she should have just accepted the betrothal token that Guo's father had returned. She also said that if it weren't for searching for her brother, why would she be living here in such an ambiguous situation? Then she challenged Young Master Guo—if he could help her find her brother, she would pack her things and go back with him right away..."

"Oh!" Fu Tingjun raised an eyebrow. "It seems this Miss Min is no simple character either."

Anxin smiled and nodded, saying, "As soon as Young Master Guo heard this, he was deflated. He could only mutter and ask when she would be leaving. Miss Min said that she had agreed with Yu Jingxiu that whether or not they found her brother tomorrow, she would leave..."

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but laugh. "Miss Min should be out of mourning by next year, right? It's not wrong of her to say that."

Anxin laughed along with her. "Later, Miss Min kept Young Master Guo for dinner and sent him to a nearby inn to rest for the night. This morning, Miss Min's personal nurse went to the inn and said something to Young Master Guo—after that, he left the capital first thing in the morning, and then Miss Min's personal nurse also left the capital."

Fu Tingjun was quite surprised. "Have you found out what that nurse went to do?"

"Not yet," Anxin said tactfully. "All we know is that the nurse took the same road as Young Master Guo. It looks like they're headed to the same place! I've already sent people to follow the nurse—if anything happens, they'll report to me immediately."

"You've worked hard these days." Fu Tingjun felt that Anxin handled matters very reliably and looked at him with satisfaction as she smiled, then asked about the letter to Zhao Ling. "Has it been sent?"

"It's been sent," Anxin said with a smile. "It should reach Ninth Master's hands in fifteen or sixteen days."

By the time Zhao Ling's reply arrived, it was already a month later—the opportunity had long since passed.

Fu Tingjun praised Anxin a few times, then raised her teacup to signal the end of the visit. She called for Zhenzhu to help her change clothes and fix her hair, and instructed Yuwei to have Zheng San prepare the carriage.

Third Cousin said, "How about I accompany you?"

"That works too," Fu Tingjun said with a smile. "At least I'll have someone to talk to on the way."

Third Cousin and Fu Tingjun went to Tanzhe Temple together.

When Teacher Yao heard the young novice monk report that Fu Tingjun had arrived, he was slightly taken aback.

For Fu Tingjun to come see him at this time, something important must be going on!

He had the novice monk invite Fu Tingjun to the main hall for tea.

Fu Tingjun left Third Cousin in the side hall to have tea and went alone to see Teacher Yao.

Since Teacher Yao was capable of strategizing for the state, if he put his mind to it, there was nothing he couldn't accomplish.

Fu Tingjun felt there was no need to hide anything from him—and of course, even if she tried to hide it, she might not succeed. So she didn't beat around the bush with Teacher Yao and frankly told him her concerns: "...If she's seeking a match for her own concubine-born son with Youyou, that's one thing—such an ill-matched proposal, even if I flatly refused, surely no one would think me rude, but rather think the Marquise of Wuding is a bit thoughtless. What I'm afraid of is that she's seeking a match for one of the young masters of the Duke of Fuguo's household... The Ninth Master's second son seems to be about the age for marriage talks! And I've also heard that the Marquis of Yingchuan went to Liaodong and hasn't returned since. The Duke of Fuguo is getting old and lacks energy—everyone in the household has something to say, and sometimes even the heir of the Duke of Fuguo can't keep everyone in line. Some among the Meng family want the Marquis of Yingchuan to step in and say something—even if he doesn't take sides, just giving the heir a headache would be good enough."

"Your concerns are not unfounded." Teacher Yao nodded gravely upon hearing this and said, "If I remember correctly, the Fifth Prince is also about the age for marriage talks, isn't he?"

Fu Tingjun was so startled she froze in place.

Teacher Yao burst into loud laughter at the sight.

Only then did Fu Tingjun realize that Teacher Yao had been joking with her.

"Frightening people can scare them to death," Fu Tingjun said with feigned reproach. "And here I was respecting you like a national advisor."

Teacher Yao chuckled, a hint of awkwardness in his expression. But soon, he returned to his usual refined demeanor and asked gently, "What? You're unwilling to form a marriage alliance with the imperial family?"

"I know my own child," Fu Tingjun said seriously. "Our household is simple, and Youyou has a lively disposition—she really wouldn't suit marrying into one of those great clans. Rather than chasing empty prestige, it's better to live a steady, solid life."

Teacher Yao smiled slightly, looking quite approving. He said, "Don't worry. If the Meng family comes to propose a match for someone from the Duke of Fuguo's household, just have someone inform me. I have my ways of making her drop the idea."

With Teacher Yao's assurance, the weight lifted from Fu Tingjun's heart. She chatted cheerfully with Teacher Yao about Han Ge'er, and seeing that it was getting late, she rose to take her leave.

Teacher Yao sent several guards to escort them into the city.

Halfway there, they encountered Third Cousin's husband.

Unlike his usual calm composure, he looked somewhat disheveled.

He lifted the curtain of their carriage and asked urgently, "You went to Tanzhe Temple? Did you see Teacher Yao? What did you talk about?" One question after another, each more hurried than the last.

Third Cousin said in surprise, "We didn't really talk about anything..."

She had barely begun to speak when Third Brother-in-law, somewhat flustered, said, "I only asked you to pass a message to Ninth Sister, so why did you go off to Tanzhe Temple with her? Is that a place you can just visit casually? When I returned from the yamen and saw you hadn't come home, I knew something had gone wrong... Could you not have taken a few fewer steps? Said a few fewer words? The waters out there run deep—is that something a woman of the inner quarters like you can wade into?"

Being reproached by her husband in front of so many people was something that had never happened before. Third Cousin couldn't help but feel embarrassed, yet with so many eyes upon her, she couldn't defend herself. Her fingertips trembled with anger, and her face flushed crimson.

Fu Tingjun quickly interjected, "Third Brother-in-law, please calm your anger. I went to Tanzhe Temple on a private matter to entreat Teacher Yao..."

Hearing this only made Third Brother-in-law more anxious. "Ninth Sister, trying to guess the intentions of those above is the worst thing to do. Some matters are better left untouched than acted upon..."

It was then that Fu Tingjun understood—Third Brother-in-law had assumed that, upon hearing Third Cousin's words, she had gone to Tanzhe Temple to lobby for an official position for Zhao Ling.

Looking at Third Brother-in-law, drenched in sweat, she felt deeply grateful.

"Third Brother-in-law, we didn't go to Tanzhe Temple for Ninth Master's sake," Fu Tingjun quickly explained. "It was for something else entirely."