Chapter 308

When Madam Yu heard that Madam Wu had brought a man to seek an audience, she sensed something was amiss. Her temples throbbed with a dull ache, yet she could hardly refuse to see them. Forced to oblige, she pressed her hand to her forehead and had Mama Shu escort Madam Wu to the main hall for a meeting.

Concubine Wu's brother-in-law waited at the hanging flower gate while Madam Wu proceeded to the main hall.

After exchanging pleasantries, Madam Wu stated her purpose directly: "...I know this matter puts you in a difficult position. But you must think of Concubine Wu—she is gentle and kind by nature, and she carried a fine son for eight months, only to lose him just like that. If your eldest master had any pity for her, that would be one thing, but as it happens, he doesn't so much as glance her way on ordinary days, and when angered, he threatens to sell her off to a brothel. As the saying goes, 'a single day as husband and wife creates a hundred days of affection.' She has been with your eldest master for so many years—this is far too heartless. How is she supposed to live her days from now on? You, Madam, are known for your compassion and virtue, devoted to good deeds. Why not release Concubine Wu and let her return home? This would preserve the goodwill between our two families, and in the future, when Concubine Wu thinks of you, she will remember your kindness."

Madam Yu's face flushed and paled by turns. She knew well that Yu Jingxiu had wronged Concubine Wu, yet allowing a concubine who had borne children to return to her natal family was unprecedented in the Yu household. Had this happened two years ago, she would have refused without a second thought. But the Yu family was no longer what it once was. Though her husband was nominally in the Grand Secretariat these past two years, he was gradually being excluded from many decisions. The Wu family, by contrast, had been steadily rising. This time, Lord Wu had been transferred to serve as Vice Minister of Personnel, and it was not inconceivable that he might one day enter the Grand Secretariat or even become Chief Grand Secretary. In official circles, there was always the saying that one should bully the old rather than the young. If her son's career were flourishing, she would have more confidence, but the problem was that her son's career had been anything but smooth these past few years—he could barely manage even that. Thirty years east of the river, forty years west—who could claim they would never need to beg a favor from the Wu family...

These thoughts flashed through her mind, and the words of refusal would not leave her lips.

She could only say: "Concubine Wu was brought in as a concubine on my own decision. These past few years in the Yu household, she has been proper and well-behaved, gentle and kind—I have grown fond of her. In truth, she and I share a certain affinity, and I truly cannot bear to part with her!"

Her words carried a hint of reminding Madam Wu of past events.

Madam Wu felt that Madam Yu was dredging up old grievances and was somewhat displeased, though she did not show it on her face.

At its most serious, this matter could sever the friendship between the two families entirely; at its least, it reflected poorly on Yu Jingxiu's character. Neither outcome was desirable for the Yu family. Her coming here was merely to give notice and take Concubine Wu away, but such matters were never settled in one or two rounds of negotiation. Her tone therefore seemed somewhat perfunctory as she smiled and said: "Well, who could have foreseen this? When I returned home, I told my family that Concubine Wu had finally turned the corner after all her suffering..." She sighed deeply and shook her head with regret.

Madam Yu's expression soured somewhat.

She forced a smile and said: "Indeed, the affairs of this world are beyond our control..." Her tone carried a hint of evasion, which made Madam Wu regard her with contempt. After exchanging a few more insipid pleasantries for the time it takes to burn half a stick of incense, Madam Wu rose and took her leave.

Concubine Wu's brother-in-law had long since pulled aside a passing servant woman and, with a generous tip, spread word of Madam Wu's visit to Concubine Wu. Now, seeing Madam Wu emerge, he immediately stepped forward and accompanied her back to Shi Family Lane with great care.

Madam Wu invited Concubine Wu's brother-in-law to stay for a meal, but he politely declined: "My wife will be accompanying my father-in-law to the capital in a couple of days, and I must set out for Tongzhou to receive them." He then consulted with Madam Wu, "What do you think—should we go and thank Madam Zhao?"

Without Madam Wu's introduction, he could never have gained an audience with Madam Zhao.

"Let us wait until the matter is settled before we discuss that!" Madam Wu asked after some household trivialities, then had her personal mama see Concubine Wu's brother-in-law out.

Two days later, Concubine Wu's younger sister accompanied her father to pay respects to Lord Wu and Madam Wu. They presented Lord Wu with a fine Duan inkstone symbolizing steady advancement, and Madam Wu with a pair of ruby earrings. The various young masters and young mistresses of the Wu household each received gifts as well, totaling four to five hundred taels of silver.

Madam Wu was well pleased with the deference shown by Concubine Wu's family and grew even more earnest in her efforts on Concubine Wu's behalf.

News of this reached Fu Tingjun quickly.

She could not help but smile wryly and said to A Sen: "I never expected Madam Wu to ultimately step in and take charge of this matter."

A Sen was unimpressed and laughed: "That woman—she's most likely scheming at something again!"

"Oh!" Fu Tingjun, hearing how familiarly he spoke, smiled and said, "You seem to know Madam Wu quite well!"

"Of course." A Sen puffed out his chest and said, "I've seen plenty of women like Madam Wu. Two-faced and duplicitous, smooth and slippery, saying what suits the occasion—human words before humans, ghost words before ghosts..."

Fu Tingjun burst into laughter at this and said: "What has Madam Wu ever done to offend you?"

"Offend me? Not exactly—I just can't stand her sort." A Sen curled his lip.

Fu Tingjun laughed heartily, then looked up to see Zhenzhu walking in empty-handed, her steps light and quiet.

Her expression dimmed slightly.

In previous years, Zhao Ling's letter would have arrived by this time, but this year, for some reason, there had been no news. She had sent Zheng San to the postal relay station and the Five Armies Supervisory Office several times to inquire, but they all said they had seen no letter from Zhao Ling.

Could something have happened on his end?

She had heard that Guizhou had been hit by over ten consecutive days of snow this year, freezing many people to death. She wondered how he was faring over there.

She rested her chin on her hand, thinking of Zhao Ling.

Meanwhile, in the main room of the Yu residence on Jiadao Street, the sharp sound of a slap and a scolding rang out.

"You unfilial son! At your age, you still act like a child!" Madam Yu glared at her son, furious. "What do you mean by 'if our family doesn't let her go, the Wu family can't do anything either'... Are you trying to tear apart our relationship with the Wu family? If it weren't for you wronging Concubine Wu, would I be suffering this humiliation now?" She continued, "If that child had been born safely, he would be five years old this year... Would I be standing here while Madam Wu points her finger at me and mocks me?" Seeing that even after she had said all this, Yu Jingxiu still stood there with lowered eyes, looking utterly indifferent, Madam Yu's chest ached with rage. She couldn't help but say, "Back then, I told you to marry Fu Tingjun, but you wouldn't listen. Now she's brought prosperity and children to her husband—she's already a titled lady of the second rank, with three sons and a daughter. Later, I told you to take Concubine Wu as a concubine, but you refused. Not only did we lose a perfectly good grandson, but you wouldn't even spare her a glance. In the end, it drove Concubine Wu to want to return to her family, and now Lord Wu has been transferred to the post of Vice Minister of Personnel..."

Fan Shi, who had come with Yu Jingxiu to pay their respects to Madam Yu, turned pale as paper in an instant.

Her mother-in-law's words were clearly blaming her—as the daughter-in-law, she had not only failed to help her husband advance but had actually held him back!

That was too heavy a charge for her to bear.

Seeing that Yu Jingxiu remained silent, Fan Shi had no choice but to defend herself: "Mother-in-law, I truly did not cause the loss of Concubine Wu's child... I merely brushed past her..."

Before she could finish, she saw Madam Yu wave her hand wearily, signaling her to stop. "The truth of what happened doesn't matter. What matters is what people will say and think when they bring it up."

In the end, she still didn't believe her.

Fan Shi urgently called out "Mother-in-law" and tried to speak again, but Madam Yu had already picked up her teacup: "You may all leave now! I'm tired and want to rest."

Fan Shi had no choice but to stop, and together with the sullen-faced Yu Jingxiu, she bowed and withdrew.

After they left, Madam Yu went to Grand Secretary Yu's study.

Grand Secretary Yu was practicing calligraphy. Seeing his wife enter with a heavy expression, his face turned slightly pale, and he held his brush in a daze for a long moment before saying, "You want to let Concubine Wu go?"

On this matter, Grand Secretary Yu disagreed.

If they let Concubine Wu go when the family was at the height of its prosperity, others would only say they were compassionate. Now, however, it would be seen as a sign of weakness.

"There's no point in dragging this out any longer," Madam Yu said dejectedly. "You can't force something that isn't meant to be."

Grand Secretary Yu was silent for a long time, then gave a barely perceptible nod.

Concubine Wu asked for nothing. She walked out of the Yu residence empty-handed, with only Lianxin by her side.

Outside the gate, her father, younger sister, and brother-in-law were waiting for her in a carriage.

...

By the time Fu Tingjun learned of this, the Wu family had already set a date to depart for their hometown.

Yuwei was happy for her and asked Fu Tingjun, "Do you think we should send some travel gifts?"

Fu Tingjun smiled. "After all, we did know each other. Go and see Concubine Wu off on my behalf!" Then, with an "Oh!" she covered her mouth and laughed. "We can't call her Concubine Wu anymore—she's Miss Wu now!"

Yuwei laughed too, her eyes curving into crescents, carrying a gentle, delicate beauty.

Fu Tingjun felt a slight pang in her heart and asked her, "Look, Miss Wu has broken free of her cage. What plans do you have?"

Yuwei pretended not to understand, smiling as she said, "Can the Yu family compare to ours? Can Miss Wu compare to me? In the Zhao household, I'm second only to you and above everyone else. I don't want to go anywhere—I'll stay right here."

Fu Tingjun sighed inwardly.

Kou'er walked in with a smile. "Madam, Concubine Wu has come to bid you farewell. Will you see her or not?"

"Speak of the devil," Fu Tingjun said with a laugh. "Invite her to sit in the hall!"

Kou'er led in the woman who was now Miss Wu.

She wore a brand-new light green Hangzhou silk jacket, and her smile was still as respectful and slightly docile as ever.

Before Fu Tingjun could speak, she suddenly stepped forward and moved to kneel and kowtow to Fu Tingjun.

Fu Tingjun was startled and quickly pulled her up. "What are you doing?"

"I want to thank you, Madam!" Miss Wu's eyes reddened as she spoke, and she insisted on kneeling despite everything. "Without you, I would never have come this far."

"I didn't really do much to help you," Fu Tingjun said, gripping her arm and pressing her into the armchair. "It was your family who put in the real effort."

Miss Wu nodded and said, "The kindness they showed me, I still have a chance to repay. But the kindness you, madam, have shown me, I have no opportunity to repay..."

Fu Tingjun felt embarrassed and did not argue with her over this. She gently advised her, "As for what happened before, just treat it as a dream and forget it all! Start anew once you return."

"Start anew?" Her simple words of comfort made Miss Wu's expression change. She tightly gripped Fu Tingjun's hand as if seeking help, "You say, I, can I really start anew?" Her gaze was filled with hope and anxiety.

Fu Tingjun could understand her worries.

But if she gave up on herself, she would never be able to start anew.

Fu Tingjun nodded firmly and encouraged her with a smile, "As long as you don't give up on yourself, you can start anew!"

But Miss Wu's eyes welled up, and tears fell in large drops. "You, you are a good person... You don't even know what I've done... How could I be worthy of starting anew..." As she spoke, she collapsed in tears at Fu Tingjun's feet.