Chapter 4

Mother did not believe it.

Zuo Junjie seemed to know exactly what she was thinking.

"If you think it's a misunderstanding, Fifth Madam will understand once she sees this." He pulled a bellyband from his chest: "This is the token of love my cousin gave me!"

Even though Mother had managed the household for years and had handled countless emergencies, her expression shifted dramatically in an instant. Looking at the bellyband again—a half-worn, treasure-blue Lake silk, with blooming purple magnolias, petals outlined in pink silk thread—they were all her favorite colors and patterns, done in her customary needlework style.

"You..." Mother could no longer maintain her calm composure. She stood up in a panic.

Could her daughter really have done something so foolish...

Mother hastily reached out to take it, wanting to examine it closely and discern truth from falsehood, but from the corner of her eye she caught a smug smile flashing across Zuo Junjie's face—so conspicuous, so glaring, as if it were slapping her across the face.

Mother was burning with shame and indignation, yet dared not lose her temper.

The world loves a spectacle, especially this kind of spectacle. Even baseless rumors get spread with vivid detail, let alone something Zuo Junjie was stirring up like this. If even a whisper of this got out, not only would the Fu family's century-old reputation be destroyed in one fell swoop, but her own reputation and her daughter's would be ruined as well—at best, they'd be mocked and forced to live with their heads bowed for the rest of their lives; at worst, they'd be cast out of the Fu family with nowhere to stand...

But to just let Zuo Junjie have his way... would only embolden his arrogance and make the situation even more uncontrollable.

Mother withdrew the hand she had extended mid-air.

She had to push back against him somehow.

Otherwise, he'd think the Fifth Branch was easy to bully.

Mother slowly sat back down: "If every concubine and lesser wife claimed their jewelry and silver had gone missing, and I interrogated every maid and married servant in the household, I reckon I wouldn't be fit to be the Madam anymore." She dismissed him without ceremony: "I happen to have something to discuss with your elder sister, so I won't keep you, Young Master Zuo!" Then she warned him: "Though Young Master Zuo has risen in station, I have yet to hear of a provincial graduate suing a metropolitan graduate. When that happens, Young Master Zuo will surely become famous far and wide, alarming the officials in both the provincial and capital offices. Speaking of which, those officials in the provincial and capital offices are either my husband's fellow examination graduates or former colleagues. My husband has always been a modest man—if he learned that he owed a favor to old acquaintances because of this matter, I fear he would fly into a thunderous rage. I was wondering whether I should write a letter ahead of time to explain things to my husband, so that when the moment comes, he won't blame me, his wife, for lax household management and absurd conduct!"

The veins on Zuo Junjie's forehead bulged as he rose furiously to his feet.

She dared to mock him as being like concubines and lesser wives... and used his elder sister to pressure him, hinted that Fifth Master had personal connections with officials in the ministries and provinces, and threatened to ruin his reputation...

His eyes flashed with murderous intent.

Mother's heart trembled with fear, but there was no retreat. She could only raise her voice and call for the nanny: "The young master is leaving—help me see him out!" Her voice was already trembling faintly.

The partition doors were immediately pushed open, and the serving women waiting outside filed in with steady, measured steps.

Zuo Junjie stared fixedly at Mother.

He hadn't expected this Fifth Madam—who usually kept quiet and merely nodded along to whatever anyone said—to have such composure. He had underestimated this woman. It seemed he'd need to resort to stronger measures!

"Since Fifth Madam thinks this matter should be reported to Fifth Master, then I'll wait for Fifth Master's response." He said darkly: "When Ninth Miss marries into the Zuo family, don't come crying with regrets!" With that, he tossed down the bellyband: "I still have many things Ninth Miss embroidered with her own hands—I'll leave this one with Fifth Madam as a keepsake!" Then he strode off triumphantly.

Many more...

Mother felt as if she'd been struck by lightning. The toughness she'd shown before Zuo Junjie quickly crumbled. She anxiously ordered the nanny who had entered: "Quick, quick—bring Ninth Miss and Bi Bo's Wife to me at once!"

Bi Bo's Wife was named Rushi. She had been Mother's dowry maidservant and later married Father's page boy Bi Bo. She was the one Mother trusted most.

They arrived at Mother's room one after the other.

"Close the door!" Mother sat grimly in the armchair and coldly ordered the attendants beside her, then flung a bundle of something at them.

"Look what you've done!" The object drifted lightly to the floor—a half-worn, treasure-blue bellyband.

They exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes converging on the bellyband, and quickly spotted the problem.

"This, this isn't mine... How did it get here?" She was startled, a sense of dread rising in her heart: "What's happened?"

Bi Bo's Wife, meanwhile, looked at Mother with deep suspicion.

Mother gave a cold "hmph" and recounted the whole affair.

She was shocked and wronged, both angry and frightened. "Mother, I have never even exchanged a word with that Zuo Junjie. How could there be any illicit affair between us?" She knelt before her mother. "Although the Fu family cannot be called a household of great wealth and honor, we are by no means a humble or insignificant clan. Since I was born, have I ever been without attendants by my side? Whatever I have done or not done, even if I could hide it from you, I could never hide it from those around me. If Mother does not believe me, you may ask my wet nurse, or ask Yitong, Yuwei..." She then swore an oath: "If I have committed such a shameless act that brings disgrace upon our family, may I be struck down by thunder from the heavens..." Being a person of pure innocence, falsely accused by Zuo Junjie in this manner, and having to defend herself before her mother and Bi Bo's Wife, the humiliation was unbearable.

She wept sorrowfully.

"Stand up and speak properly." Her mother glared at her. "Let me ask you, is the item yours or not?"

Fu Tingjun's words caught in her throat. She could not bring herself to say "yes."

"How did your belongings end up in Zuo Junjie's hands?" Her mother pressed relentlessly, her voice lowered in anger for fear of being overheard. "Instead of thinking carefully about who could have done this, you only know how to cry and wail here. How will you manage a household when you marry into the Yu family? How will you act as the mistress? All these years I have taught you, and it seems it was all in vain."

"Mother!" She stared at her mother in astonishment, eyes red, tears streaming down her face.

Her mother's heart softened at the sight.

Her daughter was still young, having never experienced such things. It was only natural that she would panic in such a situation. Perhaps her demands were too strict.

"Even if I cannot trust the rules of the Fu household, can I not trust the daughter I raised myself?" Her tone softened considerably. "I know you would never do such a thing!"

She hugged her mother tightly.

At such a moment, what could be more moving and comforting than the trust of a loved one?

But why would the sorrow and bitterness in her heart never fade...

Bi Bo's Wife had long been pacing anxiously, and only now dared to speak: "What are we to do? What are we to do? The Yu family will soon send someone to finalize the wedding date. If word of this reaches them, whether or not there is any truth to it, they will surely harbor doubts. Even if they do not break off the engagement, Ninth Miss will have no easy life once she marries into that family. What will become of Ninth Miss then?"

"It is precisely for this matter that I have called you here." Her mother took out a handkerchief to wipe her face, speaking with worry. "This Zuo Junjie, though despicable in character, is a clever man. Otherwise, he would not have swallowed his pride and returned to the Fu family back then. Since he dared to speak such words to me, he must have already made thorough preparations. Today he left in a rage because of my goading, but who knows what new tricks he might pull tomorrow. Whoever knows Tingjun's habits well must be someone from her inner circle. Even if they did not do this deed, they cannot be entirely innocent of it." Her mother hated most when servants schemed behind her back, and her tone was severe. "The urgent matter is to find out who among them has betrayed their master and colluded with outsiders, and to determine what else has gone missing from Tingjun's chambers. Otherwise, while we are in the open and Zuo Junjie is in the dark, we cannot guard against every move and can only be passively beaten."

"Fifth Madam, leave this matter to me!" Bi Bo's Wife said with shared indignation, immediately volunteering. "In all these years of helping you manage the household, I know the maids and married women in Ninth Miss's chambers inside and out. It will be convenient for me to investigate..."

"No, I will handle this personally!" A cold glint flashed in her mother's eyes as she instructed Bi Bo's Wife, "Go pack your things and have the outer courtyard prepare the carriage. We will go to Biyun Nunnery tomorrow to burn incense."

Going to burn incense at a time like this...

Bi Bo's Wife looked at her mother in surprise.

Her mother nodded. "Zuo Junjie is related to the Eldest Master by marriage, and it was the Eldest Master's idea to let him stay here in the first place. With him causing such a commotion, I must now ask the Eldest Master to intervene and rein him in." Her mother seemed somewhat concerned. "However, given Zuo Junjie's current state, I wonder if the Eldest Master can control him. If he can, all is well; but if he cannot, there will likely be more trouble... Perhaps it is better to let Tingjun go away and avoid the situation." Her mother lowered her voice. "The maids Lü'e and Hanyan in my chambers are honest, obedient, and trustworthy. I have full confidence in them. Bring these two maids with you when you go. Say only that Tingjun suffered heatstroke from the carriage ride and needs to stay at the nunnery to recuperate. I will return with the others, while you, Lü'e, and Hanyan will remain to attend to Tingjun. Once the matter has blown over, I will send someone to bring you all back!"

That was a good plan.

If Zuo Junjie truly caused a scene, at least Ninth Miss would not have to suffer at home.

Bi Bo's Wife bent her knees in acknowledgment and withdrew.

She had been standing with her head lowered, saying nothing.

There was no wall that could not be penetrated by wind—sooner or later, this matter would spread.

With so many sisters in the household, why had Zuo Junjie chosen her?

After Bi Bo's Wife had left, she could not help but ask her mother: "I have never offended him, and I have always been respectful to the Eldest Sister-in-law. Why would he want to harm me?" Tears fell once again.

This was truly a disaster descending from the heavens!

Mother's eyes reddened as well, comforting her daughter: "He's just a mad dog, biting at anyone!"

She stared straight at her mother: "Uncle has shown Zuo Junjie great kindness—he... he will surely listen to Uncle, won't he?"

If Zuo Junjie still remembered old favors, how could he have done something so despicable!

Looking at her face full of hope, those words could not be spoken no matter what. Mother forced a smile: "That's why I'm going to plead with your uncle, to have him give Zuo Junjie a harsh lesson so he'll behave."

Is that so?

Then why did Mother's gaze waver when she looked at her?

"Mother, please write a letter to Father!" She suddenly grabbed Mother's sleeve, pleading, "Father is a Hanlin Academy attendant—even the Emperor listens to his lectures on the classics. He must have a way... he must have a way..."

"Alright, I'll write to your father!" Mother embraced her, tears soaking the cloth at her shoulder, "You stay well in Biyun Nunnery, don't go anywhere. If anyone comes to you saying anything, pretend you know nothing. I'll come to fetch you soon!"

She nodded blankly, a dull ache throbbing in her heart.