Chapter 111: Reunion
"I'm taking Jing Tong and Jingyi back to Fujian," Wang Furen said, setting down her teacup with a sigh. "Who knows if we'll have the chance to meet again."
Fu Tingyun was stunned.
Wang Furen hadn't even returned to Fujian for her mother's birthday—why would she suddenly decide to go back now?
"Is something happening at home?" she asked after a moment's thought.
"Yes," Wang Furen replied, her lips curving into a happy smile. "My mother wrote to me, asking me to return."
But that didn’t mean she had to stay indefinitely!
Had Deputy General Wang been reassigned recently?
But that couldn’t be—he had only just been promoted. Even if there were a transfer, it wouldn’t happen so quickly.
Fu Tingyun grew even more puzzled.
Noticing her confusion, Wang Furen chuckled. "This is a family matter, but I don’t consider you an outsider, so I don’t mind sharing." She sighed softly. "I’m the second daughter in my family. When my mother gave birth to me, she had a difficult labor and nearly lost her life. It left her with lingering health issues, and she lost several pregnancies afterward—two of them would have been sons. Because of this, she always favored my elder sister. When we grew up, my sister married the second son of Lord Cheng, the Quanzhou Guard Commander, while I married Lord Wang. My father admired Lord Wang’s virtue and talent, and because he came from a humble background, Father pitied him and wanted him to inherit our family’s Commander of One Thousand Households Position. But my mother believed that since my brother-in-law Cheng was a second son and couldn’t inherit his own family’s hereditary position, she wanted him to take ours instead. This caused many arguments between my parents, and my mother even avoided seeing me." Her eyes grew slightly moist. "Seeing this, Lord Wang suggested we return to Shandan Guard together."
So that was the reason.
Fu Tingyun understood now. "Then, this time, when your mother wrote asking you to return, does it mean she regrets her decision?"
Wang Furen nodded, tears glistening in her eyes. "Along with my mother’s letter, I also received one from my father. He said my brother-in-law Cheng’s behavior in recent years has been rather reckless, and my mother has grown disappointed. She fears that if our family’s estate falls into his hands, it will be ruined, making my sister’s life even harder. So she regrets her earlier stance and wants us to return. Lord Wang and I discussed it, and he believes that since my mother is already advanced in years and has had a change of heart, we shouldn’t let her fret and risk her health. He suggested I take the children back to Fujian first, and in time, he’ll arrange a transfer to the south. As for the hereditary position—since my brother-in-law Cheng has long assumed it would be his, suddenly giving it to Lord Wang might provoke even more erratic behavior from him, making my sister’s life more difficult. So we’ll let him have it. As long as we hold onto this third-rank position, he won’t dare act recklessly. That’s enough for us."
"Congratulations, Furen!" Family conflicts were often the most unreasonable and hardest to resolve, so Fu Tingyun spoke sincerely. "Nothing could be better than this!"
Wang Furen nodded repeatedly, her smile full of contentment. "That’s why I’ll set out after the Mid-Autumn Festival." She added, "Since we’ve become friends, I won’t be able to attend your wedding with Lord Zhao. But I have a pair of camphorwood chests I’d like to give you—as a keepsake."
In Fujian, it was customary for families to prepare camphorwood chests as part of a bride’s dowry. Perhaps these chests had been part of Wang Furen’s own dowry?
"I couldn’t possibly accept such a gift!" Fu Tingyun protested, waving her hands in refusal."Please accept it!" Wang Furen said, covering her sleeve as she laughed. "If you ever have need of it in the future, just send me word."
If she were to have need of it in the future, it would only be if she were marrying off a daughter.
Fu Tingyun's face flushed crimson as she exclaimed, "Madam!" in a reproachful tone. "How could you tease me like this!"
Wang Furen chuckled heartily. "I've been so happy these past few days," she said, then invited her, "Come to my home for the Mid-Autumn Festival moon viewing? Jing Tong and Jingyi will miss you dearly!"
Thinking of those two lively and adorable girls, and of Wang Furen's motherly and sisterly guidance, Fu Tingyun also felt reluctant to part. "I'll definitely come then," she promised.
Wang Furen smiled and nodded slightly before rising to take her leave, leaving behind two camphorwood chests.
Fu Tingyun traced the passionflower patterns inlaid with ivory on the chests, feeling a touch of melancholy. She went out with Zheng Sanniang to purchase two Hui people woven tapestries and selected a pair of red gold cordyceps hairpins from her mother's jewelry collection, placing them in a box to send to Wang Furen.
Wang Furen's room was filled with people who had come to bid her farewell. Fu Tingyun exchanged polite greetings with everyone, smiling courteously. Among them, a graceful woman in a pink lined jacket smiled kindly at Fu Tingyun. A lady nearby introduced her: "This is Marquis Yingchuan's concubine, Xiao Shi."
Fu Tingyun was somewhat surprised.
Compared to Feng Shi, the concubine of the Deputy General, Xiao Shi, the concubine of Marquis Yingchuan, was a shadow-like figure. According to Qi Taitai, she rarely even stepped beyond the second hall of the Yingchuan Marquis's Official Residence. Having been in Zhangye for nearly a year, this was Fu Tingyun's first time meeting Xiao Shi.
She greeted Xiao Shi with a smile.
Xiao Shi, however, spoke warmly: "Miss Fu, the mutton fat jade gourd pendant you gave me is truly beautiful. I adore it." As she spoke, she pulled out a red cord from her collar, from which hung the very jade gourd Fu Tingyun had gifted her.
Fu Tingyun was astonished. "I never imagined you'd still be wearing it."
"I truly love it," Xiao Shi replied with a sincere and sweet smile.
Recalling Zhao Ming's words about Marquis Yingchuan being the brother-in-law of the current emperor's only son, Prince Zhuang, Fu Tingyun decided it would be best to keep her distance from the marquis's inner household. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Xiao Shi, she stood to take her leave.
Xiao Shi urged her, "Though Wang Furen is returning to Fujian, the General Military Headquarters still has us." She glanced around at the assembled ladies and madams with a smile. "Miss Fu, you must continue to visit the General Military Headquarters as often as before in your leisure time."
Fu Tingyun agreed with a smile and was seen to the door by Li Niang.
"Why does Xiao Yiniang have time to socialize today?" she asked Li Niang.
"I don't know," Li Niang replied. As Wang Furen's accompanying servant, she was as delighted as her mistress about the impending return to Fujian and had been busy packing these days. "Xiao Yiniang has been going out frequently lately." She chuckled. "Perhaps it's because with our madam leaving for Fujian, there won't be any woman of higher status left in the General Military Headquarters, so she can't contain herself and is starting to show off everywhere." Her tone held a hint of teasing.
"Perhaps," Fu Tingyun said, feeling she might be overthinking things. She chatted amiably with Li Niang before parting ways at the gates of the General Military Headquarters.Entering the alley of the back street, Fu Tingyun saw Qi Taitai chatting with the shopkeeper's wife while holding a small jar of wine. Upon spotting Fu Tingyun, Qi Taitai quickly exchanged a few more words with the shopkeeper before turning to Fu Tingyun with a smile. "Miss Fu, hurry home! Your Lord Zhao has returned!"
Passersby turned their gazes toward Fu Tingyun.
Her heart pounded wildly, but she dared not show it. With a surprised "Oh?" she asked, "Is that true?"
"True, absolutely true!" Qi Taitai insisted. "If you don’t believe me, ask the shopkeeper—Lord Zhao just passed by here."
The shopkeeper nodded with a smile.
So he really was back!
Overflowing with joy, Fu Tingyun merely smiled and exchanged brief greetings with Qi Taitai and the shopkeeper before quickening her pace toward her own courtyard.
Zheng San and A Sen were talking to an unfamiliar young man, but Fu Tingyun’s eyes darted straight to the stable. Seeing Zhao Ling’s horse resting there, her heart finally settled. A radiant smile spread across her face as she lifted the hem of her skirt and dashed toward the main house, ignoring Zheng San’s calls from behind. She pushed open the door to Zhao Ling’s inner chamber in haste.
"Ah!" Zhao Ling, who had been changing clothes, swiftly turned his back to her. Fu Tingyun’s face flushed crimson, and she hurriedly retreated from the room.
The August weather was cool and pleasant, yet standing under the eaves, she felt her entire body burning.
He was tall… his skin fair… his shoulders broad… his chest sturdy…
A Sen came running over.
"Miss, miss," he called out, his voice brimming with joy. "Ninth Master is back—he’s bathing inside…" His words snapped Fu Tingyun out of her reverie.
She quickly composed herself with an "Oh," and her peripheral vision caught the unfamiliar young man staring at her with a hint of awe. Seizing the opportunity, she gestured toward him. "And this is…?"
"His name is Anxin. He’s a new servant Ninth Master took in, just turned fifteen this year," A Sen explained cheerfully. "Ninth Master said that from now on, if there’s anything you need, Anxin can help relay messages." He added, "Anxin is from Ledu, his family is a military household, and he’s an excellent horseman. Last time, when Ninth Master took the men out for training for over two months, Anxin caught his eye. This time, he specifically brought him here to get acquainted."
Had he stopped using Zhao Ming?
But perhaps that was for the best—Zhao Ming talked too much and kept boasting about being Zhao Ling’s relative.
Zhao Ling had killed Feng Dahu by using the training as an excuse to leave Ledu. He had then split the men into several groups, each thinking he was with another, while he himself slipped away to Liangzhou… Could this Anxin have something to do with that?
Fu Tingyun decided to find a chance to ask Zhao Ling later.
Anxin was sharp. As soon as Fu Tingyun glanced his way, he stepped forward to bow. Once A Sen finished introducing him, he respectfully addressed her, "Miss Fu."
Fu Tingyun smiled and nodded at him. Just then, Zhao Ling emerged. "You’ve already met? Then I won’t say more." His expression stern, he instructed Anxin, "From now on, any orders Miss Fu gives you, you must carry them out with the same diligence as if they came from me. Understood?"
Anxin promptly replied, "Yes!"Zhao Ling ignored him and continued chatting with Fu Tingyun: "I heard you went to see Wang Furen. Is there something happening at the Wang residence?" His tone was casual and natural, showing no trace of awkwardness or unease about Fu Tingyun accidentally intruding into his private quarters, which helped calm Fu Tingyun's nerves.
"It's a long story," Fu Tingyun replied. Noticing his damp hair tied up on his head, she asked A Sen to fetch some dry towels and brought a stool for Zhao Ling to sit under the eaves. As she gently wrung out his hair, she quietly explained Wang Furen's plans to return to Fujian.
Zhao Ling listened thoughtfully before asking, "So it's Wang Furen's family who wants her to take the children back to Fujian?"
"Yes," Fu Tingyun smiled. "Lord Wang might also be transferred to Jiangnan soon."
Zhao Ling fell silent for a long moment.
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Only when I opened my own book page did I realize how many leave notices I've posted... Slinks away guiltily...
(End of Chapter)
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