Chapter 12: Gathering Information
A petty cleverness... Was that praise or mockery?
But before this thought could fully form, Fu Tingyun's mind went blank from his mention of "adultery," taking her a long moment to recover.
"What did you say?" Her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the Grand Tutor chair behind her.
It's out... It's out... Paper can't wrap up fire after all... Now everyone knows... The Fu family only has so many people—sooner or later, they'll guess this matter involves her... What face will she have left to show anyone then?
What should she do?
What should she do now?
Fu Tingyun's hands and feet turned icy.
How could this happen?
Where were the family elders?
The longer such matters dragged on, the more likely disaster would strike—even she knew this logic. How could the family elders not? Why had they allowed it to drag on without resolution?
She was the fifth branch's daughter, confined in Azure Cloud Temple, yet the one overseeing her was Aunt's people... Bi Bo's family were her mother's trusted aides, yet they had inexplicably vanished. Not a single person in the household had noticed... Her uncle had once served as a county magistrate—how many cases had he handled, how many injustices investigated? How could he fail to control even a Zuo Junjie, letting rumors spread? Did he not realize how devastating this would be for the Fu family?
The more Fu Tingyun thought, the more frightened and chilled she became. Thoughts she had long avoided, shying away at the slightest consideration, now surfaced again.
The person across from her was saying something, his lips moving, but she heard none of it.
He rapped the tea table—thud, thud—like a drumbeat, startling her back to awareness.
She stared at him blankly.
"I've also learned another piece of news," he said, his expression cold and detached. "The Yu Family of Nanjing Fengle Ward will send someone next month to finalize the wedding date. The Fu family is busy cleaning courtyards and arranging furnishings for the occasion..."
The Yu Family was coming to set the wedding date!
Fu Tingyun felt a cold shiver run through her entire body.
If they learned of her entanglement with Zuo Junjie, they would surely call off the engagement.
By then, her reputation would be ruined—no amount of pleading could wash her clean...
"Between us, there was a prior agreement. You would help me locate the granary, and I would deliver a letter to your mother," he said sternly, his expression severe. "Since you've fulfilled your end, I am not one to break my word." His dark eyes were sharp as blades, chilling to the bone. "I believe there are matters the Ninth Miss should clarify for me. Otherwise, if this letter fails to reach its destination, wouldn't that make me an untrustworthy scoundrel?"
How could she explain?
Say she had been falsely accused of adultery?
Would he believe her?
Housekeeper Chen had even said, "Flies don't land on an uncracked egg"... If she spoke up, wouldn't she just invite humiliation?
Fu Tingyun's face burned crimson, her throat clogged as if something were lodged there.
He remained silent, simply sitting there, watching her.
The air thickened, pressing down until Fu Tingyun could barely breathe.
"If you wanted me to deliver a letter to your father, I have plenty of ways," he said at last, breaking the stalemate. "But between men and women, propriety exists. Delivering a letter to your mother, especially under such unclear circumstances—I fear I lack the means. You might as well ask me to fulfill some other task for you..."
Without him, she was powerless.
Seeing him retreat, Fu Tingyun panicked.
"No!" Her voice was sharper than ever before. "I'll tell you... I'll tell you..."Her eyes couldn't help but moisten.
She lowered her head, unwilling to let her tears fall, even less willing to see the contempt in his eyes.
"My elder cousin's younger brother, grew up in our family since childhood..." Her voice was like stagnant river water, slow and lifeless.
He listened silently, and after she finished speaking, remained quiet for a moment before saying, "You suspect your uncle?" His tone was flat and indifferent, no different from usual, as casual as asking if she'd eaten.
Fu Tingyun looked up at him in astonishment.
He frowned: "What good would it do him if something happened to you? What good would it do the Fu family? I think that Zuo Junjie is the one with serious problems..."
He... he not only didn't suspect her, but was even helping analyze the situation...
She stared at him blankly, not knowing what to say.
Then he asked, "Can you draw?"
She nodded numbly.
"Good, draw me a layout of the Fu residence," he said, "so I don't get lost later."
Was he planning to enter the residence to gather information?
Fu Tingyun quickly fetched ink, brush, paper and inkstone, collected her thoughts, and concentrated on drawing a layout.
He pointed to various places on the drawing: "This is where your grandmother lives? This is your uncle's residence..."
She nodded to each one.
He stood up: "I'll come back at midnight!"
Fu Tingyun wanted to grab his sleeve, but her outstretched hand withdrew, thinking it improper, and she reminded him: "The layout!"
"I've already memorized it," he said lightly, leaping onto the beam.
"Hero!" Fu Tingyun called up to him.
He looked down at her.
She took a deep breath: "I... I was framed!"
He nodded, then flipped onto the roof.
The glass tiles covered one by one, blocking the sunlight outside, dimming the light in the room and blurring her figure.
Whether it was panic at the unexpected turn of events or anger at the malicious gossip, whether it was grievance at being framed or gratitude for his unquestioning support, her tears could no longer be restrained. She threw herself onto the bed, weeping silently.
Housekeeper Chen knocked at the outer door: "Ninth Miss, Ninth Miss..."
She didn't want to see anyone, didn't want to deal with anyone.
"I heard screaming... and what sounded like talking..." That was Housekeeper Fan's voice, full of unease.
"Break the door down!" After a long silence, Housekeeper Chen ordered, "We absolutely cannot let anything happen!"
Affirmative sounds came from outside, followed by loud banging on the door.
Fu Tingyun lay there motionless.
With a loud "bang," the door panel fell inward.
Housekeeper Chen saw her lying on the bed and rushed over.
"Get out!" Fu Tingyun still didn't move, spitting out the two words heavily.
Housekeeper Chen was very surprised, her brow relaxing as she gestured to Housekeeper Fan and the others to retreat quietly, leaving two people to repair the door.
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There would be many things to handle in the coming days—she must conserve her energy.
Fu Tingyun admonished herself and slept soundly all afternoon.
After dinner, she went to see Hanyan, then returned to her room to wait for him while reading Miscellaneous Items.
But she couldn't focus on a single word.
Who exactly was he?
Why didn't he question her even after hearing about Zuo Junjie's evidence?
Did he think it had nothing to do with him and thus ignored it? Or did he truly believe she was framed?He still helped her deliver the letter to her mother—did that mean he trusted her more?
Or perhaps he was just keeping his promise?
Lost in thought, she heard small pebbles falling from the roof.
She quickly set aside her book and blew out the lamp.
There was movement outside—Housekeeper Chen and the others had also retired for the night.
In the darkness, she retrieved a few plain vegetable buns and a bowl of plain rice porridge from the bed frame: "Have you eaten, brave sir? I saved these from my evening meal... Please make do with them!"
Without ceremony, he sat down on the Grand Tutor chair and began eating.
Fu Tingyun poured a cup of tea and sat opposite him.
They conversed quietly.
"...When I arrived at your mother's residence, it was already the second watch, so I didn't disturb her." His voice was low and monotone, yet it reassured her. "In the rear courtyard of your uncle's house, there was a young man around twenty-five or twenty-six years old—tall, handsome, though his nose was rather prominent and his lips somewhat thin, giving him an aloof appearance..."
"That must be Zuo Junjie!" Fu Tingyun also lowered her voice.
"Zuo Junjie seems to be under confinement as well," he said. "There are two burly men guarding the door, and the windows are barred with wooden planks."
"I never expected Uncle to confine him at home..." Fu Tingyun's emotions were complicated.
She had always suspected her uncle... Clearly, she was wrong... But why had things escalated to this irreparable state?
A strange expression crossed her face.
Two adversaries, one in the city and one outside, yet both ended up in the same predicament.
"I questioned several of the Fu family servants about your household. No one mentioned anything unusual about your mother. One servant even said they saw your mother speaking with your third aunt under your grandmother's eaves just two days ago.
"As for the rumors in the city, they were all indignant, insisting someone was trying to frame the Fu family. They said the Fu household has always upheld strict moral conduct—no male servants enter the inner quarters, and maids must always go out in pairs. All that talk about adultery is pure fabrication.
"I also visited the estate where your maids are supposedly detained. Both the locals and the estate workers firmly believe they're suffering from the Seasonal Epidemic. Some even claim to have fallen ill from contact and are still bedridden." He paused thoughtfully. "I suspect these rumors didn't originate from within your household."
She hadn’t expected him to uncover so much in just one afternoon.
Fu Tingyun stared at him in surprise.
"You mean... my mother is unharmed?"
"At least, that's what I gathered from my inquiries," he replied steadily.
She could only hope so.
Fu Tingyun exhaled in relief before asking after a moment, "Do you think someone is trying to frame the Fu family?"
"Hard to say," he mused. "In this world, people bustle about for fame and toil endlessly for profit. There must be a motive... It would help if we could speak with your family elders."
Understanding his implication, Fu Tingyun recalled, "Our family has lived in Huayin for generations, always maintaining good relations—donating porridge, repairing roads, never shirking responsibilities. Our marital alliances have been harmonious too; I've never heard of any serious disputes..." Then, thinking of Zuo Junjie, she added, "Could it be him?""That's the part I've never been able to figure out," he frowned. "Since he intends to marry you, he shouldn't make such a scene. Otherwise, even if this marriage were to succeed, it would become a laughingstock that would haunt him for life. He's supposed to be a scholar—shouldn't he understand propriety better than most? You're already betrothed to the Yu Family. How could they possibly break off the engagement without reason? Did he really think his little stunt would make both families quietly dissolve the marriage? Moreover, the Yu ancestors were generous people who built many good relationships. Didn't he endure ten years of hardship studying just to pass the imperial exams and become a high-ranking official? What good would offending the Yu Family do him? The Fu Family has two younger daughters—the eleventh and twelfth young misses, both legitimate and still unmarried, with generous dowries. Why would he single you out?"
As he spoke, his gaze inadvertently drifted to Fu Tingyun.
The glow from the large red lanterns under the eaves filtered dimly through the window, casting a hazy light. Her jet-black hair and snow-white skin framed an oval face with almond-shaped eyes that shimmered like rippling water, radiant and captivating—more striking than peonies, more delicate than crabapple blossoms.
A thought struck him.
Could it be that Zuo Junjie was captivated by her beauty?
She stared at him wide-eyed, making her luminous gaze even clearer and more mesmerizing.
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Just when I was about to log in, I couldn't get through... ⊙﹏⊙b sweat...
(End of chapter)
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