Chapter 120: An Old Acquaintance (Bonus Update Seeking Pink Tickets)
"Yu Wei!" Fu Tingyun choked back a sob as tears streamed down her face.
The scrawny man gaped at Fu Tingyun, then at Yu Wei, who was weeping at her feet, his eyes darting nervously. "So this is someone acquainted with the noble lady! It was all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding..." he stammered, edging backward. "On such a cold day, standing here to talk—you’ll catch a chill! Why don’t you step inside for some hot tea and discuss matters at leisure?" With that, he turned and bolted. "I’ll go boil water to brew tea for the noble guests..." His figure swiftly vanished around the corner of the posthouse.
Zheng Sanniang, standing behind Fu Tingyun, sensed deeper implications in Yu Wei’s words. She realized the two were not merely old acquaintances but likely shared some unresolved history. Yet Fu Tingyun showed no trace of reproach—only sorrow. Hurrying forward, Zheng Sanniang helped Yu Wei up. "Please rise, miss! Our lady is most kind-hearted. Whatever the matter, speak to her properly..." She barely registered the fleeing man.
"'Our lady'?" Yu Wei glanced up at Zheng Sanniang, then lifted her gaze to Fu Tingyun, confusion clouding her eyes.
Fu Tingyun had never dreamed of encountering her former personal maid, Yu Wei, in such a place—let alone seeing her reduced to such a wretched state. A thousand words clogged her throat, leaving her unsure where to begin. Only when Zheng Sanniang moved to assist Yu Wei did she snap out of her daze, her voice low but firm. "Stand and speak."
That familiar face, that familiar voice, that familiar demeanor—each detail chipped away at Yu Wei’s bewilderment until clarity dawned in her eyes.
"Miss... could it truly be you?" she murmured, staring dazedly at Fu Tingyun. Shaking off Zheng Sanniang’s hand, she refused to rise. "You really are the Ninth Miss!" Her voice cracked as she clung to Fu Tingyun’s legs. "Ninth Miss, it’s truly you!" Sobs wracked her body. "Ninth Miss, I’ve searched for you so desperately! I didn’t dare face you, but if I died, who would testify for you... Ninth Miss, Ninth Miss..."
Memories flashed through Fu Tingyun’s mind like scenes from a painting, bringing fresh tears. Yet those same memories were a thorn in her heart, a wound that refused to heal. Her gaze was complex as she regarded Yu Wei. Though she tried to soften her tone, a faint chill lingered. "This is no place to talk. Come with me."
Yu Wei, ever perceptive and cautious, understood the unspoken reproach. A bitterness like swallowed bile filled her chest, leaving no room for defense. "Yes," she whispered, lips trembling. Feeling unworthy even of tears, she allowed Zheng Sanniang to support her, weeping silently as she followed Fu Tingyun into the posthouse guest quarters.Throughout their journey, although Fu Tingyun was not an official, she always stayed in the finest guesthouses. This was partly due to the name cards of the Duke of Fuguo and Marquis Yingchuan, and partly because, as a woman, the officials found it inappropriate to argue with her over accommodations. Nevertheless, the guesthouses at the post stations were far more modest compared to decent inns—just a black-lacquered canopy bed with white curtains, a tea table, and two official's hat chairs on either side, with a mirror stand holding a copper basin in the corner.
Fu Tingyun sat on one of the official's hat chairs while Yu Wei knelt before her, trembling—whether from cold, nervousness, or something else, it was unclear. Fu Tingyun sighed inwardly and instructed Zheng Sanniang, who stood nearby, "Take her down first to freshen up, find her a winter coat to change into, and then prepare some hot porridge to warm her up."
Zheng Sanniang smiled and assented, stepping forward to guide Yu Wei. "Miss, come with me."
"Ninth Miss..." Yu Wei hesitated, as if wanting to say more.
Fu Tingyun replied calmly, "Whatever you have to say, it can wait."
Yu Wei respectfully kowtowed to her before following Zheng Sanniang out.
Fu Tingyun remained alone in the room for a long while before calling for Zheng San to bring in a brazier.
The crackling fire quickly dispelled the chill in the room, yet Fu Tingyun tightened her fur-lined coat around her. The flickering red glow cast shifting shadows on her face, making her expression appear somber.
Yu Wei returned, looking uneasy. Her jet-black hair, though still damp, was neatly tied up, revealing a delicate, pear-blossom-pale face with large eyes and a pointed chin. Her slender frame was swallowed by Zheng Sanniang's oversized dark-purple cotton-padded coat, and the fear in her eyes lent her a fragile, willow-in-the-wind demeanor.
Fu Tingyun sighed softly to herself.
Her mother's judgment had indeed been sharp. When they first bought Yu Wei into the household, it was for her beauty, intending her to accompany Fu Tingyun to her future husband's home. She had been meticulously trained in needlework, household management, and accounting. With her steady temperament and diligence, within a few years, she carried herself with a grace that even some young ladies from ordinary families lacked. At this thought, Fu Tingyun shook her head slightly, dismissing the memories.
Times had changed. Everyone had changed, and there was no going back to how things were.
Fu Tingyun instructed Zheng Sanniang, "Wait outside and don’t let anyone in, no matter who comes. I need to speak with Yu Wei."
Zheng Sanniang bowed in acknowledgment and tiptoed out, closing the door behind her before taking her place under the eaves.
A cold wind blew past, making her hunch her shoulders. As she recalled the interaction between Fu Tingyun and Yu Wei, a hint of confusion flickered in her eyes.
Though Miss Fu still spoke softly and carried herself with the same poise, there was something subtly different about her—something Zheng Sanniang couldn’t quite put into words. It was as if, like Ninth Master, she now exuded a quiet authority that discouraged casual familiarity.
At this realization, Zheng Sanniang nodded emphatically.
Yes, that was it—the same feeling she got whenever she saw Ninth Master.
Could it be that spending so much time together made people resemble one another?
Zheng Sanniang smiled to herself.Who cares? Miss Fu was their savior, treating not only her and her husband well but also Linchun like a nephew. Her husband had said it was their good fortune to follow Miss Fu and have someone as formidable as Ninth Master as their protector.
Her hands were stiff from the cold.
She rubbed them vigorously and stomped her feet.
Yu Wei clenched her fists tightly.
She knew what Fu Tingyun would ask her, and the guilt overwhelmed her. Tears she had barely held back welled up again.
Fu Tingyun looked somewhat melancholy. After a moment, she asked softly, "How did you know I was still alive?"
The Fu family had told outsiders she had "died of illness," yet Yu Wei had repeatedly said how hard she had searched for her.
"It was Sister Yi Tong who told me." Yi Tong was only three months older than Yu Wei, and both had just turned seventeen this year. Yu Wei sniffled and said tearfully, "Madam asked us who had stolen your personal belongings for Zuo Junjie." She gritted her teeth as she spoke.
Fu Tingyun fell silent.
In the past, they had all addressed Zuo Junjie as "Young Master," but now, they called him by his full name.
"Your clothes were always kept by me, and your personal items were laundered by Zhe Liu. What you wore today, what you wore tomorrow, how many pieces there were—everything was meticulously recorded and never mixed up. But we couldn’t figure out who could have stolen your things. We even counted everything in front of Madam, and not a single item was missing." Yu Wei lowered her head, and a teardrop fell onto her dark purple cotton jacket, spreading like fresh blood. "We all breathed a sigh of relief then. Madam even instructed Zhe Liu and me to keep a close eye on your trunks, ensuring no mistakes were made. She said that in a few days, the First Madam, the Dowager, or even the First Master might summon us for questioning. Sister Yi Tong and I agreed, but we both felt something was terribly wrong. Right then, Sister Yi Tong suggested that something might have happened to you. She said I should take charge of the items in the room while she handled the servants, and we had to be extra careful in the coming days, leaving no room for error.
"I thought Sister Yi Tong made sense, so I worked with Zhe Liu to inventory everything overnight. Sister Yi Tong gathered all the maids in the eastern wing and sternly ordered them not to leave. If anyone dared step out, she would report it to Madam and call the slave trader immediately.
"Everyone was terrified, but no one dared disobey.
"Who would have thought that early the next morning, while we were having breakfast, the First Madam and Housekeeper Chen barged in with several burly women? They first blocked us inside the room, then searched everywhere. Afterward, they claimed Zhe Liu had contracted a Virulent Disease and said we were all to be sent to the estates.
"Sister Yi Tong and I knew something terrible had happened, but we were caught off guard, shocked and scared, frozen in place. Zhe Liu, however, started shouting. Housekeeper Chen slapped her hard and coldly warned, 'Anyone who dares make another sound will be beaten to death on the spot.'"
As Yu Wei spoke, the scene replayed in her mind, and she shuddered."We were taken to the estates in the countryside and placed in separate rooms, where Mother Li personally interrogated us with a few rough servant women..." Her voice faded to a whisper, "But we truly didn’t know anything and couldn’t falsely accuse others... Zhe Liu couldn’t endure it and passed away that very night..."
Her words faltered, but Fu Tingyun felt as though struck by lightning. She sprang to her feet, her almond-shaped eyes wide with shock as she scrutinized Yu Wei. "What... what did you say?" she demanded.
Yu Wei choked back a sob. "Zhe Liu... she died that night..." Tears streamed down her face.
But what caught Fu Tingyun’s attention were Yu Wei’s hands, hidden beneath her sleeves.
"Show me your hands!" she commanded sharply.
Yu Wei trembled, lifting her tear-streaked face to Fu Tingyun like a rain-soaked pear blossom. Her hands seemed weighted down, refusing to move freely.
Fu Tingyun’s expression darkened, her voice rising. "Show me your hands!"
Her tone was calm, flat, and icy—enough to drain the color from Yu Wei’s face.
Slowly, Yu Wei extended her hands.
Her right hand was mostly intact, but the nails of her thumb and index finger were missing. The left hand’s nails were untouched, yet the index finger was twisted at an unnatural angle.
Fu Tingyun drew a deep breath and closed her eyes.
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Happy holidays, everyone!
O(∩_∩)O haha~
PS: Some sisters are so sharp—they guessed it was Yu Wei...
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(End of chapter)
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