Chapter 128: Regret (Bonus Update Seeking Pink Tickets)
Fu Tingyun quietly instructed Yu Wei: "Go take a look at Four Happiness Alley."
Understanding her meaning, Yu Wei departed.
Zheng Sanniang brought two matrons to see Fu Tingyun: "They were introduced by the steward from Official Wu's household across the way. They previously worked at Lord Li's residence in Bensi Alley. The Li family were originally prominent landowners from Shanxi. In the 32nd year of Xiping, Lord Li passed the imperial examinations as a Presented Scholar and was selected as a Scholarly Candidate in the Hanlin Academy. Last spring he was appointed prefect of Huzhou, leaving only seven or eight servants here to maintain the residence—just some light cleaning and watering plants, so they have plenty of free time. When they heard our household needed two matrons for rough work, they asked the Wu family steward to make the introduction."
The two matrons offered Fu Tingyun somewhat nervous yet ingratiating smiles.
They appeared to be honest, simple women.
Yet Fu Tingyun sighed inwardly.
Zheng Sanniang, after all, came from respectable farming stock and grew up in the countryside—she had no experience with servant management. This hadn't been an issue in their smaller previous residence, but now in the capital, certain shortcomings were becoming apparent. Had it been Yu Wei handling this, she would have first thoroughly investigated the matrons' backgrounds, interviewed them, and only brought them for approval after determining their suitability. Bringing them directly like this—when they were newly arrived and unfamiliar with the neighbors—made refusal awkward, as they couldn't afford to offend people unnecessarily.
"Then I'll trouble you two Housekeepers to work hard," she said politely. "Housekeeper Zheng will instruct you on your duties."
This constituted acceptance.
The matrons beamed with pleasure, repeatedly expressing thanks.
Fu Tingyun lifted her teacup.
Being experienced servants from prominent households, the matrons immediately rose to take their leave.
As Fu Tingyun considered whether to teach Zheng Sanniang proper protocol, she vaguely felt there was value in keeping Zheng Sanniang's natural manner rather than reshaping her into someone else.
She found herself genuinely conflicted.
Yu Wei returned.
Noticing her grave expression, Fu Tingyun's heart sank. They retreated to the inner chamber of the main house's eastern wing to talk.
"I couldn't see the young madam, but I met Dong Gu," Yu Wei said quietly. "Dong Gu said Fifth Master lost his temper and forbade the young madam from further involvement with the young lady's affairs. Thus the young madam couldn't even send a message through her. But the young madam specifically instructed Dong Gu that if we came asking again, to tell us to remain patient until Fifth Master's temper passes. I inquired about the mistress's illness—Dong Gu said it's a sickness of the heart, but with Xiu Zhu's family attending and keeping her company, it's nothing serious, and the young lady shouldn't worry. Beyond that, I couldn't learn anything more."
Given how dramatically things had erupted that day—had her mother heard or not? If she had, and this was indeed heartache rather than physical incapacity, why wouldn't she come out? If she hadn't, in such a small residence without serious illness, how could she have remained unaware?
Fu Tingyun puzzled endlessly, growing increasingly unsettled, suspecting her sister-in-law's words were primarily meant to placate her.
"Then we'll wait two more days," she said after consideration. "If Four Happiness Alley still has no news after that, I'll go again myself."
Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parents, Teacher.
Yu Wei wanted to counsel further patience, but seeing Fu Tingyun's resolute expression and remembering Zuo Junjie still at large, she swallowed her advice.Fu Tingyun instructed her, "Tomorrow, two maids will come to assist Zheng Sanniang with the rough work. Take a good look at them when they arrive. If they're suitable, keep them. If not, find a decent excuse to dismiss them after some time." She then explained the backgrounds of the two maids.
Yu Wei acknowledged the order, and Zheng Sanniang entered: "Miss, there's a woman who wishes to see you. She claims to be your fellow townsfolk and has come to visit you specially upon hearing of your arrival in the capital."
A fellow townsfolk?
Fu Tingyun exchanged a glance with Yu Wei: "Please invite her in!"
Zheng Sanniang smiled and replied, "Yes," then turned to fetch the visitor.
Fu Tingyun and Yu Wei, however, were on high alert—one sitting upright with solemn dignity, the other holding her breath in anticipation.
Soon, footsteps approached from outside.
Zheng Sanniang lifted the curtain with a smile: "Madam, please come in!"
The visitor thanked her politely in a familiar voice that made Fu Tingyun exclaim, "Ah!" She stood up before even seeing the person and cried out involuntarily, "Xiuzhu's family!"
"Miss!" Xiuzhu's family, dressed in a lilac-colored sleeveless vest of Hangzhou silk with a vase pattern, called out, tears already streaming down her face.
She bent her knees to bow to Fu Tingyun, but Fu Tingyun grabbed her hands: "Get up, get up quickly. How did you get here? Is my mother well? I went to Four Happiness Alley a few days ago, but Father wouldn’t let me see Mother. Does Mother know about it?"
One question tumbled after another, each too urgent to wait for an answer.
Seeing she couldn’t kneel, Xiuzhu's family understood Fu Tingyun’s anxiety and didn’t insist. She hurriedly replied, "Madam was in the room at the time, but she was drowsy from medicine, and I couldn’t leave. After you left, Madam woke up, and I told her everything I’d heard. She then summoned the young mistress to ask for details. Learning the whole story, she was both overjoyed and worried—happy that you’d arrived safely, but distressed that you’re now at odds with the master. If the master hardens his heart and accuses you of filial impiety, you’d have no way out. She specifically instructed me to find you and deliver a message: regarding Wu Laoye, she will handle it herself, so you mustn’t act rashly. Between father and daughter, no grudge lasts overnight." Here, her tone softened, "Miss, I’ve watched you grow up and know you’ve never suffered such grievances. But think carefully—what daughter speaks to her father like this? It’s only because you know deep down that both the master and madam care for you..."
Fu Tingyun remained silent.
Xiuzhu's family sighed in relief.
Yu Wei quickly brought tea: "Aunt Xiuzhu, please sit and have some tea?" She deftly changed the subject, "How did you find your way here?"
With her mother’s message, Fu Tingyun felt reassured.
After careful consideration, she realized that to expose Zuo Junjie and seek justice from her elder sister-in-law, her father’s involvement was indispensable.
With Yu Wei stepping in, Fu Tingyun took the opportunity to invite Xiuzhu's family to sit on the Grand Tutor chair nearby.
Xiuzhu's family hesitated to take the seat, so Yu Wei fetched a small stool and placed it by the door. Only then did Xiuzhu's family sit down and accept the tea Yu Wei handed her."The master was so angry with the young lady that he ordered the gatekeepers not to let us out. I thought to myself, since the young lady wouldn’t receive any news from Four Happiness Alley, she would surely come looking again. So I told them that the mistress had been feeling unwell these past few days and needed me to keep her company to lift her spirits. I waited for the young lady to send someone to inquire, then used the excuse of forgetting to replenish the oil money for the eternal lamp at the temple to chase after Yu Wei." As she spoke, she subtly surveyed the furnishings in the room. "I didn’t expect Yu Wei to leave in such a hurry. By the time I reached Chongwenmen Inner Street, I had already lost track of her. I had no choice but to search alley by alley. Coincidentally, I overheard two women talking about going to work for a newly relocated Zhao family from Shaanxi in Shi Family Alley. Desperate, I decided to give it a try and came here—never thought it would actually be the right place..." She paused to take a sip of tea, as if thirsty, but her peripheral gaze never left Fu Tingyun.
Fu Tingyun was surprised.
What an unexpected coincidence!
She was about to make a lighthearted remark when she noticed the probing look in Xiuzhu’s family’s eyes.
Xiuzhu’s family now served as her mother’s eyes and ears. While she could ignore others, she couldn’t dismiss Xiuzhu’s family without an explanation.
Embarrassment washed over her, and a blush crept onto her cheeks.
"Mother entrusted Master Zhao to rescue me from Azure Cloud Temple," Fu Tingyun murmured, her voice barely audible. "I... we..." The words about their private arrangement stuck in her throat, impossible to voice.
Xiuzhu’s family took one look at her bashful, maidenly demeanor and immediately understood. Without missing a beat, she asked, "Who is this Master Zhao? What does he do for a living? Is he married or has concubines? Are there any elders in his family who can make decisions?" Her tone was unmistakably that of a matchmaker.
Fu Tingyun’s entire body burned with embarrassment, but she had no choice but to answer. Haltingly, she said, "His name is Zhao Ling. Originally from Songjiang, he lost both parents at a young age and fled with relatives to Shaanxi, where he made a living through small trades. Later, he ended up in Huayin and happened to meet me while staying at Azure Cloud Temple. I thought he was a good man, so I asked him to deliver a letter to Mother..." At this point, recalling the tragedy that befell her uncle’s family, her eyes reddened. "After my uncle’s family met with misfortune, I had nowhere to go. He had no choice but to take me to Xi’an Prefecture to seek out relatives. Through their connections, he joined the service of Marquis Yingchuan, Commander Meng of the Xi’an Regional Military Commission. His abilities stood out, and he earned Marquis Yingchuan’s high regard. Last summer, when the Mongols invaded the Regional Military Commission, he saved the life of his superior, Commander Lu of Zhuanglang Garrison. In less than a year, he rose from Centurion to Company Commander, and Marquis Yingchuan even appointed him as acting Chiliarch of Nianbo Garrison."
She was determined to present Zhao Ling in the best possible light to her mother, hoping she might later speak favorably of him to her father. As for Zhao Ling’s involvement in salt smuggling, she didn’t mention a word.
"He has neither wife nor concubines, and there are no elders left in his family to make decisions. He originally planned to come to the capital with me this spring to meet Father and Mother." Her face burned even hotter. "But then the messenger he sent to deliver a letter to Mother reported that she had fallen ill. I was frantic and insisted on returning. He had official duties and couldn’t leave, so he asked his distant uncle, Master Lu, to escort me back to the capital personally. Master Lu also helped arrange this residence, saying it would serve as a place to stay whenever we came to the capital in the future..."Xiuzhu's family listened with half-belief and pressed aggressively, "This Master Zhao truly has neither wife nor concubine? Are you absolutely certain?"
Fu Tingyun flushed with embarrassment and chided, "If you don't believe me, go ask Master Lu yourself!"
Who would have thought Xiuzhu's family would actually stand up and point at Yu Wei, "Take me to see Master Lu!"
Yu Wei felt awkward, knowing Xiuzhu's family was surely acting on their mistress's behalf, and dared not refuse, leading her to Master Lu.
Fu Tingyun, both ashamed and flustered, called out to Xiuzhu's family, "How can I face anyone after this?"
"Better this than never being able to face anyone at all!" Xiuzhu's family said earnestly. "If you live well, won't the mistress be able to speak up for you before the master?"
Fu Tingyun's heart was moved, and she let Yu Wei take Xiuzhu's family to see Master Lu.
Master Lu, being who he was, though inwardly astonished, answered flawlessly, finally putting Xiuzhu's family at ease.
"Then I'll take my leave first!" she said to Fu Tingyun with a mix of emotion, melancholy, and sorrow. "This is your fate."
Yet there was no joy in her words.
Fu Tingyun couldn't help but be taken aback.
That she had met Zhao Ling at the brink of life and death, she considered a blessing from heaven. Why then did Xiuzhu's family still see regret in it?
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Pulled out the IV drip to write this chapter, posting it come what may.
O(∩_∩)O haha~
If I fall asleep later, updates might be delayed. Please bear with me!
PS: Shouting out: Sisters, brothers, it's month-end—any pink votes left?
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(End of Chapter)
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