Chapter 137: Establishing the Family (Bonus Update Seeking Pink Tickets)
To find out who recommended Master Fu's reinstatement, one would have to ask Madam Fu. But even Madam Fu was clueless and guessed, "It must have been my father-in-law who helped find someone? He's currently serving in the Ministry of Personnel!"
Yu Wei asked, "Then who recommended Wu Laoye to the Ministry of Personnel?"
"It seems it was the late emperor's intention," Madam Fu said, her spirits lifting as she spoke, her expression showing pride. "My father-in-law was tasked with compiling and annotating the 'Zhouyi Can Yi.' Once, when Emperor Daizong visited the Hanlin Academy, he happened to see some of my father-in-law's handwritten drafts and was greatly impressed. He then appointed my father-in-law as the Director of the Bureau of Appointments in the Ministry of Personnel..."
Daizong was the posthumous title of the late emperor.
For some reason, Fu Tingyun felt a sense of relief upon hearing Yu Wei's words.
"Perhaps I'm overthinking things," she said with a smile. "Uncle's return to office is good news after all."
Yu Wei nodded hesitantly and asked, "What about the matter with the elder madam?"
"When Ninth Master isn't too busy, I'll ask to borrow Anxin," Fu Tingyun replied. "Even if I don't care about my own reputation, I still have to consider the reputations of the other Fu sisters. I can't drag everyone down just because of my issues with the elder madam—how would that make us any different from her? If Uncle and Aunt are fair, we'll settle this privately. If not, I'll have to invite my sisters to discuss it openly. I remember Third Sister, Fifth Sister, and Seventh Sister all married quite well. When the time comes, I'll need to gather information about their husbands."
Yu Wei's eyes brightened with delight. "Ninth Young Miss is always so thoughtful. I think I'll visit Madam Fu again in a couple of days to ask about the other young ladies." She added, "Please don't blame Madam Fu—she's in a difficult position..."
"I know," Fu Tingyun said with a smile. "She has her father-in-law above her, her husband below, and a troublesome sister-in-law like me causing trouble every other day... You don't need to defend her. I understand her predicament."
Yu Wei gave an awkward smile.
After all, Ninth Young Miss needed some family support, didn't she? Otherwise, when it came time for the wedding, there wouldn't even be anyone to prepare the bridal bed—how lonely would that be?
As they were talking, Zheng Sanniang rushed in. "Miss, Miss! Ninth Master sent someone with four taels of silver—said it was a reward for the emperor's ascension to the throne."
"Let's go take a look," Fu Tingyun said cheerfully and headed to the southern hall with Yu Wei.
The silver had been delivered by one of Zhao Ling's adjutants. Master Lu, acting in his capacity as an uncle, had received it. By the time Fu Tingyun arrived, the messenger had already left. Master Lu was examining the two silver ingots, each weighing two taels, with great interest. When he saw Fu Tingyun enter, he quickly handed them to her. "Look at the quality! Imperial gifts are truly exceptional!" he exclaimed. "But we can't spend this—it should be enshrined in the ancestral hall." Then, realizing Zhao Ling had finally established himself, he added, "Or perhaps we should set aside a special room for imperial gifts? Ninth Master is now a close confidant of the emperor—there will surely be many more such rewards in the future."
Fu Tingyun didn't find the silver ingots particularly remarkable, but she couldn't help laughing at Master Lu's enthusiasm. "I'll discuss it with Ninth Master when he returns," she said.
This was an important matter, so of course, she would consult Zhao Ling.
Master Lu nodded repeatedly in agreement.Everyone gathered around the pair of silver ingots, admiring them for a long while before Fu Tingyun finally put them away.
Setting aside the matters of the Fu family for the time being, Fu Tingyun bought some fashionable fabric to make two summer robes for Zhao Ling and began working on autumn garments.
Master Lu summoned a matchmaker for servants named Xia and purchased four maidservants, all around ten years old. Among them, one was named May, another Xuemei, and the other two were both called Zhaodi. Fu Tingyun renamed the round-faced Zhaodi as Zhenzhu and the one with crescent-moon eyes as Kou'er, entrusting them all to Yu Wei to learn the household rules.
Noticing May's quick wit, Fu Tingyun assigned her to serve Young Master A Sen, while the composed and steady Xuemei was given to Zheng Sanniang to assist in the kitchen. She also asked Master Lu for another favor, saying, "A Sen is no longer a child. I’m thinking of either hiring a tutor for him at home or sending him to a reputable academy in the capital. He should also have a personal attendant."
Master Lu agreed with a smile and again sought out Madam Xia, purchasing a young servant boy around A Sen’s age, whom they named Yan Qing.
A Sen, blushing, came to Fu Tingyun and said, "I... I can dress myself and go to school on my own."
Fu Tingyun smiled, straightening his moon-white silk straight robe. "Since they’ve been assigned to you, you may direct them as you see fit—no need to consult me. But since you’ve asked, I’ll say this: the estate is large, and even keeping the window lattices and railings clean is no small task. Now that you’re living alone in the southern courtyard’s side annex, you’ll need to manage its affairs yourself."
A Sen’s eyes lit up, and after a few distracted words with Fu Tingyun, he hurried off.
Fu Tingyun asked Yu Wei to find out how A Sen had assigned May and Yan Qing.
Yu Wei returned and reported, "Young Master A Sen has May handle laundry and cleaning his rooms, while Yan Qing sweeps the courtyard, cleans the windows, and tends to the plants. As for his writing materials, he insists on handling those himself."
Fu Tingyun nodded approvingly and instructed Yu Wei, "Keep an eye on A Sen’s affairs. If anything seems amiss, gently guide him."
Yu Wei smiled in agreement, remarking, "Young Master A Sen has such a pure and kind nature."
All the more reason not to let him go astray.
Fu Tingyun thought to herself.
Zheng Sanniang came by and said, "With so few people in the household, the kitchen isn’t very busy. Perhaps you could assign Xuemei another task?"
Fu Tingyun laughed. "With Ninth Master staying in the capital, we’ll surely have more social gatherings and banquets in the future. You’ll be busy managing the kitchen and keeping track of supplies—how could you handle it all alone? I’m afraid one person won’t be enough!" She then added seriously, "Zheng San will only get busier, and Linchun is growing up. You and your husband must decide whether he’ll study or train in martial arts. From now on, just focus on managing my kitchen, so you’ll have time to care for your husband and son."
"Miss!" Zheng Sanniang knelt gratefully, kowtowing.
Fu Tingyun quickly motioned for Yu Wei to help her up. "I think Xuemei is quite capable. Train her well. May handles A Sen’s laundry, and Yu Wei manages the inner courtyard. You only need to oversee your own quarters."
Zheng Sanniang nodded repeatedly in agreement.From then on, external household matters were handled by Zheng San, internal affairs by Yu Wei, kitchen matters by Zheng Sanniang, and the Xi'an estates were entrusted to Master Lu. By mid-July, when Zhao Ling had settled into his official duties and could return home for rest, everything in the household was already in perfect order, exuding the dignified air of an established family.
One evening, under a bright moon, Zhao Ling sat on a cool bed wearing a new moon-white Taoist robe made of Hangzhou silk, enjoying watermelon chilled in well water, so comfortable that he didn’t even want to go on duty at the palace.
He asked Fu Tingyun, "Have you seen your mother yet?"
Zhao Ling wanted to set the wedding date as soon as possible.
Fu Tingyun was weaving a decorative knot by moonlight when her hands paused slightly. "Why ask this so suddenly? Is there something urgent?"
Zhao Ling gazed at her quietly without responding. Suddenly, he put down his watermelon, snatched the knot from her hands, and said, "Stop weaving, you'll strain your eyes." He added, "The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching. Since I’m on leave tomorrow, why don’t we visit your mother?"
When he was on leave, Master Fu the Fifth would also be on leave.
If her own father treated her this way, what could she expect from Zhao Ling?
Fu Tingyun replied, "You rarely get a day off at home, and the weather is so hot. I was planning to make cold jelly for you tomorrow. Maybe we can visit her another day when it’s cooler?"
"We can chill the jelly in the well and enjoy it when we return in the evening," Zhao Ling said, holding her hand with a mix of persuasion and coaxing. "I’m now a third-rank official. With the new emperor’s ascension, your father will surely consider my position even if he doesn’t respect me personally. He wouldn’t dare turn us away, would he? The emperor has privately told Mr. Zhao that with so much to rebuild, having already dealt with military officials, it’s best not to provoke the civil officials. If we miss this chance, there won’t be another."
A new reign brings new ministers.
Those like Zhao Ling, who had Merit from supporting the emperor, naturally basked in glory, while old ministers like her father saw their networks severed. Keeping their positions now depended on forging ties with the newly favored. Since the emperor rose through military power, securing control over the military was his first priority—purges among military officials only heightened the unease among civil officials...
Recalling the barely concealed excitement in her father’s eyes when he mentioned the Yu Family, Fu Tingyun had to admit Zhao Ling had a point.
"Alright, let’s go tomorrow," she conceded reluctantly.
She hoped her father would treat them politely for Zhao Ling’s sake.
As if reading her thoughts, Zhao Ling patted her hand. "Don’t worry, I’ll handle it."
Fu Tingyun sighed inwardly and instructed Yu Wei to prepare gifts. At dawn the next day, she rose to get ready.
Given the summer heat, she wore only a simple white cotton blouse and a navy-blue pleated skirt, while Zhao Ling dressed in full formal attire.
Fu Tingyun couldn’t help chiding him, "Don’t act like a nouveau riche. Father might not appreciate it."
Zhao Ling grinned shamelessly. "What can I do? This is all I have to show off."
Suppressing a smile, Fu Tingyun accompanied him to Four Happiness Alley.
The old locust trees in Four Happiness Alley gleamed emerald under the breeze, their rustling leaves offering a hint of coolness.
Yu Wei went ahead to knock on the door.The one who answered the door was the same servant boy whom Master Fu the Fifth had called an idiot that day. When he saw it was Fu Tingyun, he shuddered, forgetting even the most basic courtesy in his panic. He scurried into the courtyard, shouting as he ran, "The young miss is here, the young miss is here!" as if she were a tiger.
Fu Tingyun couldn't help but glance at Zhao Ling.
She saw him turn his face away, his shoulders shaking slightly as if he were stifling laughter.
Her face flushed red and then paled in quick succession.
Fu Tinggui and Master Fu the Fifth hurried out one after the other. Both wore hair nets and were dressed in casual fine-cloth Taoist robes, their faces still bearing traces of shock at hearing of her arrival.
"How dare you show your face here again!" Fu Tinggui began harshly, while Master Fu the Fifth's gloomy gaze settled on Zhao Ling.
Zhao Ling smiled slightly and gave an elegant bow. "I am Zhao Ling, Commander of the Left Feather Forest Guard, here to pay my respects to Lord Fu."
Fu Tingyun's eyes widened.
Was this really the same Zhao Ling who had acted like a bandit?
Fu Tinggui also widened his eyes, looking somewhat at a loss as he turned to Master Fu the Fifth.
Master Fu the Fifth narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled faintly. "So it's the newly promoted Commander Zhao. This old man has never met Commander Zhao before, and with the distinction between civil and military officials, may I ask what business brings Commander Zhao to seek me out?" He remained standing at the doorway without moving.
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To find out what happens next, stay tuned for the next chapter!
Sisters, brothers, please vote for pink tickets... O(∩_∩)O~
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(End of Chapter)
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