Chapter 139: Dignity
"Master!" Xiuzhu's family stared at Master Fu the Fifth, her face filled with shock.
She was delivering Madam Fu's message, representing the mistress. How could the master humiliate Madam Fu in front of her future son-in-law, son, daughter-in-law, daughter, and servants?
Fu Tinggui also hesitated for a moment.
But when his father shot him a sharp glance, he immediately responded with a "Yes" and called for servants to tie up Xiuzhu's family.
Fu Tingyun loudly rebuked Master Fu the Fifth, "Father, do you even have any regard for Mother?"
Master Fu the Fifth sneered, "If it weren't for you, I wouldn’t have had to disgrace your mother."
Leaning against the bamboo curtain of the hall with tears streaming down her face, Madam Fu silently watched as the servants rushed past her, not daring to utter a word.
Fu Tingyun was furious.
The servants had already grabbed Xiuzhu's family in a flurry.
Fu Tingyun lifted her skirt and rushed forward, "I'm going to see Mother!" But Master Fu the Fifth grabbed her arm, "I've said it before—this is my household. None of you have the right to act arrogantly here." With a forceful shove, Fu Tingyun staggered and would have fallen if Zhao Ling hadn’t caught her.
Xiuzhu's family struggled, "Let me go! I'm acting on Madam Fu's orders!"
Fu Tingyun glared at her father and tried to step forward to help Xiuzhu's family, but Zhao Ling held her back.
She turned and saw Zhao Ling's jaw clenched tightly, his eyes burning with anger, his expression unusually fierce.
This was a side of Zhao Ling she had never seen before.
Fu Tingyun was taken aback.
Zhao Ling steadied her, "Come, let's go see Auntie."
"Yes!" Fu Tingyun instinctively followed his lead.
But Master Fu the Fifth stepped forward, blocking the path to Madam Fu's chamber.
His gaze was icy, his chin slightly raised, his expression haughty as he looked at Zhao Ling, a trace of disdain flickering between his brows.
Zhao Ling smirked, released Fu Tingyun, and took several steps forward before suddenly drawing his waist saber...
"You—what are you doing?!" Master Fu the Fifth cried out in alarm, his face instantly turning ashen.
Zhao Ling's lips curled almost imperceptibly with mockery as the gleaming blade sliced through the air, carrying a bone-chilling coldness as it swung toward Master Fu the Fifth...
"Ah!" Master Fu the Fifth covered his head and scrambled away...
"Master!"
"Father-in-law!"
"Ninth Master!"
"Zhao Ling!"
Shouts erupted chaotically throughout the courtyard.
Master Fu the Fifth crashed into Fu Tinggui, who stood frozen in shock, staring dumbly at Zhao Ling. He fell flat on his back, limbs flailing.
The saber, glinting like autumn frost, followed swiftly. With a sharp "clang," its tip embedded into the stone brick just beside Master Fu the Fifth's toes, the red silk-wrapped hilt trembling in the air, emitting a faint hum.
The courtyard fell deathly silent.
"Zhao Ling," Fu Tingyun rushed over, her face pale as snow, and clung to his arm, "Are—are you alright?"
He must have been furious...
"I'm fine." Zhao Ling shook his head gently at Fu Tingyun, then turned his cold, resolute gaze back to Master Fu the Fifth. "Let's go see Auntie."
Fu Tingyun nodded, her eyes involuntarily following Zhao Ling's gaze to her father.
There, she saw her father trembling in fear under Zhao Ling's stare, shrinking back in terror.
Was this the same domineering man who had just slapped Zhao Ling across the face?Is this the father who would loudly scold me with disdain every time he saw me?
Is this the father who was once so handsome and dignified?
Fu Tingyun could hardly believe her eyes.
She turned to her elder brother, Fu Tinggui, as if seeking confirmation.
Fu Tinggui avoided her gaze, his eyes flickering uneasily.
Is this the brother who once berated me for disgracing the family?
Fu Tingyun was utterly disappointed.
She lifted her chin and walked past her father.
Her brother, Fu Tinggui, paled and staggered backward until his back hit a bright red pillar, leaving him with nowhere else to retreat.
Madam Fu bowed her head in shame.
Fu Tingyun walked forward without glancing sideways.
The servants in the corridor, who had been restraining Xiuzhu's family, released her and pressed themselves against the wall, holding their breath, afraid of drawing the attention of Zhao Ling and Fu Tingyun.
Freed at last, Xiuzhu's family tearfully stepped forward and curtsied to Fu Tingyun. "Ninth Miss!" she said, then paused slightly before respectfully addressing Zhao Ling as "Lord Zhao."
Zhao Ling treated her with the courtesy befitting a loyal elder servant, nodding at her with a smile. He stopped outside the side chamber, cupped his hands in salute, and announced clearly, "Madam Fu, your humble junior Zhao Ling and your daughter have come as summoned."
"You... you may enter," came a weak, frail voice from inside.
It was Mother!
Fu Tingyun cast a grateful glance at Zhao Ling before responding respectfully with him, "Yes," and entered the room.
Despite it being broad daylight, the room was dim and stifling. Stepping inside, Fu Tingyun was momentarily blinded. Only after a moment could she make out the scene within.
On this sweltering day, the windows covered with Korean paper were tightly shut. The air was thick with the scent of sandalwood incense, making the room even more oppressive.
Against the wall stood a canopy bed draped with white summer fabric curtains, now half-drawn. A gaunt woman, wrapped in a pale moon-white Hangzhou silk quilt, reclined against a rattan-yellow silk pillow. In the dim light, her large almond-shaped eyes were clouded and lifeless, like pearls stripped of their luster, evoking the melancholy of a beauty past her prime.
Zhao Ling was inwardly shocked.
He remembered Madam Fu once having a face as full as the moon, her eyes as clear as autumn water...
Fu Tingyun had already knelt by her mother’s bedside.
"Mother!" she cried, clutching her mother’s bony, vein-covered hand resting on the quilt, tears streaming down her face. "How... how could you have become like this?"
"Silly child," Madam Fu replied weakly, offering a faint smile. "I’ve been ill—of course I’d look like this." She seemed reluctant to dwell on the subject and instead instructed Xiuzhu's family, "Light the lamp." Then she turned her gaze to Zhao Ling, who stood by the door. "You must be Zhao Ling. Come closer, let me see you properly."
Zhao Ling complied, stepping forward with humble deference.
The room was bathed in a dim yellow glow as Xiuzhu's family lit the lamp.
Fu Tingyun could now see more clearly.
Her mother’s temples were streaked with gray.
"Mother," she called again, her voice thick with worry.
Madam Fu smiled at her daughter.
Xiuzhu's family moved the lamp to a small table by the bed.
The soft light fell on Madam Fu’s face, lending her expression a quiet serenity and gentleness.
She studied Zhao Ling carefully.
The man before her was no longer the destitute figure she remembered. His expression was calm, his gaze resolute, his tall and well-proportioned frame exuding quiet confidence. The authority in his youthful features set him apart from the ordinary.
Her gaze then drifted toward her daughter.The daughter's beautiful eyes brimmed with tears, her expression somewhat dim, yet her snow-white skin and rosy lips made her as enchanting as the splendid scenery of May. Paired with Zhao Ling's handsome and composed demeanor, one was dignified while the other was delicate and gentle—a perfect match, like a pair of jade figurines.
Madam Fu couldn't help but smile.
Back then, her greatest worry had been that Zhao Ling might be tempted by wealth. Little did she expect that because of him, her daughter would have the life she had today.
She said to Zhao Ling, "Xiuzhu's family told me everything about you. I've been waiting for you!"
Both Fu Tingyun and Zhao Ling were taken aback, but soon, Zhao Ling was overwhelmed with joy and couldn't suppress a delighted smile. He knelt beside Fu Tingyun at Madam Fu's bedside.
Why had Madam Fu been waiting for him? Naturally, it was because of Fu Tingyun.
Fu Tingyun had been abandoned by her family, with no ancestral shrine or relatives. Would he cherish her? Would he take responsibility for this bond? It all depended on whether he had the courage to come to the Fu family to propose and whether he dared to acknowledge this relationship. Now, by accompanying Fu Tingyun here, he had already passed Madam Fu's test—meaning she had consented to their marriage.
"Madam!" Zhao Ling said earnestly, "Please believe me, I will take good care of Quan Hui and never abandon her. Moreover, I've already requested the Emperor to ask the Empress Dowager to bestow this marriage upon us. I won't let Quan Hui suffer any grievances."
Fu Tingyun also understood now.
She glanced at Zhao Ling, her face burning with shyness.
Madam Fu's smile gradually faded as she looked solemnly into Zhao Ling's eyes. "I have a daughter, with the childhood name Quan Hui. Though mischievous since childhood, she is kind-hearted and sincere. I wish to betroth her to you as your wife. Are you willing?"
"Willing!" Zhao Ling exclaimed loudly, as if afraid Madam Fu might change her mind. "I am willing!"
Really...
Fu Tingyun's face burned like fire, and she lowered her head, not daring to look up.
Madam Fu smiled contentedly and called for Xiuzhu's family to prepare ink and brush. Then she instructed Fu Tingyun, "Help me sit up." She added, "Bring the small wooden board from the table."
Fu Tingyun didn't understand the purpose but didn't dare to ask. She helped her mother up and fetched the small board.
Xiuzhu's family brought over the ink, brush, paper, and inkstone.
Madam Fu spread a sheet of rice paper on the board, had Fu Tingyun grind the ink, then dipped the brush shakily into the ink and painstakingly wrote on the paper.
Fu Tingyun stared at her mother in astonishment.
Madam Fu merely smiled without a word.
After a while, she finished writing and tremblingly handed it to Zhao Ling. "This is my daughter's Destiny. I now entrust it to you."
Zhao Ling kowtowed to Madam Fu, accepted it with both hands, then softly apologized before picking up the brush Madam Fu had used. Below Fu Tingyun's Destiny, he wrote his own and handed it back to Madam Fu.
Madam Fu took it and examined it carefully, revealing a satisfied smile before returning the paper to Zhao Ling. "Keep it safe. This is the proof."
"Yes!" Zhao Ling replied respectfully, while Fu Tingyun's eyes welled with tears.
"Mother!" She nestled close to her mother.
"My dear child," Madam Fu said gently, stroking her daughter's hand. "I know you've suffered grievances, and I know you've been stubborn since childhood—you won't rest until you uncover the truth. But I must ask you: after surviving such a calamity and now having this wonderful bond, is it worth it to pursue the truth so relentlessly?"
Was her mother also opposed to her investigating the truth?
Her eyes widened in shock as she stared at her mother.Madam Fu silently gazed at her daughter, awaiting her response.
The wick crackled as the flame flickered, casting wavering light on the faces of those present. The shifting shadows made it difficult to discern their expressions.
Beads of sweat dotted Fu Tingyun’s forehead.
After what felt like an eternity, she finally spoke in a low voice, "Mother, everyone wishes to know who they are, where they come from, and why they are here... I am no different... One day, I too will become a mother... If my child asks me, 'Who was my grandfather? What kind of person was my grandmother? Did I have uncles?' I want to answer them with dignity, not cover one lie with another... I want to have—a mother’s dignity!"
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Hmm, I’ll fix the typos when I get back!
Though there’s no extra update, I’ll still shamelessly ask for pink votes… O(∩_∩)O~
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(End of Chapter)
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