Chapter 165: Departure for Battle
Madam Fu's coffin gradually disappeared into the distance amidst the mournful music, leaving behind only snow-like paper money scattered across the ground.
Zhao Ling helped Fu Tingyun, who was nearly fainting from weeping, to her feet and gently coaxed her, "Let's go back first. In a few days, we still need to visit Cuifeng Nunnery to offer incense and perform the ritual ceremony for your mother. If you exhaust yourself now, you won't be able to go..."
Fu Tingyun nodded repeatedly at his words, but her tears kept flowing no matter how many times she wiped them away.
Once they boarded the carriage, Zhao Ling simply held her in his arms. "Close your eyes and rest for a while. Crying like this will hurt your eyes."
Fu Tingyun knew this all too well, but she couldn't control her emotions. Obediently, she nestled into Zhao Ling's embrace.
Perhaps due to days of poor rest or sheer exhaustion from crying, Fu Tingyun fell asleep to the rhythmic clatter of the carriage wheels.
When she awoke, she found herself still cradled in Zhao Ling's arms, still in the carriage—though it had stopped at some point.
"You're awake!" Zhao Ling helped her sit up, shaking his numb arm. "You were sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to wake you, so I had Zheng San park the carriage in the alley." He smiled. "Feeling better? Would you like to rest here a while longer, or shall we go home now?"
His expression was tender and serene, lending him an air of quiet steadfastness—like mountains and oceans silently standing guard, always there when you turned to look.
The grief and loneliness from her mother's passing slowly faded, replaced by warmth and security.
She took Zhao Ling's hand. "Let's go home."
Zhao Ling nodded with a smile and carefully carried Fu Tingyun out of the carriage.
Zheng Sanniang and Tong Shi, who had been waiting at the festooned gate, immediately rushed over. One asked, "Is Madam alright? Is she feeling unwell anywhere?" while the other said, "The young miss has been very well-behaved—no crying or fussing. She's been sleeping in the eastern side room with Yu Wei and the wet nurse."
No sooner had they spoken than Zhenzhu and Kou'er came forward. One said, "Madam is back," while the other offered, "Madam, let me help you." Even Yu Wei, who had been watching Youyou in the side room, lifted the curtain upon hearing the commotion and called out, "It's hot outside—Madam should come in and rest!"
As the courtyard buzzed with activity, Fu Tingyun felt a warm glow in her heart and nodded repeatedly.
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At dusk, Jin Yuanbao arrived.
Fu Tingyun was astonished. "Has he settled his affairs so quickly?"
Zhao Ling chuckled. "Mo Yi is afraid I won't follow him to Guizhou, so he's been hounding this matter day and night. How could it not be fast?"
Fu Tingyun couldn't help muttering, "Why does he always have it out for you?"
"Don't blame him for this," Zhao Ling said with a smile. "For this Guizhou campaign, the Huguang Regional Military Commission is responsible for provisions, while the Guangxi and Guangdong Commissions handle troop deployment. Mo Shang, the Guangdong General Commander, is Mo Yi's clansman, and Li Zai, the Guangxi General Commander, is his mentor. Tell me—if Mo Yi doesn't take this commander position, who will? Since he can't refuse, he has to drag me along to help mediate."
"You're quite the stubborn one yourself," Fu Tingyun teased. "Don't end up causing more trouble for Mo Yi instead of helping." Then she urged him, "Go see Jin Yuanbao now before he grows impatient."
Zhao Ling left with a smile for the southern hall, where he stayed for dinner and didn't return until the hour of Xu."I'll have Jin Yuanbao stay in the guest room of the south wing. With an extra person in the house, you'll all feel safer."
Fu Tingyun nodded and said, "Shall we temporarily assign Kou'er to serve there?"
This time, Anxin would be accompanying Zhao Ling to Guizhou.
After discussing, the next day they assigned Kou'er to the south wing guest room, while Jin Yuanbao went to report to the Five Cities Patrol Brigade.
A palace messenger came, instructing Zhao Ling to have an audience with the emperor on the 21st.
Zhao Ling's face was full of remorse.
When officials leave the capital, they must enter the palace the day before to thank the emperor for his grace and receive his instructions.
This meant he might depart on the 22nd, while Fu Tingyun hadn't yet completed her postpartum confinement month, let alone accompany her to Cuifeng Nunnery to offer incense and perform ritual ceremonies for Madam Fu.
"I'm going to get a notebook to record all your broken promises," Fu Tingyun said with a smile before Zhao Ling could speak. "If you ever make me unhappy, I'll take out the notebook and settle accounts with you."
"Alright, alright," Zhao Ling hugged his wife tightly. "If I ever make you unhappy, you can settle accounts with me." His eyes grew slightly moist.
Leaning against his shoulder, Fu Tingyun softly reminded him: "Though you're marching with the army, you must be careful. Remember you have me and Youyou in the capital relying on you—don't be reckless..."
"I know, I know," Zhao Ling gently kissed his wife's forehead and softly promised.
The couple talked late into the night.
The next day at the palace, after the customary imperial instructions, the emperor smiled and told them: "The 26th of this month is an auspicious day. You shall depart then!" With that, he gave Zhao Ling a meaningful glance.
Zhao Ling was stunned.
Returning home, he told Fu Tingyun: "...Was that my imagination?"
But Fu Tingyun felt like seeing light after darkness, overjoyed. "Find an opportunity to thank the emperor! Whatever the reason for setting the 26th, it solves our dilemma."
Zhao Ling nodded slightly.
Fu Tingyun busied herself packing his belongings. On the 25th, with Zheng San driving the carriage, the family of three went with Yu Wei to Cuifeng Nunnery.
Madam Fu's coffin rested in a small side room behind the nunnery, while Xiuzhu's family lived in a modest cottage nearby, tending to Madam Fu's incense and candles daily.
After offering incense before Madam Fu's memorial tablet, with Xiuzhu's family and Yu Wei helping Zhao Ling arrange the offerings, Zhao Ling went to consult the abbess about holding Taoist rituals for Madam Fu.
Seizing the moment, Xiuzhu's family thanked Fu Tingyun: "Many thanks, young mistress, for sending someone to bring my husband and two children to the estates in Chang'an County."
"It's only right," Fu Tingyun replied, her gaze falling on her mother's memorial tablet. The inscription—"Worthy Person Xie of the Fu Family"—summarized her mother's entire life in just a few characters. A sudden wave of sorrow rose in her heart, making her voice listless. "You served my mother diligently—it's time for you to enjoy your retirement." Pausing, she added, "Now that you'll be living long-term at the Chang'an County estates, I'll rely on you to take good care of my mother's memorial rites!"
Master Fu the Fifth had consulted a diviner and decided that Fu Tinggui would escort the coffin home on the 4th day of the eighth month.
Madam Fu would then be buried in the Fu family ancestral graves, forty li outside Huayin city."You flatter me, Madam," said Xiuzhu's family, following Fu Tingyun's gaze to Madam Fu's memorial tablet. Tears welled up in her eyes. "I've remembered all your instructions."
Fu Tingyun nodded gently, taking Youyou from Yu Wei's arms. She pointed to Madam Fu's tablet and whispered softly to her sleeping daughter, "Youyou, this is your maternal grandmother. You've never met her... yet she always held you dear in her heart... but in the end, she never got to see you..." As she spoke, tears blurred her vision.
Behind her, the muffled sobs of Yu Wei and Xiuzhu's family could be heard... along with the distant, resonant tolling of the temple bell, deep and prolonged, bringing a sense of peace and tranquility to Fu Tingyun's heart.
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On the twenty-first day after Madam Fu's passing, Fu Tingyun visited Cuifeng Nunnery once more.
The young nun leading the way smiled and said, "Your family is truly devoted! Someone came early this morning to pay respects to Madam Fu."
Fu Tingyun was surprised.
When she arrived at the place where Madam Fu's coffin was kept, she indeed saw offerings and incense.
She asked Xiuzhu's family, "Who came?"
Xiuzhu's family hesitated.
After dismissing the young nun and paying her respects to her mother, Xiuzhu's family finally revealed, "It was Madam Yu—she sent her trusted Housekeeper Shu to pay respects to Madam Fu."
Fu Tingyun was taken aback.
Xiuzhu's family lowered her head and murmured, "Madam Yu has always cared deeply for Madam Fu. When Madam Fu passed, she even came personally to offer incense... This time, she sent her most trusted housekeeper..."
After a moment of silence, Fu Tingyun said, "I will remember this kindness. When the opportunity arises, I will find a way to repay it."
Xiuzhu's family breathed a sigh of relief.
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A married daughter observes a year of mourning for her deceased parents, while a granddaughter observes five months for her maternal grandparents. Thus, Youyou did not have a hundred-day celebration. Unexpectedly, Chen Shi remembered and even brought gifts to congratulate them that day.
"A senior in the family has passed," Fu Tingyun, wearing a white velvet flower, said. "I can only offer you a bowl of vegetarian noodles."
"Not at all," Chen Shi replied with a smile. "It was my oversight." She then joked, "I thought you were too busy to send me an invitation, so I came to demand an explanation."
Her words made Fu Tingyun laugh.
Chen Shi then asked with concern, "May I ask which senior in the family passed? We should pay our respects as well."
"The matter has already passed, so we didn’t want to trouble everyone," Fu Tingyun said, changing the subject. "I’ve been so busy lately, I haven’t had the chance to ask—how is your child’s recovery from chickenpox?"
"There are still two small pockmarks on his face," Chen Shi sighed. "Fortunately, he’s a boy, or it would have been troublesome." She then spoke about the dangers of chickenpox and precautions to take, which Fu Tingyun listened to carefully.
Zhenzhu entered and announced, "Madam Mo has arrived."
Surprised, Fu Tingyun and Chen Shi went to greet Madam Mo.
"I thought you’d forgotten about me," Madam Mo said, surveying the courtyard. "So you really didn’t hold a hundred-day celebration for the young miss! Even if Zhao Ling isn’t home, aren’t we here for you? This is too careless."
Before she could finish, Kou'er hurried in: "Madam, Madam Wu and Madam Ji have sent their housekeepers with gifts to congratulate the young miss on her hundred days."Fu Tingyun smiled wryly, "It seems we'll have to wait a few more days before inviting the ladies over for drinks."
Both Madam Mo and Chen Shi laughed in unison, saying, "We don't care about others, but we'll certainly come to claim our share of noodles."
Fu Tingyun repeatedly apologized.
Amidst laughter, everyone headed to the main house.
From then on, Chen Shi and Madam Mo frequently visited the household, and through their interactions, even Chen Shi and Madam Mo became acquainted with each other. Through Chen Shi, Fu Tingyun and Madam Mo got to know several young madams and wives of the Imperial Guard commanders and deputy commanders. In turn, Chen Shi became acquainted with Lin Chi and Tao Mu's wives through Fu Tingyun and Madam Mo. Gradually, Fu Tingyun began to establish her own social circle in the capital.
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Keep writing, must have drafts saved...(>_
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