Chapter 166: Mutual Consideration
After seeing off Madam Fu's coffin and passing the Mid-Autumn Festival, Fu Tingyun arranged for Zheng San to escort Xiuzhu's family back to Shaanxi: "Since Xiuzhu and the two children still need to be settled, you should make the trip. While you're there, check on Master Lu and Madam Lu's health so I can rest easy."
Zheng San agreed with a smile, but Xiuzhu's family firmly declined: "The round trip would cost too much. I'll just take a carriage from the coach service to Willow Lane in Xi'an Prefecture to find Master Lu."
"You served my mother—I can't treat you so carelessly," Fu Tingyun insisted, not letting her argue further. She instructed Yu Wei to pack the clothes, jewelry, and rewards made for Xiuzhu's family into trunks and load them onto the carriage.
Xiuzhu's family still hesitated: "But if I take the carriage, what will you use, madam?"
"I'm still in mourning," Fu Tingyun replied. "I won't be going anywhere."
Seeing the logic in this, Xiuzhu's family finally relented, repeatedly urging Fu Tingyun to "take care of your health" before returning to Huayin.
Fu Tingyun devoted all her attention to Youyou.
She wrote to Zhao Ling about everything Youyou ate and every little change in her.
Zhao Ling didn’t write back as frequently, but his letters revealed that his mission in Guizhou was going smoothly. His relationship with Longping Marquis was also handled well. Moreover, he subtly helped Mo Yi speak favorably before Longping Marquis and vice versa, easing tensions between Mo Yi and the marquis.
Fu Tingyun breathed a long sigh of relief.
If the relationships among superiors were strained, no amount of military strength would be of use.
After Minor Cold, news of victory arrived from Guizhou—Longping Marquis had quelled the rebellion in Black and the other three villages.
Fu Tingyun and the others were overjoyed.
Yu Wei brought her the list of New Year gifts for review.
Fu Tingyun crossed out Four Happiness Alley.
Though surprised, Yu Wei said nothing and withdrew with a curtsy.
On Laba Festival, just before noon, the palace bestowed Laba porridge upon them.
Everyone was immediately abuzz with excitement.
"They say only grand secretaries receive such honors. Does this mean our Ninth Master is due for another promotion?" Zheng Sanniang mused eagerly, even more excited than Fu Tingyun, who couldn’t help but laugh. "It’s too early to say, but receiving imperial gifts is always a good sign."
Zheng Sanniang nodded repeatedly. "Madam, don’t forget to mention this to our ancestors during the New Year’s Eve ancestral worship."
This even made Zhenzhu and the others laugh.
A Sen came to pay his respects after school.
Zheng Sanniang eagerly told him about the porridge: "This is already the second time the Emperor has bestowed gifts upon our family."
"Shouldn’t it be the third?" A Sen corrected. "The first was when the Emperor ascended the throne, the second was for Ninth Master’s wedding, so this should be the third..."
"The wedding doesn’t count—that was bestowed by the Empress Dowager," Zheng Sanniang muttered. "By your logic, it should be the fourth—didn’t Madam also receive gifts?"
A Sen disagreed but didn’t argue further, turning his gaze to the porridge. "Sister-in-law, can we eat this porridge, or should we enshrine it?"
"Even imperial food spoils if left too long!" Fu Tingyun chuckled. "Of course we should eat it." Then she instructed Zheng Sanniang, "Divide it among everyone. Let’s all taste it and see how it differs from what we usually make."Everyone quickly grabbed bowls, chopsticks, and spoons, and soon the porridge was distributed.
It was only two spoonfuls per person, but Zheng Sanniang and the others exclaimed how delicious it was. A Sen, however, pouted, "I don’t think it’s as good as what Xuemei makes!"
"Ah!" Xuemei gasped in surprise.
Zheng Sanniang scoffed at him, "How can you say such a thing? What if someone hears you?"
Everyone covered their mouths and laughed.
The lively and cheerful Kou'er immediately chimed in, "So, Zheng Sanniang, you actually agree with Young Master A Sen, don’t you?"
Zheng Sanniang was left flustered.
Another round of laughter filled the room.
Youyou, now nine months old, already bore a resemblance to Fu Tingyun in her delicate features. Dressed in a bright red cocoon silk padded jacket, she was cradled in the arms of her wet nurse, playing with a spoon. Seeing everyone in the hall laughing, she giggled along.
Her crescent-moon-like eyes, brimming with innocence, seemed to cleanse the heart, making her unbearably adorable.
A Sen ran over to tease Youyou, "You think what Sanniang said is funny too, don’t you?"
Whether by accident or on purpose, Youyou actually nodded.
A Sen immediately shouted, "Sister-in-law, Sister-in-law, look! Youyou nodded! Youyou nodded!" Then he asked Youyou again, "Do you really think what Sanniang said is funny?"
All eyes turned to Youyou, the room suddenly holding its breath in anticipation.
Youyou lowered her head and buried her face in her wet nurse’s embrace.
"Ah!" A Sen sighed in disappointment.
The wet nurse quickly explained, "The young miss is still too little. She’ll understand these things in time."
"That’s right!" Zheng Sanniang also walked over and touched Youyou’s tiny hand. "The young miss is already the smartest child I’ve ever seen. The children in my village at her age only knew how to eat and sleep—they wouldn’t even understand jokes!" She then exclaimed, "Oh! Come to think of it, ever since we started serving Ninth Master and Madam, even our Linchun has gotten smarter. Just the other day, he pointed to a character on the screen wall and told me it was ‘Fu’!"
"That’s all thanks to Young Master A Sen," Kou'er retorted, sparking another wave of laughter in the hall.
Yan Qing announced from behind the curtain, "Madam, Second Young Master, Lord Jin has returned, and Lord Yang has come with him."
These days, Jin Yuanbao had been staying at home, and occasionally Yang Yucheng, Sanfu, and Shizhu would drop by for visits.
Without waiting for Fu Tingyun’s instructions, Zheng Sanniang immediately said, "Madam, I’ll prepare some dishes to go with their drinks."
Fu Tingyun nodded with a smile.
Zheng Sanniang left with Zhou Shi—of the two maids they had bought, Zhou Shi was quiet and simple-minded. With more guests visiting lately, Fu Tingyun had assigned her to the kitchen to assist Zheng Sanniang, giving the latter some occasional respite.
"Then I’ll go see Brother Yucheng and Brother Yuanbao!" A Sen also prepared to leave.
"Don’t neglect your studies," Fu Tingyun reminded him.
"Even if you didn’t say it, Brother Yuanbao would nag me about it," A Sen muttered with a pout, though he was smiling.
Fu Tingyun chuckled.
That was true—since Jin Yuanbao had moved in, he had been very strict with A Sen.
Seeing everyone leaving, Youyou also wanted to follow.
Fu Tingyun took her daughter from the wet nurse’s arms. "Youyou, let’s go play with the little duck, okay?"
Youyou thought for a moment, then nodded obediently and nestled into her mother’s embrace.Fu Tingyun smiled and gently stroked her daughter's smooth, jet-black hair before carrying the little one into the inner chamber.
Scattered across the kang were small stuffed animals—a duckling, a tiger, and a puppy—crafted by Fu Tingyun from leftover floral fabric.
Youyou immediately pounced on the duckling, hugging it to her chest and beaming up at her mother.
"How clever our young mistress is!" the wet nurse and Tong Shi, who had followed them inside, praised in unison.
A touch of pride colored Fu Tingyun's smile as she asked Youyou, "Which one is the tiger?" and "Where's the puppy?"
Youyou pointed them out for her mother.
Though the game was simple and repetitive, mother and daughter never tired of it.
Just then, A Sen returned. "Sister-in-law, Brother Yucheng wishes to see you!"
"See me?" Fu Tingyun was surprised. "Please invite him to the main hall." Then she asked A Sen, "Do you know why he's looking for me?"
A Sen chuckled. "I don't know either!"
Keeping it a secret!
But judging by A Sen's cheerful expression, it couldn't be anything bad.
A weight lifted from Fu Tingyun's heart.
Lately, though she appeared calm and composed on the surface, she had been quietly worrying about Zhao Ling, dreading the possibility of an unexpected visitor bearing ill news about him...
She handed Youyou over to the wet nurse and Tong Shi, changed into fresh clothes, and went to the main hall.
Now freed from his past as a salt smuggler and able to walk openly in the light, Yang Yucheng carried himself with newfound confidence and righteousness, his bearing even more dashing and distinguished. Beside him, Jin Yuanbao exuded quiet steadiness, his brilliance restrained, unshaken by Yang Yucheng's striking presence. Standing together, the two men seemed to complement each other like paired jewels, neither outshining the other.
Fu Tingyun couldn't help but marvel.
Truly, the saying "nurture shapes temperament, environment molds the body" held truth.
Once everyone was seated in order of precedence and Zhenzhu had served tea, Fu Tingyun smiled and asked, "What brings you to see me, Uncle Yang?"
Since Youyou's birth, she had taken to addressing Yang Yucheng and Jin Yuanbao the same way her daughter did.
Normally quick to speak his mind, Yang Yucheng now hesitated, stammering without getting to the point.
Fu Tingyun glanced at Jin Yuanbao.
Jin Yuanbao chuckled silently, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Sister-in-law, Yucheng's superior—Commander Liu of the Daxing Garrison—has a brother-in-law who has taken a liking to Yucheng and wishes to make him his son-in-law. Yucheng is unsure and would like your help in assessing the match and offering advice."
Fu Tingyun was both astonished and delighted. "So Uncle Yang is getting married! This is wonderful news—why be shy about it? Who is the fortunate young lady?"
Yang Yucheng flushed, clearly embarrassed. "The family's name is Zhang. The father is Patrol Inspector Zhang of the Zhangjiawan Patrol Inspectorate, a hereditary post. Once, when Inspector Zhang was passing through Daxing on business, Commander Liu hosted a banquet in his honor and invited me to join... Somehow, Inspector Zhang mentioned wanting to wed his daughter to me..."
"It's like a pie falling from the sky," Jin Yuanbao added. "Yucheng is worried there might be some flaw in the Zhang family's daughter..."
A hereditary patrol inspector stationed at Zhangjiawan—a crucial checkpoint for grain and canal transport into the capital—undoubtedly came from a family of considerable wealth. Though Yang Yucheng and Jin Yuanbao now held official positions, their ranks and family backgrounds were worlds apart from the Zhangs', which explained their unease.Fu Tingyun smiled and said, "Although Uncle Yang is only a Centurion, he has the advantage of being young and handsome, upright in character, and from a simple family. In the eyes of parents who dote on their daughters, he is already a rare and excellent match."
The two were slightly taken aback.
Fu Tingyun continued with a smile, "This is a matter concerning your lifelong happiness. As your sister-in-law, I should naturally take responsibility. However, I am still in mourning, so it wouldn't be appropriate for me to intervene directly. How about I ask Chen Shi, the eldest daughter-in-law of Commander Chen from the Golden Crow Guard's forward command, to help make inquiries for you? What do you think?"
Yang Yucheng was well aware that those in mourning should not be involved in wedding arrangements. But aside from Fu Tingyun, he truly couldn't think of anyone else he trusted more. Hearing her tone, she seemed to have great confidence in Chen Shi, so it likely wouldn't be a problem. He quickly stood up and bowed, "Then I'll trouble you with this, sister-in-law!"
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This chapter was scheduled for release. I'm heading to the airport now... O(∩_∩)O~... I'll be flying with Amei and Leidewen. It's said we might even meet Liu Anhua Ming, who's transferring in Wuhan—wonder if that's true?
Tomorrow we'll continue with the gossip!
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(End of Chapter)
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