Chapter 182: Madam Yu
Zhao Ling began playing hide-and-seek with Youyou again.
Fu Tingyun hesitated for a moment.
Was this really the way to deal with Zuo Junjie?
Then she thought of the deceased Zhe Liu and Jian Cao... A sense of righteous vengeance surged within her. She asked, "What if we need Zuo Junjie as a witness?"
"By the time Zuo Junjie is needed as a witness, the situation will already be heavily in our favor," Zhao Ling replied absentmindedly, fully focused on playing with Youyou. "At that point, we can simply say we found him in that condition. Would the Yu Family dare confront us over this? In fact, we might even turn the tables on them, claiming it was the Yu Family who reduced Zuo Junjie to such a state, and that it was only thanks to our timely intervention that he survived..." He turned to Fu Tingyun with a smile. "What do you think?"
"No one has more tricks up their sleeve than you!" Fu Tingyun chuckled, then gathered Youyou's clothes and turned to enter the warm chamber.
The next day, she quietly summoned Yu Wei and told her about the plan.
Yu Wei's eyes reddened as she kowtowed in gratitude. "Thank you, Ninth Master and Madam. Now I can finally face Zhe Liu and Jian Cao with peace in my heart."
Her words startled Fu Tingyun. "Don’t do anything foolish! Even with constant vigilance, it's hard to guard against betrayal within the household. Aunt and my mother personally interrogated Mo Xiang and found no flaws—how could you have known? Right now, you're the only capable one by my side. You can’t abandon me!"
Her earnest words brought tears and a smile to Yu Wei’s face. "I still plan to serve the young master and the future heir!"
Fu Tingyun’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly changed the subject. "In two months, my mourning period will end. What do you think of that family Zheng Sanniang mentioned for you? I thought they seemed decent..."
"Madam," Yu Wei replied with a smile, "didn’t you just say I’m the only capable one by your side? Would that man be willing to join the Zhao household with me?"
Fu Tingyun fell silent.
"Madam," Yu Wei’s expression grew solemn, "I only wish to serve you, Ninth Master, and the young mistress faithfully—and in the future, the young master and his heirs. I don’t want to go anywhere else."
"But you’re still so young..."
Yu Wei smiled. "The widowed Seventh Grandaunt stayed in the Fu family for thirty years. At least I grew up in the Fu household."
Fu Tingyun’s expression darkened. "Once, I saw that as an honor. Now, it feels more like a shackle... I only want what’s best for you."
"If Madam truly wishes me well, then please stop persuading me," Yu Wei said gently. "I’m content as things are."
Seeing that she couldn’t be swayed, Fu Tingyun relented, resolving to treat Yu Wei like a sister and arrange a grand wedding if she ever changed her mind. With that thought, her heart eased. Suddenly, she remembered her elder sister-in-law, who was observing widowhood in Huayin.
After a moment of silence, she instructed Yu Wei, "Go and grind ink for me. I want to write a letter to my elder sister-in-law."
Yu Wei was taken aback."Cousin-in-law is an extremely shrewd and capable woman. I simply don't believe she wouldn't know about Mo Xiang's pregnancy or consider the consequences of letting Zuo Junjie escape," Fu Tingyun explained. "She did this solely to preserve the last bloodline of the Zuo family." At this point, she couldn't help but sneer, "Isn't Master Fu obsessed with having cousin-in-law earn another Chastity Memorial Arch for the Yu Family? Well, I won't let him have his way—once she learns about Zuo Junjie's situation, let's see how Master Fu plans to handle this!"
Yu Wei was visibly intrigued, pondering, "The Fu family must have confined the young mistress in Tingxiang Pavilion, cutting her off from outside news... When the time comes, we can have Yi Tong deliver the letter. Once the young mistress learns of Zuo Junjie's danger, she'll surely make a scene..." Her expression grew animated as she thought it through, "She might even use her chastity for the Fu family as leverage against the Fu elders. But this matter is already beyond the Fu family's control—they won't dare agree and will have to placate her with lies... Given the young mistress's temperament, once suspicious, she'll investigate thoroughly. We'll have Yi Tong assist by passing messages at the right moment..." Covering her mouth, she chuckled, "What a spectacle that will be!" Then, giving Fu Tingyun a thumbs-up, she exclaimed, "Madam, this plan of yours is truly brilliant!" Delighted, she turned and hurried into the eastern study to prepare ink for Fu Tingyun.
Fu Tingyun smiled brightly.
Truth be told, it was Zhao Ling who had inspired her—Zuo Junjie was single-mindedly pursuing rank and wealth, so she would reduce him to a beggar; the Fu family was obsessed with earning another Chastity Memorial Arch, so she would inform the young mistress about Zuo Junjie and let her stir up trouble for the Fu family...
With this thought, she entered the study in high spirits.
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At the Yu residence, Madam Yu, reclining on a daybed in the pavilion, gazed at the vibrant scenery outside the window, yet her mood remained somber.
She quietly asked her trusted Housekeeper Shu, "Have you confirmed everything?"
"Everything's confirmed," Housekeeper Shu replied, glancing at the maids and servants standing a few paces away before lowering her voice further. "The Fu girl asked exactly like this..." But she dared not repeat how the young master had responded.
The veins on Madam Yu's teacup-holding hand suddenly bulged.
Housekeeper Shu recoiled in fright, but remembering Madam Yu's severity, she caught herself, only swaying slightly without fully losing composure.
Unnoticed by Madam Yu, she demanded sharply, "Where is the master?"
Housekeeper Shu exhaled in relief, answering quickly, "The master hasn't returned from the yamen yet."
Madam Yu's tone softened slightly. "And the young master?"
"He left with the master this morning and hasn't returned either!" Just as Housekeeper Shu replied, Madam Yu snapped again, "What about the young mistress?"
"The young mistress returned to her quarters after leaving you earlier," Housekeeper Shu said hastily. "I'll send someone to check—" Before she could finish, light, tinkling laughter interrupted her.
She turned toward the sound.
There, Fan Shi approached, accompanied by her personal maid Mo Zhuan, smiling as she walked through the flower beds toward them.She wore a plain goose-yellow Hangzhou silk sleeveless vest. The summer sunlight fell upon her, making her face glow faintly, more vibrant and lively than the blooming flowers beside her.
Mama Shu immediately fell silent, her eyes involuntarily darting toward Madam Fu.
She then noticed Madam Yu’s expression grow even colder.
Quickly, she lowered her gaze and retreated behind Madam Yu.
"Mother!" Fan Shi stepped forward with a smile and bowed to Madam Yu. "The scenery is lovely, and when I heard you were here admiring the flowers, I thought I’d join in the enjoyment."
Madam Yu smiled faintly and gestured for Mama Shu to bring Fan Shi an embroidered stool.
Mama Shu complied with a smile, while the maids and servants around Madam Yu hurried to greet Fan Shi—some brewing tea, others bringing pastries and fruits, creating a flurry of activity.
Fan Shi nodded cheerfully in acknowledgment.
Madam Yu simply held her teacup, sipping slowly.
Fan Shi leaned closer to her mother-in-law and said, "This year’s pre-rain Longjing tea is excellent—clear in color and rich in fragrance."
Madam Yu smiled faintly, set down her cup unhurriedly, and said leisurely, "You’re drinking Longjing, but I’m having Iron Goddess of Mercy."
Fan Shi stiffened.
Behind her, Mo Zhuan’s brows twitched, her eyes flashing with anger before she suppressed it.
For a moment, the surroundings fell into silence, as if no one were present.
"Iron Goddess of Mercy is good," Fan Shi finally said with a strained smile. "As Mother grows older, its mildness suits you better than Longjing."
"Indeed," Madam Yu replied without even lifting her eyelids, dabbing the corners of her lips with a handkerchief from her sleeve. "When one grows old, they can’t endure much. Especially when seeing others enjoying the pleasures of grandchildren—the envy is unbearable." She cast a cold glance at Fan Shi. "Don’t you agree?"
In the past, her mother-in-law had been displeased with her, but never had she humiliated her so openly in front of the servants.
Fan Shi froze in place.
Madam Yu stood. "No matter how beautiful the scenery, if the flowers bloom but bear no fruit, they’ll wither by summer’s end. There’s no point in admiring them. Mama Shu, help me back to my room."
Overwhelmed with shame, Fan Shi wished she could die—yet she dared not show any resentment. Instead, she had to be even more deferential than usual. Otherwise, if branded with "unfilial," even her father might suffer the consequences. She rose obediently, her heart bleeding, yet forced a bright smile as she stepped forward to support Madam Yu. "Mother, let me help you back."
"Oh?" Madam Yu raised a brow. "Aren’t you busy gathering flowers for perfumes today?"
Ever since the medicines prescribed by Aunt Cui a year ago had failed to take effect, Fan Shi had endured countless such taunts.
Lowering her lashes, she smiled. "Mother’s favorite lotus hasn’t bloomed yet. There’s still time to gather flowers when they do."
"No lotus, but there are hydrangeas," Madam Yu said with a smile. "De Pu loves hydrangeas most. You should pay more attention to him."
"Yes," Fan Shi bit her lip and bowed her head in assent.
Madam Yu strode briskly out of the pavilion.The maids and housekeepers attending to Madam Yu streamed past them continuously. Only when Madam Yu's figure disappeared around the corner of the building did Mo Zhuan step forward to her young mistress's side, choking back sobs as she said, "So what if there are no children yet? Our own mistress didn't bear the eldest young miss until five or six years after marriage. Young Madam is so good, why does the mistress always find fault with you?"
Fan Shi smiled bitterly.
Hadn't Madam Yu opposed their marriage precisely because her own mother had struggled with fertility, barely managing to bear the three of them—two daughters and a son?
As this thought flashed through her mind, she couldn't help but heave a long sigh and said softly, "Let's go back."
Mo Zhuan nodded dejectedly and moved to support Fan Shi.
Suddenly remembering something, Fan Shi urgently instructed Mo Zhuan: "The eldest young master was severely reprimanded by the master just two days ago and is still upset about it. You mustn't tell him about this matter."
Mo Zhuan quickly replied, "I understand."
Meanwhile, Madam Yu said to Housekeeper Shu: "I know this matter shouldn't be rushed, but for some reason, whenever I see her bright smiling face, it irritates me..."
There's nothing that pleases you unless you've given your approval yourself, Housekeeper Shu thought to herself, though she didn't dare voice it aloud.
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Only today did I find time to check the comments section. The updates are indeed few... but I simply can't arrange my schedule any better, I'm quite anxious about it too... (>_
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