Escape to Your Heart

Chapter 186: Escaping the Heat

Seeing this, Madam Yu's expression softened slightly, and her voice grew gentler. "On such a hot day, you still made a special trip to Jiangxiang Garden. You must be tired! Go back to your room and rest. Come over for dinner tonight with your wife. I’ll have the kitchen prepare your favorite First-Rank Duck and your wife’s favorite Tea-Scented Sweet Dumplings."

"I’m not tired." Yu Jingxiu, still weighed down by guilt, picked up the crystal plate in front of Madam Yu and served his mother some cherries. "I’d rather stay here and keep you company."

Madam Yu smiled faintly, her eyes glimmering with nostalgia. "I remember when you were little, every day after school, you’d snuggle up to me like this and tell me about your lessons. After you washed up, we’d go together to pay respects to your grandmother... Later, your father thought your grandmother, Aunt, your aunts, and I were spoiling you too much. He decided to send you to the Fan family to study, only allowing you to return during holidays. You have no idea how heartbroken I was—I cried myself to sleep for nights, soaking several pillows. But for the sake of your future, I pretended everything was fine, helping you pack your clothes and school supplies..." She gently stroked her son’s head. "And now, in the blink of an eye, you’ve grown so tall. Not only have you taken a wife, but you’ve also earned scholarly honors. Whenever I think about it, I wake up laughing in my dreams."

"Mother!" His mother only spoke of his achievements, never mentioning his failure to produce an heir. Yu Jingxiu bowed his head in shame. "I’ve been unfilial, unable to give you a grandson..."

"You’re both still young. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future," Madam Yu said gently. "Some things can’t be rushed—the more you hurry, the harder they become. Isn’t that why they say, 'Unintentional actions often yield the best results'? But you mustn’t keep defying your elders like this. You’re my son, so of course I’ll always think the world of you. But you still have your Aunt above you and your aunts below... Harmony in the family brings prosperity!" She added, "People outside may say I’m shrewd, domineering, or overbearing, but you’ve grown up by my side—do I seem like that kind of person? Because I bore you, haven’t I always deferred to your Aunt and aunts in everything? It’s simply because I understand the principle that 'when the cup is full, it spills; when the moon is full, it wanes.' I already have everything—if I didn’t endure a little hardship, how could I peacefully enjoy such blessings? You’re a clever man; you ought to understand this better than I do."

When the cup is full, it spills; when the moon is full, it wanes...

Yu Jingxiu silently repeated these words in his heart, momentarily lost in thought.

Whenever his grandmother bestowed gifts upon the wives or his father brought back rare treasures from outside, his mother always let his Aunt and aunts choose first.

Back then, ignorant of the reasons, he had felt indignant on his mother’s behalf. But she had simply smiled and hugged him, saying, "I already have you—that’s the greatest treasure. The rest, I don’t care for..."

Madam Yu watched him, a faint smile flickering in her eyes as she leisurely sipped her tea.

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When Yu Jingxiu returned to his quarters, his wife Fan Shi was in the small Buddhist shrine she had set up in a side room, offering prayers.

Hearing the noise, she came out with a smile. "You’re back so early today? Have you already paid your respects to Mother?"

A breeze stirred, carrying the rich, heady scent of sandalwood.

For a moment, Yu Jingxiu seemed dazed. He asked her, "Since when have you become so devout in your prayers?"Fan Shi shot him a sideways glance and said coquettishly, "This Guanyin Bodhisattva was brought back by my husband and me together from Tanzhe Temple. How could you forget so quickly? It seems none of my affairs weigh on your heart!"

Only then did Yu Jingxiu remember.

This was the statue his wife had invited from Tanzhe Temple after having it blessed by eminent monks for fertility...

He quickly made a gesture of apology and smiled, "Please forgive me, my lady!"

Fan Shi covered her mouth with a laugh, her expression full of delight, clearly not taking such trivial matters to heart.

Mo Zhuan, standing nearby, couldn't help but interject, "The young mistress says there's no better husband in the world than our young master. She burns three incense sticks daily, praying for your long life, prosperous career, and many descendants..."

Fan Shi glared at Mo Zhuan, "Must you always be so talkative!"

Mo Zhuan pouted, "I'm not lying! The young mistress says exactly this before the Bodhisattva every day!" She looked quite aggrieved.

Yu Jingxiu laughed and mediated between mistress and maid, "Alright, alright, go freshen up now. We'll be dining with Mother later."

Fan Shi's expression stiffened, "Does Mother have any instructions?"

"What instructions could there be?" Yu Jingxiu smiled as he put his arm around Fan Shi's shoulders, guiding her toward the main house. "It's just been a while since we dined together—she wants some liveliness..."

Fan Shi muttered under her breath, "We just had lunch together two days ago..."

Her mother-in-law's frosty gaze would sweep over her whenever she picked up food or held her bowl. Were it not for her confidence in her impeccable upbringing and manners, she might have dropped her dishes long ago.

The thought made her uneasy.

Yu Jingxiu looked surprised and hesitated, "You don't want to go?" Spending every day with someone who disliked you would make anyone feel like time dragged, but recalling his mother's earlier words, he persuaded, "Mother came to the capital for our sake. She's unfamiliar here, with no one to talk to. Please bear with her a little longer? Once we have a child and her heart is at ease, things will be different!"

Yes, the key was heirs.

Once she could provide descendants for the Yu Family, what fault could her mother-in-law possibly find?

With this thought, her spirits lifted. Worried her husband might misunderstand, she quickly added, "I'm just a little sad that no matter what I do, Mother remains indifferent to me." Remembering her own mother's advice before her marriage—"The harder times are, the more cheerful you must appear—who wants to see a sour face every day?"—she curved her lips into a sweet smile and chimed like silver bells, "Nothing in this world is perfect. I already have parents who treasure me, a kind father-in-law, and the most considerate husband... A little imperfection is only natural, or even the Bodhisattva would envy my fortune!"

Yu Jingxiu was stunned.

His mother and wife had unwittingly echoed the same sentiment!

He murmured blankly, "You... you think so too?"

Unlike usual, when he would gaze at her apologetically upon hearing her self-pitying words and then comfort her tenderly...

Fan Shi was taken aback.

Yu Jingxiu had already absently entered the inner chamber.

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Zhao Ling returned home in the late afternoon during the You hour.Upon hearing Fu Tingyun's recount of Xiao Yiniang's words, he gave a bitter smile: "It seems I underestimated the Marquis. When it comes to decisive action, if the Marquis claims second place, no one would dare claim first." For the first time, his tone carried a note of admiration.

Fu Tingyun naturally comforted him: "Ninth Master is grateful for the Marquis's recommendation. There will be opportunities to repay this kindness in the future."

"That's all we can do now," Zhao Ling sighed deeply as he sat down in the Grand Tutor chair. Fu Tingyun personally brewed tea for him. He took the cup and sipped before asking about Madam Fu's mourning ceremony: "...Today, the Emperor held a council with several grand secretaries at the Western Park and decided on the eighth day of the fifth month to welcome the Longping Marquis back to the capital. I've been assigned to the Ministry of Rites for this matter, under the supervision of Official Wu, the Vice Minister of Rites who lives next door to us. Official Wu specifically sent a clerk to summon me to the Ministry tomorrow morning for discussions. I’ll likely be busy with this in the coming days. As for your mother’s affairs, please take charge. Whether it’s a visit to Four Happiness Alley or arranging a ritual ceremony at a renowned temple, just let me know once you’ve decided."

"Let’s hold a ritual ceremony for Mother at Tanzhe Temple," Fu Tingyun replied without hesitation. "Her wish was for me not to set foot in the Fu household again."

Although Zhao Ling strongly disliked the Fu family, he would have endured the discomfort to accompany Fu Tingyun if she had chosen to return to Four Happiness Alley for her mother’s sake. Now that she had decided on Tanzhe Temple, he asked Jin Yuanbao to assist with the arrangements: "...Youyou is growing up quickly, and her temper is becoming more stubborn. She refuses to be held or guided even when she can’t walk steadily. Your sister-in-law can’t take her eyes off her for a moment, fearing she might fall. If you can help out, it’ll ease her burden."

Jin Yuanbao took on the task and visited Tanzhe Temple during a day off to make the necessary arrangements.

After finally welcoming the Longping Marquis and Mo Yi to the capital, Zhao Ling found himself caught up in another whirlwind when Marquis Yingchuan and He Fu returned to the capital for an audience with the Emperor regarding troop rotations. Marquis Yingchuan, coming from a distinguished military family, had farewells to make, while He Fu, long absent from the capital, needed to settle various matters. Their comings and goings stirred up everyone of influence in the military circles. To make matters worse, Mo Yi was determined to tie Zhao Ling to his own agenda, dragging him along to every gathering, leaving Zhao Ling exhausted from the endless social obligations.

Meanwhile, Yang Yucheng’s mother-in-law, Zhang Taitai, came to the city to attend her niece’s full-month celebration for her newborn son. She brought some fresh fruits for Fu Tingyun and kindly invited them to the countryside to escape the summer heat: "...The breeze from the river makes it wonderfully cool there!"

Fu Tingyun didn’t think much of it and politely exchanged a few pleasantries. She prepared a gift of two taels of silver for Zhang Taitai to pass on to her niece as a congratulatory gift.

Such gestures between relatives brought honor to Zhang Taitai.

Beaming with joy, Zhang Taitai insisted that Fu Tingyun join her for the celebration.

After some consideration, Fu Tingyun accompanied Zhang Taitai to her niece’s home.

When Zhao Ling returned and found Fu Tingyun absent, he learned that Zhang Taitai had visited and even invited them to the countryside to escape the heat. The idea struck him. Since his official duties hadn’t been finalized yet, he thought that after Madam Fu’s mourning ceremony, he could notify the Five Armies Commandery, leave Zheng San and his wife to mind the house, and take Fu Tingyun, Youyou, A Sen, and the others to Zhangjiawan for a break.

Yang Yucheng had no family of his own, so the Zhangs treated Zhao Ling as one of their own.The close interaction between the in-laws demonstrated the Zhang family's generosity and hospitality.

Zhang Daren was naturally overjoyed and specially arranged for the Zhao couple to stay in the most scenic courtyard of their family estates. As the Zhangs were a prominent clan, all the aunts and uncles from the extended family came to accompany them upon hearing that Zhang Daren's in-laws had come for summer retreat. Even Yang Yucheng took leave to join them. After several days of feasting, Zhang Daren personally accompanied Zhao Ling—sometimes fishing, sometimes inspecting the fields, or hiking in the mountains. The only one who suffered was Yang Yucheng, who had to attend to them with the deference of a junior.

Meanwhile, Zhang Taitai and Zhang Xiaojie visited Fu Tingyun and Youyou daily. They would either gather in the hallway for casual chats, play with Youyou in the rear garden, or seek Fu Tingyun's advice on needlework. Even when the couple's nightly "Overturning Red Waves" required summoning maids for refreshments late at night, the Zhang servants merely attributed it to the sweltering weather. This put Fu Tingyun, who had initially been somewhat uneasy, at ease, allowing her to indulge Zhao Ling's unrestrained antics.

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O(∩_∩)O~...Seeking pink votes... Regarding the "Marquis" mentioned by sisters in the previous chapter—that was truly a case of daydreams becoming night dreams...

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(End of Chapter)