Chapter 191: The Eldest Son
Fu Tingyun sat on the large kang by the window in the inner chamber. Through the half-open window lattice, she could see A Sen standing under the wisteria trellis in the main courtyard, chatting with the Wang sisters.
Sunlight illuminated his face, highlighting his handsome features and spirited demeanor.
Whatever he was saying made Eldest Miss Wang cover her mouth in laughter, while the second young lady leaned against her sister's shoulder, overcome with mirth.
Wang Furen, sitting beside Fu Tingyun on the kang, also smiled as she watched.
She turned to Fu Tingyun and said, "A Sen has been clever and quick-witted since childhood. Now that he’s studied, he’s gained even more steadiness. The more I look at him, the more I like him." Her tone carried both admiration and wistfulness.
"You flatter him," Fu Tingyun replied modestly. A thought suddenly crossed her mind—the Wang family’s second daughter was already ten years old. Almost impulsively, she added, "Now that you and Lord Wang are reunited, have you considered giving Jing Tong and Jingyi a younger brother or sister? The midwife Granny Lu told me that the incense at Daci Nunnery outside Xuanwu Gate is very efficacious. I plan to go and pay my respects in a couple of days. Would you like to join me and offer incense to the Bodhisattva?"
Wang Furen gave a bitter smile. "My body was damaged when I gave birth to Jingyi. After all these years without any signs, I’ve long given up hope."
Such a fine couple, yet without descendants to carry on their lineage after their passing.
Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but feel sorry for them and tried to console her. "Then perhaps you could keep one of the young ladies at home? It would be the same."
"That’s what my husband and I have discussed," Wang Furen said with a smile. "But we’re not sure whether to keep Jing Tong or Jingyi."
Whichever they chose, preparations would have to begin now.
Outside the window, cheerful laughter rang out.
Fu Tingyun couldn’t resist glancing outside again.
She saw the two Wang sisters gazing intently at A Sen as he spoke animatedly.
A faint stirring arose in Fu Tingyun’s heart—but then she remembered A Sen’s humble origins. Would Wang Furen even consider him worthy? The thought left her feeling somewhat dejected.
She pushed the plate of snacks on the kang table toward Wang Furen and said with a smile, "These are pea-flour cakes made by Zheng Sanniang. She claims they’re even better than those from Jinlan Zhai. Please try them!"
Wang Furen smiled and agreed, but her gaze lingered on the radiant A Sen for a moment before she turned back.
Fu Tingyun’s recently settled heart wavered once more.
When Zhao Ling returned that evening, he found her sitting by the kang table near the window, elbow propped up, lost in thought.
He walked over and kissed her cheek. "What’s on your mind?"
"Oh, you’re back!" Fu Tingyun quickly stood up. "Why didn’t you let me know? I didn’t even notice." Her tone carried a hint of playful reproach.
Zhao Ling tapped her nose and began removing his outer robe. "I called out when I came in, but you didn’t react. And now you say I didn’t let you know?"
Seeing this, Fu Tingyun moved to help him.
Zhao Ling stopped her. "Don’t worry about me—just take care of yourself first." Then he asked about Youyou. "Already asleep?"
"Yes," Fu Tingyun replied, sitting back down on the kang.
After changing his clothes and washing his face, Zhao Ling sat beside her and asked again, "What’s the matter? You were lost in thought earlier." His voice was gentle, filled with concern.Fu Tingyun pursed her lips and smiled. After a moment's thought, she still told Zhao Ling, "A Sen has been close friends with the two young ladies of the Wang family since childhood. Wang Furen wants to take him in as a live-in son-in-law..."
"Absolutely not!" Zhao Ling replied without hesitation. "Although A Sen comes from a humble background and has no parents or relatives to rely on, since you've had him recognize me as his elder brother, he is now my own brother. How can we let him marry into another family? If that's the case, it would have been better not to have him acknowledge me as his brother at all!" As he spoke, he realized his tone was too harsh and softened his voice, continuing, "I know you mean well for him. Although our family is small now, with proper management, we can certainly establish our own household." Then he took Fu Tingyun's hand and said, "Don't worry, we won't always be in this situation."
"My, my," Fu Tingyun teased, "being promoted to Deputy Military Commissioner has really changed you. I barely got a word in, and you went off on a whole speech. If I'd said any more, you'd probably have poured out a whole basketful of words."
Zhao Ling looked sheepish and said, "I was just worried you might have gotten carried away with matchmaking and made some private promises to Wang Furen. I was anxious, that's all."
"Even if I were obsessed with matchmaking, I'd still know my limits!" Fu Tingyun pressed her advantage. "How could I make any promises to Wang Furen without discussing it with you first?"
"My mistake, my mistake," Zhao Ling laughed apologetically. "How about I make it up to you tonight by serving you?"
Fu Tingyun scoffed at him, her face turning redder than the lanterns under the eaves. "Keep talking nonsense, and you'll be sleeping in the study tonight."
Zhao Ling glared at her playfully, putting on a fierce expression. "Three days without discipline, and you're already tearing the roof tiles off. How dare you banish me to the study!" With that, he picked her up and gave her three light pats on the bottom. "Still dare to?"
Fu Tingyun burst into laughter.
Seizing the opportunity, Zhao Ling planted a loud kiss on her cheek.
Fu Tingyun nestled into his embrace.
Holding her close, Zhao Ling rested his chin on her head and murmured, "Not angry anymore?"
"When was I ever angry with you?" Fu Tingyun replied lazily.
Zhao Ling simply smiled.
Blushing, Fu Tingyun twirled the silk sash at his waist with her jade-like fingers and said, "What I meant was, both of the Wang family's daughters are lovely. I wonder which one Wang Furen will keep at home. We could arrange for A Sen to marry the other one. What do you think?"
Zhao Ling was silent for a moment before replying, "Let's wait and see. A Sen's family background is still too weak. It would be better to first acquire some property for him. If he could pass the imperial exams and become a scholar, that would be even better."
"That works too," Fu Tingyun agreed. "After all, the Wang family hasn't decided yet which daughter to keep." Then she added with some concern, "But what if Wang Furen keeps the one A Sen likes? Should we sound him out first? That way, we can prepare accordingly."
"You're worrying about something that hasn't even begun to take shape," Zhao Ling chuckled, patting her shoulder. "Let's go to bed. Didn't you say you have to go to Daci Nunnery early tomorrow morning?"
But Fu Tingyun remembered something else. "When will you be free in the next few days? The Shi family said they'd like to invite you to a meal. But I was thinking, since it's the bride's family who should take the initiative in marriage matters, perhaps we should invite the Shi family instead. What do you think?""Alright then!" Zhao Ling said. "Let's set it for the day after tomorrow. I'll be free then." He added with concern, "Have Penglai Pavilion deliver the banquet dishes. You're not to go near the kitchen."
"Zheng Sanniang and the others will be cooking. I was just planning to supervise..." Fu Tingyun murmured.
"Not even supervising," Zhao Ling said sternly. "Don't take advantage of your smooth pregnancy to act recklessly." He continued, "When is Granny Lu moving in?"
"Early May," Fu Tingyun replied. "There's no need to be so nervous. This isn't my first pregnancy. Even Granny Lu says my condition is excellent and there won't be any problems."
"Childbirth is like walking through the gates of hell..."
Seeing his genuine worry, Fu Tingyun quickly assured him: "I'll have Zheng San order the banquet from Penglai Pavilion!"
Only then did Zhao Ling relent and help Fu Tingyun to rest.
Two days later, they dined with the Shi family. Since Zhao Ling wouldn't return until March next year, Jin Yuanbao—learning from Yang Yucheng's experience—scheduled the event for March the following year.
Zhao Ling stayed home a few more days, personally delivering an Eight-color Gift Box to Granny Lu and arranging for her to move in before returning to Xuantong.
As the weather grew hotter, Fu Tingyun's pregnancy advanced. After sending out Dragon Boat Festival gifts, she focused entirely on staying home for her delivery.
Labor pains began on the morning of May 10th, and by noon she had given birth to a healthy eight-pound baby boy, with both mother and child doing well.
The joy wasn't limited to Madam Zhang, Chen Shi, and Wang Furen who waited in the inner chambers—even Madam Yang and Zhang Shi waiting in the outer rooms were delighted. Madam Yang, herself heavily pregnant, went to inform Yang Yucheng, Jin Yuanbao and others waiting in the south hall.
Yang Yucheng and Jin Yuanbao were overjoyed—one wrote to Zhao Ling while the other spread the happy news to various households.
That afternoon, Zheng San brought Youyou home from the Wang residence, where she'd been playing with the Wang sisters under Tong Shi's care.
Peering curiously at her newborn brother by the bedside, Youyou asked Fu Tingyun: "Why is he so big? Which tree did he grow on?"
Fu Tingyun flushed with embarrassment.
This was all Zhao Ling's doing.
When Youyou had previously asked why her mother's belly was so big, Fu Tingyun had said it was from eating too much. But Zhao Ling claimed she was carrying a little sister or brother. When Youyou pressed further—asking why Zheng Sanniang said babies jumped out from fruit on trees—Zhao Ling corrected that Zheng Sanniang was wrong and babies were born. Youyou then asked how they were born... Forced to intervene, Fu Tingyun told her father was teasing and Zheng Sanniang was right—babies did jump out from tree fruits—finally getting Youyou to sleep.
Who knew the child would remember.
"He came from the biggest jujube tree in our backyard," Fu Tingyun explained. "The fruit grew while you were away."
Youyou nodded solemnly and sighed, "That must have been a huge fruit! Why wasn't I home to see it?"
Her serious, adult-like manner made everyone burst into laughter, which only confused her as she tilted her head and asked earnestly, "Why are you laughing? Did I say something wrong?"
The room erupted in even greater mirth, with people doubled over in laughter, tears streaming down their faces.
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After the baby's Three-day Bath Ceremony, Madam Yu received the news.
"An eight-pound baby boy!" she said somewhat dispiritedly. "A son and a daughter—what fortunate blessings."
Not daring to comment, Housekeeper Shu changed the subject: "Which Opera Troupe would you like to invite for your birthday celebration?"Housekeeper Yu, however, answered off-topic, "I recall you mentioned last time that Official Wu has a distant cousin, a failed scholar whose wife passed away, leaving behind two daughters. That cousin makes a living as a tutor in someone else's household and can't take care of them, so he wants to give them away as child brides. Go ask if he'd be willing to have one as a second wife. If he agrees, everything else can be discussed."
Mama Shu's heart skipped a beat.
Madam Wu was finally losing her patience.
She responded solemnly with a "Yes," changed her clothes, and went to see Madam Wu.
Upon hearing this, Madam Wu was overjoyed. She personally made a trip to Zhoushan, only to find that her cousin had gone to Songjiang to work as a tutor. She then rushed to Songjiang, but her cousin refused to let his daughter become a concubine. She stayed there, laying out the pros and cons for him. Unable to withstand her silver tongue, he eventually allowed his eldest daughter to accompany her back to the capital.
By then, it was late autumn, and the wind cut through the bones with its icy chill.
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Tomorrow is the weekend, and I have some matters to attend to. There will only be one update on both Saturday and Sunday...
O(∩_∩)O~
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(End of Chapter)
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