Chapter 202: The Child
Seeing the situation, Housekeeper Shu dared not say more and quickly rose to personally instruct her trusted maidservant to fetch the page who had accompanied Yu Jingxiu to the yamen today.
After a long while, the little maid returned at a trot with a young servant in dark clothes and a small cap.
"Housekeeper," the maid panted, "the one who went with the young master today was Duan Yan, but he's not here—said he went out on an errand for the young master. So I brought Cheng Xin, who serves by the young master's side..."
If you can't catch the lice, catch the nits.
Since Madam Yu had questions, someone had to answer them, right?
The maid was clever, and under normal circumstances, this would have been fine. But now that Madam Yu was looking for faults with the young master, even nothing could be twisted into something...
Housekeeper Shu couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
Over there, Madam Yu had long grown impatient. "What?" she said coldly. "Are his people beyond my summons now?"
Her personal maid broke out in a cold sweat but forced a smile. "Perhaps something delayed them. I'll go check!" She hurried out of the inner chamber in quick strides, urging Housekeeper Shu repeatedly.
Left with no choice, Housekeeper Shu led Cheng Xin inside.
Cheng Xin kowtowed.
But Madam Yu's anger suddenly dissipated. "Since Duan Yan isn't here, we'll wait until he returns to speak of this."
Cheng Xin exhaled in relief. "I'll go wait at the main gate. The moment Duan Yan returns, I'll bring him to you."
Madam Yu nodded and dismissed him.
Housekeeper Shu knew that the more troubled Madam Yu was, the more composed she appeared. A trace of worry flickered across her brow.
Madam Yu noticed and curled her lip. "Don't fret. I've had a sudden realization. Here I am, frantic with worry, afraid he’ll ruin his reputation and future with a single misstep, while over there, he’s probably grumbling about me—how I can’t let them live in peace, how I stir up trouble for him and his wife when I’ve nothing better to do... Since that’s the case, why should I trouble myself for no gratitude? If I make myself sick with anger, I’ll have to pay for my own medicine. Better to let them have their way—let them do as they please." Her expression turned icy. "Let’s see how they think life ought to be lived for it to suit them perfectly."
"Madam..." Housekeeper Shu murmured, unsure how to comfort her.
"Enough," Madam Yu said with a self-deprecating smile. "Let’s not speak of this." Then she brought up Consort Wu. "...That wretched boy only has Fan Shi in his heart now. He likely won’t heed my words. Send two reliable matrons to the rear chambers to serve—and to keep an eye on Consort Wu. After all, whether the child is a son or daughter is a fifty-fifty chance."
Consort Wu was further along in her pregnancy than the young mistress. If both the young mistress and Consort Wu bore sons, Consort Wu’s child would be the eldest—and thus could not be kept. If the young mistress bore a daughter while Consort Wu bore a son, who could guarantee the young mistress’s next child would be a boy? Until then, Consort Wu’s son, as the Yu Family’s only grandson, would have to be protected at all costs...
This meant that until the child was born, Consort Wu could not be allowed the slightest mishap.
This was Madam Yu’s reasoning—but she feared the young master might not see it the same way...
Housekeeper Shu understood.
These two matrons would likely have to be placed by Consort Wu’s side in secret!
"This servant knows what to do," she said quietly. "I’ll discreetly find two steady women."Madam Yu nodded slightly.
Just as his mother had anticipated, Yu Jingxiu dismissed Cheng Xin, who had come to deliver the message. Sitting by Fan Shi's bedside, he couldn't help but grumble quietly, "It's just leaving the office a bit early, yet she had to summon my servant for questioning. I'm not fifteen or sixteen anymore—I'm a Zhuangyuan graduate, a Hanlin Academy expositor-in-waiting of the sixth rank, serving in the Office of Transmission. If word gets out about her doing this, how am I supposed to maintain my dignity?"
Fan Shi also harbored grievances against her mother-in-law but dared not show the slightest disrespect in front of Yu Jingxiu. She offered only a lukewarm consolation: "Filial piety is the foremost virtue. Besides, they say 'the old are like children'—just humor Mother as if playing along."
"I suppose that's all we can do," Yu Jingxiu sighed helplessly.
Fan Shi then tugged at his sleeve and asked curiously, "What exactly did you send Duan Yan to do?"
Yu Jingxiu smiled. "Didn't you say yesterday you were craving stir-fried eggs with Chinese toon? I heard some flower growers in Fengtai use greenhouses and have sprouted toon trees, so I sent Duan Yan to fetch some..."
"Husband!" Fan Shi was deeply moved, her eyes glistening with tears. But then her expression tightened. "What if Mother finds out? Will she scold you?"
Yu Jingxiu's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly as he chuckled. "There's nothing to scold about. Aren't you pregnant now?" His voice then softened with guilt. "It's all my fault. If only I'd held out a little longer..." His hand rested gently on Fan Shi's still-flat stomach.
"How could this be your fault?" Fan Shi hurriedly replied. "It's me... If only I'd shown signs sooner..." Her voice choked up. "All you've done for me over the years, I remember every bit... It's my failing, my lack of fortune..."
"Don't cry, don't cry!" Yu Jingxiu wiped her tears. "Be careful not to startle the baby." He then whispered reassuringly, "Don't worry. With me here, I won't let you or our child suffer any injustice!"
Fan Shi nodded and nestled into Yu Jingxiu's embrace.
Though she had always appeared composed, the matter of children had weighed heavily on her heart... placing a Guanyin statue by the bed, hiding Taoist charms under her pillow, timing their intimacy... yet nothing worked, only disrupting her cycles instead... With some medical knowledge, she knew her tension was to blame. Though aware she needed to relax, that taut string inside refused to loosen...
When Madam Wu entered the household, she suddenly felt disheartened.
Yu Jingxiu apologized profusely, treading carefully around her moods.
Realizing she'd already lost the chance for a child, she couldn't afford to lose her husband too... So she rallied herself to respond to him—only to unexpectedly conceive...
Was this fate?
Fan Shi bit her lip, her fingers clutching Yu Jingxiu's sleeve turning pale.
She murmured, "When is Mother going to Tanzhe Temple to fulfill her vow? I'd like to go with her..."
Yu Jingxiu paused. "Is your health up to it?"
Fan Shi sat up straight, pouting playfully. "Don't I want Bodhisattva's blessing for our child's safe delivery?""Don't be angry, don't be angry!" Yu Jingxiu quickly said, "I'll speak to Mother later." As he spoke, he was already thinking about how to arrange Fan Shi's temple visit, "I'll assign a few careful maids to accompany you..."
Fan Shi leaned silently against Yu Jingxiu's chest and smiled.
※※※※※
Fu Tingyun was also smiling.
"Where did you get these?" she asked, pointing to the green sprouts in the small bamboo basket. "It's only mid-February!"
Yu Wei replied with a smile, "Shopkeeper Ye sent them. Said it was for Madam, the young lady, and the young master to enjoy the early taste."
Fu Tingyun picked up a leaf and sniffed it. "So fragrant!"
Youyou, sitting nearby, imitated her mother by picking up a leaf and sniffing it too. "So fragrant!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Fu Tingyun hugged Youyou and asked, "Do you know what this is?"
Youyou shook her head. "No!" But her bright, dark eyes glanced toward Tong Shi.
Tong Shi covered her mouth and laughed. "These are leaves from the Chinese toon tree. They can be stir-fried and eaten."
Xi Ge'er, at ten months old, couldn't speak yet but could understand. Hearing this, he immediately grabbed a handful and tried to stuff it into his mouth.
Fu Tingyun was quick and caught her son's little arm. "You little glutton, always thinking about food!" She shook the toon leaves from his hand back into the basket.
Xi Ge'er burst into tears.
Yu Wei quickly picked him up and gently rocked him, defending him, "A good appetite is a blessing. The young master is fortunate."
Fu Tingyun shook her head with a smile. "You spoil him too much!"
"Madam, you exaggerate," Yu Wei replied with a laugh. "The young master is still so young. He'll understand when he's older. It's hardly spoiling."
Perhaps because Yu Wei had been preoccupied with finding Zuo Junjie when Youyou was little, by the time Xi Ge'er was born, her wish had been fulfilled, leaving her feeling somewhat empty. With an innocent child around, her attention naturally turned to Xi Ge'er. Compared to Youyou, Yu Wei paid more attention to Xi Ge'er.
Fu Tingyun didn't argue with her and instead asked about Shopkeeper Ye. "Hasn't he been doing business in the northeast these past few years? It's the season for collecting furs and ginseng. Why is he in the capital? And with time to gather toon leaves for us?"
"The servant said Shopkeeper Ye has been promoted to manager of the capital branch," Yu Wei explained with a smile. "He'll officially take over on the first of March. These days, he's in the capital settling accounts."
"Oh!" Fu Tingyun smiled. "We should prepare a congratulatory gift for him then."
Among Datong Company's important branches, the capital branch ranked first, followed by Hangzhou and Guangdong. Shopkeeper Ye taking over the capital branch meant his status within the company had risen.
"I was just about to discuss this with you, Madam," Yu Wei said. "Though Shopkeeper Ye often sends us gifts, they're usually simple, seasonal items like these toon leaves, following the etiquette between close families. I think we should send a standard congratulatory gift, perhaps with a small jade gourd or pendant. What do you think?"
"Sounds good!" Fu Tingyun agreed. "I remember there's a mutton-fat jade pendant with a 'rising step by step' design in my collection. Let's send that."
Yu Wei smiled and acknowledged, "Yes, Madam."Yan Qing announced from outside, "Madam, there's a man named He Xiulin who says he was entrusted by Ninth Master to deliver a letter to our household."
He Xiulin...
That name sounds so familiar...
Fu Tingyun pondered for a moment before instructing Yan Qing to bring the letter inside. Glancing at the water clock, she added, "The second young master won't finish his studies for another two quarters. Inform Steward Zheng to invite Lord He to the southern hall for tea..." Before she could finish, she suddenly exclaimed, "Ah! I remember now—He Xiulin, the assistant commander of Ganzhou Garrison, eldest son of Commander He Wei of Yulin Garrison. Wasn't he stationed in Ganzhou? How did he end up with Ninth Master? And why would Ninth Master entrust him with delivering a letter?" She then urgently instructed Yan Qing, "Quick, go fetch Zheng San immediately. I need him to ask Lord He some questions."
Yan Qing hurried off to summon Zheng San.
※
Discovered we're ranked second on the monthly votes chart... O(∩_∩)O~... Originally thought with so many top authors this month, we wouldn't stand a chance, yet unexpectedly made it into the top three, reigniting my hopes. Dear readers, sisters and brothers, please support with your pink votes—let's aim for a top three finish!
※
(End of Chapter)
OpenNovel