Chapter 209: The Welcome
For now, this was all they could do!
Fu Tingyun saw Chen Shi off with some disappointment.
A Sen also seemed downcast upon hearing the news.
The atmosphere at home grew somber for a while. Kou'er, Zhenzhu, and the others moved about quietly, while Youyou kept glancing at her mother with wide, almond-shaped eyes, observing her expression.
Seeing this, A Sen took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Sister-in-law, didn't you say that man proposes, but Heaven disposes? We've done what we could, and I have no regrets. Please don't be upset." Then he beckoned to Youyou. "Come, let your second uncle teach you how to use a slingshot!"
"Really?" Youyou's expression brightened instantly, her face lighting up with joy. But then, as if remembering something, she restrained her excitement and looked hesitantly at Fu Tingyun, as though afraid of being scolded.
Fu Tingyun's heart ached. She forced a smile and said, "Go ahead! Just be careful not to hit anyone!"
"I'll listen to Second Uncle!" Youyou beamed, her little face blooming like a flower as she stretched out her arms toward A Sen.
A Sen chuckled and picked her up.
The two of them chatted and laughed as they headed to the backyard.
Soon, cheerful laughter and chatter drifted from the rear courtyard.
"Keep your hand steady, aim at the jujube on the tree, then tilt it down a little before releasing..."
"I hit it! I hit it!"
"Wow, the young miss is amazing!"
"Miss, try hitting that red one!"
From time to time, the sound of pebbles striking wood—"thud, thud"—echoed from the back window.
Fu Tingyun couldn't help but laugh, her mood lifting considerably. She made her way to the kitchen.
There, Zheng Sanniang was scolding Zhou Shi. "Who sold you this mutton? Look at the color—it's dark red! This is goat meat, don’t you know? When Ninth Master returns, are you really going to serve him this?"
Zhou Shi looked timidly at Zheng Sanniang. "It was that Chen San, the one who always sells us mutton..."
Zheng Sanniang grabbed the meat and declared fiercely, "I'm going to have a word with him!"
Hearing this, Fu Tingyun stepped aside.
Zheng Sanniang and Zhou Shi exited through the moon gate, one after the other.
Fu Tingyun shook her head with a smile.
Turning around, she saw Yu Wei leading Kou'er and Zhenzhu in dusting the house.
She couldn't help but tease, "This is almost as thorough as New Year's cleaning!"
Yu Wei shrugged. "Ninth Master's return is more important than New Year's."
Just then, Yan Qing hurried in. "Madam, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Chen family is here."
Could there be news from the Wang family?
A flicker of hope rose in Fu Tingyun's heart as she went to the moon gate.
Chen Shi approached with a triumphant gleam in her eyes.
Fu Tingyun's heart skipped a beat. She quickly took Chen Shi's hands. "Did they agree?"
"Quan Hui, really!" Chen Shi pretended to chide. "You cut straight to the point—can't you let me savor the moment?"
Fu Tingyun arched her brows, smiling. "So it's true?" Delighted, she led her into the main room. "I thought any changes would take time—I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly! Tell me, what exactly happened?"Chen Shi didn't stand on ceremony with her. After sitting down and taking a sip of tea, she said, "When seeking a live-in son-in-law, the hope is always to find someone who can support the household. But how many capable men would be willing to become live-in sons-in-law? Lord Wang understands this well. Choosing his nephew for the arrangement was merely because the nephew is honest and dutiful, while his daughter surpasses him in both character and appearance. Once married, with some effort to win him over, even if he couldn't take full charge, at least he wouldn't bring disgrace to the Wang family through misconduct. It was entirely a last resort."
"So when he heard your family had such intentions, Lord Wang became even more anxious than you. He said although he had planned for his nephew to marry in, some matters hadn't been settled yet. Early this morning, he sent Wang Furen to seek confirmation... I had to come over in haste."
Fu Tingyun couldn't help but sigh in relief. "Thank goodness I swallowed my pride and asked. Otherwise, this opportunity would have truly slipped away." After a pause, she continued thoughtfully, "However, regarding A Sen marrying into their family, I have two conditions. Could you convey them to Wang Furen and see if they're acceptable?"
Chen Shi's expression turned serious. "Go ahead. I'll relay your message."
Fu Tingyun pondered before speaking. "First, no surname change. A Sen has practically grown up before Wang Furen's eyes—she knows his character well. One could say he and Eldest Miss Wang are childhood sweethearts. If he didn't admire her, I wouldn't have asked despite knowing Lord Wang's plans for his nephew. Second, if they have three sons after marriage, the youngest must take A Sen's surname, Zhao, to continue his lineage."
Chen Shi suddenly understood and laughed. "I was wondering why you suddenly agreed to A Sen marrying in. So you've already considered all this." She added, "Both your conditions are reasonable and negotiable." Standing up, she said, "I'll go inform Wang Furen then, so she can stop worrying about it."
Fu Tingyun saw Chen Shi to the door. "I'll trouble you with this matter, sister. Please do your best to mediate—we genuinely wish for this marriage."
"I know what to say," Chen Shi replied with a smile. "At the very least, I must earn those matchmaker shoes from you!"
As they chatted and laughed, they noticed A Sen approaching with Youyou in his arms.
Fu Tingyun quickly signaled Chen Shi with her eyes and whispered, "Let's not mention it yet."
Understanding, Chen Shi nodded, greeted A Sen cheerfully, teased Youyou for a moment, and then left.
Youyou proudly showed off to her mother, "Mama, I picked lots of dates!"
Fu Tingyun took Youyou and asked with a smile, "Lots? How many is that?"
Youyou tried counting on her tiny fingers but couldn't get it right.
Fu Tingyun carried her back to the main room and found an abacus to teach her counting.
A Sen stayed by their side until Youyou complained of thirst and went with Tong Shi to drink water. Seizing the opportunity, he asked Fu Tingyun, "What did the Chen family's eldest daughter-in-law come for?"
Fu Tingyun secretly found this amusing. "She asked if I'm going to West Garden to watch the dragon boat races during the Dragon Boat Festival."
"And... will you go?" A Sen's eyes widened with anticipation.
"Ninth Master is returning," Fu Tingyun said. "I don't want to go."
A Sen looked disappointed at this. After listlessly playing with Youyou for a while, he made an excuse and returned to his room.Fu Tingyun secretly felt relieved that she hadn’t told him about Chen Shi’s intentions. If the Wang family called off the marriage because of the two conditions she had proposed, A Sen would likely be even more heartbroken. Yet, the thought of A Sen marrying into the Wang family as a live-in son-in-law was something Fu Tingyun couldn’t bear.
Amidst her wavering emotions, the Wang family soon responded.
They agreed to both conditions and wished to formally settle the matter once Zhao Ling returned.
Only then did Fu Tingyun share the news with A Sen.
A Sen couldn’t help but beam with joy.
Fu Tingyun, however, felt a wistful melancholy akin to “watching one’s daughter grow up.” But seeing A Sen practically skipping with happiness, her small sigh quickly dissipated.
On the eighteenth, before dawn had even broken, A Sen was already ready, with the carriage prepared.
“Sister-in-law, I’ll drive today,” he urged Fu Tingyun energetically to set off. “...We’ll take the Xizhimen route—the water carts pass there, so the city gates open by the Chou hour.” He then cheerfully asked Youyou, who was yawning, “Do you still remember Ninth Master?”
Youyou, nestled in Tong Shi’s arms, nodded sleepily and answered irrelevantly, “I’m going to fetch Daddy.”
Xi Ge’er, on the other hand, couldn’t be roused no matter how they tried.
Fu Tingyun sighed.
Seeing both children neatly dressed, she boarded the carriage with Yu Wei’s assistance.
They arrived at Ten Mile Inn just as the sky began to lighten, the breeze cool against their skin.
Fu Tingyun chatted idly with Yu Wei, watching the horizon gradually blush with dawn, then the sun rise, casting a glaring heat upon the ground.
“Why haven’t they arrived yet?” she fretted anxiously, each moment stretching like a year. Unable to bear it, she lifted the carriage curtain to peer outside.
In the distance, a procession of official sedan chairs approached, stopping at a pavilion not far from them.
Officials in blue or green court robes stepped out, resting in the pavilion.
A Sen exclaimed excitedly, “Those are from the Ministry of Rites and the Bureau of Translators… Ninth Master and the others should be arriving soon.”
Fu Tingyun perked up.
Meanwhile, Youyou lay listlessly against her mother’s knee like wilted greens, while Xi Ge’er, restless from confinement, squirmed in Yu Wei’s arms with little murmurs.
Yu Wei, heart aching for Xi Ge’er, hesitated. “Shall I take the young master for a short walk outside?”
Their carriage was parked under the shade of roadside trees, where the wind occasionally rustled the leaves.
“Don’t go too far,” Fu Tingyun cautioned. “The sun is too harsh.”
Yu Wei nodded with a smile and carried Xi Ge’er to play with grass under the tree.
A Sen joined them for fun.
From the west came the sound of galloping hooves.
A group of riders approached.
Fu Tingyun craned her neck to look.
Amidst the dust, silver-white armor gleamed blindingly under the scorching sun.
Her heart pounded like thunder.
Unable to contain herself, she leaped from the carriage.
The mounted party halted before the pavilion.
At the forefront was a tall, imposing man. As he dismounted, those behind him followed suit. The officials resting in the pavilion came forward to greet him.
His agile figure and composed demeanor—how often had they appeared in Fu Tingyun’s dreams? She could pick him out from a crowd with just a glance.
Her gaze burned with intensity.
Zhao Ling, Zhao Ling… Do you know I’m here, waiting by the carriage just a bowshot away? Do you know I’ve come to welcome you home?The breeze gently blew, lifting the red tassel on his helmet, yet he remained with his profile turned, conversing with the group of officials.
Fu Tingyun couldn't help but feel somewhat disheartened.
From behind came Youyou's urgent call: "Mother, Mother..."
Fu Tingyun quickly turned around.
Her daughter had somehow climbed out of the carriage and was now perched on the shaft, looking as if she wanted to jump down but didn't dare.
Fu Tingyun smiled softly, picking up Youyou and pointing at Zhao Ling, who stood out like a crane among chickens in the crowd. She whispered, "That's your father!"
Youyou remained silent, tilting her head to look at Zhao Ling.
Fu Tingyun gave a bitter smile, unsure whether she was comforting herself or Youyou: "Father is occupied with official duties and can't come over..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Zhao Ling suddenly turned his head.
The corners of his lips curled into a faint smile, and his gaze upon her was brighter than the armor he wore.
Fu Tingyun's heart surged with emotion, her cheeks faintly warming.
A spark of light flashed in Zhao Ling's eyes, and the smile on his face deepened.
Fu Tingyun gazed at him, her heart brimming with happiness.
She murmured to her daughter, "Youyou, look, Father is watching us..." Yet her eyes couldn't tear away from him for even a moment, as if the world had narrowed down to just Zhao Ling smiling at her.
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O(∩_∩)O~... The male lead has finally returned!
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(End of Chapter)
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