Chapter 222: Relief
"Seventh Sister?" Fifth Sister was astonished. "She's heard the news too?"
Fu Tingyun couldn't help but smile.
Fifth Sister had married into Huazhou, not far from Huayin, while Seventh Sister had married into Wuhe Township in Huayin. Only Third Sister had married the farthest—the Shen family was located in Hancheng County, Tongzhou, north of Huayin. Even if the Fu family took a wrong turn, they wouldn’t pass by there.
If Fifth Sister in Huazhou had already heard the news, how could Seventh Sister in Huayin not know?
She stood up to greet Seventh Sister.
Fifth Sister also rose. "I'll go with you."
The two sisters walked side by side to the Chuihua Gate.
A fair-skinned, plump young woman adorned with pearls approached them.
The moment she saw Fu Tingyun, she swept in like a gust of wind, grabbed Fu Tingyun’s hand, and stood her in the center of the courtyard. Under the bright afternoon sun, she scrutinized Fu Tingyun carefully from head to toe.
Those delicate, distant-mountain-like brows, those lively eyes, that jade-like complexion—who else could it be but their beloved Ninth Sister?
"You're really alive?" Before she could finish her sentence, tears were already streaming down her face. "If that's the case, why didn’t you send someone to inform me? If not for Mother sending her personal Housekeeper to deliver winter clothes to our family, wouldn’t we sisters have missed each other? All this time, I’ve been worried sick about you, and here you are, living well without a care in the world!" By the end, her tone had turned indignant. "You’d better explain everything to me right now!" Then she noticed Fifth Sister following behind and scolded, "Fifth Sister, really! Why didn’t you invite me along when you came to see Ninth Sister? Did you think I’d go around blabbing about it?"
"You’re already a mother of three, yet your temper is as impatient as ever," Fifth Sister said helplessly. "I only heard rumors from the servants—how could I rashly drag you along? What if it turned out to be the wrong person? How would we handle that?"
Meanwhile, Fu Tingyun stared at the lavishly dressed, voluptuous woman before her, dumbfounded. It took her a moment to regain her composure. "Seventh Sister, you... how did you end up like this?"
In her memory, Seventh Sister had been as slender and graceful as a willow swaying in the breeze.
Seventh Sister looked annoyed at the question. "Don’t even ask. My mother-in-law insisted I eat more. With each child I had, I gained weight, and by the time I gave birth to our third, I ended up like this..." As she spoke, her gaze lingered on Fu Tingyun with a hint of envy. "How did you manage it? You’re even more beautiful than when you were a maiden!" Suddenly, she looked frustrated and grabbed Fu Tingyun’s hand. "Don’t try to dodge the question like you used to, changing the subject whenever you didn’t want to tell me something. I won’t fall for that trick again. Tell me, what exactly happened?"
It was you who kept jumping from one topic to another, yet now you’re blaming me for being evasive.
Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but smile wryly.
Yet warmth surged in her heart.
She thought back to her days in the Fu household—what had once felt stifling now seemed carefree in hindsight...
Her expression softened.
"What does Seventh Sister want to know?" Fu Tingyun asked as she led Fifth Sister and Seventh Sister into the inner chamber.
"Why didn’t you come to me?" Seventh Sister cut straight to the heart of the matter.
Fu Tingyun recounted the events once more.Fifth Sister appeared steady but was somewhat impulsive in handling matters, while Seventh Sister seemed impulsive yet was remarkably composed when faced with situations.
As she listened, her expression grew increasingly grave. After Fu Tingyun finished speaking, she didn’t press for details but instead pondered for a long moment before murmuring, “Does Third Sister know about this?”
“She probably doesn’t yet,” Fifth Sister interjected before Fu Tingyun could respond. “Hancheng is quite remote.”
Seventh Sister then turned to Fu Tingyun and said, “The Shen family is wealthy. Third Sister brought a substantial dowry when she married into the family, gave birth to two sons in succession, and later her husband, Brother Shen, earned the title of Presented Scholar. The entire Shen family holds her in high regard, and even Grandmother smiles whenever Third Sister is mentioned, let alone Eldest Sister and the others. Since you’ve returned this time, you should pay her a visit.”
Her implication was clear: among all the sisters, Third Sister was now the most well-off. If Third Sister intervened, the Fu family would undoubtedly take the matter seriously.
Fu Tingyun was momentarily taken aback. “Seventh Sister, don’t you have anything else to ask me?”
Seventh Sister smiled faintly. “We grew up together. Don’t we already know what kind of person you are? What more is there to ask?”
“Seventh Sister!” Fu Tingyun’s eyes welled up with tears.
“Alright, alright,” Seventh Sister said with a chuckle. “Now isn’t the time for tears. Your priority should be figuring out how to ask Third Sister for help… With her as a mediator, even if you can’t be reinstated in the family register, you can at least maintain ties with the Fu family as relatives…”
No wonder Seventh Sister didn’t press for details.
In her view, what was done was done. The urgent matter now was how to regain the Fu family’s protection.
“I think we should inform all our sisters,” Fifth Sister suggested. “Tenth Sister married into the Jian family, which is also well-connected—their clan uncle currently serves as a Senior Official in the capital. It’s said even the Provincial Administration Commissioner gives their family face.”
“This isn’t about strength in numbers,” Seventh Sister disagreed firmly. “Tenth Sister is from the third branch. Third Aunt has always been shrewd and calculating—like mother, like daughter. She might not want to get involved.”
Seventh Sister was the eldest daughter of the Fu family’s Sixth Madam.
Fifth Sister’s face flushed with anger. “So you’re saying that since I’m from the fourth branch, and my mother has never gotten along with Fifth Aunt, I shouldn’t be involved either?”
Seventh Sister frowned. “That’s not what I meant…”
“Sisters, please hear me out,” Fu Tingyun interjected, seeing them argue over her situation. “I never planned to return to Huayin.”
Both Fifth Sister and Seventh Sister stared at her in surprise.
Fu Tingyun nodded solemnly. “I don’t wish to dwell on the rights and wrongs of the elders. By not pursuing the Fu family’s past mistakes and avoiding stirring up trouble that would shame them, I’ve already repaid their kindness in raising me. I don’t want any further ties with the Fu family.” She sighed. “If Fifth Sister hadn’t sought me out, I wouldn’t have planned to meet any of you… But now that everyone knows I’m back, I’ll naturally host a gathering for my sisters—but only to cherish our past bonds. This has nothing to do with the Fu family!”
Fifth Sister nodded thoughtfully.Seventh Sister urgently interjected, "Ninth Sister, do you realize what you're saying?"
"I know," Fu Tingyun replied with a smile. "Everyone in the capital knows my parents have passed, that I have no elders, and that The Empress Dowager arranged my marriage to Zhao Ling!"
Seventh Sister was rendered speechless.
"Very well," Fifth Sister said quietly. "Even the world follows cycles of unity and division, let alone us ordinary folk. Since Ninth Sister prefers not to dwell on the past, let's treat this as meeting a new sister. My stance remains—we'll inform all our sisters. Those willing to come may come; we won't force those with reservations."
Seventh Sister remained silent.
The atmosphere in the room grew heavy.
Fifth Sister lightened the mood with a smile. "Quan Hui, since you're hosting, you can't slack off! I've helped with the guest list—now it's your turn to set a date."
Understanding Fifth Sister was changing the subject, Fu Tingyun instructed Yu Wei with a smile, "Fetch the almanac." After much deliberation with Fifth Sister, they settled on the second day of the tenth month.
Fifth Sister remarked, "...Even if Third Sister receives the message late, she'll have time to come." Then, turning to the silent Seventh Sister, she asked, "What do you think, sister?"
Instead of answering, Seventh Sister addressed Fu Tingyun, "You've made up your mind, haven't you?"
A woman without family backing has no one to stand up for her when wronged.
Fu Tingyun nodded, smiling. "I've discussed this with my husband."
Seventh Sister had nothing more to say.
Fu Tingyun beamed at her—a smile as radiant as summer sunshine, warm and fearless.
Suddenly, Seventh Sister felt a weight lift. They had all grown up, each walking their own path. Just as she never imagined she'd one day be as plump as Sixth Sister. As long as they were all safe and sound, that was blessing enough.
With newfound confidence and a hint of playful boldness, she declared, "If Third Sister dares not come, I'll drag her here from Hancheng myself!"
Fu Tingyun was taken aback. From Fifth Sister's tone, Third Sister, having married well, even their grandmother yielded to her. Yet Seventh Sister spoke as an equal... Had Seventh Sister also married advantageously?
She recalled Seventh Sister had married her maternal aunt's cousin's son, surnamed Bai. At the time of the betrothal, Bai's uncle was already a provincial graduate, and Bai, studying under him, had passed the county and prefectural exams.
Fifth Sister, sensing her confusion, explained, "Brother Bai passed the provincial exam the year before last. His uncle ranked second in the second tier during the Jiayin year. As no scholarly candidates were selected that year, Uncle Bai was assigned to Yichun County as assistant magistrate and was promoted to magistrate this spring."
So Seventh Sister's uncle-in-law had passed the imperial exams in the same year as Yu Jingxiu! How small the world was.
As Fu Tingyun marveled at this coincidence, Seventh Sister mistook her reaction for lamenting life's unpredictability and said with a smile, "Come spring, your brother-in-law plans to study at the Imperial College. We may need to trouble you, Ninth Sister, for some assistance then."
This surprised Fu Tingyun. The fifth elder of the Fu family was in the capital. Moreover, she remembered Seventh Sister's maternal uncle, Shu Ming, had been quite scholarly.
She couldn't help but ask, "How is Uncle Shu?"Seventh Sister smiled bitterly, "Uncle is currently serving as the county magistrate in Meng County!"
Back when she was at home, Shu Ming hadn’t yet passed the Presented Scholar exams.
Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but ask, "Is Uncle Shu also from the Jiaxu cohort?"
"He was in the same cohort as Third Older Cousin's Husband."
This was probably one of the reasons Seventh Sister dared to "pull" Third Sister into it!
Fu Tingyun pursed her lips in amusement.
Seventh Sister tactfully explained why they wouldn’t stay at Master Fu the Fifth’s residence: "Fifth Uncle’s household has many rules, and I’m afraid my husband might upset him."
Fu Tingyun thought of her brother, who had repeatedly failed the exams, and understood somewhat. She smiled and said, "I wouldn’t dare call it looking after you. I’ve been settled in the capital for several years now and know most places. If your husband doesn’t mind, the guest room in the southern wing of my house is still empty. Why not stay with me? Wherever you need to go, just let the servants attend to you—no need to ask for directions."
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O(∩_∩)O~
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(End of Chapter)
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