Chapter 224: Invitations
Early the next morning, Fifth Sister rubbed her temples as she made her way to the hall.
Fu Tingyun and Seventh Sister were already waiting at the table for her to join them for breakfast, discussing the arrangements for hosting guests: "...For Third Sister, my personal housekeeper will personally deliver the invitation. As for Fourth Sister, Sixth Sister, and Eighth Sister, we’ll have to trouble Fifth Sister to send her housekeeper—they live close by and visit often, so their servants are familiar with each other..." Hearing movement, they noticed Fifth Sister entering, and Seventh Sister grinned, "We thought you wouldn’t get up until the sun was high in the sky!"
Fifth Sister sat listlessly on the embroidered stool beside them, first calling for Yi Tong to brew her a strong cup of tea before replying weakly, "Once you become someone’s wife, you get used to waking up early. Who gets to sleep peacefully until midday?"
"That’s true," Seventh Sister sighed slightly. "Even as a mother-in-law, you might not get to sleep in—sometimes you have to set an example for the younger generation!"
"Anyway, once you’re married, don’t expect peace!" Fifth Sister took the tea offered by Yu Wei and drank several sips before asking, "Are the invitations all settled?"
Seventh Sister nodded. "Ninth Sister returned to Xi’an suddenly and is staying at our aunt’s house, so she’s short on hands. We’ve arranged for servants from both our households to help."
Fu Tingyun felt there was no need to revisit the past and hadn’t explained Master Lu’s identity to her sisters. Fifth Sister and Seventh Sister still assumed Madam Lu was Zhao Ling’s actual aunt.
"Naturally," Fifth Sister said matter-of-factly. "It’s also a good chance to send word home."
Seventh Sister hinted, "I’ve already instructed my personal housekeeper to report back to my husband, saying only that we’ve found Ninth Sister and will be spending a few days with her. The rest can wait until I return."
"You’ll still need an explanation when you go back!" Fifth Sister laughed. "After all, Huayin is our maiden home. If things sound too disgraceful, it reflects poorly on us too! It’s easier for me—my husband is the only son in his family. But you have sisters-in-law to consider—we can’t let them laugh at us, can we?"
Seventh Sister smiled. "What’s so difficult about that? Just say that when the Migrant Bandits entered the city, chaos broke out. Ninth Sister fled with the refugees to avoid danger and lost contact with the family. They assumed she had died and, to protect her reputation, claimed she had passed from illness. Then Ninth Sister was accidentally rescued by His Majesty... Simple!"
"You’re quick-witted," Fifth Sister praised, nodding in approval. "Let’s agree on this explanation when we gather with our sisters."
Fu Tingyun also thought this was a reasonable approach.
Though the story had its flaws, it provided a plausible account. Whether others believed it or not was another matter.
With that settled, Seventh Sister ground the ink, Fu Tingyun wrote the invitations, and Fifth Sister assigned the servants. By noon, all the invitations had been sent out.Xi Ge'er was doing fine, but Youyou, seeing two aunts suddenly appear at home and everyone chatting and laughing in lively spirits, joined in the fun as well. She ran in and out, at one moment bringing in a teacup under Mama Tong's watchful eye: "Auntie, have some tea!" At another, she fetched some fruits from Zheng Sanniang: "Auntie, eat fruits!"
Seventh Sister watched with envy. "Our Ranran grew up in my mother-in-law's care, and being a girl, she's been spoiled rotten. She only fears me—the moment she sees me, she runs away." Then she picked up Youyou and joked, "Ninth Sister, why not give Youyou to me as a daughter-in-law? You can pick either of my two sons!"
Fu Tingyun was taken aback, then laughed. "Your boys are both younger than Youyou—that won't do!"
Fifth Sister burst into laughter. "Our eldest is the same age as Youyou, but I doubt Brother-in-law would be willing to part with her."
"You two are supposed to be aunts," Fu Tingyun chided. "How can you joke like this in front of the children?"
Everyone's gaze naturally fell on Youyou, who was nestled obediently in Seventh Sister's arms.
Youyou was staring wide-eyed at the adults in the room. Seeing everyone looking at her and her mother speaking vaguely, she grew anxious and cried, "Mother, don’t give me to Seventh Aunt…"
Her childish words sent everyone into fits of laughter.
Fu Tingyun scooped her daughter into her arms and comforted her gently, "Seventh Aunt was just joking because she likes you! You're our family's daughter—how could we give you away?"
Youyou let out a long sigh of relief, looking thoroughly reassured.
This only made Fifth Sister and Seventh Sister laugh even harder.
Seventh Sister then suggested they visit Guangren Temple later. "It's rare for us to get out without the children—we should take the chance to explore Xi'an!"
Fifth Sister agreed. "There are still ten days left before the second of October. We might as well make the most of it."
Fu Tingyun remembered how, as a child, she had gone to temples with her grandmother. The sisters would prepare their clothes and jewelry days in advance, too excited to sleep the night before. At the temple, they would rush to pray before the Bodhisattva, chattering so much that even the little monks would glance their way... The memory made her lips curl into a smile, and she felt the same urge for an outing. "Alright! I’ll ask Uncle Lu to help arrange it."
Fifth Sister added, "You should also ask Uncle Lu to buy some famous Xi'an pastries. When we sisters gather, we can enjoy them as local treats!"
Fu Tingyun nodded and gave the necessary orders.
That afternoon, she accompanied Fifth Sister and Seventh Sister to Guangren Temple nearby, where they offered incense and listened to the abbot’s sermon before returning.
Shopkeeper Lu came in to discuss their plans. "The Great Ci'en Temple, Daxingshan Temple, Qingliang Temple... all are worth visiting. And you shouldn’t miss the silver shops on Baoqing Street." His arrangements were meticulous.
Fifth Sister and Seventh Sister were thrilled at the mention of shopping on Baoqing Street, but their excitement soon gave way to concern for Fu Tingyun’s health. "Maybe we should just visit the temples and skip Baoqing Street. It’s too crowded there."
"It’s fine," Fu Tingyun reassured them with a smile. "Walking around the temples is no different. If I get tired, I’ll just rest for a while."
"Alright then!" Fifth Sister said cheerfully. "You know your own limits—just don’t push yourself."
Fu Tingyun agreed with a smile and accompanied her sisters on their outings.
Meanwhile, Shopkeeper Lu quickly prepared some local specialties from Xi'an.
Within a few days, the dispatched servants began returning one after another.Among those sent to deliver messages, the one assigned to Eldest Sister reported: "The First Aunt said she hasn't been feeling well these days and needs daily medication, so she won't be coming. She'll visit Ninth Aunt when she's better. The Second Aunt was quite troubled upon hearing this. After much deliberation, she sent a silver child's necklace and bracelet as meeting gifts for the young lady and young master. As a widow with a young daughter at home, she won't be coming either. She invites Ninth Aunt to visit when free." With that, she handed over the items Second Sister had sent to Yu Wei.
Fifth Sister's eyebrows shot up: "I knew it! She's always sided with Aunt, afraid of doing anything that might displease her." She then complained, "And Second Sister too—she's so used to serving Eldest Sister that she forgets how Third Sister has treated her all these years."
"Don't say that," Fu Tingyun said, understanding Second Sister's position. "As a widow with children, she just wants to avoid trouble. If she blindly followed Eldest Sister, she wouldn't have sent gifts for Youyou and Xi Ge'er." She took the necklace and bracelet from Yu Wei but continued, "Just like how I avoid visiting my sisters to spare you all difficulties."
Unwrapping the bright red woolen handkerchief revealed simple yet elegant silver pieces, though some patterns had darkened with age.
She sighed and showed them to her sisters: "These might be the very gifts sent from Huayin for her daughter's first birthday! Second Sister's life hasn't been easy either."
A somber silence fell over them, hearts heavy.
"Let's find a chance to talk properly with Second Sister," Seventh Sister murmured.
Fu Tingyun and Fifth Sister nodded.
The messenger to Sixth Sister returned: "...Sixth Aunt said she'll come once her household affairs are settled. She sent her housekeeper to Tenth Aunt, who'll arrive in two days. The messenger was kept there to guide her later, while I returned to report."
Fifth Sister beamed: "Sixth Sister is so straightforward!"
Fu Tingyun and Seventh Sister smiled faintly.
Fourth Sister sent word that her mother-in-law was ill. Like Second Sister, she sent longevity locks for Youyou and Xi Ge'er. Eighth Sister couldn't come on the 2nd due to her sister-in-law's childbirth but promised to arrive by the 5th. Eleventh Sister would come with Sixth and Tenth Sisters.
Shopkeeper Lu busied himself arranging banquets and booking performers, while Madam Lu oversaw cleaning and decorations—both thoroughly occupied.
Yet Fifth Sister grew anxious: "Why no word from Third Sister?"
Seventh Sister wavered: "Perhaps something delayed her?"
Fu Tingyun offered a wry smile, half to reassure them: "Why rush? It's not the 2nd yet. Third Sister would surely send notice, whether coming or not."
They nodded.
Yu Wei rushed in, flushed with excitement: "Madam! Third Aunt is here—and she's brought both young masters!""Ah!" Fu Tingyun and her two sisters exchanged startled glances before rising to their feet simultaneously.
"Quick, quickly invite her in," Fu Tingyun said while straightening her collar.
Fifth Sister already laughed, "I told you Third Sister would come!" Then she grabbed Fu Tingyun's hand, "Come, I'll go with you to greet Third Sister too."
Fu Tingyun nodded and walked out with Fifth Sister and Seventh Sister.
Approaching them was a tall woman wearing a plain lake-colored sleeveless vest. Her jet-black hair was neatly coiled into a round bun at the back of her head without a single ornament, yet her graceful bearing and elegant demeanor made her unforgettable at first glance.
"Third Sister..." Fu Tingyun murmured, her eyes lighting up.
Third Sister rushed forward in three quick strides and embraced Fu Tingyun.
"Quan Hui, why are you so foolish! Why didn't you come to me?" Before she could finish speaking, she burst into tears.
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O(∩_∩)O~
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(End of Chapter)
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