Chapter 240: A Helping Hand (Bonus Update Seeking Pink Tickets)
However, regarding this matter, Fu Tingyun felt there might still be room for negotiation.
Who was Mr. Zhao?
The current emperor's military strategist, a meritorious official who helped the emperor ascend the throne. What kind of situation had he not experienced? What kind of scenario had he not witnessed? How could he possibly feel displeased simply because she had a request?
That wasn’t the main point.
The main point was that he had openly displayed this displeasure.
One must understand that military strategists are usually highly resourceful individuals who prefer to remain composed, planning carefully before acting. Ordinary people would never even notice a shift in their emotions.
Yet now, she could clearly sense the change in Mr. Zhao’s mood.
Could this be interpreted as Mr. Zhao not treating her as an outsider, hence not guarding himself against her?
For a moment, Fu Tingyun’s thoughts raced.
How should she respond to Mr. Zhao?
Be completely honest? Or provoke him with words?
Mr. Zhao was a strategist. When it came to schemes, no one could match him—at least, she certainly couldn’t. If she tried to provoke him, even if she succeeded momentarily, once Mr. Zhao calmed down, he would surely see through it. Rather than risk displeasing him later, it would be better to move him with sincerity.
With this thought flashing through her mind, Fu Tingyun said, "Mr. Zhao, do you know how I first met the emperor?"
Mr. Zhao was taken aback.
"At the time, Ninth Master encountered Feng Si and was severely injured, falling unconscious. A Sen and I sought a doctor to treat Ninth Master and took shelter in a City God Temple..." Fu Tingyun’s expression grew solemn as she recalled the scene. "...It wasn’t until Ninth Master killed the bandit leader that the emperor’s men intervened. Afterward, I couldn’t help but feel some resentment. But upon reflection, I understood the emperor’s reasoning—his identity was special. In such circumstances, who could guarantee we weren’t in league with the bandits? The emperor feared both harming innocents because of himself and falling into a trap. So once he confirmed we were merely refugees, he immediately came to our aid.
"Think about it, Mr. Zhao. At the time, the emperor was merely a vassal prince traveling in secret. If his whereabouts had been discovered, the consequences—Abolish the Vassalage, demotion to commoner status—would have been the least of his worries. What he truly feared was losing his life. Yet for the sake of a few starving refugees, he chose without hesitation to draw his sword and help... The sages often teach that the Son of Heaven must embrace the world and bestow kindness upon the people. I don’t know what it truly means for an emperor to embrace the world or how he should bestow kindness upon the people, but I do know this: it was the emperor, disregarding his own safety, who saved us in our darkest hour..." As she spoke, Fu Tingyun’s eyes brimmed with tears at the memory of that despair. "To this day, I remember the emperor’s furious expression when he heard about the droughts in Qingyang and Gongchang, the displaced people, the rampant banditry, and the Shaanxi Regional Military Commission’s delayed response to suppress the bandits.
"Mr. Zhao, what kind of person do you think the emperor is?"
Mr. Zhao was stunned.
Fu Tingyun continued, "I recall during Emperor Wen of Han’s reign, when Marquis Jiang Zhou Bo led the ministers in enthroning Emperor Wen, it wasn’t long before Emperor Wen, swayed by slander, grew suspicious of Zhou Bo. Despite Zhou Bo’s apologies and resignation, returning his seal as chancellor, he still couldn’t escape misfortune—only through the efforts of a prison official was he finally exonerated.""Take a look at the Emperor—Marquis Yingchuan's Meng family holds one dukedom and two marquisates, with both father and son having the merit from supporting the emperor. Countless eyes are fixed on the Duke's residence, and numerous memorials have been submitted, claiming that Marquis Yingchuan and his son wield too much power, which is not a blessing for the court. Yet, observe how the Emperor, since ascending the throne, has never acted rashly. First, he stabilized the civil officials, adjusted the military officers, and pacified the realm before gradually reforming the bureaucracy. Marquis Yingchuan was not recalled to the capital as expected but instead exchanged posts with He Fu, who also commands a formidable army... When Ninth Master was still in humble circumstances, he once made a living by smuggling salt. The Emperor bore no grudge for this. During the northern campaign, he not only appointed Ninth Master as his personal guard but also entrusted him with significant responsibilities after entering the capital, even giving him the opportunity to defend the nine frontiers under General Mo. Now, he has been promoted to the position of Guizhou's military commander to suppress the Miao rebellion. The Emperor often praises Ninth Master in front of the court officials, calling him 'a southerner with northern traits,' allowing Ninth Master to resolve his family conflicts without hesitation.
"Mr. Zhao, what kind of person do you think the Emperor is?"
Mr. Zhao was visibly moved.
Fu Tingyun's gaze grew even clearer as she continued, "All along, you have been both a mentor and a friend to Ninth Master. His achievements today owe much to your guidance. I still remember when Ninth Master was reluctant to go to Xuanfu—it was you who stepped in to analyze the situation for him, helping him make the decision to go, which eventually led to his assignment in Guizhou.
"I once thought that although Ninth Master and I have no clan, having a mentor like you and a friend like General Mo would be enough for a lifetime. So when the matter concerning Third Older Cousin's Husband arose, my first thought was to seek your advice on the right path. I truly don’t understand why you became so angry?"
She looked at Mr. Zhao, her face filled with bewilderment.
"You!" Mr. Zhao hesitated, his expression a mix of admiration and melancholy.
Uncertain of the reason, Fu Tingyun could only watch him quietly.
Mr. Zhao sighed and then smiled, saying, "It seems I misunderstood you."
The smile was so sincere and warm that Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but let out a long sigh of relief.
Had Mr. Zhao accepted her explanation?
The corners of her lips curled slightly, revealing a faint smile.
"Do you know why I was displeased?" Mr. Zhao asked solemnly, not waiting for her reply before continuing, "You have no family or clan, and it was the Emperor who saved you, which is why he values Huchen so highly. And Huchen—I watched him rise from a lowly guard to become a high-ranking official today. The dream I once held in my heart has now been realized by Huchen. I can’t help but hope he can go even further, reach even greater heights.
"A virtuous wife is a treasure to the household.
"When I learned you were a woman of loyalty and integrity, I was even happier for Huchen.
"Justice should not override human sentiment. But what I never expected was that with Zhao Ling away, you would come to me on your own, explicitly asking me to help you secure a position Grand Secretary Yu had intended for his son..."
So that was it!
Fu Tingyun suddenly understood.
Mr. Zhao wasn’t angry at her for seeking revenge against the Yu Family out of personal grievances, nor was he upset about her efforts to reinstate Third Older Cousin's Husband. Instead, he disapproved of her acting behind Zhao Ling’s back...
She couldn’t help but smile bitterly. "It was truly because the matter was urgent, and I couldn’t wait for Ninth Master’s reply..."Before she could finish, Mr. Zhao gently shook his head, signaling her not to explain further. "After hearing your words, it seems I overthought things—since you can discern the subtle, you must also clearly understand Zhao Ling's situation and know how to consider the bigger picture." He then instructed the little monk beside him, "Bring paper and ink." Turning back to Fu Tingyun, he asked, "What is your Third Older Cousin's Husband's name? Where is he from? Which year's Presented Scholar was he...? Write it all down for me."
This... this was actually happening!
Fu Tingyun was both startled and overjoyed.
Though the situation had taken a favorable turn, wasn't this moving too quickly?
And Mr. Zhao—so difficult to persuade earlier—had now become so unexpectedly generous...
It wasn't until the little monk brought the writing materials that Fu Tingyun felt a sense of reality. Only after she had written down all the details about her Third Older Cousin's Husband and handed the paper to Mr. Zhao did she dare believe this was truly happening!
She couldn't help but beam with joy. "Thank you, Mr. Zhao."
Mr. Zhao nodded with a faint smile. "You must be close to your due date, no? Go home and rest early. Just wait for news at home."
"Yes!" Fu Tingyun's face blossomed into a radiant smile. After thanking Mr. Zhao repeatedly, she finally rose and took her leave from the back mountain.
Yu Wei was anxiously waiting by the roadside.
The moment she saw Fu Tingyun, she hurried forward.
Before Yu Wei could ask, Fu Tingyun whispered, "It's done."
Yu Wei's face also lit up with delight.
The two of them went to Third Sister's rented residence.
It was just time to light the lamps, and Third Sister's family was gathered around the table for dinner.
Hearing that Fu Tingyun had arrived, Third Sister immediately set down her bowl and rushed out. "Why come at this hour? You could have just sent Yu Wei with a message." As she spoke, she and Yu Wei helped Fu Tingyun down from the carriage.
The bright red lanterns hanging under the eaves of the gate cast a festive glow on Fu Tingyun's smiling face.
"I just returned from Tanzhe Temple," she said cheerfully. "Mr. Zhao asked me to write down Third Older Cousin's Husband's details..."
Third Sister, accustomed to navigating social circles, was momentarily stunned before breaking into an ecstatic smile. "Really? Mr. Zhao truly had you write down all those details?" She eagerly pulled Fu Tingyun inside, but after two steps, remembering Fu Tingyun's pregnancy, she quickly slowed her pace and happily instructed her maid, "Quick, go inform the master that Ninth Aunt has arrived—the matter is settled!"
Though the maid didn't know the specifics, she was sharp enough to understand the excitement. With a bright smile, she acknowledged the order and hurried into the courtyard.
Fu Tingyun couldn't help but laugh.
Halfway down the path, Third Older Cousin's Husband came out to greet them.
Compared to Third Sister's exuberance, he appeared much calmer. Yet the excitement he couldn't quite suppress in his eyes and expression betrayed his true feelings.
"Ninth Sister," he said, cupping his hands in salute. "Such a great kindness cannot be repaid with mere words. Please, come inside and have some tea."
"What tea?" Third Sister said, beaming. "We should prepare a feast to properly thank Ninth Sister!" Only then did she remember Fu Tingyun had just come from Tanzhe Temple and quickly asked, "Have you eaten dinner yet?"
"Not yet!" Fu Tingyun replied without standing on ceremony.
"Oh dear, why didn't you say so earlier?" Third Sister immediately ordered the kitchen to prepare a banquet."No need," Fu Tingyun said, feeling a bit tired and wanting to finish quickly so she could go home early. "Just something simple to eat will do."
"Alright," Third Sister replied with a smile. "You've been running around all day. Have a quick meal and rest early. We can properly catch up tomorrow."
The couple ushered Fu Tingyun into the main hall.
Chunbing and Yuanxiao had only eaten half their meals.
Third Sister had them greet Fu Tingyun with proper courtesy before their respective wet nurses led them to the side room to finish eating. Only after seating Fu Tingyun at the head of the table did she inquire about the trip to Tanzhe Temple.
Of course, Fu Tingyun didn’t mention anything about the Emperor and simply gave a brief account of what had happened.
Third Older Cousin's Husband and Third Sister couldn’t help but sigh. "Mr. Zhao really didn’t treat you as outsiders!"
"Indeed," Fu Tingyun replied with a smile, lifting her teacup to take a sip. Suddenly, her expression froze, and a look of panic flashed across her face.
Third Sister noticed immediately. "What’s wrong? Did something happen?"
She feared there might be some new complication regarding her husband’s reinstatement.
But before she could finish speaking, Fu Tingyun gasped sharply and murmured, "I—I think I’m going into labor!"
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O(∩_∩)O~
During the October event, pink votes count double! Please lend your support, sisters and brothers, to help keep the rankings from looking too dismal…
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(End of Chapter)
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