Chapter 254: Mourning Journey
The carriage stopped in front of the Zhao residence in Shi Family Alley. Third Sister and her two children alighted and hurried straight to Fu Tingyun’s inner chamber.
“I’ll have to trouble you with the children, Ninth Sister,” she said hastily. “I’ll leave the city at dawn tomorrow and return after Grandmother’s seventh-week memorial.” She then turned to the children. “You must listen to your Ninth Aunt!”
Third Sister’s new residence was in Hat Alley, only half an hour’s journey from Shi Family Alley but closer to the southern part of the city. They were to depart through Fucheng Gate in the west the next day. If she were to bring the children over just before setting off, it would require a long detour, wasting time and making it difficult to reach Ten Mile Inn by noon or find lodging at a post station by nightfall. This would pose significant safety concerns for the journey.
Chunbing respectfully replied, “Yes, Mother,” while Yuanxiao couldn’t hide his excitement. “Mother, can I play with Cousin Youyou?”
The adults couldn’t help but laugh, easing the sorrow of parting.
Third Sister smiled. “You may play, but don’t bully Youyou, Xi Ge’er, or Xu Ge’er. If I hear otherwise, I’ll never bring you here again.”
Yuanxiao quickly promised, “Mother, I’ll let Youyou have the first pick of the candied silk floss and won’t fight with her.”
This elicited another round of laughter.
Third Sister patted her younger son’s head and reminded her elder son, “Take care of your brother and don’t cause trouble.”
Chunbing promptly agreed.
Fu Tingyun wrapped an arm around each child’s shoulders and reassured Third Sister, “They’re both well-behaved. You needn’t worry, Third Sister. If Third Older Cousin’s Husband misses them, he can visit anytime.” She then asked, “What time are you leaving tomorrow? I’ll come to see you off.”
“It’s too early,” Third Sister replied. “Don’t trouble yourself. Between sisters, there’s no need for such formalities.”
Fu Tingyun considered that with five children at home, if she went to see Third Sister off, she wouldn’t return until after dark—something she couldn’t bear to risk.
After a moment’s thought, she smiled and said, “Very well, I’ll have Yu Wei see you off on my behalf.” Then she inquired about the escort. “Shall we hire guards from a security agency?”
“I’d thought of that too,” Third Sister said. “But when Hao Jianfeng learned I was returning to Huayin, he arranged with the Five Cities Patrol Brigade to send over a dozen men to escort me.”
“That’s good to hear.” Fu Tingyun couldn’t resist some gossip. “Is this Hao Jianfeng the same Hao Jianfeng who once served as a provincial administrator in Shaanxi?” She had still been at home when Second Sister’s marriage was being discussed. “I heard he held a grudge—Grand Uncle tried several times to seek his favor but failed. Why does he seem so amiable with Third Older Cousin’s Husband?”
“I’m not entirely sure,” Third Sister admitted. “But according to your brother-in-law, Hao Jianfeng is not only capable but also fair and diplomatic. If Grand Secretary Shen hadn’t fallen from grace, Hao might have had a chance to join the Grand Secretariat after Grand Secretary Tian retired.”
Hao Jianfeng and Grand Secretary Shen had both served in the Ministry of Personnel—one as the head, the other as deputy. Their collaboration had been smooth, and over time, they were seen as allies. Now that the Emperor was displeased with Grand Secretary Shen, forcing his resignation, Hao Jianfeng—as a member of Shen’s faction and a high-ranking official of the second rank—would likely face difficulties ahead.Fu Tingyun smiled. "His luck is truly unfortunate."
Third Sister nodded. "It shows that whether one can enter the cabinet still depends on luck," she remarked with a hint of emotion.
After chatting for a while, Third Sister remembered the pile of chores waiting at home and rose to take her leave, hurrying back to Hat Alley.
At the Moon Gate, she ran into her husband.
Seeing him coming from the south hall, Third Sister greeted him with a smile, "Did you have guests, my lord?"
Her husband's expression shifted slightly at her question.
Noticing his odd reaction, Third Sister grew curious.
Her husband didn’t hide it from her. "Lord Fu just came by. He asked if we had informed Shi Family Alley about the mourning and when you planned to depart. He mentioned wanting to travel together back to Huayin."
Third Sister frowned slightly at this.
Her husband continued, "I told him you went to Shi Family Alley as soon as we received the news. As for your return to Huayin, since I still have matters to attend to these next few days, we’d have to wait before settling on a date. I said we’d discuss the departure with him once it’s decided."
Third Sister understood—her husband didn’t want her to grow too close to Fifth Uncle.
This was just as well. It would prevent any misunderstandings later.
However, this likely meant she would arrive in Huayin before Fifth Uncle.
After a moment’s thought, she said, "If Fifth Uncle asks, we’ll say that Lord Hao kindly arranged things with the Five Cities Patrol Brigade, and they mistakenly thought we were leaving tomorrow. Since everything was already prepared, we had to change the date last minute." She then instructed her husband, "Wait until I’ve left the city before sending someone to inform Four Happiness Alley—they’re returning home for mourning and won’t be back in the capital anytime soon. They’ll need time to pack, sell, or store their belongings and arrange for someone to watch the house. Even if they wanted to travel with us, they wouldn’t be ready so quickly."
This was a good plan.
It wouldn’t offend Lord Fu either.
Her husband agreed with a smile, though a trace of concern flickered across his brow.
Third Sister smiled. "Since I married into the Shen family, I am one of you now. Please speak freely, my lord."
So her husband led her to the study.
"There was some discord between the Dowager and the First Madam before. Now that the Dowager has passed, there may be some turbulence in Huayin," he cautioned gently. "When you return, first, stay out of these matters. Second, advise your parents that with uncles above and elder brothers below, it’s best to endure any slight rather than stir conflict. A smooth and peaceful departure is what matters most. As for the money the Fu family borrowed from us, leave it entirely to your parents to handle. But make it clear to them that they shouldn’t feel burdened—if it helps them leave without trouble, recovering the money isn’t necessary. If they feel wronged in these small matters, let them decide what’s fair, and you can use our silver to make it right. The most important thing is not to let money cause strife and become a spectacle for the neighbors."
Third Sister was both startled and touched by her husband’s words.
Startled because he believed her uncles might quarrel over property, and touched by his sincerity—such a large sum of silver, and he was willing to let it go without a second thought...A flicker of unease passed through her eyes as she said with some confusion, "Grandmother has just passed... surely it wouldn't happen so quickly?"
Though she knew few could match her husband's insight into matters, this was the place that had raised her—her roots. In her heart, she still clung to a sliver of hope.
Third Older Cousin's Husband understood his wife's feelings all too well.
"One cannot see Mount Lu's true face while standing within the mountain."
It was understandable that his wife couldn't bear to believe her own family would come to this.
But for the greater good, he couldn't remind her: "Even if they don't stir up trouble now, it's inevitable once the three-year mourning period ends."
Third Sister fell silent.
※※※※※
The next day, Third Older Cousin's Husband and Seventh Sister's Husband saw Third Sister off through Fucheng Gate. By noon, they had stopped at the "Yangguan" in Ten Mile Inn for lunch.
As they were leaving, they unexpectedly ran into Hao Jianfeng.
He was chatting and laughing with several scholarly-looking men dressed in silk robes as they entered through the door.
Third Older Cousin's Husband hurried forward to greet him and introduced Seventh Sister's Husband.
Hao Jianfeng also smiled as he introduced his companions: "...This is Scholar Zhou from the Hanlin Academy, this is Lord Zheng from the Court of Judicial Review, this is Lord Wang from the Court of Imperial Studs..." He particularly introduced a square-faced man in his thirties with thick eyebrows, "This is Lord Jiang, Left Councilor of Shandong Provincial Administration. We're here to see him off."
A man in his thirties already holding a fourth-rank position in Shandong Provincial Administration... clearly no ordinary figure.
Third Older Cousin's Husband felt a slight tension but maintained his humble and gentle demeanor as he stepped forward to pay his respects.
When the others learned he was the Left Remonstrance Official Shen from the Ministry of Personnel, they also greeted him warmly. Two of them even glanced in Third Sister's direction.
Just then, more people entered.
Everyone looked up to see Master Fu the Fifth, now dressed in mourning clothes, panting as he rushed in.
Third Sister, Third Older Cousin's Husband, and Seventh Sister's Husband were all taken aback.
Hao Jianfeng's expression darkened as he deliberately looked away, pretending not to see Master Fu the Fifth.
Even if these men didn't regularly visit the Ministry of Personnel, they still had to undergo triennial evaluations conducted by the ministry. None could claim ignorance of Lord Fu, nor were they unaware of Hao Jianfeng's coldness toward him.
In the past, though they might not have greeted him enthusiastically, given their frequent encounters, they would at least have nodded politely to Master Fu the Fifth. But ever since the Emperor declared him "unfit for use," his career had peaked. Now, with his mandatory mourning leave and no hope of reinstatement, who would risk displeasing Hao Jianfeng for his sake?
Following Hao Jianfeng's lead, they all pretended not to see Master Fu the Fifth, continuing their cheerful conversation with Hao Jianfeng and Third Older Cousin's Husband.
Third Older Cousin's Husband and Seventh Sister's Husband exchanged a glance, their smiles tinged with bitterness.
Others might ignore Master Fu the Fifth, but they could not.
The two men excused themselves from Hao Jianfeng's group and stepped forward to pay their respects.
"Elder, why have you come all this way?" Third Older Cousin's Husband asked with a smile. "Did you come to see my wife off? We left in such haste, we didn't have time to inform you..."
As he explained, Master Fu the Fifth's face darkened like an impending storm.
He had seen Hao Jianfeng's actions clearly and understood exactly what these men were thinking.
But with the current circumstances favoring them, what could he possibly do?Suppressing the anger in his heart, Master Fu the Fifth said, "Didn't you say earlier that you'd wait a few more days before leaving? I couldn't wait. I sent a servant to inform you this morning, but who knew you'd already left the city at dawn. I was thinking that our families must have had the same idea, and we might even run into each other at Ten Mile Inn. And sure enough, here we are."
He probably rushed over immediately upon hearing they'd left the city at daybreak, didn't he?
Third Older Cousin's Husband smiled as he glanced behind him, "Where is Brother Jiezhi?"
Jiezhi was the courtesy name of Fu Tingyun's elder brother, Fu Tinggui.
Master Fu the Fifth hesitated, unable to speak his mind.
He knew Fu Tingyun didn't want to travel with him and had been keeping an eye on the Hat Alley residence.
When the servant reported back this morning, he was certain this was Fu Tingyun's doing. He had no choice but to leave Fu Tinggui behind to pack up while he hurried over first.
Seeing this, Third Older Cousin's Husband became even more convinced of his own suspicions.
Meanwhile, Master Fu the Fifth looked past him, his gaze settling on Third Sister, and asked, "Where's Quan Hui? Why isn't she with you?"
※
O(∩_∩)O~
Had to rush back to Peidu Village today, so the update is a bit late.
※
(End of Chapter)
OpenNovel