Chapter 272: Birthday Gifts
A Sen met Zhao Ling after 7 a.m. The family had breakfast together, and then A Sen followed Zhao Ling to the study, emerging only after two hours.
Fu Tingyun asked him, "Did you properly greet Wang Furen?"
A Sen looked somewhat strange and muttered, "Even if Yue Chuan hadn’t sent me a message, I would have returned today!"
Fu Tingyun was puzzled.
A Sen explained, "The elderly lady came with Aunt Cheng... It wasn’t specifically for my and Jing Tong’s wedding... It seems she wanted my mother-in-law to return with her to settle some matter for Aunt Cheng... Aunt Cheng even pulled Jing Tong aside to talk about it... So my mother-in-law told me to come back early to avoid getting involved."
"How did things turn out like this?" Fu Tingyun frowned.
She had initially thought that Wang Furen’s years of filial piety had moved her mother, prompting the elderly woman to travel such a long distance despite her age to attend A Sen and Jing Tong’s wedding. She had been happy for Wang Furen when she heard the news. Never had she imagined things would take such a turn.
Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but sigh. "It’s good you came back. What did Ninth Master say?"
"He told me to meet a few people in Pucheng." Since these matters were unfamiliar to Fu Tingyun and explaining them would take too long, A Sen decided to clarify later when there was time. So he kept it brief. "I’ll leave tonight and probably won’t return until after the Start of Winter."
Though the trip would be long, it wouldn’t interfere with the wedding.
"I’ll pack your luggage for you," Fu Tingyun said, calculating as she walked out with A Sen. "What did you tell your parents-in-law?"
"I said there was some trouble with the property in Xi’an, and you asked me to go check on it." A Sen smiled. "My father-in-law heard this and gave me a few name cards. He said if it wasn’t a big issue, I shouldn’t bother Wu Xin. He also mentioned that he had some acquaintances serving as commanders in the local garrison and that I could turn to them if needed."
Fu Tingyun laughed as well. "Local officials wield more power than higher authorities. Your father-in-law makes a good point."
"That’s what I thought too," A Sen said cheerfully. "Besides the name cards, I also asked him to write a few letters for me—since they’re his acquaintances, it’s only proper for me to visit them depending on the situation."
"A Sen, you’ve really grown up!" Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but stop and look him up and down with a smile. "You handle things flawlessly now, more and more like Ninth Master."
"Of course!" Like a child in front of his mother, A Sen retained his innocent nature around Fu Tingyun. Hearing her praise, he puffed up proudly. "Well, look who raised me!" This made Fu Tingyun burst into laughter.
Two days later, Zhao Ling also left.
The imperial decree for the Empress Dowager’s 70th birthday celebration was officially announced.
For a time, the entire capital buzzed with discussions about it.
Mo Yi’s wife even paid Fu Tingyun a special visit: "What do you think would be a suitable gift to present?"To be eligible to offer birthday congratulations to the Empress Dowager, the lowest rank for an external titled woman was the fourth-grade Gongren. Typically, in such cases, apart from daily necessities and seasonal clothing, most would strive to include one or two special items to stand out and express their sincerity. Fu Tingyun held no official rank. Her previous two visits to the palace to offer New Year’s greetings to the Empress Dowager and the Empress were exceptions due to Zhao Ling’s military victories. Whether she would be invited to the Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration remained uncertain. Zhao Ling and Fu Tingyun had discussed preparing for both scenarios: if she didn’t attend, they would simply send valuable gifts as usual; if she did, Fu Tingyun, known for her excellent calligraphy, would copy the Lotus Sutra to present, given the Empress Dowager’s devotion to Buddhism.
Since the matter wasn’t settled, Fu Tingyun refrained from discussing it with Madam Mo and instead offered practical advice: “How about embroidering a folding screen? Designs like the Peach of Immortality Offering Longevity, the Everlasting Pine by the Stream, or the Eight Immortals Celebrating Longevity… all carry auspicious meanings.”
The Empress Dowager’s seventieth birthday was on the twenty-first of February next year, leaving ample time.
Madam Mo sighed, “If we merely hire a Jiangnan embroiderer, it would be no better than gifting antique treasures like Han-dynasty bronze flower vases or longevity incense plates. If I embroider it myself, my eyesight isn’t what it used to be, and my skills pale in comparison to the Imperial Needlework Bureau. At best, it might invite ridicule in the palace; at worst, someone might nitpick and accuse our general of ‘disrespect,’ turning our goodwill into folly. Let’s think of something else.”
That made sense.
Fu Tingyun nodded and smiled, “How about I accompany you to browse the markets? We might find something suitable.”
Madam Mo readily agreed.
Escorted by maids and elderly servants, they first visited Drum Tower Street, then West Street and East Street.
Silver shops, embroidery houses, and antique stores were bustling with customers, mostly women with few men.
Madam Mo remarked to Fu Tingyun, “It seems everyone is fretting over birthday gifts.”
Fu Tingyun consoled her, “If all else fails, we’ll just ensure nothing goes wrong on the surface.”
As they spoke, they unexpectedly encountered Madam Wu and Lady Hao.
The surprise delighted them all, and they exchanged pleasantries for a while. Learning that the others were also scouting for gifts for the Empress Dowager’s birthday, they chatted warmly before parting ways.
Meanwhile, Madam Mo returned home and rummaged through her belongings, even writing to Julu to ask her family to search their storerooms for suitable gifts. On her part, Fu Tingyun prepared her brushes and ink and began copying the Lotus Sutra.
Then, Shopkeeper Ye suddenly paid a visit.
This surprised Fu Tingyun.
To avoid impropriety, he usually sent his daughter-in-law to relay messages.
She received him in the south hall.
Shopkeeper Ye had come to deliver gifts.
“A glass folding screen depicting the Goddess Magu Offering Longevity. It was custom-made years ago for Prince Zhuang, but for some reason, it was never collected. It’s been sitting in Baoding Tower’s storeroom for seven or eight years.” He then produced an ornate box. “A celestial peach plate with a luminous ganoderma… Ordinarily, it’s nothing extraordinary, but right now—” He chuckled, “—it’s something money can hardly buy.” Opening the box, he asked, “Madam, doesn’t it resemble the ganoderma offering longevity?”It was a peach-shaped stone plate, its surface adorned with natural patterns that, at first glance, resembled a pair of lingzhi mushrooms placed side by side. As for the glass screen, it went without saying—glass was fragile, and household decorations had to be changed with the seasons. Most people used rosewood, chicken-wing wood, or pearwood, making glass screens a rare sight.
"I thought Ninth Master would also need to send birthday gifts, but antiques wouldn't do, so I found these two items," Shopkeeper Ye said tactfully. The Zhao family's financial situation was modest, and sending antiques might raise suspicions about where the money came from. "I managed to find these two pieces. Though they aren't worth much, they carry auspicious symbolism. Do you think they'll be suitable, Madam?"
"Absolutely, absolutely!" Fu Tingyun was overjoyed, running her fingers over the stone peach plate with a smile. "Ninth Master and I were just worrying about what to give the Empress Dowager for her birthday! Thank goodness for you, Shopkeeper Ye—otherwise, we wouldn't have known what to do." She then recounted her outing with Madam Mo. "No wonder you hold the third seat at Datong Company. Your foresight is truly extraordinary. We should learn more from you." Her face was full of gratitude.
Providing help in times of need brings joy to the recipient, and the giver, knowing they've relieved someone's pressing worries, feels a deep sense of satisfaction.
Shopkeeper Ye smiled warmly and humbly replied, "As long as you don't find me meddlesome, Madam." After some casual conversation, he took his leave without even asking for payment for the two items.
Feeling indebted, Fu Tingyun later estimated the cost and had two sets of silver head ornaments made at Baoqing Tower—one for Shopkeeper Ye's wife and another for his eldest daughter-in-law. But that was a story for another time.
With the birthday gift settled, her mind was at ease. Every morning, she washed her hands, lit incense, and copied three hundred characters from the Lotus Sutra.
A few days passed like this before Wang Furen paid a visit.
Her expression was somewhat downcast as she tactfully mentioned her mother's intentions. "Thankfully, you sent A Sen to Xi'an on business—otherwise, he might have had to endure the same grievances as me," she said, a rare hint of sorrow and resignation flickering across her brow.
Fu Tingyun refrained from prying and simply asked when she had returned and how the elderly madam and Madam Cheng were doing. She then set a date to visit them in a couple of days.
Relieved that Fu Tingyun didn't press further, Wang Furen exchanged pleasantries before taking her leave.
A few days later, Fu Tingyun visited the Wang family to see the elderly madam and Madam Cheng.
Both women looked weary, their smiles strained. Upon learning that Fu Tingyun's husband was the military commander of Guizhou, the elderly madam and Madam Cheng treated her with noticeably more warmth.
Watching them, Fu Tingyun sighed inwardly. After sitting briefly, she excused herself.
Perhaps preoccupied with their own troubles, the Wang family didn't insist on her staying longer.
After the start of winter, preparations for the Empress Dowager's birthday celebrations were finalized. In the markets, anything bearing the character for "longevity" became exorbitantly priced. Regional officials had already begun preparing gifts—those from nearby provinces like Shandong and Shanxi would set out in the twelfth lunar month, arriving before the tenth day of the first lunar month, with tributes presented after the Lantern Festival. Those from farther regions like Yunnan, Guizhou, and Fujian had to depart now to ensure they arrived in time for the Empress Dowager's birthday.
It was during this time that Zhao Ling quietly returned to the capital.Fu Tingyun was both surprised and delighted, whispering to him, "How did things go?"
"Even smoother than expected," Zhao Ling replied lazily, eyes closed as he leaned back in the pinewood bathtub, letting Fu Tingyun attend to his washing. "Xiping Marquis has had a hard time these past few years under He Fu's control. Although Feng Laosan has earned him quite a bit of money, the Xiping Marquis's household is vast, and they still can't make ends meet. A few days ago, for Longping Marquis's birthday, the Xiping Marquis's household actually gifted him a present that Yingchuan had given him years ago—and it was recognized by someone from the Duke of Fuguo's household. Because of this, Xiping Marquis has pinned all his hopes on Grand Secretary Yu, but with little effect. He's grown impatient. Feng Laosan thinks that if things continue this way, Xiping Marquis will only decline further and might even face major trouble. He asked me to promise that if he helps me gather information on Xiping Marquis and the Yu Family, I would ensure the safety of his family's main lineage in case of any mishap. I agreed. If we're lucky, we might only need to add fuel to the fire at the right moment—no need to even show ourselves... As for He Fu, he’s probably already aware that I secretly returned to Shaanxi. He sent someone to warn the Feng family that as long as their merchant caravans don’t smuggle contraband, Jiayuguan will remain open to them..."
※
O(∩_∩)O~
※
(End of Chapter)
OpenNovel