Chapter 275: Admonishing the Son
Madam Yu gazed at Fu Tingyun's retreating figure with a complex expression.
At twenty-four years old, without any illustrious family background or noble lineage, this woman—who had once drifted rootlessly without even the protection of a family—had now become a third-rank Worthy Person. Looking around, aside from imperial relatives and nobility, she was likely the only one of her kind!
Not only that, but she had also gained the favor of The Empress Dowager. Standing alongside the Dowager of Longping Marquis and the wife of Wuding Marquis, she received The Empress Dowager's inquiries, stealing the spotlight... Such an honor—how many could claim it?
With mixed emotions, she returned to Alley Street.
Her daughter-in-law, Fan Shi, was waiting at the inner gate with maids and matrons.
Beautiful and gentle in demeanor, Fan Shi stepped forward respectfully to help Madam Yu alight from the carriage.
Yet inexplicably, Madam Yu felt a surge of irritation.
What use was beauty? There were countless beautiful women in the world—did that mean they could attend The Empress Dowager's seventieth birthday banquet?
Suddenly, Fu Tingyun's radiant face flashed through Madam Yu's mind.
Standing before The Empress Dowager, her smile was bright and dazzling, her every gesture poised and courteous. That was true grace, elegance, and beauty... How could those sparrow-like women, oblivious to their own insignificance, ever comprehend it?
The thought only deepened Madam Yu's gloom.
With a darkened expression, she headed to the main hall.
Fan Shi, utterly bewildered, could only redouble her efforts to serve Madam Yu attentively.
Seeing Fan Shi's obsequiousness and lack of independent thought, Madam Yu grew even more displeased. "Did De Pu say when he would return?" she asked.
Due to The Empress Dowager's birthday celebrations, all touring censors had returned to the capital. Yu Jingxiu, however, was not of sufficient rank to attend today's festivities.
Fan Shi smiled. "There will be fireworks at the Western Garden tonight. My husband said he would return late."
Madam Yu nodded. "Who is De Pu going to the Western Garden with?"
"I don't know," Fan Shi replied softly. "My husband didn't say, so I didn't ask."
For no apparent reason, Madam Yu's temper flared.
Her voice turned cold. "If he doesn't say, you don't ask. If one day your father-in-law and I pass away, and he starts selling off fields and land outside, would you still not ask if he doesn't tell you?"
Fan Shi froze.
Then she felt deeply wronged.
Had she erred in adhering to the Three Obediences and Four Virtues?
Yet she dared not argue with Madam Yu and could only lower her head in apology. "Mother, please don't be angry. It was my fault. From now on, I'll ask my husband where he's going."
Madam Yu wasn't asking her to spy on her son—she simply wished Fan Shi would show more concern for her husband's activities beyond his daily needs. Seeing that Fan Shi completely missed the point, Madam Yu wearily rubbed her forehead and waved her away in frustration.
Fan Shi left the main hall, her face alternating between red and pale.
A young maid cautiously announced from behind the curtain, "Madam, the young master has returned!"
Madam Yu looked up to see Yu Jingxiu striding in energetically, dressed in a bamboo-green Hangzhou silk long gown.
Surprised, she asked, "Weren't you planning to watch the fireworks at the Western Garden with friends? Why are you back so soon? Did something happen?"Yu Jingxiu bowed to his mother and sat down beside her with a smile, saying, "It's nothing. Just now at the tavern, someone accidentally spilled wine on my shoes, so I came back to change them."
Madam Yu's gaze fell upon his shoes.
The dark green Fu Yun shoes didn't show any obvious stains.
She nodded slightly, her expression displeased. "Who did you go with to watch the fireworks at the Western Garden today?" she asked. The fact that wine was spilled on his shoes suggested it wasn't a respectable place!
"Just a few former colleagues from the Office of Transmission," Yu Jingxiu replied with a smile. "They said they hadn't seen me in a while and specially invited me out to enjoy the festivities."
Madam Yu pondered for a moment. "Today is the Empress Dowager's grand birthday celebration. The Office of Transmission should be assisting with the arrangements..."
Yu Jingxiu chuckled. "There are thirty or forty people in the Office of Transmission. Not everyone can go—only a few familiar with proper etiquette were selected..."
For capital officials, understanding ceremonial rites was crucial. Such individuals often found it easier to get promoted.
Madam Yu's expression darkened further. "Since you were going out to enjoy the festivities, you should have invited some colleagues from the Censorate as well. The term for a touring censor is only one year. Once you return to the Censorate, some will likely be promoted to ministries as directors or assigned as county magistrates. By then, gathering like this won't be so easy."
Yu Jingxiu dismissed her concerns with a laugh. "Mother, the Censorate has always been like an iron camp with ever-changing soldiers. Every year, some leave while others join. There will be plenty of time to socialize with colleagues once my term ends and I return to the capital."
Seeing her son disregard her advice, Madam Yu grew displeased. "You're not young anymore. You can't afford to waste time like this. You should set your ambitions early..."
Before she could finish, Yu Jingxiu's expression shifted. "It's too late to arrange anything today. I'll plan something another time!" He stood up. "It's getting late, and my friends are still waiting at the tavern. I'll go change my shoes now."
Madam Yu was furious and couldn't help retorting, "Truly, 'a good wife brings half the fortune'..."
Yu Jingxiu frowned, visibly annoyed. "Mother, what's wrong now? If you have something to say, say it to me. Why drag Fan Shi into this?"
"What's wrong? I merely sighed, and without even naming your wife, you can't stand it? For her sake, you'd even defy your own mother!" Madam Yu's anger, which had been simmering since her encounter with Fu Tingyun, finally erupted. "Your father is still alive, and I haven't lost my wits yet. Have you grown so devoted to your wife that you can't tolerate your own mother? What filial piety! All those months I carried you in my womb, enduring hardship for this..."
Her sarcasm made Yu Jingxiu pale. He immediately knelt before her.
Housekeeper Shu, seeing the situation, quickly ushered the servants out of the room.
"Mother, that's not what I meant!" he pleaded, tugging at her sleeve. "I just think that since Fan Shi is now your daughter-in-law, if there's something she doesn't understand, you should teach her properly. Speaking of her like this in front of the servants—how can she maintain her dignity in this household? She's the wife I chose. If she's lacking, it reflects on me. Even if you won't spare her face, at least save some for me..."Madam Yu spat towards Yu Jingxiu, saying, "So you know that speaking ill of her means disrespecting you? But who has ever considered my face? Teach her? How dare I? The moment I open my mouth, you act as if I’m about to devour her, shielding her at once, afraid she might suffer the slightest grievance. Do you know who I saw today? Fu Shi! She’s now a third-rank Worthy Person! How you treated her back then—surely you haven’t forgotten! Anyone else would have long been buried under tall grass. But do you know what the Longping Marquis’s mother told me today? She said that when the Emperor decided to promote Zhao Ling, aside from Marquis Yingchuan’s recommendation, another key reason was Fu Shi’s chastity and integrity. The Emperor said that with such a woman as his wife, even if Zhao Ling overstepped his bounds, he would never lose virtue or conduct."
Yu Jingxiu’s face turned ashen.
Madam Yu gave him a cold smile. "You always praise Fan Shi for her virtue and kindness, don’t you? Then give me a few examples! Has she contributed to the Yu Family by bearing heirs? Or has she urged her husband to advance in his career and bring glory to the family? Even her own household is in disarray, inviting gossip… Only you treat her like a treasure! Let me be clear—the Yu Family has no place for a divorced woman, but if she remains unrepentant, I’ll send her back to our Nanjing estate to serve your Aunt in your stead. No one would dare object!"
"Mother!" Yu Jingxiu panicked. "I know I was wrong. I’ll discipline Fan Shi properly from now on…" He kowtowed repeatedly to his mother.
Madam Yu snorted dismissively and called out to Housekeeper Shu, "Go tell the young mistress that starting tomorrow, she must observe morning and evening courtesies without fail. She is the eldest daughter-in-law of the Yu Family, watched by the aunts above and responsible for disciplining the concubines below. She must not break decorum and become a laughingstock."
Housekeeper Shu quickly glanced at Yu Jingxiu, who knelt on the ground, his expression dazed, and softly replied, "Yes."
Leaning on Housekeeper Shu’s arm, Madam Yu stepped down from the kang without so much as a look at her son and headed to the study.
The room fell silent.
The rustle of spring wind through the treetops was audible.
Yet Yu Jingxiu felt as though a millstone pressed on his chest, suffocating him.
Had the Longping Marquis’s mother truly said that Fu Shi played a part in the Emperor’s favor toward Zhao Ling? Or was this just a lie his mother fabricated to provoke him? Though his mind doubted, his heart faintly understood—his mother was not such a person. But how could the Emperor favor Zhao Ling because of Fu Shi, a mere woman?
Suddenly, he recalled the time he had met Fu Tingyun.
Her head held high, her gaze carrying an arrogance that overlooked the world… unlike any woman he had ever seen… as if nothing could defeat her… the very kind of woman his mother admired… His Aunt seemed to share his mother’s preference for such women, once saying, "Men are trees, women are soil. No matter how fine the tree, without good soil, it cannot grow tall." Had he married that woman, even if she clashed with his mother, she would surely have found ways to challenge her—perhaps even surpassing his mother, dominating her completely…The thought flashed through his mind, and Yu Jingxiu couldn't help but shudder.
How could he think such a thing?
This was too absurd, far too absurd...
He immediately scrambled to his feet and hurried out of his mother's room as if fleeing.
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Meanwhile, Fan Shi was sulking in frustration when she saw Yu Jingxiu walk in looking distracted. She quickly put on a smile and went to greet him: "Weren't you going to the Western Garden to watch the fireworks? Why are you back so early? Have you eaten? I had the kitchen stew an old hen—originally meant for your late-night snack. Should I have someone serve you a bowl?"
"No need," Yu Jingxiu forced a smile and replied, "I just came back to change my shoes and will leave right away. A few colleagues from the Office of Transmission are still waiting for me at the tavern!" Then he asked Fan Shi, "How much silver do you have on hand right now? Give me two hundred taels—I need it for something."
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Last few hours—begging for October's guaranteed pink votes!
Sisters, I'm counting on you!
O(∩_∩)O~
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(End of Chapter)
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