Chapter 276: Spring Warmth
Fan Shi was quite surprised.
Yu Xiujing had a monthly allowance of fifty taels of silver, which he could spend freely. A decent meal at a good restaurant would cost no more than ten taels, and he wasn’t the type to indulge in extravagant pleasures. How could he suddenly be short on money?
Unable to suppress her concern, she asked, “What do you need so much silver for?”
Yu Xiujing’s response was vague. “Just some daily expenses,” he said, then added, “When traveling, local officials cover the costs, so I don’t need to spend anything. But back in the capital, former classmates and colleagues inevitably gather, and one table often turns into two or three. I’m just preparing for contingencies.”
Fan Shi recalled Madam Yu’s words from earlier.
Could Yu Xiujing have fallen in with unsavory company?
The thought filled her with anxiety. She pressed urgently, “Who are you planning to watch the fireworks at the Western Garden with?” The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. This wasn’t the right time to ask—Yu Jingxiu might think she was interrogating him about his spending. Before Yu Xiujing could reply, she quickly added, “We don’t have that much silver on hand right now, but we do have bank notes. However, it’s already late, and the silver shops are closed. Even with a bank note, you might not be able to exchange it for silver tonight.”
Yu Xiujing, however, didn’t overthink it. Hearing that bank notes were available, he pondered for a moment and said, “Bank notes will do… then just give me two hundred taels’ worth.”
Fan Shi smiled in agreement and went into the inner chamber.
Just then, light yet steady footsteps approached, and a gentle voice called from behind the curtain, “Madam? It’s Fei Shi. Are you inside?”
Yu Jingxiu was taken aback.
Since the day Fei Shi had lectured him at length, it seemed he hadn’t seen her at all.
The thought flashed through his mind, but he quickly composed himself and said firmly, “Come in.”
The person outside hesitated briefly.
Yu Jingxiu frowned, his tone tinged with displeasure. “If you have something to say, come in and say it.”
The curtain lifted, and Fei Shi stepped inside, dressed in a peach-red sleeveless vest.
Peach-red was a vibrant color, one that could easily look gaudy on most. Yet on Fei Shi, it complemented her snow-white complexion, lending her an air of subtle allure.
Yu Jingxiu was momentarily stunned.
Fei Shi smiled gracefully and curtsied, her demeanor polite yet distant. “It’s nothing important. I was just passing the time and thought to chat with Madam for a bit. Since you’re here, I’ll take my leave…”
Though their interactions had been few, Yu Jingxiu knew Fei Shi wasn’t the type to gossip or visit others idly. Why would she suddenly seek Fan Shi for casual conversation?
There must be something she didn’t want him to know. As he pondered, he noticed one of her hands remained hidden behind her back.
With a faint smile, he asked, “What are you holding?”
Fei Shi’s smile stiffened, and she shifted uncomfortably. “Nothing… just some clothes and such…”Yu Jingxiu couldn't help feeling curious. Normally, given his temperament, he wouldn't bother inquiring about such women's affairs. But recalling his mother's thunderous rage today and Fei Shi's advice that he shouldn't always shield Fan Shi, as it might make Madam Yu resent her even more, he found himself regarding Fei Shi with newfound respect. "You did needlework for both Madam and my wife when you first entered the household," he asked. "Is this also needlework for my wife?"
A flicker of hesitation passed through Fei Shi's brows.
Suddenly, his mother's words—"The affairs in your quarters are in such disarray that they invite criticism"—flashed through Yu Jingxiu's mind, and an inexplicable sense of foreboding rose in his chest. He wavered, considering whether to drop the matter, when he saw Fei Shi press her lips together and bring out a bundle she had been hiding behind her back.
The way the corners of the bundle were neatly tied into a knot struck Yu Jingxiu as oddly familiar. When Fei Shi unfolded it, revealing a lake-green Hangzhou silk long gown for men, realization hit him like a bolt.
All this time, he had been mistakenly wearing clothes made by Fei Shi, thinking they were Fan Shi's handiwork.
His expression darkened.
A shrill voice suddenly pierced the room. "Who told you to make these clothes? How dare you barge in without announcing yourself?" The voice then called sharply for Mo Zhuan, berating her, "The young master is sitting here, yet not a single servant is attending to him. What kind of head maid are you?"
Fei Shi quickly interjected, "Mo Zhuan went to the kitchen. I didn't expect the young master to return at this hour..."
In just two sentences, she had both defended Mo Zhuan and justified herself.
This only deepened Fan Shi's resentment.
A weariness flickered in Yu Jingxiu's eyes. He no longer cared to untangle who was right or wrong, or who had actually made the clothes.
He addressed Fan Shi directly. "I'll be back very late tonight. If the inner gate is locked, I'll stay in the study in the outer courtyard. Just have someone come to attend to me there in the morning."
Hearing this, Fan Shi hastily handed him a bank note.
Yu Jingxiu took it and strode out of the inner chamber without a backward glance.
The fireworks at the Western Garden had already begun.
Alley Street, a lane beside Chang'an Avenue, was bustling with people hurrying from all directions to watch the display.
Yu Jingxiu heard a little girl's voice, clear as a nightingale, calling out, "Papa, look! Look! It burst—twice! The first time, it was green first, then other colors. This time, it's red first, then the others..."
Compelled by her voice, he turned to look.
There stood a tall man, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with a little girl of five or six perched on his shoulders.
The girl wore a Treasure Vase Decorative Vest over a bright red undergarment. Her hair was jet-black, her skin as fair as jade. Despite her tender age, her features were delicate, especially her eyes—clear and bright, like spring water from a deep mountain stream, pure enough to cleanse the heart.
Nearby, the curtain of a carriage lifted, and a woman's voice laughed, "Get in the carriage! What kind of spectacle is this? She's seven years old, not seven months!"The tall man turned around and smiled at the woman upon hearing her words, his expression filled with tender indulgence, clearly showing how much he valued her opinion. He chuckled, "Didn’t you say she’s seven this year? Next year she’ll be eight, and carrying her on my shoulders won’t be as fitting anymore… Might as well take advantage of her still being seven and carry her one last time…"
The woman laughed in response, her smile brighter than the fiery pomegranate blossoms of May. "You and your clever excuses…"
The tall man grinned, and the little girl perched on his shoulders covered her mouth to giggle. Though their features weren’t identical, their expressions were strikingly similar, making it obvious at a glance that they were most likely father and daughter!
From inside the carriage, a boy’s head popped out, looking about four or five years old.
He gazed up at the pair with a grin and asked loudly, "Sister, is it fun sitting on Father’s shoulders?"
"Very fun," the little girl replied. "You can see so far!" Then she added, "Want me to come down so Father can carry you instead?"
"No," the boy refused without hesitation, snuggling closer to the woman. "I’ll stay with Mother in the carriage!"
The woman laughed softly, hugging the boy as she murmured affectionately, "Xi Ge’er is so sweet, always thinking of Mother."
The family chatted and laughed as they passed by Yu Jingxiu, who stood frozen in place, staring blankly for a long moment before finally snapping out of it.
To think he’d run into Fu Shi’s family?
Who would’ve guessed Zhao Ling… after attending the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet at the palace during the day, still had the energy to take his family out for fun in the evening… Still, in all fairness, his daughter was exquisitely beautiful, and his son was quite handsome too—both took after Fu Shi…
As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Yu Jingxiu found himself momentarily dazed.
Meanwhile, Fu Tingyun and Zhao Ling hadn’t noticed Yu Jingxiu at all.
Fu Tingyun gazed at the bustling crowd on Chang’an Avenue ahead and suggested, "Why don’t we just watch the fireworks from here? If we push through, we’ll only end up seeing people!" She thought to herself that if they forced their way in, Zhao Ling would be too busy protecting her and the children to enjoy the fireworks. It’d be better to admire them from a distance. After all, the point of going out was to have fun. Shi Family Alley was in the eastern part of the city, while the Western Park was in the west. He was worried she and the children wouldn’t get a good view of the fireworks, so he insisted on bringing them out to see the spectacle…
The thought warmed her heart, and her gaze at Zhao Ling softened with tenderness.
Zhao Ling smiled. "It’s fine, it’s fine! I booked a private room at the Tower of Immortals earlier. We just need to push through to get there."
Seeing how much effort he’d put into arranging this, Fu Tingyun didn’t object further. She instructed Xi Ge’er to sit properly, soothed Xu Ge’er in her arms, and inched forward at a snail’s pace for nearly an hour before finally reaching the Tower of Immortals.
Once inside the private room, a waiter promptly brought tea and snacks.
Zhao Ling moved an official’s hat chair to the window and let the children stand on it to watch the fireworks.
Fu Tingyun repeatedly reminded Yu Wei and Housekeeper Tong, "Be careful—don’t let the children fall." Seeing Zhao Ling holding Youyou with one hand and gripping Xi Ge’er’s collar with the other, she wrapped her arms securely around Xu Ge’er.
Just then, there was a commotion outside as someone pushed the door open. "Huchen, you’re here too?"
Fu Tingyun turned around and saw a stranger—a man with thick eyebrows and striking eyes, roughly in his thirties.
She quickly averted her gaze.Then came a voice laced with amusement: "So this is why you were so insistent on inviting me to the capital to see the fireworks. It was all for Zhao Ling's sake." The voice continued, "Zhao Ling, I suppose that son you mentioned is here too?"
"Daoist, you misunderstand," Zhao Ling replied with a hint of mischief. "I merely made a bet with Brother Yang—whether he could stir your worldly desires enough to bring you to the capital for the fireworks. Who would have thought that after all these years of secluded cultivation in the mountains, your Daoist heart remains unsteady, easily tricked by Brother Yang into descending the mountain. This truly has nothing to do with me!"
Fu Tingyun, unable to contain her curiosity, quickly glanced behind her.
She saw a middle-aged Daoist with snow-white hair and beard standing beside the man Zhao Ling had addressed as "Brother Yang." Despite his aged appearance, his expression held a childlike innocence. At Zhao Ling's words, his beard quivered in indignation, making him appear both comical and endearing.
Could this Daoist be the renowned Daoist An from Jiugong Mountain?
Fu Tingyun wondered, stealing another glance.
Zhao Ling had already approached them. "Daoist An, this is my humble wife, Fu Shi. A-Jun, this is Daoist An. The other gentleman is Yang Tong, whom I address as Brother Yang. He serves under General Mo Shang and is currently in the capital with the general. We happened to converse and discovered our shared connections through our respective schools."
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It's the beginning of another month, seeking pink votes... O(∩_∩)O~
PS: Thank you all for your support in October. Though there's no official announcement yet on the ranking of pink votes, seeing so many of them truly makes me happy!
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(End of Chapter)
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