Chapter 285: Stealth
Fu Tingyun greeted her guests at the inner gate.
Accompanying Madam Li were two maidservants and seven or eight matrons. The maids carried boxes of pastries, while the matrons held bolts of fine silks and satins.
"It's all because of our thirteenth son," Madam Li said apologetically. "He frightened your eldest daughter." She gestured to the gifts behind her. "These are just small tokens of our regret. Please accept them, Madam Zhao."
"Children play and squabble—it's nothing serious. There's no need for such concern, Madam Li," Fu Tingyun demurred repeatedly.
Despite coming to apologize, the Li family's thirteenth son, who had deceived Youyou, was nowhere to be seen. Was it because Madam Li couldn't control her son? Or was she so indulgent that she feared they might scold the boy and thus didn't force him to come? Whatever the reason, Fu Tingyun felt Madam Li lacked sincerity. The lavish gifts only reinforced her disapproval of using material compensation to make amends. Silently, she counted it a blessing that her previous interactions with the Li family had been minimal and resolved to maintain that distance in the future. Her expression cooled noticeably.
Whether out of guilt for her son's absence or in response to Fu Tingyun's frosty demeanor, Madam Li grew uneasy and murmured, "Regardless, our thirteenth son was in the wrong. You must accept these gifts, or I won't be able to rest easy."
Just to ease her own conscience?
Fu Tingyun's expression chilled further.
She instructed Yu Wei to accept the gifts but didn't invite Madam Li inside, instead standing under the eaves and politely asking, "Have you eaten lunch yet? Would you care to join us?"
Only then did Madam Li realize she had interrupted the Zhao family's midday meal. "No, no," she hurriedly declined. "Please, don't let me disturb your meal. I should be going." She added by way of explanation, "I was in such a hurry to come and apologize that I didn't notice it was nearly noon." Glancing at the sky, she remarked with a smile, "Your household dines quite early, Madam Zhao!"
"We have guests today, so we started earlier," Fu Tingyun replied courteously, inviting her once more to stay for lunch.
Madam Li firmly declined. When Yu Wei returned with reciprocal gifts for the Li family, Fu Tingyun didn't press further and saw Madam Li out.
Back in the main hall, Third Sister asked with concern, "What did Madam Li say?"
Fu Tingyun recounted the exchange, and Third Sister, A Sen, and Wang Tongjing were indignant. "How could they act like this? No wonder their child is so ill-mannered!"
"Let it go," Fu Tingyun said. "Now that we know what they're like, we'll just be more cautious in our dealings with them."
Even so, the group lamented the situation for a while.
Fu Tingyun then asked Third Sister to stay and help entertain Wang Tongjing. It had been some time since Third Sister's last visit, and with rumors of Zhao Ling's impending promotion, she was eager to hear the details. She sent a servant to inform her husband, Third Older Cousin's Husband, to join them for dinner after his duties ended in the late afternoon, so he could keep A Sen company. Meanwhile, the children went to Youyou's room in the western wing.
Chunbing noticed the calligraphy practice sheets still spread out on the desk, weighed down by a paperweight, and went over to take a look.Youyou immediately ran over and hugged the tracing book, instructing the maid A-luo, "Put this away properly—we have guests at home, and the desk is a mess."
A-luo quickly smiled and stored the tracing book in the cabinet.
Chunbing sighed helplessly.
Over there, Yuanxiao and Xi Ge'er had already climbed onto the kang and called out to Chunbing to join them for tea: "...It's Iron Goddess of Mercy brought back by Ninth Uncle from Guizhou."
Chunbing smiled and climbed onto the kang, noticing Xi Ge'er was drinking honey water. He chuckled, "What kind of tea do you like, Xi Ge'er?"
"None of them taste good," Xi Ge'er replied. "I only like sweet water. But Master An said this tea is excellent, so I had Shejiang brew it for you." He added, "Cousin, do you like it? If you do, I’ll have some packed for you to take home. You can also share it with Third Uncle."
"Great!" Chunbing agreed cheerfully. "Such fine tea must be rare, so just a small portion will do."
Xi Ge'er nodded repeatedly.
Yuanxiao, however, remarked, "This tea is better than the cheap kind."
Chunbing flicked Yuanxiao’s forehead. "Don’t speak nonsense if you don’t understand."
Yuanxiao rubbed his head.
A-luo brought over a box of pastries arranged with crabapple flowers.
Youyou moved the box of almond crisps closer to Chunbing.
Chunbing’s eyes lit up at the sight.
Then he watched as Youyou slid the box of honeycomb toffee toward Yuanxiao.
His hand, reaching for an almond crisp, froze mid-air.
None of the others noticed Chunbing’s reaction, engrossed in their own conversation.
"How could that Young Master Li be so wicked?" Yuanxiao asked. "Doesn’t his family discipline him?"
"Probably because they’re wealthy," Xi Ge'er said. "I heard from Housekeeper Zhou that in their village, someone killed a person but paid off the family, so they didn’t report it."
"Really?" Yuanxiao was fascinated and urged Xi Ge'er, "Tell me more!"
Xu Ge'er, still very young, was always accompanied by his wet nurse. Hearing this, the nurse chuckled, "Young Master is blessed—such things are unheard of in your world. That family was originally from an official lineage..."
Chunbing frowned and sharply interrupted, "Bullying others with power is despicable! Just like that Li the Thirteenth. Don’t emulate him, or you’ll become like him too."
The nurse flushed awkwardly.
Since he’d started the topic, Yuanxiao felt a little embarrassed and muttered, "I was just curious!" He glanced at Youyou, hoping for support.
But Youyou agreed with Chunbing. "Monkey see, monkey do. If you hear too much about it, you’ll start acting like Li the Thirteenth."
Chunbing grinned triumphantly.
Yuanxiao could only smile sheepishly.
Blushing, the nurse picked up Xu Ge'er. "I’ll take the young master for his nap."
Youyou handed Xu Ge'er some pastries, and the nurse carried him to the side room.
Chunbing turned to Youyou. "Are you going to watch the dragon boats during the Dragon Boat Festival?"
"No," Youyou replied. "Father isn’t home, and my brother and I are still young. Mother can’t manage alone." Far from disappointed, she added cheerfully, "We’ll eat zongzi at home instead."
Then come with us...
The words lingered on Chunbing’s lips, but he swallowed them back.He had always gone with his father. If he wanted to bring Youyou along, he would need his father's permission first. If his father refused, wouldn't he become an untrustworthy person for failing to keep his promise?
Chunbing had never longed so much to be an adult before.
If he were, he could take Youyou to see the dragon boats, and even bring Xi Ge'er and Xu Ge'er along too. Youyou would surely be delighted!
He couldn't help but lower his head.
Then his younger brother's loud voice rang in his ears: "Cousin Youyou, come with us! Father said he'll take me and my brother to West Garden to see the dragon boats during the Dragon Boat Festival. If I ask him, he'll definitely agree..."
Chunbing immediately sat up straight, nervously glancing at Youyou.
Youyou smiled with curved eyes, her lips parting as if to say something, when suddenly a "thud thud thud" sound came from the room.
Everyone instinctively turned toward the noise.
They found it was coming from the western window lattice.
Youyou quickly called A-luo: "Go see what that sound is."
The fifteen-year-old A-luo immediately went to push open the window lattice.
Chunbing hurriedly cautioned behind her: "Be careful!"
A-luo turned back and smiled at Chunbing, then with a slight effort, pushed open the window lattice.
They saw Li Shisan with that same servant boy from earlier, perched on the neighboring wall, poking their window lattice with a bamboo pole.
Youyou pouted unhappily.
Xi Ge'er jumped down from the kang: "What does he think he's doing? I'll go find Zheng San and poke him right off that wall with a pole. Let's see if he dares spy on our courtyard again!"
Yuanxiao also got off the kang but shouted at Li Shisan: "What do you think you're doing?"
Seeing Yuanxiao, Li Shisan paused and asked, "Who are you to them?"
"None of your business who I am," Yuanxiao retorted. "Have you no manners, peeping into other people's courtyards like this..."
Li Shisan ignored Yuanxiao completely and called directly to Youyou: "Hey, I didn't mean anything by it! I just wanted to get to know you after seeing how good you were with the slingshot... Didn't expect you were a girl... You could've settled this privately with me instead of bringing the adults into it... I was stuck between a rock and a hard place... To apologize, I spent a fortune bribing their servants..."
Is this any way to apologize?
Youyou glared fiercely at Li Shisan. Remembering how Chunbing was usually so steady it was almost intimidating, she tugged at his sleeve and said, "I don't want to deal with him..."
Chunbing's face darkened as he grunted in agreement, then instructed A-luo: "Close the window."
A-luo obeyed immediately.
Li Shisan grew frantic: "Hey, you! What's it to you? Who are you to tell them to close the window?" Then to Youyou, "Hey! I came to apologize, and this is how you treat me? That's just rude!"
"If you knew anything about manners, you wouldn't have spent a fortune bribing the neighbors' servants to climb over walls!" Chunbing retorted mercilessly. "If you truly wanted to apologize to my cousin, you should have come properly through the front gate, not sneaking around on walls poking at people's windows!"
Li Shisan's face flushed crimson at these words. He defended himself: "You're the sneaky one! I just didn't want to come with my mother..."
A-luo also found this Young Master Li's behavior utterly absurd. Without waiting for him to finish, she shut the window firmly.
Li Shisan's voice was cut off outside.
Youyou asked worriedly, "Do you think he'll climb over?""Definitely not," Chunbing said with certainty. "You and Yuanxiao go to Xu Ge'er's side room. I'll go request an audience with the master next door..."
Youyou hesitated. "Shouldn't we tell Mother first?"
Chunbing choked on his words at the question.
Of course this matter should be reported to the elders first, then have the elders negotiate with the master next door... How could he have forgotten that?
"Then... then let's tell Aunt!" he said, suddenly feeling somewhat dispirited.
Youyou responded brightly and ran off toward the main house.
By the time A Sen rushed over, Li Thirteen had long since disappeared. The master of that household had already identified the servant who let Li Thirteen in... but that was no longer Fu Tingyun and the others' concern.
※
There was an urgent matter that required me to make an unexpected trip out. I thought I could make it back in time, but ended up being delayed. I didn't have time to notify everyone in advance—my deepest apologies...
I'm sorry!
※
(End of Chapter)
OpenNovel