Chapter 290: Descending the Mountain
"Learning some martial arts from Master An?" Fu Tingyun was momentarily taken aback upon hearing Third Older Cousin's Husband's request.
"Yes!" Third Sister smiled. "Just enough to strengthen their bodies!"
"Then I'll speak with Master An about it?" Fu Tingyun couldn't answer this directly.
"That's only natural." Third Older Cousin's Husband was very grateful. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Fu Tingyun, he left with Third Sister.
After some thought, Fu Tingyun wrapped two taels of the Da Hong Pao tea that Seventh Sister's Husband had sent recently and headed to the backyard.
Daoist An was lounging on a reclining chair under the eaves, fanning himself with a Fan. Seeing Fu Tingyun approach, he sat up with a smile and called for his attendant to serve tea.
"Then let's use the tea I brought for you!" Fu Tingyun handed the attendant a red box containing the tea. "It's Da Hong Pao—please try it and see how it tastes."
Daoist An didn't stand on ceremony and instructed the attendant to brew it.
Fu Tingyun then inquired about the two children: "...Are they behaving? Have they caused you any trouble?"
"Both boys are very obedient." Daoist An's eyes warmed with affection, clearly showing his fondness for them. "They endure hardship well. The elder is more earnest, while the younger is sharper. Zhao Ling is truly blessed."
Hearing her sons praised by their master, Fu Tingyun couldn't help but beam with joy. "That's only because of your guidance that they've become so well-behaved." As they spoke, the attendant returned with the tea.
From afar, a refreshing fragrance wafted toward them.
Daoist An's brows lifted slightly.
Fu Tingyun paused her words.
By the time the attendant approached, Daoist An was already eagerly lifting the teacup to inhale its aroma before taking a small sip.
"Excellent tea!" His eyes brightened with admiration. "It has the freshness of Longjing and the richness of Minhong. Truly worthy of being a royal tribute."
She hadn’t expected Daoist An to be a tea enthusiast.
Fu Tingyun smiled. "A fine sword for a hero. I still have a few taels of premium Xinyang Downy Tips at home—I’ll have my maid bring them to you later."
Daoist An laughed heartily. "You wouldn’t happen to be asking for a favor, would you?" His teasing left Fu Tingyun blushing.
"No need for that," he said cheerfully. "Just speak your mind."
A little embarrassed, Fu Tingyun explained Third Older Cousin's Husband's wish for Chunbing and Yuanxiao to learn martial arts from him.
"That’s a fine idea." Daoist An agreed readily. "No need for formal discipleship. Just have them wake up tomorrow with Xi Ge'er and Xu Ge'er and come to the backyard to find me."
That… was it? He agreed just like that?
Fu Tingyun was momentarily stunned.
She had expected either a refusal or a scolding from Daoist An!
Snapping out of it, she thanked him profusely.
"No need for thanks!" Daoist An chuckled. "With those two lads around, Xi Ge'er and Xu Ge'er will have more company and won’t keep pestering Yuanxiao to play." He added, "In the future, if anyone else wishes to train with me, just bring them here."
His generosity was remarkable.
Fu Tingyun repeatedly assented and, after exchanging a few more pleasantries with Daoist An, went to deliver the news to Third Sister and her husband.
Naturally, they were delighted. Following the custom for household tutors, Third Older Cousin's Husband personally delivered clothes and silver as compensation.
Daoist An didn’t decline and had his attendant accept them.
From then on, every morning, the backyard welcomed two more—Chunbing and Yuanxiao.Before they knew it, the end of July had arrived. While the afternoons were still quite hot, the evenings now required a light quilt. Fu Tingyun's pregnancy had also begun to show, prompting Third Sister to discuss descending the mountain with her: "You should start preparing for the birth on your end."
The sisters were of the same mind. Choosing an auspicious day, escorted by Third Older Cousin's Husband, the two families made their grand descent from the mountain.
Given Fu Tingyun's pregnancy and the three children in tow, Third Sister and her husband first saw them safely back to Shi Family Alley, directing their maids and servants to help carry the trunks and boxes.
The commotion of carriages and horses outside the Zhao residence alerted the neighbors that they had returned from Yuming Mountain.
At the moon gate, Third Sister bid farewell to Fu Tingyun: "...Who knows what state my own home is in—I must go back and tidy up. I'll visit you again in a couple of days. If you need anything, just have Zheng Sanniang send word."
Fu Tingyun smiled and nodded, calling Youyou, Xi Ge'er, and Xu Ge'er to see Third Sister's family off.
Before descending the mountain, Third Older Cousin's Husband had arranged with Fu Tingyun that Chunbing and Yuanxiao would come every five days to seek instruction from Master An, practicing on their own at home the rest of the time. Thus, despite the impending separation, the children showed no sadness, instead chattering excitedly together.
Third Older Cousin's Husband couldn't help but chuckle, patting Chunbing and Yuanxiao on the shoulders. "If your practice isn't up to par, you won't be coming back."
Chunbing quickly assured him, "Don't worry, Father, we'll practice diligently." When he first started training with Master An, he had been so exhausted he could barely lift his arms. But persisting through it, he now felt lighter on his feet and more focused in his studies, cherishing these lessons dearly.
Yuanxiao, however, saw the martial training mainly as a chance to play with Xi Ge'er and had grown somewhat lax in his practice. At these words, he hung his head and listlessly muttered, "Yes."
Xi Ge'er, hiding behind Fu Tingyun, made faces at him, clearly amused by his predicament.
Yuanxiao glared at Xi Ge'er several times before finally following his parents home.
Though they had lived on the mountain for two or three months, Housekeeper Zhou and the others left behind had kept the courtyard spotless, even replacing the curtains and blue silk drapes seasonally. All that remained was to unpack and make the beds before they could rest.
Fu Tingyun praised Housekeeper Zhou and the others when a young maid hurried in to announce, "Madam Wu has come to visit you."
"What does she want?" Fu Tingyun murmured under her breath. Glancing at the bustling servants in the courtyard, she instructed the maid, "Show her to the sitting room in the south wing."
The maid hurried off to comply.
After freshening up and changing her clothes, Fu Tingyun went to the south sitting room.
"We just returned from the mountain, and the house is still in disarray," she explained with a smile as she entered. "I'm afraid I can only offer you tea here in the south wing."
"No trouble at all," Madam Wu replied warmly, stepping forward to take Fu Tingyun's hands. "I simply missed you after not seeing you for months." Then, suddenly, she gasped and stepped back, scrutinizing Fu Tingyun from head to toe. "You're expecting again?" she exclaimed in surprise.
A faint blush colored Fu Tingyun's cheeks. "Almost five months along.""Oh my," Madam Wu immediately laughed, "doesn't that mean we'll have more wine to drink by year's end?" Her expression was filled with delight.
Fu Tingyun responded vaguely and changed the subject, inquiring about Madam Wu: "How have you been these days?"
It was meant as polite small talk, but to her surprise, Madam Wu sighed deeply and said, "How could I be well? I've been so bothered by Madam Li that my head aches."
Fu Tingyun was taken aback.
Madam Wu continued, "Isn't there some misunderstanding between their Thirteenth Young Master Li and your eldest daughter? She wrote a letter to Lord Li, who was so furious he immediately sent an advisor to bring Thirteenth Young Master Li to his post. Madam Li wanted to speak with you, but you've been staying at Yuming Mountain all this time. She came several times but never managed to meet you. Being too shy to disturb you by going up the mountain again, she asked me to inform her as soon as you returned. Afraid I wouldn't take it seriously, she kept sending maids to check every few days. So here I am, visiting you the moment you're back, so I can report to Madam Li later."
Hearing that Thirteenth Young Master Li was no longer in the capital, Fu Tingyun couldn't help but sigh in relief.
Madam Li must have wanted Madam Wu to mediate on her behalf!
Anyone in this situation would feel ashamed.
She could understand that well.
Fortunately, she had no intention of getting too close to the Li family, so she smiled and said, "Then please convey to Madam Li on my behalf that children's squabbles are just for fun, and she needn't take it to heart. Making such a fuss about it only makes me feel uneasy."
Seeing how accommodating Fu Tingyun was, Madam Wu was overjoyed and showered her with flattery like "Madam Zhao is truly magnanimous" before finally taking her leave.
Yu Wei privately grumbled to Fu Tingyun, "Who knows how much Madam Li bribed Madam Wu to make her work so hard for this."
"Who cares how much she received?" Fu Tingyun laughed. "The sooner we settle this matter with the Li family, the better."
Yu Wei nodded repeatedly.
Despite this, the next day Madam Li came to visit Fu Tingyun and Youyou, bringing many gifts.
Fu Tingyun repeatedly assured her that she bore no grudge against Thirteenth Young Master Li, and only then did Madam Li leave, her face flushed with embarrassment.
Watching her go, Yu Wei sighed, "A fresh flower stuck in cow dung."
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Fu Tingyun couldn't help but laugh as she scolded her.
Yu Wei covered her mouth, giggling.
Zhenzhu entered and said, "Madam, there's a maid named Lianxin who claims to have been sent by her mistress on urgent business to see you."
"A mistress?" Fu Tingyun and Yu Wei exchanged puzzled glances. After thinking for a long time, Fu Tingyun said uncertainly, "I can't recall having any dealings with any mistress..."
Yu Wei, however, had a sudden thought and pointed toward the neighboring courtyard. "Could it be that one?"
Fu Tingyun considered it and hesitated, "That might actually be the case."
Yu Wei curled her lip. "What does their family's business have to do with us? We're already being merciful by not causing trouble for them. Does she really expect our madam to meddle in her affairs?" She stared intently at Fu Tingyun, as if on the verge of tugging at her sleeve to make her refuse."Let's meet her," Fu Tingyun mused. "I've said before that she could send her maid to inform me if she needed anything... We'll help where we can, and where we can't, we'll make it clear to Consort Wu so she doesn't pin her hopes on us." She added, "You may not realize, but when people are desperate, even knowing a straw is useless, they'll still clutch at it tightly."
Yu Wei thought of her own past experiences and lowered her head in shame.
Fu Tingyun then instructed Zhenzhu to bring the visitor in.
The young maid, barely twelve or thirteen years old, was visibly nervous upon seeing her. Her voice was tense and trembling, unable to even raise her eyes: "The mistress says... our young master often visits a Miss Min in Needlemaker Alley... She wishes to ask Madam to help investigate that Miss Min's background..."
Fu Tingyun was stunned.
Given their level of friendship, this seemed rather beyond what one might reasonably ask...
※
Hehe, nearing the end... O(∩_∩)O~
※
(End of Chapter)
OpenNovel