Chapter 294: Hundred Days
In the evening, upon returning home, Third Sister relayed Madam Mo's words to her husband: "...What do you think about strengthening our family ties with Ninth Sister through marriage?" As she asked this, there was a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
Marriage was meant to unite two families. They had never discussed this matter before, and Third Sister had no idea what her husband truly thought.
Third Older Cousin's Husband pondered for a moment before speaking: "As the saying goes, a daughter takes after her mother. Ninth Sister's character and conduct are beyond reproach..." He paused slightly, then continued, "But Ninth Brother-in-law is already a high-ranking second-grade official at such a young age, with the merit from supporting the emperor. The Zhao family's future is bright... They might not necessarily take a liking to our Chunbing..." His brows furrowed with hesitation.
Third Sister felt both joy and worry.
She was happy that her husband agreed to strengthen ties with Ninth Sister's family through marriage, but she was also anxious about how to broach the subject. If it worked out, it would indeed be a joyous occasion. But what if Ninth Sister had other plans for Youyou? How could she face visiting the Zhao family frequently afterward?
For a while, she felt restless, unable to sit still or stand comfortably. By the time Han Ge'er's hundred-day celebration arrived, she seemed somewhat absent-minded.
Madam Wu teased her, "What's the matter? Is Third Aunt feeling the pinch over the gifts? They’ve already been given—no use regretting it now."
For Han Ge'er's first-year celebration, the Shen family had gifted a pair of gold bracelets, a pair of gold anklets, two sets of engraved silk clothing, two sets of Hu silk garments, two pairs of shoes and socks, an inkstone from Duanxi, and a box of Hu brushes. Among the relatives, their gifts were the most generous.
"Madam Wu, you jest," Third Sister quickly composed herself and focused on entertaining the ladies around her. "I was just envious that Ninth Sister has another son, and couldn’t help feeling a little sour."
Everyone found her remark amusing and burst into laughter.
Fu Tingyun playfully glared at Third Sister and stuffed a handful of dates into her arms: "Third Sister, have some dates."
This provoked another round of laughter.
Amid the lively atmosphere, Baoshu hurriedly lifted the curtain and entered: "Madam, Second Master asked me to inform you that the Marquis of Wuding and his wife have come to present gifts for Third Young Master's first-year celebration."
The room fell silent.
Although the Empress Dowager had hinted in the palace that day that Meng Shi should get closer to Fu Tingyun, after leaving the palace, Meng Shi had made no effort to engage with her. After much deliberation, Fu Tingyun had still sent festival gifts to the Marquis of Wuding's residence during the Dragon Boat Festival. The Marquis's household accepted the gifts and reciprocated. For the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Spring Festival, Fu Tingyun had again taken the initiative to send gifts first. Privately, she had grumbled to Yu Wei, "With Her Majesty the Empress Dowager's words, not sending gifts would seem disrespectful. But sending them while the Marquis's household remains so indifferent makes it seem like we're desperately clinging to them. It’s frustrating." Since Zhao Ling was away from home, they hadn’t sent an invitation to the Marquis's household for Han Ge'er's hundred-day celebration.
Unexpectedly, the Marquis of Wuding and Meng Shi had arrived uninvited.
Fu Tingyun instinctively glanced at Yu Wei.
Yu Wei shook her head repeatedly, signaling that she hadn’t said anything out of turn.
Of course, Fu Tingyun didn’t doubt Yu Wei. Her reaction made Fu Tingyun smile faintly as she stood up and led the ladies to welcome Meng Shi.
Meng Shi was dressed in a grand, true-red, gold-patterned wide-sleeved jacket, adorned with a gold hairpin, looking dignified and solemn—a clear display of her respect for visiting the Zhao household.
Fu Tingyun was taken aback but stepped forward to greet Meng Shi with a curtsy.Before Fu Tingyun could kneel, Meng Shi stepped forward and took her hand: "We had the fortune to meet at The Empress Dowager's when we were young ladies, so we can be considered friends from our maiden days. There's no need for such formalities between us." Her manner was warm yet not excessive, making everyone feel comfortable as if bathed in spring breeze.
Fu Tingyun secretly admired her and exchanged polite greetings, introducing the other women in her household to Meng Shi.
Meng Shi chatted amiably with everyone before being escorted by Fu Tingyun to the inner chambers.
Following etiquette, Fu Tingyun brought Han Ge'er for her to see.
Meng Shi presented a pair of gold-inlaid mutton-fat jade locks as a meeting gift, then played with Han Ge'er for a while before asking about the other children: "Why don't I see your daughter and sons?"
"The children are quite mischievous," Fu Tingyun smiled. "With the banquet today, we've kept them in their rooms."
"Mischievous children are better—they're clever and strong," Meng Shi laughed. "Since it's my first visit, I should meet them all. It would be embarrassing to pass them by without recognition."
The "mischievous children" remark was merely Fu Tingyun's modest way of speaking. In truth, the children were lively, adorable, and well-behaved, never causing worry wherever they went. She smiled and asked Yu Wei to bring them over.
The children paid their respects to Meng Shi with perfect manners.
Meng Shi took Youyou's hand and inquired about Xi Ge'er and Xu Ge'er.
Both boys spoke clearly and articulately, making Meng Shi nod repeatedly with genuine delight that reached her eyes, her expression brightening noticeably.
Thinking of Meng Shi's childless state, Fu Tingyun couldn't help sighing inwardly.
As if sensing this, Meng Shi suddenly turned back to Fu Tingyun with a smile and asked, "Has your daughter been betrothed yet?"
Fu Tingyun was startled and replied, "Youyou is still young. We're not planning to arrange anything for her so soon."
Meng Shi nodded understandingly before turning back to chat with the children.
But Fu Tingyun's heart grew tense.
Was Meng Shi's question intentional or casual?
Born into the Duke Fu's household and married into the Dingyuan Marquisate, Meng Shi moved only among nobility and imperial relatives. If she intended to propose a match for Youyou, the suitor would undoubtedly be from an extraordinary family.
Great disparity makes ill partners.
Having suffered from such a mismatch herself, Fu Tingyun had never considered marrying Youyou into the complicated world of noble houses—let alone the imperial family.
What worried her most was that Meng Shi, with her high self-regard, might be seeking Youyou for the Dingyuan Marquisate.
After all, the Marquisate still lacked a legitimate heir...
A flicker of concern passed through Fu Tingyun's eyes.
Meanwhile, Third Sister, sitting quietly nearby, clenched her teeth.
After the midday banquet, Meng Shi prepared to leave, sending her maid to check if the Wuding Marquis's feast in the outer courtyard had concluded.
The maid returned and whispered something in Meng Shi's ear.
"Our Marquis is enjoying drinks with Minister Qin and Second Master Zhao," Meng Shi announced with a smile at Fu Tingyun. "He says he'll stay for the afternoon banquet. My husband usually dislikes socializing, yet here he is lingering at your home. This must be fate."
Suppressing her surprise, Fu Tingyun maintained a composed smile: "We're honored by his presence, though I fear our humble feast may not meet the Marquis's standards.""The finest wines from the palace are often enjoyed by the Marquis, yet never has he shown such enthusiasm as today," Lady Meng subtly complimented Fu Tingyun. "It truly shows how well the feast hosted by Lady Zhao was prepared, making the Marquis feel even more at ease than when drinking those imperial delicacies."
Fu Tingyun modestly deflected the praise.
The two exchanged idle conversation while the others sat stiffly with polite smiles, turning what had been a lively banquet into a rather restrained affair.
Finally, as the evening feast concluded and guests began to disperse, the Marquis of Dingyuan's party lingered. Fu Tingyun had no choice but to continue entertaining Lady Meng until the hour of Hai struck. Only then did the thoroughly intoxicated Marquis take his leave.
Yu Wei whispered to Fu Tingyun, "When Lady Meng’s maid went to fetch the Marquis earlier, he seemed quite drunk. He even said in front of everyone, 'If you're impatient, go home. I want to stay and enjoy a few more cups here.'"
Frowning deeply, Fu Tingyun closed the doors and wrote a letter to Zhao Ling, expressing her concerns. She then had Anxin arrange for its immediate delivery.
Early the next morning, Third Sister rushed over and pulled her into a side room to talk. "...Do you know why the Marquis and Lady Meng came together yesterday?"
Fu Tingyun grew anxious. "What have you heard?"
Third Sister lowered her voice. "After the great calamity that befell the Marquis's household, their family has dwindled, with no outstanding figures left. Their current wealth and status rely solely on the Empress Dowager’s favor toward the Emperor. The Empress Dowager is advanced in years and fears that after her passing, the Marquis’s household will decline. That’s why she’s helping the Marquis forge ties with the Emperor’s favored ministers—so someone can speak for him in the future."
"Not only do I know this, but Qin Feiyu and others are aware as well," Fu Tingyun said impatiently. "Everyone in the capital knows."
"But do you know the Emperor plans to establish a Governor-General for Yunnan and Guizhou to oversee the garrisons and military offices in both regions?" Third Sister asked.
Fu Tingyun was stunned.
She had assumed Third Sister had come because of rumors about Lady Meng asking whether Youyou was betrothed.
Her expression relaxed.
Third Sister looked exasperated. "Do you even understand? The Governor-General of Yunnan and Guizhou—your Zhao Ling is the most likely candidate! That’s a rank-one position! Rank-one, do you realize? If Ninth Master becomes Governor-General, his status and influence will be entirely different. That’s why the Marquis and Lady Meng lowered themselves to attend yesterday..."
"Ninth Master’s chances are slim, aren’t they?" Fu Tingyun smiled, relieved it wasn’t about Youyou. "The Emperor just rewarded him; it’s unlikely he’d be promoted again so soon..."
"Oh dear," Third Sister fretted. "You must strive for everything!" She tugged at her. "Quick, change your clothes and go ask Mr. Zhao for advice."
Instead, Fu Tingyun held Third Sister’s hand. "Third Sister, if even you know about this, surely Mr. Zhao does too. Whether it’s the Emperor or Mr. Zhao, they must have their own plans. If we rashly involve ourselves, it might not be appropriate. Let’s inform Ninth Master and let him decide."
Third Sister was taken aback.Fu Tingyun smiled brightly and nodded at her, leading her to sit by the window on the kang. "Third Sister, you came so early—have you had breakfast yet? The kitchen made layered pancakes today. Why don’t you try them and see how they taste?"
"You..." Third Sister bit her lip. "Are you really not going to intervene?"
Fu Tingyun replied tactfully, "Some things can be done once, but not repeatedly."
Third Sister let out a long sigh and dropped the subject, instead asking about Youyou's marriage prospects. "What if the Meng family really proposes a match for their illegitimate eldest son..."
"Even if she obtains an Imperial Decree, I won’t agree," Fu Tingyun said, her brow carrying a trace of sharp intensity.
Third Sister hesitated, as if wanting to say more but holding back.
Disturbed by the matter, Fu Tingyun didn’t dwell on Third Sister’s odd demeanor. After a moment of silent contemplation, she said, "But you’re right—I should visit Mr. Zhao as soon as possible... Some matters require the Emperor’s intervention."
Just as she finished speaking, Baoshu rushed in.
"Madam," he said urgently, "Anxin wishes to see you."
※
Seeking pink votes...
O(∩_∩)O~
※
(End of chapter)
OpenNovel