Chapter 99: Lodging a Complaint (Bonus Chapter for 1080 Pink Votes)
Within a couple of days, news came from the General Military Headquarters: Wu Ying, the Chiliarch of Nianbo Guard, had died in battle, and Zhao Ling, holding the rank of a centurion, was temporarily appointed to act as the Chiliarch of Nianbo Guard.
"Don't worry," Wang Furen specially came to inform Fu Tingyun of this news. "With Marquis Yingchuan and my Lord Wang supporting him, Centurion Zhao will be fine. If he performs well, it’s even possible for him to be officially promoted to Chiliarch. Send him a message and tell him to act boldly and decisively. He shouldn’t hold back just because it’s a temporary appointment—this is a rare opportunity." She then advised, "As the saying goes, 'Having connections in court makes governance easier.' Gaining Marquis Yingchuan’s favor is no small matter."
Wang Yi had been stuck in the position of Deputy Garrison Commander for eight years, unable to advance—not because he lacked ability or military achievements, but because he had no influential connections in the court. This promotion came entirely from Marquis Yingchuan’s recommendation. Worried that Fu Tingyun and her husband, being young, might not understand the gravity of such connections, Wang Furen made a special trip to explain.
Fu Tingyun was deeply grateful.
Her uncle and father had also struggled in their official careers due to the lack of strong recommendations in court, which was why her father had been so pleased and satisfied when she became engaged to the Yu Family.
"I will definitely follow your instructions and write a letter to Ninth Master," she said, personally refilling Wang Furen’s tea. "Please also convey my thanks to Lord Wang on my behalf. Without him and Marquis Yingchuan, a mere centurion like Ninth Master would never have been considered for the temporary position of Chiliarch of Nianbo Guard."
A centurion held the sixth rank, while a chiliarch held the fifth. The leap from centurion to chiliarch was a significant hurdle—crossing it meant being recognized in the General Military Headquarters, while failing meant remaining forever at the level of a local garrison.
"What help could Lord Wang offer?" Wang Furen replied modestly. "The General Military Headquarters is entirely under Marquis Yingchuan’s authority!" She hadn’t come to claim credit, so she changed the subject, inquiring about Fu Tingyun’s daily life.
"Just some needlework," Fu Tingyun replied with a smile. "It’s almost midsummer already."
"My two daughters keep hoping you’ll visit and teach them embroidery!"
Fu Tingyun’s maternal uncle’s family had met tragedy last August. Counting the days, the mourning period would end this month.
Fu Tingyun smiled. "Why not have them come over to my place to play? I have plenty of free time anyway."
Wang Furen had many responsibilities, so having Fu Tingyun look after the girls would be a relief. "That sounds wonderful—just don’t let them bother you too much."
They chatted for a while, and as noon approached, Wang Furen had to attend to Lord Wang’s lunch, so she took her leave.
Fu Tingyun escorted her to the gate, where they spotted Qi Taitai peering toward them from her own doorway. When Qi Taitai saw Wang Furen, she approached with an awkward smile to greet her.
Wang Furen exchanged a few polite words before boarding her sedan chair and departing.
Qi Taitai then pulled Fu Tingyun aside. "I saw General Mo has returned!" she said, standing at the gate.
General Mo’s grandmother’s birthday was in September, so by this time, he should have already set out.
"He’s probably here to fetch Consort Lu," Fu Tingyun explained, recounting the situation.
Qi Taitai’s eyes gleamed with interest. "So that Lu Shi is about to become a concubine?"
"Most likely," Fu Tingyun replied tactfully."Oh!" Qi Taitai absentmindedly exchanged a few words before saying, "You must be busy then? I should head home to prepare lunch too!"
After parting ways with Qi Taitai, Fu Tingyun had her midday meal and was about to rest when Zheng Sanniang rushed over, whispering mysteriously, "I saw Qi Taitai going to General Mo's house!"
Noticing the white headscarf still wrapped around Qi Taitai's head, Fu Tingyun guessed, "She must be going to complain."
Zheng Sanniang nodded vigorously. "That's what I thought too."
As Fu Tingyun settled down to rest, she pricked up her ears to listen.
From next door came Mo Yi's impatient muttering and Qi Taitai's sharp questioning, interspersed with Consort Lu's sobbing.
Smiling faintly, Fu Tingyun went to coax Linchun into taking a nap.
Soon after, Mo Yi came over asking to see Fu Tingyun.
Surprised, Fu Tingyun thought for a moment before inviting Mo Yi to sit in the main hall. After freshening up, she went to meet him.
Mo Yi looked even more astonished. "Why aren't you staying in the main residence?"
"It's more convenient in the east wing," Fu Tingyun replied vaguely, then asked, "With Ninth Master away, may I ask what brings you here, General Mo?"
Mo Yi gave an awkward chuckle and spoke haltingly, "As soon as I returned, Qi Taitai came to complain, saying she was beaten by our maids and servants... Violence is never justified, but as you know, Qi Taitai has always been fond of gossip..."
He must be trying to inquire about the rumors of Consort Lu's infidelity, Fu Tingyun realized.
Though Mo Yi was burly in appearance, he possessed a sensitive and suspicious nature—after all, he had once pressured Zhao Ling to take sides due to his unknown background.
Softly, Fu Tingyun said, "General Mo, are you here to ask about the rumors concerning Consort Lu?"
Relieved that he didn't have to broach the embarrassing details himself, Mo Yi exhaled. "Yes, exactly." A flicker of gratitude rose in him—Miss Fu was truly perceptive.
"Last month, intruders broke into my quarters. Fortunately, Zheng San caught several of them and reported it to the authorities," Fu Tingyun explained gently. "The officials investigated late into the night and didn't leave until dawn. Some neighbors who came to watch noticed two unfamiliar men climbing over the wall from your courtyard. With everyone talking, rumors about Consort Lu... began to spread." She smiled. "Surely you don't believe them, General Mo?"
Mo Yi was momentarily taken aback.
Before he could respond, Fu Tingyun continued, "Though Consort Lu comes from humble origins, she's a girl from a respectable family. While she may lack sophistication, she understands propriety and shame. Moreover, you, General Mo, hail from an esteemed family, possess a heroic spirit, and are a renowned young general of the northwest—admired by many. With such orchid-like fragrance around her, why would Consort Lu stoop to mud? Even if you doubt her character, you should have faith in yourself." Her tone carried a hint of amusement by the end.
Mo Yi's face flushed slightly.
"As for Qi Taitai, General, don't blame her too harshly," Fu Tingyun advised further. "Where there's no wind, waves still rise—let alone when people witness something firsthand. Some gossip is inevitable. Rumors cease with the wise. As long as you remain upright, time will prove them wrong."
Mo Yi nodded slightly. "Miss Fu, your wisdom and grace are remarkable. For Brother Zhao to marry you—he must have accumulated great merit in his past life." His tone was utterly sincere.
Blushing, Fu Tingyun thanked him.
With that, Mo Yi rose to take his leave.While they were talking, Zheng Sanniang came in to serve tea and overheard snippets of the conversation. She couldn't help but feel indignant: "Why didn't you tell General Mo the truth? You're too kind-hearted. Someone like her—you care for her, but she might not care for you in return..."
"Why the rush?" Fu Tingyun calmly interrupted Zheng Sanniang. "General Mo may be a bit hot-tempered, but he's not without sense. He was just shocked by the rumors about Consort Lu and momentarily lost his composure. Once he calms down, he'll think it through carefully. How could thieves suddenly break into our house? To our left is their residence, and to our right is Qi Taitai's home. Qi Taitai's place is closer to the alley entrance—why would the thieves hide in their house instead? The incident happened in the middle of the night, and everyone was alarmed. How could the thieves hide there for hours without being discovered?" She blinked playfully at Zheng Sanniang. "We live right next to Consort Lu's place. Don’t you think she’d know about General Mo’s visit to our house? What do you think would happen if General Mo found out she was involved in the break-in at our home?"
Zheng Sanniang still didn’t understand. "Wouldn’t Consort Lu hate you to death then?"
Such a simple soul!
Fu Tingyun sighed inwardly. Perhaps it was better she didn’t grasp these things.
"Let’s tidy up the house properly," Fu Tingyun changed the subject. "The two young ladies from the Wang family might visit us soon!"
Seeing Fu Tingyun unwilling to elaborate, Zheng Sanniang didn’t dare press further. She loudly agreed and first swept the courtyard clean. The next day, she borrowed rice husks from Qi Taitai, soaked them in lye water, and scrubbed the iron pots and tin kettles in the kitchen. On the third day, she meticulously cleaned every corner of Fu Tingyun’s room, not even sparing the pillars.
Suddenly, someone pounded on the gate, crying out, "Fu Shi, why are you framing me?"
It was Lu Shi’s voice!
Zheng Sanniang shuddered inwardly and didn’t dare open the door. She was about to call for Zheng San when he and A Sen, hearing the commotion, came out and stared at her in confusion.
From outside the gate came Mo Yi’s deep, restrained voice, thick with anger: "Go home! Stop embarrassing yourself here! Miss Fu said nothing of the sort—she even advised me not to jump to conclusions... It’s clear you’re the one who’s narrow-minded and incapable of tolerance!"
Lu Shi seemed stunned into silence by Mo Yi’s words. When her voice finally came again, it was faint and distant: "I’m narrow-minded and intolerant... How could you wrong me like this, General? It’s obviously that Fu Shi—she says one thing to your face and another behind your back..."
Zheng Sanniang exhaled in relief. Zheng San, grinning, said to A Sen, whose face was tense, "Let’s go back. The wicked will meet their match." He looked up and saw Fu Tingyun standing under the eaves of the eastern wing, smiling at them.
A Sen happily ran over to her.
Fu Tingyun wrapped an arm around his shoulders, but her smile gradually faded. "Prepare yourselves. On the tenth day of the sixth month, I’ll go to the Great Buddha Temple to hold a ritual ceremony, followed by the mourning removal rites."
The cheerful atmosphere vanished instantly.
Zheng San bowed solemnly to Fu Tingyun. "Understood!"By the time the lamps were lit, Mo Yi came to bid farewell to Fu Tingyun: "...We'll leave at dawn tomorrow. In a few days, the Lu family will send someone to take care of Lu Shi. I wonder if Miss Fu has anything you'd like me to bring for you?"
Fu Tingyun was greatly startled, staring at Mo Yi in astonishment.
Was he not taking Lu Shi back to Luyi after all?
A trace of desolation was faintly visible on Mo Yi's face!
Fu Tingyun hesitated, words caught in her throat.
Perhaps this was for the best. Given Lu Shi's temperament, even if she entered the Mo household, she likely wouldn't settle down peacefully.
Better a sharp pain than a dull ache.
She couldn't help but smile bitterly.
This wasn't really a farewell visit—it was clearly his way of giving her an explanation!
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O(∩_∩)O~
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(End of Chapter)
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