Her courage was nothing special after all.
The couple arrived at Deshouan Hall and waited for a while before Fu Deqing and his sister Fu Lanyin arrived one after another.
Six years have passed since Madam Tian passed away, so going to the temple to offer incense now doesn't require too many people. Madam Shen from the eldest branch sent an old woman with the offerings prepared by Madam Shen and her two daughters-in-law, which was quite thoughtful. The old lady had previously made a vow at Jinzhao Temple when the weather was warm, but since it's been cold lately and she can't go out, she prepared generous gifts and entrusted them to Fu Deqing to take on her vow. She also sent her capable maidservant to accompany her and help with the chores.
After the assignments were made, Fu Deqing took his children out.
Fu Lanyin was going to pick up her widowed sister-in-law who had gone to a Buddhist temple to practice Buddhism. Fu Deqing took Fu Zhao with him, while You Tong rode in the same car with Fu Yu.
The sky was getting brighter, but the dark clouds were still gathering in clusters, and raindrops were pattering on the eaves, sometimes fast and sometimes slow.
You Tong's head was also spinning from the sound of the rain. After the carriage swayed and staggered for a while after leaving the city, she felt increasingly drowsy. Coincidentally, Fu Yu was keeping his eyes closed and silent, his two sword-like eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if he was pondering important matters and it was not advisable to disturb him. Even though she was somewhat wary of this fierce general who was renowned in the enemy army, she couldn't hold on for long. Gradually, her eyelids drooped, her mind wandered, and she couldn't help but close her eyes, trying her best to maintain a composed and dignified posture.
As her consciousness grew deeper and deeper, just before she drifted off to sleep, she suddenly felt the carriage lurch violently, almost causing her to fall and hit the side wall.
You Tong was startled and hurriedly opened her eyes, realizing that her body had indeed shaken violently and her forehead was throbbing. She subconsciously looked at Fu Yu and saw him looking at her with a rather strange expression.
Her mind was still a mess, and she stared at him unfocusedly for a moment before belatedly realizing that the carriage was moving quite smoothly.
So just now...
Could it be that she's fallen head over heels for Fu Yu?
His strange look must be because he was displeased by her interruption.
The thought arose, and embarrassment, like a flame, quickly spread from her toes to her head. You Tong felt her cheeks burning, and she suppressed the urge to raise her hand to test it, trying her best to remain calm and glean clues from Fu Yu's expression.
Author's Note: You Tong'er is so sleepy she's going crazy!
Chapter 10 Awkward
In the cramped carriage, the two stared at each other strangely. Fu Yu watched as her porcelain-white cheeks flushed slightly, even her clear eyes softened with warmth, a mixture of shyness, embarrassment, and nervousness. He couldn't help but recall how she had sat upright, seemingly lost in thought, and found it amusing, yet his expression remained indifferent. He simply said casually, "Not awake yet?"
You Tong shook her head. "No, I'm awake."
After a while, she honestly admitted, "It's probably because of the weather that I feel sleepy."
I felt a bit dizzy from catching a chill at night, but I was too embarrassed to tell him.
Fu Yu glanced at her for a moment, then looked away and handed her the Shu embroidery pillow beside him. "There are still forty miles to go."
On a sunny spring day, the journey would be over in no time, with the scenery along the way in sight. But now, with the autumn rain making the roads slippery and her feeling unwell and constantly sleepy, she probably wouldn't be able to make it to Jinzhao Temple in high spirits. Since Fu Yu had offered her a soft pillow, he probably wouldn't mind too much. You Tong hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took it, holding it in her arms.
Fu Yu also moved to the corner to make room for her, then closed his eyes and pondered with a furrowed brow.
When I opened my eyes again, the person next to me had indeed fallen asleep again, with her arms tightly wrapped around a soft pillow, her head resting on it, her eyebrows and eyes gentle, her eyelashes long, and her wisps of hair sticking to her cheeks, making her skin appear even whiter and her complexion even more beautiful.
Her appearance was indeed outstanding, but not enough to make him interested.
However, she looked tired and listless...
Fu Yu reached out and touched her forehead; it was indeed warmer than usual, likely due to a fever caused by the cold.
...
We drove slowly until we reached the outside of Jinzhao Temple, where the rain had stopped.
The carriage came to a gentle stop. You Tong woke up and opened her eyes to see Fu Yu bowing as he walked out. She quickly straightened her clothes and followed closely behind. The carriage stopped outside the gate of Jinzhao Temple. The moss on the stone slabs was wet and slippery after the rain. Afraid of slipping, You Tong carefully stepped onto a low stool. Suddenly, she saw an arm reach out to her. Surprised, she looked up and saw Fu Yu standing facing the temple, his profile indifferent as ever, only his arm was placed beside her.
It really is... awkward.
You Tong didn't stand on ceremony. She steadied herself by taking his arm and then said, "Thank you, my husband."
“You’ve caught a cold. Remember to get medicine from the abbot.” Fu Yu answered briefly, then walked straight toward a man of similar age at the temple gate—one of his lieutenants, Wei Tianze.
Wei Tianze spent his childhood wandering in Qizhou. At the age of eight, he did odd jobs near the military camp. Because of his agility, he was noticed and taught martial arts. By the time he joined the army at the age of fifteen, he was already quite outstanding. He was just a low-ranking soldier at first, but later became a scout. It just so happened that Fu Yu was also practicing spying and military intelligence at that time, and that's how they met.
Afterwards, when Fu Yu went out on missions, he often asked Wei Tianze to accompany him. They fought side by side several times and forged a life-or-death bond.
Wei Tianze lived up to expectations, making rapid progress in literacy and martial arts, excelling in skill, intelligence, and adaptability.
By now, he had become a capable deputy general under Fu Yu and had a deep relationship with the Fu family. This time, Fu Yu took him along for more than half a month when he went out. Because Wei Tianze had many dealings with the Fu brothers and had also received help from the Tian family, he rushed to Jinzhao Temple today to offer incense with Fu Yu and his son.
The twenty-year-old general was agile and dashing, with a bright and upright demeanor. As soon as he appeared, he clasped his hands in greeting to Fu Deqing.
"This humble general greets the general!"
Fu Deqing recognized him, of course. He waved his hand and said, "I'm going to trouble you this time to travel with Xiuping."
Wei Tianze laughed heartily, then clasped his hands in a salute to Fu Yu, and patted Fu Zhao on the shoulder, "Third Young Master!"
"Brother Wei," Fu Zhao said politely to him.
Once everyone had gathered, before entering the mountain gate, Wei Tianze stood beside Fu Yu, raised his gaze slightly to You Tong, and jokingly asked, "Is that the lady behind you your wife? I was stationed outside during the wedding and didn't have a chance to attend the celebration."
Fu Yu tugged at the corner of his lips, "I'll make it up tonight."
Wei Tianze smiled, turned around and glanced at You Tong, his gaze pausing slightly.
Two years ago, he had been to the capital and met the rumored third daughter of the Wei family, who was said to have one foot in the Prince Rui's mansion. She was indeed beautiful, but her demeanor was arrogant and she seemed naive and ignorant of the ways of the world. Now, when he looked at her again, her features were still vaguely the same, but her aura and spirit were completely different.
Given Fu Yu's discerning eye and aloof nature, he wouldn't be driven by lust. It's said that he proposed marriage despite the rumors that filled the capital because Miss Wei had saved his life.
Judging from the situation just now, the couple arrived together, but their eyes rarely met, and they didn't seem to be very affectionate.
Wei Tianze glanced at You Tong a couple more times, as if investigating. After they finished offering incense and fulfilling their vows, when Fu Yu invited him to drink at a nearby inn, he smiled and said, "Second brother, won't you take your sister-in-law home?"
“She has someone to take care of her,” Fu Yu replied casually.
"Oh—" Wei Tianze teased, drawing out the words, "Newlyweds, yet you've been traveling for two months. You really have the heart to do that."
Upon hearing this, Fu Yu's gaze deepened slightly. He glanced at him and said calmly, "No rush."
Wei Tianze smiled without saying a word, then caught a glimpse of the slender figure disappearing behind the carriage curtain, and seemed to be deep in thought.
...
Following Fu Yu's instructions, You Tong obtained some emergency pills from the abbot and took them, which slightly relieved the dizziness in her head. After finishing the incense offering, she was happy to get into the carriage to rest comfortably upon hearing that Fu Yu would not be accompanying her, completely unaware that someone had already taken notice of her as the young mistress of the Fu family.
After returning home from Jinzhao Temple, Fu Yu remained as busy as ever.
The saying goes, "An army without training is worthless; but with training and practice, even one soldier can be worth a hundred."
The Fu family's ability to maintain their dominance in Yongning is due to their elite troops and valiant warriors. Now, with the world in turmoil, they dare not slacken their efforts. Father, son, uncle, and nephew take turns supervising the training of troops in various places. As Fu Deqing's most capable assistant, Fu Yu is even less free. Apart from appearing at Shou'an Hall in the morning and evening, he is nowhere to be seen all day. He also rests in the Two Books Pavilion at night and never sets foot in the South Building.
You Tong waited for three days before finally hearing the news that he hadn't gone out.
It was a rare opportunity for someone as busy as a dog to stay in the manor, and You Tong was not about to miss it. After confirming the news, she summoned Aunt Xia and Chuncao and instructed them to prepare several fragrant and delicious dishes that could be carried far by the wind.
Once all the ingredients were prepared, the delicious food was cooked, and the aroma filled the air, she settled down in the banana pavilion in the courtyard.
Chuncao had already received instructions. Receiving the signal, she went to the room where Su Ruolan was staying and said in a friendly tone, "Sister Su, the young mistress wants to see you."
After that night of autumn rain, the Fu family started burning charcoal braziers to keep warm throughout the house.
At this moment, Su Ruolan sat in a round-backed chair beside the charcoal brazier, on a thick, soft embroidered quilt, warm and comfortable. In her hand was a warm hat—said to be made for the old lady. From finding the fabric to choosing the pattern, it had taken many days of work. Now that it was cut out, she only used it to procrastinate every day, not knowing when it would be finished.
Hearing Chuncao call her, she made an excuse as usual: "I have to do the old lady's needlework, I don't have time. Tell Baoxiang to go with you."
Bao Xiang was a twelve-year-old girl, timid and honest. After being reprimanded by Aunt Zhou, she became quite respectful to You Tong. Su Ruolan saw this and felt resentful. Whenever there was work to be done, she would half-sarcastically push it away. This time, she used the same trick again, lazily leaning back in her chair, about to call Bao Xiang.
Chuncao wouldn't allow her to procrastinate any longer, and said with a forced smile, "The young mistress is calling for you, not Baoxiang."
“I’m busy. Here—” Su Ruolan waved the warm hat in her hand, “It’s for the old lady.”
“The old lady’s matter is indeed urgent, but since you are slow, don’t worry about taking a little longer.”
These words were practically accusing her of being lazy and using flimsy excuses. Su Ruolan's expression changed slightly, and she sneered, "What else could the young mistress do all day besides eat? Do you think all those people in the courtyard can't live without me? Hmph, what is she going to order me around to do this time?"
Chuncao's expression also changed, and she said coldly, "Since you are a maid in this South Tower, you should act according to orders. Why ask so many questions?"
"You dare to give me attitude!" Su Ruolan immediately retorted angrily.
Chuncao looked at her with a cold smile, "Since you don't want to go, just say so clearly so I can report back. If you blame us later, we can each take responsibility and make things clear."
She rarely showed such resolve. Even when Su Ruolan tried to speak ill of You Tong in front of her, she had tried her best to hold back. Now, with such harsh words, Su Ruolan began to have doubts. After thinking about it, she figured that You Tong had probably been given a task from above and was using it as an excuse to order her around. So, she didn't dare to delay and reluctantly threw her hat aside and went out.
Author's Note: Once the character has gained some weight, it's time to start slaughtering them! Brother Fu Er refuses the three-part rejection: Disdain. Unmoved. Unfeeling.
You Tongtong: You mean what you say! =.=
Chapter 11 Rescue
The weather was warm that day, and the kitchen was bustling with activity, with maids and servants helping out in the courtyard.
Cold voices could be faintly heard from inside the room. Everyone knew Su Ruolan's temper, and when she came out, they all secretly kept an eye on her.
Beneath the Banana Pavilion, You Tong sat leaning against a pillar, casually flipping through a book. When Su Ruolan approached, she said with a half-smile, "After all this trouble, you're quite hard to get." She raised her eyebrows slightly, her eyes filled with reproach. She glanced at Su Ruolan, but seeing that Su Ruolan was stubbornly refusing to admit her mistake, she continued to read her book.
Su Ruolan stood there for a moment, and seeing that You Tong was just flipping through books and ignoring her, she vaguely sensed something was wrong.
She hesitated for a moment before reluctantly saying, "Something came up, please forgive me, young mistress."
"Hmm." You Tong raised her hand, took the hand warmer that Yan Bo had replaced with fresh charcoal from, and warmed her fingertips before instructing, "There are many things piled up in the storeroom behind the South Building. They haven't been cleaned for a long time and are covered in dust. Some of them are valuable, and it would be a pity if they were left to spoil. Among the people in this courtyard, Sister and Aunt Zhou are the most reliable. Aunt Zhou is not in good health, so let Sister handle this matter. Take two people with you later to clean the storeroom and pick out the things to use later, so as not to waste them."
Upon hearing this, Su Ruolan's expression grew even more unpleasant.
She knew better than anyone what the warehouse behind it was like.
The South Building was originally for Fu Yu to live in. In his early years, he would occasionally set foot here. The old lady and Madam Shen added many fine things here, but because there was not enough room to display them all, many of them were temporarily stored in the storeroom and cleaned and displayed regularly. Later, Fu Yu became busier and busier, and was often away on business. He almost disappeared from this place, and the servants stopped changing the furnishings as often as before.
The warehouse had been sitting idle for two years, gathering dust, and nobody wanted to touch it.
This time, when Fu Yu got married, some new items were brought over, and the storeroom wasn't opened.
By now, the dust inside has been accumulating for at least three or four years. If you move it even slightly, it will stir up dust that fills the whole room and makes you feel choked up. How could she possibly touch it?
Upon hearing this, Su Ruolan knew that You Tong had deliberately set things up.
She had long resented this disreputable man for shamelessly occupying the position of young mistress. After observing him for the past two months, she felt even more that he was weak and easily bullied, far from home, looked down upon, and lacked any real ability. Judging from Fu Yu's expression, he clearly disliked this man as well, but was forced to marry him due to his father's orders. In contrast, although she was a maid, she was born into the Fu family, held in high regard by the old lady, and had known Fu Yu for far longer than You Tong.
Seeing that You Tong seemed to be negotiating, Su Ruolan was not about to set a precedent of yielding and submitting. She immediately said, "This servant has been busy with the old lady's needlework lately. Young mistress, please find someone else."
"You're always busy with this, pushing things onto others. Can't you come up with a different excuse?"
Su Ruolan was embarrassed when she was exposed, but she still said, "There are so many people in the courtyard, there must be some who are idle."
You Tong raised an eyebrow. "So, you're saying you're unwilling?"
Su Ruolan turned her head away and remained silent, appearing defiant and unwilling to be controlled.
The smile in You Tong's eyes vanished completely. She threw the book onto the table next to her, and her face turned cold and stern.