Outside Shou'an Hall, the sky was bright and clear. Fu Yu looked at You Tong for a moment before awkwardly looking away.
You Tong, however, was not in a hurry. Seeing that his expression was not as cold and indifferent as usual, she asked, "Are you going to see Lan Yin too?"
"Okay, let's go." Fu Yu nodded and rubbed his temples.
He was physically strong and rigorous in training his troops. When the war was urgent, they needed to travel overnight for a quick raid. He also placed great importance on night training, often launching surprise attacks on the most elite cavalry in the middle of the night so that everyone could be ready to fight at any time. This time, he personally went to the training ground at the fourth watch of the night to train his most trusted troops. After finishing, he returned home and, seeing that it was still early, stopped by to inquire after his health.
Who knew this would happen?
The old lady was prejudiced and angry just now, and she didn't explain things clearly. Now that things have calmed down, she asked You Tong for the reason.
You Tong didn't hide anything and told him in detail about the hotpot meal the day before.
Finally, she said, "Besides the people from Nanlou, my third brother also ate some yesterday. Could we go to his place on the way? He and Lanyin are twins, and although they are different genders, their constitutions are probably somewhat similar. If he also feels unwell, we should quickly call a doctor. I really..." She paused, after all, she was afraid that the two siblings would suffer because of her, and her fingers unconsciously clenched.
She personally oversaw the preparation of the hot pot ingredients yesterday; there was no way the duck blood and intestines would go wrong. She was worried about something else—
Fu Lanyin and her brother were born into a wealthy family, unlike the maids and servants who were resilient and could handle spicy food. Perhaps their stomachs were pampered. Yesterday, when they ate hot pot, she specially prepared a mild sauce and also prepared a bowl of pigeon soup to help the siblings neutralize some of the spiciness. However, if Fu Lanyin was truly weak, she couldn't give her spicy food so easily in the future, lest she develop gastroenteritis, which was no joke.
Fu Yu glanced at her, clearly seeing the worry in her eyes.
Since their marriage, she has always been able to calmly and composedly deal with situations such as being neglected, being subjected to his cold and stern pressure, and being disobedient and offended by Su Ruolan. She even turns the tables on him afterward by going to the Liangshu Pavilion to find fault with him.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, he felt uneasy and worried, and his steps became slightly unsteady.
The girl is just a glutton; a little stomach upset is nothing serious. Look how worried she is!
Fu Yu's lips twitched slightly, his gaze falling on her profile, his tone carrying a hint of mockery, "You also said that others were fine after eating it, which shows that the food wasn't poisoned. Even if Lan Yin really did get sick from eating hot pot, it was her carelessness, and it has nothing to do with you."
The way she said it made it sound as if she was eager to shirk responsibility.
You Tong rolled her eyes secretly, annoyed. "I'm worried about her suffering!"
...
Fu Zhao lived in the small courtyard attached to Xieyangzhai.
It was still early. He had eaten breakfast and hadn't gone to the library yet when he was surprised to see Fu Yu bring You Tong to see him. He quickly ushered her into the house. You Tong saw that he was lively and energetic, asked him what was wrong, and was relieved to learn that Fu Zhao was not feeling unwell. She then hurried to the west building.
After taking the medicine, Fu Lanyin slept for half a day in a daze. She had just woken up and was sitting on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, drinking soft and fragrant porridge.
Seeing her brother and sister-in-law come in, she felt a little embarrassed, put down her bowl and spoon, and said, "It's really nothing serious. I drank the doctor's medicine and ate some porridge, and I feel much better." Fearing that Fu Yu would blame You Tong, she added, "I caught a chill last night while sleeping, and that's why I was fussy this morning. It has nothing to do with what I ate yesterday."
Fu Yu hummed in agreement, but then walked to the side to make room for You Tong.
You Tong wasn't as calm as him. Sitting by the couch, she hurriedly asked about Fu Lanyin's symptoms.
Fu Lanyin told the truth. When You Tong asked about the food she ate last night, she replied truthfully, "I ate quite a lot at the South Tower yesterday. I had a bowl of shredded chicken noodles in the evening. I didn't feel anything at the time, so it has nothing to do with my second sister-in-law. It's just that I was greedy before going to bed and ate two persimmons. I caught a chill in the middle of the night, which may have caused the commotion."
That's right!
You Tong found the root of the problem and breathed a long sigh of relief. "You really were greedy! Persimmons are cold in nature, and you ate so much shrimp paste yesterday. When two cold things come together, it's very easy to get an upset stomach. There are so many foods in the world that don't mix and shouldn't be eaten together. This stomach upset is relatively mild. Some things that you accidentally ate could be life-threatening. You have to be careful in the future."
Fu Lanyin, who had been waited on hand and foot for years, had never paid attention to these things before, and was stunned when she heard this. "There are such rules?"
"I'll make a list for you later."
"Hmm." Fu Lanyin had met You Tong several times and knew that she knew a lot about food. She felt a little embarrassed after indulging in a little food. She just held You Tong's hand and smiled shyly, "Thank you, Second Sister-in-law. With this list to avoid trouble, I can eat even more to my heart's content."
Seeing her greedy expression, You Tong sighed helplessly, "You!"
The two sisters-in-law sat facing each other, giggling foolishly. Fu Yu stood to the side with his hands behind his back, slightly surprised, wondering when his sister and You Tong had become so close. However, his sister was not delicate. Since others had eaten the same food without any ill effects, it must be because of the persimmons. You Tong's explanation made more sense.
He then reached out and patted You Tong's shoulder lightly, saying, "You stay with her, I'm going out for a bit."
"Okay." You Tong smiled and stood up to see him off.
Fu Yu didn't delay and explained the reason to Shou'an Hall.
The old lady had only heard the story from a servant, and didn't summon a doctor, seemingly disbelieving. However, since it was Fu Yu who had inquired, she didn't say much. She only instructed, "Even if it wasn't due to unclean food, Wei Shi is still implicated. You must remind her not to corrupt Lan Yin."
“I don’t think it’s necessary,” Fu Yu replied decisively.
The old lady frowned, her expression turning slightly somber. "That won't do. Given Wei's temperament and way of doing things..."
“She won’t corrupt Lanyin.” Fu Yu had been preoccupied with this matter all morning and hadn’t eaten a single bite of food. Seeing his grandmother still insisting on it, he was quite impatient. “Lanyin isn’t a child. She knows right from wrong. Grandmother, you don’t need to worry. As for Wei Shi—” He hesitated for a moment, then said casually, “She was certainly out of line before, but she’s been relatively well-behaved since marrying into the family. It’s not easy for her to marry so far away all alone. Grandmother, please be understanding.”
After saying this, he excused himself, saying he had something to do in his study.
The old lady remained, leaning against the daybed, muttering unhappily, "They've only been married for a few days, and they're already protecting her!"
...
Fu Yu didn't take Shou'an Hall's little scheme to heart.
After a half-day of fussing, his stomach was still empty. He returned to the Two Books Pavilion, took off his cold iron armor, hurriedly ate breakfast, and without even closing his eyes for a moment, went to Fu Deqing's council hall. The military governor had many fierce generals under his command, and his troops and money were plentiful. This council hall was spacious, bright, and majestic.
When Fu Yu went in, Fu Deqing's deputy general Xu Kui had just come out, fully armored and exuding a fierce and imposing aura.
Upon seeing Fu Yu, he clasped his hands in greeting, "Xiuping went to train the troops again this morning despite the cold?"
"He took him outside the city to practice for a while, to loosen up his muscles and bones." Fu Yu often fought alongside him when he was young and respected his senior. Seeing that Xu Kui's right leg was unsteady and his knee was slightly bent when he walked, he said, "Is the old general's leg still not healed?"
"Ugh, don't even mention it!" Xu Kui, in his forties, had a dark complexion from the wind, but was straightforward in nature. "None of the medicines the army doctor prescribed last time worked. The other day I asked Mr. Qin for help, and he gave me some good medicine. But he also said that this is an old ailment from years of wind exposure, and I need to find a very experienced old army doctor, which he's not good at. Damn it—this leg is really a burden to this old man! I'll come work for your cavalry later!"
The two were talking in front of the door when Fu Deqing heard them from inside. He opened the window, looked out, and laughed and scolded, "Old man, stop causing trouble for Xiuping."
Xu Kui knew that the cavalry led by Fu Yu had extremely strict military regulations, which he could not endure. He laughed twice, waved his hand, and left.
Fu Yu noticed his slight limp and furrowed brows. As soon as he entered the house, he said, "Uncle Xu, is there really nothing the military doctor can do about your leg?"
"I've tried everything I could, but nothing works." Fu Deqing sighed, feeling extremely guilty. "The old man has risked his life in the army, and now he's developed health problems, but I'm helpless."
Xu Kui was a brave and skilled warrior in his youth, and Fu Yu, who had just entered the army as a child, also remembered his majestic figure.
Now that the mighty general is getting old and frail, it's a sad sight to see him like this. So he said, "Last time I sent someone to investigate, and there's an old doctor in the capital who used to be a military doctor. He's very good at treating these kinds of things. We've found out where he is and where he lives. Why don't we send someone to invite him over and give it a try?"
"Perfect." Fu Deqing closed the door and led his son into the inner room.
The walls inside are thick and the windows are narrow, making it somewhat dark, but its secluded location makes it ideal for private conversations.
He walked to the desk against the wall, took out a stack of densely written papers from the drawer, and showed them to Fu Yu before saying, "This Zhu Xun is very skilled in military affairs. He was also very brave in helping the Prince of Xiping defend against the enemy. This time, he was ordered to quell the rebellion, but because the accompanying civil officials were in the way, he missed the opportunity to fight. After returning to the capital, he was slandered and imprisoned. If we can recruit him, it will save us a lot of effort."
“He’s a troublemaker.” Fu Yu read it twice, raising an eyebrow slightly. “But he’s also a sharp sword.”
"That's why I need you to go in person. A single valiant general is worth thousands of soldiers."
Fu Yu naturally understood this principle.
He had ventured into dangerous places countless times before, so he knew exactly how to handle this situation.
He then memorized the man's experiences and put them away. He then took out a tiny letter tube from his sleeve and handed it to Fu Deqing.
"News just came back from the south. The rebels are fierce and the court can't suppress them. Next spring's famine will probably be even more difficult. When the court sends troops to suppress them, Qizhou can try to help. I'll go to the Wei family again and first get the maps, beacon towers, and city defense maps of the key passes in the southeast. What do you think?"
"Good!" Fu Deqing was very pleased after reading the intelligence report. "After this matter is finished, please invite the old doctor over as well. Should we send more help?"
"Need not."
Fu Yu acted swiftly and efficiently, arranging the important matters at hand, and set off for the capital that very night.
More than half a month later, they returned home with a full load of goods, living up to expectations.
By the time the handover of Zhu Xun, the old military doctor, and the confidential maps was completed, it was already evening. Fu Yu had been traveling for days, and had exhausted himself in the capital. Fu Deqing didn't want him to be too tired, so he ordered him to return home to rest. Fu Yu entered the residence, but instead of going to the Two Books Pavilion, he went straight to the South Tower, his sleeves dusty from the journey.
Author's Note: Back from my business trip, first thing I did was visit my wife~ Thank you so much for the landmine in the little courtyard~
Chapter 18 The Cage
In the harsh cold of midwinter, only a few old cypress trees and a patch of dark bamboo stand out starkly outside the South Tower.
Amidst the withered branches, the courtyard pavilion, with its carved beams and painted rafters, vermilion railings and green tiles, is bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun, revealing a vibrant life amidst the desolate winter scene. In the corner of the side room, a wisp of bluish-green smoke rises from the small kitchen, and though the evening breeze is chilly, it evokes the image of a roaring fire inside, inexplicably bringing a sense of warmth.
Fu Yu saw this from afar and unconsciously slowed his pace.
He had lived here when he was young and was quite familiar with the courtyard and attic. Later, he moved to the study and rarely set foot here.
In my memory, this courtyard was often deserted. The maids and servants were respectful, but none dared to overstep their bounds. Besides sweeping the courtyard, they dared not touch the furnishings, much less cook or prepare meals amidst the smoke and fire. In winter, with the trees bare and the grass withered, it felt even more desolate. He would occasionally return to sleep for a night, but apart from Aunt Zhou's caring and considerate manner, others mostly acted with reverence, making him feel less at ease than in his study.
At this moment, smoke rises from the setting sun, and if you get closer, you can faintly hear laughter.
—It seemed as if something was going very well inside.
Closer still, he could see the small kitchen was cooking, and the aroma of steamed rice, pastries, and meat broth wafted through the fence, wafting right into his nostrils. He had been traveling for days and hadn't eaten yet, but the aroma whetted his appetite, and he suddenly realized his stomach was empty and he felt a little uncomfortable.
As we entered the courtyard, Yanbo was carrying a plate of steaming hot roasted sweet potatoes, inviting the maids to come and try them.
Upon seeing him, the maids, who had been drooling with desire, quickly suppressed their cravings and greeted him respectfully, "General."
Hearing the commotion, Aunt Zhou hurried out to greet the guest. Looking at this rare guest, she seemed surprised. "The General is back?"
"Hmm." Fu Yu nodded. "Where is the young mistress?"
"He's taking a stroll at Wangyun Tower in the north." Knowing that he wouldn't come to the temple without a reason, Aunt Zhou tentatively asked, "Should we send someone to invite him back?"
"No need." Fu Yu stopped in his tracks, not going any further into the house, but instead stepping out the door. The kitchen was bustling with activity, the courtyard filled with the aroma of food, but a curtain hung at the kitchen door, obscuring what was inside. But those roasted sweet potatoes… Fu Yu had eaten them to stave off hunger during his military campaigns, and couldn't help but glance at them.
A new small square pine table had been placed outside the kitchen, with a plate of roasted sweet potatoes on it, all broken in half, their insides fragrant, soft, and translucent. The aroma wafted over, making one feel as if they could taste the warm sweetness, which made their mouth water.
This tastes really...
Fu Yu didn't go over to get it and try it; he simply walked out the door without looking to the side.
Yanbo and the others stood by the passageway, waiting for the woman in the black cloak with gold embroidery to turn the corner before swarming forward and devouring all the sweet potatoes.
...
Outside the courtyard, Fu Yu could only suppress the aroma of food as he walked towards the north slope.
The ginkgo leaves had long since fallen, and the maple trees were left with only bare, crooked branches. The weeds on the slope were withered and yellow, and the sun-dried, brittle leaves were piled up in layers, crumbling into a heap when stepped on with a boot.
The Wangyun Tower stands tall and majestic, bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun.
Beside the railing on the second floor of the attic, a woman stood leaning against it, gazing at the view. Perhaps because she was living a secluded life at home and not particularly particular about her appearance, she had not styled her hair with hairpins or ornaments; her long, black hair cascaded over her shoulders, soft as lacquer and gleaming. She wore a silver-red and gold-trimmed outer robe, shaped like a crane's cloak, made of brand-new crimson feather gauze, with a circle of soft white fox fur around her neck that shimmered in the setting sun. The sash at her waist hung down, fluttering in the wind.
Compared to the bustling world of Nanlou, she seemed to be immersed in another world at this moment.
You Tong was indeed engrossed in it.
The Wangyun Tower on the north slope is ideal for viewing the scenery due to its advantageous location. However, among the women in the mansion, the old lady rarely goes out because she is afraid of the cold, and the eldest son's mother and daughter-in-law live in the east courtyard, which is far away from here. Fu Lanyin is the only one who shares the same interests and does not need to worry about anything, which makes it convenient for her to climb the tower whenever she wants.
The view here is expansive, with rolling mountains in the distance, their white hues contrasting with the crisscrossing shadows of the trees, creating a scene reminiscent of a simple ink painting. But now, as the setting sun casts its golden-red rays, it paints everything in its path, like adding pigment to a plain ink painting, instantly transforming the interplay of light and shadow, the colors of the buildings, into a vibrant and striking spectacle.