Fu Yu seemed completely unaware, not even looking behind him, and simply raised his hand to hand the item to her.
The hemp rope was tied into a net bag, and inside, wrapped in oil paper, the crooked "sugar chestnuts" were clearly visible.
You Tong's eyes instantly lit up with surprise as she looked at him in astonishment, "For me?"
"Hmm." Fu Yu nodded and shook the thing in his hand.
You Tong was overjoyed and immediately reached out to take it, saying, "Thank you—husband!"
She was born with an exceptionally beautiful face, with delicate eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes, her pupils as black as lacquer. Her long, black hair was styled into a bun, with a gold hairpin holding a drop of red pearl, which accentuated her bright eyes and white teeth. The carefree expression she had just worn while strolling here had not yet faded, and now a smile appeared on her face. Her eyes and the way she looked around were as clear as a spring, as shimmering as autumn water, clear and enchanting.
The lanterns in front of the inn cast a dim yellow light. She looked up and smiled gently, her eyes crinkling.
Fu Yu paused for a moment before reaching out to tighten her open collar and saying, "I'll be back later."
You Tong understood and glanced at Wei Tianze, who was staring blankly as if he had seen a ghost. Although she felt that Fu Yu's acting was a bit over the top, she still smiled and said, "Okay, I'll wait for my husband to come back."
Chapter 31 Imperial Edict
Wei Tianze and Fu Yu had known each other for several years, fighting side by side on the battlefield and risking their lives together. Although Wei Tianze was a junior officer under Fu Yu, they had developed a deep friendship. Over the years, Wei Tianze had become very familiar with Fu Yu's character and conduct—he was always calm and composed, knowledgeable about troops, supplies, and military operations, and spent his leisure time either training troops, patrolling, reading, or practicing martial arts.
The words "feminine charm" and "tender feelings" were never expressed by Fu Yu.
Qizhou City was teeming with beauties, and countless men were eager to send their daughters to him, but Fu Yu wouldn't even give them a second glance.
Who would have thought that he would be so interested in women these days?
This action was truly unexpected.
Wei Tianze was stunned for a long time before he came to his senses. He even forgot about the trick Fu Yu had tricked him earlier. After entering the room, he glanced at You Tong, who was walking towards the stairwell, a few more times before looking away.
Then, he summoned Du He for a meeting, temporarily setting aside his distracting thoughts.
By the time everything was settled, it was already late at night.
Fu Yu returned to his residence. The lights were still on in the guest room. He pushed open the door and went in. It was very quiet inside.
You Tong, unable to resist her drowsiness, had already fallen asleep. Her long, black hair was tucked behind the pillow, and the brocade quilt covered her completely, leaving only her beautiful face exposed. She slept peacefully. A few steps away, on a round table, sat a food box. A teacup held down a slip of paper on the lid, written neatly and elegantly in small, delicate characters—the words "Returning Sugar Chestnuts" were inscribed.
Fu Yu was slightly surprised. He opened the food box and found several sliced scallion pancakes inside, still steaming.
He had been busy and tired all day, and hadn't eaten properly during the meeting. Now that he was so focused, he saw the fragrant fried dough and suddenly felt a little hungry. He picked up a piece and tasted it; it was quite good.
He then finished the rest of the food, washed up, and went to sleep quite contentedly.
...
The journey from Taocheng to the capital is not long.
After yesterday's scorching sun, the snow on the official road had melted away, leaving only remnants of snow among the woods and paths on both sides, gleaming in the sunlight. After a short rest, we set off quite early this morning and, after a hurried journey, arrived at the city gate by evening.
The city walls stand tall and majestic, guards stand on the city towers, and the city gates are strictly guarded.
As it was nearing evening, there were many carriages and horses entering the city. The two groups being checked were dressed as merchants. They had been careless and didn't know where they had left their carriages, so they were frantically searching for them, sweating profusely. Unfortunately, they were accompanied by many other people, and several carriages were piled up at the city gate, blocking both carriage lanes. They couldn't get through immediately, and those behind could only wait patiently.
Just as it was almost time for You Tong's turn, the driver was about to rush over when he suddenly heard someone shouting from behind.
Within moments, people squeezed to the front, shouting, "Make way, make way—"
Along with it came the rumble of horse-drawn carriages.
The man, with a rough voice, stepped forward and said to Uncle Liu, who was driving the carriage, "This is the Xu family's carriage. They're in a hurry to get back to the city. Can I borrow it?" Before the other man could agree, he led the horse, intending to squeeze to the front and be the first to enter the city. Behind him, there were two rather long queues, leaving only a narrow passage in the middle for emergencies. Clearly, he was taking advantage of his position and had no intention of waiting in line, cutting straight in.
Uncle Liu works for the Fu family and is a powerful figure in Qizhou. How could he not see through the other party's true colors?
He immediately said, "We should hurry into the city too."
Having said that, he remained motionless, not moving an inch or yielding an inch.
The man opposite had spent most of his life in the capital and knew all the insignia of the city's high-ranking families. He dared to trespass so brazenly because he saw no powerful or influential figures behind him. Seeing that the other party wouldn't yield, he glanced at the carriage, noticing the unfamiliar insignia, and assumed it belonged to the family of some minor official from out of town, someone who, upon arriving in the capital, had become arrogant and disrespectful.
“This is the Xu family’s carriage.” He reiterated, lowering his voice, “Have you heard of the Xu family, the family of Princess Rui’s family, the Grand Tutor Xu?”
Uncle Liu was reliable in his work, but he was clumsy with words and did not want to cause trouble in the capital without permission, so he just turned his head away and did not respond.
Du He, disapproving of this arrogant attitude, rode forward a few steps and looked down at them, saying, "Even if it's a carriage from the Prince Rui's residence, we won't let it pass." He immediately blocked the way, waiting for the Fu family entourage to pass before catching up. Having served Fu Yu for a long time, he had been through countless battles and possessed a steely resolve. Although he lacked Fu Yu's imposing presence, he still exuded a formidable aura when his face darkened.
The young steward of the Xu family, hearing his arrogant tone and tough attitude, ultimately didn't dare to argue.
He suppressed his anger and glared at the Fu family until they left. When it was his turn, he asked the guards at the gate who had been so arrogant, so he could settle the score later.
As the guard watched the departing carriage, he leaned close and whispered in his ear, "The Fu family of Qizhou, the military governor of Yongning, have you heard of them?"
The steward, having spent a long time in the capital, had limited experience and was unaware of the situation inside and outside the court. He felt that compared to the imperial relatives and the Grand Tutor, officials who were not in the emperor's presence were insignificant, and he snorted coldly.
As I returned to the car, I heard someone inside ask, "Who was it that was blocking our way just now?"
"Reporting to you, young lady, it's the Fu family from Qizhou, and they're a military governor in charge of troops." The steward bowed and whispered, "Don't be angry, young lady. I was only being lenient with them because I was afraid it would look bad if things got out of hand at the city gate and reached the old master. Once we find them, we'll have to settle things with them." As he spoke, he ordered his men to drive the carriage into the city.
Xu Miao didn't notice the second half of his sentence, but instead lifted the curtain in surprise to look outside.
In the dim twilight, the entourage had already gone far away, turning onto the long street to the left. Because the Fu family had braved the city's gossip to propose to Wei Youtong last year, Xu Miao had paid extra attention and knew a little about their background. The Fu family rarely came to the capital, as they were leading troops outside the city; judging from the direction they were heading, they were probably heading towards the Wei family. So, was Wei Youtong also in the carriage that had stopped her earlier?
As soon as this thought arose, Xu Miao felt uncomfortable all over.
If it were anyone else, it wouldn't matter; she had already rushed ahead, so waiting a moment wouldn't hurt, and it would be a way to settle things peacefully.
However, sitting inside was Wei Youtong, the Wei Youtong who was trampled underfoot by the Xu family and whose reputation was ruined!
Even if the Fu family had some military achievements, they were just military governors who could run rampant in Qizhou. In terms of status and background, how could they compare to her brother-in-law who came from the royal family? That person just now even said, "They won't even let the Prince Rui's carriage pass," how incredibly arrogant!
Xu Miao was secretly annoyed. When she returned to the manor, she told her mother about it and complained about it.
Upon hearing this, Madam Xu's expression tensed slightly.
Wei Youtong is back so soon?
...
Compared to Xu Miao's frustration and annoyance, You Tong was quite happy at the moment.
Although the Wei family mansion in the capital wasn't her true home, she spent most of the six months before her marriage with Madam Xue, and was deeply moved by the efforts Madam Xue made to comfort her daughter. After marrying into Qizhou, Madam Xue also wrote to her, earnestly instructing her on many things, revealing her maternal love.
Now that they have been separated for so long, thinking of Xue Shi, she felt a warmth in her heart and quickened her pace.
After entering the mansion and passing the screen wall, Wei Sidao greeted them with a smile, treating his son-in-law, who held considerable military power, with great courtesy.
A few steps further in, Madam Xue, who had been waiting inside the hanging flower gate, couldn't wait any longer. Upon seeing You Tong, she hurriedly came out accompanied by her maid. Her face was originally adorned with the joyful smile of her daughter returning home, but when she saw You Tong, tears inexplicably streamed down her face. Afraid that Fu Yu would be displeased if he saw them, she quickly lowered her head to wipe them away, her eyes red as she called the two of them to come inside.
Upon entering the hall, the banquet was already prepared. Old Madam Wei sat upright and greeted Fu Yu with a smile.
Fu Yu still maintained the tough demeanor of a military general, but he had lost the indifference and disdain he had shown at the beginning of his marriage. He bowed to his elders and then took his seat.
This was You Tong's first visit home after her marriage.
When she was being condemned by everyone, only Madam Xue offered her words of comfort and companionship. Wei Sidao avoided her, and the old lady complained repeatedly. Therefore, she didn't have a good impression of either of them, and their relationship wasn't deep. During the meal, she mostly talked to Madam Xue, inquiring about her mother's recent situation. Even in front of his own family, Fu Yu rarely showed a smile, and when he was away from home, he didn't bother to say much.
The meal was eaten politely and respectfully, and everyone went to rest late at night.
The next day, after breakfast, before Xue could pull You Tong into the room for a private chat, they heard a palace maid visiting from outside.
Since the passing of the old master, the Wei family has rarely received imperial edicts. Now, unexpectedly, they have come knocking on their door, and Wei Sidao dared not be negligent, immediately inviting them into the main hall.
The palace servant was not looking for him, but for Fu Yu and You Tong. He said that the emperor remembered the Fu family's hard work and great achievements in guarding the border. The Fu family had previously made outstanding contributions, but he had not been able to personally bestow rewards upon them. Upon hearing that Fu Yu and his wife had returned to the capital, he specially issued an imperial decree, inviting Fu Yu to bring his wife to the palace the next day.
Although the imperial decree came suddenly, it was not entirely unexpected.
Last year, unrest broke out in the south. The imperial court sent troops to suppress it, but the fighting dragged on for several months. However, the more they fought, the more they lost, and the rebels occupied most of the southern territory. When famine strikes in the spring, the number of displaced people will grow, making it even more difficult for the imperial court to suppress and defend the region.
Emperor Xiping had previously issued several edicts requesting the powerful Fu family and the Prince of Xiping to intervene, but both sides refused, citing unrest on the border. Even though he was incompetent and indulged in pleasure while suffering from illness, he dared not abandon the empire left by his ancestors; how could he not be anxious?
Unfortunately, the regional military governors all stood by and watched, finding various excuses to guard their troops and refuse to exert any effort for the court.
Emperor Xiping was helpless and frustrated, and his illness worsened.
At the end of last year, Fu Yu killed more than 10,000 Tatar soldiers in the northern border, which not only inspired the soldiers and civilians of Qizhou, but also shocked the capital.
When the news arrived, it caused a great stir among the people, and there were also many different opinions in the imperial court.
Those who were timid and fearful felt that Fu Yu's actions were too arrogant and ruthless. Although he had won the battle, his methods were undeniably vicious, and his cavalry had crossed the border and breached two Tatar garrisons, which might anger the Tatar court. Since the fierce battle six or seven years ago, although the two countries had frequent minor skirmishes, they had managed to maintain a semblance of peace. Fu Yu's reckless actions, if they angered the Tatars and provoked them to launch an attack, disrupting the northern border, would only worsen the court's situation.
Others scoffed at these concerns.
News of the unrest in the south has spread, and the situation within the court is unstable; this is common knowledge.
The Tatars' recent southward harassment is a test of their strength. If the Fu family hesitates and appears weak, the Tatars will likely take advantage of the internal strife to invade southward. If they join forces with Dongdan to invade, even a full-scale mobilization of the Yongning army will be extremely difficult. If further unrest occurs in the north, who will quell it?
It would be better to be like Fu Yu, making fierce and ruthless moves to intimidate the opponent and dispel their covetousness.
The civil and military officials on both sides argued fiercely, each sticking to their own version of events, and the debate continued endlessly.
Emperor Xiping, secluded in the palace, had been studying classics and history since childhood, enjoying the beauty of nature and never even leaving the capital. How could he possibly know the thoughts of the Tatar royal court? At one moment, he felt he should act cautiously, as Fu Yu's actions were too reckless and ostentatious, which would provoke a counterattack. At the other moment, he felt that the fierce generals and powerful soldiers, with their far-reaching military might, could deter the enemy from making any rash moves. This time, he thought that this show of force would bring several months of peace.
After waiting anxiously for a while without hearing any movement from the Tatars, he was relieved and praised Fu Yu for his decisive and heroic actions.
Now that the northern border is temporarily at peace, could the Fu family spare some time to help deal with those rebels in the south?
This thought, upon surfacing, was like a glimmer of light in a gloomy downpour for Emperor Xiping. He was both angry at the Fu family's growing power and hoping they could lend a hand to stabilize the court. Now, hearing that Fu Yu, who intimidated enemy troops with his reputation as a war god, had arrived in the capital, how could he remain calm?
The fact that they didn't immediately detain Fu Yu in the palace shows they were already being patient.
The Fu family remained inactive for several months. When Fu Yu came to the capital this time, he naturally intended to test the emperor's attitude, so he accepted the imperial decree.
The couple stayed at the Wei family's house that night and went to bed early because they were tired from the journey.
The next day, after getting up and having breakfast, Fu Yu had a few words to say to Wei Sidao alone, so the father-in-law and son-in-law went to the study to have tea.
You Tong then took Xue Shi's arm and went to the warm pavilion—tomorrow she would be going to the palace to meet the emperor, and she would most likely run into old acquaintances. Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory. She had been away from the capital for half a year, and she needed to figure out the current situation first.
Chapter 32 Teasing
The warm pavilion was built against the artificial hill and named Qingyu because of the hundred stalks of green bamboo planted outside its windows. The climate in the capital was much warmer than in Qizhou. At this time of year, as spring was gradually melting, the bamboo leaves, which had withered all winter, began to show signs of life, their dark color gradually turning into a deep green. Under the bamboo grove, several sparrows leisurely pecked at the grass for food, undisturbed by people.
The morning light was strong and felt quite warm on her body. You Tong stood there for a while and almost broke out in a sweat from the heat of her jacket.
So I went inside and sat by the window. A gentle breeze blew in, which was quite pleasant.
Madam Xue had only one son and one daughter. Her second son, Wei Mianfeng, was three years younger than You Tong and had been sent to the academy at a young age. He rarely had the chance to be with her, and had been quite lonely since You Tong got married. Now that her daughter was finally back, she ordered a sumptuous feast of pastries and fruits to be prepared. She took You Tong's hand and asked her in detail about her life since getting married.
You Tong, mindful of her motherly heart, decided to report only the good news and not the bad, saying that Fu Yu was not a cruel or cold-hearted person and that the couple got along quite well.