The laughter came from Shen Yueyi, neither too loud nor too soft, as she looked at the person in the seat of honor with amusement.
Despite her full head of silver hair, Madam Fu appeared quite cheerful. Seeing the couple enter, she placed a pair of shoes she was carrying aside. After they bowed, she said, "You're finally back. Was your journey safe?"
"Everything is going well. How has Grandmother been feeling lately?"
"She's much more energetic than before. Ever since Yueyi came to the manor—" Madam Fu said, then looked at Shen Yueyi beside her with a smile, her eyes showing approval, "This child is considerate and gentle, and she can talk well. Keeping this old woman company and relieving her boredom makes me happier and allows me to eat a few more bites."
As she spoke, Shen Yueyi stood up and gracefully bowed, saying, "Greetings, General."
They had met before in Taocheng. Although Fu Yu didn't remember her face, he knew that the Shen family mother and daughter were staying at his residence, so he simply nodded. Shen Yueyi then met You Tong. Seeing that she was amiable and courteous, You Tong naturally didn't neglect her. Afterwards, seeing that Fu Lanyin had left an empty seat for her, the two sisters-in-law smiled at each other and went over to sit down.
Fu Yu was a man, and with women outside the mansion, he wouldn't stay long. So he said he had something to do outside and had to leave first.
Madam Fu did not stop him. After Fu Yu left, she looked at You Tong.
...
At Prince Rui's residence, Xu Shu publicly admitted that her previous remarks were slander. This matter spread quickly throughout the capital, but hadn't yet reached the far reaches of Qizhou, thanks to the people who attended the banquet that day. Since Fu Yu intended to help You Tong, how could he stand idly by?
He immediately ordered Du He to deliver the message back to Qizhou.
The members of the Fu family had different thoughts upon hearing this.
When the marriage was being arranged, it was Fu Deqing and Wei Sidao who discussed it, and others had almost no say in the matter except for the wedding preparations.
Fu Deqing was a man of unyielding integrity, with many lives on his hands. He only cared about the greater good and didn't value his reputation much. At the time, he only asked about You Tong's drowning and didn't inquire about anything else. Unfortunately, Wei Sidao was strict and valued the good name left by his ancestors. He was already angry and displeased because You Tong had come to Xu Chaozong's door several times to demand an explanation. He felt that this was inappropriate and was ashamed to bring it up. Seeing that Fu Deqing didn't ask, he didn't say anything more.
As a result, when the rumors reached Qizhou, many of the women believed them and harbored prejudice and resentment.
When Prince Rui and his wife personally admitted it, clearing You Tong's name, Fu Deqing and Fu Lanyin were naturally gratified, feeling that their judgment was indeed correct, and that this girl was not as bad as rumored. However, Old Madam Fu felt a knot in her heart for a while after hearing this—when You Tong married into the family last year, she treated her with prejudice and coldness, and criticized You Tong twice, both times because of her reputation.
Now that her reputation has been cleared, looking back on what happened that day, her behavior was quite inappropriate.
—It makes her seem short-sighted and easily deceived.
Madam Fu had been secretly upset for two days. When she saw You Tong, her feelings were complicated, but she put on a dignified posture and asked her calmly how her family was doing and whether the Empress and the Consort had given any instructions when she entered the palace.
You Tong then said that her family was well and conveyed her greetings, adding that the Empress and the Imperial Concubine were thinking of her and asked them to send their regards.
Since Shen Yueyi and her daughter were present, she skipped over the details of the Empress's probing and the Prince Rui and his wife's recruitment, and presented several items that the Wei family had given to Old Madam Fu, Shen, and Fu Lanyin. Before returning to the capital, she had heard from Fu Yu that the Shen family had just arrived in Qizhou and that the female members might be staying at the mansion, so she had also prepared some for her and her daughter. Everyone was happy.
After the chat, Madam Shen and her daughter Shen Yueyi accompanied Old Madam Fu to play mahjong, while You Tong returned to her residence with Fu Lanyin.
After being separated for more than half a month, in this mansion, besides the people in the South Building and the small kitchen, the person You Tong missed the most was Fu Lanyin.
Just now at Shou'an Hall, there were elders and guests present, and both of them followed the rules and did not say anything out of line.
Now that no one else was around, Fu Lanyin's slightly chubby face broke into a happy smile. "During the New Year holidays, I've encountered a lot of delicious food at banquets, but due to the rules, I couldn't eat to my heart's content. Every time, I thought that if you were here, we could cook a couple of dishes when we got back and eat them slowly."
"That's all you've got in mind!" You Tong chuckled. "How about we go back to Nanlou together later? I brought you some nice things."
Fu Lanyin readily agreed.
Upon arriving at the South Tower, You Tong presented her with all the items she had picked out along the way. Although they were not particularly valuable, they were mostly ingenious and interesting. Several pieces of jewelry shone brightly, accentuating Fu Lanyin's slightly plump figure and radiant temperament.
Afterwards, the two sisters-in-law used the abundant ingredients from the festival to prepare several delicious dishes and enjoyed them immensely.
...
Perhaps it was the rejection he received at the inn that night that displeased Fu Yu and aroused his arrogance, or perhaps it was the military affairs that had been piling up for more than half a month that urgently needed to be dealt with. After returning to Qizhou, Fu Yu was very busy, working from dawn to dusk, and did not set foot in Nanlou for several days.
You Tong was happy to have some peace and quiet, so he came up with the idea of making tripe.
Since she couldn't do it herself, she asked Aunt Zhou to do it for her, and to find a reliable butcher to remove the tripe and stomach when butchering the ox.
It's not difficult. Just bring in the ingredients, wash them thoroughly, and you can make a delicious meal.
The difficulty lay elsewhere—previously on Shuanggui Street, she had only dined with Qin Liangyu in a secluded private room separated by a screen, yet Su Ruolan instigated trouble and Madam Fu seized the opportunity to provoke her, making things quite unpleasant. The Fu family held sway over Qizhou, with strict rules. Since she was part of the family and did not wish to antagonize them, she had to respect the rules here to avoid being misunderstood and reprimanded by the old lady.
However, to get information from Qin Liangyu, it was impossible to rely solely on word of mouth; one had to inquire in person.
If this were mentioned to Old Madam Fu, she would definitely not agree.
She could only wait for Fu Yu to have some free time to gauge his attitude—after all, he was a fierce general who had fought on the battlefield. Although he might not be as imposing as a tiger, his vision and breadth of mind were far broader than that of an older woman like the old lady who had spent so much time in the inner quarters. He was also reasonable. Ultimately, her situation in the Fu family and in Qizhou depended on Fu Yu's attitude.
After all, although the Fu family respected the old lady, the real power in the military and the ability to decide life and death belonged to Fu Yu and his son.
Judging from Fu Yu's attitude in Shou'an Hall earlier, he was clearly aware of his grandmother's character and was not a narrow-minded person.
He was secretly making plans when, to his surprise, he ran into Qin Liangyu just two days later.
As the first month of the lunar calendar drew to a close, the creeping violets on the fence of the South Tower gradually came to life, sprouting tender buds here and there. Clumps of forsythia by the water were also gradually blooming, creating a vibrant scene under the bright spring sunshine. The women had all taken off their padded jackets and put on light spring clothes, waiting for the flowers to bloom everywhere so they could ride in carriages and on horseback to enjoy the spring scenery.
However, Madam Fu fell ill at this critical juncture.
At first, she had just caught a slight cold at night, and after taking two doses of medicine, she felt better. She lived in Shou'an Hall most of the year and rarely went out. Now that she was in good spirits and the weather was getting warmer, with such a thoughtful and compatible girl like Shen Yueyi by her side, she was unusually in the mood to go for a walk in the garden and enjoy the scenery.
Ms. Shen was afraid that she would catch a cold, so she tried to dissuade her, but the old lady was old and stubborn like a child.
Perhaps feeling that she was getting old and that she didn't have much good time left, Madam Fu insisted on going for a walk.
Having no other choice, Madam Shen ordered her servants to prepare warm clothes for her and carried her around in a small bamboo sedan chair. Unlike the precious land in the capital, land in Qizhou was not valuable. The Fu family had dominated the area for generations, and their mansion occupied a vast area. The houses in the east and west courtyards were not only magnificent and luxurious, but they had also bought two nearby mansions and turned them into back gardens, adding a stage and pavilions for banquets and relaxation.
The banquet at the Fu family's house during the first month of the lunar calendar was organized by Madam Shen and her daughter-in-law. It was a lively affair for two days, and the festive atmosphere still lingers.
Strolling slowly along the well-arranged stone path, the forsythia by the water hangs down like an upside-down umbrella, with clusters of yellow petals floating on the water's surface, attracting wild ducks and fish to play. There may be late-blooming plum blossoms and early-blooming forsythia nearby. Although they are not dazzlingly beautiful, they provide a unique and bright scene after the dullness of the whole winter.
Madam Fu was in high spirits and spent most of the day sightseeing. After returning home and taking a nap, she couldn't sleep that night and asked the Shen family mother and daughter to play cards.
She had been very inactive for the past two years, and after such a day of commotion, she was in good spirits before going to bed, but when she woke up the next day, she felt slightly cold, her mind and spirit were exhausted, and she felt unwell. The root of her illness that had not been completely cured had relapsed, and the physician Xu who usually served the Fu family's medicine was at a loss, so he sent someone to prepare gifts and invite Qin Liangyu.
Who in Qizhou City would dare disrespect the Fu family?
What's more, the one who is currently ill is the matriarch of the household, who is the oldest and most respected member of the family.
Upon receiving the news, Qin Liangyu came over to help take the pulse.
When they arrived at Shou'an Hall, the room was already full of female relatives—the eldest branch consisted of Madam Shen and her three daughters-in-law, Shen Yueyi and her daughter Madam Mei, and You Tong and her sister-in-law Fu Lanyin. Because the old lady was still ill and couldn't leave, they had all gathered here and were waiting in the outer room.
Qin Liangyu was known for her expertise in traditional Chinese medicine and had visited the Fu family several times before.
The Shen family, including the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, as well as Fu Lanyin, all consulted him, and he did not avoid them.
Qin Liangyu's mother had a good relationship with the Shen family and had sent her regards on their behalf. However, when her gaze fell on You Tong, she suddenly paused—
He had only met her briefly on Shuanggui Street that day. He was surprised by Baiyedu's situation and remembered her appearance and manner of speaking, but he never expected that she would be the young mistress of the Fu family. However, he was well aware of the taboos within the inner quarters of the household. After glancing at her, he quickly concealed the surprise in his eyes and simply raised his hand to make a gesture.
Although his voice was damaged, he was handsome and elegant, with a charming and graceful demeanor. His hands were long, clean, and his gestures were pleasing to the eye.
Even someone as composed as Shen couldn't help but take another look.
Then his attendant said, "What is the old lady's illness? May she tell us first?"
"Of course." Madam Shen smiled and invited him to sit down, then ordered someone to serve tea.
You Tong couldn't really help here; standing there would only cause trouble. So she went to the side room with Fu Lanyin. A moment later, Shen Yueyi also came in.
Chapter 49 Sisters-in-law
You Tong and Shen Yueyi both come from the capital, but they had almost never met before.
Although Wei Sidao held a low-ranking official position, You Tong had been favored by Emperor Wenchang since childhood, was on good terms with Xu Chaozong, and frequently entered the palace, also attending banquets at the residences of dukes and marquises. With the aura of being the future granddaughter-in-law of the royal family, she usually associated with noble ladies or daughters of high-ranking officials. In comparison, the Shen family's social standing wasn't particularly high. If Shen hadn't married into the Fu family, Shen Feiqing might not have been able to secure a prestigious position in the Ministry of Personnel, and Shen Yueyi associated with a different group of people.
The two first met in Taocheng, and only started seeing each other daily after arriving in Qizhou.
Shen Yueyi, a guest at the Fu family residence, was warm and welcoming to everyone. She not only won over the old lady but also spoke to Fu Lanyin in a way that pleased her. However, when it came to You Tong, although she smiled, her eyes lacked a certain finesse; her act wasn't quite convincing enough.
You Tong rarely interrupted in Shou'an Hall, but he could discern people's thoughts by observing their words and expressions while sitting with them.
There were no maids or servants in the inner room at the moment. When Shen Yueyi entered and saw her, she simply smiled faintly.
Seeing Fu Lanyin standing by the table pouring tea, he walked over as if he knew her well, took a cup and drank it.
Fu Lanyin glanced at her but didn't say anything.
Shen Yueyi then said, "I noticed that Aunt was very polite to this Doctor Qin. Is his medical skill very good?"
“He is the best in Qizhou City. If he is unwilling, you can’t invite him even if you spend a lot of money.” Fu Lanyin took a cup and walked to You Tong’s side to hand it to her. “He rarely makes house calls. His aunt will definitely keep him here later to take our pulses. Second sister-in-law, if you feel unwell, you can also ask him to take a look. He has a unique eye and a good ability to foresee things.”
After she left, only Shen Yueyi remained at the table.
You Tong glanced over and saw that the person had turned their head away, their expression somewhat subtle.
Whether intentionally or not, Fu Lanyin had her back to the table, seemingly unaware that she was neglecting her guests.
You Tong just smiled and shook his head, saying, "After he has examined the pulses of his aunt and several sisters-in-law, he must be tired. He should bother Doctor Xu later."
Fu Lanyin chuckled, "I'm not going either. I joined in the fun last time and got a consultation, but the medicine he prescribed was terribly bitter."
"Good medicine tastes bitter, but he has his reasons for prescribing it."
Fu Lanyin didn't take it seriously. After a moment, as if remembering that someone was in the room, she turned around and said, "Sister Shen, do you want me to take your pulse?"
"I won't cause any more trouble." Shen Yueyi was quite sensible. She poured herself another cup of tea, drank it all, and then said, "I'll go outside and take a look."
After saying that, he slowly went out again.
The two sisters-in-law were left in the room. You Tong looked at Fu Lanyin with a puzzled expression.
As if on the same wavelength, Fu Lanyin whispered, "I just felt that she was very fake. She talked a lot of nice things and asked about my well-being, but I never saw her do anything real. In front of Grandmother, she was more considerate and attentive than me and my sisters-in-law. She didn't act like a guest at all." Although she lost her mother at a young age, she was taken care of by the servants left behind by Madam Tian, and she learned the rules perfectly. She would never say such things normally, but now it felt like a fishbone stuck in her throat. She hesitated for a moment before saying, "Second sister-in-law, she has come to see me several times since she moved into the mansion."
“You’re the only young lady in the manor, who else would she look for if not you?” You Tong teased.
Fu Lanyin snorted softly, "You know that's not what I meant."
The two had known each other for half a year. Not only did they share similar interests, but they also gained a good understanding of each other's temperament and character over time.
You Tong smiled and lowered her eyes, smoothing out the slight wrinkles on her shoulder. "Did she ask you about me?"
"She probed indirectly, thinking she was being discreet. She probably thought I was a fool because I'm younger than her."
"What did she say?"
"She said she'd heard a lot of rumors about you in the capital. But she wasn't as bad as Su Ruolan, who talked nonsense." Fu Lanyin is fifteen years old this year, the age when she should be talking about marriage. Moreover, she comes from a military family, unlike other girls who are shy and timid. When this matter was mentioned, she didn't hide anything, pouting and whispering, "She also asked about your relationship with your second brother, saying that she rarely sees your second brother return to Nanlou, and she praised your second brother a lot. She's quite concerned about you."
This was something You Tong hadn't expected.
It's one thing to talk about her, but what's the point of probing into her relationship with Fu Yu?
She and Fu Yu had only been back for a few days when Shen Yueyi noticed that Fu Yu hadn't returned to Nanlou.
This really surprised You Tong.
On second thought, Shen Yueyi was about the same age as her, yet she was still unmarried. The fact that the whole family had come to Qizhou and the mother and daughter were staying at the Fu family's residence, unwilling to leave, suggested they might be planning to use the Fu family's influence to find a good marriage. These days, it's not uncommon for couples to have their parents arrange their marriages after a breakup, nor is it unusual for them to remarry after a divorce. The Fu family has always been known for marrying into lower social classes; from the old lady to Tian Shi, Shen Shi, and all the sisters-in-law, none of them came from prominent families. Could it be that Shen Yueyi had seen through this and was harboring ulterior motives?