The Shen family's arrival in the capital did not cause much of a stir.
Since Fu Deming entered the court as prime minister, he has been familiar with the route between Qizhou and the capital for exchanging information. Although the troops have not yet been able to suppress the enemy, the Fu family's intricate network of connections has already figured out where the area is peaceful, stable, and where there are hidden dangers.
With this groundwork laid, escorting Lady Shen safely to the capital was a piece of cake.
Before the New Year, You Tong's mother, Madam Wei, sent her daughter off to her wedding. Afterwards, she visited the Fu family and stayed for a few days. Taking advantage of the Fu family's escort, she returned to the capital with her without incident.
When the Fu family held a banquet, whenever a female guest inquired about Madam Shen, upon learning that the Prime Minister's wife had come to the capital, she would speak highly of her.
But once back in their homes, behind closed doors, they couldn't help but whisper among themselves, feeling that the Fu family's fortunes were slowly changing.
When Fu Deming was in charge of Yongning, all the civil officials respected and submitted to him. Madam Shen, who was in charge of the inner quarters, was also unparalleled in her influence. Outside the mansion, she was treated as an honored guest, and inside the mansion, she was the mistress of the household, and no one could rival her. Women from both inside and outside Qizhou who wanted to ask for favors, inquire about news, or visit the old lady all had to come to Madam Shen first.
Now that Fu Deming has gone to the capital, Fu Deqing has taken over the high position, and Fu Yu is a man of great military achievements and exceptional strategic skills, respected by both civil and military officials. Even the emperor must be wary of a military governor who holds real power and troops; how can the prime minister compare? Although Lady Tian has passed away early, her eldest daughter-in-law, Lady Han, is capable and efficient, managing all affairs inside and outside the home, almost replacing Lady Shen's former position.
Needless to say, the second daughter-in-law, Wei, was also a different story.
The grand procession that Fu Yu used to welcome his bride was the talk of the town. In all the decades that followed, there was only one person in Qizhou City who had ever been divorced from the Fu family and then married in such a grand manner.
—This shows how important she is to Fu Yu.
Fu Yu was renowned on the frontier, wielding military power, and his prowess almost overshadowed that of Fu Deqing and his son. Who would dare to disrespect his wife?
Compared to Han, who was widowed and had no children to rely on, Wei, although not involved in domestic affairs, had a strong and reliable husband to support her. She was truly sensible and even more difficult to provoke than Han.
Therefore, the women treated You Tong with even more politeness when they visited her.
After nearly two years of ups and downs, You Tong finally reunited with Fu Yu. How could she not cherish it? The hot pot restaurant was handed over to the Xu Changqing brothers to manage, with Du Shuangxi and Chuncao keeping an eye on it. These past two days, she has been busy setting up and attending banquets. In her actions, she also maintained her status as the young mistress of Nanlou, remaining humble and composed, treating guests thoughtfully, and maintaining harmony with her sisters-in-law.
On this day, it was the Qin family, Fu Lanyin's in-laws', who were hosting a banquet, so how could You Tong not go?
...
It has been a year since Fu Lanyin got married last December.
With her powerful father and brothers backing her up, she was well-behaved by her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law after marriage, and lived a very comfortable life. She enjoyed outings in spring, hiking in summer, hunting in autumn, and playing in the snow in winter. Because she and Qin Taoyu were childhood sweethearts and had been in love since their youth, they were now in the honeymoon phase, and their lives were quite blissful.
Because Fu Lanyin said she wanted to eat Du Shuangxi's steamed pastries when she returned to the mansion the day before yesterday, You Tong specially brought some with her and went to her early in the morning.
To her surprise, Fu Lanyin's expression when they met in the Qin family courtyard truly astonished her.
—She was radiant and full of energy when she attended the banquet the day before yesterday, but this morning she looked like a wilted eggplant, listless and pale. If it weren't for the smile on her face, which made her seem to be in a good mood, You Tong would have almost thought that she had a fight with Qin Taoyu and had worn herself out.
She put down the box of pastries, turned around and helped her, "Are you feeling unwell? Did you catch a cold?"
"No, it's nothing. I just have a poor appetite and keep getting acid reflux. I ate too much cold food last night and ended up throwing up twice. I didn't sleep well all night." Fu Lanyin chuckled at her worried look. She glanced at Yanbo and the others following behind, her expression slightly embarrassed. She gestured for the maids and servants to stay in the outer room, then pulled You Tong into the inner room, saying, "Come with me, I have something to tell you."
His steps were light and his tone subtly excited; he certainly didn't seem like someone who was sick.
Although her face was pale, she couldn't hide the smile in her eyes. You Tong probably had a sixth sense. A thought suddenly popped into her mind, and her eyes widened.
You wouldn't be—
"Shh!" Fu Lanyin quickly covered her mouth and walked inside before lowering her voice to say, "Don't shout!"
You Tong became even more certain because of her reaction, and asked in surprise, "Really? You had a doctor take your pulse?"
Fu Lanyin pursed her lips, suppressing a smile, and nodded. She ran a hand over her flat stomach and whispered, "I was vomiting so badly last night that I called a doctor this morning. He said it was... a sign of pregnancy. I never expected this. When I heard the news, I was almost stunned."
“This is wonderful news! On New Year’s Eve, Grandma was saying that she already had her great-grandson and was just missing a great-great-grandson. Who knew you would say such a thing? It has brought joy to the old lady. Does the old lady know? She loves you so much, she will be overjoyed to hear the news.”
"I haven't said anything yet—" Fu Lanyin looked embarrassed.
You Tong asked, puzzled, "What's wrong? Is something wrong?"
Fu Lanyin hesitated for a moment, then whispered in her ear, "The doctor said that if the pulse isn't full-term, the pregnancy won't be very noticeable. It means she conceived around the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, which was during the national mourning period… I was afraid that if I told my grandmother, she would be too happy and the news would leak out, so I kept it a secret. Only the doctor and my personal maid know about it; I'll tell him at most later." She paused, took You Tong's hand, and suppressed her excitement, "But I'm so happy! If I don't tell anyone, I'm afraid I'll die of pent-up joy. You have to keep it a secret for me!"
By the end, her eyes crinkled with joy, her face beaming with happiness.
You Tong was happy for her, but also knew her concerns.
During periods of national mourning, banquets, weddings, and other celebrations are forbidden for official families. Although Qizhou is far from the capital and not everyone strictly adheres to this rule, and there have been many happy events involving pregnancies during the mourning period, the Qin family, a scholarly family, remains quite restrained. Banquets and celebrations are one thing, and it doesn't matter if they get out; what matters is the bedroom. If people gossip about it behind her back, Fu Lanyin, being a newlywed, is easily embarrassed.
She smiled and said, "Don't worry. But when do you plan to share this good news?"
"Let's wait a while, then we'll say it'll be available at the end of December."
You Tong nodded. Seeing her pale face, he guessed that she had been through a lot last night and probably hadn't slept well at all. Before the guests arrived, he helped her lie down on the couch for a while.
Although Fu Lanyin was tired and sleepy, she was excited and uneasy about the news, so she couldn't fall asleep.
The two sisters-in-law sat facing each other, talking. You Tong repeatedly reminded her that she should be extra careful now that she was pregnant, paying close attention to her diet and daily life, and absolutely avoiding cold foods to prevent discomfort at night. Fu Lanyin readily agreed, adding that she had lost her mother at a young age, and although she had servants to care for her, this was her first time experiencing this, so she wanted You Tong to visit her more often and keep her company. She also mentioned that her appetite had become picky lately, and the servants' cooking wasn't as refined as Du Shuangxi's, making meals taste bland.
After attending the banquet, You Tong made a special trip to Pear Blossom Street to look for Du Shuangxi.
...
The courtyard on Pear Blossom Street is now filled with the aroma of food.
Business was slow in the first few days of the New Year holiday. Seeing that everyone had been busy all year, You Tong gave them half a month off. The workers returned to their lodgings. Xu Changsong and his brothers each had their own families, leaving only Du Shuangxi alone. She had been alone since Zizhou. After her father passed away, her brother and sister-in-law were mean to her. She had no reason to be attached to them and stayed peacefully in Qizhou.
Having nothing to do today, I decided to cook some new dishes to try.
Hearing that You Tong had come to visit, Du Shuangxi was quite surprised and hurried out to greet her. As the courtyard gate opened, You Tong stepped inside. Her dark hair was styled in a bun, adorned with a red-gold phoenix hairpin, its delicate pearl tassels cascading down, contrasting with her dark blue temples, giving her an air of elegance and liveliness. Her clothes were also made of the finest brocade, embroidered with gold and silver threads, dazzlingly beautiful. What remained unchanged was her composed demeanor; her almond-shaped eyes, beneath her delicate brows, held a smile, just as always.
It seems that he has been quite happy since returning to the Fu family.
Du Shuangxi took off her apron and invited her inside to serve tea. Yu Zan then handed the prepared gifts to the maid who was taking care of her daily needs.
The maid had served You Tong before and knew that although the two were of very different social status, they were good friends with similar personalities. Without waiting for Du Shuangxi's instructions, she went to the kitchen and brought out the freshly cooked dishes for the guests to taste.
You Tong was delighted. After tasting the side dishes, she first mentioned that she wanted to ask Du Shuangxi to go to Fu Lanyin's place the next day to help prepare some appetizers.
How could Du Shuangxi refuse?
Back in Wei Jian's household, she was just a cook. Though skilled, she lacked the ability to please her master, and while she managed to make ends meet, her life was filled with bitterness. Now, managing the kitchen of a hot pot restaurant, she has not only amassed considerable wealth but also lives in a secluded courtyard. In her spare time, she dedicates herself to developing exquisite dishes to attract customers, making her a pillar of the household. Her daily life is no less comfortable than that of the wealthiest families in Qizhou City.
Behind this lies her competence, as well as You Tong's appreciation and Qin Liangyu's assistance.
Although Fu Lanyin came from a noble family, she had no prejudice against social classes and admired Du Shuangxi's culinary skills, treating her with great courtesy. Since her appetite had become more demanding during her pregnancy, Du Shuangxi, happy to lend a hand, readily agreed.
The mention of the Qin family led to the discussion of Qin Liangyu.
You Tong then learned that on the night of her wedding, Qin Liangyu had gone to the Kyoto Meat Shop without Qin Jiu, only carrying a bottle of wine.
It was late at night, and the young master, dressed in fine clothes, looked somber.
Du Shuangxi had known him for a long time, and even though the man was silent, she could guess his intentions just by looking at his eyes and expressions. So she drank with him until he was half-drunk, and then sent someone to find Qin Jiu and bring him back to the mansion. After that, Qin Liangyu disappeared without a trace, supposedly going out to search for medicinal herbs, and no one knew when she would return. She did not return to the mansion during the New Year holidays.
Du Shuangxi stopped there, and You Tong didn't ask any further questions.
Back at the mansion, the busy work continued as before.
On this warm early spring day, Fu Lanyin, who rarely had half a day of free time, returned to her residence to talk to her two sisters-in-law. Previously, when the Fu family hosted a banquet, there were too many guests, and Han Shi and You Tong were busy entertaining them, so they hadn't had a chance to talk freely. When the Qin family hosted a banquet, Fu Lanyin, being both the young mistress of the main household and feeling unwell, was in a similar situation.
Now, gathered together in the south building, chatting and watching the small kitchen busily preparing dishes, it is very comforting.
After Shen left, the estrangement between the east and west courtyards temporarily disappeared. The eldest branch's sisters-in-law, whose roots in the Fu family were still shallow, unlike Shen who had gained and then lost her newfound power and was still resentful, accepted the second branch's takeover of power after seeing Han's amiable and considerate nature, and they got along relatively well. Remembering Fu Deqing's instructions, You Tong sent Yu Zan over to say that hot pot had been prepared in the south building and invited the sisters-in-law to come and try it together.
Those people happened to be there too, so they came over to join in the fun.
The table was laden with a variety of dishes. Although there was no spicy or numbing flavor to stimulate the taste buds, the pickled cabbage and mushroom broth in the hot pot were enough to tempt the appetite. There were also several exquisite dishes prepared by Sister Xia. Although they were not as expensive as those at a banquet, they were delicious. Everyone ate to their heart's content. After the eldest sister-in-law left, the three sisters-in-law sat there until evening before parting ways.
Dinner was no longer a struggle, as Aunt Zhou, along with several servants, busied themselves cleaning up the mess.
You Tong drank some wine and, taking advantage of the still-warm evening breeze, went to Wangyun Tower to clear her mind.
The sun, slanting westward, hovered precariously over the mountaintop, its golden light rapidly fading, replaced by the red glow of the afterglow that spread across the pavilions and towers. Fu Yu returned from the training ground with a furrowed brow and a somber expression. He put down his things in his study, his mind filled with the news of the traitor who had escaped back to Wei Jian's camp. His heart grew even more agitated. Without even changing out of his armor, he turned and headed straight for the South Tower.
Upon arriving nearby, he saw a beautiful woman standing by the railing in the sunset. His brows relaxed slightly, and he turned and headed towards You Tong.
Upon approaching, the person was clearly lost in thought, leaning against the railing, oblivious to the noise, with only the gentle sway of their robes.
The air around her was filled with a very faint smell of alcohol, mixed with the subtle fragrance of plum blossoms.
A cool evening breeze blew as Fu Yu gazed at the graceful figure on the balcony, following her gaze into the distance. He saw a vast, desolate plain, shrouded in wisps of smoke. The evening glow faded, blurring the outlines of the green mountains. Heaven and earth merged into the pale blue twilight, tranquil and serene. It was like the landscape painting she had hung in the side room.
The words on the secret report faded, and the old images of bloodshed in my mind also disappeared into the twilight, and the restlessness gradually subsided.
He let out a breath and slowly walked over to her.
Chapter 115 Marriage Alliance
You Tong only realized someone had arrived when warm breath landed on her ear.
The moment her wandering thoughts returned, she subconsciously turned her head, and what she saw was a familiar, cold, handsome face with a slender profile. She was almost startled, half-turning herself and leaning back slightly, patting her chest. The smug smile on her lips hadn't yet faded as she playfully scolded, "You almost scared me to death. Why were you so quiet all the way here, husband? You're back early today, have you eaten?"
"Are you just lost in thought? What are you thinking about that makes you so happy?"
Fu Yu braced his hands on the railing, placing them on her slender fingers, and hugged her from behind.
He was broad-shouldered and long-legged, his armor still on, and his thick cloak wrapped around him from behind, blocking the coolness of the evening breeze.
You Tong leaned on his shoulder, saying, "Of course I'm just thinking about nice things."
Tell me about it.
“Look, you see that Pagoda of Gratitude, my husband?” You Tong raised her hand, pointing to the faint silhouette of the pagoda in the distance. “The Temple of Gratitude below is a good place. It’s said to be very effective for praying for wealth and marriage. Although it doesn’t have all kinds of shops like Lijing Street, there are many wealthy families who come to offer incense. Last time Shuangxi and I went there, we couldn’t find a decent restaurant. We were tired after offering incense, and we had to walk two streets away to find two decent restaurants, but they were both packed.”
"You're... trying to get a piece of the pie?"
"What do you think, my husband?" You Tong turned around, leaned against the railing, and wrapped her arms around his waist. "The one on Lijing Street has been open for a year and has accumulated a lot of regular customers. It made quite a bit of money last year. I heard people chatting about it at various banquets the other day, and many people like it. The hot pot restaurant has become quite famous. We should open a branch there as soon as possible and do a good job. Then everyone will know that Kyoto hot pot is delicious, and word will spread, making them even more willing to come here."
Fu Yu didn't think too much about it, but he had personally witnessed the bustling scene at the shop on Lijing Street.
So he bent down and touched the tip of her nose. "Since you're willing, just go for it."
You Tong smiled and nodded, noticing that he was still wearing his fine armor, then frowned and asked, "Is my husband going out again?"
Fu Yu sensed reluctance in her voice, which made him even happier. He shook his head and said, "No, I just got back."
"Then take off this clothes, they're cold and heavy." You Tong scratched his thin nails with her fingers, and then looked at Fu Yu's expression and clearly saw something was wrong—since he started having sex after the marriage, he had been living a very carefree life. He would go out early and return late every day, and when he got to the South Tower, his eyes would be brighter than before. Every time he returned to the South Tower, he would take off the clothes of the soldier.
Tonight was strange. Although his expression wasn't as cold and stern, his brows were slightly furrowed, and he wasn't like the previous nights when he would steal kisses when no one was around.
This unusual behavior was naturally due to the military and political affairs outside. You Tong raised her hand and rubbed his brow with her fingertips. "Have you run into trouble again?"
As the setting sun disappeared behind the mountain peaks, the evening breeze suddenly turned chilly. Her voice was gentle and soft, soothingly spreading into his heart.
Fu Yu opened his cloak, covered her, and slowly went downstairs.
"It's about Wei Tianze." Mentioning his old friend who was once a sworn brother but has now betrayed and fled, his tone was clearly displeased. "Last time I told him to escape, but now that I've let the tiger return to the mountain, Wei Jian has gained an arm and is looking for trouble. Jingzhou is not stable, and I will have to go there in person in a few days."