As spring deepened, the two women, sister-in-law and aunt, strolled hand in hand through the magnolia grove. Occasionally, a gust of wind would blow a few petals, as white as porcelain, onto their shoulders and hair. The gentle breeze was warm, the sun bright and dazzling, and swallows chased each other around. In the distance, a group of people were gathered in a field, chattering and discussing forming teams. Beside them, two tall bamboo poles, each with a net hanging horizontally, swayed gently in the wind, set against the backdrop of lush green grass.
This is a situation that has been absent for a long time.
You Tong took a deep breath, feeling refreshed. She thought the Qin family's banquet was very timely, so she just stood aside and watched.
Fu Lanyin didn't force her; from the moment she entered the arena, she unquestionably joined Fu Zhao's team.
Before long, a clear whistle blew, and the two sides went to war.
The boys and girls played Cuju (ancient Chinese football) as a game, which was originally just for fun and to relieve boredom. The competition was not very intense, but there were all sorts of tricks. Some of the more agile and skilled boys could perform many tricks when they caught the colorful ball, such as shouldering, chest carrying, forward flips and back hooks, which drew cheers from the sidelines.
Gradually, everyone's attention was drawn to the few exceptionally skilled young men.
However, You Tong's gaze kept glancing at Fu Lanyin.
Whether it was a misperception or not, Fu Lanyin seemed to be spending a lot of time with one of the boys. The boy was handsome and agile, and seemed quite familiar with Fu Zhao, often passing him the ball, which benefited Fu Lanyin as well, making her very happy. Several times, the boy's gaze fell on Fu Lanyin, a deep smile on his face, but he always quickly looked away when Fu Lanyin glanced at him.
That's interesting," You Tong smiled.
Just as he was pondering the boy's identity, he caught a glimpse of someone's clothes swaying slightly. Looking over, he saw Qin Liangyu standing four or five steps away, watching the football field, idly observing the game.
Standing beside him was Qin Jiu, who was looking straight ahead. He said, "That tripe and tripe dish tasted very good. My young master said, 'Thank you, young mistress.'"
You Tong smiled. "It took a lot of effort to make. How does it compare to what we've had before?"
"Slightly better," Qin Jiu answered for her. "Does the young mistress really want to see her?"
You Tong stood upright, observing Qin Liangyu's seemingly focused expression as she watched Cuju (ancient Chinese football). She found him to be insightful and intriguing—he must know the rules of the Fu family's inner quarters to have acted as he did today. It was also evident that his refusal to reveal the truth that day was not malicious; rather, he was quite considerate of others' situations, whether it was her or the cook she had yet to meet.
He then said sincerely, "Ever since you mentioned her that day, I have been wanting to find her and make friends with her."
Qin Jiu glanced at Qin Liangyu, as if he could read minds, and said, "The young mistress is of noble status, but I'm afraid she may not have that good fortune."
"What does it matter? We're all food lovers, exchanging culinary skills. What does it have to do with status? Since Young Master Qin is unwilling to reveal it so easily, he must consider her a friend and doesn't want to cause her any trouble. Isn't your status noble enough?" You Tong, watching the dazzling display of youthful talent on stage without glancing at her, said, "I sincerely want to find her. If she's willing to get to know me, that would be wonderful. If she's not, I can give up. If you truly care about her, Young Master shouldn't completely cut off this path, right?"
As she spoke, Qin Liangyu subtly observed her expression, scrutinizing and probing her.
Cheers erupted all around, and after a moment of silence, he nodded and made a gesture towards Qin Jiu.
Qin Jiu then said, "My young master met Miss Du two years ago, but he doesn't know where she is now. Since you are so sincere, young mistress, you can inquire about her. If it is convenient for you, young mistress, you might as well write a letter and let her decide for herself. It is not that my young master intends to obstruct her, but Miss Du does not like to be disturbed by messy things. Please forgive her."
This means that you are willing to help.
You Tong was overjoyed and immediately said, "Young master means well, I admire you very much! Here is the recipe for tripe, as a small token of my gratitude."
"You're welcome." Qin Jiu kept his eyes fixed ahead.
A moment later, the two moved to another spot, quickly grabbed the folded recipe book as they passed You Tong, and continued watching the match from a different location.
...
After enjoying the flowers and returning home, You Tong immediately ground ink and wrote a letter.
There was very little she could do in this matter; her communication with Miss Du was limited to these letters. She carefully considered the wording for two days before finally being satisfied, then sealed them with wax and ordered them to be sent out. Unexpectedly, Qin Liangyu was a man of honor; having agreed to help, she actually sent someone to inquire, and by mid-March, she had indeed delivered Miss Du to the Fu family's doorstep.
At that time, You Tong had just returned from Shou'an Hall. She was quite worried because she had heard the old lady talk about Fu Yu's suppression of the rebellion in the south.
Upon hearing Chuncao say that a Miss Du was requesting an audience, he felt a surge of energy and immediately ordered someone to invite her in.
Chapter 54 Assistant
It was late spring, and the Virginia creeper on the fence outside the South Building was growing lush and verdant. Among the deep green leaves, small flowers bloomed along the vines, swaying in the wind. Through a few sparser branches and leaves, You Tong saw the hem of a pea-green dress fluttering lightly. A moment later, a figure appeared at the courtyard gate.
It was naturally Qin Liangyu who helped find Du Shuangxi.
She was in her early twenties, her hair neatly styled in a bun, without any hairpins or ornaments, yet always impeccably combed. She wasn't particularly tall, wearing a nearly new gamboge spring dress over a pea-green long skirt. The fabric was ordinary, but the cut was perfect, cinching her waist and highlighting her slightly fuller figure. Her face was bare of makeup, showing no signs of it, but her features were delicate and bright.
As the saying goes, one's appearance reflects one's heart. While a woman's facial features are innate, her demeanor arises from within, reflecting her temperament. One can often discern a lot about a woman simply by observing her expression and mannerisms. Although You Tong was meeting this person for the first time, she felt a certain sense of familiarity with him.
Upon arriving, Du Shuangxi bowed and said, "Greetings, Young Madam."
The sound was neither too loud nor too soft, and quite crisp.
You Tong quickly got up and helped her up, smiling as she said, "Miss Du, please rise. Chuncao—serving tea."
The maidservant inside had already brought out a tea tray, which Chuncao presented with both hands, saying politely, "Please have some tea, Miss."
Du Shuangxi rose to thank him, her gaze shifting slightly as she noticed the small kitchen door was open. Inside, Aunt Xia was busy preparing dishes, and the fragrant aroma of radish cakes wafted out. She seemed somewhat surprised. Then she heard You Tong say, "Miss, you must have read my letter. I heard Young Master Qin mention that he had tasted extremely delicious tripe, and I've been wanting to get to know you ever since. However, I've been tied up with trivial matters and it's been delayed for a long time. Now, I've finally fulfilled my wish."
"I am deeply grateful for the kind words in the letter from the young mistress, which were so sincere." Du Shuangxi smiled as she smelled the fragrance. "Judging from this, the young mistress already has a capable person by her side?"
"They just make a few simple home-style dishes." You Tong paused, then, seeing her interest, led her to the kitchen.
In her previous letter, You Tong couldn't reveal all her plans, but she briefly explained the situation: she wanted to meet with Du Shuangxi to discuss things. If Du Shuangxi was satisfied, she would stay with the Fu family, and after opening a restaurant, she would be hired as the head chef and given a house to live in. If their requests differed, she would also give her a large sum of money to send her back to her original place. Du Shuangxi's willingness to travel such a long distance clearly showed some sincerity. You Tong showed her her treasure-like kitchen, and seeing her dedication to food, she was indeed slightly tempted.
They then agreed that Du Shuangxi would stay here for a while, and whether he stayed or left would be entirely up to him.
Before coming to Qizhou, Du Shuangxi heard the story from the people sent by Qin Jiu and felt that the young mistress of the Fu family was quite dedicated. Now, seeing You Tong's sincerity, he was even more surprised and moved. That very night, he showed You Tong his skills.
She learned cooking from a young age, absorbing the skills around her all day long. She was quite talented, and coupled with her quick wit and intelligence, she often came up with innovative and unique ideas when cooking. Compared to the dishes that Aunt Xia made according to You Tong's instructions, she put a lot of thought and effort into the selection of ingredients and the control of the heat, so the taste was naturally superior.
You Tong was overjoyed and treated him with great courtesy.
The oppressive feeling of being confined in the mansion was dispelled by Du Shuangxi's arrival.
As they spent more time together, they gradually learned more about Du Shuangxi's background and experiences.
...
Du Shuangxi was born in Zizhou. Her father ran a restaurant in the town and had a son and a daughter. The business was enough to support the family. She was intelligent from a young age and was much loved by her father. She also had a great talent for cooking. While other girls liked to catch butterflies and weave flower baskets, she preferred to help out at the restaurant, learning her father's cooking skills. By her teens, she could stand on a small stool and busily prepare a decent meal.
Rural towns cannot compare to the prosperity of prefectures and counties, and the ingredients are also precious. The tripe was something she figured out after many unpleasant and fishy-smelling attempts, just to avoid wasting it.
Unfortunately, her brother was a good-for-nothing who married the daughter of a butcher in town. She was cunning, ambitious, and afraid of being taken advantage of.
Seeing that the brother and sister in the family were of mediocre talent and limited culinary skills, while the sister was intelligent, quick-witted, and had superb cooking skills, the father feared that the old man would favor the younger daughter and hand over the restaurant to her. He had long ago instigated and incited his husband to make a fuss about marrying her off to another family. At first, Mr. Du was reluctant, but he couldn't resist his son's muddle-headed fuss. In order to secure the family's livelihood, he had no choice but to find a family to marry off his daughter.
He was a loving father, and although the son-in-law he found was not from a wealthy family, he was down-to-earth, hardworking, and honest.
Because their parents-in-law had passed away early and there was no one to take care of them, the young couple lived a relatively peaceful life.
Unfortunately, the world was not peaceful. Zizhou was under the jurisdiction of Wei Jian, the military governor of Dingjun, and was frequently invaded by foreign bandits, so soldiers had to be conscripted for service from time to time. Not long after her marriage, her husband was conscripted for service and sent to the frontier, where he unfortunately died on the battlefield.
At that time, Du's father also fell ill and was bedridden, so the family's restaurant was handed over to his son and daughter-in-law to manage.
Du Shuangxi endured hardship alone for over half a year. After her father's death, seeing her sister-in-law's sharp tongue and her guarded wariness as if she feared Du would return to seize the family business, and with her brother standing idly by, she became disheartened and moved to another place to make a living. It was during this time that she met Qin Liangyu. He was traveling far and wide, learning about various herbs, while she ran a small eatery, living alone and seeking only a stable life. Because the area was rich in medicinal herbs, Qin Liangyu stayed for two months, often dining at her place, and they became acquainted.
Later, Qin Liangyu returned to Qizhou, and Du Shuangxi was also spotted by the county magistrate's son who was hunting, and he wanted to take her as a concubine.
Du Shuangxi would never agree to that.
In this day and age, the imperial court is powerless to govern other areas, and the plight of the people depends entirely on who is in charge of a region.
For example, in Qizhou and other places under Yongning's command, the Fu family, grandfather, grandson, father, and son, were renowned for their prestige, not only maintaining peace in the region but also showing great concern for the people. Fu Deming personally oversaw the appointment and evaluation of officials in the surrounding prefectures. If the court sent an incompetent official, he could easily dismiss him and recommend a worthy replacement. Under strict laws and clean governance, officials dared not bend the law for personal gain or act arbitrarily, allowing the people to live and work in peace and prosperity, and further strengthening their support for the Fu family.
In contrast, Wei Jian, the military governor of Dingjun, was greedy for money and power, and his subordinates followed suit.
To curry favor with their superiors and secure official positions, local officials resorted to all sorts of methods to extort money from the people and send it to Wei Jian to fund his military campaigns. With money paving the way, the law became a mere formality, and a single county magistrate could act with absolute power and do whatever he pleased.
Alone and powerless against the county magistrate, and fearing relentless pursuit, Du Shuangxi heard that the Prince of Xiping, Wei, was hiring a cook, so he went in to work as an assistant, hoping for some peace of mind. However, being a cook in a wealthy household was not easy. Wei Jian had many concubines, and the situation was complicated. Du Shuangxi, alone and with his outstanding culinary skills but no connections, faced considerable ostracism.
After Qin Jiu finally found out where she was and produced You Tong's letter, she felt that his sincerity was evident and decided to try her luck.
Even if they don't end up staying with the Fu family, with the clean and honest administration in Qizhou, making a living will be easier.
In this world, those who refuse to become concubines and lack the good fortune to be protected have no choice but to seek a relatively peaceful place to make a living. The journey from Zizhou to Qizhou is long and fraught with difficulties for a lone traveler. With Qin Jiu's men escorting them, why not?
With this in mind, Du Shuangxi readily agreed to come here and try her luck.
Who would have thought that this young mistress of the Fu family, of such high status, would be so approachable?
You Tong valued Du Shuangxi's talent and intended to make him his right-hand man after thoroughly understanding his background. Du Shuangxi also admired You Tong's magnanimity and character, and the two hit it off immediately and became very compatible. For more than a month, smoke constantly rose from the kitchen in the South Building, and the dishes became increasingly lavish, with Fu Lanyin running around exceptionally diligently.
One day, while sitting idly after a meal, watching the two capable men busy in the kitchen, he remarked, "Second Brother is in for a treat this time."
You Tong smiled upon hearing this.
More than two months have passed since Fu Yu went south to quell the rebellion.
When she first married into the Fu family, she was used to Fu Yu's busy schedule and didn't pay much attention to his patrols and battles. Now that they are getting to know each other better, she often thinks of that day when she saw him off to war. She remembers his iron armor and black cavalry, his resolute back. Although he speaks and laughs as usual and doesn't show any signs of unease, she always seems to be uneasy and can't feel completely at ease.
She had no right to inquire about military intelligence reports, and regarding news about Fu Yu, she could only hear bits and pieces from Shou'an Hall.
It is said that Fu Yu's iron cavalry is formidable. At the beginning of their southward march, they decisively quelled the rebels' arrogance and turned the tide of the war. From February until now, they have been engaged in numerous battles, large and small, and have now reached the territory of Fuzhou. If all goes well, they will be able to kill the rebel leader and return in triumph before the end of May.
This news was certainly exciting; You Tong even dreamed that Fu Yu returned and stepped into the South Tower.
However, before the good news could arrive from the south, a piece of bad news suddenly came.
...
As the Dragon Boat Festival approaches, celebrations are in full swing everywhere, with the aroma of zongzi leaves filling the air and realgar wine being brewed. Colorful tents are erected along the riverbanks outside the city, awaiting the dragon boat races.
Unexpectedly, an urgent report suddenly arrived from the north that day. After reading it, the old lady almost fainted.
It turned out that after Fu Yu went south to quell the rebellion, the Tatars learned of the internal strife in the south and the absence of Fu Yu's top generals. After observing for a while, they finally couldn't hold back and began to plot their invasion southward. Because they had suffered a great loss at Fu Yu's hands last time, this time they went all out, mobilizing a large army and sending their two most capable generals south.
Both of them were seasoned veterans of the Tatar royal court, pillars of the nation, and old rivals of the Fu family.
Since the Tatars have dispatched such elite troops, their arrival is naturally very aggressive.
At that time, Fu Deqing was leading his troops on a border patrol. Upon hearing the news, he immediately went to meet the enemy, with the veteran general Xu Kui as his flank support.
When two powerful forces meet, the battle is exceptionally fierce. In the past, after repelling the enemy, Fu Deqing rarely pursued them on long distances into enemy territory. Firstly, it was difficult to pursue a defeated enemy and would waste his troops. Secondly, the Tatar territory was vast and sparsely populated. Even if he successfully pursued and captured a city, it would be difficult for him to govern the people. This would be a great burden and cause him a lot of trouble. As a result, there were decades of stalemate, with Fu Deqing guarding his territory tightly.
This time, however, it was completely different.
Those two are the Tatars' trump cards and pillars, and they are not easily deployed. The fact that they have sent such a large force this time shows the Tatars' ambition. If they are not eliminated completely, they will become the biggest hidden danger when the Fu family seizes power.
Now that they've finally come out of their den, how can we let them return to the mountains?
Fu Deqing personally led the charge, not only repelling the enemy at the outset but also, in an unprecedented move, pursuing them for a thousand miles deep into enemy territory after his victory. With unwavering courage, he finally killed the two men. This pursuit severed a pillar protecting the Tatar state, severely weakening them and potentially securing ten years of peace on the border. Fu Deqing and Xu Kui, however, were severely wounded from the long march and several perilous battles. Rescued by Wei Tianze, they were being cared for by military doctors and were hurrying towards Qizhou.
The letter stated that Fu Deqing's serious injury was extraordinary and requested that the old lady make arrangements as soon as possible to have a renowned doctor on standby.
Such a momentous event is shocking and should not be publicized.
After overcoming her initial anxiety, the old lady immediately called Shen Shi and You Tong to her side.
Chapter 55 Return