Aunt Zhou had no personal grudge against her, but out of respect for Shou'an Hall, she called over a maid to help her up.
Su Ruolan's face flushed red, but her expression was ashen. She lowered her head, and her hands trembled slightly.
Aunt Zhou sighed and led the way outside, "Let's go, Miss Ruolan, to Granny Zhu's place."
Author's Note: Thank you for the landmine from East Meets West!
Chapter 13 Petition
You Tong's delicious food failed to soothe Fu Yu's anger.
Feeling humiliated by the incident in his own courtyard, he silently ate a few bites of food before getting up and leaving. His face remained ashen as he departed. That evening, he didn't stay the night, but instead summoned Aunt Zhou to the Liangshu Pavilion and gave her a few words of advice.
After returning, Aunt Zhou summoned all the maids and servants in the courtyard and gave them a special warning, telling them to remember the rules of the mansion and to take Su Ruolan as a warning, and never do anything rebellious.
Everyone obediently agreed, and they treated You Tong with even more respect.
Su Ruolan, who had been angrily reprimanded by Fu Yusheng, was left with Granny Zhu and did not appear that night. The next morning, someone came to collect her clothes and belongings. It was said that the old lady herself had given her a beating and punished her, forbidding her from staying in the South Building to serve anymore. As for what would happen to her after the punishment, the old lady had not yet said.
When the news reached Nanlou, You Tong simply smiled.
Su Ruolan, after all, came from Shou'an Hall. The reason Fu Yu was so angry yesterday was twofold: firstly, Su Ruolan's behavior was indeed inappropriate, and secondly, he was almost deceived and fooled by Su Ruolan, losing face in front of You Tong, which only added to his anger. In the eyes of the old lady, who was used to the squabbles and upheavals in the inner quarters, this would not be considered a big deal.
Furthermore, the old lady harbors prejudice against You Tong. Her punishment is only out of consideration for Fu Yu. If she were to punish her severely, it would seem as if she were to place too much importance on You Tong.
I'm afraid that once the storm passes and Su Ruolan repents and admits her mistakes at Shou'an Hall, she will still be able to stay in the manor.
For You Tong, this is already quite good.
Having married far away, she was all alone and powerless in the Fu family, seeking only this peaceful haven. After all these twists and turns, she now had peace and quiet, and the South Tower was temporarily free of all its troubles, enough for her to stay in. But she couldn't rest easy—given Su Ruolan's temperament, she might not let this go easily, and it was impossible to guard against her.
Judging from Fu Yu's expression when he left that day, he must still have some misunderstandings about her. If they want to live in peace, it would be best to clarify things.
You Tong made up her mind and, while Fu Yu was still in the mansion, prepared four delicious dishes and packed them into two separate food boxes.
One copy was delivered to Fu Lanyin, who lived in the west building, as a small compensation for what happened that day.
She carried the other portion to Fu Yu's study, the Two Books Pavilion.
...
In early winter, the vegetation in Qizhou gradually withers. The old willows and ginkgo trees throughout the prefecture are all bare branches, while a few old locust trees still retain a few leaves that are still dark green after the frost, fluttering forlornly in the wind like small flags. After passing through the winding corridors and a grove of tall bamboo with phoenix tails, the vermilion building stands against the wind, with gilded window panels and painted beams and pillars, bright and spacious in the winter.
This is the first time You Tong has visited Fu Yu's study since entering the manor.
The young general responsible for guarding the door of the study was an eighteen-year-old named Du He. He was Fu Yu's personal bodyguard and was always at Fu Yu's side. He could help Fu Yu with military affairs, deliver documents and files, and relay messages for matters within the mansion. He could also guard the troops when they were on campaign. He was quick-witted, sharp-witted, and extremely skilled.
He was also a rootless wanderer who was favored and trained by Fu Deqing. Because he often stayed in the mansion, he was quite familiar with the internal affairs of the Fu family.
Du He had never met You Tong before, but he recognized Zhou Gu, who was by her side. Seeing the two of them approaching, he went over and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Young Madam!"
This trusted general must be someone Fu Yu greatly respects; he must hold a high rank and be quite capable.
You Tong nodded in return and asked, "Is the general inside?"
“I am inside, so I shall report this.”
Fu Yu's study was not only a place to store his leisure books, but also a place where he handled military affairs. It was guarded by the personal guards of the military governor, and no idlers were allowed to easily set foot in the surrounding area. Apart from the small courtyard next door where two servants were left to take care of him, the interior and exterior were well guarded.
Knowing the gravity of the situation, You Tong said, "Please inform the general that I will leave after saying a few words."
Du He agreed, went inside for a moment, and then pushed open the door to come out, saying, "General, please invite the young mistress in."
You Tong left Zhou Gu outside and carried the food box inside. The library was fireproof and soundproof, and the doors were sturdy and heavy. Stepping inside, the first thing that caught her eye was a broken sword covered in mottled verdigris. Half of the blade was missing, and dark bloodstains were faintly visible among the rust. A piece of jade was inlaid on the hilt, which looked as if it had been scorched by fire, and was quite dark in color.
The sword was five feet long, broad and heavy, and its mottled marks looked like they were stained with countless drops of blood, a shocking sight.
It inexplicably evokes images of battlefields and bloody battles.
You Tong glanced at it once and then looked away, not daring to look at the sword sheath lying horizontally below. Looking inside, the spacious outer hall was simply furnished, while the inner room was tightly closed, clearly separating the inside from the outside.
Her husband, Fu Yu, stood with his hands behind his back in front of the long black lacquered table, his gaze passing over the window, his profile tall and imposing.
The winter sun was warm, unlike the bright and gentle spring sunshine, nor the scorching autumn sun; its pale light fell upon him, casting a shadow on his chiseled profile, which softened his cold and stern aura, adding a touch of approachability. Only his clothes remained dark, emblazoned with very faint dark patterns; the fabric felt slightly rough, whether because dark colors were more resistant to dirt, or because he simply favored this hue, was anyone's guess.
However, this man had practiced martial arts for many years, and was tall and strong. When he wasn't gloomy and angry, he had a dignified appearance and outstanding demeanor.
You Tong had several interactions with him and found that while the man's temperament was unpredictable, he was still reasonable, which made her less wary of him.
Nowadays, men are pleasing to the eye, so it's hard not to take a second look.
As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Fu Yu gazed out the window and casually asked, "Have you seen enough?"
"..."
You Tong quickly looked away, pretending not to have heard, placed the food box on the table, and got straight to the point.
"I've come to bother my husband today because I have a few words to say, and I'll leave after I've said them."
"Hmm." Fu Yu glanced at the food box but didn't ask any further questions.
You Tong then said, "It's still about what happened at the South Tower. That day, I troubled my husband to go there himself. Seeing you leave in anger, I felt uneasy. I was afraid that my husband would misunderstand and think that I was a troublemaker, making a mountain out of a molehill, and that I would hold a grudge over trivial matters and cause a huge uproar."
Fu Yu glanced at her, a slight smile playing on his lips, but said nothing.
—That day, when Nanlou was furious and Su Ruolan was trying to deceive him by downplaying the seriousness of the matter, he actually thought so.
After all, he had investigated Wei Youtong's actions in the capital and didn't believe she could suddenly become a different person and be so sensible.
You Tong could tell, and smiled to herself, explaining, "Back in the capital, I was young and ignorant, and perhaps such things happened. But the past is the past. Now that I'm in the Fu family, I have to put away my spoiled ways. After all, I'm thousands of miles away from home, living under someone else's roof. Even if I wanted to be spoiled, I don't have the right to."
These words were somewhat self-deprecating, but not meant to be self-pitying.
Fu Yu's eyebrows twitched slightly, his tone carrying a hint of sarcasm, "Is it that bad?"
You Tong's delicate lips curved into a smile, her eyebrows arching slightly. "It's always good to recognize the situation. However, my disciplining of Miss Su that day wasn't entirely for personal reasons. Aunt Zhou has already informed me of Miss Su's actions. I tolerated and restrained myself for a long time, and there were two reasons for disciplining her in front of everyone. One was for personal reasons. After all, people aren't plants or trees; how could they really allow themselves to be slandered? I disciplined her because I could no longer tolerate it, and also to make an example of her, so that other ignorant maids wouldn't follow suit and spread rumors."
"Hmm." Fu Yu nodded. "And the second one?"
"Secondly, it is for her husband."
"Oh?" This was unexpected for Fu Yu, and he raised his voice slightly, "For me?"
“My husband said that as long as I live in the South Tower, I am the young mistress. If Miss Su treats me with disrespect, it is the same as treating the young mistress with disrespect. If I indulge her, people will say that the general’s wife is weak and incompetent and unable to control the servants. In the end, it will damage my husband’s reputation. One should fulfill one’s duties in one’s position. Since I have taken this position, I cannot burden my husband too much. The commotion that day was for a reason. Please do not take it to heart, my husband.”
After saying this, he cupped his hands in front of his body and performed a respectful bow.
As Fu Yu pondered her words and thoughts, a smile unexpectedly appeared on his usually indifferent and aloof face.
"You came all this way just to say this?"
"These words are insignificant to my husband, but they are very important to me. I am of shallow talent and virtue, and now that I am here, I only hope to live a peaceful life without causing trouble. My husband is busy with affairs and has great ambitions, so he has no time to deal with trivial matters. However, people's words are a fearsome thing and can easily distort the truth. In the future, if there are such troublesome matters, I hope that my husband can listen to all sides and make a clear judgment based on other people's words."
That's why he handled things so carelessly at the beginning.
Fu Yu may be proud and arrogant, but his arrogance is cultivated through genuine ability, not out of unreasonableness.
That day, he was prejudiced and too lazy to investigate further, which almost led him to wrongly accuse her. When You Tong pointed it out, he didn't take offense.
However, after several encounters following their marriage, Wei Youtong's words and actions were completely different from what he had previously gathered. The Fu family held military power and had many spies under their command. These people were meticulous and cautious in their work and would not be easily deceived by rumors. The information they sent back must have been verified.
Looking back now, Wei Youtong's behavior before and after her marriage seems like that of a completely different person.
Fu Yu simply half-closed the window, leaned against the long table, and stared at You Tong with a playful look.
This was the first time since their marriage that Fu Yu had seriously looked at her.
With delicate eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, snow-white cheeks, and tender lips, her skin was exceptionally well-maintained. Even without makeup, standing in the sunlight, it was flawless. Her lips were rosy and tender, and her eyes were as clear as water, possessing a naturally alluring charm. Her eyes were exceptionally beautiful, like a clear spring reflecting the spring sunshine, radiant and spirited, like the finishing touch in a painting of a beautiful woman, lively, intelligent, and dazzling.
Compared to the arrogance and willfulness she had been shown to be, she now stood with her sleeves tucked in, her expression calm and composed, neither arrogant nor impatient, her demeanor gentle and open.
Fu Yu's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly.
The author has something to say: Be careful when you start looking at her seriously; you might fall in love with her irrevocably.
I'm taking a day off tomorrow. See you Tuesday morning! =w=
Thank you so much, landmine!
Miss Donut threw a landmine
Interest threw a landmine.
breathesky2007 threw a landmine. (The last part, "小院投一地矿," appears to be a separate, unrelated sentence and is left untranslated.)
Chapter 14 Mind
Prejudice or disdain, at the beginning of their marriage, Wei Youtong was, in Fu Yu's eyes, a beautiful but flawed young lady who was ignorant of the ways of the world and arrogant.
Women like this are everywhere in and around Qizhou.
Therefore, in their few interactions, he was prejudiced and biased. But now it seems that he was wrong.
Although this woman has had her faults, she has not stooped to the position of the young mistress of the South Tower.
Fu Yu's mind stirred slightly, and he withdrew his gaze, saying, "Okay. I'll keep an eye out from now on."
That counts as a promise.
You Tong had initially worried that this man, so concerned with saving face, would use his status to intimidate her and refuse to listen to her explanation, but to her surprise, he was quite reasonable. She smiled gently and pushed the food box towards him, saying, "Thank you, husband. These are some newly made dishes. It's almost noon, please try them." With that, she didn't disturb Fu Yu any further, leaving the Two Books Pavilion and taking Zhou Gu back to the South Tower.
Fu Yu remained standing by the desk, peering at her through the crack in the window.
A tea-white cloak sprinkled with gold swayed slightly as her slender figure walked away, her long, dark hair coiled into a bun, making her appear even more graceful and elegant.
It is the age when a girl's beauty is in full bloom, the most enchanting age.
She remained unmoved by the rumors that filled the city, she endured trouble and then retaliated, she remained calm and composed in the face of his cold and stern pressure, and she was neither humble nor arrogant after marrying far away... Fu Yu really couldn't understand how such a woman could have gone so far as to attempt suicide for love and become a laughingstock. Judging from her actions and demeanor, she didn't seem to intend to win his favor, and it seemed she still cared about Xu Chaozong, who had abandoned her in the struggle for the throne.
Is it worth it?
Fu Yu glanced at the indistinct figure that had already disappeared into the bamboo forest, and was startled by this thought.
Marrying the Wei family girl was a mutually beneficial arrangement; she was just a decoration. Why should he care about anything else?
He shook his head, intending to go back to the inner room to look through the files, but then his eyes caught sight of the food box. He hesitated for a moment, then casually picked it up.
...
The two-book pavilion seemed unusually lively today.