Fu Yu waited in the Two Books Pavilion, still dressed in his usual black robes and boots, but now wearing the leather coat of the Deputy Military Envoy, looking dignified and imposing.
This time, his return to the capital was different from his usual border patrols and battles; he was only accompanied by Du He and two attendants. Upon arriving outside the mansion gate, several carriages bearing the Fu family emblem were already prepared, neatly parked on the cobblestone street. A man stood leaning against his horse at the gate, exuding a dashing air; it was Wei Tianze, whom he had met briefly at the temple earlier.
Upon seeing Fu Yu emerge, Wei Tianze dismounted and clasped his hands in greeting, "General!"
Then she bowed to You Tong and said, "Young Madam."
You Tong followed behind Fu Yu, returning the greeting with grace.
Then Fu Yu asked, "Is everything arranged?"
"Don't worry, everything is arranged. Where will we meet then?"
"On the sixth day, in Taocheng."
"Alright, I'll be going now." Wei Tianze glanced at You Tong again, nimbly mounted his horse, then bowed to Fu Yu in farewell, shook the reins, and galloped away.
Fu Yu also mounted his horse and rode at the front with Du He and the others, while You Tong and Yanbo Chuncao rode together and followed behind.
The journey went relatively smoothly that day, and we found an inn to stay in that evening, keeping things simple.
When I woke up the next day, it was dark outside. I opened the door and saw thick clouds gathering in the sky. I didn't know when it had turned gloomy, and it looked like it was going to snow. Pedestrians hurried by in the streets, all bundled up in their clothes. Only the children, still playing, chased each other in groups of three or five, even though their faces were red from the cold wind.
You Tong stood there for a while and felt much colder than yesterday, so she went back inside and changed into a light jacket.
Before leaving, he took out the gold hand warmer he had prepared in his luggage, filled it with hot charcoal, and then boarded the car.
It was freezing cold, and the wind was howling. Fu Yu had no intention of freezing, so he ordered Yanbo Chuncao to go to the back, while he rode with You Tong.
Fortunately, You Tong had made thorough preparations. Fearing that the journey would be boring and awkward if they had to ride together, she had prepared several books in the car. After Fu Yu got in, she picked out a book and handed it to him. The two of them read their own books without disturbing each other.
A cold wind howled outside, but the carriage walls were thick, and a charcoal brazier underneath kept it relatively warm. Passing the time by reading, he didn't realize until dusk was approaching. Licheng wasn't far from here; if it weren't for the slippery roads after the snow, they should have entered the city and stayed there by now. But tonight, Fu Yu didn't plan to find another inn, only instructing the driver to hurry and get into the city before the gates closed.
...
Taocheng is located in the middle of the river, nestled against the mountains and beside the water. It is also a place where north and south transportation passes through, making it quite prosperous.
When You Tong and the others entered the city, it was already late at night. The weather was cold after the snow, and the snow on the road had not yet melted, and it had been trampled down, leaving behind many tire tracks. The cold wind chilled their clothes, making them wish they could crawl into a furnace. There were few people on the streets, and business was slow. Most of the shops were closed, except for the area near the inn, which was still relatively lively.
The carriage stopped in front of the inn. Du He went in first to make arrangements, while You Tong was helped out of the carriage by Chuncao. As soon as she came out, she felt the cold wind like a knife.
She quickly shrank back, trying to pull the hood over her head, worried that her hands would freeze in the cold night. Suddenly, she felt someone behind her lift the hood slightly, and in the next instant, the hood was firmly over her head, so large that it almost covered her eyes. This saved her trouble, so she simply hunched her neck, leaving only her eyes and nose exposed, and hurried into the shop.
Looking back, she saw Fu Yu stride in, while Chuncao Yanbo stood a few steps away, dumbfounded.
—Was the general's posture just now meant to help the young mistress, or was he taking advantage of his height to bully her?
The two exchanged glances, but dared not delay. They let the coachman and attendants settle the carriage and hurried inside to stand beside You Tong, helping her remove her hood. Fortunately, her hair was not disheveled, and after a little tidying, it still looked beautiful.
You Tong's thoughts were currently focused on Fu Yu.
Upon entering, Fu Yu went straight to the counter. Before he could even stand still, several people emerged from the stairwell. Seeing him, they seemed delighted and immediately surrounded him. They appeared to be a family; the middle-aged man was dignified and dressed like a scholar, but judging from his demeanor, he was likely an official in the court. Beside him were a beautiful woman and a young woman in her prime. The mother and daughter shared similar features, oval faces, and almond-shaped eyes. They were adorned in silk and jewels, and surrounded by servants and maids.
Fu Yu stood there alone, said something, and glanced in their direction.
You Tong didn't want to delay, so she quickly walked over.
Chapter 29 Reflection
The people surrounding Fu Yu were the maternal relatives of the eldest wife, Madam Shen.
The middle-aged man, Shen Feiqing, was Shen's younger brother. He originally worked in the Ministry of Personnel, a prestigious and respectable position. Beside him were his wife, Madam Mei, and their daughter, Shen Yueyi. At the end of the year, the imperial court issued a transfer order, arranging for him to serve as an official in Qizhou. After handing over his duties, Shen Feiqing spent New Year's Eve in the capital. Thinking that he should go to his brother-in-law, Fu Deming, to find out the details before the government office opened, he set off for Qizhou early.
Because of the heavy snow along the way, and fearing that the roads would be slippery and difficult to travel later, we decided to stay at an inn first.
I went downstairs just now because I was planning to take my wife and daughter to the restaurant next door for dinner.
To everyone's surprise, they ran into Fu Yu here.
Shen Feiqing had been to Qizhou many times and knew that Fu Yu's strategy and bravery far surpassed those of his nephews. Moreover, although the military governor of Yongning was Fu Deming, it was Fu Deqing and his son who controlled the troops and provisions. Therefore, he treated Fu Yu with great courtesy.
Having heard that Fu Yu was returning to the capital to visit his father-in-law, they couldn't help but ask about his newlywed wife.
Then, the scene that Fu Yu caught in the blink of an eye occurred.
When You Tong arrived, Fu Yu had already revealed her identity. Shen Feiqing was a man, so it was inappropriate to be polite. Instead, Madam Mei stepped forward and said with a smile, "I heard you were exceptionally beautiful when I was in the capital, that none of the girls in the capital could compare to you. Now that I see you, you are indeed very beautiful." Her face was full of enthusiastic praise, but there was not much of a smile in her eyes. She only invited Shen Yueyi to come and get acquainted with her.
How could Shen Yueyi, living in the capital, not know Wei Youtong's name?
At this time last year, the rumors about her and Prince Rui were still going around in the capital!
At the time, while some people in the capital secretly sympathized with her, most were waiting to see her make a fool of herself. Shen Yueyi and You Tong were complete strangers; she only knew that You Tong was the undisputed Princess Consort of Rui and that she was quite arrogant. When the rumors spread throughout the city, she simply watched the spectacle with a spectator's mentality.
Who knew that Wei Youtong was truly lucky? She was abandoned by Prince Rui, and then she was married by the Fu family. It is said that the betrothal gifts and dowry were very generous. The man she married, Fu Yu, was an outstanding person. Although he was ruthless and cold in his actions and his reputation was awe-inspiring, unlike Xu Chaozong who was a gentleman and a member of the royal family, he was still a promising young talent.
There are only a handful of well-known young men in and around the capital, and Wei Youtong has recruited two of them.
But in terms of virtue and talent, how could she possibly be worthy of him?
Shen Yueyi remembered the rumors circulating in the capital, and looking at You Tong who only had beauty, she secretly sneered.
However, her temperament was exactly the same as her aunt, Madam Shen. Even if she was secretly angry, she would not show it and would only greet people with a smile.
You Tong returned the greeting politely.
Shen Feiqing then smiled and said to Fu Yu, "This inn is nice, but the food is nothing to write home about. I heard that the pickles next door are excellent. Why don't we go and try them? In this snowy weather, it's stuffy inside and there's nothing to do. Let's have a couple of drinks, and I'll have my daughter keep the young mistress company. When we get to Qizhou, we'll be old acquaintances."
Fu Yu did not answer immediately, but turned his head and asked You Tong, "Are you still feeling unwell?"
You Tong stood there for a moment, and from Fu Yu's expression, it was clear that he didn't feel much closeness to this Shen Feiqing.
After all, this is the uncle of the eldest cousin, not his.
And since this question is so peculiar, there must be a reason for it.
Presumably, he was unwilling to go, but out of consideration for his cousins who had been through thick and thin with him, he couldn't simply refuse.
She moved closer to him, frowning, and said, "The road is slippery with snow, and the carriage is shaking violently, I..."
“Then I won’t go.” Fu Yu hadn’t expected her to cooperate so readily. He casually put his hand on her shoulder and said, “My wife is weak and may not have an appetite after a long journey. I also have some trivial matters to attend to, so I won’t trouble you.” He seemed to be explaining patiently, but his tone was neither warm nor cold. His distant and polite attitude perfectly matched the other people’s assessment of him as “arrogant and unapproachable.”
Shen Feiqing didn't dare to say anything more and stepped aside, saying, "Then General, please rest."
Then he called his wife and daughter to go outside.
Shen Yueyi adopted the same smiling demeanor as Madam Mei, and after leaving the house, she whispered sarcastically, "She really knows how to put on airs. True to her nature, she's the same way she was in front of Prince Rui, and she's still the same now in Qizhou. How could she possibly be worthy of General Fu?"
As she spoke, she subconsciously looked back, but the doors and windows were tightly closed, and the thick curtains were drawn, so she couldn't see Fu Yu's figure.
However, that dignified and imposing posture from just now seemed to be etched in my mind.
She had imagined that a fierce general who had endured hardship and danger would be ruthless and vile, like the general under the Prince of Xiping she had met before, with a full beard and a menacing look in his eyes. But when she actually met him, Fu Yu was completely different from what she had imagined. He had a tall and proud figure, a chiseled and handsome profile, strong and deep-set eyes, a dashing and composed demeanor, and a dignified and noble air that was just right.
Such a cold and heroic man, indifferent and ruthless to others, but only shows some patience to the women beside him.
The way he just embraced me, with his outstretched arm, was both strong and gentle, captivating and enchanting.
How fortunate I am to be the woman by his side.
Shen Yueyi reluctantly withdrew her gaze, only to hear Madam Mei say, "A fox will always show its tail eventually. Didn't Prince Rui see through her true colors and marry the daughter of the Xu family instead? Even if General Fu is deceived for a time, he will eventually see the truth. When that time comes... ha!" Her words were laced with a sneer, hinting at a desire to see the show go on.
Hearing this, Shen Feiqing frowned and said, "Why are you gossiping when we're traveling? They haven't done anything to you, so why are you making comments?"
Ms. Mei didn't take it to heart, saying, "It's obvious to everyone, what's wrong with saying a few words?"
Shen Feiqing glared at her, but because there were many people and distractions inside the restaurant, he didn't say anything more.
...
Inside the inn, You Tong was led up the stairs by Fu Yu. Once they were alone, seeing that he still wouldn't let go, she grabbed his wrist and pulled him away.
—It was as if they were disgusted by him.
Fu Yu's expression was a little strange, but he didn't say anything more.
Upon reaching the guest room, I heard another commotion below. Someone was shouting for people to bring horses and arrange rooms. I stopped to look and saw lanterns and torches at the entrance of the inn, and the chaotic sound of hooves from about ten horses, as if they were guests who had just braved the cold to arrive.
Standing on the second-floor corridor facing the street, illuminated by the torches, the horses all looked glossy and sleek, snorting loudly, as fierce as tigers.
Such a display of force is not something an ordinary traveler would have.
You Tong glanced at them in surprise, then heard Fu Yu say, "They are the people of the Prince of Xiping, we don't need to pay them any attention."
Upon reaching the middle, the waiter had already prepared guest rooms. Fu Yu and You Tong shared one room, while Chuncao and Yanbo stayed in the next. On either side, Du He, his attendants, and the coachmen each took their own rooms. The rooms were fully furnished with tables, chairs, and beds, and were spotlessly clean. In one corner, three screens surrounded the room, behind which were a bathtub and toiletries. Further inside was a small door leading to a chamber pot.
You Tong looked around and saw Fu Yu sitting at the table with a teapot, cups and plates on it, so she went over.
The water in the kettle was hot. She poured two cups and handed one to Fu Yu.
Fu Yu took it, looked at her with a slight smile in his eyes, and said, "You're quite clever."
"We can't let the General down." You Tong took a sip of water to moisten her throat. Hearing the continued noise outside, she casually remarked, "This inn is lively, but it's not as spacious as the South Tower. Wouldn't the General like to have another room?"
Fu Yu looked at her, then suddenly raised an eyebrow and said, "If you're a couple traveling together, why sleep in separate rooms?"
He spoke in a natural tone, even with a hint of gentle teasing. If he hadn't made it clear that he wouldn't do anything reckless that night, she would almost have thought he was serious.
However, that was all an illusion.
He was arrogant and looked down on her, and You Tong had no intention of staying in the cage of the Fu family for long.
However, in front of outsiders, even if they can't be truly in love, they shouldn't at least appear to be on the surface. Otherwise, if others see the two of them being distant, they will inevitably speculate about the Fu family's intentions in marrying her despite the infamy throughout the capital. And since Wei Sidao is keeping that intention a secret from her, the Fu family certainly doesn't want others to know it either.
Acting? Easy!
You Tong readily agreed, then paused and asked, "What about General Wei?"
—When Fu Yu went to Jinzhao Temple last time, besides the Fu family, Wei Tianze was the only outsider. Judging from the situation, Wei Tianze seemed quite familiar with the Fu family. This time, on his journey to the capital, Fu Yu was accompanied by his bodyguard Du He, and Wei Tianze also accompanied him. When Fu Yu spoke to him, besides the commanding tone of a superior, there was also a hint of friendly conversation, showing that this man held a different level of importance in Fu Yu's eyes than others.
Unsure and uncertain, she could only ask Fu Yu.
Fu Yu seemed to hesitate for a moment, then said, "Except for Du He, everyone else is considered an outsider."
After saying that, he called over a waiter and ordered him to bring some food. Turning around, he saw You Tong holding onto a warm teapot tightly and guessed that she was cold, so he ordered someone to add a charcoal brazier to the room and to bring two bowls of ginger soup.
Because Fu Yu was in the room, You Tong didn't feel comfortable taking a bath. After finishing her meal, she hurriedly changed into her nightgown behind the screen, washed her face and rinsed her mouth, and then crawled into bed. However, it was late at night and the snow was cold. Since no one had warmed the bedding when she stayed at the inn, even with a hot water bottle, she still felt chilly and could only curl up to keep warm.
Behind the screen, there was a faint sound of water; it was Fu Yu taking a bath. She was tired from her journey and fell asleep after lying down for a while.
When Fu Yu finished washing up and came over, he saw the brocade quilt slightly bulging, and You Tong curled up like a shrimp with her eyes tightly closed.
He casually extinguished the candle flame, lifted the blanket, and lay down inside.
Then, it suddenly stopped.