Fu Yu nodded and entered with her. On the round, carved rosewood table with a tapering waist, there was a bowl of congee, four delicate side dishes, and two soft, glutinous pastries that had been steamed that morning. The side dishes were all fresh, tender, appetizing, and pleasing to the eye.
You Tong scooped two bowls and then added chopsticks for him.
Having been married into the Fu family for over a year, she had dined with Fu Yu quite a few times. From the initial respect and politeness to the later friendly banter, all the past events were etched in her mind, clear and distinct. Even though she felt the rules of the Fu family's inner garden were like a cage, and even though from the day she married into the Fu family she had hoped to fly out of this magnificent mansion, now that the time had come, while she felt relieved, she also felt a deep sense of reluctance.
The South Building was quiet and peaceful; this was also the last breakfast she had with Fu Yu.
You Tong personally picked some vegetables for him, and had some things she wanted to say, but couldn't find the words to say them. She only asked him how he had been these past two days.
Fu Yu used to never mention military affairs in front of the women, but this morning he told her about the training and patrol.
But these words were not what he truly wanted to say.
Fu Yu looked at You Tong, who was engrossed in eating across from him, his eyes growing increasingly intense.
After the meal, Aunt Zhou ordered someone to clear the dishes, but Fu Yu showed no intention of leaving immediately. He left the side room and went straight into the main room. The furniture inside was neat and tidy, the tables and chairs were in their proper places, and many traces of You Tong's living quarters had been erased. Only the flowers on the long table were still blooming beautifully and exuding a delicate fragrance.
Upon reaching the side room, the upper half of the bookshelf was also empty, and the long table was bare, just as it had been in the past.
Even with long curtains and fragrant incense from mythical beasts hanging in the bedroom, the inner chamber still felt desolate.
Fu Yu frowned slightly and turned around to see You Tong, who had followed him in at some point, standing gracefully by the table. Sunlight streamed in through the half-open window, illuminating her dress, making the jasmine blossoms vibrant and the silver threads subtly shimmer. A faint smile played on her lips as her gaze swept across the room, a hint of longing in her eyes. Beneath her gauze sleeve, her hand unconsciously curled up, gently clutching the hem of her skirt.
He suddenly stepped up to her, reached out his arm, and pulled her into his embrace.
You Tong seemed surprised, her body stiffened for a moment, and when she realized that Fu Yu was holding her tightly, she did not struggle.
Just moments ago they seemed to be chatting and laughing normally at the dinner table, but now only silence remained. Fu Yu tightened his arms around her, his chin resting on her hair.
The familiar embrace of his chest, her head buried against his back, surrounded by his strong, masculine aura, she could even feel his heartbeat. Since returning from the capital, several times she had woken up from her dreams to find herself nestled in his arms, her body warm against his through her thin nightgown, while Fu Yu let her rest her head on his arm, seemingly oblivious to the soreness and numbness—even after she had annoyed him.
You Tong slowly reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"General, please take good care of yourself from now on." She tried her best to smile, her tone light and teasing. "Let bygones be bygones, and try to eat well."
"Okay." Fu Yu said in a deep voice, paused, and then said, "It's just that without the small kitchen in the South Building, I'm afraid we'll miss your pastries and delicacies."
"If the general wants to eat pastries before he takes another wife, my hot pot restaurant can make some."
She clearly had high hopes for that hot pot restaurant and was probably eager to get started on it.
Fu Yu inhaled deeply the fragrance of her hair, held You Tong's shoulders, stepped back slightly, and stared into her eyes. Over a decade of ruthless combat, spending his days among fierce soldiers, had hardened his character, making him resolute and cold, and his proud nature made him incapable of gentle words. His lips moved, and he spoke with difficulty, "You Tong—"
"Um?"
"If these rules and trivial matters were no longer in place, would you still be willing to... marry me?"
He thought it would be incredibly difficult to say a single sentence, but it came out in just one breath. His voice was deep, and his expression was clear and solemn.
This question was unexpected, and You Tong was stunned. Her gaze was captured by Fu Yu, and she was somewhat taken aback.
After a moment, she smiled and said, "I'm afraid that by then, General, you will already have a beauty you like by your side. It's getting late, and there are many things to settle over there, so General, you don't need to linger. Please attend to your business. Farewell." With that, she lowered her eyes, gave Fu Yu a slight bow, and then stepped back and slowly left the room.
She took a step forward, the hem of her skirt fluttering slightly.
Fu Yu remained standing at a distance, his expression resolute, his posture as steady as a mountain, and said in a low voice, "No."
...
The city patrol garrison was quite far from the Fu family's residence. The carriage slowly drove off, and it took about three incense sticks' worth of time to arrive.
The courtyard that You Tong bought had three courtyards inside and out, with a small side courtyard. The main gate faced the street, and because it was next to the city patrol garrison, the surrounding area was quite tidy. The courtyard diagonally opposite was where an official lived; it was said that he was very strict in managing his household, and his house was always impeccably clean. Passing the side courtyard, there was a narrow alley, and after walking a short distance, there were places where servants and stewards were housed. You Tong also rented a few rooms for Aunt Xia and the two stewards surnamed Xu to live in.
These past few days, Grandma Xu has been personally taking care of You Tong as she moves her things. After settling her belongings, she also ordered people to clean the house.
You Tong walked in and saw that the houses were neat and orderly, the courtyard was clean and tidy, and in the middle of the courtyard stood a lush and verdant osmanthus tree.
The courtyard contained three rooms, with a clear pond in front of them and a small pavilion beside it. Wisteria vines meandered upwards beside the pavilion, their branches intertwining and twisting gracefully, eventually reaching the top of the pavilion and cascading down to form a natural, verdant canopy. A winding cobblestone path separated the pavilion from the main structure, while two rows of green bamboo grew against the wall, and a few maple and cherry trees stood in the corner. At first glance, it was a small but complete structure.
On its own, it's a pretty good place to live.
You Tong had come to visit once before, and now that she had moved in, she was very satisfied to see Aunt Xia and Du Shuangxi busy in the kitchen and Chuncao and the others tidying up the house. So she went to the main house and instructed them on how to put their things away.
After lunch, we rested for a while and then got back to work. By the afternoon, everything inside and outside the house was tidy.
You Tong lived in the main house, while Granny Xu and Du Shuangxi lived in the east wing. Chuncao, Yanbo, Qiu Kui, and Yuzan were settled in the west wing, and the maids and servants who came as part of the dowry but had no family background were settled in the back. The three rooms in the courtyard were used as the living room, and the outer back room was used as a gatehouse and storage room, which was more than enough.
You Tong stood in the shady courtyard, smelling the aroma wafting from the kitchen, her smile growing ever wider.
The first dinner after moving into the new house was prepared by Aunt Xia and Du Shuangxi. Although there were no rare ingredients, the dishes were all delicious and visually appealing. You Tong stretched and heard Qiu Kui say that Fu Lanyin had arrived, so she quickly invited her in.
As soon as he stepped out of the door, he saw Fu Lanyin walking in quickly, looking around the courtyard with great curiosity.
Seeing the surprise on You Tong's face, he smiled and said, "Although you are reliable, I was still worried. I was afraid of causing you trouble, so I came to check on you now. Isn't that thoughtful of me?"
You Tong smiled and took her arm. Chun Cao, who had been busy all day, was in a good mood because You Tong was happy, so she joked, "Miss, you've timed this perfectly. We were just about to set the table."
"What delicious food did you make?" Fu Lanyin sniffed the air twice and then laughed. "I fried radish cakes and meatballs, and made matsutake mushroom soup, right?"
"You have the best nose!" You Tong smiled.
Because of Fu Lanyin's visit, dinner was served in the living room of the courtyard.
After dinner, it was already quite late. You Tong was worried that Fu Lanyin would complain when she returned home because she had come out to see her alone. So she urged her to go back.
Fu Lanyin wasn't in a hurry. She said that since Han Shi returned, Shou'an Hall had become much more lively again. Shen Shi taught Han Shi how to manage the household affairs, and the old lady was helping out. She didn't have much energy to keep an eye on her, and with Fu Zhao covering for her, there was no need to worry. The two sat in the pavilion talking. Fu Lanyin had originally worried that You Tong was young and might not have considered things thoroughly before moving out, but seeing how well-organized her place was, she felt relieved.
As the sun began to set, he couldn't help but sigh, "I won't be able to come see you every day anymore. When I go to the South Building at noon, only Aunt Zhou and the others are left doing needlework. It's really so deserted. I'm afraid that you'll go to the South Building less and less often in the future."
"He has important business to attend to, and the people at the Two Books Pavilion are all very capable."
“You don’t know Second Brother’s temperament.” Fu Lanyin sighed and whispered in You Tong’s ear, “Once he gets his hands on something, he won’t give it up—especially not to a beautiful and skillful person like you. The fact that he’s willing to let you go means he really likes you. I wanted to persuade him a couple of days ago, but I was afraid of causing trouble for you. But keeping these words in my heart is too painful.”
"I know." You Tong twirled the embroidered handkerchief with her fingertips and gently smoothed the hair that fell beside her ear.
"And you, haven't you been tempted at all?" Fu Lanyin looked at her with wide, expectant eyes.
You Tong just smiled and shook her head. "What's the use of being moved? As for you, I heard the old lady and the others discussing your marriage several times when you were in Shou'an Hall. At your age, you should have something in mind by now. The general and the others are busy and can't pay attention to these things. Now that your sister-in-law is back, you should go out more often and don't hold back what you need to say, lest you miss out on something important."
Fu Lanyin naturally understood what she was referring to, her face flushed, and she slapped her, saying, "You always use me as an example!"
You Tong smiled, noticing that it was getting late, and saw her off before getting into her car and leaving.
The carriage bearing the Fu family emblem rumbled away into the distance, and dusk gradually settled over the streets and alleys. The sounds of children laughing and playing could be heard from across the street. Someone was cooking dinner late, as the smoke from their chimney was faint and the aroma of food was wafting through the air.
You Tong turned and went back to the courtyard. The green-painted double doors closed, and silence returned to the area in front of the door.
A moment later, a dark-colored garment fluttered in the wind around the corner, revealing a corner, and black boots with black soles silently strode away.
...
After settling into her new home, You Tong had to tidy up the place and take some time to go out and choose a shop, checking out where the vegetables and meat came from. Since the two managers, surnamed Xu, had already arrived and settled in the back alley, she asked them to find a broker and find suitable helpers.
On Fu Yu's side, while training and patrolling, he also kept an eye on the situation inside the prison.
On this day, after hearing the news from his subordinates, he felt that the time was right, so he went alone to the prison to find Wei Tianze.
Chapter 81 Confession
More than half a month has passed since You Tong was assassinated and Wei Tianze was imprisoned.
The prison where Wei Tianze was imprisoned was a military facility located on the outskirts of Qizhou City. It was built with stone walls and iron ramparts and was specifically used to guard soldiers under Yongning's command who had violated military regulations. The prison had two levels, half above ground and half underground, resembling a crouching beast. It was not particularly conspicuous from a distance, but it was heavily guarded up close. It was surrounded by fences for three or four miles, and no unauthorized people were allowed to set foot inside.
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, two light autumn rains fell, and the weather cooled down considerably. Upon entering the prison, the chill felt even more penetrating.
The jailer who accompanied Fu Yu was once a fierce and meticulous general in the army, renowned for his ruthlessness and meticulousness, and deeply trusted by Fu Deqing. Later, he was wounded in battle, losing half a leg, and was transferred here. Because Wei Tianze was Fu Yu's deputy general, a rather important position, he did not make a fuss when he entered prison, and the jailer personally arranged for the guards to deliver his food.
The cell where Wei Tianze was imprisoned was naturally located in the most secluded and secure place.
The stone-built corridor was dark and gloomy. Pushing open the iron gate facing west revealed an even darker, more eerily quiet interior.
After the jailer escorted Fu Yu inside, he and his men stood guard outside the door. Fu Yu entered alone, his black boots making very light, steady, and rhythmic sounds on the bluestone slabs. In the innermost cell, Wei Tianze, who had been sitting with his head down, suddenly raised his head upon hearing the footsteps and listened intently. The footsteps grew closer and closer, finally stopping outside his cell.
The underground cell was dark and gloomy, with no sunlight at all, except for the torches in the corridor that provided some light.
Wei Tianze narrowed his eyes and saw a tall, dark shadow cast on the ground, motionless. He looked up and saw Fu Yu standing with his hands behind his back, as resolute and imposing as a heavy sword. His dark clothes almost blended into his surroundings, but his deep, clear eyes were fixed on him, his expression inscrutable.
“General,” he said, his voice slightly hoarse.
Fu Yu remained silent, only looking at him with a furrowed brow.
In just half a month, the person inside had a completely different demeanor and bearing than before.
The young general, exceptionally skilled and valiant, was once spirited and dashing, like the sun slowly rising into the sky, fiery and dazzling. In the past, when they fought side-by-side and dominated the battlefield, the young general, wielding a silver spear and wearing black robes, had astonished his opponents, causing them to flee in terror. Now, however, all that youthful vigor had vanished. He sat cross-legged in a corner of his cell, his beard dark and black, his hair disheveled from neglect, and his eyes dull and lifeless.
His wrists and ankles were bound with heavy, sturdy iron shackles.
Fu Yu's eyes darkened as he opened the cell door and stepped inside.
The cell was cramped and simple. At the far end was a rather narrow bed board against three walls, with a low table next to it for meals. There was nothing else there. After all, he was a soldier who had fought for his country and almost died several times. So, the cell did not usually contain chamber pots or other filthy things, which was a way of preserving a last bit of dignity.
Fu Yu sat down cross-legged opposite Wei Tianze, his face cold and stern.
Wei Tianze lowered his head with a self-deprecating smile, "You flatter me."
"It's been a long time." Fu Yu took out a food box from his back, took out a jar of wine and two small porcelain bowls. "This should be the last time we drink together." As he spoke, he filled the two porcelain bowls.
The wine is rich and flavorful, with a pleasant aroma.
Wei Tianze was imprisoned here for half a month, without seeing the sun, eating coarse tea and plain food. Although there were no instruments of torture or screams around him, he sat alone in the dark and damp corner, ignored by everyone. He was left to face the wall and reflect on the events of his life, savoring them one by one. The mixed feelings were tormenting him.
The aroma of the wine reached his nose, and he was slightly surprised. After hesitating for a moment, he still took a bowl, tilted his head back, and drank it all.
The wine is smooth on the palate, but suddenly becomes spicy as it reaches the throat, scraping down like a knife.
The two men drank three bowls of wine in silence before Wei Tianze finally said, "General, you seem to have something on your mind."
“I’ve divorced You Tong.” Fu Yu raised his eyebrows, his expression grim.
Wei Tianze was slightly surprised, not expecting him to say this. The cell was dark, and the man opposite him sat upright on the ground, as steady as a mountain. Wei Tianze looked at his expression and slowly realized what he meant. After years of getting along, he knew Fu Yu's temperament; he had never been interested in women, nor did he show his emotions to others. But now… Wei Tianze's brows twitched, and his throat was dry. "Is it because of that assassination attempt?"
"Were you truly intent on taking her life that day?"
Wei Tianze paused, and after a long while said, "If it happens again, I will think of another way."
"After all, the assassination failed, and he lost his life." Fu Yu sneered. "You've been plotting for over ten years just to disrupt my family's peace? Wei Tianze, you too have fought bravely and defended the city, you are a model for the men of Qizhou."
The title of "model" was once well-deserved, but now it has crumbled completely.
Wei Tianze had been imprisoned for over half a month, subjected to no torture and without any visit or inquiry, living in isolation like a living dead. When he was outside, he was preoccupied with important matters and his schemes, leaving no time to think about anything else. Now, imprisoned and idle, knowing that his true identity could not be hidden, he faced the cold, hard stone wall and looked at the old general who had once taught him military strategy and tactics and who had personally brought him meals every day despite his limp. His thoughts surged and churned.
He took the wine jar, poured himself two bowls of wine and drank them down, then suddenly stood up.
Let me tell you a story.