He claimed to be quiet and reserved, not fond of moving around, and only interested in amusing himself in front of Madam Fu.
Fu Lanyin and her brother originally planned to take their guests out of the city for hunting, pilgrimage, and leisurely strolls. However, seeing that Jiang Daijun was reluctant to set off, and that Miss He who had come with them was eager to go, they left Han Shi and their grandmother to entertain the guests while they took Miss He out of the city. She was an old female general under Jiang Shao, who had practiced martial arts since childhood and was very skilled. She was also straightforward. Because Jiang Shao was afraid that his daughter would encounter danger on the way, he specially asked her to accompany him. They slept in the same bed at night, which was more convenient than with the men.
The three of them left the mansion with their attendants. Fu Lanyin remembered that You Tong had mentioned that she planned to go to offer incense, so she invited her along.
...
At this moment, only Madam Fu, along with Madam Han, Madam Shen, and the eldest son's granddaughter-in-law, remained in Linfeng Pavilion. Madam Ming sat opposite them with Jiang Daijun and her brother, drinking tea and listening to the opera.
After a performance on stage, during a break for everyone to rest, Fu Yu and his son arrived.
Upon hearing the maid's report, Madam Fu's face immediately lit up with joy. "Is it really Xiuping who has returned?"
"It's the general. You look travel-worn; you must have just returned to the manor and come to see you." The maid entered, her face beaming.
"Good, good, just right." Madam Fu, unaware that Fu Yu was returning to the manor, nodded happily.
As he spoke, his gaze swept over the guest to his right.
Knowing the identities of the Fu family father and son, Madam Ming had already stood up to pay her respects. Jiang Daijun and her siblings, having lived in the southwest for a long time, had heard of Fu Yu's reputation but had never met him in person. Jiang Boyan, without any reservations, craned his neck to look outside, while Jiang Daijun, with her sleeves tucked in and eyebrows lowered, displayed her usual dignified demeanor as she slowly rose.
A moment later, Fu Yu and his son entered the room one after the other.
The man, in his early twenties, was tall and imposing, dressed in a dark long robe. His features were dignified and his bearing was imposing. He walked with a subtle air of authority, yet his demeanor remained composed and dignified. Having commanded the cavalry for years and fought countless battles on the battlefield, his cold and sharp aura made him seem like a honed, unyielding sword. Upon entering the hall, the servants and maids within his sight unconsciously straightened up and respectfully bowed to the father and son.
The old lady was originally the most respected person in the hall, but after he entered, all eyes, whether openly or subtly, turned to him.
In comparison, Jiang Boyan, though also the son of a military governor and of similar age, was far less imposing.
Jiang Daijun glanced at him only once, then lowered her eyes and bowed to Fu Deqing.
Then they heard Madam Fu say with a smile, "You've come at just the right time." She then hurriedly ordered someone to add seats and tea. After Fu Yu bowed respectfully, she said, "This is Madam Ming. You haven't met these two yet. They are the eldest son and daughter of the Jiang family, the military governor of Jianchang. They've come to visit us." As she spoke, she smiled and handed them to the people below.
Fu Yu's gaze followed.
Jiang Boyan was two years older than him. Although he also led troops under Jianchang, he had not achieved much. Compared to Fu Yu, he was far inferior, even compared to his cousins from the eldest branch of the family. Jiang Shao feared that giving him a high position would make it difficult to gain the respect of the troops and would cause criticism from the veteran generals, so he only gave him a fifth-rank official title. Underneath his brocade robes, Jiang Boyan was slightly overweight, with mediocre eyes. He lacked the experience and sharpness of a military leader, and instead possessed the arrogance of a high-ranking official.
Fu Yu only glanced at it, but he could roughly figure out the details.
He then simply cupped his hands in greeting, treating her with the courtesy due to a guest.
Jiang Boyan, however, had to respect his high position, so he clasped his hands and bowed respectfully, while Jiang Daijun beside him also calmly bent her knees.
The old lady was pleased to see this. After Fu Yu sat down, she asked him if his journey had been smooth, inquiring about the details and complexities involved.
Fu Yu answered patiently, and when he heard his grandmother's words were about to steer the conversation toward the Jiang siblings, he stood up and said, "Uncle is taking care of things in the capital. I have other important matters to attend to this time."
He paused, and all eyes in the hall turned to him.
Then Fu Yu bowed and said, “The national mourning will end in the twelfth month, and officials and commoners are not restricted from marriage. At that time, I would like to ask my grandmother and father to make arrangements for my marriage.” Seeing that Madam Fu looked slightly surprised, before she could say anything, he said, “The person I want to marry, as you all know, is the daughter of the Director of the Ministry of War, Wei Youtong.”
With a muffled thud, the old lady lost her grip on the teacup, and it fell into her lap and rolled to the ground.
The maidservant, startled, hurriedly helped her wipe her clothes. The old lady coughed twice, clutching her chest, and asked incredulously, "Who are you going to marry?"
"Wei Youtong, daughter of the Director of the Ministry of War."
"She is not—" Madam Fu was struck dumb, but she managed to suppress her words when she heard Fu Deqing coughing beside her.
Then Fu Deqing stood up, a smile on his face, completely ignoring the old lady's astonishment, and said, "These are all family matters, we can discuss them slowly. Since there are guests here, there's no rush to discuss them here. In the end, it's your marriage, it's all up to you. If you take a fancy to a girl, I will make the arrangements."
These words implied that she was going along with Fu Yu's wishes.
Madam Fu, who had been full of anticipation, was suddenly doused with a bucket of cold water. She couldn't understand what was going on with Fu Yu and Wei Shi's divorce first, and now they were getting married. Her mind was in turmoil, and she couldn't utter a single question in front of the guests. She just stared blankly at Fu Yu as if she were looking at a madman.
How could Jiang Daijun and her brother, who were left behind, not see the clues?
Even though Jiang Boyan didn't achieve anything on the battlefield, he still had a keen eye for things, having grown up in the governor's mansion.
— Fu Yu is renowned throughout the north, known for his iron fist and ruthless nature. He can navigate the treacherous waters of the capital with ease, so how could he act without restraint? In ordinary families, who would rashly bring up marriage matters to guests they've just met? Fu Yu rushed back from afar, barely having drunk half a cup of tea, and immediately brought up the marriage, clearly intending it for his brother and sister to hear.
The military and political power of the Fu family is in the hands of this father and son, and whether or not to form a marriage alliance with the Jiang family is also decided by the man.
A few days ago, Fu Deqing's attitude was ambiguous, but now Fu Yu is resolute, and as his father, he is echoing and supporting him. The meaning couldn't be clearer.
His eyes darkened slightly as he looked at his younger sister beside him.
Then Jiang Daijun stood there, head bowed and silent, yet her posture remained dignified and composed.
So she smiled and said, "I've troubled you for half the day. Thank you for your hospitality, Madam. General Fu has just returned and must have a lot to say to his family. I'll take my leave now and visit again another day." As she spoke, she exchanged a glance with her great-aunt and Madam Ming also stood up to take her leave.
Seeing that he was sensible, Fu Deqing and his son saw him off politely.
Jiang Boyan and his sister showed no unusual reaction. After saying goodbye, they walked slowly out the door, and their smiles disappeared only after they got into the Ming family's carriage.
"You understand what Fu Yu meant just now, right?" Jiang Daijun leaned against the car wall, her expression unreadable.
Jiang Boyan snorted, "Ungrateful! This Fu Yu may have military merits, but he doesn't know how to assess the situation. He's nothing special after all."
“I’ve heard my great-aunt mention Wei Youtong, whom he just mentioned. She’s the one he married and then divorced.” Jiang Daijun sneered, her expression not very good. “Whether this is an excuse or not, it’s clear that the Fu family has no intention of forming a marriage alliance. Even if Fu Yu doesn’t know why we’re here, does his father not know? The father and son came together, which means they’ve obviously discussed it. What he said just now was definitely not just a casual remark.”
Jiang Boyan said indignantly, "Such smugness and stubbornness, no wonder others say he is arrogant and unapproachable!"
Jiang Daijun had been putting on a dignified act in front of Old Madam Fu for the past few days, arriving full of expectations. However, she felt indignant at the outcome and agreed with what she heard. She lifted the curtain and glanced at the Fu family mansion again, a mocking smile flashing in her eyes.
"He's not the only one in the world with that kind of ability. It seems there's no need for me to stay in Qizhou any longer."
"Let's wait and see," Jiang Boyan said, unwilling to give up. "Maybe it makes sense. After all, the Wei family is a few points weaker than the Fu family."
Jiang Daijun, however, did not hold much hope.
If the Fu family truly intends to form an alliance, given her looks and status, even if they aren't a perfect match, she's not far off, at least much better than the daughter of that Ministry of War official. Fu Yu's words, spoken so clearly, and his deliberate mention of it upon returning home, indicate he has given it considerable thought.
Since this path is blocked, we have no choice but to look elsewhere.
A hint of arrogance appeared on her face. "If he really has no intention of marrying me, why bother trying so hard? Even if the Wei family is a bit inferior, we can make up for it. With both sides working together, how could we be weaker than him? He'll have his day to regret it!"
"That's true, it's not like we can't live without him."
...
After the Jiang siblings left, only the Fu family remained in Linfeng Pavilion.
Fu Yu and his son remained calm, but the old lady was filled with shock, her mind replaying the name "Wei Youtong".
After relinquishing her power, Shen's position in the Fu family remained, but she was no longer as influential as before. Since Fu Deming returned to the capital and became prime minister, everyone inside and outside the mansion relied on Fu Deqing's protection, and she became much more restrained. Hearing Fu Yu's words, she was incredulous, but she didn't say much and returned to the east courtyard with her daughter-in-law.
Madam Han, being quite perceptive, took her servants and maids with her when she went out.
The room was quickly emptied, and Old Madam Fu, still angry, couldn't help but scold them. She never dared to interfere in military and political affairs, but she and her son should know best what the situation was like outside. Putting aside Jiang Daijun's dignified appearance, just the troops under Jiang Shao's command, if they could be brought under their control, would be a great boost to the Fu family.
With the pros and cons clearly defined, how can one act arbitrarily!
Fu Yu remained silent until she finished her tirade, then said in a deep voice, "I will only marry Wei Youtong."
"You..." Old Madam Fu's lips were dry from talking, but she had run into a stubborn rock that wouldn't listen to reason.
She glared at him for a long time, furious, before finally saying, "What's so great about Wei Youtong that you're so concerned about her!"
Her virtues cannot be fully described in just a few words.
Fu Yu cupped his hands, his expression sincere and serious. "Grandson has thought it through and will not change his mind. I beg Grandmother to grant my request and treat my daughter-in-law well."
The way she said that made it sound like she had mistreated her granddaughter-in-law in the past.
When Madam Fu's past shortcomings were exposed, she glared at Fu Yu fiercely, but she knew she couldn't win the argument, so she sulked inwardly.
Outside Qizhou City, You Tong was unaware of the Fu family's affairs at this moment.
She hid in the corner of the Buddhist temple's covered walkway, watching the unconscious boy being carried furtively into a secluded hermitage not far away, her expression tense.
The boy was none other than Fu Zhao, who should have been hunting on the neighboring hill.
Chapter 106 Cry for Help
Today's hunting trip outside the city was originally planned by Fu Zhao and her brother, along with He Qinglan, a guest from Jianchang, and You Tong. They were to first go to Donglin Temple to offer incense, and then go to the hunting grounds on the neighboring mountain.
—It was both to help the guests relax and for the siblings to have some fun.
You Tong wasn't very interested in hunting, so after offering incense, he wandered around the Buddhist temple aimlessly.
Fu Lanyin came from a military family. Although she wasn't as skilled in martial arts as He Qinglan, who had been trained in it since childhood, her riding and archery skills were still quite good. Even if she didn't intend to kill anyone after the incense offering, running a couple of laps around the hunting grounds would be a good idea. The three of them were in high spirits, each spurring their horses and drawing their bows, and headed towards the hunting grounds after leaving Donglin Temple.
It was early winter, and the vegetation in the hunting grounds was gradually withering, while the wild animals were getting fat.
The mountains here are gentle. Galloping on horseback to the mountainside, across open fields and flat forests, one arrives at the city of Qizhou. At the foot of the mountain, the river rushes by, its shimmering waves like a bright mirror. Dense forests spread out beside the water, half withered and half yellowed. Under the high sky and light clouds, the world is vast and open.
Standing in the wind can cleanse and broaden one's mind.
He Qinglan was the daughter of a fierce general. She lived near the military camp with her mother when she was young, and later moved several times, always to small towns in the county. She did not know Jiang Daijun before. This time, Jiang Shao was afraid that something might happen to his daughter, so he specially asked this outstanding girl to accompany her. He's father could not refuse out of courtesy.
This caused He Qinglan great distress.
She had learned archery and horsemanship from a young age, and her daily interactions were mostly with soldiers and officers. Her personality differed greatly from that of Jiang Daijun, who, despite also coming from a military family, had been raised in seclusion. Throughout the journey, she ate and slept alongside Jiang Daijun, the daughter of a military governor, whose demeanor was dignified and gentle. She couldn't be too unrestrained and remained quite reserved. Moreover, with heavy responsibilities on her shoulders, she was constantly vigilant, which diminished her interest in sightseeing.
Having finally managed to send that delicate young lady to Qizhou, wouldn't it be wonderful to have time to ride horses and enjoy the ride?
As soon as the horse's hooves broke free, she dashed into the woods of the hunting grounds like a wild horse.
Fu Zhao was worried that something might happen to the young lady, so he ordered his entourage to stay with Fu Lanyin and followed closely beside her.
He Qinglan was straightforward and had a bit of a mischievous girlish spirit. Seeing Fu Zhao chasing after her closely and being skilled in archery and horsemanship, she wanted to compete in riding and archery.
Fu Zhao was not about to back down. He declared that he would fight to the bitter end.
The two hunted and competed, and before they knew it, they had reached the depths of the hunting grounds. The hunting grounds covered a long hillside, with dense forests and few people. Only the wind rustled the treetops and horses trampled the grass. Fu Zhao's eyes darted around in the grass, but inadvertently, he saw a gray figure dart past, swift as the wind. Although the clothes were tattered, the figure was quite familiar.
He suspected he was seeing things, so he stopped his horse and stared intently. When he saw the man's profile clearly, he was so shocked he almost fell off his horse.
That person was actually Wei Tianze!
Wei Tianze, who has been locked in a secret prison and disappeared for more than a year!
At that moment, Fu Zhao almost cried out in surprise.
The matter of Wei Tianze being imprisoned in the military jail was kept extremely secret. Fu Yu did not publicize it, only saying that he had been transferred to another post, and then distributed Wei Tianze's original responsibilities to Du He and other subordinate generals. But Fu Zhao knew that his cheerful and valiant elder brother Wei was actually a spy sent by the Prince of Xiping. He had been hiding since childhood, with sinister intentions, and being imprisoned, he would probably never see the light of day again.
Wei Tianze's sudden appearance here at this moment must mean he escaped.
Fu Zhao was unaware of what had happened at the military prison, but he knew that he absolutely could not let Wei Tianze escape.
He was used to a peaceful life in Qizhou and didn't carry any of Fu Yu's messengers. Unable to call for help, he decided to run to the outskirts to report the news.
Although Fu Qinglan did not know the reason, she could tell from his expression that something was wrong, and followed him with great understanding.