Chapter 69: Idle Matters and Differences [Thank You for Your Support

(The online-searched Ming-dynasty filigree gem-encrusted flower-basket hairpin was indeed exquisite.)

The old woman, seeing Xu Zaijing and the other two approach, met Zhu Qinghu’s gaze and shuddered.

Her expression was full of panic.

“Hmm?”

Xu Zaijing’s mind stirred with doubt, then shifted again.

‘Yu family? From what a few at the table said, the Yu Prefect arrived with three children.’

Xu Zaijing recalled something: the hairpin—the Nine-Turn Filigree Gold Hairpin.

Xu Zaijing was about to shout at the old woman but stopped himself.

He tugged Zhu Qinghu’s sleeve, pretending not to see the woman, and returned to the main hall.

But he whispered a few words to Qingyun, after which Qingyun left the two and walked outside.

“That old woman looked panicked, full of guilt—something’s wrong,” Zhu Qinghu said.

“Cousin, even if there’s more trouble, it’s still the Yu Prefect’s household matter. The mastermind might even be the mistress inside—the walls. Catching her won’t help,” Xu Zaijing said, returning to the table.

Zhu Qinghu’s eyes flickered—he understood: this was a long-line fishing tactic.

In the afternoon, Xu Zaijing and his brothers returned to the inn.

Qingyun stood at the inn’s entrance, nodded to Xu Zaijing upon seeing him.

He then brought Qingyun to the room where Sun Shi was.

Xu Zaijing’s aunt, upon hearing him enter, merely glanced up. Xu Zaijing recounted what he’d seen at the Prefect’s residence to his mother.

Qingyun was called into the room and placed the exquisitely crafted gold hairpin on the table.

He described his actions: halfway, he intercepted the old woman. At first she denied everything, but after Qingyun frightened her—especially when she learned the matter involved the Yu Grand Secretary and Qingyun revealed the blade hidden in his sleeve—she trembled and spilled everything.

The Yu Prefect’s marriage to Fan’s daughter had been arranged by the Yu Grand Secretary.

That year, the young Yu Prefect was posted to Xinzhou, and without the Grand Secretary’s strict oversight, he became wildly unrestrained.

The next year, Lady Fan, after childbirth, damaged her constitution and could no longer bear children.

After learning this from a physician, the young Yu Prefect secretly carried on with a concubine from the Gu family of Xinzhou.

The Gu family claimed their daughter had entered a Daoist nunnery to become a nun, but in truth, the young Yu Prefect kept her there, secretly bearing a child—the firstborn was a boy.

For the sake of family continuity, the Yu Grand Secretary and the old madam turned a blind eye, and treated Yu Yanran even better.

Moreover, the Gu concubine refused to be a secondary wife; after Lady Fan’s death, she openly arrived in Xiangzhou with her two children and the young Yu Prefect.

But the Gu family was never wealthy, and the girl had risen to become the future Lady through her beauty and her son.

Though the Gu family tried hard to provide a generous dowry, there was truly little to give.

So the wolfish couple turned their eyes to Lady Fan’s dowry, using the excuse of caring for Yu Yanran to bring these several carts of goods.

The young Yu Prefect tacitly approved—some assets were meant for his son.

Without pawning Lady Fan’s dowry, where would he get the silver to live so lavishly?

Sun Shi looked at her youngest son and said sharply:

“You really know how to find trouble for your mother. Qingyun, did you pay the old woman for the pawned items?”

“Yes, Lady. I paid her, and we appraised the value together at the pawnshop.”

Sun Shi examined the exquisitely crafted, heavy gold hairpin in her hand—upon closer look, it bore the engraved characters “Yanran.”

“Qingyun, you may leave.”

Qingyun bowed and exited the room.

Sun Shi looked at Xu Zaijing and said:

“Wu Lang, do you realize your actions today might bring trouble to Zhu Family Fort? The young Yu Prefect can’t retaliate against the Marquis House—would he not retaliate against Zhu Family Fort?”

Xu Zaijing lowered his head and said:

“Mother, I simply cannot stand this cruel treatment of an orphaned girl.

If this young Yu Prefect dares to betray the Zhu family,

then I will make sure His Majesty and the Empress know of his pawning his late wife’s dowry to enrich his concubine.”

“Besides, I don’t believe no one covets his seat as Prefect.

His lawful wife lies ill in bed, yet he consorts with another woman and sires children—these are clearly illegitimate offspring, yet now they’re being passed off as legitimate heirs.

If censors learn of this grave stain on his reputation, he’ll never hold office again.”

Sun Shi said:

“But what if he fights back desperately—tries to kill you to silence you?”

Xu Zaijing said:

“Then we’ll see whose fist is stronger! But I doubt the young Yu Prefect has the courage. If this were in Yuzhou, his ancestral home, I’d be more cautious—but here in Xiangzhou, where his term lasts only three years.”

Sun Shi nodded at her youngest son and said:

“Since you’ve thought this through clearly, I won’t say more. We’ll send the hairpin to the Yu Grand Secretary upon our return to the capital.”

Xu Zaijing left his mother’s room and saw Qingyun at the door.

“Be alert tonight. Tell your cousin—we three must be on guard.”

“Yes, Young Master. The Young Lord left again after returning with you.”

Xu Zaijing paused and asked: “Did he say where he was going?”

“The Young Lord said he was tidying up loose ends.”

Xu Zaijing said no more, thinking inwardly: sometimes you shouldn’t meddle in others’ affairs—you never know what fire you might ignite.

Like now: had he not known the Yu Grand Secretary and his wife truly cared for Yu Yanran, he wouldn’t have waded into this mess—risking getting burned.

But once there’s a stepmother, there’s a stepfather.

You two adults, bullying a girl who lost her mother!

Xu Zaijing simply couldn’t bear it. He couldn’t hold back.

Hour of Chou (around 3 a.m.)

Zhu Qinghu returned to the inn, surprised to see Xu Zaijing still awake.

Zhu Qinghu said: “Don’t worry—it’s settled. I heard from the Yu household servants that the young Yu Prefect’s woman flew into a rage and beat several servants.”

Zhu Qinghu continued: “The dog that bites doesn’t bark. Jing Ge, you’ve improved.”

Xu Zaijing said: “I’ll wake Qingyun to keep watch—we should go to sleep.”

The rest of the journey passed without incident. After more than half a month of winding travel, the Xu family finally returned to Bianjing.

At the Yellow River ferry crossing, Xu Shi gazed at the scenery, lost in thought—then tears streamed down her face as she fainted on the boat, causing panic among them.

After returning to the capital and summoning a physician, they learned she had suffered from excessive grief, her emotions blocked within.

Crying was good.

Sun Shi returned home, saw the Marquis House was normal, asked her daughter-in-law about the past half-month, and felt at ease.

Several days passed.

Lady Wu of Yongchang Marquis House and Lady Bai of Ningyuan Marquis House came to the Xu residence; having heard of Sun Shi’s arduous journey, they had not disturbed her earlier.

Her daughter-in-law Xie Shi and Pingmei were called to join them in conversation, recounting the recent celebrations at the Zhongjing Marquis House over the birth of a grandson.

Also present were Liang Liu and Gu Tingye.

Liang Liu rarely visited the Xu residence, but he was somewhat familiar with Gu Tingye; together with Xu Zaijing and the others, they wrote a few characters in the study, then grew restless and wanted to play pitch-pot.

Gu Tingye paid little attention to Liang Han, but looked curiously at Xu Zaijing and said:

“Jing Ge, why do you feel different today?”

Xu Zaijing looked at him: “Different how? My clothes? Something else?”

“No—it’s just a feeling I can’t put into words.”

If Gu Tingyu were here, he’d say: Xu Zaijing’s eyes held less arrogance, more steadiness.

Liang Han was a guest, so Xu Zaijing put down his brush and joined them in pitch-pot.

Gu Tingye still had the talent—he barely edged out Xu Zaijing.

Liang Han was utterly crushed by Gu Tingye.

Seeing Liang Han’s displeasure, Xu Zaijing said: “Liu Lang, come—let’s go fishing?”

“Let’s go, let’s go.”

An hour later, Gu Tingye glanced at his bucket—only a small fish inside. Liang Han’s bucket held three one-foot-long fish, still gasping.

Xu Zaijing’s fishing rod hadn’t even stirred once.

The three were enjoying themselves when suddenly they heard Qingyun’s voice.

“Young Master, the Zhu family’s reward has arrived.”

I’ll temporarily hold off on creating a reader group—I’m afraid chatting will eat into my writing time.

I tried the illustration feature—feel free to share your thoughts; we’ll decide whether to keep it based on feedback.

I’m heading to bed—might not reply until noon.

Bye.

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(End of Chapter)