Chapter 58 Victory Celebration Banquet
As early winter approaches and the weather turns cold, Yongzhou has seen its first snowfall of the year.
Aman added charcoal to the earthen stove, and the orange flames flickered, carrying away the chill from the room.
After several months of treatment, Fu Yunxiu was in excellent spirits, even in the winter, and was playing chess with Old Master Cheng with great enthusiasm.
Old Cheng placed a black stone on the ground and began to recount what he had seen and heard in the city these past few days. "I heard that your younger brother passed the imperial examination and became a scholar?"
Fu Yunxiu paused in his chess game, then slowly lowered his hand again. "Is that so? I haven't heard of that."
"That's what everyone in the city is saying. They're saying that the First Madam of the Marquis's Mansion has specially booked the Xingyue Tower to host a grand banquet for the Third Young Master to celebrate his success."
"...That's something she's capable of doing." Fu Yunxiu chuckled.
Back then, he won first place in the literary competition and entered the palace with his father, where he was praised by the emperor. No matter how glorious the honor, his mother was always indifferent. But Fu Yunting was different. Even if he only memorized a poem or could write two characters, his mother would praise him to the skies.
She perfectly embodied the idea of favoring one over the other.
Now that Fu Yunting has passed the imperial examination, what an honor that is! How could he not show it off?
It shouldn't be long before an invitation from the Marquis's residence arrives.
Fu Yunxiu placed a piece, "Eat it, you lost."
As Fu Yunxiu had expected, the invitation from the Marquis's residence arrived at his door that very evening.
Aunt Yuxiang came to deliver the invitation.
Yu Xiang hadn't seen Fu Yunxiu for a long time since Madam Fu's last visit. In her memory, the eldest young master was always listless and sickly in the winter due to his illness.
But today is quite unusual. Not only is the young master in high spirits, but his complexion is also very rosy. If someone didn't know better, they would definitely think that the young master is a healthy person.
Is the young master feeling better?
Or is it... a final burst of energy before death?
Yu Xiang's blatant scrutiny made Fu Yunxiu very uncomfortable, especially since her gaze kept falling on his legs.
Fu Yunxiu couldn't help but frown. "Is there something else, Aunt?"
"It's nothing," Yuxiang said with a forced smile, "It's just that Madam has been thinking about the young master these days, but there are many things to do at the Marquis's residence, and she can't find the time. I wonder how the young master's health has been lately?"
I've heard that Mr. Cheng has been coming to Wutong Garden frequently over the past year. Could it be that the young master's illness can be cured?
"It's the same as always, thank you for your concern, Mother." Fu Yunxiu knew how many lies were in Yu Xiang's words, so he didn't tell her that he was undergoing treatment.
In the Marquis's residence, probably few people hoped he would recover.
Even after leaving Wutong Garden, Yuxiang still harbored doubts.
She always felt that the young master was hiding something from the madam. Moreover, she smelled a very strong medicinal fragrance on the young master.
Although the young master often takes medicine, it would never have such a strong smell.
Back in the East Courtyard, Madam Fu was still awake.
After Fu Yunting passed the imperial examination, news of his passing was sent, but he was still in the capital. He said he had several literary gatherings to attend and would not be able to return home until tomorrow afternoon.
The day after tomorrow is Fu Yunting's victory celebration banquet. Since the main character hasn't arrived yet, she, as his mother, naturally has to take care of everything in detail and make sure there are no mistakes.
Madam Fu examined the account books for a long time before speaking again, "You mean, he's treating his leg?"
"Yes." Yu Xiang nodded. "Young Master smells strongly of medicine, and he seems to be in much better spirits. Would you like some, Madam?"
"These damned lackeys, how dare they fawn over the powerful and bully the weak like this!" Yu Xiang was interrupted by Madam Fu before she could finish speaking.
Madam Fu looked at the account book and said, "My son has brought honor to the Marquis's mansion, yet he is so stingy with just wine and drinks."
She looked at Yuxiang and said, "Go and call the housekeeper."
“Madam…” Yu Xiang hesitated, thinking to herself that she hadn’t visited the eldest son in a long time.
A mother and child are connected at heart, but they still need to visit each other often.
But judging from Madam Fu's expression, she clearly didn't care at all about the eldest son's affairs.
Yu Xiang looked at it for a moment, and finally had no choice but to accept the order and leave.
In truth, Madam Fu was well aware of Yu Xiang's intentions, but she always felt a deep-seated resistance to getting close to Yun Xiu.
It wasn't because of favoritism, but because of guilt.
Zhang Mama, who was standing nearby, understood her thoughts and also advised, "Madam, you really should go and see the eldest young master."
"Granny?" Madam Fu was already annoyed by the account books, and she didn't expect that one after another they would bother her with such trivial matters. "Look at me right now, how can I be free to do anything?"
Madam Fu was extremely annoyed. "I don't know what's been going on these days, but the elders are all clamoring for a new family head. Yun Ting's success in the imperial examination is a perfect opportunity. I have to take this chance to shut those old men up."
However, Granny Zhang remained unmoved. "Does Madam still remember what Old Master Cheng said back then?"
"You!" Madam Fu's beautiful eyes widened, she was furious.
She used this incident to provoke her.
“Madam,” Zhang Mama softened her tone, “the eldest young master will be twenty-five years old this year after the New Year.”
In other words, the eldest son is not far from death.
Regardless of whether Yuxiang's words are true or false, the lady should still make more outings to fulfill her duties as a mother.
Putting everything else aside, isn't the eldest son's current state all the fault of his wife?
Zhang Mama dared not say these things out loud, but Madam Fu knew them perfectly well.
But what could she do? Back then, that bitch Liu Yu relentlessly pressured her. If she hadn't fought back, she probably would have already been the First Lady of the Marquis's Mansion.
Where is the former glory and dignity that the mother and son enjoy now?
"Alright, alright," Madam Fu finally relented. "I will go see Yun Ting once his matter is settled."
*
Fu Yunxiu, as the elder brother, naturally had to attend Fu Yunting's celebratory banquet. Aman was busy with the flower dew, so Mantou could only accompany her.
Xingyue Tower is some distance from Wutong Garden. When Fu Yunxiu arrived, the banquet had already begun.
The already thriving Xingyue Restaurant was even more bustling today, with a constant stream of customers coming and going, all trying to curry favor with the scholar.
Although he was only a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations), he was already a prospective official. In addition, with the background of the Cheng'an Marquis's mansion, he would fill any vacancy in the court.
As the saying goes, officials and merchants go hand in hand; it's a rare opportunity for the Marquis's mansion to open its doors to guests.
The lobby on the first floor is mostly frequented by casual customers, while VIPs are seated in the private rooms on the second floor.
In the stairwell, Fu Yunting was listlessly resting his chin on his hand, looking down at the ground below.
This banquet is not what he wanted.
He prefers his family to sit together and have a happy meal, rather than a group of strangers using his name to engage in insincere pleasantries.
He was so annoyed that he secretly slipped out for some fresh air while Madam Fu wasn't looking.
Fu Yunting clicked his tongue and was about to get up and go back to listen to their polite flattery when his peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a figure entering through the door.
Big brother.
Fu Yunting's eyes lit up, and he ran downstairs in a few steps. "Big brother, you're here."
Fu Yunxiu looked at the person in front of him who was grinning from ear to ear, and smiled slightly as well, handing him a gift. "Congratulations."
"Oh dear, I'm just a lowly scholar, Mother insisted on this, it makes me feel so embarrassed." Fu Yunting accepted the gift and said cheerfully, "Brother, let's go for a walk, it's too boring up there."
Knowing that his elder brother disliked such occasions, he simply didn't go up.
"Okay." Fu Yunxiu nodded.
The weather was nice today. Although there was a slight breeze, Fu Yunxiu, wearing the sheepskin cloak made by Aman, didn't feel cold at all.
The two walked to a slightly secluded spot, and Fu Yunting finally spoke, "Brother, even if you hadn't come today, I would have gone to find you anyway."
"What is it?" Judging from his tone, Fu Yunxiu knew that he had something to say.
“That’s right,” Fu Yunting said, carefully considering how to begin, “I received two invitations before I came back this time.”
"Invitation? Whose?" Fu Yunxiu asked.
"This..." Fu Yunting looked around to make sure no one was there before speaking, "It was Prince Yu and Prince Ying who said they invited me to a literary gathering before the New Year."
Although Fu Yunting was well protected by Madam Fu since childhood, he was not stupid.
If he were to be the top scholar in the provincial examination, it would be perfectly reasonable for the prince to invite him to the literary gathering.
But unfortunately, he was a poor scholar who failed the imperial examinations.
Therefore, the two princes invited him not because of his talent, but because of the noble family behind him.
I've heard that recently, His Majesty has been considering establishing a crown prince. King Yu and King Ying are locked in a fierce battle, both trying to win over powerful clans.
Although the Cheng'an Marquis's Mansion doesn't wield much real power, its long-standing lineage and deep-rooted influence still give it a certain amount of power.
"Brother, tell me, should I go or not?" Fu Yunting's head was spinning at the mention of this matter. "Mother wants me to accept the invitation from the Prince of Yu."
King Yu was favored by the emperor, and his mother was the emperor's favorite concubine. Comparing the two, it seemed that King Yu had a better chance of winning.
But he always felt that things weren't that simple.
If His Majesty truly favored King Yu, then why, after so many years, did he not make him Crown Prince, but instead cultivated a Prince Ying to rival him?
There was also Consort Yue, the mother of King Yu. Everyone said that Consort Yue was the most favored, and because of this, the emperor did not hesitate to fight against the powerful families and did not take any concubines for many years.
But if that's really the case, then why hasn't the Emperor made Consort Yue Empress after so many years of vacancy?
At least in his view, if someone truly loves another person, they will surely offer her the best of everything.
He could understand these things, and so could others.
So-called support is nothing more than a gamble!
Right now, he doesn't know who to bet on, or whether he should bet at all.
"I heard that Second Brother's uncle is also on Yu Wang's side. Brother, what should I do?" Fu Yunting felt like his head was about to explode.
His original intention in taking the imperial examination was simply to follow the teachings of Confucius, to establish a moral compass for the world, to establish a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of the past sages, and to create peace for all generations (1). But he never expected that before he could even take this first step, so many troublesome things had already happened.
Fu Yunxiu hadn't expected Fu Yunting to see things so clearly. While surprised, he was also somewhat gratified.
Instead of answering, he asked, "Do you remember what your father once said?"
"Father?" Fu Yunting looked bewildered. His father had said so many things, how could he know which one it was?
"My father said that the best way to deal with danger is to stay away from it."
"Oh right," Fu Yunting slapped his forehead, instantly realizing something, "So, brother, you mean... wouldn't that be a bad idea?"
After all, he was a prince; it seemed inappropriate to show him such disrespect. However, since their literary gatherings were on the same day, he couldn't very well split himself in two and attend one of them.
"The Marquis's mansion was appointed by the late emperor and had contributed to the rise of the new emperor. Even if one of them ascends the throne, as long as they don't commit any major offenses, the emperor can't do anything to the Marquis's mansion. As for the others..."
Fu Yunxiu didn't say it explicitly, but Fu Yunting understood.
If I show such disrespect, it will be extremely difficult for me to enter officialdom in the future. Although I won't be targeted at every turn, it will be hard for me to rise to a higher position.
"It's okay, let's just take it one step at a time!" Fu Yunting was quite open-minded about this matter.
At worst, he can just quit being an official. If he wants to do something practical for the people, he doesn't necessarily have to be an official.
Fu Yunxiu didn't respond to his words, but he had other thoughts in his mind.
Fu Yunting is right. If His Majesty truly valued Prince Yu, he would have made him Crown Prince long ago. How could he allow the Prince of Ying's family to act arrogantly and domineeringly?
Perhaps His Majesty has other ideas in mind, and the position of Crown Prince is not meant for those two at all.
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The author's note: (1) Taken from Zhang Zai's "Four Lines of Hengqu".
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