Chapter 017: Fu Jiaze’s Foster Mother

Chapter 017: Fu Jiaze's Foster Mother

The matters from back then required someone to investigate in Suzhou one by one. Before the case could begin, the Lin residence was sealed off, and no one was allowed to leave. Wen Hui and the others were placed in the Fourth Prince's private residence on the outskirts.

Wen Hui harbored a deep anger, which she vented at the Lin residence’s gate. Despite having been hanging from a beam for only a short while, her spirit seemed unbroken, contrasting sharply with Lin Yingxue.

Lin Yi was, after all, her biological father. To break ties so publicly with him might even jeopardize the marriage she had courageously planned. Lin Yingxue could not bear it.

On the first night in the separate residence, she developed a high fever and fell into a coma.

Lin Yingxue appeared delicate but rarely fell ill. When she did, however, it was always severe.

She burned for six or seven days before her temperature finally stabilized.

This illness left Lin Yingxue much thinner; her chin became more pointed, making her eyes appear larger.

One morning was already muggy, and by noon, a cool wind blew in from the northwest, bringing heavy clouds.

The wind grew stronger, and large raindrops began to fall from the clouds, becoming increasingly dense and splattering against the tiles and soil.

The rain soaked the earth, quickly penetrating deep into the soil, filling the air with the scent of mud.

If anyone were traveling in this weather, their wheels would likely sink into the ground.

While Wen Hui and Lin Yingxue were eating hot pot, they heard a knock on the door. The gatekeeper said, "Madam, Miss, there is a woman outside with her daughter who are traveling to the capital. Their carriage broke down, and they wish to take shelter from the rain."

Wen Hui had injured her throat when she hung from the beam, and after shouting at the Lin residence’s gate, she could barely speak. So Lin Yingxue spoke up:

"Let them in to take shelter. Ye Zi, go to the kitchen and get some ginger soup for them."

"Yes."

Just as they finished eating, a servant came to inform them that the traveling mother and daughter wished to express their gratitude.

Lin Yingxue nodded and had them brought in.

The woman standing in front was about the same age as Wen Hui, wearing a crimson round-collar robe and black boots. Her eyebrows arched into her hairline, and her upward-slanting phoenix eyes looked spirited, exuding resilience.

Behind her was a little girl with a round face, whom the older woman pulled forward. The little girl tried to hide again, revealing only her round face.

The most striking feature of this little girl was a red mole between her brows, adding an indescribable charm to her innocent appearance.

"Thank you, Madam and Miss. An'an, say thank you too."

The little girl named An'an smiled shyly, showing dimples on her cheeks, and softly said, "Thank you, Madam and Miss."

Although An'an's eyes were bright, her gaze was slightly unfocused, and her speech was slow, suggesting some congenital deficiency.

Lin Yingxue said, "My mother's voice is a bit hoarse, so I will greet you both."

"My mother and I are also temporary guests here, not the owners, so there's no need for formalities."

An'an, who had been half-hidden behind her mother, suddenly let go of her hand and ran to Lin Yingxue. She felt a chubby little hand smoothing her furrowed brow, "Don't worry, it doesn't look good."

Lin Yingxue realized her brow had unconsciously furrowed, and this little girl named An'an was smoothing it.

Lin Yingxue looked at her mother, seeing Wen Hui's pained expression, and quickly said, "Mother, I'm not worried."

Wen Hui pursed her lips, and Lin Yingxue assured her, "Mother, truly, I have other things on my mind."

What troubled her was another matter—Fu Jiaze had secretly arranged to meet her. This letter had been delivered directly through a kite messenger. After reading it, her mind was in turmoil, often distracted, unable to stop thinking about Fu Jiaze.

The woman in red looked at Lin Yingxue and smiled, "Your daughter is truly beautiful, the most beautiful young lady I've ever seen. As my daughter said, less frowning makes her even prettier."

The little girl named An'an nodded, "This sister is pretty."

Lin Yingxue focused on the two in front of her and said to An'an, "Your daughter is also very lovely, especially with that red mole between her brows, perfectly placed."

An'an's eyes curved into a smile as she cupped her face, making the woman in red laugh and hug her, stroking her hair, "My daughter is indeed quite lovely, but she was born with a breath held, slowing her growth both mentally and physically. By age, she should be of marriageable age."

Lin Yingxue looked at An'an in surprise, thinking she was only thirteen or fourteen, but she was actually the same age.

After talking for a while, An'an became restless. Before the woman could bid farewell, An'an sniffed the lingering smell in the room, "They ate mushroom soup with beef balls, lamb, and chrysanthemum greens..."

The woman in red awkwardly covered An'an's mouth and whispered, "Okay, okay."

An'an blinked and pulled her mother's hand to her stomach, "An'an is hungry."

Lin Yingxue immediately said, "I apologize for our poor hospitality. Have you not eaten yet? We had hot pot for lunch, and there should still be plenty of ingredients left. If you don't mind, please help yourselves."

Wen Hui also nodded, clearly approving of her daughter's offer.

The kitchen soon brought the hot pot and ingredients, and Lin Yingxue learned the identities of the two women. The elder was surnamed Fu, and her daughter was named Fu Wanan. Mrs. Fu had come to the capital for business.

This familiar surname reminded Lin Yingxue of Fu Jiaze, and the fact that they were merchants and the daughter shared her mother's surname... Lin Yingxue hesitated for a moment before saying, "I know a gentleman also surnamed Fu, preparing for the autumn examinations this year."

Fu Heng was taken aback, her gaze narrowing on Lin Yingxue.

As Fu Jiaze's foster mother, Fu Heng knew well that her adopted son lacked luck in the imperial exams, especially with his notorious romantic entanglements. Seeing Lin Yingxue, her first thought was whether she was one of those entanglements.

Fu Heng's gaze was piercing, making Lin Yingxue blush. Thinking of the rumors in the capital, she quickly regained her composure and softly said, "I know Mr. Fu because he almost became engaged to my elder sister."

Fu Heng's memory was remarkable, and with Lin Yingxue mentioning her name, she promptly corrected her address, "Second Miss Lin."

Lin Yingxue acknowledged it.

"It seems the marriage between my son and your family didn't work out. I made a trip for nothing," Fu Heng said. "I received a single letter about discussing marriage. I had business in the capital, so I thought I'd come and see. I didn't receive any further letters, and now that I'm here, the marriage is off."

Lin Yingxue said softly, "Young Master Fu is highly talented; he will surely have a good marriage."

Fu Heng, being very perceptive, wondered if this Second Miss Lin also had intentions toward her son, leading to a rivalry between sisters that might end in disappointment for both.

Fu Heng glanced at Wen Hui. If only Lin Yingxue were present, she could probe further, but with Wen Hui there, it was inconvenient to ask too many questions, lest Wen Hui misinterpret the situation.

The rain continued to pour outside. Fu Heng let her daughter Fu Wanan rest while she spoke to Lin Yingxue about the customs and experiences of traveling merchants.

Having built a business as a woman, Fu Heng's ability to read people was remarkable. Fu Jiaze had even learned from her mother in this regard. With her extensive knowledge and eloquent speech, Fu Heng gradually eased Lin Yingxue's worries during their conversation.

From their talk, Fu Heng sensed that Lin Yingxue was well-read and insightful. She thought that if only her son had been matched with Lin Yingxue from the start, it would have been perfect. Fu Jiaze and the second daughter were a good match; they could have enjoyed the beauty of scholarly companionship together.

Unfortunately, Fu Jiaze's engagement with the eldest Miss Lin came first, making it impossible to consider her now.

When the rain stopped, Fu Heng and her daughter left without lingering. Since they were not far from the capital city, they decided to head straight there.

In the carriage, Fu Wanan lay on her mother's lap. "Mother, Second Miss Lin is truly beautiful."

Fu Heng stroked her daughter's head. "Yes, that Lady Wen is also very beautiful."

Fu Wanan's heart was like a blank sheet of paper. After mentioning the two women they had just met, she asked her mother when they would arrive in the capital city, eager to see her brother.

"And Uncle!" Fu Wanan exclaimed excitedly.

At the mention of her younger brother, Fu Heng's hand trembled, and a sad expression crossed her face.

Fu Wanan blinked and traced her mother's curved eyebrows with her finger. "Don't be sad."

"Yes. It's a good thing," Fu Heng sighed deeply. The prospect of seeing her brother soon filled her with mixed emotions. "At least he's alive. We'll visit him after we gather some information in the capital city."

Fu Heng's feelings toward her brother were complex—she resented him for secretly castrating himself years ago but also pitied him for surviving in the treacherous palace at such a young age.

Everyone only heard him called "Nine Thousand Years" and saw his immense power, but no one thought about his struggles as a child in the imperial court.

Thinking about these things, Fu Heng sighed again, and Fu Wanan smoothed her mother's brow with her small hand.

"Once we reach the inn, you should rest. I'll go find out some information," Fu Heng said.

Fu Wanan nodded obediently.

/

Teahouses were always the best places to gather information. After settling her daughter, Fu Heng went to a teahouse for a brief sit.

She had planned to slowly inquire about Fu Jiaze and the two Lin sisters, but as soon as she entered the teahouse, she overheard loud discussions about the incident at the Lin residence.

For a few copper coins, Fu Heng learned the whole story from a server, and listening to the crowd's chatter, she understood what they were talking about.

"If Old Grandfather Wen were still alive, he would not blame Minister Lin but look at Lady Wen with disappointment. He would say, 'Minister Lin has only one wife and one concubine, and he has done everything within the bounds of propriety for you. How can you be so ungrateful? Do you want to be the main wife instead of a concubine? Look at your own status!'"

"I think Lady Wen is indeed beautiful, and being pampered by Minister Lin, she naturally developed ambitions."

"Goodness, when I saw that concubine, I was stunned. She looked like a fairy descended from heaven, much like the emperor's concubines."

After discussing Wen Hui, they turned to Lin Yingxue.

"The Second Miss is also unreasonable. Children shouldn't speak ill of their fathers. According to Minister Lin, he treats her better than his own legitimate children. Why would she support her mother publicly?"

"Exactly. I thought the Eldest Miss was unreasonable, but this Second Miss is even worse. Poor Minister Lin, elegant and high-ranking, has such daughters."

"That Wen lady claims she won't be a concubine. To me, both Wen lady and the Second Miss seem destined to be concubines, given their looks."

"The Second Miss is beautiful but not very smart. She could have had a good marriage, but now, by defying her father, I'd give her a terrible marriage if I were Minister Lin!"

Having heard the whole story and seen Wen Hui and Lin Yingxue, Fu Heng frowned deeply, especially at the last comment. What kind of talk was that?

If Lin Yi truly loved Wen Hui, how could he deceive her into becoming a mistress and force her to be a concubine? It seemed more like an act of possession rather than love.

Moreover, Lin Yingxue was not just Wen Hui's daughter but also Lin Yi's. If Lin Yi were to deliberately marry her off poorly out of revenge, he would be despicable!

Looking at Lin Yingxue, who was slender and delicate yet capable of such actions for her mother, Fu Heng's initial three points of favor quickly grew to eight. She sighed, regretting that Fu Jiaze had already been engaged to the eldest Miss Lin; otherwise, these two would have made a perfect match.

As Fu Heng pondered, someone said, "Why couldn't it be true that Minister Lin deceived someone into becoming a mistress and then forced her to be a concubine? Lady Wen stood up for her father's legacy, refusing to be a concubine and seeking justice."

Fu Heng looked over, finding that this question echoed her thoughts, though she couldn't see the speaker.

"If it were true, why pursue it after all these years? Minister Lin has tried his best to balance things."

"Exactly. Even if Old Grandfather Wen were alive, he wouldn't say anything."

Someone stood up and said, "If Minister Lin were an ordinary person or a merchant, it might be different. But he's a scholar. Doesn't he know the meaning of propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame? You look like a scholar yourself. Would you deceive your teacher's daughter?"

Pointing at a scholar in blue robes, the scholar stood up immediately and said, "I certainly wouldn't. If I were married, even if I admired my teacher's daughter, I would find her a good husband, not deceive her and force her into marriage. Such behavior is shameful; Minister Lin doesn't deserve to be called a scholar!"

Another scholar stood up, agreeing that scholars should follow Confucian principles. Lin Yi's actions as a Minister of Rites were inappropriate, and Wen Hui and Lin Yingxue seeking justice was justified.

This voice overshadowed those initially supporting Lin Yi.

Watching the scholars, Fu Heng felt a sudden realization. Someone said, "If Lin Yi truly cared for his daughter and followed scholarly virtues, he should not seek revenge but find a decent young man for her to marry."

Hearing this, Fu Heng couldn't help but smile. This subtle approach to achieve a goal must have been Fu Jiaze's doing.

Looking at the scholars, she realized her brother must have arranged this to place Wen Heng on a moral high ground and ensure Lin Yi acted fairly, not marrying his daughter hastily out of spite.

The conditions for a simple, diligent, and trustworthy marriage suited Fu Jiaze perfectly.

Fu Heng's lips curled slightly. She had come to see Fu Jiaze get married, expecting a wasted trip, but now it seemed her wish would be fulfilled.