BMN : Chapter 25

That day, not only did Fu Ming spend a long time in the Old Lady’s quarters, but Jin Yi, after returning to the mansion, was also kept by the Old Lady for nearly an hour during his visit.

When Jin Yi finally left the Old Lady’s room, the evening had passed, and the moonlight was soft.

Jin Yi’s footsteps were not as quick and steady as usual; instead, they were slow and heavy. His mind was replaying the conversation he had with the Old Lady. She mentioned that compared to Ming, he should better understand the necessity of an alliance with the Zhou family. He indeed understood, but as he considered the matter, he couldn’t help but think about how Fu Ming must have felt hearing those words in the Old Lady’s room. The Old Lady had said that Ming was sensible and had tacitly agreed to the arrangement. This knowledge did not bring Jin Yi any relief; instead, it spread a pain through his heart. He knew this was not what Fu Ming wanted, and he also knew that Fu Ming, at the time, had no possibility of saying no.

Both of them were first and foremost the son and daughter-in-law of the Jin family, only secondarily each other’s husband and wife.

Jin Yi, still in turmoil, suddenly realized he had unconsciously walked to Fangmanting. However, at this moment, he did not know how to enter the courtyard or face Fu Ming…

Half an hour later, Bai Lu came to Fangmanting to deliver a message, saying that the master would not be coming tonight and advising Ming to rest early.

Lying in bed, Fu Ming listened to the autumn wind rustling the leaves outside. He tossed and turned for a long time before finally calming down, but he continued staring blankly at the inner side of the bed, his eyes wide open and empty. Suddenly, he heard the sound of the curtain being lifted and familiar footsteps approaching. A body, cool from the outside air, pressed close, and strong arms wrapped tightly around him.

Fu Ming reached out, grasping the arm draped across his chest, feeling the breath of the person(JY) behind him against his ear, lips touching his hair. Neither spoke, merely allowing their bodies to press together as closely as possible, in the most intimate embrace.

It was a long time before Fu Ming fell into a fitful sleep. He did not dream pleasant dreams and woke the next morning to find Jin Yi gone. He felt as if winter was approaching; the slanting wind outside brought a chill, filling him with a slight coldness.

The increasing signs of winter did not cool the bustle in the Jin mansion. At Fu Ming’s suggestion, Tao Yang invited a matchmaker to the Jin residence to formalize his proposal. The Old Lady and Jin Xingyuan agreed to the proposal, and Tao’s family requested Renlan’s birthdate and fortune-telling at the ancestral temple, which returned a highly auspicious result. Consequently, boxes of betrothal gifts were sent from the Tao family to the Jin household. Tao Yang intended to make a grand affair for Renlan and spared no expense. Eventually, it was Renlan herself who asked Fu Ming to intervene, preventing the gifts from being excessively extravagant.

Simultaneously, the Jin and Zhou families also frequently interacted. Although Zhou Wanqing was entering the Jin family as a concubine, the Old Lady treated the matter with utmost importance, employing a matchmaker, obtaining Zhou Wanqing‘s birthdate, and sending as many gifts as propriety allowed. After careful deliberation, an auspicious date was set for late next autumn.

In private, Wanlan whispered to Lu Fei, “They say she’s a concubine, but this feels like marrying a wife.”

Lu Fei sighed, “If it were just the formalities, it wouldn’t be so bad. But with her status, position, and connections, once she enters the house, our master’s situation will likely become more difficult.”

“After a year of struggle to get to where we are, and it’s not even the end of the year, another hurdle appears. The master must be feeling terrible, yet he has to keep up a cheerful front. My heart aches just watching.”

As they spoke, they were on the verge of tears. Seeing Fu Ming emerge from the inner room, dressed for going out, they quickly hid their sorrow and asked where he was headed, checking if he was dressed warmly enough and if he had enough money.

Having been at home for too long and feeling increasingly depressed, Fu Ming wanted to go out for a walk.

Despite the cold, the streets of the capital were bustling. With no interest in the lively, bustling areas, Fu Ming headed straight for the Charity Bureau.

Earlier this year, on the way back from quelling a rebellion, Jin Yi encountered a pregnant widow claiming to be seeking relatives in the capital. Jin Yi ordered his men to care for her and brought her to the capital. Unable to find her relatives and unwilling to stay in the Jin mansion or a guesthouse, Fu Ming suggested she stay at the Charity Bureau temporarily. When Fu Ming visited in early autumn, the woman had given birth to a healthy baby boy but had already obtained news about her family. He wondered if she had left.

At the Charity Bureau, Sun Zangyong informed him that the woman had indeed left the previous month. Feeling guilty for not being more attentive, Fu Ming was reassured by Sun Zangyong, who said, “I heard the Jin family has been quite busy lately, so you probably couldn’t find the time.”

Fu Ming shook his head, smiling wryly, “Those matters don’t need me to be involved.”

Sun Zangyong patted his shoulder, “Ah, Ming, you—try to keep your spirits up. A man shouldn’t be confined by trivial matters, and besides, you’re like a breeze and bright moon; I believe you can see beyond this.”

Fu Ming nodded slightly, acknowledging the comfort or perhaps promising himself that he would move on. They did not discuss the matter further. Fu Ming inquired about the Bureau’s preparations for winter, checking if there were enough clothes, food, and medicine. After reviewing the last two months’ accounts, he felt reassured, left some money, and spent two more hours with the children before returning home.

As he approached the courtyard gate, he saw Wanlan waiting anxiously.

“Is Zhao Yan here looking for me?” Fu Ming asked.

Wanlan shook her head, looking worried. “The Old Lady wants to see you as soon as you return.”

“I’ll go after changing,” Fu Ming replied.

Following him into the courtyard and the house, Wanlan anxiously asked, “What happened? Why do you look so troubled?”

Lu Fei approached to help him change and explained, “Someone’s been gossiping, saying nasty things. The whole mansion heard about it this afternoon. The Old Lady wants to talk to you, probably about that.”

Before Fu Ming could ask, Wanlan continued, “They say it’s because of the engagement between our lady and Young Master Tao. Someone, upset by the situation, claimed you were the one who arranged the match, that you had introduced them long ago. The Old Lady despises such rumors and even scolded those spreading them.”

Understanding, Fu Ming said, “There’s some truth to the rumors. Well, I’ll go explain to the Old Lady and hopefully prevent any trouble between Le Xu and Renlan.”

Wanlan and Lu Fei wanted to accompany him, but Fu Ming stopped them. “Who knows if the Old Lady has calmed down? If she’s upset and vents on those who accompany me, you’ll just be punished for nothing. Stay in Fangmanting and wait for my return. Don’t worry; the Old Lady is reasonable. I know how to handle this.”

When Fu Ming arrived at the Old Lady’s quarters, she was reclining while Xinyue massaged her shoulders.

After paying his respects, the Old Lady didn’t invite him to sit as usual, nor did she offer tea. Instead, she looked at him coldly, asking, “Ming, you know why I summoned you, don’t you?”

Nodding, Fu Ming replied, “Is it about the rumors circulating in the mansion today?”

“I heard that Young Master Tao and Renlan knew each other before, and it was you who introduced them?”

“Yes, they did know each other. Last Mid-Autumn Festival, Renlan and I went out and happened to meet Le Xu. Although he admired Renlan, he expressed his feelings appropriately and did nothing inappropriate. Renlan only learned of his feelings recently. They met just once and haven’t seen each other since.”

The Old Lady remained silent for a while before speaking, “In our dynasty, while it’s not uncommon for men and women to meet before marriage, our Jin family is a noble lineage. We must strictly adhere to propriety, unlike ordinary families. Otherwise, we’d become a laughingstock and tarnish the reputation of our women.”

Sensing the reproach in her words, Fu Ming sincerely apologized, “I didn’t consider it thoroughly.”

The Old Lady continued, “I know you care about Renlan. But a man is still a man, and a woman is still a woman. You can’t apply your own ways to Renlan. Moreover, although you are a man, you are also the Jin family’s son-in-law. You have your own rules to follow and should not act too freely. Do you understand?”

After a pause, Fu Ming bowed his head and quietly replied, “I understand.”

“You are a perceptive person. Since I’ve said this much, you must understand the gravity of the situation. The mansion has marriages next year, which is crucial. If there’s nothing urgent, you and Renlan should meet less often, and you should also go out less.”

From the Old Lady’s tone, Fu Ming could tell her words were not just advice but a command or warning. Though displeased, he accepted the situation, knowing there was little else to do, and humbly agreed.

Returning to Fangmanting, Wanlan and Lu Fei were still waiting at the gate. Seeing him, they quickly asked how things went. Not wanting them to worry, Fu Ming smiled lightly, “It’s nothing serious. I explained everything, and the Old Lady trusts me, so it’s resolved.”

Though still skeptical, Wanlan smiled, “Thank goodness the Old Lady is discerning. She had Wang Yiniang confined to her quarters for six months. I thought she was so angry she wouldn’t let you off easily. It’s a relief she’s different from Wang Yiniang.”

Fu Ming nodded slightly, not saying more. He picked up a book but found he could barely concentrate, his mind swirling with mixed emotions—shame, subtle grievance, and an inexplicable heaviness that weighed on him.

While he struggled with these feelings, Lu Fei announced Xinyue’s arrival.

Xinyue had brought two maidservants with a basket to pick autumn oranges.

Recalling the Old Lady’s earlier words, Fu Ming retreated to his bedroom, saying he felt tired and would rest for half an hour, asking to be called for dinner. He instructed Lu Fei to keep Xinyue company.

After picking the oranges, Xinyue pulled Lu Fei aside, whispering, “You should comfort Mr. Ming. He was hurt by the Old Lady’s words today. Though not a big deal, he’s a proud person, and harsh words must have stung.”

Lu Fei nodded, “I will. Thank you for your concern.”

Xinyue smiled and left, only to be stopped by Wanlan at the gate.

Wanlan whispered something in her ear, to which she nodded, “Alright, I’ll go.”

Leaving Fangmanting, Xinyue sent the maidservants ahead with the basket of oranges while she went to Renlan’s quarters.

Seeing her, Renlan quickly grabbed her hand, asking anxiously, “Dear sister, please tell me what’s going on outside? I heard the Old Lady questioned Ming; did she give him a hard time?”

Xinyue smiled, “Don’t worry. I just came from Fangmanting. It’s nothing serious; it’s all settled.”

Renlan sighed in relief but still seemed uneasy. “Did Ming really not get involved?”

Thinking of Wanlan’s message, Xinyue replied, “The Old Lady didn’t give Ming a hard time. But since it’s not appropriate for you to visit Fangmanting, Ming asked me to relay a message: He’s fine, and you should focus on preparing for your marriage, taking care of your health, and keeping a calm heart.”

Renlan sighed, smiling wistfully, “Brother Ming always thinks of others, even now.”

Xinyue said, “If he weren’t that way, the master wouldn’t be so good to him.”

Renlan thought of the impending marriage with Zhou Wanqing but, recalling the Old Lady’s and nanny’s words, refrained from discussing it with Xinyue. She only hoped that even after Zhou Wanqing joined the family next year, her brother and Ming would continue to love each other as they did now.

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