In her previous life, even though Song Tangning had died young, she had been engaged and had spent time with the older generation of the Lu family, experiencing a first love. Naturally, she wasn’t so naive as to miss the shift in Madam Fu’s attitude toward her.
She didn’t feel anything particular toward Fu Laiqing; she only thought of him as somewhat honest and less shrewd than his reputation suggested. However, Madam Fu’s newfound warmth made her blush with embarrassment.
Tangning said quietly, “Today, I should be thanking Young Master Fu. I can’t possibly accept the additional gift of medicine…”
Madam Fu snorted lightly. “Thank him for what? He’s a man; it’s his duty to act when he sees injustice. And that third son of the Lu family is disgraceful, laying hands on a few young ladies. If Zitan had looked the other way, I would have made him kneel in the ancestral hall and given him a good thrashing when he got home.”
“As for those medicines, they may be rare, but if they can be used where they’re needed, it’s their good fortune. That boy, Zitan, is more than happy to part with them.”
Although her words sounded like complaints, implying a dissatisfaction with her grandson, Madam Fu was actually trying hard to leave a good impression of Fu Laiqing.
With a slight hint of teasing, Madam Fu added, “You don’t know how that boy fretted about you after he got home, worrying that you’d be hurt. He insisted I come here right away. Now that I see you’re safe, I can go back and reassure him.”
Tangning’s cheeks flushed, and she lowered her gaze, unsure how to respond.
She held her eyes down, her long lashes trembling slightly. Her fair cheeks, still marred with faint scars, nevertheless showed a hint of flawless, delicate beauty. Her gentle features resembled blossoming spring flowers.
The more Madam Fu looked at her, the more she adored her. Tangning had clear, upright brows, a good temperament, and even in the face of adversity, never indulged in self-pity. Madam Fu preferred girls with an inner strength that belied their gentle appearance, and Tangning’s resilience suited her perfectly.
If it weren’t for the recent breakup with the Lu family and the fact that the letter of separation had not yet been formally delivered, Madam Fu would’ve gladly arranged the match for her grandson to marry Tangning right away.
Watching Tangning’s flushed face as Madam Fu held her hand and spoke fondly, Xiao Yan felt a heavy weight pressing down on his heart, a restless frustration churning inside him.
He didn’t know where this feeling came from but found it impossible to suppress.
“Tangning.”
His voice cut through Madam Fu’s affectionate words, providing Tangning with a timely excuse to step away. “Come here,” he said.
Tangning, as if she had seen her savior, quickly murmured, “Brother,” then slipped her hand out of Madam Fu’s grasp and moved to Xiao Yan’s side.
Xiao Yan extended his sleeve and shifted his stance slightly, shielding her with his figure. His imposing frame, like a rocky cliff, blocked the small young lady from view, leaving him to face Madam Fu directly.
This action could have been seen as rude, but Xiao Yan’s naturally handsome and aloof demeanor made it hard for anyone to take offense. In fact, it felt as if this was exactly how he should be.
In a slightly low tone, he said, “There’s no need to be so formal, Madam Fu. Since Young Master Fu helped Tangning, there’s no need to give additional gifts. Madam Fu’s visit alone is already a great honor. Accepting further gifts would be too much.”
Tangning, relieved by his intervention, quickly nodded in agreement. “My brother is right; I really can’t accept these gifts.”
“These are just small tokens…” Madam Fu frowned.
“No matter how small, they aren’t things Tangning should be taking.”
A faint chill colored Xiao Yan’s gaze, though he kept his tone polite out of respect for Madam Fu’s genuine affection for Tangning and the presence of Master Cao, who stood nearby.
“Today’s incident—whether it was because Young Master Fu was moved by justice or just happened to be passing by—resulted in him saving both Tangning and Young Lady Qian, as well as my sister. This is a kindness that both I and Minister Qian will not forget.”
“But the Lu family issue is not yet resolved, and all eyes are on Jiyun Alley. It wouldn’t be wise for Young Master Fu or the Fu family to attract any undue attention. When this matter is settled, both I and Minister Qian will make a personal visit to thank Young Master Fu.”
Xiao Yan was indirectly reminding Madam Fu that Fu Laiqing’s actions were hardly accidental; they were motivated by personal interest, and it was no coincidence that he encountered Lu Zhinen. The so-called “rescue” was calculated, and thus didn’t warrant Tangning feeling any sense of obligation to Fu Laiqing.
But Madam Fu interpreted his words differently, assuming Xiao Yan meant that it wasn’t the right time to discuss marriage.
She knew her grandson had feelings for Tangning, and she approved of the match, but Tangning had just gone through a great deal, and now wasn’t the ideal moment to bring it up.
It was possible that Tangning herself wasn’t yet ready for new feelings. And if word got out that the Fu family sought a marriage alliance with her, those with ill intentions might spread rumors that Tangning had been involved with the Fu family long before the Lu family’s engagement was broken, which could harm her reputation.
It would be better to wait until the Lu family matter was settled, then formally propose when the time was right.
A reasonable woman, Madam Fu realized she’d let her enthusiasm get ahead of her today. Smiling warmly, she said, “Director Xiao is right. We’ll have plenty of time to get acquainted.”
She looked at Tangning with a caring gaze. “I was being careless, not considering the kind of rumors that might circulate. If you don’t wish to accept these items, I’ll take them back to Zitan. Just remember, if you ever feel troubled, don’t keep it inside. If it’s something difficult to bring to Director Xiao or Minister Qian, come to me. I’ll be here to protect you.”
"Now that you’ll be staying in the capital, do come visit our residence often. We don’t have such a gentle, well-mannered young lady around, and just seeing you brings joy to my heart."
Song Tangning could feel Madam Fu’s genuine affection for her. Although she felt a bit embarrassed about the matter with Fu Laiqing, she appreciated that the elder had helped her multiple times before. Having experienced the coldness and cruelty of people, where even close kin could harbor malicious intent, this kindness from someone without blood ties was all the more precious. Song Tangning didn’t want to dampen Madam Fu’s spirits, so she nodded obediently and said, "Very well, I’ll be sure to come and visit whenever I have time."
"I’d be thrilled to have you; it’s no bother at all."
Knowing that young ladies were often reserved and that discussing marriage too much before any formal arrangement would be improper, Madam Fu smiled and shifted the conversation. "And how has Princess Cheng been recently? Perhaps I should pay her a visit."
"My aunt was unwell recently; she might still be resting at the moment."
Since discovering her pregnancy, Princess Cheng had been extremely lethargic, spending half her day in bed. The pregnancy hadn’t been easy, with signs of instability and severe nausea. She struggled to keep any food down, often vomiting soon after eating, and in just a short month, her once fuller figure had grown noticeably thinner, with her chin becoming more pointed. Lady Qin had been doing everything she could to nurse her back to health, while Gu Helian had grown visibly anxious. Initially, he and Princess Cheng had frequent quarrels whenever they saw each other, but lately, to avoid upsetting her further, he had moved to a separate room. Each day, he would sneak into the residence just to catch a distant glimpse of her, leaving food he had painstakingly sourced on the windowsill before leaving.
Song Tangning didn’t know what Princess Cheng intended to do about the child, nor was the pregnancy news public knowledge. Given that her aunt was already showing, it would be hard to hide it from Madam Fu, who had experienced childbirth herself.
Not knowing whether Princess Cheng was willing to see Madam Fu, Tangning said, "Let me send someone to check if my aunt is awake. Would you mind waiting a moment, Madam?"
"Of course," Madam Fu agreed. "If the princess is still resting, we won’t disturb her."
Song Tangning called over Hua Wu and sent someone to the back courtyard to relay the message. After a short wait, Hua Wu returned and said, "Young Lady, the princess invites Madam Fu to see her."
Relieved, Song Tangning said, "Hua Wu, please lead Madam Fu to my aunt. I’ll join you shortly."
You can read ahead to chapterr 300 (100+ extra chapters) here
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