Only after the two eunuchs had walked far away did Fu Jiuque emerge from behind the pillar.
He straightened his clothes, took a deep breath, and limped into the courtyard.
Lady Fu had just turned back when she saw her son in this state, startling her so much that the handkerchief in her hand fell to the ground.
"Jiuque! What happened to you?!"
Fu Jiuyun, who had been sitting nearby embroidering, threw down her embroidery hoop and rushed over upon seeing this: "Elder brother! Who beat you up like this? Was it someone from Zhaopinghoufu?"
Fu Jiuque wore a pained expression as he let his sister help him sit down on a chair. As soon as he sat, the pain in his backside made him grimace.
"Mother…" he began, his eyes already reddening, "your son is useless, I couldn't bring Nansheng back."
Lady Fu's heart ached so much that tears fell straight down: "How dare they treat you like this! You're their Hou Fu's son-in-law!"
"Son-in-law?" Fu Jiuque sneered coldly, "In the eyes of those people at Zhaopinghoufu, I'm probably not even as good as a dog. I hadn't even spoken two sentences before she had the servants throw me out. Those lackeys struck viciously, hitting precisely where it wouldn't show."
Fu Jiuyun stamped her foot angrily: "What about Shu Nansheng? Did she just watch you get beaten?"
"Her?" Fu Jiuque felt even more furious inside and blurted out: "She'd be delighted if I were beaten to death! She said to hurry up and divorce so she wouldn't delay her remarrying."
"What?!" Lady Fu's hand trembled, "Did she really say that?"
"Absolutely true," Fu Jiuque exaggerated, "She also said our Fu Fu's status is too low, unworthy of her as a Hou Fu's precious daughter. Mother, you didn't hear her tone—she practically degraded our family as worthless."
Fu Jiuyun, young and hot-tempered, exploded upon hearing this: "What's so great about her Shu Nansheng! She just had the luck of being born well? In the years she's been married into our family, there hasn't been the slightest sign of pregnancy from her belly, and she still has the nerve to look down on elder brother? If you ask me, what's wrong with elder brother wanting to marry Sister Huiyi as Pingqi? Isn't it normal for men to have three wives and four concubines? Only she's so precious that she can't tolerate others!"
These words struck a chord in Fu Jiuque's heart.
He grasped his sister's hand: "Only Yun'er understands me. Huiyi is gentle and considerate, never quarreling with me—how could she be like her?"
"Enough!" Lady Fu suddenly interrupted him, her face ashen, "What's the use of saying all this now? Imperial Consort specifically named her and Yun'er to attend the banquet. If she doesn't show up the day after tomorrow, our whole family will suffer!"
Fu Jiuque was stunned: "Why would Imperial Consort invite her?"
"How should I know?" Lady Fu rubbed her forehead irritably, "She said she missed her, but who doesn't know that Consort Deng and Lady of Zhaoping Marquis are childhood friends? This is clearly coming to back up Shu Nansheng!"
The room fell silent for a moment.
Fu Jiuyun looked at her mother, then at her brother, and said softly: "Then… then we go to Hou Fu to apologize and bring sister-in-law back?"
"No!" Fu Jiuque stiffened his neck, "After getting beaten like this today, if I go apologize, where would my face as Fu Jiuque go?"
"Then what about the flower viewing banquet?" Lady Fu's face was full of worry, "Imperial Consort specifically named her. If only Yun'er goes, how should we explain when Imperial Consort asks?"
Fu Jiuque fell silent for a while, then suddenly smiled: "Mother, don't worry. Doesn't Shu Nansheng care about face? She fears others' gossip the most. If Imperial Consort personally invites her and she doesn't go, that's disrespectful. Zhaopinghoufu values reputation most—they definitely won't let her do that."
"What do you mean?"
"We neither go to fetch her nor send an invitation," Fu Jiuque said, touching his swollen face with a gloomy expression. "We'll just leave her out in the cold and ignore her. When she hears that the Imperial Consort has extended an invitation, she won't be able to sit still. At that point, either she'll come back on her own, or Zhaopinghoufu will send her back. All we have to do is wait."
Fu Jiuyun's eyes lit up. "Big brother is right! We should put her in her place! Let her know that without our Fu family, she's nothing!"
Lady Fu still hesitated. "But what if she really doesn't come?"
"She will," Fu Jiuque said confidently. "I know Shu Nansheng well—she cares about propriety more than anything. Besides, if she truly doesn't come and the Imperial Consort takes offense, it's Zhaopinghoufu that will bear the blame. What does it have to do with us? We sent someone to fetch her—it's her own choice not to return."
This convinced Lady Fu.
She nodded and sighed. "That's all we can do, then. But what about your injuries?"
"It's nothing serious," Fu Jiuque waved a hand dismissively. "Huiyi already applied medicine for me. She even specially prepared a bruise-reducing ointment that works better than what the doctor prescribed."
Mentioning Yao Huiyi, his tone unconsciously softened.
Fu Jiuyun seized the opportunity. "If you ask me, Sister Huiyi is much better than our sister-in-law. She's beautiful, has a gentle temperament, and is skilled in medicine. Not like sister-in-law, who always puts on airs as the daughter of a Hou Fu, looking at everyone as if they owe her money."
Lady Fu shot her daughter a look. "Keep your mouth shut." But her tone wasn't stern.
Fu Jiuque wholeheartedly agreed. "Yun'er is right. Although Huiyi's background isn't as good as Shu Nansheng's, her character is excellent. When I came back from Hou Fu today, covered in injuries, she was so distressed she cried, bustling about to take care of me without a single word of complaint. Not like Shu Nansheng—I bet she was secretly cheering when I got beaten at her place."
"In that case," Lady Fu thought for a moment and said, "we'll leave Shu Nansheng out in the cold for a while, let her reflect on her actions at her parents' home. When she realizes her mistake and comes back on her own, we can discuss the matter of taking a Pingqi."
Fu Jiuyun said excitedly, "When the time comes, we'll have Sister Huiyi enter our family as well! Our household could use some joy!"
Fu Jiuque thought of Yao Huiyi's gentle demeanor, his heart warming, and his injuries seemed to hurt less.
He could already picture it: Shu Nansheng returning with bowed head and submissive eyes to admit her fault, while Huiyi, dressed in wedding attire, bowed with him in the marriage ceremony.
…
Early the next morning.
Lady Fu had slept poorly all night and rose as soon as dawn broke, dark circles under her eyes.
The woman in the mirror frowned deeply, twisting the handkerchief in her hands over and over.
"Madam, the young master and young lady are here to pay their respects," a maid announced outside the door.
"Let them in."
Fu Jiuque and Fu Jiuyun entered the room one after the other.
The injuries on Fu Jiuque's face looked even more frightening than the day before—a patchwork of blue and purple bruises—and he walked with a slight limp.
Fu Jiuyun was neatly dressed, but her eyes were red, clearly having slept poorly as well.
"Greetings, Mother," the two said, bowing before taking their seats.
Fu Jiuyun couldn't hold back any longer. "Mother, I thought about it all night. This flower-viewing banquet matter still seems a bit tricky."
"I was just about to discuss this with you," Lady Fu raised a hand to stop her, dismissing all the maids in the room and closing the door securely before lowering her voice. "We need to reconsider this carefully."
Fu Jiuque was stunned. "Didn't Mother agree yesterday to keep Shu Nansheng at a distance?"
"That was yesterday." Lady Fu sighed. "Last night I tossed and turned, thinking it over, and the more I thought, the more I felt something was off. You're young and don't understand the stakes involved here."
She picked up her teacup and took a sip, then said slowly, "What kind of person is Consort Deng? She has given birth to two princes in a row and is currently favored by His Majesty. The flower-viewing banquet in her palace—how many people would give anything to attend but can't get an invitation? This time, she specifically sent an invitation to the women of our household. It's an immense honor."