Chapter 23: Misery Loves Company

  The system didn't understand Su Ying's nods and gestures, so she took a deep breath and told it everything she knew.

  This matter starts from Fu Xueyang seeking guidance from Su Shen, the elder brother of Su Ying. As Su Shen was promoted to be the National Academy's Libationer, his academic achievements are naturally not to be mentioned, let alone he is also a renowned calligrapher in this generation, with several disciples under him.

  Su Shen was not stingy with guidance, but he still had to test Fu Xueyang's talent. As it happened, when Fu Xueyang went to Su Shen, he coincidentally met some disciples who came to ask for advice, so he let them write an article on the same topic together.

  Fu Xueyang, relying on his talent and looking down on others, wrote a self-satisfied article with a flourish. After reviewing it himself, Su Shen let his disciples pass it around for review. Those disciples were all young masters from noble families, and they didn't dare to mock Fu Xueyang in front of their teacher. But unexpectedly, Fu Xueyang was dissatisfied and said some absurd things, roughly meaning that he thought his own article had new ideas and wasn't bound by books, while the others were focused on fame and fortune and lost sight of the original intention of reading. His words also contained dissatisfaction with Su Shen.

  This would offend those few disciples, who privately thought of a way to curb Fu Xueyang's arrogance. Otherwise, how could the article written by Fu Xueyang be spread out and even his words were embellished and passed on? Moreover, after Fu Xueyang had a falling out with Shou'an Old Lady's grandson, Sun Jianye, he was beaten up, which also caused a big stir afterwards.

  "The young masters of the aristocratic families are boastful and compare themselves to Wen Qu Xing, but in reality they are just spoiled sons of wealthy families." Although no names were mentioned, everyone knew that this referred to the young master who had offended the beloved grandson of Empress Dowager Shou'an.

  Fu Xueyang went to apologize to Sun Gongzi without making it clear, but was instead ridiculed by a group of scholars who quoted classics and made him lose face. Feeling humiliated, he refused to go out easily and hid in his study, pouring out his frustrations to the clever little maid, which was later distorted into Fu Xueyang burying himself in hard study and diligent reading when it reached the ears of Madame Chen and Madam Fu.

  Fu Yiyang was in the Ministry of Revenue, but he was looked down upon by some people who were not used to him. They either openly praised and secretly belittled him or coldly ridiculed him. Only then did they know about Fu Xiuyang's affairs. With a cold face, without making a scene on the spot, he said: "Since you gentlemen have such thoughts about my family affairs, why don't you spend more energy on the monthly evaluation!"

  Instead, it made those who were waiting to see the commotion wither away in embarrassment, their faces pale and humiliated, as they stood frozen in front of Fu Yeyang's imposing back, seething with anger yet unable to do anything.

  Fu Yiyang pursed his lips, but didn't jump to conclusions. Instead, he went to visit Su Shen, the elder brother-in-law. Su Shen didn't hide anything and didn't add any embellishments. With a calm tone, he commented on Fu Xiyang's knowledge, without blaming him. This made Fu Yiyang feel even more ashamed, so he bowed solemnly to apologize for Fu Xiyang.

  "Suyang doesn't have to be so resentful, if Rong'er finds out, she'll blame me for making things difficult for you." Su Shen's words carried a sense of closeness, and the meaning behind them made Fu Suyang feel a bit embarrassed. He also felt a few points of affection towards Su Shen, and the two chatted happily, one with intention and the other with heart.

  When Fu Yiyang bid farewell, everyone felt that it was not enough, and even made an appointment with Su Shen to visit the house again after the rain, and his face was more relaxed than when he came.

  Unfortunately, he had just returned to the Hou Mansion and hadn't even caught his breath when Fu Mu sent someone to summon him to the upper house. Before Fu Ye Yang could even open his mouth, Fu Mu sternly said: "Your brother has had some disagreements with the young master of the Sun family. You and his father are both officials in the imperial court, so why don't you act as a mediator? Let's turn hostility into friendship between the two families, lest we damage the harmony between them."

  Fu Yiyang furrowed his brow and said, "Mother, do you know what kind of nonsense Second Brother has been up to?"

  Fu Yiyang said this, and Mrs. Fu was unhappy. In her eyes, Fu Xiyang was all good, even if there were some bad things, it was others who had taught him badly. Therefore, she was very dissatisfied with Fu Xiyang's words, and scolded: "Your brother is usually gentle and polite, but because of those villains' instigation, he would not have quarreled with that Sun family young master. Moreover, your brother has already gone to apologize to that Sun family young master, but the other party was too proud to accept his apology. I think it's enough for you, the Marquis of Wu, to intervene in this matter!"

  The implication is obvious, and even the Suns are being blamed.

  Fu Yiyang saw that he couldn't communicate with Fu Mu, so he wanted to go find Fu Xueyang to talk. After all, it was related to the reputation of the Marquis's mansion. Fu Mu called out to him and said: "The matter of bringing up your elder sister's daughter as my granddaughter for a period of time has already been agreed upon by your wife. It's quiet here with me, and there are things to do, so you won't become an idle old man who only knows how to eat and drink."

  Fu's mother thought to herself: Since Fu Xueyang is inclined towards Wei Jiangniang and doesn't want to separate her from her daughter, but this matter was actually instigated by his wife, making Fu Xueyang dislike Su Ying. Is she trying to drive a wedge between the couple?

  Fu Mu didn't know that Fu Xueyang was the one who made the decision, and seeing Fu Yeyang's calm expression, she didn't say anything more.

  Fu Yiyang pursed his lips and only said: "It's all up to Mother."

  Seeing his respectful attitude, Fu Mu was finally satisfied and instructed him to let Fu Yeyang settle the matter of Fu Xueyang as soon as possible before letting him leave.

  Fu Yiyang turned and went to Fu Xueyang's study, Fu Xueyang had always been distant from his elder brother Fu Yiyang, aside from the reason that Fu Yiyang was raised by their grandmother since childhood, a bigger reason was that Fu Yiyang had always been the pride of the Hou estate, Old Master Hou favored his eldest son, and the ancestors doted on their grandson who was raised in front of them, not to mention the biases that Madame Fu secretly instilled in Fu Xueyang.

  Fu Yiyang, as the eldest son, not only inherited the title of Houfu, but also relied on his own ability to prevent Houfu from being demoted. Whenever people mention the Marquis of Courage, they have to praise him.

  All this made Fu Xueyang very dissatisfied, he thought that in no way was he inferior to Fu Yiyang, but because of the order of birth, he had to yield everywhere, so when Old Master Hou passed away and wanted to arrange a sixth-rank official position for him, Fu Xueyang refused with great satisfaction, believing that relying on his own ability, he would also be stronger than his elder brother Fu Yiyang.

  He was very disdainful of Fu Yiyang's preaching, and didn't take it to heart at all. He directly cut off Fu Yiyang's words with a cold laugh, "Big brother, you just think I made you lose face and tarnished the reputation of our Hou Mansion, why say such hypocritical things? It's really deceitful to the extreme!"

  After finishing, he kicked the desk, and the white jade carved flower pen holder on it, along with several pens that had been used or not, rolled to the ground, rolling to Fu Yeyang's feet. Fu Xueyang didn't even look at them, dropped a sentence "My business doesn't need your interference" then pushed open the door and left.

  The several maidservants in Fu Xueyang's study, dressed in red and green, were holding their breath and didn't dare to make a sound. Fu Yeyang's thin lips were pursed into a straight line, standing still for a moment before flinging his sleeve and turning to leave Fu Xueyang's study.

  The old master, feeling suffocated, did not go to the backyard, but instead stayed in his own outer study, chasing away all the servants and closing the door. He then began to sulk by himself. The old master didn't kick over tables or smash vases when he was angry; instead, he would copy books and write letters, slowly calming himself down.

  When it was time for dinner, the people waiting outside didn't see any movement inside, so Yatou plucked up her courage and asked from outside: "Is Master hungry? Should we send in some food?"

  The door was opened, and Fu Yiyang walked out with a cold face, only saying: "Go to the main courtyard." Before Fu Yiyang entered the main courtyard, he heard the noise from Wei Niang's southern courtyard, mixed with Wei Niang's crying. In the past, if Wei Niang had shed a few tears and complained, it would have moved Master to pity her. But after experiencing this period of trouble caused by Wei Niang, now Master only felt annoyed when hearing her cry.

  He didn't stop and walked straight in, but as soon as he passed the south gate, he heard a voice coming from behind the half-closed door. Fu Yeyang felt that it sounded familiar, wasn't this one of Su Ying's more capable servants?

  "Madam had just told Wei Ayi this afternoon that the old lady loved her granddaughter and wanted to take Big Sister upstairs to raise her, and at the time, Wei Ayi seemed quite pleased, even saying that Big Sister was very fortunate. How come now she's making a fuss again, disturbing Madam who can't get any peace, and it's not worth the effort... The rest of the sentence was spoken vaguely, but was interrupted by another voice scolding her for two sentences before she reluctantly shut up."

  "I'd rather avoid him and just exchange two sentences."

  "Alright, don't arouse the wife's suspicion, let it go."

  Fu Yiyang puckered his lips, and his footsteps paused for a moment before continuing forward. When he arrived at the main courtyard, Su Ying was indeed not there. He went straight to the inner chamber, sat down casually in a chair, and Thin Lotus brought him tea with a smile. Fu Yiyang took a shallow sip, it was Bi Luo Chun, his favorite tea.

  After Mint left, she gave a little maid a wink and asked her to go to the south wing to call Su Ying. She turned around and entered the house with a big heart and said: "The lady was called by Wei Niang to the south wing to see the eldest sister, and then came back. Has the master had dinner?"

  "Right here." Fu Yeyang waved his hand to let Bao He go, and casually picked up a book that Su Xian had randomly placed on the desk. It wasn't a book of poetry or literature, but rather a book related to health preservation. He flipped through two pages carelessly, and found notes written in Su Xian's elegant handwriting, with a pleasant rhythm.

  After being married for several years, Fu Yeyang still didn't know that his wife had written such a beautiful piece of calligraphy with the words "Shu Yu Hu's ice, Ruan Yao Tai's moon, gentle as a tree, quiet as a clear breeze". This really surprised Master Fu.

  But thinking again, his wife came from a family of scholars and was not like Fu's mother and Chen's wife who believed that "a woman without talent is virtuous". Most women in the family couldn't recognize a few big characters, but she had learned such delicate words. She never showed off her skills on ordinary days, probably due to the atmosphere of the Hou Mansion.

  Thinking of this, Fu Yiyang felt a few points of sympathy in his heart, thinking of his own experiences, especially being disliked by his mother and not understood by his younger brother, he had a sense of commiseration with Su Ying.

  As soon as Su Ying returned, she was made to feel uneasy by the sympathetic and pitiful gaze of the old master, thinking that she had been stimulated by something.

  Alas, all I can say is that the old master's brain hole is too big!