At noon in Ledu Town, there were few pedestrians on the street.

Outside the government office, Zheng San was exchanging pleasantries with Zhao Ming when Fu Tingyun ran out like a gust of wind.

It happened so suddenly that both men stared blankly at the furious Fu Tingyun, momentarily dumbfounded.

Fu Tingyun had already leapt onto the carriage, forcefully pulling the reins. The horse, which had been leisurely waiting there, was startled, rearing up with a neigh before dragging the carriage away at a gallop.

“Miss Fu!” Zheng San came to his senses and immediately ran after her.

Zhao Ming was still immersed in that fleeting glimpse he had just witnessed.

“This Miss Fu is truly beautiful!” he murmured to himself, when Zhao Ling’s urgent and angry voice reached his ears: “Where is she?”

“Oh!” Zhao Ming quickly straightened up and pointed in the direction where the carriage had disappeared. “She went that way!”

Zhao Ling saw Zheng San’s retreating figure.

Without hesitation, he gave chase.

Zheng San, however, ran more and more slowly, finally stopping at the end of the street.

The horse had run too fast. The carriage had become a small black dot on the post road, leaving only a trail of dust in its wake.

How could two legs outrun four? There was no point in continuing the pursuit.

He turned around and saw Zhao Ling.

“The horse was startled.” he strode forward, his expression filled with tension. “I couldn’t catch up.”

Zhao Ling’s gaze immediately darkened. “I’ll go back for a horse!” He turned and sprinted toward the office.

On the way, he encountered Zhao Ming, who, though not knowing what had happened, was eager to offer his services.

As he hurried back with Zhao Ling, he asked with concern: “Hundred-Household, what happened? Do you want me to find some brothers to help search for her?”

“Yes!” Zhao Ling’s jaw was tightly clenched. His mind was filled with the phrase “the horse was startled.”

If anything happened to Miss Fu… he dared not think further.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ming immediately ran toward the small restaurant.

For such an opportunity to be of service, he naturally wanted to involve his brothers.

Zhao Ling hurriedly entered the office and ran into an anxious Miss Tang: “Ninth Master, what happened to Miss Fu? Should I bring my maids to help search…?”

“No need!” Zhao Ling’s expression was grim. What was this Miss Fu up to? Speaking one moment and running away the next, declaring she wanted to sever all ties with him. “Miss Tang, please eat first. I’m afraid I’ll only be back after a while.” He headed to the stable to get a horse.

“Let me go with you!” Miss Tang was considered an excellent horsewoman among ladies. “One more person means a better chance of finding Miss Fu!”

“No need!” Zhao Ling now only wanted to find Fu Tingyun quickly. Though Miss Tang’s horsemanship was good, it couldn’t compare to those brothers who had fought on battlefields. “Miss Tang, please stay in the office.”

As he spoke, he mounted his horse before even leaving the office gate, charging straight out.

Zhao Ming and the others were already galloping over.

“Find a horse for Zheng San,” Zhao Ling instructed Zhao Ming. “You search in that direction, I’ll search in this one. Signal me when you find her.”

Fu Tingyun couldn’t drive a carriage. With the horse startled, she would likely let go of the reins and let the horse run wild. Zhao Ling took the post road, the easiest place to search, for himself, assigning the other directions to Zhao Ming and the rest.

Everyone acknowledged the orders and galloped out of the small town.

The commotion alarmed many people who stuck their heads out to watch and discuss: “What’s happening?”

Miss Tang, who stood at the office gate biting her red lips while watching Zhao Ling and the others disappear into the distance, couldn’t help but shift her gaze slightly.

…

As Zhao Ling had guessed, Fu Tingyun did not know how to drive a carriage. Jumping onto it was merely an impulsive act. She tried to imitate Zheng San’s way of handling the reins, but used too much force, startling the horse. The carriage suddenly accelerated, catching her off guard. She was thrown into the carriage compartment, getting thoroughly disoriented. When she managed to get up, she discovered the carriage racing forward at an alarming speed. The jolting left her dizzy, and she was so frightened that it took her quite a while to regain her senses. Not daring to drive anymore, she could only release the reins and let the horse run on its own.

After some time, the carriage gradually slowed down, and she finally dared to lift the curtain and look outside.

Lush green trees lined both sides of the road. There was no one on the path. The sun shone on the post road, making the white gravel occasionally flash with bright light.

Where was this?

Was she lost?

Fu Tingyun muttered to herself, and seeing that her bundle of clothes was still in the carriage, she quickly rummaged through it, finding a bright blue pouch with white floral patterns.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

Her clothes and silver were all there. Even if Zheng San couldn’t find her, she could first find a place to stay, then ask someone to send a message to Zheng San…

Thinking of this, she frowned with some annoyance.

Zheng San was at the Grinding Mill Garrison. If he received the news, Zhao Ling would certainly get it too. Then Zhao Ling would come looking for her…

As the thought flashed through her mind, she was slightly startled.

Why would she think this way? Could it be that in her heart, she was still hoping he would come find her? Otherwise, even if Zhao Ling came looking for her, what did it have to do with her?

Her heart suddenly became uneasy.

Fu Tingyun silently cursed herself.

Since she had already decided to sever all ties with Zhao Ling, continuing to vacillate like this – wouldn’t that be like pretending to reject while wanting to capture? If he came looking for her, she would simply ignore him. What was there to worry about?

Yes, that’s what she would do!

She encouraged herself, but a hint of hesitation involuntarily rose from the depths of her heart.

Would she really, truly ignore Zhao Ling?

And afterward, wouldn’t that mean never seeing this person again?

Even if they did meet, they would be like strangers?

Thinking this way, her heart suddenly ached beyond measure.

She couldn’t help but curl up in the carriage.

Or perhaps, should she just let it go?

After all, no matter whom she married, her husband would always take concubines. Miss Tang and Zhao Ling had a history. If she were magnanimous about it, Zhao Ling would surely be pleased and would respect her more because of it.

She asked herself this, and the image of Zhao Ling smiling at Miss Tang floated in her mind.

Her chest felt as heavy as if a large stone were pressing on it.

No, no, no. Anyone else could, but not Zhao Ling.

She liked him so, so much. If he had someone else in his heart, she, she couldn’t bear it!

Today’s events would recur.

Again and again. Even the most loving couple couldn’t withstand such long-term torment. Eventually, he would find her repulsive, and she would consider him heartless… Rather than becoming enemies in the end, better to part ways now.

Fu Tingyun sat dazed in the carriage.

Better to part like this… While he was still the gallant and handsome man in her eyes, and she was still the gentle and graceful beautiful woman in his… Let’s part!

She collapsed weakly in the carriage and began to sob loudly.

Only when her eyes were so swollen and sore that she could barely open them, and her nose was so stuffed with mucus that she could hardly breathe, did Fu Tingyun finally stop crying with hiccups. She found a handkerchief to wipe her tears and blow her nose.

Then she realized the carriage had stopped at some point.

She slowly climbed onto the shaft and looked outside.

Before her was a small river. The last rays of the setting sun shone on the water’s surface, creating rippling waves that looked like gold foil blown by the wind.

Was the sun already setting?

Fu Tingyun sat dazed on the carriage, watching the horse leisurely grazing on the lush grass by the shore.

The carriage horse must have seen this grass, and that’s why it stopped here, right?

Her thoughts wandered.

A breeze blew from the river, carrying a hint of coolness, dispersing the stuffiness within the carriage.

Fu Tingyun got off the carriage and walked toward the riverbank.

The riverbed was shallow, the water clear, allowing her to see the colorful, round pebbles.

Having cried so much, she must look quite disheveled now!

Fu Tingyun crouched by the river, scooping up water to wash her face.

The river water was refreshingly cool, making her feel much more spirited.

Fu Tingyun decided to take off her shoes and socks and step into the river.

It felt truly comfortable.

All the summer heat vanished.

Fu Tingyun placed her shoes and socks on the shore, removed her dark cloth vest, tucked the hem of her skirt into her waist, rolled up her pant legs, and walked toward the middle of the river.

Along the way, she startled a school of small fish that scattered in all directions.

Looking at those fish darting like little shuttles, her mood inexplicably improved.

Everyone has a place to go, and little fish are no exception.

She would return to Beijing!

Her mother was still waiting for her in Beijing.

No matter what mistakes she had made, her mother would forgive her.

Fu Tingyun gazed at the clouds filling the sky, her heart as calm as water.

From behind came the urgent sound of hoofbeats.

Fu Tingyun turned around.

She saw Zhao Ling galloping toward her.

Zhao Ling had also spotted Fu Tingyun.

She stood serenely in the river, the brilliant sunset casting a golden outline around her silhouette, obscuring her features.

He felt a sudden panic.

What was she doing standing in the river?

Why did she seem to ignore him when she saw him?

He leapt off his horse, and his legs weakened, almost causing him to fall.

“You, come up quickly!” he ran toward her, his voice trembling slightly. “Don’t, don’t do anything foolish!”

Fu Tingyun watched him stumble over, and couldn’t help but smile.

“I’m fine!” She took a deep breath, feeling like the former open-minded, fearless Fu Tingyun had returned. “The weather is too hot, I’m just cooling off by the river! Don’t misunderstand, I’m not trying to jump in—if I wanted to jump, I would have done so already, not waited for you to come!”

Despite her composure, calmness, and rationality, Zhao Ling felt his heart racing with fear.

He waded through the water with splashing sounds and stood before her.

He finally saw her face.

Her eyes were swollen, her nose red, but her gaze was as clear as water. The corners of her eyes and brows were filled with faint smiles, like a flower quietly blooming in a corner—peaceful, composed, serene, with the equanimity that comes after washing away all artifice.

This version of Fu Tingyun, one he had never seen before, gave him a vague sense of unease.

“Why did you run?” His question carried a slight breathlessness.

Anxiety, confusion, worry, fear… Having traveled over a hundred li, he feared the horse was running too fast and he might miss seeing her; he feared the horse was too slow and by the time he found her, it would be too late… For the first time, he doubted his judgment!

Why did she run?

Fu Tingyun pressed her rosy lips together and lowered her eyelids: “I, I was afraid!”

For the first time, she honestly revealed the deep feelings hidden in the depths of her heart before this man.

Zhao Ling was stunned: “Afraid! What were you afraid of?”

Fu Tingyun looked up, staring steadily into his eyes: “I was afraid that I couldn’t control myself.” Tears glistened at the corners of her eyes. “I heard Miss Tang was a beautiful woman, and I couldn’t help but burn with jealousy, running to search your room; I heard you were going to help Miss Tang, and I couldn’t help but feel humiliated and angry, trying in every way to obstruct you; I saw you straightening your clothes to meet Miss Tang, and I couldn’t help but feel insecure; even when I heard you introduce me to Miss Tang as ‘Miss Fu,’ I flew into a rage and ran out without thinking…”