In Fu Tingyun’s mind, Zhao Ling was a formidable fighter—three or five strong men could hardly match him, let alone her.

She was stunned when Zhao Ling fell to the ground from her gentle push.

Zhao Ling smiled bitterly. “I’m happy today and drank too much. My head is still dizzy, and my feet are numb from crouching on the ground for so long…”

Fu Tingyun felt both amused and irritated, though she still cared for him deep down. She hurried to help him up. “Quick, get up!”

Zhao Ling took the opportunity to grasp her hand.

Her skin was as smooth and soft as polished jade. His thumb involuntarily caressed the back of her hand.

Inwardly, he felt fortunate. Because he had been thinking about his matters with Fu Tingyun, planning to speak with her properly after the banquet ended tonight, he had only pretended to be drunk after a few cups when Centurion Si and others offered toasts. Otherwise, how would Fu Tingyun have come to see him? How would he have had the chance to express his feelings? Not to mention that his pretend fall had made Fu Tingyun immediately forgive his previous impropriety… Ultimately, it was because Fu Tingyun cared for him in her heart…

As this thought flashed through his mind, thousands of tender feelings suddenly bloomed in his heart, and he was reluctant to let go of her hand.

Fu Tingyun’s face immediately turned crimson with embarrassment, and she silently cursed Zhao Ling as a libertine.

Somehow, things had developed to this state—give him an inch and he’d take a mile. She also remembered his earlier rogue-like statement about “kneeling at the main gate and shouting about wanting to marry the ninth Miss Fu” if she didn’t agree, which was both laughable and exasperating.

The Fu family had already announced to outsiders that she had died from illness. If he went to propose marriage, what kind of situation would that create? Wouldn’t it make everything known to everyone and nearly kill her father with anger?

However, perhaps her father, considering the Fu family’s reputation, might reluctantly agree to this marriage.

But if things happened this way, it would be less than ideal. The future relationship between father-in-law and son-in-law would likely breed much resentment.

“You scoundrel!” she couldn’t help but chide coquettishly. “You’re pushing your luck… If you continue like this, I won’t speak to you ever again!” Then she wondered if perhaps it was because she always gave in to him first, always accommodated him first, that he didn’t take her seriously and thus treated her so casually.

Countless grievances welled up in her heart, and tears gathered at her lashes.

Zhao Ling only wished for Fu Tingyun to be happy—how could he bear to see her sad in the slightest? He quickly wiped her tears with his sleeve, coaxing her gently like a child: “Don’t cry, don’t cry! It’s all my fault!” He was just short of offering to buy her candy.

Seeing him so flustered, with a trace of anxiety between his brows and none of his usual calm composure, Fu Tingyun knew it was all because of her. Her anger turned to joy, and she burst out laughing with a “pfft.”

That smile, coming from the depths of her heart, was like a hundred flowers blooming at once, radiating brilliance in all directions.

Zhao Ling gazed at her in a daze, taking a long moment to come to his senses. Knowing that Fu Tingyun had never truly blamed him, he felt an inexplicable joy fill his heart and pulled her into his embrace. “Nan’nan, don’t be angry anymore. We’ll return to Ledu first thing tomorrow morning.”

He whispered in her ear, his hot breath falling on her neck, making her body instantly become as hot as fire.

“Who, who’s going to Ledu with you?” she shyly pushed him away. “I, I’m returning to Zhangye first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Why?” Zhao Ling held her shoulders with both hands, gazing at her with burning eyes, his face full of astonishment.

Had she not forgiven him?

Fu Tingyun felt flustered and unable to meet his serious, burning gaze.

She lowered her eyelids: “I, I just came to see if you were all right… since you’re fine… A-Sen and the family… and Zheng San-niang with Linchun…”

Such a clumsy excuse—how could Zhao Ling believe it? He stared at her without blinking.

Fu Tingyun felt increasingly flustered, and anger surged within her again.

If anyone was to blame, it was all his fault. She hadn’t done anything wrong, so why should she humble herself before him as if she had done something wrong?

“It’s all your fault!” She turned her face away. “You let Miss Tang stay in the government office for no good reason, causing all sorts of gossip outside, and even had meals with her at the same table, making me misunderstand…” At this point, her voice carried a hint of choking, “I, I’m so embarrassed… I’m not going anywhere… I want to return to Zhangye.”

Zhao Ling understood.

She had ridden out of the town, and surely people had seen her. She was afraid of being laughed at if she went to Ledu.

Thinking that all this was because of him, Zhao Ling’s heart filled with tenderness that he could barely contain.

He embraced her with utmost gentleness, lightly stroking her silky-smooth black hair, and whispered in her ear: “My good Nan’nan, I have my plans and won’t let anyone laugh at you. Just come back to Ledu with me. I’m busy here and can’t leave, and since you’ve made the journey, you should stay for a few days.” As he spoke, his voice lowered further, “Let me look at you properly!” The murmured words carried an ambiguity that made her heart race.

For some reason, Fu Tingyun thought of his gaze when her clothes were soaked by the river, and of her snow-white body in the carriage that even she found dazzling. She felt both embarrassed and angry, her face suddenly turning bright red as she glared at Zhao Ling with raised eyebrows: “What’s with all this ‘Nan’nan’? My name is Fu Tingyun, courtesy name Quanhui. What nonsense are you calling me?” Before she finished speaking, she saw a smile ripple across Zhao Ling’s eyes like water, growing larger until it spread to the corners of his eyes and brows.

“‘Tingyun’—the integrity of pine and bamboo. A good name! As for Quanhui,” he pondered, “‘Tie the cassia tree’s luxuriance, threading fragrant herbs with magnolia’… Let me guess… hmm… Magnolia is also called purple magnolia. In Jiangnan, it blooms in February, but spring comes later in Shaanxi, with the flowering period usually in March and April. Were you perhaps born in March or April? And when you were born, the purple magnolia was in full bloom, so your courtesy name is ‘Quanhui’?”

No matter how composed Zhao Ling was, he was still just a young man barely into his twenties. In front of the woman he loved, he inevitably wanted to do something impressive to catch her eye and win her favor, naturally trying to say something astonishing.

Fu Tingyun indeed widened her eyes in surprise.

A trace of satisfaction flashed across Zhao Ling’s eyes.

This rascal, his mind works so quickly on these random matters, yet he’s as dull as a wooden block when it comes to their relationship.

Fu Tingyun felt annoyed and couldn’t help but contradict him: “You guessed wrong! I wasn’t born in March or April!”

“Not born in March or April?” Zhao Ling was quite surprised and pondered seriously for a moment before saying confidently, “Then you must have been born in May?”

Fu Tingyun was greatly surprised: “How did you know?”

“That’s easy,” Zhao Ling smiled. “Since you weren’t born in March or April, and Shaanxi can’t warm up in February, nor would it still be bitterly cold after May, it could only be May. And the year you were born must have had unusual weather, with the purple magnolia blooming late, which is why your birth was seen as auspicious…” He asked her affectionately in a low voice, “So what day were you born?”

She had already told him her name, and if she now told him her birth month and day, wouldn’t he know her entire birth chart!

After all, it was her fault for softening her heart whenever she saw him humble himself.

Fu Tingyun, embarrassed and angry, said coquettishly: “What business is it of yours?”

“How could it not be my business?” Zhao Ling responded righteously. “You’re now out of mourning. I’m temporarily serving as the Thousand Household of Nianbo Suo. Both the Marquis of Yingchuan and Deputy General Wang, along with Commander Lu, are offering their full support. After we sow the seeds next spring, we’ll go to the capital… If at that time your father says ‘the birth charts don’t match,’ we won’t even have a place to plead our case. Wouldn’t that force us to part? Such an unpleasant matter needs to be planned for early.” As he spoke, he winked at her, his expression somewhat mischievous yet with an indescribable carefree elegance. “I was born on the ninth day of the ninth month in the year of Renzi. My childhood name was Ninth Brother, and later, when I wandered the jianghu, I feared disgracing my late father, so I only called myself Zhao Jiu in public. What day were you born? We should first find an old master well-versed in the I Ching to check our birth charts.” After saying this, he put on a troubled expression. “If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just have to change my birth chart!”

How could birth charts be casually changed?

If her father didn’t agree, even compatible birth charts would be useless; if her father agreed to the marriage, even if the birth charts didn’t match, they could invite a master well-versed in the I Ching to resolve it, and everything would be fine.

Fu Tingyun knew Zhao Ling was trying to make her happy. Although she didn’t want him to be too pleased with himself and tried to keep a straight face, the smile that reached the depths of her eyes revealed her true feelings.

“Nonsense,” she bit her red lips, hesitating for a moment before telling him, “I was born on the eighteenth day of the fifth month in the year of Wuwu.”

Though her voice was as quiet as a mosquito’s, Zhao Ling, who was paying close attention, heard her.

He said with some regret: “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I could have celebrated your birthday!” Then he added, “Well, I’ll have Zheng San-niang make you a bowl of longevity noodles. That will do.” Inwardly, he blamed himself for being careless and not instructing Zheng San-niang earlier.

“It’s not that important,” Fu Tingyun hurriedly said. “It happens every year. But Lord Jiu, your birthday is in two months…” She wondered what birthday gift would be good for him.

Zhao Ling’s thoughts shifted slightly, and he smiled: “Then make me a few pairs of shoes!” As he spoke, he stuck out his foot. “Look, these are boots I bought in Wusheng Town a while ago, and they’re already torn with a hole…”

Wusheng Town was northwest of Zhuanglang Wei, close to Liangzhou Wei.

“What were you doing in Wusheng Town?” She thought of Feng Dahu’s death and remembered her original purpose for coming. Her body trembled slightly, and she asked urgently, “Is Feng Dahu’s matter related to you?”

At some point, Zhao Ling had begun to feel an unprecedented relaxation and comfort when with Fu Tingyun, and some words slipped out unintentionally.

Fu Tingyun was his beloved, and naturally, he didn’t want to lie to her. But to admit in front of her that he had traveled a thousand miles alone to kill Feng Dahu for her sake—he couldn’t bring himself to say it… He could only remain silent.

So it was him!

Fu Tingyun didn’t know whether to be shocked, pleased, or worried. Her mind was in turmoil, and she could only stammer her concern: “You must be extremely careful. Don’t let the word leak out to the people of the Xiping Marquis’s mansion. The Xiping Marquis has already persuaded the Yingchuan Marquis to mobilize Ganzhou Wei’s troops to capture the murderer who killed Feng Dahu…”