The moon rose above the treetops as Fu Tingyun bid farewell to the last guest. She took a long, deep breath and turned to enter the second hall.
The two maids were clearing away the cups and plates in the hall. Seeing her enter, they hurriedly came forward with smiles and bowed. One of them said, “Magistrate Zhao said the moonlight is beautiful tonight and asked if Miss would like to enjoy the moon in the courtyard. If Miss is interested, he asked us to bring out the cooling couch and prepare some washed fruits.”
Zhao Ling had given his inner chamber to her, while Miss Tang and her two maids were staying in the side rooms behind the second hall, making both places inconvenient. He had been planning to spend the night in his office these past two days.
Would he come tonight?
Fu Tingyun felt a stir of anticipation: “The weather is so hot, it would be nice to cool off in the courtyard!”
The two maids, having previously misjudged the situation, were eager for an opportunity to make amends. Hearing this, they set aside their work and hurried to fetch water to help Fu Tingyun bathe. By the time she had washed and dressed, the hall and courtyard had been swept clean. A cooling couch with bamboo mats had been brought out and placed under the osmanthus tree in the courtyard. Blue-and-white porcelain fruit plates on the low table held washed grapes and apricots, along with sliced watermelon and cantaloupe. Beside them was a freshly brewed pot of tea.
“Is there anything else Miss needs?” The two maids approached with smiling faces, one respectfully conversing with Fu Tingyun while the other fanned her. “We’ll take care of it right away!”
Since Fu Tingyun’s return, the two maids had been busy until now without a chance to catch their breath. A few strands of sweat-dampened hair stuck to their cheeks, and they smelled of perspiration.
Fu Tingyun was not one to nitpick with servants. Thinking that they would continue to serve Zhao Ling in the future, she smiled and took the fan from the maid’s hand, saying, “You’ve been very thoughtful. I don’t need anything else now. You’ve been busy all afternoon, go rest!”
Seeing her pleasant demeanor without any blame, the maids’ faces brightened. After offering a few words of flattery, they withdrew.
The osmanthus tree was thick enough to require two people’s arms to encircle it. Now in its lush season, the thick oil-green leaves were studded with golden buds, with an occasional fully bloomed flower. The air was suffused with a faint osmanthus fragrance.
Fu Tingyun, wearing a white fine gauze shirt, lay under the osmanthus tree, fanning herself, gazing at the bright moon through the dappled leaves. Her heart was filled with serenity and peace.
Suddenly, she felt as if a profound gaze was quietly fixed upon her.
She immediately thought of Zhao Ling…
A joyful smile blossomed on her lips as she quickly sat up and saw a pair of eyes as bright as morning stars.
Fu Tingyun’s face flushed uncontrollably, and she momentarily felt flustered, asking, “Have… have you had dinner?”
As soon as she spoke, she felt her face grow hotter.
While he had been entertaining the Centurions and Standard-bearers in the adjacent courtyard, she had been hosting their wives in the second hall. One had been seeing off guests at the second hall, the other at the main gate. She had already bathed, so how could he not have had dinner?
Zhao Ling slowly walked toward her. In the moonlight, his gentle expression was as warm as early spring.
“I was too busy drinking and only ate half a bowl of noodles,” he said, sitting naturally on the cooling couch. “Did you eat enough while entertaining those ladies in the back hall?” Then, looking at the fruit plates on the low table, he asked, “Do you have anything to eat here?”
Fu Tingyun had only eaten a little. However, due to the fatigue from traveling by carriage in the afternoon, her appetite had been poor, and she hadn’t felt hungry. Only after hearing Zhao Ling did she belatedly realize that people usually don’t eat their fill at banquets.
She quickly stood up: “Let me make you a bowl of noodles?”
“No need!” Zhao Ling took her hand. “I drank a bit too much and don’t feel like eating. Just peel some grapes for me?” After saying this, he naturally released Fu Tingyun’s hand.
Fu Tingyun thought nothing of it and sat down to peel grapes for Zhao Ling.
Zhao Ling fanned her from the side.
She peeled enough grapes to fill a teacup, inserted toothpicks, and handed them to him, then took the fan from his hand to fan him.
He accepted the teacup, eating with the toothpicks while occasionally talking to her: “Why don’t you go back after the Mid-Autumn Festival?”
“You’re the one who told everyone you forgot important official documents at home and that I came to deliver them,” Fu Tingyun teased him. “Now that the documents have been delivered, how can I keep staying at your place? In a few days, it’s the Hungry Ghost Festival, which is not convenient for traveling. I’ll leave after that.” As she spoke, her voice grew somewhat shy. “You can come home to visit when you have time.”
Zhao Ling greatly regretted his excuse: “Had I known, I should have told them you came to celebrate my birthday.”
“You’re talking nonsense again,” Fu Tingyun remembered the half-believing expressions of the Centurions when Zhao Ling said she had come to deliver documents. She scolded him, “Your birthday is still two months away. Who would believe that?”
“What does it matter if they believe it or not?” Zhao Ling said dismissively. “Everyone just needs an excuse.” Thinking that he should be able to visit Fu Tingyun during the Mid-Autumn Festival, he immediately changed his mind and smiled, “That works. You can leave after the Hungry Ghost Festival, and we’ll go release river lanterns then.”
The prospect of releasing river lanterns with Zhao Ling naturally pleased Fu Tingyun, and she agreed: “Then I’ll prepare some offerings, and we can also go to the temple to pay our respects.” Thinking of those soldiers who had fought alongside Zhao Ling but had fallen in battle, her mood became somewhat melancholic. “I’ll also copy several scrolls of the ‘Usnisa Vijaya Dharani Sutra’, the ‘Mulian Sutra’, and the ‘Ullambana Sutra’ for you to offer to the Bodhisattva.”
Was she copying the sutras for him?
“Alright!” Zhao Ling smiled at her. “We’ll go together then.”
His gaze held such understanding that it made Fu Tingyun feel somewhat embarrassed.
Light footsteps gradually approached.
Both frowned.
They saw Miss Tang, wearing a moon-white silk summer shirt, enter the courtyard.
Seeing Zhao Ling, she was momentarily stunned, then broke into a beautiful smile: “I thought only Miss Fu was here enjoying the moon, and I wanted to keep her company. I didn’t expect Magistrate Zhao to be here as well!” She stepped forward and bowed to Zhao Ling and Fu Tingyun.
Since she knew Zhao Ling was here, why did she still do such a mood-spoiling thing?
Fu Tingyun inwardly complained but smiled and returned Miss Tang’s greeting. Seeing that Miss Tang had no intention of leaving, she went back to the room to fetch a chair for her.
Miss Tang smiled: “What were Magistrate Zhao and Miss Fu discussing? The Hungry Ghost Festival is approaching. I’ve heard that at this time every year, from the Commander’s mansion down to various garrisons, Taoist priests and Buddhist monks are invited to perform ceremonies. Magistrate Zhao, will Nianbo Suo hold ceremonies this year?” Her eyes glistened with tears. “Will Miss Fu attend the ceremony? I would like to go with Miss Fu to burn some spirit money for my father and mother.” As she spoke, tears rolled down her cheeks. “I don’t know what to do now. My father left me hundreds of thousands in gold… ‘A man without guilt may be condemned for the jade he carries’… I don’t know how many people are eyeing the properties my father left me… I’m very afraid… Only Magistrate Zhao shows no greed…” She wiped her tears, her face showing a trace of shyness. “That’s why my father, on his deathbed, repeatedly instructed me to find Magistrate Zhao, saying that if I wanted to preserve my life, I could only beg Magistrate Zhao to take me in. Otherwise, as a lone, weak woman carrying large sums of money and silver, I fear I wouldn’t live long…” She covered her face and sobbed bitterly.
What did she mean?
Asking Zhao Ling to take her in—what kind of taking in? As an adopted sister? Or into his household?
A flash of sharpness crossed Fu Tingyun’s eyes as she looked at Zhao Ling.
Zhao Ling frowned, appearing somewhat irritated.
“Miss Tang…” he paused, looking quite troubled, and then pondered, “Your family and the Feng family have deep grudges. Even if I invite respected elders from the community to mediate, the Feng family, for the sake of face, will inevitably ask Miss Tang to provide some financial compensation. If this is your concern, perhaps you could pay more silver to the Feng family and then ask them to ensure your safety. I think the Feng family would also be willing to present themselves as righteous supporters of the weak.”
“Magistrate Zhao,” Miss Tang choked, “You still don’t understand my father’s intentions. My father isn’t reluctant to part with this wealth. If it could save my life, what would giving away this money and property matter? What I fear is that some people, having obtained the money, would still be unsatisfied. They might put on a righteous front while secretly plotting against me. Even if I lost my life, others would still praise me as gentlemen who help those in need. Kill me, and then use my life to save face. If that’s the case, neither my father nor I would rest in peace, even in death.”
Fu Tingyun remained silent.
How was Miss Tang so certain that Zhao Ling wouldn’t covet her family fortune?
Recalling Miss Tang’s earlier gift of the sword, she couldn’t help but wonder if there was some deeper connection between them.
But regardless of any connection, she couldn’t allow this Miss Tang, who constantly mentioned her vast fortune, to become entangled with them. Zhao Ling might not be tempted, but that didn’t mean others wouldn’t be.
“From what Miss Tang says, you fear that revealing your wealth would lead to murder for money?” she said slowly.
Miss Tang nodded repeatedly: “Yes…”
She had only uttered one word when Fu Tingyun said, “I think this matter can be resolved easily.”
Miss Tang felt a surge of joy in her heart.
The first time she met Zhao Ling, she felt he was different from all the salt smugglers she knew, and she immediately took a liking to him. But at that time, Zhao Ling was just a poor young man, so she dared not speak out. Later, when Tang Daishan conducted several business deals with Zhao Ling and greatly admired him, Miss Tang hinted that Tang Daishan should take Zhao Ling as a son-in-law. Tang Daishan considered it and thought it was a good idea, but Zhao Ling refused. Both Master Tang and Miss Tang thought Zhao Ling didn’t want to marry into their family. Master Tang gave up, but Miss Tang kept it in her heart. Later, as Zhao Ling’s business grew increasingly successful, to the point where even the Feng family had to step aside, she once again hinted at her desire to marry him. Tang Daishan, after much consideration, felt that compared to having an heir, it was more important to bring Zhao Ling to his side to protect the Tang family’s multi-generational efforts. He again sent someone to propose marriage. However, Zhao Ling politely declined Master Tang’s offer with the excuse that “my business is not yet established, so I have no desire to marry.” Master Tang brought it up several more times afterward, but Zhao Ling always refused.
Miss Tang certainly knew that this wealth couldn’t move Zhao Ling. She also knew that when Zhao Ling said he had a fiancée, he would never break the engagement to marry someone else.
But not everyone was like Zhao Ling.
If she entered the Zhao family, Miss Fu, as the primary wife, might share this fortune with her. Wouldn’t Miss Fu be tempted?
She couldn’t help but hold her breath and stare intently at Fu Tingyun.