After returning from Madam Wang’s home, a drizzle began to fall. Fu Tingyun tossed and turned, thinking about Zhao Ling, unable to sleep all night.

The next morning, the sky cleared, but Zhao Ling still hadn’t returned.

Fu Tingyun sighed and directed Zheng San to take down the lanterns hanging in the trees that had been ruined by the rain. Meanwhile, Asen ran to the general store at the corner of the street and spent two coins on candy. He sat on the steps at the entrance of the store, silently eating the candy while watching people coming and going, his silence carrying a hint of sorrow. The storekeeper’s wife felt heartbroken seeing him and asked with concern: “Did you fight with your sister-in-law?”

Before she could finish speaking, Asen jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on: “You’re the one who fought with your sister-in-law!” He dashed back home.

“You little rascal!” the storekeeper’s wife laughed and cursed, then turned back to her business.

Asen returned home with his head hanging low and saw Fu Tingyun kneading dough in the kitchen.

“Miss, what are you making?” he asked curiously.

“I’m making some flaky mooncakes,” Fu Tingyun smiled. “Master Nine hasn’t had any homemade mooncakes this year!” Her expression was gentle and serene, with a hint of a smile at the corners of her mouth.

“But…” Asen wanted to say that Master Nine had secretly gone to handle some matters, and when he returned, he would need to discuss with Lord Wang about allocating weapons to the Nianbo Guard, which would certainly involve entertaining and giving gifts. Master Nine might not have time to stay at home. But as the words reached his lips, he swallowed them back.

What if Master Nine did make time to stay at home for a few days?

If he said such things now, wouldn’t it make Miss Fu sad?

Thinking of this, Asen ran into the kitchen: “Miss, let me help you make mooncakes!”

Fu Tingyun smiled at him while patiently explaining how to make mooncakes, and asked him what the eldest young lady of the Wang family had said to him.

His mouth remained tightly shut, and no matter how Fu Tingyun asked, he wouldn’t say.

Fu Tingyun just laughed.

That evening, Zhao Ling still hadn’t returned.

The next day, Fu Tingyun took Asen to bid farewell to Madam Wang.

Some people sat in carriages while others rode in sedan chairs, accompanying Madam Wang and her daughters to the Seven Stars Temple outside the city. Daoist Master Shanning personally came out to arrange several tables of vegetarian dishes. After eating and drinking together, they saw off Madam Wang and her daughters. Then everyone exchanged pleasantries before dispersing.

Fu Tingyun was about to get into her carriage when Concubine Xiao, who was surrounded by others, smiled and greeted her: “Miss Fu, let’s go back together!” She warmly invited Fu Tingyun to share her carriage.

All the ladies, madams, and concubines looked toward Fu Tingyun, who suddenly became the center of attention.

“How could I trouble Concubine Xiao!” Fu Tingyun politely declined with a gentle smile.

Hearing this, Concubine Xiao smiled, her smile conveying understanding: “Actually, I have something to tell Miss Fu.”

Her gaze was clear, her expression sincere.

Given both the current situation and Concubine Xiao’s attitude, further refusal from Fu Tingyun would seem unreasonable. She smiled, thanked her, and boarded Concubine Xiao’s carriage.

The carriage compartment was made of nanmu wood panels, covered with an exquisite Persian carpet. Several large red embroidered cushions were casually scattered about, exuding luxury and indolence, which secretly amazed Fu Tingyun.

Concubine Xiao seemed to sense this, and smiled as she extended her snow-white, delicate hand to pick up a purple clay teapot nearby. She poured Fu Tingyun a cup of warm Iron Goddess tea, smiling with implied meaning: “These are all the Marquis’s preferences!”

Fu Tingyun held the cicada-wing-thin cup in her hand, her nerves stretched to the limit.

What did Concubine Xiao mean by this?

She maintained her composure and, following Concubine Xiao’s lead, showed some admiration: “It seems the Marquis is a person who truly knows how to enjoy life.”

“Indeed!” Concubine Xiao smiled gracefully. “The Marquis is most particular about how he treats people and handles matters.”

Fu Tingyun smiled slightly.

Since Concubine Xiao had taken the initiative to approach her, yet spoke and acted with peculiarity at every turn, perhaps it was best to respond with stillness to counter her movement.

She had just made up her mind when, to her surprise, Concubine Xiao burst into laughter: “Miss Fu, you must think I have some urgent matter to discuss with you? I simply wanted to see how beautiful a woman must be to make Feng Dahu risk his life for her, and to make Lord Zhao travel a thousand miles to kill.” As she spoke, her beautiful eyes fixed steadily on Fu Tingyun.

Fu Tingyun felt as if struck by lightning.

How did she know that Feng Dahu was killed by Zhao Ling?

If she knew, did that mean the Marquis of Yingchuan and the Marquis of Xiping also knew?

Thinking of such consequences made her fingertips go ice cold.

In the past, Fu Tingyun would have likely shown some unusual reaction, but since following Zhao Ling westward and experiencing various hardships, she was no longer comparable to ordinary young ladies from sheltered households. Although Concubine Xiao’s words caught her off guard, she could still conceal her true emotions and quickly devise a strategy. So when Concubine Xiao finished speaking, she immediately displayed a surprised expression and asked curiously: “What does Concubine Xiao mean by this?” Then she slightly furrowed her brow, showing some displeasure, “Concubine Xiao, we women value our reputation above all. You mention my name alongside Feng Dahu’s and speak of ‘Lord Zhao traveling a thousand miles to kill,’ placing me in a position of dishonor. What is Concubine Xiao’s intention?”

From the moment she spoke, Concubine Xiao had been carefully observing Fu Tingyun’s expression. Now, seeing that Fu Tingyun showed no flaws in her reaction, she felt somewhat hesitant, her momentum inevitably weakening as she smiled and explained: “Miss Fu, please don’t be upset. I just heard everyone talking about this and was quite curious…”

The situation between the two was like armies facing each other in battle. As soon as Concubine Xiao’s tone softened, Fu Tingyun immediately pressed her advantage.

“Concubine Xiao’s words are mistaken!” She interrupted without hesitation, speaking solemnly, “Concubine Xiao is the Concubine of the Marquis of Yingchuan. How can you make random conjectures based on mere rumors? And to say things like ‘Lord Zhao traveled a thousand miles to kill’ to implicate Lord Zhao… You should know that Lord Zhao is an official appointed by the imperial court. If he were to knowingly break the law and wantonly take a life, his crime would be aggravated, resulting in banishment for three thousand li.”

Concubine Xiao looked at the righteous Fu Tingyun, her heart filled with doubt.

Could she have been mistaken?

“Miss Fu, please don’t misunderstand,” she hurriedly said. “I just heard the Marquis discussing privately, saying that looking across the Northwest, besides Lord Zhao, he couldn’t think of anyone else who had a grudge against Feng Dahu and could travel a thousand miles to kill without leaving a trace. That’s why I asked…”

Fu Tingyun’s heart jolted.

She heard it from the Marquis of Yingchuan? What did the Marquis mean by this? Also, was this Concubine Xiao a favored concubine of the Marquis? Otherwise, why would the Marquis say such things in front of her?

These thoughts flashed quickly through her mind as she said: “The world is vast, with hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Lord Zhao is a man from Longxi County. If he hadn’t joined the army, if not for the battle at Xining, the Marquis might never have known of a person named Zhao Ling. This shows that nothing in the world is absolute.”

“Indeed!” Concubine Xiao looked at the stern-faced Fu Tingyun and smiled somewhat helplessly. “My words were inappropriate. I hope Miss Fu won’t take offense.” Her tone carried neither guilt nor apology.

Fu Tingyun found this somewhat strange, but decided to let the matter rest. Her expression softened slightly as she said gently: “Concubine Xiao, I am also a woman, and I, too, enjoy discussing everyday matters. However, as women, we should remember the phrase ‘speak and act with caution.’ We can speak of what can be spoken, but what shouldn’t be said, not a single extra word should be uttered. Otherwise, wouldn’t we become spreaders of discord?” Her words carried a tone of gentle guidance.

Concubine Xiao looked at Fu Tingyun, whose brow still carried a hint of childishness, and felt somewhat between laughter and tears.

…

Two days later, Zhao Ling returned.

San Fu was no longer with him, but a young man about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old had joined him, surprising both Fu Tingyun and Asen, who had run out with joyful faces upon hearing the news.

Zhao Ling smiled as he introduced the man to Fu Tingyun: “This is Assistant Commander He from Ganzhou Guard! This is my fiancée, Miss Fu, and this is my brother Asen.”

When Commander He saw Fu Tingyun, his eyes brightened with a moment of realization before he cupped his hands and bowed to her.

Fu Tingyun quickly lowered her head, curtsied hastily, and said, “I’ll go prepare food and wine,” before hurrying into the kitchen.

After Asen had properly bowed to Commander He, Zhao Ling smiled and made a “please” gesture to Commander He, walking side by side with him toward the hall.

Commander He couldn’t help but quickly glance back in the direction where Fu Tingyun had disappeared before composing himself and resuming a graceful and natural demeanor as he began to chat and laugh with Zhao Ling.

Zheng Sanniang reproached Zheng San: “Why didn’t you say something when guests arrived?”

Who knew Miss Fu would rush out so quickly?

Zheng San dared not say this, so he just smiled.

Fu Tingyun’s face reddened as she heard Asen asking An Xin: “What have you been doing these past few days? Who is this Commander He? Is he a friend or foe to us? Why is he following Master Nine to our home?”

An Xin avoided the main questions and simply said: “Commander He is named He Xiulin. He is the eldest son of He Wei, the Commander of Yulin Guard. The master met him in Linze. Since Commander He happened to be coming to Zhangye on official business, the master invited him to travel together and also invited him to visit our home.”

“So it’s just a casual acquaintance…” Asen muttered. “So Master Nine did go to Linze!”

An Xin acted as if he hadn’t heard, sitting calmly at the small square table in the kitchen, helping Fu Tingyun peel chestnuts.

Outside, someone knocked on the door: “Zheng San! Zheng San!”

The voice was very unfamiliar. Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment as Zheng San hurried to answer the door.

“I’ve finally found you!” The visitor was of medium height, thin and pale, travel-worn, wearing a bright blue short jacket. As he entered, he wiped sweat from his forehead with his sleeve while exclaiming loudly, “Is Miss Fu at home? I’ve traveled day and night from Xi’an Prefecture, and I’m exhausted. Is there anything to eat in the kitchen? Have Sanniang quickly prepare something to fill my stomach, and bring a basin of water for me to wash my face. Once I’ve caught my breath, I’ll go pay my respects to Miss Fu.”

Who was this?

Everyone stood up straight and looked outside.

Then they saw Zhao Ling walking out from the main room: “Old Chai, why are you here? Has something happened at home?”

Others might not know Zhao Ling’s background, but Zhao Ling had kept nothing from Fu Tingyun.

Fu Tingyun was filled with confusion.

Old Chai had already respectfully bowed to Zhao Ling: “Master Nine, Accountant Lu has collected the autumn accounts and was worried you might not have money to use in Zhangye. So he specifically sent me to bring you silver!”

As he spoke, Commander He walked out.

Zhao Ling pointed to Old Chai and casually said to He Xiulin: “An old steward from home, come to deliver money.” He displayed the typical manner of a young master from a wealthy family toward a servant of little ability, then pointed to He Xiulin: “This is Commander He!”

Old Chai very respectfully bowed to He Xiulin.

It was just the ordinary event of a family servant arriving unexpectedly from home, disrupting the hosting of guests. He Xiulin smiled indifferently.

“Miss Fu is in the kitchen. If you have anything to say, tell her!” Zhao Ling instructed before returning to the hall with He Xiulin, chatting and laughing.