The Marquis of Yingchuan?

What did her marriage have to do with the Marquis of Yingchuan?

Fu Tingyun’s mind suddenly cleared. She hurriedly tried to push Zhao Ling away: “What exactly did the Marquis of Yingchuan ask you to do?” The haziness in her eyes receded like the tide, revealing clarity and brightness, like moonlight pouring into Zhao Ling’s heart, making him snap back to his senses as well.

His body stiffened, and only after a moment did it gradually soften.

He slowly released Fu Tingyun, forcibly suppressing the stirrings in his heart, and said in a deep voice: “The Marquis wants me to work with Commander Lu to constrain the newly appointed Assistant Commander Lu Rong of Panglang Guard!”

Fu Tingyun was startled: “Isn’t Lu Rong transferred from the Shaanxi Regional Military Commission? Could it be that Li Jinru of the Shaanxi Commission and the Marquis of Yingchuan are not allies? Then why would both Li Jinru and the Marquis of Yingchuan give face to the Sixteenth Young Master? Or perhaps, although they both respect the Sixteenth Young Master, they are merely cordial on the surface but don’t get along privately?” she speculated.

“That’s possible,” Zhao Ling’s expression was somewhat grave. “We can only observe gradually in the future.”

Fu Tingyun nodded but couldn’t help consoling him: “Regardless, this is good news for you—the more weight you have in the Marquis of Yingchuan’s eyes, the more he will favor you. So even if someday the matter of Feng Dahu and the Datong Company is exposed, the Marquis will have to carefully consider, deliberate, and choose between you and the Marquis of Xiping.” She thought of Manager Ye. “Should we send a message to Manager Ye? I heard from Zheng San that he’s still injured. What if he can’t endure such a hurried journey?”

Zhao Ling said, “If Manager Ye could escape from the Marquis of Xiping’s pursuit, he must not be an ordinary person. I’ve also sent San Fu and several carefully selected soldiers to protect him. If he still can’t escape the Marquis of Xiping’s pursuit, then even if he makes it back to Datong Company alive, he won’t be of much use. He might as well die on the road; at least Datong Company would treat his family well out of respect for his sacrifice.”

Though his words seemed cold and heartless, Fu Tingyun had to admit they made sense.

She made a sound of agreement, thinking of Manager Ye’s confidence and ambition when he had set out with a caravan of a thousand camels, compared to his current lonely and destitute state. She couldn’t help falling silent.

Manager Ye was returning like a young swallow seeking the safety of the forest, but would he truly find the comfort of family and understanding of colleagues?

Life’s circumstances were so unpredictable; one moment could be filled with laughter and joy, the next moment all prosperity could vanish.

Thinking of her own experiences, Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe toward the future.

She lowered her head and softly asked Zhao Ling: “Do you, do you want to get married?” As soon as she finished speaking, heat rushed to her face… As a result, Fu Tingyun didn’t see the flash of sharpness in Zhao Ling’s brow when his gaze fell on the ivory comb with carved conjoined lotus in her hair.

“It was all my fault just now!” His expression gradually became calm, rational, detached, and composed, but his voice remained gentle and light as a breeze beneath leaves, softly blowing through Fu Tingyun’s heart. “Rest assured, I will wait until Uncle and Aunt give their approval!”

Fu Tingyun breathed a sigh of relief, but for some reason, she felt a vague sense of loss in her heart. It seemed that the Zhao Ling who liked to joke and tease with her made her feel closer… She nodded slightly, a hint of melancholy flashing in her eyes.

Zhao Ling thought Fu Tingyun was somewhat disappointed by his impulsiveness earlier. Though inwardly anxious, he had no good solution, so he simply put everything behind him, as if it never happened… He sat at the table and playfully handed the empty rice bowl to Fu Tingyun: “Get me some rice, will you!”

Fu Tingyun was surprised, then sighed somewhat helplessly.

This guy, his skin was truly thick!

She glanced at him reproachfully, turned to get him rice, and couldn’t help but smile, silently grateful that Zhao Ling was always willing to put aside his dignity in front of her. Otherwise, after what had just happened, she truly wouldn’t know how to interact with him. Thinking of this, the scene of their embrace flashed in her mind… Zhao Ling’s burning hot hands seemed to still be caressing her back… The tingling sensation dormant deep in her body began to ripple through her heart again… She couldn’t help but shudder, and the rice bowl in her hand felt like it weighed a thousand pounds, almost slipping from her grasp… She was startled back to her senses… but somehow couldn’t bear to look into Zhao Ling’s bright eyes.

“Quick, eat!” Fu Tingyun stammered.

From outside came the sound of knocking and Zheng San’s call: “San Niang, open the door!”

As if escaping, Fu Tingyun walked quickly toward the door: “I’ll go see!”

The rain had stopped, and the blue brick courtyard had been washed clean by the rainwater. The large red lanterns hanging under the eaves cast a red glow on the ground, flickering with colorful halos.

She took a deep breath.

The coolness of the autumn night dispersed the turmoil in her heart, calming her.

Fu Tingyun asked Zheng San, who was walking in quickly: “How did it go? Did you meet up with San Fu?”

Zheng San bowed respectfully: “Old Chai and San Fu have successfully left Zhangye City.”

Fu Tingyun was relieved to hear this.

Zheng San asked with concern: “Is Lord Zhao all right?”

“Nothing’s wrong!” Zhao Ling had somehow silently appeared behind Fu Tingyun and said calmly, “As for the Marquis, I have my plans.”

His tone was somewhat vague. To those who didn’t understand the situation, they would subjectively interpret it as the Marquis of Yingchuan suspecting Zhao Ling because of Manager Ye’s affair and specifically summoning Zhao Ling for questioning, but Zhao Ling had managed to evade the issue.

Fu Tingyun was secretly surprised but quickly understood Zhao Ling’s intention.

Rather than telling Zheng San the truth, it was better to let this misunderstanding continue. At least Manager Ye would be deeply grateful when he heard about it.

Could it be that he wanted to establish a connection with Manager Ye?

Fu Tingyun pondered silently, standing aside with a smile, quietly listening as Zhao Ling questioned Zheng San.

…

The next day, the sky cleared. Zhao Ling left for the Commander-in-Chief’s residence after breakfast and didn’t return until after the lamps were lit. Every day, he was either dealing with officials at the Commander-in-Chief’s residence or socializing with He Xiulin, no longer in a hurry to return to Nianbo Guard. But no matter how late he returned, he would always see Fu Tingyun before retiring, occasionally bringing her rare treats like fried quail or small gifts such as peachwood hairpins or glass bead bracelets.

On the surface, Fu Tingyun calmly thanked Zhao Ling with a smile, but inwardly, she was delighted and would wait for Zhao Ling to return before going to bed. Zhao Ling also no longer urged her to rest early as before. Sometimes when he returned early, he would sit and talk with Fu Tingyun for half the day. Fu Tingyun noticed that every time he returned, he would either talk about what delicious food some restaurant had or mention scenic places He Xiulin had suggested were worth visiting. She couldn’t help but worry: “Will it be all right if you don’t return to Nianbo Guard?”

“Let’s take care of what the Marquis of Yingchuan has entrusted first!” Zhao Ling said dismissively.

Fu Tingyun trusted Zhao Ling very much and didn’t question his official business. Hearing this, she didn’t say more, only caring each day whether his clothes were properly ironed and if he had enough money to use.

After several days like this, it was already September, and chrysanthemums began appearing in the market. Fu Tingyun had Zheng San buy two pots to place on Zhao Ling’s windowsill, thinking about how to celebrate his birthday.

Jin Yuanbao returned from the capital, travel-worn and dusty.

Fu Tingyun was overjoyed and hurriedly invited Jin Yuanbao into the hall. Before Jin Yuanbao could sit down, she had already eagerly asked: “Did you see my family?”

“No!” Jin Yuanbao had traveled via the imperial post road using the Marquis of Yingchuan’s name, riding day and night at top speed for six hundred li, and his body was at its limit. Ignoring the dust covering him, he sat heavily in the armchair and said wearily, “After your mother went to the capital, she rarely went out. I was in a hurry to return and couldn’t stay long, so I never found an opportunity to pay respects to your mother. However, I did see a mama called ‘Xiu Zhu’s mama’ who serves your mother. I wrote a note saying you were safe, then bought a common blue handkerchief in the street, wrapped your silver bracelet and the note in it, and dropped it into her incense basket while she was going to the temple to offer incense. I saw Xiu Zhu’s mama open the handkerchief, look around in shock, then leave the temple hurriedly without offering incense, rushing back to the Fu residence in Sixi Hutong. Shortly after, I saw her asking around the nearby stalls about whose goods these were. I had intended to meet with her, but there was always a manservant following behind her. Several times I stood right beside her, but before I could speak, she would look at me guardedly…” At this point, Jin Yuanbao smiled awkwardly, “This mama serving your mother… seems to be somewhat overzealous in her duties!”

That was natural. Otherwise, the most capable person by her mother’s side would have been her, not Bi Bo.

Thinking of Bi Bo’s unknown whereabouts, likely with a grim fate, Fu Tingyun’s expression darkened briefly, but was quickly replaced by the joy of establishing contact with her family: “So my mother must have received news of me?” She said with evident delight, then her smile faded and her brow furrowed slightly, “You mentioned a manservant following behind Xiu Zhu’s mama… what’s that about?”

Zheng San came in with tea, smiling happily.

Jin Yuanbao smiled, thanked him, and began drinking the tea.

Fu Tingyun’s heart skipped a beat.

Ever since learning in Xi’an Prefecture that her mother had gone to the capital, she had been constantly thinking of her mother, worried that her mother might feel guilty or even fall ill from missing her due to her unknown whereabouts. Others might not know, but Jin Yuanbao was meticulous and couldn’t possibly be unaware. The fact that he didn’t hurry to answer her question but instead leisurely drank his tea… There was only one possibility: he didn’t know how to answer her question appropriately.

Her face instantly turned pale: “Is it, is it that something has happened to my family?” As she spoke, she recalled Jin Yuanbao’s words about “never finding an opportunity to pay respects to your mother.” Her mother was a woman of the inner household and certainly wouldn’t be easy to see, but he could have paid respects to her father or brother, couldn’t he? Even if Jin Yuanbao didn’t dare visit her father, who was an imperial official, her brother was merely a student. Did he not dare to see him either?

This wasn’t right. Something was wrong.

Jin Yuanbao had previously served under the Marquis of Yingchuan. He couldn’t possibly be too timid to pay respects to her father.

Her fingers twisted tightly together.

Jin Yuanbao seemed somewhat unable to look at her, lowering his eyelids. After a long while, he finally said: “I don’t know how to say this… Anyway, I felt the atmosphere was strange. I didn’t even dare to pay respects to your father and brother…”