His question reminded Fu Tingyun of Chen Mama’s remark that “flies don’t land on eggs without cracks.” She felt uncomfortable and lowered her eyes, her slender fingers, like spring onion stems, tracing the camellia pattern on the teacup. She failed to notice that the person across from her suddenly turned away, lifting his empty teacup to his lips, only to realize it was empty and showing a flash of embarrassment.

Neither spoke, and in the dim room, the atmosphere grew oppressive.

This was no way to treat a guest.

As Fu Tingyun pondered, she remembered the medicine in the closed cabinet and stood up: “I’ve gotten the medicine you wanted!” She spoke while opening the cabinet.

Two porcelain bottles, one red and one green, stood side by side, their distinct colors quite eye-catching.

She hesitated for a moment.

He had been completely open with her—shouldn’t she be equally forthright and give him all the medicine she had stored in her trunk?

Yet she felt some unease.

Never mind. Opening the trunk now might reveal her thoughts to him, which wouldn’t be good.

With this in mind, she took the medicine and placed it on the tea table: “The green-flowered one is for external use, the red-flowered one for internal use…” She briefly explained their usage.

He didn’t ask further and tucked both bottles into his robe.

“I’ll leave now,” he said with a solemn expression. “I’ll only have time to enter the city tomorrow afternoon, and will return by noon the day after at the latest!”

Why not until tomorrow afternoon?

The thought flashed through her mind, and Fu Tingyun immediately understood.

He was planning to steal grain from the granary!

Biyun Temple was the Fu family’s ancestral temple, yet she had become his accomplice—not exactly an honorable deed. She pretended not to know, responded softly, and watched his figure disappear through the roof.

…

Early the next morning, Fu Tingyun went to Han Yan’s room.

Han Yan insisted: “This servant is already well and doesn’t need Lu’E’s care anymore. Please let her return to serve you!”

Lu’E nodded in agreement nearby.

“Why should those old women eat their fill and do nothing while you two run around busy all day?” Fu Tingyun dismissed them with a wave of her hand. “You should rest properly! Don’t worry, I have plenty of servants around me.” She continued, “Still, facing them every day is quite tedious. Since you’ve injured your foot and can’t go anywhere, let’s chat for a while!” She asked Lu’E to brew some tea and find some snacks.

Since he had said he would only have time to enter the city in the afternoon, he would likely come to steal the grain in the morning or at noon. It was better to keep the two maids in the room to prevent them from running into him, which could lead to trouble.

Han Yan and Lu’E were there to serve Fu Tingyun, and accompanying her in conversation was also a form of service. Not only did they not object, but they were enthusiastic.

“What good tea or snacks do we have here?” Lu’E said hurriedly. “I’ll go to your room to get some tea leaves, then check the kitchen for ingredients to make some makeshift snacks. Please wait a moment.”

Of course, Fu Tingyun couldn’t let her leave.

“Any tea will do, and we don’t need snacks,” she said, sitting on the small stool by the bed. “It’s so hot, don’t trouble yourself. By the time you prepare everything, it will be time for lunch. I just don’t want to see those women.”

Lu’E smiled and went to prepare the tea. Fu Tingyun asked about their families, which led to trivial topics about mutual acquaintances, and soon it was noon.

No disturbance!

That meant the operation was planned for midday…

Fu Tingyun was even more determined not to let the two leave. She had the rough servant women bring lunch in and ate with Han Yan, then squeezed onto Han Yan’s bed for an afternoon nap.

Lu’E busied herself with a fan and naturally didn’t dare leave for a moment.

While they were having tea in the afternoon, a commotion arose from the west.

Lu’E wanted to go see, but Fu Tingyun held her back: “Why concern yourself? Even if the sky falls, Chen Mama will handle it.” Lu’E thought this made sense, but as the noise grew louder, Fu Tingyun privately wondered if that fellow had stolen all the grain. She became restless too, and when Lu’E proposed going to look again, she didn’t stop her: “Be careful. Don’t get so caught up in watching that you get yourself in trouble.”

“Don’t worry, Young Lady, I understand,” Lu’E promised and left the side room.

Soon, she ran back with a panicked expression.

“Young Lady, terrible news!” She was panting. “Someone broke into the temple, not only stealing the grain hidden in the Great Hall but also injuring Master Zhi!”

“How could this happen!” Fu Tingyun’s expression tightened as she rose and headed outside.

Lu’E followed hurriedly, explaining: “Master Hui has heard the news and had Master Zhi carried to the Seven Treasures Hall.”

Seven Treasures Hall was where Biyun Temple’s abbess, Master Guo Hui, resided.

Fu Tingyun pressed her lips together, concerned about Master Zhi’s injuries while resentful of him for hurting someone. She felt a vague regret but was unwilling to dwell on it. Though her mind was in turmoil, her steps quickened as she headed to Master Hui’s quarters.

The courtyard was quiet, but seven or eight nuns stood under the eaves, all looking anxious.

Seeing Fu Tingyun, they joined their palms in greeting, with several elder nuns softly thanking her: “…Thank you for coming, Ninth Young Lady!”

“No formalities needed, Masters.” Fu Tingyun also lowered her voice, exchanged brief pleasantries, then immediately asked, “How is Master Zhi’s injury?”

“We don’t know yet!” A nun sighed. “When we arrived, we found Master lying face up on the ground, unconscious. The curtain of the Weituo statue’s incense table had been pulled aside, revealing the entrance to the cellar…”

As she spoke, Master Hui’s voice, gentle yet serious, came from the side room: “Who is outside?”

The nun immediately stopped speaking and respectfully replied: “It’s the Fu family’s Ninth Young Lady. She heard that Master was injured and came specially to visit.”

Before she finished, the door creaked open, and Master Hui appeared.

“So it’s Ninth Young Lady!” Her expression was kind, though unable to hide the worry in her brow. “My junior sister was only knocked unconscious but isn’t seriously injured. She’s already awake.” As she spoke, she invited Fu Tingyun inside.

Fu Tingyun heard sighs of relief—the nuns waiting under the eaves had all relaxed.

She also breathed easier.

For some reason, she felt a faint happiness inside.

There was no one else in the room. As Master Hui had said, Master Zhi had regained consciousness and was leaning against the large welcoming pillow on the arhat bed, feeling her head.

Master Hui explained: “She was struck on the head with a club.”

Master Zhi had already greeted Fu Tingyun: “Ninth Young Lady is here!” She started to rise.

“Lie down and rest, please lie down and rest!” Fu Tingyun stepped forward to stop her. “Recovery is paramount! If Master is so formal, I might as well leave!”

Hearing this, Master Hui said: “Ninth Young Lady is straightforward. You needn’t stand on ceremony—your injury is best left undisturbed!” The last sentence was meant for Fu Tingyun, essentially fearing that she would think Master Zhi was being impolite.

Master Zhi didn’t insist further, apologized, and leaned back against the pillow.

A young novice brought tea.

Chen Mama, hearing the commotion, had also hurried over.

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone sat according to their status. Master Hui’s expression grew serious as she solemnly explained: “Since the last theft in the kitchen, my junior sister and I have been vigilant, often patrolling the temple with several disciples. Today was a coincidence—my sister had finished her patrol but was concerned about the eternal lamps in the Great Hall, especially with the dry weather lately. She went to check and saw about a dozen ragged men emerging from beneath the Weituo statue’s incense table. Realizing something was wrong, she tried to run out and call for help, but was struck from behind by a lookout. She immediately lost consciousness, and about half the grain in the cellar was stolen.”

She looked toward Chen Mama. “I think we should report this to the authorities.”

“Report to the authorities!” Both Fu Tingyun and Chen Mama were startled.

“Yes, report to the authorities!” Master Hui’s expression was grave. “The kitchen was already robbed once. This time’s thieves are likely the same group or related to them. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so familiar with the temple’s layout. And they came with over a dozen men—most likely vagrants. Being targeted by them is like being plagued by locusts; they won’t rest until they’ve cleaned out everything edible in Biyun Temple. They’ll return. Biyun Temple is remote—if something happens… There won’t be anyone to help. If anything happens to your family members, I could never forgive myself!”

Fu Tingyun hoped Master Hui would report to the authorities. This way, the Fu family would have to bring her back.

She remained silent.

Chen Mama appeared very hesitant and after a while said: “I think we should discuss this matter with our Master first! Even if we report to the authorities, we should inform Master about it.”

“That’s reasonable,” Master Hui considered, then said, “It’s also a good opportunity to ask Master for some rice and flour donations—the grain shops in town all claim to be out of stock, and we can’t buy grain even with money now.” She joined her palms toward Chen Mama. “Then I trouble you to inform him.”

“I will certainly deliver Master’s message!” Chen Mama inquired about Master Zhi’s injury, sat for a while, then rose to leave: “While it’s still early, I’ll arrange for someone to go back and report.”

Seeing this, Fu Tingyun also bid farewell: “Since Master Zhi needs to rest quietly, I won’t disturb you further. I’ll visit again when you’re better.”

Master Zhi expressed her thanks, and Master Hui escorted the two out of the courtyard before returning to her room.

Inside, a young novice was about to clear the teacups.

Master Zhi dismissed the young novice and asked Master Hui: “Elder Sister, you used the grain theft to have me pretend to be injured by vagrants and even want to report to the authorities—are you trying to make the Fu family leave?”

Master Hui nodded, her kind face turning cold and stern: “Haven’t you noticed? The Fu family is using our temple for their schemes!”

How could they not notice the Fifth Branch’s daughter being supervised by the First Branch’s people?

Master Zhi hesitated: “We’ve been supported by the Fu family all these years… This seems inappropriate!”

Master Hui’s lips twitched slightly, about to say something when someone knocked at the door: “Master Hui, it’s Chen Mama!”

Calculating the time, she must have headed back after parting with the Ninth Young Lady.

What did she want?

The two exchanged a glance.

Master Hui went to open the door.

“Abbess,” Chen Mama spoke with Master Hui in the inner room, “today is the second day of the seventh month, isn’t it? Some days ago, our First Madam sent a message that we would return to the mansion by the fourth day of the seventh month. We’ll wait at most two more days. I think, Abbess, you might as well wait two more days!”

Return to the mansion!

In what manner?

Would everyone return together?

Or would only Chen Mama take a few people back?

The room was as still as a dead pond.