“Who is born already knowing each other?” Zhao Ling said. “Master Fu is being too fixated on such trivial matters! I’ve come to visit Master Fu today, and now you know me, don’t you?” He smiled gently with a hint of nonchalance, displaying the casual elegance of a young master from a noble family. For some reason, however, Fu Tingyun felt there was something more to his words, and his smile carried an indescribable trace of mockery.

“Master Fu, today is a day off, and I imagine several officials from next door will take this opportunity to browse the antique shops on West Street,” he continued before Fu Fifth Master could respond. “Standing here talking at the doorway, might we block the sedan chairs of these officials? Why don’t we go inside to talk?”

The Fifth Master Fu hesitated briefly before turning to enter the courtyard.

Seeing this, Fu Tinggui followed his father into the courtyard, his expression somewhat flustered.

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but grumble silently at the sight.

Wasn’t he supposed to be studying under some venerable old Hanlin scholar? How had he failed to learn even the basic etiquette for receiving guests?

While thinking this, her eyes turned to Zhao Ling.

Zhao Ling remained composed, giving her a look that signaled her to follow him, then walked in with grace.

Yu Wei thought for a moment and carefully closed the main gate.

The Fifth Master Fu stood in the middle of the courtyard, regarding Zhao Ling coldly. Fu Tinggui stood behind his father, his expression visibly tense.

“Whatever you have to say, say it here!” the Fifth Master Fu said coldly, with the demeanor of someone who wanted them gone as soon as possible.

How could he behave this way? Even ordinary neighbors wouldn’t be treated so rudely when visiting.

“Father!” Fu Tingyun was overcome with anger and stepped forward, intending to argue with her father, but Zhao Ling pulled her back.

“Let’s discuss the matter calmly. What’s the use of losing your temper?” he said to her in a low voice.

Fu Tingyun knew Zhao Ling was right, but she couldn’t suppress her indignation. After restraining herself repeatedly, she finally stepped back behind Zhao Ling.

The gazes of the Fu father and son simultaneously fell on Fu Tingyun’s arm, which Zhao Ling held firmly, but they quickly looked away as if something had stung their eyes.

Just then, the bamboo curtain of the main room clattered against the doorframe.

Everyone in the courtyard turned toward the sound and saw the Young Mistress Fu walking out of the hall while letting down her rolled-up sleeves, her expression anxious—clearly she had come out to see what was happening after hearing the commotion.

Realizing everyone was looking at her, she paused briefly.

Seeing her, the Fifth Master Fu’s face remained expressionless as he turned back.

Fu Tinggui glared at her fiercely.

The Young Mistress Fu shrank back a few steps, pressing against the door curtain of the hall.

Fu Tingyun lowered her eyes.

Her sister-in-law was caught in a difficult position between them. Not wanting to drag her into this, Fu Tingyun pretended not to see her.

Zhao Ling smiled and said, “Master Fu, law and reason are not separate from human sentiment. Let’s consider the past as clouds that have drifted by; dwelling on it serves no purpose. However, Madam Fu has been constantly worried about Miss Fu, and out of concern for her safety, even entrusted me to escort Miss Fu to Weinan. Miss Fu has also been thinking of Madam Fu and went through much trouble to find her way to the capital. I ask Master Fu to have pity on the deep bond between mother and daughter, and grant Miss Fu the favor of seeing Madam Fu once!”

The Fifth Master Fu remained silent, staring expressionlessly at Zhao Ling.

Zhao Ling bowed slightly, his manner respectful yet not the least bit intimidated, allowing himself to be scrutinized.

The courtyard was deathly silent, with only the faint sound of Yu Wei and the others breathing.

After a long while, the Fifth Master Fu finally spoke coolly: “Commander Zhao, since you keep referring to ‘Miss Fu’ and ‘Madam Fu,’ you should understand that this is an internal Fu family matter, shouldn’t you? Even if the Emperor himself came, there would be no justification for interfering in clan affairs. Could it be that Commander Zhao, with his merit of having followed the Emperor and his newly acquired status, believes he can disregard court etiquette and meddle in our Fu family affairs?” As he spoke, he fixed Zhao Ling with a piercing gaze. “I advise Commander Zhao to study more with the old masters of the Hanlin Academy, learn some etiquette for dealing with people, lest you embarrass the Emperor in the future!”

Fu Tingyun felt her chest tighten with anger as she listened, her hands clenched into fists.

She was his daughter, and he could humiliate her. But if he was treating Zhao Ling as an outsider, by what right did he put on airs and humiliate Zhao Ling?

Just as Fu Tingyun was about to speak up in defense, she heard Zhao Ling reply with dignified composure: “Master Fu has indeed hit the mark—I lost my father at a young age and didn’t have much education. I was fortunate to gain the Emperor’s favor and thus received the position of Commander of the Left Guard of the Yulin Guard. I should indeed learn more from the old masters of the Hanlin Academy, studying clan laws and rituals. If I have the opportunity, I would welcome Master Fu’s guidance. As for interfering in the Fu family affairs,” his tone became more serious as he smiled, “Master Fu, with the gate closed, let me speak frankly.” He couldn’t mention his relationship with Fu Tingyun, or the accusation of “improper relations” alone would give the old master another excuse to punish Fu Tingyun, so he kept their relationship vague. “Miss Fu knows that Madam Fu’s health is poor and certainly wouldn’t mention any unpleasant matters to her. She merely wishes to see her mother, who has been worried about her. If you feel Miss Fu has done something inappropriate, please instruct her, and I’m sure Miss Fu will strictly follow your teachings.”

His tone was sincere, his attitude humble, showing complete respect for the Fifth Master Fu as a junior to an elder. Even the Young Mistress Fu couldn’t help nodding secretly in approval.

The Fifth Master Fu, however, turned pale.

“Good, good, good!” he laughed in extreme anger. “Today I’ve truly opened my eyes. I had heard that those military officials are people who only know how to use their fists, with no sense of propriety or shame, but I never imagined such shamelessness to this degree—to brazenly come to my home and spout nonsense…”

Tears welled in Fu Tingyun’s eyes.

No, she couldn’t let Zhao Ling continue to stand up for her.

Their relationship was, after all, not officially sanctioned. As long as her father seized on this point, no matter how reasonable Zhao Ling’s words were, her father could dismiss them. No matter how right Zhao Ling was, her father would fixate on his status.

She should have known that her father would never allow her to see her mother, regardless of Zhao Ling’s intervention. Why make Zhao Ling suffer humiliation for nothing?

“Father!” Fu Tingyun forcefully pulled Zhao Ling behind her. “You don’t need to distort the facts. Commander Zhao has already explained clearly that he was entrusted by Mother. If you don’t believe it, go ask Mother. Why must you insult people like this? If not for Commander Zhao, your daughter would be dead by now. Aren’t you just afraid of me seeing Mother? Fine, I won’t see her! I will seek justice from my eldest uncle regarding the matter of Zuo Junjie.” As she spoke, tears rolled down her cheeks, and with a thud, she knelt facing the direction of the south wall chambers. “Mother gave birth to me and raised me, yet not only have I failed to fulfill my filial duties, but I’ve also caused her to worry and fret over me. In the future, I may not be able to bring her joy by her side…” At this point, she was so heartbroken she could barely speak. After a moment, she continued chokingly, “Mother, I kowtow to you,” and with that, she knocked her head on the ground three times with loud thuds. “Mother, please take care of yourself. Your daughter is unfilial; just pretend I died at Biyun Temple…”

Her forehead, as white as jade, became red and swollen.

Zhao Ling’s heart trembled at the sight.

Even during their escape, he had never let her injure even a finger, yet now she was suffering such humiliation.

He looked toward the Fifth Master Fu.

The Fifth Master Fu’s eyes showed only disdain.

He looked toward Fu Tinggui.

Fu Tinggui’s face showed only annoyance.

He looked toward the Young Mistress Fu.

The Young Mistress Fu wept behind her hands but dared not move a step.

He looked toward the servants and maids hiding by the side rooms and behind trees.

It was completely silent, without a sound.

A flash of severity crossed Zhao Ling’s face.

He lifted his robe and knelt solemnly beside Fu Tingyun.

“Madam Fu!” his voice was steady but carried a strange intensity, as if resonating directly in everyone’s ears. “I am Zhao Ling. You entrusted me to escort your daughter to Weinan to seek refuge with relatives, but unexpectedly, Master Xie’s entire family met with disaster. With no other choice, your daughter and I had to go to Xi’an Prefecture to seek help. On the way, we encountered bandits, and thanks to your daughter, my life was saved. After reaching Xi’an Prefecture, it was again your daughter who guided me to seek a wise lord. I admire your daughter’s fearlessness in danger and her combination of wisdom and courage. I wish to form a lifelong bond with her. However, your daughter insisted on informing her parents and seeking their blessing. But my parents are both deceased, and I have no elders who can speak for me. Today, I especially come to propose to Madam Fu, asking for your daughter’s hand in marriage…”

“The height of shamelessness, the height of shamelessness!” Before he could finish, the Fifth Master Fu shouted, “Shut your mouth! Don’t pollute my courtyard…”

Zhao Ling remained unmoved and continued, “I will share honor and disgrace with your daughter, face fortune and misfortune together, and never abandon her…”

The Fifth Master Fu raised his hand and slapped Zhao Ling across the face.

Zhao Ling neither dodged nor flinched, taking the slap squarely.

Fu Tingyun immediately threw herself on Zhao Ling.

With his exceptional martial skills—skills that had led the Marquis of Yingchuan to recommend him as the Emperor’s guard—if he had wanted to dodge, how could her father have hit him? He regarded her father as an elder, which was why he willingly endured this slap.

Her Zhao Ling, who had gone to Huguang without telling her, whom she couldn’t bear to reproach even slightly, had now been slapped in the face because of her!

Not on the body, but on the face!

He was a dignified man who had never bowed even when schemed against by people like the Marquis of Yingchuan and Mo Yi, yet he had been slapped in the face by her father.

“Father, you’ve gone too far, too far…” Fu Tingyun shouted at her father, never regretting anything more than entering this courtyard and bringing Zhao Ling before her father to be humiliated. “Let’s go, let’s go…” she pulled at Zhao Ling. “Let’s go home… let’s go home…” Her tears fell like raindrops, endlessly.

Just then came the creaking sound of a door opening. The innermost side room by the south wall had its door suddenly opened, and Xiu Zhu’s wife emerged with reddened eyes: “Master, the Mistress says she wants to see Commander Zhao and the Ninth Miss!”

“Mother!” Fu Tingyun stared at the dark side room behind the wooden door, frozen in place.

Xiu Zhu’s wife nodded tearfully to Fu Tingyun, as if telling her that it was true, her mother wanted to see them.

Fu Tingyun was both surprised and delighted. She turned to look at Zhao Ling, but when she raised her eyes and saw his face reddened from her father’s slap, her gaze turned cold. “Wait for me here. After I see Mother, we’ll go home!” she said.

“I’ll go with you!” Zhao Ling looked at her with a smile. “Your aunt wants to see both of us.”

His voice was gentle and pleasant, like the warm sunshine of spring.

Fu Tingyun nodded involuntarily.

But then her father’s voice, cold as frost, reached her ears: “Wife of Xiu Zhu, you are truly bold, daring to disobey my orders! Jiezi, go, call someone to bind this wretched maid.”