Fu Tingyun awoke at dawn the next day.

Zhao Ling held her close, not letting go, coaxing her softly: “Sleep a little longer, let’s get up after sleeping a bit more.”

Fu Tingyun thought of last night’s intimacy, her body feeling weak as she nestled in his embrace, reluctant to rise.

Zhao Ling’s hands were already roaming mischievously over her body.

Fu Tingyun shuddered.

If this continued, who knew when they would be able to go to Four Happiness Hutong today?

She bit her lip, took a deep breath, and resolutely caught his hand: “Let’s go to Four Happiness Hutong first… alright?” Her voice carried an implicit plea.

Zhao Ling was truly reluctant, but still made a sound of agreement. After caressing her thoroughly and kissing Fu Tingyun tenderly for a moment, he finally let her go.

Fu Tingyun’s face was crimson. It took her quite a while before she shakily called Kou’er in to assist her.

After breakfast, Old Master Lü and Yu Wei stayed home to settle accounts. Zheng San drove the carriage while Zhao Ling and Fu Tingyun personally carried gifts to Four Happiness Hutong.

Today was the tenth day of the month, and Fifth Master Fu happened to be home on leave.

The servant who opened the door was terrified upon seeing them, trembling as he quickly ran into the hall.

After nearly half an incense stick’s time, Madam Fu finally emerged from behind the hall curtain with a slightly stiff expression: “Son-in-law, Young Mistress, you’ve come.” She forced a smile and led them toward Mrs. Fu’s quarters without inviting them into the hall for tea.

Fu Tingyun casually asked: “Did Father and Elder Brother leave early this morning?”

Madam Fu’s expression faltered slightly. After hesitating for a moment, she replied: “Yes!” without elaborating further.

Fu Tingyun laughed coldly to herself.

Perhaps seeing Zhao Ling accompanying her back, they couldn’t express their displeasure, so they claimed to have gone out, leaving Madam Fu to entertain them.

This was just as well. They didn’t want to see her, and she didn’t want to see them either!

Fu Tingyun twisted her lips slightly and followed Madam Fu to Mrs. Fu’s quarters.

Mrs. Fu wore a padded red Hangzhou silk jacket with a vase-and-peony pattern. Her hair was neatly styled in a round bun with silver hairpins. Her spirits seemed much better than before; it was evident she had taken care to prepare herself.

Xiu Zhu’s wife, who was attending to Mrs. Fu, smiled as she brought in teacups: “Madam calculated that the son-in-law and young mistress would certainly come today. Early this morning, she had me find this red padded jacket…”

Mrs. Fu chuckled upon hearing this and exchanged a look with Xiu Zhu’s wife, who immediately smiled and presented a small red lacquer box with gold designs to Zhao Ling: “This is Madam’s welcome gift for you.”

According to custom, on the wedding day, Zhao Ling should have knelt to serve tea to his mother-in-law, and she would have rewarded her new son-in-law with a welcome gift.

This was compensation for Zhao Ling, wasn’t it?

Zhao Ling gladly accepted it.

Mrs. Fu was quite pleased, smiling with a slight nod as she inquired about their wedding.

To reassure her mother and to amuse her, Fu Tingyun selected interesting anecdotes to share with Mrs. Fu. As Mrs. Fu listened, her pleasure was evident. Zhao Ling found an excuse to step away, allowing Fu Tingyun to have a private conversation with her mother.

Mrs. Fu sighed with a smile: “I won’t ask if you’re doing well—seeing Zhao Ling’s behavior, he seems to be a considerate and attentive person.”

Fu Tingyun nodded, her face reddening.

Mrs. Fu gently patted her hand, quite gratified, and gave her familiar advice on the ways of being a wife. Then, somewhat dejected, she urged her to return home: “You arranged the wedding yourselves, and likely have many social obligations and matters to attend to. You can come see me another time when you’re free.”

Her mother was determined not to let her suffer any more connection with the Fu family, wasn’t she?

Although reluctant to part, Fu Tingyun understood her mother’s intentions and took her leave.

The doors to the main hall remained tightly closed. From beginning to end, she never saw her father or elder brother.

Fu Tingyun sighed silently to herself.

On the road, she asked Zhao Ling: “You won’t blame my mother for not even inviting you to stay for a meal, will you?”

Before she could finish, Zhao Ling was already shaking his head: “Where are your thoughts wandering? I understand Mother-in-law’s intentions and greatly admire her character.” He added, “No wonder your temperament is so strong-willed—it seems you take after your mother.”

Fu Tingyun smiled awkwardly: “Since I was little, Mother constantly advised me to control my temperament, presumably because I was far from ‘gentle and obedient’…” She then exclaimed, “Oh! Why didn’t Mother lecture me today? Could it be because I’m married now, and she wants to save face for me?” By the end, she was muttering softly.

Zhao Ling laughed heartily, teasing her: “It must be because you married me. Mother-in-law knows I’ll yield to you in everything, so she doesn’t need to instruct you anymore.” He whispered in her ear, “I find you quite compliant…”

“You rogue,” Fu Tingyun blushed at his words and lightly punched him, which only elicited more laughter from Zhao Ling.

“Why don’t we go to Penglai Pavilion for lunch before returning home? I’ve heard from colleagues who have lived in the capital for a long time that their Hangzhou cuisine is very authentic, and the sweet and sour mandarin fish is their specialty,” he suggested. “Since we’re already out, there’s nothing urgent waiting for us at home.”

“Dine at a restaurant?” Fu Tingyun was quite tempted, and this would also prevent Zheng San Niang from wondering why they returned without having lunch. “Is it appropriate for me, looking like this?”

“What’s inappropriate about it?” Zhao Ling saw no issue. “You’re a married woman now, and our family doesn’t follow the strict rules of those grand households.”

Fu Tingyun felt reassured and enthusiastically discussed Penglai Pavilion with Zhao Ling: “Do you enjoy Hangzhou cuisine? Which dish do you like best? I could try making it someday.”

“Not particularly,” Zhao Ling smiled. “I followed my master to Shaanxi when I was very young, so I prefer Shaanxi noodle dishes. Beijing is the imperial capital where things from all over converge. Since we’ve come to Beijing, we should naturally explore and see everything.”

Fu Tingyun was surprised: “You don’t plan to stay in Beijing long-term?”

Zhao Ling made an affirmative sound and said: “Following your advice, I spent some money during the Shaanxi unrest to register our household in Xi’an Prefecture. But since Xi’an Prefecture remained orderly throughout, it wasn’t easy, so I settled for Chang’an County instead. Fortunately, Chang’an County is only half a day’s journey from Xi’an Prefecture. When I’m no longer an official, we’ll return to Shaanxi together. If you want to settle in Chang’an County, we’ll do that; if you prefer to live in Xi’an Prefecture, we can stay there long-term. How does that sound?”

“When did you arrange all this?” Fu Tingyun asked coquettishly. “Keeping secrets from me again.” Then with slight hesitation, she asked him, “You’re not returning to Songjiang?”

“What for?” Zhao Ling embraced Fu Tingyun. “I’m married now,” he said, placing his hand on her abdomen and adding expectantly, “and we’ll have children in the future. After some time, I’ll report to the Emperor, and together with you, we’ll return to Jiangnan to move my parents’ graves to Chang’an County. Then we’ll establish our own family records and lineage. Why should we return to Jiangnan? Besides, Jiangnan is often rainy and cold, which you might not be accustomed to.”

Fu Tingyun felt sweet warmth in her heart and rested her head on Zhao Ling’s shoulder: “Wherever you go, I’ll go too. You don’t need to worry about me.”

Zhao Ling lowered his head, his lips touching Fu Tingyun’s jade-like forehead: “Then we’ll settle in Chang’an. We can stroll along Baoqing Street when we’re free and eat vegetarian food at Guangren Temple.”

“That sounds wonderful!” Fu Tingyun said, her lips curving into a joyful smile.

…

They returned from Penglai Pavilion around the hour of the Goat (1-3 PM).

Old Master Lü invited Zhao Ling to calculate the wedding expenses, while Pearl attended to Fu Tingyun’s washing up.

Fu Tingyun sighed softly.

Yu Wei considered herself unlucky and was unwilling to enter her new room.

She changed into casual attire, and when Zhao Ling returned, Fu Tingyun personally helped him change his clothes.

Zhao Ling’s eyes sparkled with laughter as he allowed her to tend to him, talking about household matters: “…Unexpectedly, we have over a hundred taels of silver left from the wedding. Yan Qing will bring the money in later. You should keep it for household expenses.”

“We won’t need that much,” Fu Tingyun smiled. “Twelve taels a month is more than sufficient.”

As they were talking, Yan Qing entered.

He wasn’t bringing silver but wedding invitations: “The Marquis of Wuding will marry on the twenty-fourth day of the eighth month. Someone brought four-color gift boxes and delivered this invitation. Old Master Lü invited the steward for tea, who mentioned he still needed to deliver invitations to the Marquis of Anping’s family and would visit again another time.”

The two looked at each other in surprise.

Although the new Marquis of Wuding was the Grand Empress Dowager’s nephew, he was the youngest son born to her brother after he remarried following his exile to Tieling Guard. Now twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, his special background had prevented him from marrying.

They had no connection to the Marquis of Wuding.

Zhao Ling took the invitation, examined it carefully, and handed it to Fu Tingyun: “It seems I’ll have to attend the wedding banquet!”

Fu Tingyun noticed the invitation didn’t include phrases like “your entire household is cordially invited,” indicating she wasn’t expected to attend. She smiled: “Perfect timing! I’ve made you a new bamboo-green straight robe. You can wear it to the wedding banquet.”

The invitation had arrived unexpectedly, and Zhao Ling didn’t want Fu Tingyun to attend either. He smiled: “Having a wife makes a difference. In the past, when attending wedding banquets, I never had new clothes to wear!”

Fu Tingyun gave Zhao Ling a sidelong glance.

Zhao Ling exclaimed, “Oh my! I almost forgot—tomorrow is the tenth day, and there’s a lantern market on West Street. Shall we go see the lanterns tomorrow?”

Fu Tingyun’s eyes lit up.

When she was seven or eight years old, she had seen lanterns once, riding on Xiu Zhu’s shoulders. Her memory was filled with lanterns as brilliant as stars, vendors selling snacks along the river, and the bustling, crowded atmosphere.

Then there was the time she and Zhao Ling released lanterns on the Sumu River outside Ledu City.

The capital’s lantern market should be even more lively, shouldn’t it?

Moreover, their visit to Penglai Pavilion had left a deep impression on her—the four-story building with upturned eaves, the uniform purple sandalwood furniture, the authentic Lin Bu calligraphy hanging on the private room walls, not to mention the exquisite, flower-like delicacies served in sweet white porcelain plates, and the soft, melodious tunes drifting from next door…

Following Zhao Ling, she would experience many people and things she had never encountered before, wouldn’t she?

“That sounds wonderful!” Fu Tingyun looked at Zhao Ling with a smile. “What do you think I should wear?”