In the end, they didn’t emerge from the inner chamber until noon the next day.

Everyone assumed they were exhausted from visiting the lantern festival. Pearl even asked Fu Tingyun with sparkling eyes, “Madam, can we go to West Street to see the lantern festival tonight?”

“Of course you can.” Since they had decided to rest at home for a day, it was the perfect opportunity to let the household servants go out and enjoy themselves—if you want your horse to run well, you must feed it well. “Just be careful and don’t let anyone kidnap you.”

Upon hearing this, Pearl immediately beamed with joy. “Don’t worry, Madam. I’ll stay right behind Zheng San and won’t speak to any strangers.” She ran off happily to find Kou’er.

Fu Tingyun smiled at the sight and went to the hall for lunch.

Zhao Ling was waiting for her.

Fu Tingyun asked him, “What are Lord Nine’s plans for the afternoon?”

“Nothing!” Zhao Ling looked at her with gentle, warm eyes. “Do you have any ideas?”

“What ideas would I have?” Fu Tingyun said with a sweet smile. “I just thought I’d take a nap after lunch.”

Hearing this, Zhao Ling coughed slightly, somewhat awkwardly, and said, “I plan to read some books in the study this afternoon.”

He probably meant that he wouldn’t disturb her, right?

Fu Tingyun laughed secretly. After lunch, she went to the inner chamber to rest, while he went to the study. Fu Tingyun enjoyed a pleasant nap, and when she woke up, the sun was already setting, filling the room with a rosy glow.

From outside the window came the excited chattering of Pearl and Kou’er.

“…Sister Yu Wei said that if Madam promised, she wouldn’t go back on her word. Don’t worry!” It was Pearl’s voice.

Kou’er responded, “The master and mistress are so kind. I want to buy fried oil cakes to eat later!”

“What’s so good about fried oil cakes? If you want to eat them, just tell Xuemei, and she can make them for you when she has a chance,” Pearl said dismissively. “I want to save the ten wen that Madam gave me to send to my mother later.”

When did she give them ten wen?

Fu Tingyun got up, puzzled, and called, “Pearl.”

Pearl immediately ran in.

She was wearing a brand-new fine fabric blouse in dark red and had wrapped a red string around her maiden’s bun.

Seeing Fu Tingyun examining her, Pearl smiled shyly and mumbled an explanation: “Because we’re going to see the lanterns…”

So she had carefully dressed up for the occasion?

Fu Tingyun recalled how in her childhood, when following her grandmother to temple fairs, she would also rummage through cabinets and drawers to dress up, and said with a smile, “You look very nice!”

Pearl widened her eyes, her small face turning bright red, and whispered, “Madam is the one who looks beautiful!” Then, hiding her embarrassment, she quickly helped Fu Tingyun with her washing and grooming.

Fu Tingyun asked her, “Who is attending to Lord Nine’s writing needs?”

“Lord Nine said he wanted to be alone,” Pearl replied. “He didn’t want us to serve him.”

Fu Tingyun nodded, finished her grooming, and went to the study.

Zhao Ling was writing something, head bowed. Hearing her approach, he looked up with a stern expression, but as soon as he recognized who had arrived, his face immediately softened into a gentle smile. “You’re awake!” he said, putting down his brush and standing up.

Fu Tingyun went toward him. “What is Lord Nine writing?”

“Nothing special,” Zhao Ling smiled. “The other day, Master Yan asked about affairs in the Northwest. I casually mentioned a few things, and Master Yan was very interested. He asked me to think it through carefully and write up a plan for him to review. I’m just preparing in advance—in case Master Yan pulls me aside to ask questions as soon as my leave ends, I should at least have some coherent answers ready!”

Fu Tingyun laughed at this and said, “Why don’t we cancel our trip to Tanzhe Temple tomorrow so you can stay home and write your plan properly?”

“I have it all in my mind,” Zhao Ling shook his head. “It’s just a matter of writing a few simple sentences to organize my thoughts. I’m almost done with the last point, so it won’t interfere with tomorrow’s plans.”

“I was just worried about delaying your important work,” Fu Tingyun said, rolling up her sleeves to help Zhao Ling grind the ink stick. “Didn’t you say yesterday that Tanzhe Temple isn’t going anywhere? We can visit whenever we have time.”

“That’s different,” Zhao Ling said, picking up his brush again. “Tanzhe Temple houses Guanyin’s sanctuary.”

Fu Tingyun didn’t understand at first, but when Zhao Ling gave her a meaningful look, she finally realized—Guanyin Bodhisattva was also known as the Child-Giving Guanyin.

Her face flushed, and she glared at Zhao Ling.

Zhao Ling laughed heartily and sprinkled sand on his completed plan to dry the ink.

Fu Tingyun helped him and asked, “What did Master Yan ask you about?”

“He asked where I was stationed when the Mongols invaded that year, how many battles I fought, who I engaged with, and the outcomes of victories and defeats,” Zhao Ling explained. “He also asked why our dynasty’s merchant caravans are repeatedly robbed outside Jiayuguan Pass, and if there are any good ways to increase the number of merchant caravans traveling to and from Jiayuguan. He asked many miscellaneous questions.”

Since Master Yan had been the Emperor’s military advisor before his ascension to the throne, perhaps the Emperor’s actions were guided by his advice. If Zhao Ling’s responses were appropriate, he might gain Master Yan’s favor, which could only benefit him.

“How did you answer?” Fu Tingyun asked, her expression becoming slightly more serious.

“Since those achievements were originally credited to Lu Cheng, how could I take back what I’ve given away? Naturally, I said what should be said and kept silent about what shouldn’t be mentioned,” Zhao Ling replied. “I know where to draw the line.” He continued, “By rights, these questions should have been directed to the Marquis of Yingchuan. I wonder why Master Yan asked me? Could it be that the Emperor was dissatisfied with the Marquis’s answers?” Then he shook his head. “But the Marquis of Yingchuan is very astute; he surely wouldn’t have answered poorly?”

This was also something Fu Tingyun couldn’t understand.

The couple discussed several possibilities, but none seemed likely.

After dinner, Zheng San took A Sen and the others to see the lanterns, but Yu Wei insisted on staying behind. “We can’t all leave. Otherwise, who would serve the master and mistress tea and water?”

Seeing that her persuasion was useless, Fu Tingyun had to agree to let Yu Wei stay. Yu Wei took the opportunity to inform Fu Tingyun that she had taken the liberty of distributing rewards ranging from ten to one hundred wen to each servant on Fu Tingyun’s behalf.

It was probably because Fu Tingyun had stayed in the inner chamber the whole time, making it impossible for Yu Wei to report to her.

Besides, giving rewards to the servants during Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival was a tradition in the Fu family.

“You did well,” Fu Tingyun smiled. “It’s good to have your help.”

Yu Wei looked embarrassed.

Zhao Ling stood on the steps, solemnly giving Zheng San some instructions, and reminding A Sen and the others to be careful before letting them leave.

Only the couple remained in the main room. Zhao Ling asked Fu Tingyun, “Do you know how to play Go?”

Not only did she know how, but it was one of her specialties.

However, in Go, there were always stronger players, so Fu Tingyun didn’t want to boast. She modestly replied, “I learned from the old Hanlin who taught us to read. I usually played with my sisters, winning some and losing some. I don’t know how good I am.”

“We’ll find out by playing a game,” Zhao Ling smiled. They sat on the arhat bed in the study to play Go. Zhao Ling took the black stones and let Fu Tingyun go first. Fu Tingyun didn’t stand on ceremony and made her first move on the corner star. Zhao Ling responded, and they continued back and forth. After just two incense sticks’ worth of time, Zhao Ling’s forehead was beaded with sweat. “Who taught you this?”

“The old Hanlin who taught us, as I said.”

“What was the old master’s name?”

“I only know his surname was Lin, given name Zhan, courtesy name Fengchun.”

“I’ve never heard of him,” Zhao Ling smiled bitterly. “I’ve lost this game!”

Fu Tingyun nodded seriously. “If we continued, your large dragon would be cut in half.” Then she asked, “Would you like to go first this time?”

This time, Zhao Ling didn’t stand on ceremony either and took the white stones to move first.

Although he lost again, it wasn’t as disastrous as the previous game.

“Another round?” he offered.

Fu Tingyun smiled and agreed.

The two played back and forth, completely forgetting the time until those who had gone to see the lanterns returned, breaking the night’s tranquility with their noise. Only then did they realize how late it had become.

The couple hurriedly washed up and went to bed, still discussing their game as they fell asleep.

…

The next day, they visited Tanzhe Temple.

They both knelt devoutly before the statue of Guanyin and donated twenty taels of silver as an offering.

The following day, they went to Baiyun Temple.

They touched the monkey statue, walked across the Woofeng Bridge, enjoyed osmanthus flowers in the back garden, and ate the vegetarian dishes famous throughout the capital… The couple had a wonderful time and agreed to come back when they had time.

On their way home, Zhao Ling suggested going to Xiangshan to see the red leaves the next day: “Although it’s a bit early, the lush green trees there make it worth a visit anyway.”

Fu Tingyun had no interest in climbing mountains. “Let’s do it another day. The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and we haven’t made mooncakes yet.”

Zhao Ling thought she had a point.

He also had some superiors and colleagues to entertain.

From that day on, one of them was out socializing while the other prepared food for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Before they knew it, the lunar calendar page had turned, and it was the fifteenth day of the eighth month—the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Everyone set up tables and chairs in the courtyard, found a quiet place to pay respects to the painting of the Moon Goddess, and gathered around the round table to eat mooncakes and admire the moon. They worshipped the Moon Goddess, and with the addition of Yan Qing and others to the household, it was much livelier than in previous years.

The next morning at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), Zhao Ling got up, washed, and went to the inner palace.

With Zheng San and his wife handling the shopping, Yu Wei taking care of cleaning and laundry, and a few people in the household, Fu Tingyun didn’t know what to do with herself. She sat on the large kang by the window in Zhao Ling’s study, working on Go game records.

In the evening, a servant came to inform her that Zhao Ling would be on duty in the palace and wouldn’t be returning that night.

Fu Tingyun didn’t react much when she heard this, but by nighttime, she felt uncomfortable.

Usually, there was always a warm body beside her, but now she was left all alone… Waking up thirsty in the middle of the night, she murmured “Lord Nine” in her half-asleep state.

Her mood became somewhat low.

She needed to find out how many days a month Zhao Ling had to stay overnight at the palace!

As she was pondering this, Master Lu came over. “I heard Lord Nine is staying in the palace. Will he be able to return tomorrow?”

“He should,” Fu Tingyun replied, though she wasn’t certain.

Master Lu hesitated for a moment, then said, “Actually, I might as well tell you—now that the wedding is over, I need to return to Xi’an Prefecture…”

Fu Tingyun was surprised. “Why are you thinking of returning to Xi’an? Didn’t you say last time that you would bring Madam Lu to the capital?”

“I was just joking with A Sen and the others!” Master Lu smiled. “Your properties in Shaanxi still need me to manage them.”

“Don’t worry about it now. Let’s wait for Lord Nine to return before making any decisions,” Fu Tingyun said as she saw Master Lu off. It wasn’t until the fourth day that Zhao Ling returned.

When he heard that Master Lu wanted to leave, he thought for a moment and said, “That’s a good idea. When I’m old and retire from office, I’ll naturally want to return to my roots. Having you look after our properties in Xi’an Prefecture will give us peace of mind.”

Master Lu was moved and repeatedly assured him, “Don’t worry, Lord Nine. I will manage your properties well.”

Since Zhao Ling only had one day off every ten days, and he insisted on personally seeing Master Lu off, Master Lu set his departure for the twentieth day of the eighth month.

For this occasion, Fu Tingyun specifically had Zheng San buy five beautiful pieces of fabric and two pairs of fashionable shoes to send to Master Lu’s room as gifts for Madam Lu.

Her gesture reminded Master Lu, who hurriedly bought gifts for friends and neighbors back home and asked Fu Tingyun for suggestions. The two were busy for a while, until they finally waited for Zhao Ling’s day off.