After Zhao Ling and Fu Tingyun playfully teased each other for a moment, Zhenzhu brought in tea. Only then did Zhao Ling sit down beside Fu Tingyun, pick up his cup, and discuss the matter of the midwife with her: “…Her surname is Lü, and she’s about forty years old, quite reputable in Beijing. I had wanted her to move in at the beginning of April, but too many people were seeking her services. I gave her thirty taels of silver as a deposit, and only then did she reluctantly agree to move in on the twentieth of April.”

Her due date was the twenty-eighth of April, but it was only February now… and the midwife would have to stay in their home for more than ten days… wasn’t this making too much of a fuss?

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but look embarrassed and said, “Isn’t that too early?”

“It’s better to prepare in advance!” Zhao Ling replied nonchalantly. “Better than being in a panic when the time comes.”

As they were talking, Kouer entered to report: “Ninth Master, Master Mo has arrived.”

Zhao Ling was slightly startled and instructed Kouer: “Please invite him to sit in the south hall.” Then he said to Fu Tingyun: “Let me see what business he has.”

Fu Tingyun tried to get up to see him off, but he stopped her: “You’re pregnant now, why bother with these formalities?” He added, “It’s cold outside. Be careful not to catch a chill. Stay home, and I’ll be back soon.” Then he kissed her cheek and said softly, “I’ll play Go with you later.”

Madam Tong had never witnessed such a scene. Her face reddened, and she quickly lowered her head, glancing at the couple from the corner of her eye. She saw Fu Tingyun embrace Zhao Ling’s waist, nestling in his arms as she said softly: “Then come back soon!”

Her demeanor was completely natural, her tone filled with reluctance to part.

“I know!” Zhao Ling cupped Fu Tingyun’s face and pecked her full, rosy lips, saying “Wait for me” before releasing her and turning to leave the inner chamber.

Madam Tong felt her face burning like fire.

So there were couples who lived together like this…

Thinking of this, she felt a lump in her throat, and suddenly felt ashamed of herself.

She unconsciously took several steps backward.

Fu Tingyun hadn’t noticed any of this. She removed her shoes and climbed onto the kang. Seeing Madam Tong still standing there with her head lowered, she was somewhat surprised and gently instructed her: “You may go now. I’m going to read for a while.”

Only then did Madam Tong realize her inappropriate behavior. She hurriedly responded loudly and withdrew.

Fu Tingyun set up a Go board by herself. A-Sen returned from school and came to pay his respects to her.

They chatted about events at the private school. As the light in the room gradually dimmed, A-Sen rose to take his leave.

Fu Tingyun called for Zhenzhu: “What time is it now?”

Zhenzhu entered and answered: “It’s fifteen minutes past the Hour of You (5-7 pm).” As she spoke, she deftly lit the lamps.

The time for dinner had already passed, yet Zhao Ling had neither returned nor sent word about keeping Mo Yi for dinner…

Fu Tingyun pondered this and instructed Zhenzhu: “Go to the south hall and see if Master Mo should be invited to stay for dinner.”

“Yes!” Zhenzhu acknowledged and lifted the curtain to leave. She returned shortly after, “Madam, Ninth Master says to keep Master Mo for dinner.”

“Bring out a jar of Jinhua wine,” Fu Tingyun said. Prepare a wild duck hotpot, sliced cucumber, and stir-fried bok choy. For the rest, let Zheng San-niang handle it as she sees fit.”

Game meat was relatively easy to obtain, but vegetables were rare delicacies in winter. Even wealthy households couldn’t buy them. These had been procured by Zhao Ling through some unknown connections.

Zhenzhu respectfully acknowledged with a “Yes” and went to the kitchen to relay the message.

Zhao Ling and Mo Yi’s meal lasted until the Hour of Hai (9-11 pm) before they finally parted.

Fu Tingyun was awakened by noise to find Zhao Ling chewing tea leaves.

“What happened?” She covered her mouth and yawned. “Why did you talk for so long?”

“Nothing important.” Zhao Ling bent down to kiss her forehead, his body emanating a faint tea fragrance mixed with traces of wine. “These days, the Emperor is adjusting personnel in the Five-Army Command. The Mo family has merit from following the Emperor, and they have substantial family interests. Each faction certainly has its ideas, and Mo Yi is quite helpless in the situation.”

That made sense.

Children of prestigious families received protection from their clans, but also needed to contribute to them. Behind the glory lay bitter helplessness.

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but embrace Zhao Ling’s neck: “We have it better! Although we have no one to help us, every blade of grass, every tree, every brick, and every tile we have, we earned ourselves. Using them feels secure and solid.”

Zhao Ling smiled silently.

The smile overflowed from his eyes, softening his expression, warm like winter sunlight.

…

The next day, before Zhao Ling had returned, Lin Chi arrived.

Upon hearing that Zhao Ling wasn’t home, he was somewhat surprised and said: “That’s fine, I’ll wait for him.”

In recent days, Yan Qing had been living with An Xin. Seeing the constant comings and goings of Imperial Guard commanders at the Zhao residence, his confidence had gradually increased, and his actions had become more methodical. Upon hearing Lin Chi’s words, he invited him to sit in the south hall, served tea and refreshments, and went to inform Fu Tingyun.

It seemed the Emperor was making significant personnel changes!

Fu Tingyun pondered this as she instructed the kitchen to prepare dinner.

That evening, Zhao Ling didn’t return to their room until the beginning of the Hour of Xu (7-9 pm).

Seeing that he had again drunk quite a bit, Fu Tingyun teased him: “You seem to have good connections! Everyone likes to come to you with their matters.”

Zhao Ling made a “that’s natural” expression and said: “Your husband’s character is quite admirable.”

This made Fu Tingyun laugh heartily.

Zhao Ling took the opportunity to approach her with a shameless face: “Today, can we sleep under the same blanket?”

Fu Tingyun blushed and said: “Weren’t you the one who said we should sleep separately?”

“That was because I was afraid I couldn’t control myself!” Zhao Ling said righteously. “I was only thinking of your wellbeing and the child’s! “

Fu Tingyun, recalling how he would often embrace and kiss her for no reason, coquettishly retorted: “So now you can control yourself?”

“How would I know without trying?” Zhao Ling said as he lifted the blanket and slipped in, biting her ear as he said, “It’s too cold sleeping alone.”

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but laugh again: “Winter is already over, and only now you complain about the cold…”

“Mainly because starting tomorrow, I’ll have night duty at the palace again,” Zhao Ling pouted, holding Fu Tingyun in his arms.

Fu Tingyun’s heart softened, and she held his hand.

Zhao Ling brushed the strands of black hair from her cheek behind her ear and said softly: “Go to sleep now! In a few days, when I’m off duty, we’ll go visit your mother.” His voice had returned to its usual calm and rational tone, serene and composed, which made Fu Tingyun feel somewhat unsettled.

…

When they went to visit Madam Fu, the Fifth Master Fu and Fu Tinggui were not at home.

The young Madam Fu, who saw them out, looked downcast and said softly: “A few days ago, someone asked Father-in-law to write a hanging scroll. He had originally planned to write it during his time off, but when he heard you were coming, he changed his mind and said he needed to visit a friend.” As she spoke, her expression turned bitter. “And your elder brother… as soon as Father-in-law left, he said he had arranged to go plum-viewing with friends and left as well.”

Fu Tingyun laughed coldly as she and Zhao Ling headed home.

To their surprise, Tao Mu was sitting in their south hall, drinking tea.

“You two lovebirds, where did you go so early in the morning?” He came out to meet them, smiling as he bowed to Fu Tingyun and said to Zhao Ling, “I’ve been waiting at your house for almost an hour. If you hadn’t returned soon, I would have gone looking for you.”

“My apologies, my apologies.” The Zhao couple returned Tao Mu’s greeting. Zhao Ling smiled and said, “It’s rare to have time off, so we went out visiting.” Regarding their visit to Sixi Hutong, they neither deliberately concealed nor denied it, nor did they actively proclaim or acknowledge it. “It’s rare to have time off. Why aren’t you at home resting and accompanying the Old Madam and your sister-in-law? Why have you come to my place?”

As he spoke, he entered the hall with Tao Mu.

Fu Tingyun, seeing that Zhenzhu had already brought tea, was escorted by Yu Wei through the hanging flower gate.

Tao Mu stayed for both lunch and dinner, only leaving when it turned dark.

A perfectly good day off had thus come to an end.

Fu Tingyun asked Zhao Ling: “What’s going on? Is Tao Mu also being reassigned?”

“Who can say for certain about these things?” Zhao Ling replied. “Until it’s officially announced, the matter won’t rest.”

Fu Tingyun nodded almost imperceptibly.

The next day, she had Zheng San-niang make vegetable dumplings and instructed Zheng San to take them to Guard Jian at the Duke of Fuguo’s mansion. Since that time when Guard Jian had escorted them to Beijing and enthusiastically helped them find this house, Zheng San and Guard Jian, both being straightforward personalities, had gradually become acquainted.

“Ask Guard Jian, after the Marquis of Yingchuan returns to Beijing, who will take over his position?”

“The Marquis of Yingchuan is returning to Beijing?” Zheng San was greatly surprised. “But people outside are saying that the Marquis is being promoted to Provincial Governor of Shaanxi!”

Fu Tingyun, recalling what Madam Wu had said previously, replied: “I only heard rumors. However, the Marquis couldn’t possibly be promoted to Shaanxi Provincial Governor. That’s a civil service position.”

Zheng San responded with an “Mmm” and went to the Duke of Fuguo’s mansion.

Guard Jian was the Marquis of Yingchuan’s man, and Zhao Ling had received his current position through the Marquis’s recommendation, making him part of the Marquis’s faction. Since Zheng San showed concern about this matter, Guard Jian felt there was nothing to hide and spoke frankly: “I’ve also heard that the Marquis is being moved. However, I heard he’s choosing between being a Commander in the Five-Army Command and the General Commander of Liaodong. I’ve overheard some of the prominent stewards in the household discussing privately that the Duke seems to want the Marquis to return to the Five-Army Command and for the Fourth Master to go to the Shaanxi Military Commission as a Vice Commissioner or Assistant Commissioner. But the Marquis’s elder brother, the heir to the Duke of Fuguo, wants the Marquis to go to Liaodong… Anyway, it’s quite complicated. Whether the Marquis goes to the Five-Army Command or Liaodong, I’m afraid there won’t be a conclusion until the imperial decree is issued.”

“General Commander of Liaodong!” Fu Tingyun was shocked upon hearing Zheng San’s report.

Among the various General Commanders, the one in Liaodong was most distinctive. He held the rank of Conquest-Barbarian General, overseeing the entire northeastern defense line. Under him were one Deputy General Commander, five Regional Commanders, eight Guerrilla Generals, six Garrison Commanders, one Central Army Officer, nineteen Defense Officers, commanding 100,000 troops, including 30,000 cavalry. The nearest garrison could reach Beijing in just four days of rapid travel.

Moreover, the Marquis of Yingchuan had established the Pursuit Wind Camp in Gansu, which struck fear into the hearts of the Mongols!

If the Emperor harbored suspicions about the Marquis of Yingchuan, why would he propose sending him to Liaodong? If the Emperor still trusted the Marquis, then why were Mo Yi and others so anxious?

Fu Tingyun thought of Tao Mu.

When he was speaking with Zhao Ling, his gaze was calm, his demeanor relaxed—it didn’t seem like an act.

She couldn’t help but lower her head in deep thought.

Zheng San quietly withdrew.

Yu Wei, however, entered with a somewhat nervous expression: “Madam, Master Yan has arrived and wishes to see you.”