After taking a bath and changing into clean, neat pale-white fine cloth robes infused with a faint nanmu wood fragrance, Zhao Ling sat cross-legged on the large kang bed by the window, picking up the steaming tea beside him and taking a gentle sip.

The rich aroma of Tieguanyin tea immediately filled his mouth.

He couldn’t help but let out a long sigh of relief as he looked at his wife lazily nestled among the pillows opposite him, his expression revealing comfort and satisfaction.

Fu Tingyun looked at him and smiled with pursed lips.

Her eyes were bright and clear, her gaze affectionate and attentive, and he seemed to see his reflection mirrored in her eyes.

Zhao Ling couldn’t help but feel his heart flutter.

He leaned over across the kang table to kiss her cheek, grasping her hand tightly, his voice as soft as the spring breeze brushing through treetops: “Have you been well these past few days?”

He had just returned from night duty at the palace.

“Very well,” said Fu Tingyun. Unlike usual, she didn’t complain that he was holding her hand too tightly, but instead raised her hand and gently kissed his.

That humble attitude made Zhao Ling’s heart pound like a drum, giving him the feeling he was dreaming.

Yet he was inherently a calm and rational person, so his expression slightly sobered as he asked in a deep voice: “What happened?”

“Nothing!” Fu Tingyun tilted her head and smiled at him, her expression lively and animated, revealing a hint of slyness, quite mischievous. “I just wanted to take a good look at you!” By the end of her words, she was being coquettish, her gaze revealing an infatuated tenderness, appearing completely unrestrained.

Zhao Ling felt somewhat uneasy.

He certainly knew that his A’Yun loved him, but she was also a person with considerable self-control. Yet now she seemed… seemed like she couldn’t quite manage her emotions, pouring out all her tenderness without restraint.

Without reason, a person wouldn’t suddenly change their temperament so drastically… moreover, he had always harbored a vague worry, fearing that the Fu family would use the mother-daughter relationship to influence her…

Thinking of this, he simply moved to sit beside Fu Tingyun, playfully leaning forward to bring his face close to hers: “I’m right in front of your eyes, look all you want.”

Those smiling eyes, doting expression, and playful demeanor—for some unknown reason—suddenly made Fu Tingyun’s heart ache, and tears began to fall without warning.

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong?” Just a moment ago, everything had been fine, but now it had suddenly changed. Zhao Ling’s heart panicked, and he quickly took Fu Tingyun into his arms. “Darling, don’t cry, don’t cry! I’m here for everything! My good girl…” he comforted her lovingly.

Yet this only made her heart ache more, and she embraced him, crying loudly.

Zhao Ling stopped asking questions and simply stroked her back gently, occasionally kissing her temples and forehead, sometimes whispering “good girl” to comfort her… Under his loving care, Fu Tingyun’s emotions gradually calmed.

She raised her tear-filled eyes, swollen like walnuts, and choked as she asked him: “Did you risk falling out of the Emperor’s favor by refusing to go to Guizhou because of me?”

Zhao Ling was stunned.

Fu Tingyun had already said coquettishly: “A few days ago, Master Yan came by and told me everything. He said someone suggested recalling the Marquis of Yingchuan and the Commander-in-Chief of Liaodong, He Fu, to serve as commanders at the Five Military Commissioners’ Office. The Emperor was displeased. Just that night when you were on duty, the Emperor casually asked you, but you said, ‘Rather than having two legendary generals recalled to serve as commanders at the Commissioner’s Office, it would be better to have the two generals exchange defense areas.’ The Emperor’s eyes lit up at that moment, which led to Master Yan coming to consult with you. Now with the barbarian rebellion in Guizhou, the Emperor wishes to appoint Marquis of Longping, Li Tong, as the General for Pacifying Barbarians to campaign in Guizhou, and wanted you to join the expedition, enthusiastically telling you, but you politely declined the Emperor by claiming insufficient talent and virtue…” At this point, she couldn’t help but punch Zhao Ling’s shoulder lightly. “Fortunately, the Emperor is magnanimous, someone who can embrace the realm. If it were anyone else, you would likely have lost your head by now. Do you realize that?” Tears welled up again like a spring.

“Nothing of the sort, nothing of the sort,” Zhao Ling quickly wiped away her tears, saying softly, “I know the Emperor’s character. He won’t take such a small matter to heart. He cares about the country, the society, and the common people. Otherwise, the Emperor wouldn’t have been displeased when someone suggested recalling the Marquis of Yingchuan and He Fu, who had rendered meritorious service, back to the capital based on speculation that ‘when birds are gone, a good bow is put away,’ and I wouldn’t have dared to politely decline going to Guizhou…”

He had mentioned wanting to return to Xi’an Prefecture just a few days ago, but in just a few months, he had changed his mind. Apart from her pregnancy without any elders to care for her, Fu Tingyun couldn’t think of a second reason.

Otherwise, Zhao Ling wouldn’t have been so attentive and careful about her childbirth matters.

Master Yan had also said that the Emperor was very disappointed upon hearing this, and had even muttered: “Is it because Our virtue is insufficient that We don’t have worthy officials following Us?”

At the time, she had been frightened to the point of cold sweat.

Now seeing Zhao Ling’s unconcerned attitude, it was clear that Master Yan had not been exaggerating.

Fu Tingyun then told Zhao Ling about the Emperor’s mutterings.

Zhao Ling hesitated and said: “Did the Emperor say such things? Liensheng is now the Chief Eunuch of the Qianqing Palace, serving by the Emperor’s side daily. If there was such a matter, how come he hasn’t come to give me a hint?” As he spoke, his expression gradually relaxed, and he smiled to comfort her. “Most likely, it was Master Yan’s interpretation of the imperial will to persuade you to convince me!”

Even if that were the case, it was still a significant matter. How could he not take it seriously at all?

“How dare you speak like that!” Fu Tingyun scolded. “Don’t Mo Yi and others also know the Emperor’s temperament? Why do they all come one after another to persuade you?”

She was now pregnant, and Zhao Ling feared her getting angry most of all, so he quickly said: “Mo Yi has also been thrown to Guizhou by the Emperor. Lin Chi and the others came to plead for him. There are some things you don’t know. The Marquis of Longping is the Emperor’s cousin. When the Emperor was still a prince, he received care from the Marchioness of Longping many times. Even when the Emperor came to the capital to inherit his title, it was with the help of the Marchioness of Longping. This time, when the Emperor sent him to Guizhou, he had already made it clear to the Marquis of Longping that he would only bear the seal of the General for Pacifying Barbarians, and all other military affairs would be managed by the Commander-in-Chief. He was not to interfere.”

Fu Tingyun thought of Tao Mu’s expression that day and believed somewhat, her expression slightly softening.

“Although that’s what was said, we all know that the Marquis of Longping is indecisive and likes to meddle, shifting responsibility. In front of the Emperor, he naturally bows his head, but once out of the capital, it’s hard to say,” Zhao Ling said. “That’s why Mo Yi keeps insisting on bringing me along—he says he can’t stand the Marquis of Longping’s attitude and wants me to deal directly with the Marquis. All military merits would be counted as ours, he doesn’t want a share; he just wants to avoid offending this ancestor, to finish the campaign smoothly, and return safely to the capital.” After he finished, he paused and said, “That Master Yan is comparable to Zhang Yi and Su Qin; not just you, even those Grand Secretaries and Hanlin Academicians would be left speechless when facing him. Since he called on you, I presume you have already promised him…” He couldn’t help but sigh slightly, somewhat regretfully saying, “My intention was not to worry you, but who knew it would still upset you. The only solution now is to invite your mother to come take care of you…” But thinking of Madam Fu’s health… Zhao Ling was again worried.

Then he heard Fu Tingyun coldly snort in dissatisfaction: “I am not some foolish woman who doesn’t know how to respect her husband.” She glanced askance at Zhao Ling. “How can a man of great aspirations be constrained by a woman from the inner chambers! Master Yan came to me specifically about this matter, probably already determined to have me persuade you to change your mind. How could I let him have his way?”

Childbirth for women is like walking through the gates of hell.

Although the opportunity was rare, Zhao Ling truly did not wish to leave at this time—if anything were to happen to Fu Tingyun and the child, even if he achieved unprecedented military merit, who in this world would share it with him?

Hearing her words, his heart leaped with joy, his eyes and brows lifted in delight: “You mean…”

“After hearing Master Yan’s words, I naturally was reverent and fearful, and asked him to help intercede.” Fu Tingyun glanced at Zhao Ling and told him her conversation with Master Yan in detail: “I said, ‘You and my husband traveled from Huguang to the capital. My husband has a straightforward temperament; others may not know, but you, as a military strategist, know best. My husband certainly did not intentionally defy the Emperor, it was probably just a careless remark. Please, Master Yan, defend my husband before the Emperor and ask His Majesty not to punish him…’ Master Yan then told me to persuade you as well.”

“I naturally agreed wholeheartedly, saying, ‘The Imperial Consort of the Founder in her ‘Women’s Instructions’ once wrote, ‘If husband does evil, advise him earnestly.’ Now that my husband has displeased the Emperor, I also have a responsibility and should diligently persuade him. Please rest assured. As for whether to go to Guizhou, the Imperial Consort of the Founder also wrote in her ‘Women’s Instructions,’ ‘When husband speaks, listen attentively.’ I am just a woman who knows only about spinning and weaving, boiling water and brewing soup. Matters concerning my husband’s career are not something I should speak much about…”

“Well answered!” Before she finished speaking, Zhao Ling was already praising her loudly, laughing heartily as he held her tender face, as smooth as congealed cream, and kissed her several times.

Using the Imperial Consort of the Founder as a reference, she had both preserved her reputation and politely refused Yan’s request.

“Going crazy again!” Fu Tingyun laughed, pretending to be displeased as she pushed him away. “Be careful not to press on the baby.”

Zhao Ling smiled and moved half an inch away.

Fu Tingyun’s expression suddenly turned cold: “Mo Yi came to persuade you, and you didn’t change your mind. Lin Chi and Tao Mu came to persuade you, and you still didn’t change your mind. How is it that when Master Yan comes to me and speaks, the Ninth Lord changes his mind? If outsiders knew this, that the Ninth Lord takes counsel from women, how could you stand in the court? Master Yan’s intentions are good, but his method is wrong.”

Zhao Ling nodded repeatedly: “Indeed, indeed.” Then he praised Fu Tingyun, “No wonder when I was young, I heard elders say that having a virtuous wife is like having a treasure. You are truly our family’s treasure.” Seeing that Fu Tingyun’s brow still showed traces of annoyance, he teased her, “However, this is not Master Yan’s fault. Everyone knows that I am henpecked…”

As soon as he spoke, Fu Tingyun cried out in coquettish anger: “What do you mean ‘everyone knows you are henpecked’? What exactly have you been telling others? I was wondering at the time why Master Yan suddenly wanted to see me… So it’s because you’ve been talking nonsense outside!”

“No, no. Absolutely not.” Zhao Ling waved his hands repeatedly, suddenly feeling like he had stirred up a hornet’s nest.