When Zhao Ling returned, Fu Tingyun was listening to Zheng San’s report: “…they swore on their chests that the man is not in the vicinity of Tanzhe Temple.”

Since Yu Wei had lost track of Zuo Junjie, Fu Tingyun had already anticipated such a result—Zuo Junjie wasn’t a fool, so why would he remain there waiting for her to bring people to find him? Asking those idle gang members for help was merely a desperate hope.

She couldn’t help feeling some regret.

If she had been able to hold back her cry when she encountered Zuo Junjie, would the outcome have been different?

Thinking of this, Fu Tingyun let out a long sigh.

Zhao Ling heard it as he lifted the curtain to enter: “What’s going on? Why all these sighs?”

Hearing him, joy leaped to Fu Tingyun’s brow: “You’re back!” She shifted her body to get off the kang bed.

Zhao Ling quickly stopped her: “Don’t move, don’t move!” Only then did he have time to nod at Zheng San, who was bowing to him.

“It’s fine,” Fu Tingyun awkwardly got off the kang bed. “Granny Lü came to see me and said I should move around more these days, which will help with the delivery.” Despite being married, she still felt shy discussing such matters with Zhao Ling.

Since it was Granny Lü’s instruction, Zhao Ling no longer stopped her and stepped forward to support her: “No wonder everyone says this Granny Lü is formidable, and people have to book her three months in advance. Just the fact that she comes to see you twice a month makes me feel she’s worth inviting.”

Fu Tingyun simply smiled and poured tea for Zhao Ling.

Zhao Ling immediately took it in hand and helped Fu Tingyun sit back down on the kang bed.

“What were you unhappy about just now?” He sat beside Fu Tingyun.

Zhao Ling had been so busy that he didn’t even have time to accompany her to Tanzhe Temple. She originally didn’t plan to tell Zhao Ling, but after hearing Zheng San’s report, she knew this matter wouldn’t be resolved without Zhao Ling’s involvement. After some thought, she told Zhao Ling the whole story in detail.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Zhao Ling became anxious upon hearing this.

Fu Tingyun pouted: “You’ve already rejected the Emperor’s assignment because of me. If you knew Zuo Junjie had come to the capital, who knows what you might do!” As she spoke, she couldn’t help but hold Zhao Ling’s arm. “No matter how important my affairs are, they can’t be more important than yours. If you delay your career again because of me, making me your burden and encumbrance, I won’t tell you anything in the future.”

Zhao Ling’s heart warmed, and he grasped her hand that rested on his arm: “Don’t worry, I know what to do.”

Fu Tingyun also told Zhao Ling about her visit to Sixi Alley: “…I have a suspicion… I feel that in this matter, the Master likely…” Speaking about her father, her eyes reddened involuntarily. “Likely has some involvement… I couldn’t help but want to test…” Before she could finish her sentence, tears had already fallen.

Zhao Ling quickly wiped her tears: “Don’t cry. At worst, we’ll establish our household.” He then smiled and said, “Actually, our current situation isn’t much different from having our household! I can’t speak for other things, but when our daughter-in-law gives birth in the future, you’ll know everything!” He was teasing to cheer her up.

Fu Tingyun thought of the child in her womb and indeed burst into laughter: “You’re talking nonsense.”

Whether it was nonsense or not, making her happy was what mattered.

Zhao Ling laughed heartily and tapped her nose: “Crying and laughing, like a puppy peeing…”

“You’re the puppy!” Fu Tingyun pushed his hand away, causing Zhao Ling to laugh again.

The atmosphere in the room immediately improved.

Fu Tingyun called Kou’er in to help Zhao Ling wash up and change into casual spring clothes.

Zhao Ling sat at the edge of the kang bed, talking with Fu Tingyun: “The Commander of the Five-City Military Affairs Office used to be from our Imperial Guards. We had drinks together a few days ago. I’m thinking this matter can only be resolved with the help of those local snakes. The Five-City Military Affairs Office manages the security of the capital, and no one knows the various social circles in the capital better than they do. I’ll go to the Five-City Military Affairs Office in a while, using your story about losing something as a pretext, and find a way to locate Zuo Junjie.”

Fu Tingyun nodded in agreement: “If anyone asks, just say that having something stolen in the capital is something I can’t swallow…”

“That’s exactly what I was thinking.” After discussing some minor details, Fu Tingyun gave Zhao Ling twenty taels of loose silver and two hundred taels in silver notes, and Zhao Ling went to the Five-City Military Affairs Office.

Yu Wei hesitated and said: “Do we need so much silver?”

“Human relationships are one thing, but when silver is needed, it must be used,” Fu Tingyun smiled. “In Huayin, this would be enough to grease the County Magistrate, but in the capital, I fear it’s not enough.”

Yu Wei’s guilt deepened.

Two hundred and twenty taels of silver would be enough to buy thirty or forty servant girls like them.

She held back her tears and lowered her head.

…

In just over a month, news came from the Five-City Military Affairs Office that someone had seen Zuo Junjie leave through the Chaoyang Gate more than ten days ago, and he hadn’t appeared in the capital since.

Zhao Ling had a headache.

They were operating in the open while Zuo Junjie was hiding. In the vast sea of people, where should they look?

But having made up his mind, he wasn’t the type to give up easily.

He began talking with the idle gang members one by one.

Within a few days, everyone knew that a commander from the Imperial Guards was looking for a beggar who had stolen something from his household.

Qin Feiyu laughed and said, “How much is the thing you lost worth? I’ll compensate you!”

Qin Feiyu was the burly man Fu Tingyun had met at the City God Temple in Linchun Town. After the Emperor ascended the throne, he had stayed in the Imperial Guards for some time before quickly being transferred to the Datong Commander’s Office as Deputy Commander. He had returned to the capital on official business and gathered a few close friends.

Mo Yi shouted: “Is this a matter of how much silver? This is a matter of face! Someone stole from one of us in the Imperial Guards. If we don’t settle this score, won’t those ruffians who collect debts for others laugh us to death?”

Qin Feiyu shook his head dismissively, so Zhao Ling explained: “If it were something else, I’d let it go. But the lost item was given to my wife by her mother…”

Everyone suddenly understood and expressed comprehension.

Mo Yi’s servant boy came running up the stairs: “Sir, your wife has entered the capital with the young masters and misses.”

Upon hearing this, Mo Yi immediately glared at the servant: “Is the house not ready? Or do you not know where to go? Just lead the family there. Why are you running here?”

The servant, as if struck by frost, paid respects to all the officials and withdrew.

Mo Yi then looked somewhat proudly at Zhao Ling.

Qin Feiyu and Tao Mu suppressed their laughter and lowered their heads to take a sip of wine.

Zhao Ling, however, stood up, drank three cups in succession, and smiled: “I have matters at home and must leave first. These three cups are to apologize to all of you brothers.” He then added, “Since your wife has arrived in the capital, and Brother Qin is also here, why don’t we go to Brother Mo’s house tomorrow for some wine? What do you all think?”

Before Mo Yi could speak, Qin Feiyu was already nodding: “That would be perfect!” Then he said, “Brother Mo is silent. Could it be that he fears we’ll disturb him if we go?” After speaking, he gave Zhao Ling a meaningful look.

“No, no,” Mo Yi quickly said. “Early tomorrow, I’ll respectfully await your arrival at my home.”

When Zhao Ling returned home and told Fu Tingyun, she scolded: “This Mo Yi… I pity Madam Mo, who must endure so much of his temper.” Feeling incredibly sympathetic, she called Yu Wei in, opened a chest, and took out several pieces of new fabric rewarded from the palace earlier in the year. “I’m pregnant and can’t use them for now, so why not give them to Madam Mo?”

“Don’t worry about Madam Mo,” Zhao Ling smiled as he walked over. “When leaving, Qin Feiyu pulled me aside and told me that Madam Mo’s aunt is Mo Yi’s aunt, and Madam Mo has been going in and out of the Mo family since childhood. They grew up together. Although Madam Mo’s family isn’t as grand as the Mo family, in Luyi, they’re counted among the top families, and there are only Madam Mo and her brother in the family. Madam Mo’s dowry is probably even more substantial than Mo Yi’s family fortune. Moreover, this husband was Madam Mo’s own choice. You may see Mo Yi acting fierce outside, but when facing his wife, he doesn’t dare to breathe loudly. All four sons are legitimate. Madam Mo also knows his temperament and merely goes along with his antics!”

Before he finished speaking, he saw Fu Tingyun’s expression stiffen as she clutched her belly.

“What’s wrong?” Zhao Ling’s heart raced, and his expression changed dramatically. “Where are you uncomfortable?” He picked her up and placed her on the kang bed.

Her body was wracked with waves of pain.

But for some reason, seeing Zhao Ling’s sweaty face, Fu Tingyun suddenly thought, “It’s good that I found a tall and strong husband. If he were more frail, how could he carry me?”

Yu Wei also began to panic.

Granny Lü had said that although the due date was the twenty-eighth of the fourth month, it was normal to be a few days early or late.

“I, I’ll call Granny Lü,” she rushed out of the inner chamber in panic.

Fu Tingyun quickly comforted Zhao Ling: “I’m fine. We have Granny Lü, don’t panic!”

“Oh!” Zhao Ling responded, one hand tightly gripping hers, the other sometimes tucking in the corners of her blanket, sometimes wiping the sweat from her forehead, sometimes smoothing her slightly disheveled hair at the temples, never idle for a moment, while his mouth continuously mumbled, “Why hasn’t she come yet? I said earlier, she should have stayed in the warm room…”

“I don’t want someone sleeping in our inner chamber!” Fu Tingyun endured the pain, smiling as she spoke to Zhao Ling, trying to distract herself, unaware that her face had turned as white as paper.

“A’Yun!” Zhao Ling called his wife, a flash of fear in his eyes, his voice trembling slightly. He wanted to call the midwife but was reluctant to leave Fu Tingyun alone. As he hesitated, the door curtain swung open with a clang, and Granny Lü, of medium height with a sturdy peasant-like build, walked in.

“Move aside quickly!” Granny Lü harshly scolded Zhao Ling. “Let me see!”

Zhao Ling gave way to Granny Lü, standing beside her and craning his neck to watch.

Granny Lü glanced at Zhao Ling: “Sir, it would be better to wait outside!”

“Oh!” Zhao Ling responded, hesitated for a moment, then bent down to tell Fu Tingyun, “Don’t be afraid, I’ll be right outside,” before leaving the inner chamber.

Fu Tingyun was embarrassed, her face flushed red, as she glanced at Granny Lü.

Unexpectedly, the always serious Granny Lü’s lips held a trace of a smile, and her voice became gentler: “Come, let me have a look!”