Although Fu Tingyun had already anticipated that Yu Jingxiu would target Zuo Junjie after being turned away at her door, she was still shocked when it happened.

As she looked up and down at Jin Yuanbao and the others, she anxiously asked them, “Are you all unharmed?”

“We’re fine, we’re fine!” A’sen said with a grin. “We caught the intruders in the cellar and gave them a thorough beating. They either ended up with broken arms or broken legs—they suffered greatly. We even kept two of them as witnesses. This time, they won’t get away with it.”

Yu’s family had disciples and old acquaintances throughout the world. These were just two designated men, unlikely to damage Yu Jingxiu’s reputation. A’sen was still young, so Fu Tingyun and Jin Yuanbao weren’t as optimistic as he was, but Jin Yuanbao still added, “Don’t worry, sister-in-law. No matter how Yu Jingxiu proceeds, we have reason on our side. Even Yu Jingxiu will have a headache over this.” He continued, “We captured Zuo Junjie the day before, and Yu Jingxiu came to visit the very next day. I suspected he might have people watching us, so on the evening he visited, we arranged to move Zuo Junjie elsewhere. Even if he digs three feet into that courtyard, he’ll never find Zuo Junjie.”

Fu Tingyun breathed a sigh of relief.

Yang Yucheng sneered, “He probably noticed we’ve been busy discussing wedding plans these past few days, so he chose this time to make his move. I wonder if he intended to silence him or kidnap him?”

“Killing a person is much simpler than kidnapping one, so naturally he wanted to silence him!” Jin Yuanbao said. “Otherwise, if the Shuntian Prefecture or the Five-City Military Command were alerted, even with the Yu family’s great influence, it would be quite troublesome in the capital.” He smiled and continued, “Whether he wants to silence or kidnap him doesn’t matter. The urgent task now is to inform Zuo Junjie, so he doesn’t treat Yu Jingxiu as a savior. If we ever face a tribunal, at least he won’t switch sides at the critical moment!”

Neither of them mentioned where Zuo Junjie was hidden, and Fu Tingyun didn’t ask—sometimes it’s better not to know certain things.

As they were speaking, a commotion erupted outside.

Fu Tingyun thought the Fifth Master Fu had come to make trouble again. She had already instructed Zheng San and the others to simply close the main gate and ignore him, so she paid little attention and continued talking with Jin Yuanbao and Yang Yucheng: “Be careful. Since Yu Jingxiu could send people to deal with Zuo Junjie, he might also send people to give you trouble.” She also instructed A’sen: “Don’t go to school for a few days. I’ll ask your teacher for leave on your behalf. Just review your lessons at home until this blows over.”

Jin Yuanbao agreed, but Yang Yucheng dismissed her concerns: “He probably doesn’t know what we do. His men may be skillful, but compared to us who have once licked blood from the edge of blades, they’re still somewhat lacking. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been beaten so badly by us.”

A’sen also said, “Sister-in-law, don’t worry, we’re stronger than they are.”

Hearing this, Jin Yuanbao glared at the two of them and said, “Sister-in-law’s advice is reasonable. Just do as she says—caution ensures longevity!”

As Yang Yucheng was about to argue, a man’s voice with a hint of amusement suddenly reached their ears: “What has happened that makes you all discuss the need for such caution?”

That familiar voice excited everyone in the room.

“Ninth Master!” Fu Tingyun murmured as she stood up, tears immediately blurring her vision.

A’sen, Jin Yuanbao, and Yang Yucheng all rushed forward in surprise and joy.

“Ninth Master, when did you return?”

“Wasn’t the army supposed to return in mid-May? How are you back at the beginning of April?”

“Has something changed with the Guizhou campaign? Or did the Emperor have special instructions?”

Everyone asked questions at once, their concern evident in their words.

“This expedition went quite smoothly,” Zhao Ling answered with a smile, his gaze fixed on Fu Tingyun. He looked at her with such seriousness and focus, as if she were the only person in the world, as if his words were meant for her alone. “The original plan was to return in mid-May, but the Emperor had matters to inquire about, so I volunteered to return to the capital ahead of schedule.”

Fu Tingyun blinked hard, trying to prevent tears from flowing, but her eyes still became wet, her face glistening.

Eleven months and three days of separation, over three hundred days and nights of longing…

She smiled and lowered her head, quietly wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, and called out loudly to Zheng San’s wife: “Hurry to Penglai Pavilion and order a feast to be delivered!”

…

The night had grown very late, but a lamp still burned in the inner chamber to the east of the main room.

The soft yellow light shone through the windows covered with Korean paper, warm and peaceful.

Zhao Ling gently stroked his daughter’s soft black hair, his face revealing a trace of melancholy: “When I left, she was still like a little kitten. Now she’s grown so much, yet she doesn’t recognize me.”

Sitting across from him, mending his socks, Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but smile at his words. She set aside her work and said, “She was only shy at first. Didn’t she later cling to your arm and refuse to let go?”

Otherwise, how would Youyou be resting here?

Zhao Ling smiled: “Yes, once she knew I was her father, she wanted no one else, only me!” His eyebrows lifted slightly, revealing a hint of pride.

This childlike side of Zhao Ling made Fu Tingyun laugh softly.

“Don’t wake the child!” Zhao Ling whispered, his eyes never leaving his daughter’s face. “Look at her, she’s so beautiful… her little face is rosy, her eyelashes are thick, long, and curled, curved like little fans…” As he spoke, he couldn’t resist leaning down to kiss Youyou’s face.

Disturbed in her sleep, Youyou pouted her lips in displeasure.

Zhao Ling, as if seeing something precious, though eager, suppressed his voice as he said to Fu Tingyun, “Look, look, she’s frowning.” Then he sighed with emotion, “How is she so intelligent? She understands everything!”

Who wouldn’t frown and pout when disturbed in their sleep?

Such nonsense!

Fu Tingyun barely managed to refrain from throwing cold water on her husband’s enthusiasm, but her heart felt sweet.

“You should rest now!” she said, putting away her needle and thread. “You’ve been traveling day and night for several days without dismounting, and tomorrow you still need to enter the palace…” At this point, her voice faltered, her expression becoming somewhat hesitant.

Seeing this, Zhao Ling took Fu Tingyun’s hand: “I’ll stay here with Youyou tonight. You go sleep in the side room!”

Fu Tingyun was still in the mourning period!

“Ninth Master!” Her face flushed red, feeling somewhat guilty.

Zhao Ling held her face and kissed her cheek lightly like a dragonfly touching water: “Go quickly, or I might not be able to control myself… and that would be embarrassing…”

Fu Tingyun’s face burned intensely as she turned and entered the side room where Youyou was settled.

After Madam Fu passed away, she was devastated. Zhao Ling, concerned for her health, had her wean Youyou, who continued to be nursed by a wet nurse. The next month, her monthly cycle had returned…

She looked down at her chest, fuller than before her marriage, and her waist, still slender as a willow branch… She bit her lip and determinedly walked to the door, only to hesitate and slump back onto the bed.

“Tingyun!” Zhao Ling’s sigh came from the inner room. “Don’t pace back and forth like that. It’s making me restless. I’ll be busy tomorrow, but the day after, I’ll make time early to visit the Shuntian Prefecture and test the waters with the prefect first.”

Fu Tingyun gasped, jumped onto the bed, and covered her head.

How embarrassing…

She felt her entire body burning up.

After lunch the next day, they drank tea in the main hall. Jin Yuanbao and Yang Yucheng told Zhao Ling everything that had happened during these days in detail.

Upon hearing about Yu Jingxiu’s involvement, Zhao Ling wasn’t particularly surprised. He nodded slightly and insightfully said, “This explains it,” which drove Fu Tingyun nearly mad. If not for the presence of Jin Yuanbao and the others, and concern for Zhao Ling’s face, she might have rushed over to grab his collar and demand to know what else he knew.

Thinking of this, Fu Tingyun felt somewhat annoyed.

After dinner, Jin Yuanbao and the others retired to their rooms early. She had wanted to properly question Zhao Ling, but he held her in his arms and kissed her wildly, making her forget all about it…

Fu Tingyun turned over shyly and hugged Youyou’s little pillow to her chest.

…

Early the next morning, after seeing Zhao Ling off, Fu Tingyun sat at her dressing table, convinced she had dark circles under her eyes.

Zhenzhu held the mirror, Yu Wei held the lamp, but neither could see any dark circles no matter how they looked.

“Really?” Fu Tingyun murmured, “Am I seeing things?”

Yu Wei offered a rare playful comment: “Women adorn themselves to please those they cherish. Madam’s concern must be because the Ninth Master has returned!”

“Nonsense!” Fu Tingyun always spoke freely with Yu Wei and scolded her, “I just didn’t sleep well last night.”

All the attendants in the room covered their mouths and laughed.

Fu Tingyun was embarrassed.

Kou’er rushed in, somewhat flustered, and said, “Madam, someone claiming to be your eldest uncle wishes to see you. Zheng San told him you don’t see people from the Fu family, but he says he’s come from Jinhua…”

The letter had been sent only four or five days ago, and her eldest uncle had already rushed over…

Fu Tingyun’s heart tightened. She instructed Kou’er to invite Master Fu to the southern room’s hall for tea, while urging Yu Wei to help her dress. Within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, she was fully dressed and heading to the southern room’s hall.

Whether male or female, everyone in the Fu family was exceptionally good-looking. Compared to Fifth Master Fu, First Master Fu’s appearance and bearing were no less impressive, though he had an inherent seriousness about him.

Seeing Fu Tingyun, he sighed softly.

“I still remember when you were little. Your sisters would practice calligraphy in the waterside pavilion, and when guests came, your mothers would take you to play in the garden. The other children would obediently follow their mothers to the garden, but only you would run up to Chen Mama, insisting on knowing why you couldn’t play in the pavilion before going to the garden.” First Master Fu stood there quietly, his expression showing some regret. “At that time, I thought, why is this child so stubborn? I even told your aunt to temper your disposition. Little did I know that after more than ten years, you would still have the same temperament. Truly, it’s easier to move mountains than to change one’s nature!”