Fu Tingyun was shocked and nearly jumped off the kang: “What did you say? The Ninth Master has been promoted to Guizhou Regional Commander? Why hasn’t anyone told me?”

Yan Qing looked at her fearfully, not daring to make a sound.

Her heart desired to stay with Zhao Ling forever.

No wonder Zhao Ling had rambled on and on the moment he saw her.

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

He knew her wishes, but how could she know his?

Perhaps because he had lost his parents at a young age, Zhao Ling valued her and the children especially dearly. No matter how busy he was with official matters, he would write a letter home every ten days. Whenever possible, he would strive to return to the capital for family reunions. When at home, he would decline unnecessary social engagements to accompany her and the children, or take them out for excursions…

Xuanfu was only about a ten-day journey from the capital. When Mo Yi had strongly invited Zhao Ling to be his deputy, Zhao Ling had politely declined even when the Emperor inquired. How much less would he willingly go to Guizhou, which was so far away, even for a promotion? On this point, Fu Tingyun was confident.

Zhao Ling was being too cautious.

Although she wanted her husband to stay by her side, she wasn’t an unreasonable person. Would she blame him for this?

As these thoughts flashed through her mind, Fu Tingyun’s expression froze slightly.

No, that wasn’t right!

Zhao Ling was the person who understood her best in this world. How could he not know what she would think? He had no reason to act guilty in front of her.

Or perhaps there was something unusual about this situation?

Fu Tingyun thought of everyone’s praise for Zhao Ling these days… her heart immediately began to pound.

Could it be that this wasn’t an ordinary promotion? Was he being sent to fight in a war…

With this suspicion, Fu Tingyun became restless.

She desperately wanted to call Zhao Ling to get a clear answer.

But in her ears came Fifth Sister’s voice, both surprised and delighted: “Ninth Brother-in-law has been promoted to Guizhou Regional Commander? Really? When did this happen? We’ve been back for so long, yet not a word was mentioned? He’s truly steady in his affairs!” She continued, “There are no outsiders here. Does he fear we would lose our composure by babbling about it everywhere?” As she spoke and laughed, she noticed that both Fu Tingyun and Yan Qing’s expressions seemed off. She abruptly stopped and asked in shock: “Ninth Sister, what, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” Fu Tingyun didn’t want Fifth Sister to worry and said, “I’ve just heard about this myself.”

Although Fifth Sister had only been married into the Yao family for a few years, she was an extremely clever woman who participated in Yao family affairs despite being a mere woman. It was only because the sisters had grown up together that she didn’t apply her usual formalities to them. After hearing this and thinking briefly, she understood that Zhao Ling’s promotion might not be a joyous occasion. She quickly changed the subject and didn’t mention it again. However, when Fifth Brother-in-law and Zhao Ling returned that evening, she immediately dismissed all the servants around her and asked about Zhao Ling’s promotion: “…Did you know about this?”

Fifth Brother-in-law showed a sudden realization: “No wonder Manager Ye San congratulated Ninth Brother-in-law. So it was for this.” He continued, “But at the time, Ninth Brother-in-law seemed unwilling to discuss it further, so Manager Ye San didn’t pursue the topic. I thought they had something to discuss privately, so I made an excuse to go to the latrine.” As he spoke, he added curiously, “A promotion is a good thing, isn’t it? Why is Ninth Brother-in-law being so secretive? Could it be that the official document hasn’t arrived yet? But that can’t be right either! Even Commissioner Wu in distant Shaanxi knows about it, which shows that it’s already public knowledge… So why is he silent? Guizhou is so far away, with many barbarians and such a remote location… Could Ninth Brother-in-law be banished there…”

Fifth Sister felt increasingly confused by her husband’s words and simply called her maid: “Ninth Brother-in-law has been promoted to Guizhou Regional Commander, but Ninth Sister doesn’t seem happy. Go out tomorrow and inquire about what’s happening.”

The maid acknowledged and withdrew.

Fifth Sister sat at her dressing table, absently combing her hair.

Ninth Sister had already endured enough hardships; hopefully, she wouldn’t face any more troubling events.

Fifth Brother-in-law, however, was excitedly discussing his meeting with Manager Ye San that day with Zhao Ling.

He sat down next to Fifth Sister somewhat excitedly, his eyes bright and shining.

“Why didn’t you ask me about meeting Manager Ye San today?” Unable to contain his excitement, he spoke rapidly, “Let me tell you, Ninth Brother-in-law and Manager Ye San do have a good relationship. When Manager Ye San heard that Ninth Brother-in-law had come, he was in the middle of discussing business with the owner of Hengtong firm—you know Hengtong, the largest pewter merchant in Jiangnan. Last time, we were only able to get that batch of new pewter products from Hengtong because we went through the second manager of Hengtong’s Xi’an branch… Manager Ye San left the Hengtong owner and hurriedly came out to greet us, inviting us to his private study behind the branch. Both of Manager Ye San’s sons came out to pay their respects to Ninth Brother-in-law, addressing him as ‘Uncle.'” At this point, he couldn’t help but exclaim, “You wouldn’t believe it, but Manager Ye’s eldest son looked like he might be two or three years older than Ninth Brother-in-law. I wanted to ask about his birth year, but seeing how respectfully he bowed to Ninth Brother-in-law, and then learning that I was Ninth Brother-in-law’s brother-in-law, he obediently called me ‘Uncle’ too, so I felt too embarrassed to ask…”

Fifth Sister felt both amused and irritated listening to this.

He wasn’t saying what needed to be said but was instead elaborating on unnecessary details.

Her mind was filled with the image of Fu Tingyun’s anxious expression; she had no patience to listen to all this. She smiled and asked: “Just tell me what Manager Ye San said after he learned you were Ninth Brother-in-law’s brother-in-law. We can discuss the rest later.”

Fifth Brother-in-law was somewhat displeased hearing this and said: “Manager Ye showed us such courtesy entirely out of respect for Ninth Brother-in-law. How can you not care about the circumstances and only focus on what benefits our family received?”

Fifth Sister didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She patiently said: “I only mentioned it because it’s getting late, and I was afraid you might have plans tomorrow, so I wanted to keep it brief.” Then, accommodatingly, she added, “So tell me, what did you all talk about?”

Fifth Brother-in-law’s expression softened, and without further dwelling on details, he told Fifth Sister about Manager Ye San’s promise: “…From now on, our Yao family can get goods directly from Datong, and at the lowest discount price.”

Even though Fifth Sister was concerned about Fu Tingyun, she couldn’t help but be delighted upon hearing her husband’s words.

The Yao family dealt in various goods, as did Datong. However, because Datong had its fleet and traded at foreign ports and overseas, its variety was extremely comprehensive. In recent years, Datong has become increasingly prosperous, focusing mainly on silver shops, banks, canal transport, and sea shipping, only wholesaling miscellaneous goods. Although the Yao family was considered wealthy in Lintong, in Datong’s eyes, they weren’t even considered major merchants. How could they possibly get favorable discounts?

Now with Datong as a backing, it was only a matter of time before the Yao family established a foothold in Xi’an Prefecture.

Her husband wasn’t suited for officialdom. Even if he passed the imperial examinations, he might not achieve much in his career and might even be influenced by the corrupt practices of taking concubines. How could that compare to their current situation—one husband, one wife, loving each other, with children that were all her own?

Fifth Sister had long decided not to force her husband into the imperial examinations, allowing him to follow his nature, writing poetry, painting, and gardening at home.

However, as their children grew older and needed education, and as her parents-in-law aged and required medicine, without access to profitable official business, maintaining their family fortune would be challenging.

Now, with Zhao Ling’s introduction, she could gradually build up the Yao family business.

Fifth Sister’s face lit up with excitement as she said: “I’ll write a letter to my mother-in-law right away to tell her about this.” This would also let the elders at home know that it was all thanks to her natal family’s sister. When she and Fu Tingyun maintained their relationship, the elders wouldn’t be able to say much even if they heard any rumors.

Fifth Brother-in-law hadn’t thought so far ahead. He simply felt that since they had received Zhao Ling’s favor, they should naturally inform the elders at home, so they could repay the kindness when an opportunity arose. He eagerly nodded in agreement and said: “I’ll also write a letter to my father to tell him about this.”

Fifth Sister naturally didn’t object. She helped her husband grind the ink, wrote two letters to their family, and then the couple lay in bed dreaming for half the night until their eyelids grew heavy with sleep.

The next day, after breakfast, Fifth Sister’s maid returned with news: “…They say that the barbarians in Guizhou have rebelled, and several county magistrates have perished due to the siege. The Emperor was furious and personally appointed the Ninth Master to be the Regional Commander of Guizhou to fight against the barbarians. The Ninth Master is afraid that the Ninth Madam will worry, so he hasn’t dared to say anything…”

“Who did you hear this from?” Fifth Sister asked in astonishment.

“Everyone knows it,” the maid replied. “They say it’s by special imperial decree, and he will set out after the third day of the first month. The Ninth Madam has already instructed Miss Yu Wei to pack the Ninth Master’s luggage.”

Fifth Brother-in-law nodded repeatedly as he listened: “Ninth Brother-in-law is truly a good man… If it doesn’t work, he could just resign from his position.”

Ninth Sister’s heart was probably in turmoil now.

Fifth Sister, fearing that her husband might say something inappropriate in front of Fu Tingyun and Zhao Ling, quickly pulled him aside: “We are ordinary citizens. How would we know about matters in officialdom? Don’t offer any rash advice. I won’t forgive you if you harm Ninth Brother-in-law.”

Fifth Brother-in-law was startled by this and, upon reflection, nodded: “Don’t worry, I understand the gravity of the situation.”

Her husband never broke his promises.

Fifth Sister sighed with relief and asked the maid: “What is the Ninth Madam doing now?”

Perhaps she could go help!

“She’s talking with the Ninth Master in their inner chamber!” After saying this, the maid hesitantly added, “Or perhaps because he had been keeping it from the Ninth Madam all along, and now that she knows, she’s angry, and the Ninth Master is apologizing to her. That’s why the young miss and young master have been taken by their servants to play in the side room!”

“Don’t speak such nonsense.” Even if it were true, such things shouldn’t be spoken of openly, or what would happen to Fu Tingyun’s reputation? Fifth Sister scolded her maid, “The Ninth Master is about to leave for Guizhou, traveling thousands of miles. Even sending letters will be inconvenient. He must give instructions about family matters… Why do you think of such disorderly things?”

The maid didn’t dare to defend herself and quickly apologized in a low voice.

Fifth Sister’s expression softened, and she dismissed her.

The old woman couldn’t help but grumble inwardly: I wasn’t the one who said it… It was that maid called Zhenzhu who let it slip…