While Fifth Sister was pondering who would be appropriate to meet Fu Tingyun, on the other side, Fu Tingyun was clinging to Zhao Ling’s waist, crying with her head buried against his shoulder.

Zhao Ling’s eyes darkened as he softly called out, “A’Yun…” not knowing what else to say.

Hearing this, Fu Tingyun raised her head and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her tears. “I know you don’t want this either, and I know I shouldn’t be crying like this… but I just can’t control myself…” As she spoke, she tightly embraced his waist again and rested her head on his shoulder. “You must take good care of yourself,” she said, then, fearing that her tenderness might distract him and make him hesitant in battle, thinking of her and their children, she quickly added, “Don’t worry about things at home, I’m here! When you went to Xuanfu before, didn’t I take good care of everything?” She couldn’t help but kiss his jaw, instantly creating an intimate atmosphere between them. Her voice lowered as she called him “Ninth Master…” with a coquettish and endearing tone.

Those murmurs filled with tenderness and affection made Zhao Ling’s chest warm, making him unwilling to leave her side even for a moment.

You in me, me in you… As if wanting to embed her into his own body, he also embraced Fu Tingyun tightly: “Don’t worry, I will return safely. The Emperor has been lying low for so long, and all the necessary preparations have been made. It’s time to reorganize the administration. This battle is just a pretext—the Emperor wants to see what discordant voices remain in the court… So whether we win or lose, the Emperor already has perfect preparations… Of course, winning would be better… A triumphant momentum is an auspicious sign, making it easier for the Emperor to carry out his plans… If we lose, it would just mean returning to the capital and being demoted to commoner status…” At this point, he suddenly smiled and said, “At that time, you mustn’t be reluctant to leave the splendor and prosperity of the capital!”

Fu Tingyun knew he was trying to lighten the mood and cheer her up.

But she simply couldn’t feel happy.

“Stop trying to fool me!” Fu Tingyun pouted. “How many defeated commanders have ever met a good end? I don’t ask for your promotion or wealth, day and night I only pray for your safe return!”

Seeing Fu Tingyun so dejected, Zhao Ling regretted his previous words. He held her shoulders and gazed at her beautiful face, smiling as he said, “I was planning to earn you the title of a second-rank madam when I return! You shouldn’t discourage me.”

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but laugh: “Are you teasing me again? Your mother is only a third-rank Shuren, how could I possibly become a second-rank madam? It’s good that I’ve studied a bit, otherwise I might have been fooled into believing the sun rises from the west!”

Seeing that she had temporarily forgotten her worries, Zhao Ling felt pleased and joked with her: “Though they say ‘people become clever through books,’ I don’t think that’s necessarily true.” He then recalled the circumstances of their first meeting, “If you were an ordinary woman, encountering a bandit like me, wouldn’t you have reported it to the authorities? This shows it’s not that you’ve read too many books, but rather that you’re too clever. You could tell at a glance that I was a good person.”

Fu Tingyun smiled, unable to contain her amusement: “Are you complimenting me or yourself?”

Zhao Ling laughed heartily.

Fu Tingyun then brought up the matter of Zhao Ling going to Guizhou: “If this battle is so important, can’t Mo Yi go instead? You could continue to be his assistant!”

Hearing this, Zhao Ling broke into a cold sweat: “The Emperor wants to take this opportunity to separate me from the Mo family’s influence, how would he agree to let me be someone else’s deputy? Besides, the Emperor isn’t shooting without aim. When the Marquis of Longping went south, wasn’t I the Camp General? I’m more familiar with the situation there, so just wait for news of my great victory.” In his heart, he thought, concern truly makes one confused—when A’Yun herself was imprisoned, she remained so calm and rational, but now that he was merely leading an army independently, she became so flustered—today she was saying nothing but childish things… But didn’t this also indicate that in A’Yun’s heart, he was more important to her than herself?

With this thought, Zhao Ling’s arms around Fu Tingyun tightened, and he pressed his face against hers: “A’Yun, be good, I won’t be in any danger.”

Fu Tingyun bit her lip and nodded.

As if agreeing with Zhao Ling’s words, but more like trying to convince herself.

Suddenly, she felt movement in her belly.

Zhao Ling, pressed close to her, immediately felt it too.

He was momentarily startled, then broke into a smile: “Our third child is angry—father and mother are only talking and have forgotten about him!” After saying this, he excitedly helped Fu Tingyun sit on the nearby kang bed, crouching down to touch her belly, “Just now, he seemed to kick right here… Do you think it will be a boy? So mischievous! If it’s a girl, that would be trouble, you’d have to raise her well, or she might not find a husband when she grows up…”

Fu Tingyun also found it amusing and said, “Youyou started moving at five months, and Brother Xi was lazier, only starting to move at eight months. I was initially worried something might be wrong with the child… This one is already six months, not too late.”

Hearing this, a flash of guilt crossed Zhao Ling’s eyes: “When our third child is born, I won’t be home again…”

“What could you do even if you were home?” Fu Tingyun knew this was a sore point for her husband and pretended to be unconcerned to comfort him. She smiled and said, “You just need to write a letter home every ten days like before, and I’ll read it to the children so they know that even though their father is thousands of miles away, he’s thinking of them all the time!”

“Definitely, definitely,” Zhao Ling quickly promised. “Although Guizhou is far away, the Ministry of War’s official documents usually arrive within a month. I’ve already instructed Lin Chi that if you have any matters, just have someone tell him, and he will convey them to me through the ministry’s documents.”

Fu Tingyun nodded.

Anqin reported from outside the curtain: “Ninth Master, Madam, Official Jin and Official Yang have arrived.”

Fu Tingyun was somewhat surprised.

Zhao Ling whispered, “The situation has changed now. I asked them if they were willing to go to Guizhou with me, and both agreed immediately. But to subdue external threats, one must first secure internal stability. I thought they should first go back and discuss with their families, and I assume they’ve come to give me their response.”

“Then you should go quickly!” Fu Tingyun helped Zhao Ling straighten his clothes.

Zhao Ling kissed Fu Tingyun’s cheek before leaving.

Shortly after, Fifth Sister arrived and said directly, “I’ve also heard about Ninth Brother-in-law going to Guizhou. Ninth Brother-in-law is a capable person, you shouldn’t worry too much.”

Among her sisters, Fu Tingyun didn’t hide her feelings. She sighed and said, “I know, but I just can’t calm my heart. I was thinking of going to a temple to get a peace talisman for him.”

“I’ll go with you!” Fifth Sister also thought this was a good idea. “I wonder which temple in the capital has the most efficacious peace talismans? Today is the Minor New Year, let’s go tomorrow!”

Fifth Sister and Fu Tingyun had thought of the same thing.

When she mentioned it to Zhao Ling, he thought that with the cold weather and it being near the New Year, the temple would be quiet and chilly. It would be better to go after the New Year when they could also catch a temple fair. But seeing the subtle worry in Fu Tingyun’s brow, he quickly smiled and agreed: “Let’s go to Tanzhe Temple then? I’ll accompany you. We can also see Master Yan and ask him about Guizhou matters.”

Fu Tingyun’s heart rejoiced.

She was willing to do anything that would benefit Zhao Ling.

“That sounds good! Should we bring Youyou and Brother Xi along?”

“The weather is too cold, and the children are still young. Let them stay at home,” Zhao Ling smiled. “We’ll go with Fifth Sister and her husband. When we get there, I’ll go see Master Yan, and Fifth Brother-in-law can accompany you to pray to the Buddha.”

“No!” Fu Tingyun said, “You should also pray to the Buddha, to bless you with peace and good fortune.”

“Alright,” Zhao Ling agreed readily with a smile, “I’ll kneel with you before the Buddha and ask for blessings of peace and prosperity for our entire family.”

Fu Tingyun nodded with a smile and gave the orders. Early the next morning, considering that Fifth Brother-in-law couldn’t ride a horse, they divided into two carriages and went to Tanzhe Temple.

As Zhao Ling had predicted, Tanzhe Temple was quiet and cold.

After offering incense in the Grand Hall, the Abbot, having received the news, hurried over with the Guest Prefect.

Understanding their purpose, the Abbot invited them to a side hall to sit down and personally presented a consecrated peace talisman.

Fu Tingyun had originally wanted to ask about Zhao Ling’s fortune, but seeing the Abbot’s seemingly friendly yet overly enthusiastic manner, which differed greatly from her image of an enlightened monk, she abandoned the idea and simply accepted the peace talisman for Zhao Ling.

Zhao Ling mentioned that he wanted to see Master Yan.

The Abbot was slightly surprised and politely said, “The Master is deeply engrossed in studying Buddhism. This humble monk can only send someone to announce your presence…”

Zhao Ling was unconcerned and smiled, “Then please have someone announce me.”

Seeing his confidence, the Abbot secretly wondered: How many distinguished officials have failed before Master Yan? Just a few days ago, even Qin Feiyu, who has always been favored by Master Yan, was turned away. You may be the Emperor’s favored official and a second-rank minister, but how can you compare to Qin Feiyu?

However, his face showed no trace of these thoughts as he smiled and agreed, calling a young novice to make the announcement. Then he said with a smile, “It’s almost noon. Our Tanzhe Temple’s vegetarian feast is praised even by Master Yan. I have already prepared a vegetarian meal, and I hope Lord Zhao will not decline.”

Zhao Ling didn’t stand on ceremony with him, and the group went to the western courtyard for the vegetarian feast.

The young novice who had gone to deliver the message came running back breathlessly: “Abbot, Abbot, Master Yan invites Lord Zhao to meet him.”

The Abbot’s face was filled with undisguised surprise. After a moment of stunned silence, he recovered and quickly gestured to Zhao Ling, saying, “Lord Zhao, please follow this humble monk.”

He was going to personally escort Zhao Ling.

Fifth Brother-in-law watched with the corner of his lips twitching.

Fifth Sister quickly tugged at her husband’s robe.

Fifth Brother-in-law smiled awkwardly at his wife but said nothing.

Zhao Ling quietly instructed Fu Tingyun, saying things like “Don’t wait for me, Master Yan is thoughtful, since he’s called for me, he must have prepared lunch,” and then followed the Abbot to the back mountain where Master Yan was practicing.

Fu Tingyun smiled and said, “Then let’s eat first! It’s getting late.”

Fifth Brother-in-law and Fifth Sister naturally had no objections.

Everyone had lunch and then followed the attending Guest Prefect monk to the adjacent flower hall for tea. Zhao Ling had still not returned, but the Abbot sent a young novice with a message: “Master Yan has kept Lord Zhao for a game of chess. Please ask the Madam to wait a little longer.”