A-Sen, not suspecting anything, said: “Master Nine said that we didn’t have capital before, but now that we do, with our abilities, we could certainly make money in legitimate business. We planned to go to Yangzhou to start anew.” As he spoke, he propped his chin on his hand and sighed lightly, “Now we can’t go to Jiangnan!” He looked quite distressed, “I heard Brother Yuanbao say that Jiangnan’s scenery is like a painting, completely different from here. The wind is gentle, the rain is fine, plants flourish, flowers bloom in profusion, and fish is cheap…” He was practically drooling, which made Fu Tingyun laugh heartily: “Has Jin Yuanbao been to Jiangnan?”
“No,” A-Sen grinned sheepishly. “He, he read it in books.” Then, feeling this reason wasn’t convincing enough, he loudly emphasized: “Master Nine said so too—Master Nine has been to Jiangnan. When Brother Yuanbao was talking about it, Master Nine was listening beside him and nodded with a smile, so it must be true!”
Fu Tingyun was quite surprised.
Could Master Nine be from the Southern Metropolitan Region?
But judging by his height, he didn’t seem like it!
Men and women from Jiangnan all had delicate features. When she went to Nanjing, Madam Yu heard she was only ten years old and held her hand, scrutinizing her: “You look like you’re thirteen or fourteen.”
Yang Yucheng came to see her excitedly: “Miss Fu, Master Nine has already changed his mind…” He looked up to see A-Sen smiling nearby and gave him a playful knock on the head: “Had I known you were coming, I wouldn’t have come—I still have things to do for Master Nine!”
Fu Tingyun stopped him: “No matter how formidable Master Nine is, two fists can’t fight four hands. Why not call Zheng San to discuss? He used to be a caravan guard and has experienced such situations often. He might have some good ideas!”
Yang Yucheng agreed wholeheartedly: “Then I’ll trouble Miss Fu.”
“Master Nine saved my life too,” Fu Tingyun smiled. “Master Yang speaking like this makes it seem like we’re strangers.”
Yang Yucheng was naturally straightforward and replied with a smile: “Then I won’t stand on ceremony.”
Fu Tingyun asked A-Sen to call Zheng San and invited Yang Yucheng to sit down: “Can Master Nine engage in combat when his body hasn’t recovered yet?” She was quite concerned.
“I’ve followed Master Nine for so many years, and he’s never failed,” Yang Yucheng said very confidently. “Not just because of Master Nine’s skills, but because he judges situations carefully and plans meticulously. Since Wu Xin is the Commissioner of Shaanxi Military Command, it’s likely the Commander-in-Chief is also the Sixteenth Master’s man. Once we deliver this name card, we’ll be the Sixteenth Master’s people. Prince Shu was demoted to a commoner by Shi Wenbin merely for considering the Xunfan Surveillance Commissioner a confidant, yet the Sixteenth Master associates with Yingchuan Marquis Meng Shu, Guangdong Commander-in-Chief Mo Shang, and Shaanxi Military Commander Li Jinru without anyone knowing, showing he’s quite extraordinary. Whether following him will bring fortune or misfortune remains to be seen. For such a significant matter, Master Nine has surely considered it thoroughly. Without complete confidence, Master Nine wouldn’t dare proceed.”
Previously focused on how to preserve Zhao Ling’s life, now hearing Yang Yucheng’s explanation of all these complexities, it felt like escaping a wolf’s den only to enter a tiger’s lair.
Fu Tingyun sighed: “I knew the Sixteenth Master wasn’t ordinary. I thought you could stay in the military for three to five years, secure some official position, then find a way to connect with people in the Ministry of War’s Selection Division and transfer elsewhere, gradually severing this relationship. That’s why I came up with this escape plan. If Master Nine compares alternatives with Moyi and loses, his life might be forfeited; if he wins, would the Sixteenth Master’s people let Master Nine leave? Should it be a draw? But with fighting, who can tell?”
“There’s no alternative,” Yang Yucheng said. “That Moyi looks down on us, thinking we’re just jianghu wanderers who should eagerly attach ourselves to him if he shows a smile. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he recruit us directly? Instead, he uses this tactic. If we follow his wishes and meekly go to Shaanxi Military Command, we probably won’t have good days ahead. This fight is inevitable. Not only must we fight, but we must fight fiercely, making them remember, making them think twice when they see Master Nine.” As he said this, his expression was cold, “A good horse gets ridden, a kind person gets bullied.”
It seemed Yang Yucheng had his own bitter experiences!
“It’s all my fault for giving rash advice!” Fu Tingyun looked remorseful. “But if persuading Master Nine to join the Sixteenth Master doesn’t resolve this crisis, then ultimately, I blame myself for choosing the City God Temple to take shelter, causing all these complications.” She continued, her tone becoming resolute, “But what’s done is done. Regret is useless; we can only find ways to remedy the situation!”
Yang Yucheng was slightly taken aback.
He hadn’t expected Fu Tingyun to be so resilient in facing adversity, and couldn’t help but show admiration: “How could this be Miss Fu’s fault?” This was his honest thought. If not for Miss Fu’s suggestion, Master Nine certainly wouldn’t have revealed anything to him. He had thought Master Nine was at his wit’s end and had planned to secretly hide around Xisheng Inn to reinforce Master Nine… which would have likely backfired, “If not for you, with our reckless actions, we might have ruined Master Nine’s plans.” He comforted her, “Master Nine often says, fortune may bring misfortune, misfortune may bring fortune. The way of heaven is unpredictable. Never give up, no matter when. Just persevere, and once you overcome that hurdle, a smooth road surely lies ahead. Currently, the Emperor is in good health. Even if that Sixteenth Master has plans, they won’t materialize immediately. By then, perhaps we’ll have already been transferred to another military command, as Miss Fu suggested.”
As they spoke, A-Sen brought tea, leading Zheng San in.
Yang Yucheng believed in trusting people completely or not at all. He explained the whole situation to Zheng San in detail: “You were previously a caravan guard, surely you have experience in protection. Given Master Nine’s situation, do you have any good strategies?”
Zheng San was shocked.
He thought Zhao Ling had gotten into big trouble, but he hadn’t imagined it involved a prince and two commanders-in-chief. Cold sweat poured from him. After a while, he calmed down and thought carefully: “Xisheng Inn has a courtyard next to courtyard, connected by narrow passages. There are no open spaces. The more people they bring, the harder it will be for them to maneuver. If we arrange the rooftops and courtyards well, we should be able to hold out until dawn.”
“I thought the same,” Yang Yucheng said. “I plan to install some tiger traps on the rooftops and in the courtyards. Do you have any better ideas?”
Zheng San was about to speak when Fu Tingyun loudly said: “Wait, wait.”
Both men looked toward her.
Her eyes sparkled: “Master Nine and Moyi haven’t fallen out yet, right?”
Yang Yucheng was puzzled.
“If that’s the case, why don’t we pretend not to know anything?” Fu Tingyun smiled at the two men. “If someone attacks, we’ll take a gong to the middle of the street and strike it loudly while shouting. I don’t believe the Provincial Administration’s night patrol will ignore it!”
Yang Yucheng clapped his hands: “Brilliant, brilliant!” He laughed heartily, “This time we’ll make Moyi drop a stone on his foot.” Then he stood up, “I’ll report this to Master Nine.”
Zheng San also laughed honestly beside him.
Fu Tingyun advised Yang Yucheng: “Tell Master Nine one more thing—no matter what, don’t fall out with Moyi. Perhaps we can use his influence to resolve this crisis!”
Yang Yucheng nodded repeatedly, cupped his hands to Fu Tingyun in respect, and went to Xisheng Inn with Zheng San.
Zhao Ling listened and shook his head with a smile: “If we want them to see clearly, there’s no need to set traps. As for taking a brass gong to the street, striking it while shouting ‘Thief!’, that’s not a bad idea. Regarding falling out, tell Miss Fu not to worry, I know what I’m doing.” After speaking, he drew the sword Yang Yucheng had brought.
The sharp blade gleamed like autumn waters.
“This sword is not bad. Where did you get it?” Zhao Ling asked Yang Yucheng.
Yang Yucheng laughed heartily: “I met Tang Daishan and his daughter on Baoqing Street. They’re also taking refuge in Xi’an Prefecture. When they heard I urgently needed a sword, Miss Tang lent me this one.”
Zhao Ling nodded, and Zheng San watched him casually flourish the sword, creating nine flower-like patterns.
His heart tightened, and his gaze toward Zhao Ling grew more respectful.
“Thank Guild Master Tang for me,” Zhao Ling said. “In the future, it’s better to have less contact with such connections.”
“Understood,” Yang Yucheng quickly replied, “It was only because I couldn’t find a good weapon immediately that I didn’t decline…”
Zhao Ling didn’t say anything more.
…
Moyi asked Chen Six: “What did that Zheng San come for?”
“He said that with the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, Zhao Ling’s aunt invited him to spend the festival with her.”
Moyi sneered: “Don’t let them find excuses to slip away.”
Chen Six wanted to speak but held back, lowered his head, and answered “Yes,” then turned and withdrew.
Little Five stood in the middle of the courtyard. Seeing Chen Six come out, he asked in a low voice: “How is it?”
“Zhao Ling might go to his aunt’s place for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Master Moyi said not to let him slip away. Chen Six’s tone was somewhat helpless.
“Then let’s wrap this up quickly.” Little Five looked at Zhao Ling’s room. “So we can also enjoy the Mid-Autumn Festival.”
Chen Six nodded, feeling a sense of foreboding, but since Master Tao had also agreed with General Moyi’s opinion, he could only carefully ensure the matter wasn’t bungled.
…
Fu Tingyun examined the elm wood mooncake molds carved with the Eighteen Arhats for a long time, then sighed: “I thought the set of Eighteen Arhats treasured by our family was rare, but I didn’t expect Baoqing Street in Xi’an Prefecture to have them for sale, and they’re no less exquisite than our family’s. As the ancients said, ‘Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles.’ How true.”
“This is also a coincidence; normally one wouldn’t see such fine things,” Madam Lü chuckled, her kind face growing even more gentle. “My husband guessed Miss Fu would like them, so he bought them.”
“Yes!” Fu Tingyun couldn’t bear to put them down. “I love them.”
Zheng San’s wife, who was bringing tea, heard this and smiled: “These molds must be expensive!”
“It’s alright, it’s alright!” Madam Lü avoided answering directly and changed the subject, “Master Nine rarely spends the Mid-Autumn Festival in Xi’an Prefecture. Let’s use these molds to make mooncakes this year, shall we?”
“Certainly!” Fu Tingyun knew the Lü couple was very attentive to her and didn’t pursue how much effort or silver they had spent on the molds. She smiled, “What ingredients do we have at home? What fillings are popular for mooncakes in Xi’an Prefecture?”
“Just mixed nuts, nut fillings, rock sugar fillings,” Madam Lü smiled. “Whatever filling Miss would like to make, just tell me, and I’ll have someone buy the ingredients.”
Fu Tingyun pondered: “I’ve heard that in Jiangnan, flaky mooncakes are popular—the outer skin is like a flaky pastry with rock sugar and melon seeds inside. Shall we try to make those?”