Fu Tingyun was very curious, but as a guest in the household, there were some matters that, even if Madam Lü respected her greatly, she wouldn’t inquire about. She smiled as she escorted Madam Lü out of her room, then sat on the bed, adding stitches to the edges of her winter clothes to make them look crisper.
Before she had even finished one edge, Madam Lü returned, holding a blue coarse cloth bag in her hands.
Her expression was somewhat strange as she said, “Miss Fu, the Ninth Master instructed that these two hundred taels of silver be placed in your room.” As she spoke, she put the bag down in front of her and untied it.
The snow-white silver dazzled the eye.
“Place it in my room?” Fu Tingyun looked at her in confusion.
Madam Lü replied, “Those were the Ninth Master’s instructions.” She knew nothing more.
Fu Tingyun called Zheng San Niang in, had the silver stored in the cabinet, and instructed her, “When the Ninth Master returns, let me know.”
Zheng San Niang smiled and answered, “Yes.”
Madam Lü looked on with a smile and said, “The young miss should also add a couple of trunks.” She added, “Why don’t I have someone from our household buy a pair for you?”
Fu Tingyun also wanted to add a couple of trunks to avoid piling her clothes in the corner of the bed.
But where would she get the money?
The thought flashed through her mind, and she was somewhat dazed.
Could it be that Zhao Ling had given her this silver for her expenses?
Otherwise, since she neither managed the expenses of Yangliuxiang nor handled Zhao Ling’s income, why would he place the silver in her room?
The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed, but she was afraid of being mistaken and making a fool of herself, so she was somewhat distracted when she said, “We’ll talk about it later!”
Madam Lü naturally couldn’t make the decision for her, and seeing that she was busy with her needlework, smiled, chatted idly for a bit, and then took her leave.
Fu Tingyun anxiously waited for Zhao Ling’s return, but he only came back after dinner. Hearing that Fu Tingyun was looking for him, he changed clothes and came over.
“Why are you back so late?” Fu Tingyun turned to brew him a cup of tea, completely unaware of the slight complaint in her tone.
When Zhao Ling had gone out, he had originally planned to inform her, but seeing that Fu Tingyun hadn’t yet risen, and thinking that she had been rushing about with him these past days and probably hadn’t had a good night’s sleep, he had hurriedly instructed Madam Lü and the others not to disturb her, to let her sleep until she woke naturally. Upon returning and learning that Old Master Lü and the others had exchanged the silver in the morning, he knew she must be confused, perhaps even worried all day, and silently blamed himself for not leaving her a message. He paid no attention to the tone she used when speaking to him.
“The man who lent me the sword is called Tang Daishan. He was originally a salt merchant in Pucheng who also privately operated several salt wells. Later, the Feng family connected with Vice Minister Yin Zhongyuan of the Ministry of Revenue to engage in official salt trade, and they also controlled the private salt in Shaanxi, nearly driving Tang Daishan to a dead end. At that time, I had just started trading in private salt and didn’t understand much. Tang Daishan guided me a few times. Seeing that I quickly found my footing, he partnered with me on several deals, and we developed a certain friendship.” Zhao Ling explained lightly, avoiding the crux of the matter. “I went to return the sword and intended to treat him to a meal to express my gratitude. Who knew that he was determined to have me go to the capital with him to find connections? No matter how I refused, he wouldn’t give up. After dawdling, we had dinner at Thirteen Mountain before returning.” He smiled bitterly as he said this. “I’m afraid he still won’t give up and might visit again tomorrow.”
Upon hearing this, Fu Tingyun immediately disliked Tang Daishan.
Zhao Ling had said no, yet he kept insisting. She felt that this Tang Daishan wasn’t sincere or straightforward in his dealings with people.
She said, “Isn’t Yangliuxiang the residence you bought in your early years? I heard that even Young Master Yang and Master Jin didn’t know where it was, so how did Tang Daishan know?”
“Originally, he didn’t know,” Zhao Ling said. “Now that I’m living here, Tang Daishan naturally knows.”
Fu Tingyun frowned slightly as she listened: “Does he know that you’re going to serve at the Military Commission?”
“He shouldn’t know,” Zhao Ling said. “He thinks the Feng family hired someone to deal with me.”
“It’s better to be cautious,” Fu Tingyun said. “His information is so current—he knew as soon as you moved. He might also know about your going to the Military Commission.” She thought about how trading private salt was a serious crime. If Zhao Ling had already entered the Military Commission, people would consider his patron’s face and might pretend not to know about his past. But now, before he had entered the Military Commission, if this matter were exposed, the Sixteenth Young Master was, after all, a prince and couldn’t openly support him. The Military Commission, for the sake of its reputation, might not honor the Sixteenth Young Master’s wishes, and Zhao Ling’s prospects could be completely ruined. But this was difficult to say directly to Zhao Ling, so she added tactfully, “Everyone is so happy about you going to the Military Commission! Madam Lü is even planning to go to Guangren Temple in the next few days to fulfill a vow. The capital is far away, with high mountains and distant roads. It’s about to be the beginning of autumn, and the weather will get colder as time goes on. Why should you go to the capital with him and make everyone worry?”
Would you worry?
This question suddenly sprang up in Zhao Ling’s mind, and if he hadn’t always been cautious, he might have blurted it out.
Cold sweat broke out on his brow.
In a few days, he would report to the Military Commission. From what he had gathered during his lunch with Wu Xin at Thirteen Mountain after their previous meeting, among the twenty-some guard units of the Shaanxi Military Commission, the Commission office was already overcrowded. Even those recommended by the Ministry of War usually went to various guard units first, gradually seeking opportunities for transfer. The possibility of staying at the Military Commission office immediately upon arrival was slim. And then there was Huayin—news should come from there in the next few days. Madam Fu, knowing about the misfortune that had befallen Sir Jie’s family, would certainly have arrangements for her daughter… He was, after all, an outsider, and his future was uncertain…
Thinking of these things, his mood became somewhat downcast.
He raised the teacup and took a sip, finding the post-Grain Rain Longjing tea both bitter and astringent.
Fu Tingyun saw him lower his head in silence and felt uneasy.
Could it be that this Tang Daishan had offered some benefit to Zhao Ling?
On second thought, that seemed impossible.
Zhao Ling was a man of his word. Since he had agreed to join the military, he would go even if he didn’t like it.
But why wasn’t he saying anything?
There must be something strange about this!
Fu Tingyun pondered silently.
Since he wouldn’t say, she could only gradually inquire later.
But last night, while chatting with him about various things, she had forgotten to ask if he was truly willing to go to the Military Commission… Now with the matter of Tang Daishan, she needed to find a way to remind him.
She thought for a moment and smiled, “How did the Ninth Master come to trade in private salt? I’ve heard that while the profits are high, so are the risks, and it’s very hard work.”
Why was she suddenly asking about this?
Was it because of Tang Daishan’s appearance?
Zhao Ling no longer had the leisurely mood he had when speaking with Fu Tingyun earlier: “This way, money is earned more and faster.” His answer was somewhat absent-minded.
In Fu Tingyun’s eyes, this appeared as indifference.
She was indignant.
It wasn’t because he couldn’t make ends meet, but just because he could “earn more and faster”…
She took a deep breath, constantly admonishing herself, “Don’t get angry. He may have become desensitized to the private salt trade after associating with Old Four Feng and Tang Daishan for so long.” Her mood gradually calmed, and she smiled and asked him, “If the Ninth Master had not traded in private salt, what would you have planned to do?”
Zhao Ling hadn’t expected her to ask this and was somewhat surprised.
“What would I have planned to do?” He thought for a moment and said, “I’ve never thought about it!”
How could he never have thought about it?
Then what was he going to do in Jiangnan?
Or perhaps, he didn’t want to tell her?
Fu Tingyun was extremely frustrated, but seeing his nonchalant demeanor, she felt that further questioning wouldn’t yield any answers. With some resignation, she said, “Isn’t the Ninth Master going to join the military? Why not take this opportunity to think it through? Confucius said, ‘At thirty, one should be established.’ There’s still time to make plans then.”
“That’s a good idea,” Zhao Ling smiled. “I’ll take this opportunity to think it through!” But his smile seemed very forced.
What was wrong with him?
When he had first entered, he had been fine, patiently and gently explaining the matter of Tang Daishan to her. How had he suddenly changed like this?
Fu Tingyun didn’t understand and couldn’t guess his thoughts, so she temporarily set aside these emotions and smiled, asking him, “This morning, Madam Lü brought in two hundred taels of silver. May I ask what the Ninth Master has planned?”
Hearing this, Zhao Ling’s spirits seemed to lift somewhat. He said, “Early this morning, I went to Daxingshan Temple and arranged with a guest prefect there that they could perform rites for Sir Jie’s family at any time. Why don’t you choose a date, and I’ll take you there when the time comes.” He continued, “All your silver is in my hands, and nowadays, accounting everywhere requires actual silver. Baoqing Silver House only starts exchanging silver notes for amounts of two thousand taels or more, so I think it’s best not to touch your silver notes for now. You know I’ve been planning to invest in some property these days and need silver, so I exchanged some at Baoqing House and had Manager Lü bring you two hundred taels first. When the time comes to perform rites at Daxingshan Temple, it will also be convenient to donate merit money and incense money. And if you want to buy some small items you like, you can also have Zheng San Niang help you buy them!”
She hadn’t expected him to have been thinking of this all along…
Fu Tingyun was very surprised, and even more grateful.
She thanked him softly, the corners of her eyes moistening.
“What is there to thank me for?” Zhao Ling said. “I should have helped you take care of this matter long ago, but because Mo Yi was around, I was afraid of causing misunderstandings, so I delayed it.” Then he asked her, “When would you like to go?”
Fu Tingyun had Zheng San Niang bring an almanac and set the date for tomorrow.
“Very well!” Zhao Ling rose to take his leave. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll send Yucheng to Daxingshan Temple to let them know.”
Fu Tingyun, thinking she needed to prepare for the visit to Daxingshan Temple, didn’t detain him further. She saw Zhao Ling out, and the next day, she rode in a hired carriage to Daxingshan Temple.
…
Daxingshan Temple was the oldest Zen monastery in Shaanxi, with a history of over five hundred years. It had majestic halls and numerous courtyards. Perhaps because of the famine year, there were exceptionally many people coming to worship Buddha. They jostled shoulder to shoulder, with a cacophony of voices, as if attending a temple fair.
Fu Tingyun followed Zhao Ling to the Grand Hall to pay respects to the Bodhisattva, then continued along the wide stone path toward the back. After passing the Medicine King Hall, the number of worshippers gradually diminished.
They went west through a long corridor and entered a courtyard lush with pines and cypresses. The main building, facing south with five rooms, had one bright chamber and two dim ones. To the left and right were wing rooms, with a hall in the middle. In the center of the hall, on an incense table, stood a Bodhisattva statue about three feet tall. The guest prefect monk welcomed them to the hall, where they offered incense to the Bodhisattva, then led them to rest in a wing room. In the hall, the forty-nine monks who had been invited began shaking their implements and drums, chanting sutras and performing rites.
Fu Tingyun sat in the wing room, listening to the waves of Sanskrit sounds coming over. At times, she remembered the warmth of her uncle holding her as she picked flowers when she was young; at times, the joy of her third cousin taking her fishing at her uncle’s farm that year; at times, the image of her eldest nephew’s one-month celebration in a bright red robe, as delicate as jade… Tears fell uncontrollably.
Zheng San Niang, who accompanied her, kept consoling her, but Fu Tingyun remained sorrowful for a long time.
By noon, when a novice monk brought vegetarian food, she discovered Zhao Ling standing under a pine tree by the courtyard, its crown spread like a canopy.
He stood with his hands behind his back, as straight as a pine, gazing impassively toward the Grand Hall, as if he had a heart full of worries but no one to tell them to, appearing lonely and solitary.
Fu Tingyun inexplicably felt a faint sadness in her heart.
She took two steps where others would take three and went over to him: “Weren’t you supposed to go look at shop fronts with Old Master Lü? What happened?” Then, realizing it was already noon, she added, “The novice monk has brought some vegetarian food, which looks quite appetizing. Why don’t you join us for a meal, Ninth Master?”
Zhao Ling turned his head and looked at her steadily. Seeing the growing anxiety in her brow, unreservedly revealed, he couldn’t help but smile.
“Nothing’s wrong.” his gaze at her was gentle and soft. “I just wanted to stand here and be quiet for a while.”
Sometimes people wish to be alone.
Fu Tingyun didn’t doubt him and breathed a sigh of relief.
“Go and eat. I’ll leave first!” He turned to go.
“What about your lunch?” Fu Tingyun hadn’t expected him to leave so abruptly and called after him.
“Yucheng is still waiting for me outside,” Zhao Ling smiled and waved at her. “Don’t worry about me.” He seemed to have shed a heavy burden, his every movement exuding an indescribable sense of freedom and ease.
Fu Tingyun quietly watched him leave and couldn’t help but smile.