The next day, as dawn was just breaking, the residence in Yangliu Lane became bustling with activity.

Madam Lü and Lu Wei were in the kitchen making flatbreads and steaming buns, preparing breakfast and dried provisions for the journey. After all, it was a year of famine, and once they left Xi’an Prefecture, who knew where they could buy food.

Master Lü was directing San Fu and Shi Zhu to carry out the trunks and boxes that had been prepared earlier. Everyone was chatting and laughing; some carrying parcels, some hugging bedding, others holding utensils, coming and going between the hall and their respective wing rooms, packing their luggage.

Outside, an old servant came in to report: “The horse dealer has arrived!”

They did not yet qualify for travel permits from the Military Commissioner’s Office, so they could not enjoy the privilege of staying at courier stations or using their horses and carriages. How to get to Zhangye was something they had to figure out themselves. Jin Yuanbao had asked the cart driver, Ma Er, to help select a few horses and buy a large cart early yesterday.

Hearing the report, he put down what he was doing and called for San Fu, who knew about horses: “Come with me to take a look. Don’t let them pass off inferior goods. Otherwise, we’ll have to walk to Zhangye.”

“That won’t happen,” San Fu laughed as he went out with Jin Yuanbao. “I can’t speak for other things, but this skill of judging animals was personally taught by Master Zhao. If I misjudge, the loss would be well-deserved.”

Yang Yucheng heard this and laughed heartily. But after just a couple of laughs, he held his head and plopped down on the grand chair, calling for “Ah Sen”: “Go to the kitchen and get me some vinegar.” He then muttered, “Damn, that liquor was really strong.”

Ah Sen responded and left.

Master Lü chuckled.

Yang Yucheng was feeling unwell and irritable. Looking at all the items in the room, he couldn’t help but exclaim: “Where is that fellow Zheng San? We’re leaving this afternoon, he should at least show his face and help out!”

Master Lü also found it a bit strange but, keeping to his peace-making nature, said: “Perhaps he’s been delayed by something.”

As they were talking, Zhao Ling walked out, wearing a lilac-colored straight robe with a belt, looking neat. He instructed Yang Yucheng: “Go to Baoqing Silver Shop right now and exchange two thousand taels of silver. Miss Fu needs it for something!”

“Ah!” Yang Yucheng’s mouth fell open as he glanced at all the items in the room and said with distress, “Go now?”

Zhao Ling nodded: “Go now.” Then he said to Master Lü: “In a while, accompany Miss Fu when she goes out. See if Miss Fu has any instructions, what she buys…” He pondered, “If it’s just items worth a few dozen taels of silver, let her have her way. But if it’s hundreds or thousands of taels, help check if they’re genuine. Also… if Miss Fu is going to a temple, find someone to send me a message!”

Last night, Fu Tingyun had left quite happily, but he had tossed and turned most of the night without falling asleep. After much thought, he worried that she might have been moved by the abbot of Daxing Temple and was planning to donate merit money for the ceremony on the first day of the ninth month.

Master Lü was startled: “What happened?”

Zhao Ling, out of consideration for Fu Tingyun’s dignity, spoke vaguely without elaborating.

Yang Yucheng, hearing that Master Lü would also be going out with Fu Tingyun early in the morning, pointed at the items in the hall and hesitated: “Then what about these?”

“We’ll pack them when we get back,” Zhao Ling said dismissively. “Let’s take care of Miss Fu’s matter first. It doesn’t matter much whether we leave an hour earlier or later.”

Yang Yucheng called for Shi Zhu and left with his head drooping.

Zhao Ling then called Master Lü aside and gave him some instructions.

Master Lü nodded repeatedly: “Master, rest assured, I understand.”

Then, following Fu Tingyun along the way, who knew that Fu Tingyun, accompanied by Zheng San Niang, only bought some cotton clothes and fur coats, not even a single piece of jewelry, spending less than two hundred taels of silver, and finishing their shopping in less than an hour.

“Aren’t you going to buy anything else?” Master Lü asked suspiciously.

“There’s nothing else I need to buy,” Fu Tingyun smiled as she got into the carriage. “Let’s hurry back!” She didn’t mention going anywhere else.

Master Lü was full of confusion. As they reached the entrance of Yangliu Lane, they encountered Zheng San, who had disappeared early in the morning.

He was driving a black-lacquered carriage with matching horses.

“What’s this…” Master Lü pointed at the carriage with puzzlement.

Zheng San smiled and said: “Miss Fu instructed me to buy it.”

As they spoke, they caught the attention of Zhao Ling, who was being accompanied by Jin Yuanbao at the door, examining whether the carts and horses were properly prepared. He walked over quickly, calling out from a distance: “What’s going on?”

Zheng San respectfully answered: “Miss Fu said we are also going to Zhangye. Early this morning, she had me buy a carriage.”

The news came so suddenly that Zhao Ling was dumbfounded and couldn’t react for a long time.

Jin Yuanbao and Master Lü looked at each other in bewilderment, not knowing what to say.

For a moment, Yangliu Lane was filled only with the loud snorting of horses and the “clop-clop” sound of hooves nervously pawing at the bluestone slabs, further highlighting the quietness of Yangliu Lane.

Fu Tingyun, looking through the carriage curtain at Zhao Ling’s somewhat stunned expression, somehow felt a surge of smugness and wanted to make Zhao Ling even more surprised.

She got down from the carriage unhurriedly, supported by Zheng San Niang.

Only then did Zhao Ling understand.

His heart was both surprised and delighted.

He was surprised that Fu Tingyun had quietly prepared everything for the long journey without telling him; he was delighted that his feelings weren’t one-sided, that Fu Tingyun had chosen to go to Zhangye with him… But in the next moment, this surprise and joy turned into annoyance.

Did she even know what kind of decision she was making? Did she know what situation she would face in the future? Without consulting anyone, she had arbitrarily decided to go to Zhangye!

Yet he forgot that he was the one who had started it all.

His face darkened as he sternly asked Fu Tingyun to speak with him privately.

Any man with a sense of honor would not tolerate his fiancée becoming a hostage, let alone Zhao Ling.

Fu Tingyun had known all along that once he learned of her decision, he would not agree to her following him to Zhangye, which was why she had kept it from Zhao Ling.

Now that the matter was out in the open, Zhao Ling would certainly want to talk to her privately.

She didn’t refuse and silently followed him into the study.

“You will stay in Xi’an Prefecture, there is no room for negotiation on this matter,” he dropped these resolute words as soon as she stepped into the study. “I will have someone send a message to the capital. In at most two months, there will be news from there.”

His expression was cold, even carrying a touch of chilling severity that made it clear to anyone how determined and firm he was.

Fu Tingyun, however, was unfazed.

He had once tried to strangle her, yet she had survived just fine. And despite knowing she had nowhere to go, annoyed as he was, he still hadn’t abandoned her; when they encountered Feng Laosi, he had hidden her in a water vat; at the City God Temple, even when he was delirious with fever, he had still protected her behind him… He was just intimidating in appearance.

“I heard everything you, Master Yang, and Master Jin said in the study,” since things had come to this point, there was no need to hide anymore, she spoke frankly. “Why did Hao Yi ask about me? It’s because I said you and I were ‘engaged.'” Although she told herself this was serious business, not some romantic affair that required shyness, she couldn’t help but have a blush rise to her cheeks. “If I hadn’t spoken nonsense, how would things have turned out this way?” She continued slowly, “Since the matter arose because of me, I should be the one to bear the responsibility.” Her voice carried an unwavering firmness.

“If anyone should bear responsibility, it should be me,” Zhao Ling’s face darkened further. If it hadn’t been to save him, would she have said such things?! Now that there was a problem, how could he, a man, let her, a mere woman, bear the responsibility? “You don’t need to concern yourself with this matter, just stay well in Yangliu Lane.” His attitude was even more resolute than hers. He turned to leave, with the manner of someone who saw no need for further discussion.

She knew it would be like this!

Fu Tingyun looked at his back and said languidly: “Then I’ll go by myself!”

Zhao Ling turned around, glaring at her with a severe expression, veins popping at his temples.

Fu Tingyun smiled, straightened her back, and walked past him with her head held high.

Her determined attitude was self-evident.

Zhao Ling felt as if his head was about to split open.

He knew it was now impossible to make Fu Tingyun back down with such a cold demeanor.

“Miss Fu!” he called to her, “This matter is not as simple as you imagine…” His voice faintly revealed a hint of helplessness that even he hadn’t noticed.

Fu Tingyun, with her back to him, had the corners of her mouth turned upward.

Aren’t you angry?

Aren’t you showing me a stern face?

Apart from this, what else can you do to me?

Her mood could truly be described as joyful.

“Indeed, I’m thinking very simply,” Fu Tingyun turned around, looking at Zhao Ling with certainty. “However, I believe that sometimes complex matters are better resolved with simple methods.” Just like this time, if she had consulted with Zhao Ling, forget about going to Zhangye, she wouldn’t even have gotten those two thousand taels of silver, let alone act according to her wishes. Now with money and people at her disposal, she felt more secure. “If Master Zhao feels that I will delay everyone’s journey, we could proceed separately—you go first, and I will follow with Zheng San’s protection.”

Zhao Ling suddenly understood why Fu Tingyun had asked him for silver.

It was for her travel expenses and also for her daily needs after arriving in Zhangye.

He had found the person, he had provided the money—wasn’t this like lifting a rock only to drop it on his foot?

Zhao Ling wondered inwardly, but his expression grew even colder.

“Nonsense!” he scolded in a low voice. “Do you know how far Zhangye is from here?” He was questioning her, not expecting an answer. “From Xi’an Prefecture to Zhangye is two thousand four hundred and forty-six li, passing through forty-three courier stations, a journey of one hundred and ten days…”

“It is quite far!” Fu Tingyun interrupted Zhao Ling, frowning with an appearance of distress. “No wonder you’re concerned.” As she spoke, a hint of cunning flashed in her eyes. “However, what if I send a letter to Hao Yi? Do you think he would send someone to escort me?”

…

From the back courtyard came Fu Tingyun’s cheerful and clear voice: “We don’t need to bring this, they sell it in Zhangye. Take this one, we can read it when we’re bored on the journey. And this one too, I heard the sand and wind there are very strong…”

In the front hall, everyone looked at Zhao Ling standing under the eaves with an ashen face. Their expressions became more cautious as they quietly packed the trunks and boxes, afraid that any noise might anger the man in front, which made Fu Tingyun’s melodious voice from the back courtyard sound even more pleasant.

Zhao Ling suddenly covered his forehead and laughed.

Enough, enough.

If she, a girl, wasn’t afraid, how could he, a grown man, be fearful?

Since they had already come this far, whatever hardships and dangers they might face in the future, they would face them with composure.

There are always more solutions than problems.

He dared not seriously consider whether this was a helpless compromise or an excuse for the obsession hidden in the depths of his heart.