Previously, Zhao Ling had taught Ah Sen to recognize characters by simply pointing out whatever characters they came across. If Ah Sen could remember them, fine; if not, that was fine too. Now it was different. Fu Tingyun started with the “Thousand Family Poems,” not only teaching him to recite but also making a sand tray for him to practice writing.

Ah Sen was quite proud: “I’ve learned seven poems and am working on the eighth.”

In just two months, using only his spare time, he could recognize and write seven poems. No wonder he was so pleased with himself.

Zhao Ling looked at him with a smile, nodding with satisfaction: “Recite one for me to hear!”

Ah Sen happily responded “Yes,” straightened his back, and recited loudly: “Thin clouds and gentle breeze near midday, following flowers and willows past the front stream. People do not know my heart’s joy, thinking I’m learning from youths in idle play…”

Fu Tingyun, sitting to the side, was in a poor mood.

Since they had left Xi’an Prefecture, Zhao Ling had become somewhat different.

But if asked to explain exactly what was different, she couldn’t quite say.

For instance, his entering just now without knocking—before they left Xi’an, he would never have done that. But now, when she reminded him, he seemed dismissive and even sat down casually beside her.

The way it was before had been better.

Although he had always maintained a stern face then, he had been dignified and respectful toward her, never showing the slightest negligence…

As the thought flashed through her mind, she suddenly realized.

Yes, that was it!

Before, he had been formal with her, but now he often seemed somewhat casual.

Fearing they might be surrounded by refugees, they had traveled day and night. She had been tossed about violently in the carriage, and Zheng San Niang, holding Linchun, hadn’t fared any better. Linchun had cried the whole way, with Zheng San Niang trying to console her. Fu Tingyun’s heart had ached as if cut by a knife, worrying terribly and fearing something might happen to the child, even regretting bringing the Zheng San couple to Zhangye. Fortunately, Ah Sen had offered a piece of candy; otherwise, Linchun might have cried her voice hoarse.

After passing Meixian County, they finally slowed down, stopping by the roadside at noon to rest.

She had felt as if her body was falling apart, lying in the carriage not wanting to move a finger, telling Zheng San Niang not to worry about her but to take Linchun out to play: “…Even adults can barely endure this, let alone a child!”

Zheng San Niang had tearfully agreed and taken the child outside.

She had closed her eyes, hoping to rest well, when Zhao Ling lifted the curtain and entered, bringing her a bowl of sweet water.

At the time, she hadn’t thought much of it and had emptied the bowl in front of Zhao Ling. But then… she needed to relieve herself. Zhao Ling had stayed by her side, asking if she was “uncomfortable anywhere,” and she had hemmed and hawed for quite some time. Finally, unable to hold it any longer, she had said she needed to get out for some fresh air.

Zhao Ling had jumped down from the carriage.

She had breathed a sigh of relief and slowly crawled up, enduring the soreness.

But Zhao Ling had stood beside the carriage, reaching out his hand to help her down…

Then everything had become chaotic, and she couldn’t even remember how she had gotten back into the carriage.

She only remembered that her face had been burning the entire time… and when he had helped her down, her whole body had been stiff. She had stumbled and fallen against his shoulder, and that… pleasant scent of his.

Warm and comforting, making one feel lazy and content…

Thinking of this, Fu Tingyun felt her face burning again as if on fire.

Zhao Ling half-heartedly listened to Ah Sen recite, while from the corner of his eye, he occasionally glanced at Fu Tingyun.

First, she childishly pouted, then somewhat lazily leaned slightly to the side, resting against the kang cabinet beside her, falling into a daze.

When he looked over again, her face had suddenly turned bright red, and she bit her red lips with a mixture of charm and shyness. The way she looked, she truly resembled a crab-apple flower in full bloom, beautiful and enchanting.

He couldn’t help asking softly: “What’s wrong?”

But it was like spring thunder awakening one from a flower dream.

She suddenly started, hurriedly saying: “Nothing! Nothing!” Her expression showed a hint of panic as she quickly glanced at him and then sat properly.

Zhao Ling immediately felt dejected.

He had thought they would become closer, but who knew she would grow more distant from him.

Before, she would always speak to him with a smile, but now she seemed to avoid him.

How did this happen?

Zhao Ling began to feel troubled.

Fu Tingyun, however, felt guilty.

Did he discover something?

At that time, she had gripped his collar tightly. If Ah Sen hadn’t shouted “Miss Fu,” she might have nestled into his arms.

Thanks to Ah Sen’s shout, everyone knew her body was stiff and couldn’t move; otherwise, who knows what they might have thought.

Later, he had tossed his fur coat to her… Although it was new and he hadn’t worn it yet, it was warm wrapped around her. Sitting in the carriage, she could avoid thinking about it, but once she got out and saw the fur coats on Jin Yuanbao and the others, she felt completely uncomfortable and just wanted to hide in the carriage without coming out.

She quickly cleared her throat and composed herself. Just then, she heard Ah Sen reciting “Looking at each other without tiring, only Mount Jingting remains”… For some reason, she felt her face burning and her heart racing, and she blurted out incoherently: “Did Master Zhao also learn ‘Thousand Family Poems’ as a child?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she wanted to bite her tongue.

Every child began their education with “Thousand Family Poems.”

Sure enough, Zhao Ling nodded slightly and smiled: “Yes!” He continued, “My father passed away when I was six, but as far back as I can remember, he liked to hold me on his knee and teach me to read. He used to say that while people valued eight-part essays over poetry, they didn’t realize that success in the exams depended on how well one could interpret the topic, and that depended on how striking one’s parallel prose and matching sentences were.” As he spoke, a reminiscent expression appeared on his face. “I still remember there was a jade pixiu paperweight on his desk, smooth and lustrous. Sometimes when I grew impatient with listening, my father would let me play with the jade pixiu. Once, I broke it, and my father replaced it with a jade deer paperweight, still letting me play with it. At that time, I thought all paperweights were made of jade…”

Fu Tingyun was deeply moved.

This was the first time she had heard him speak in such detail about his parents in front of her.

From his tone, his father must have been a scholar.

Why had he died so early?

And how had Zhao Ling ended up in his current situation?

She wanted to ask what had happened but held back.

With both parents gone and him wandering about, bringing it up would only recall bitter tears. Why should she ask and make him sad again?

Moreover, in recent days, no matter what she asked, he would patiently answer her…

Thinking of these things, Fu Tingyun became slightly distracted.

He truly treated her differently now.

In the past, if these topics came up, he would either remain silent or change the subject. When had he ever been like now, as if they were the closest of friends, willing to open his heart and let her see the past hidden in its depths?

Fu Tingyun felt quite uneasy.

She felt that if things continued this way, something significant might happen… But if she stopped now and never inquired about Zhao Ling’s affairs again, she couldn’t help but want to know…

She was conflicted.

The room suddenly fell silent.

She looked up in surprise to see Zhao Ling sitting there silently, his expression somewhat distant.

Was he recalling past happy times or painful memories?

Fu Tingyun felt a sourness in her heart, tinged with pain.

Just as she was wondering how to discreetly comfort him, Ah Sen abruptly said: “I, I’ve finished reciting!”

How could they have forgotten him?

Fu Tingyun felt embarrassed and quickly looked over at Ah Sen.

Ah Sen hung his head, muttering softly: “You were both just talking, and no one paid attention to me!”

He looked quite aggrieved.

Fu Tingyun felt both ashamed and embarrassed.

Zhao Ling, who had been silent moments ago, laughed heartily and said: “When adults talk, children should listen quietly on the side.” Then he stood up, “Come, let’s go have dinner—it’s getting late, aren’t you all hungry?” His expression was bright and clear, with no trace of the earlier bewilderment.

“Youth knows not the taste of sorrow, forcing new verses to speak of gloom. Now having tasted sorrow fully, they say autumn’s coolness is fine indeed.”

This Zhao Ling made Fu Tingyun’s heart ache even more.

Ah Sen, however, immediately brightened up: “Master, shall I go call Brother Yucheng and Brother Yuanbao?”

Zhao Ling nodded, and he ran out jubilantly.

Zhao Ling stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at Ah Sen’s retreating figure for a long time without moving.

Fu Tingyun, not wanting him to be lonely, quietly stood beside him.

After quite a while, he finally said softly: “When I was young, I was like Ah Sen, happy at the mention of food.”

From a child who “thought all paperweights were made of jade” to one who was happy at the mention of food…

The desire to comfort him could no longer be contained.

Fu Tingyun reached out her hand, wanting to pat his head just as she did with Ah Sen, but as she extended her hand, she realized he was a head taller than her… She quickly withdrew her hand, feeling awkward.

Noticing her gesture, Zhao Ling’s spirits lifted like a ship unfurling its sails.

She had already chosen to go to Zhangye with him, so why should he overthink? He should just treat her well!

“Let’s go have dinner!” He turned to look at her, a warm tenderness slowly flowing from his brow.

…

Hearing they would stay in Yongjing for two days, Fu Tingyun’s mood improved.

She called for Zheng San: “Accompany me to the market tomorrow, I want to buy a fur coat.” After a pause, she added, “Or perhaps we could buy one for Master Zhao as well!”

Zheng San looked at Fu Tingyun’s delicate features with some hesitation: “This place is a mix of good and bad people, and we’re just passing through…”

Having been a caravan guard for so long, he always prioritized reaching their destination safely, and beauty and money were often two things that could cause complications… He feared creating unnecessary trouble.

Fu Tingyun felt discouraged and said: “Then go out tomorrow and buy a fur coat for Master Zhao.”

Zheng San had confidence in himself for this task and respectfully agreed.

Fu Tingyun opened her trunk and gave him two hundred taels of silver. The next day, she sat somewhat gloomily in her room doing needlework.

Ah Sen enthusiastically brought his sand tray to learn characters from her, which finally lifted her spirits. But Ah Sen still sensed her unhappiness and secretly told Zhao Ling: “Miss Fu is unhappy!”

“Oh!” Zhao Ling’s hand, about to write, paused. “Why is Miss Fu unhappy?”

Ah Sen secretly laughed to himself.

He knew that whenever he mentioned Miss Fu, Master Zhao would ask about her.

“I don’t know!” Ah Sen said, “She’s just unhappy.”

Zhao Ling made a sound of acknowledgment and continued writing with his head lowered.

Ah Sen, feeling bored, squatted in the room, practicing characters on the sand tray.

After a while, he saw Zhao Ling put down his brush and walk out.

Ah Sen stood on tiptoe to see.

He saw Zhao Ling knocking on Fu Tingyun’s door.

Ah Sen felt somewhat moved.

Master Zhao truly listened to Miss Fu’s words. She had only mentioned it once yesterday, and he had taken it to heart.