As Zhao Ling entered the door, his gaze never left Fu Tingyun.

He watched as she alternated between joy and sorrow; one moment her brows tightly knitted, the next her face breaking into smiles… all seven emotions playing across her face with the pure sincerity of a child, making his heart leap with happiness and strengthening his desire to protect her.

“What’s bothering you?” His voice grew even gentler, “Whatever it is, two people discussing it together is always better than keeping it bottled up inside. Don’t you agree?”

Yes!

But how could she possibly say these words!

Should she ask him if his feelings for her were genuine?

Would he propose to her parents?

If her father showed him disdain, could he tolerate it for her sake?

If one day her true identity was revealed, would he be willing to protect her even at the cost of his career and prospects?

She dared not imagine, much less ask.

Her eyes suddenly grew moist.

She couldn’t cry in front of him.

She wanted his sincere protection, not his pity or sympathy.

Fu Tingyun blinked hard, forcing back the tears into her body.

“Today I saw a couple arguing on the street through the window,” she said slowly. “It reminded me of things from the past, and made me a bit sad, that’s all.”

Is that so?

Zhao Ling was somewhat doubtful. But seeing the hint of melancholy in Fu Tingyun’s expression, he became uncertain.

But being broad-minded, he thought that since he had already decided to treat her wholeheartedly well, even if she was unwilling to speak now, he would surely discover the truth if he paid attention. Not bothering with these minor details, he smiled and told her about meeting Mo Yi today, hoping to cheer her up: “…That Lin Chi, I suspect he was the one who attacked me that night. Sometimes you can judge a person’s character at the dinner table—he seems to have a straightforward personality, but I wonder what position he holds in the Divine Crossbow Battalion?”

Fu Tingyun also forced herself to set aside her sadness, slowly calming her emotions as she engaged in casual conversation with him: “Since Mo Yi invited him, they must have a good personal relationship. And since you find him straightforward, perhaps it’s best to pretend you don’t know.”

“Naturally,” Zhao Ling nodded with a smile. “Even if we weren’t in the same boat, considering he didn’t come after me despite suffering greatly that day, I certainly wouldn’t provoke him.” He continued, “It seems Mo Yi and the Marquis of Yingchuan are close friends. When I mentioned wanting his help to invite the Marquis for a meal, he agreed on the Marquis’s behalf without hesitation. Both Tao Mu and Lin Chi acted as if it was perfectly normal, so we’ll likely need to ask many more favors from Mo Yi in the future.”

Fu Tingyun recalled her first encounter with Mo Yi at the City God Temple, and a faint smile appeared on her face: “At the time, I wondered what kind of ruffian he was, never imagining he was a Mobile Corps General. Truly, one cannot judge a person by appearance.”

They continued chatting casually, creating a rare atmosphere of warmth and tranquility. Though one felt it was getting late and should return, and the other thought it was getting cold and they should go to bed, neither wanted to mention parting.

From outside came the drum marking the fourth watch.

Dawn would soon break.

Zhao Ling started, quickly standing up: “I should return to my room now.” He silently regretted talking so much in such cold weather, “You should get into bed and stay warm!” Worried she might catch a cold, he added, “I’ll have Zheng Sanniang prepare some ginger soup for you later.”

Tomorrow—no, today—he still had to meet the Marquis of Yingchuan, and would likely drink heavily at noon. Staying up all night before such social obligations was most harmful to one’s health. It was his fault, getting carried away with these outside matters without minding the time. Fu Tingyun’s voice betrayed her concern: “You should also go rest for a while!” Knowing this drinking engagement couldn’t be avoided, she simply said, “Remember to eat something first to line your stomach before drinking.”

Seeing the concern in her every gesture, her fussing like a wife sending her husband on a journey, Zhao Ling felt immeasurable joy. He made a sound of assent, gazed at her with smiling eyes for a moment, then turned to leave.

Fu Tingyun stood silently at the doorway, watching as he reached his door, saw him turn back to wave indicating she should go inside, saw him frown with displeasure because she hadn’t followed his instruction and remained at the door, saw him smile helplessly while shaking his head and sighing as he pushed open the door to the guest room, saw him come out again to check on her with concern, and seeing she still hadn’t returned to her room, approach her with a stern face and fierce demeanor…

She smiled slightly, suddenly turned around, and with a “bang” shut the door in his face. Leaning against the door, she covered her mouth and laughed, though her face was wet with cold tears.

…

Zhao Ling’s affairs progressed smoothly. He went out early and returned late each day, with endless social engagements. A Sen was young, and with Yang Yucheng and Jin Yuanbao accompanying him as they would be following him to Zhuanglang Guard, it was important for them to meet certain people. With only them by his side, A Sen would eavesdrop every night and run to report to Fu Tingyun.

“…Although the Marquis of Yingchuan didn’t go out to dine with the master, when the master went to the Commander-in-Chief’s mansion, the Marquis’s guard was waiting at the entrance to escort him directly to the Marquis’s office. The Marquis summoned the mansion’s administrator to meet him and personally instructed him to take the master to the documents office to prepare reports. On the way out, they encountered Deputy Commander Liu, who stopped to ask who the master was, praised him as a young hero, and encouraged him to serve the court well in the future.”

“…Today the master hosted Deputy Commander Liu at Xiqin Restaurant. The Prefect of Suzhou, Master Peng, and the Prefect of Xining, Master Hu, also came. They took turns forcing drinks on the master, but he only had four or five cups before pretending to be unable to hold his liquor and having us carry him back.”

“…General Mo’s friend, Master Lin, hosted a welcome banquet for the master at Xiqin Restaurant and brought seven or eight colleagues. The master drank them all under the table.”

Having heard so much, Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but worry. She asked A Sen, “When will the master go to Zhuanglang Guard?” Perhaps then there would be fewer drinking parties.

“I don’t know!” A Sen shook his head, his jet-black eyes rolling, “If you like, I can ask for Miss?”

Just then, Zhao Ling arrived.

“Master has no social engagements today?” A Sen immediately ran over attentively.

Zhao Ling patted his head: “I can’t be indulging in wine and feasting every day, can I?” But his eyes were fixed on Fu Tingyun, as if his words were meant for her.

An inexplicable feeling bubbled up like spring water from a well, but she had already decided not to think about this matter. Suppressing the strange emotions in her heart, she smiled and went to brew tea for Zhao Ling.

As Zhao Ling drank his tea, his expression revealed some hesitation.

For someone so decisive in matters of life and death, what difficult issue could he be facing?

Thinking this, Fu Tingyun’s heart softened, and she took the initiative: “Does Ninth Master have something on his mind? Please feel free to speak.”

Hearing this, Zhao Ling thought for a moment and said, “I’ll be departing for Zhuanglang Guard in a few days. I think you should stay in Zhangye…”

Fu Tingyun was stunned.

Zhao Ling hastily explained: “It’s more lively and prosperous here, and Mo Yi can help look after you…”

Fu Tingyun misunderstood as she listened.

The reason she had come to Zhangye in the first place was to serve as a “hostage.” Now that they were in Zhangye, she naturally should stay somewhere where Mo Yi could keep an eye on her.

“Don’t worry, Ninth Master,” she said gently. “I will stay properly in Zhangye, keep the doors tightly shut, and give Mo Yi no reason to find fault.”

Why is she answering something different from what I asked?

After a moment of confusion, Zhao Ling suddenly understood.

He couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

This showed that lies should never be told.

How could he salvage the situation now?

If she misunderstood him as someone who would sell his wife for career advancement… the very thought made his spine go cold.

“It’s not what you think,” he said urgently. “Mo Yi and I now have a good relationship, and besides, I’ve already reached Zhuanglang Guard; he has no ill intentions…” Before he could finish, he realized he had misspoken. Saying “no ill intentions” implied that there had been “ill intentions” before, and that he had made her come here for the sake of his career. “I meant,” he anxiously explained, “you’ve been following me around for more than half a year, you need some time to rest and recuperate. Zhangye is a strategic fortress in the northwest, whatever you want to eat or wear, you can buy it here…”

No one wants others to see their unworthy side.

For Zhao Ling, her accompanying him to Zhuanglang Guard could be seen as a kind of submission to the Sixteenth Master, Mo Yi, and others.

“That’s what I was thinking too,” Fu Tingyun smiled. “Ninth Master needn’t worry about me, just go to Zhuanglang Guard with peace of mind. I have the Zheng couple to look after me, nothing will happen. Even if something does happen, Zhuanglang Guard isn’t far from here. I can send someone with a message, and riding at full speed, you could be here in seven or eight days.”

Women are so contradictory.

Bothered deeply in her heart, yet putting on a magnanimous front.

Fu Tingyun’s dignified smile with its hint of distance, her considerate words with their touch of politeness, made Zhao Ling so anxious he felt like vomiting blood. His true feelings burst out: “At Zhuanglang Guard, I’m just a small Banner Captain. If you follow me there, above you would be the wives and concubines of the Battalion Commander, below you the families of colleagues, you would have to please this one with smiles and that one with pleasantries… It would be better to live next to Mo Yi. Though Mo Yi outranks me, the woman in his house is only a concubine. If she speaks kindly to you, you can chat more with her; if she doesn’t, you can simply close your door and do whatever you please…”

Was he afraid she would suffer?

Fu Tingyun had already decided to keep her feelings frozen, but tenderness uncontrollably spread like spring water, leaving her unable to breathe or speak.

She thought of that green-clothed Company Commander.

In the end, Zhao Ling had only asked Mo Yi to send his guard to escort the man back… And the Garrison Battalion Commander Wang Yi, who had never appeared on the list of people he entertained, showed that things were not as smooth as A Sen had thought.

She couldn’t help him much, but at least she could avoid causing him trouble by staying quietly in Zhangye, allowing him to concentrate on dealing with those external matters.

“All right!” she said obediently. “I’ll follow Ninth Master’s wishes and stay in Zhangye.”

Her words suddenly interrupted his, and he couldn’t help but look at her.

Their eyes met, and Fu Tingyun’s gaze was as soft as the clear moonlight, leaving Zhao Ling speechless for quite some time before he came to his senses.

What a jumble of nonsense he had spoken.

But judging by Fu Tingyun’s expression, she seemed to enjoy hearing it… and had immediately changed her attitude and stance.

Zhao Ling vaguely felt as though he had glimpsed something…