Mrs. Qi lived next door to Fu Tingyun. Her husband worked as a Records Keeper in the Commander-in-Chief’s storehouse. Though it wasn’t an official rank, it was a lucrative position. Perhaps because of this, Mrs. Qi was plump and fair, resembling a smiling Maitreya Buddha.

As soon as she entered, she took Fu Tingyun’s hand with a smile: “You’ve been so thoughtful, especially sending us New Year gifts.” She winked at Fu Tingyun, “Someone sent my husband a basket of carrots the other day. I brought some over for you to try.”

Fu Tingyun could barely keep from laughing.

These carrots were surely tributes given to Records Keeper Qi by someone.

She thanked Mrs. Qi while inviting her to sit in the hall.

Zheng Sanniang served tea.

Mrs. Qi took a sip and immediately widened her eyes: “My goodness, this is premium Biluochun tea, must cost over ten taels of silver per jin, doesn’t it?”

This was tea purchased during their previous stay in Yongjing.

Fu Tingyun replied modestly: “I’m glad Mrs. Qi enjoys it.”

“Delicious, delicious!” Mrs. Qi’s small eyes darted about.

Fu Tingyun understood and immediately instructed Zheng Sanniang: “Package one jin of this tea for Mrs. Qi.”

“I couldn’t possibly accept, I couldn’t,” Mrs. Qi repeatedly declined, while Fu Tingyun merely smiled without speaking.

In some ways, she had to thank Mrs. Qi.

Just a few days after Zhao Ling left, Mrs. Qi had visited with several boxes of pastries.

First, she had examined the residence thoroughly with her narrowed eyes, then, just like today, had taken Fu Tingyun’s hand and spoken in the hall: “I heard your family is from the capital?”

Fu Tingyun was slightly taken aback.

How could someone be so blunt in asking about others’ affairs?

Though displeased, she replied politely: “No, I’m from Pingliang County.”

Mrs. Qi looked disappointed and asked: “Then why did the Marquis of Yingchuan personally have his administrator escort Mr. Zhao to prepare reports?”

Fu Tingyun suddenly understood.

So this person had come to probe their background.

The directness of the question showed she thought Fu Tingyun was young and naive.

But was she here on Records Keeper Qi’s orders? Or was she simply fond of gossip and scandal?

Thinking of this, Fu Tingyun felt a chill.

If the Qi couple were merely curious, that would be fine, but what if Records Keeper Qi was acting on someone else’s orders?

Her mind raced.

Her grandmother had once told her that when evaluating situations, one must see both the good and the bad. Since someone wanted to hear about their affairs, she might as well “tell the truth.”

With this thought, she felt a touch of mischief.

“We have relatives in the capital,” Fu Tingyun said deliberately vaguely, “that’s why the Marquis of Yingchuan had his administrator escort Ninth Master to prepare reports.”

Her parents were in the capital, so this wasn’t exactly a lie, was it?

“Really?” Mrs. Qi perked up: “What do your relatives do there?”

Fu Tingyun replied: “Some have served as Prefects in provincial posts, some as Instructors in the Hanlin Academy. It depends on which one you’re asking about, Mrs. Qi.”

Mrs. Qi’s eyes brightened: “Then why did you come to Zhangye? I heard you two are engaged. How could your family allow you to follow him like this? Why not first establish your formal relationship before anything else?”

Fu Tingyun blushed deeply with embarrassment, but had to answer. Otherwise, rumors would be flying by tomorrow. And she couldn’t use the explanation given to the Sixteenth Master here, so she improvised: “Our family encountered refugees, and Ninth Master was in a hurry to report to the Commander-in-Chief’s office, so he had to bring me along. After some time, he’ll send me to the capital.”

Mrs. Qi looked at the small white flower in Fu Tingyun’s hair and seemed to have a moment of realization.

Meanwhile, Fu Tingyun thought to herself.

It wouldn’t be fair if you came to inspect my home thoroughly while I knew nothing about you. That wouldn’t do!

“Mrs. Qi, where are you from?” She looked at Mrs. Qi with clear eyes. “I see your skin is snow-white and delicate, not like a native of Zhangye.”

This flattered Mrs. Qi immensely. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Fu Tingyun had learned that Mrs. Qi was a distant cousin of Prefect Chen of Zhenbian, and that Records Keeper Qi had obtained his position in the storehouse thanks to the recommendation of Captain Hu.

The two conversed so pleasantly that Mrs. Qi practically considered Fu Tingyun a confidante and visited frequently.

Occasionally when Fu Tingyun was teaching A Sen, she would ask Mrs. Qi to wait, and afterward apologize: “The lesson was half-finished, and I couldn’t leave it incomplete. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting, Mrs. Qi.”

Mrs. Qi looked at her oddly: “So Miss knows how to read and interpret texts!”

Fu Tingyun replied modestly: “I can only teach the ‘Thousand Family Poems’; anything else would be beyond my ability.”

After that, Mrs. Qi regarded her with more caution.

Fu Tingyun finally felt relieved. She sent Zheng San out to inquire if people were discussing their household affairs and what they were saying.

Zheng San returned with a smile.

“People outside are saying our family has connections in the imperial court, and that the Ninth Master went to the Zhuanglang Guard merely to accumulate military achievements for promotion. They’re also saying we didn’t spend a penny to rent this residence—that the Assistant Officer from Xining Guard gave it to us for free to curry favor with Ninth Master. They say Miss comes from a distinguished family, not only proper and virtuous, skilled in needlework, but also accomplished in poetry, chess, calligraphy, painting, and eight-legged essays.”

Fu Tingyun broke into a cold sweat, witnessing the power of rumors.

Before Mrs. Qi had finished her cup of tea, Zheng Sanniang had delivered the tea leaves. Mrs. Qi no longer declined, accepting them with a smile, chatting briefly before taking her leave.

Fu Tingyun accompanied Mrs. Qi to the door.

A carriage sped by, splashing snow water onto Mrs. Qi’s skirt.

Mrs. Qi trembled with anger and immediately pointed at the carriage: “Which blind fool is rushing as if to a funeral?”

With the New Year approaching, this remark was rather harsh.

The carriage curtain was immediately lifted, revealing a pretty face that could either charm or rage: “Who’s spouting such trash?”

They all stared at each other in surprise.

Sitting in the carriage was Xuemei, the personal maid of Lu, Mo Yi’s concubine.

Not long after Mrs. Qi had visited Fu Tingyun, Madam Lu had also paid a visit, attended by this Xuemei.

At that time, she had stared unblinkingly at Fu Tingyun, making Fu Tingyun feel strange, leaving a deep impression.

“Oh, it’s Miss Fu.” Xuemei was helped down from the carriage by an elderly woman and curtseyed to Fu Tingyun. “I didn’t know you were here. Please forgive my offense just now.” Her tone and demeanor were soft, but she didn’t even glance at Mrs. Qi.

Mrs. Qi’s face turned ashen with anger.

Xuemei just smiled and exchanged pleasantries with Fu Tingyun: “When leaving earlier, the Young Mistress was just mentioning the rice cakes you sent—white as frost, not sticky at all, quite delicious. She asked me to see when you might be free to teach me how to make them, so we could prepare some whenever we crave them.”

Fu Tingyun’s New Year gifts had included ten jin of rice cakes.

But these cakes were bought from the street, not made by her.

Given the current situation, it would be inappropriate to tell the truth.

She murmured a vague response. Xuemei said that with the Spring Festival approaching, she knew Fu Tingyun must be busy and would visit another day, then departed with an air of superiority.

Mrs. Qi’s fat body trembled with rage. After a long moment, she spat between clenched teeth: “What ‘Young Mistress’! She just had a couple of banquets in Zhangye. Whether she can enter the Mo family depends on whether Madam Mo agrees and whether the Mo family matriarch shows mercy. Don’t be surprised if she falls flat and can’t even secure a proper title.”

This was the first time Fu Tingyun had heard of such matters. She was secretly surprised and had no desire to discuss others’ shortcomings. She smiled and asked Mrs. Qi if she was all right, and whether she wanted to come in and change her skirt before going home.

Mrs. Qi’s expression improved, and she thanked Fu Tingyun before returning home.

Fu Tingyun shook her head as she entered the house.

Commander Wang Yi’s wife had sent over an invitation card.

“Our lady is hosting a spring gathering on the fifth day,” said Mrs. Wang’s attendant, whom Fu Tingyun was meeting for the first time. Previously, she had sent New Year gifts to the Wang family, and they had reciprocated as custom dictated. “Please come and join the festivities.”

Fu Tingyun accepted the card: “Please thank your lady. However, I am in mourning and must ask for her understanding. Once my mourning period ends, I will personally visit to express my gratitude.”

Mrs. Wang’s attendant didn’t press the matter, saying something about “my lady’s oversight,” then took her leave.

Fu Tingyun instructed Zheng Sanniang to see her out.

Zheng Sanniang was naturally clever and quick-witted. Zheng San was also worldly, and with Fu Tingyun’s careful guidance, she had quickly learned the common courtesies.

As soon as they left the hall, she took out a purse from her sleeve and handed it to Mrs. Wang’s attendant with a smile: “Thank you for your trouble. This is for your tea.”

Mrs. Wang’s attendant thanked her, accepting it graciously before departing in a carriage.

Fu Tingyun quickly put this matter out of her mind. She joined Zheng Sanniang and the others in making offerings to the Land God, sweeping the courtyard, and preparing for the New Year. Not knowing about Zhao Ling’s family situation, and being a woman, she couldn’t properly arrange ancestral worship. Instead, she hung deity images obtained from the temple in the main hall and bought a bronze tripod replica and a basket of arm-thick incense and candles to prepare for the New Year’s Eve worship. She also purchased twelve large red lanterns to hang at the main door and under the eaves.

A Sen came running in excitedly: “Miss, Miss, Ninth Master has returned!”

“Really!” Fu Tingyun was overjoyed, abandoning the half-finished window paper-cuts and rushing out.

Someone was leading a horse into the courtyard.

A tall figure with an upright posture and steady steps… Fu Tingyun suddenly felt afraid, her footsteps slowing until she stopped in the middle of the courtyard.

Clear eyes fixed steadily on her.

“I’m back!” he said softly, his smile radiating from his eyes, brightening his face.

Fu Tingyun looked Zhao Ling up and down.

He wore a dark felt robe with a royal blue cotton cape over it, black cowhide boots on his feet, and carried a riding crop. His complexion was ruddy, his spirits high, like a young nobleman returning from a hunt, with no trace of his former self.

Suddenly, Fu Tingyun’s eyes stung and her nose tingled.

This wretch—she had worried about him day and night, while he had been eating and dressing well, and now, with a casual “I’m back,” he wanted to erase all those days of anxiety…

She bit her lip tightly and said coolly, “Ninth Master has returned,” then instructed A Sen, “Quickly take the master’s horse to the stable!”

Her voice was calm and rational.

Zhao Ling looked confused, standing motionless.