Seeing Fu Tingyun’s pale face and the cold sweat on her forehead, Madam Wang thought about how she was just a young girl without elders to guide her, and felt some sympathy. She softened her tone: “Though a woman’s virtue is in gentleness, one must also know propriety and distinguish right from wrong. One cannot always yield and seek harmony at the expense of one’s reputation. I see you are a sensible child, which is why I’m speaking frankly despite our brief acquaintance. If you find some reason in my words, please consider them carefully; if you think I don’t understand the situation and my words are too harsh, you can treat them as an elder’s nagging and simply listen without taking them to heart…”
“No, no, no,” Fu Tingyun hastily replied, “Madam’s words are like pearls and jade, awakening me from my confusion. I was muddle-headed and acted rashly.” With that, she rose and gave Madam Wang a deep curtsy. “Thank you for teaching me, Madam. Your great kindness and virtue, I will never forget!” Her attitude was respectful, her tone sincere.
Madam Wang nodded slightly, her tone becoming increasingly gentle: “You are young and have experienced little, so you don’t know the danger of ‘three men making a tiger’ [rumors becoming believed through repetition]. I don’t blame you. Just be more cautious in your actions from now on.” She continued, “I hear that Ensign Zhao’s parents are also gone. You must establish proper rules in your household. Remember that maintaining a home is a long-term plan. Whether children will be diligent and thrifty in their studies, whether the family will prosper—men may hold official positions outside, but they can only manage so much. Everything depends on whether internal affairs are in order. You should always be humble, respectful, and frugal, then your blessings will last long. That is the way of lasting prosperity.”
Fu Tingyun felt a surge of respect and reverently complied, serving tea to Madam Wang with both hands.
Madam Wang’s eyes revealed a satisfied smile, and she advised Fu Tingyun: “Madam Qi is talkative by nature. Keep her at a distance and she’ll complain; keep her close and she’ll annoy you. You should handle her wisely. As for Madam Lu…” she paused thoughtfully, “it’s better to have less interaction with her.”
Fu Tingyun agreed to everything.
Madam Wang then shared some more advice about household management.
To be fair, what Madam Wang said was not as comprehensive as what Fu Tingyun had learned at home. However, what she had learned at home was written in guides for young ladies, which Fu Tingyun had memorized but might not have connected to real situations. After hearing Madam Wang’s words and reflecting on them, she gained new insights and felt grateful toward Madam Wang, listening attentively like a disciple. She then personally prepared a meal, invited Madam Wang to stay for dinner, and escorted her to the main gate before returning.
From then on, Fu Tingyun remembered Madam Wang’s words. When Madam Qi and Madam Lu visited, she would use the excuse of needing to make spring clothes for Zhao Ling, asking them to sit in the hall while she continued her needlework, only responding perfunctorily to their conversation, appearing quite distracted. Madam Qi gradually found it less interesting and visited less frequently. Though Madam Lu had some complaints, she couldn’t fault Fu Tingyun for wanting to help Zhao Ling with his clothes, and could only wait until Fu Tingyun was less busy.
The household became peaceful for a time.
Fu Tingyun breathed a sigh of relief. With the courtyard gate tightly closed, each morning, apart from instructing A-Sen in reading and writing, she focused on making spring clothes for Zhao Ling.
In the blink of an eye, it was mid-March. Zheng San suggested planting two trees in the courtyard, which Fu Tingyun thought was a good idea. Just a few days after the trees were planted, dark clouds pressed down from the sky, and a fierce wind like a spinning top swept through Zhangye, lifting even sheep and livestock into the air. Some families even lost their children, and crying filled the city.
Fortunately, most of Fu Tingyun’s buildings were quite sturdy, and the experienced servants next door shouted advice such as “everyone take shelter indoors,” “bring the horses inside,” and “close the doors quickly.” Zheng San, who had experienced much in his travels, was quick-witted and followed others in securing things. Apart from those two trees and Linchun’s bamboo horse forgotten in the courtyard, they suffered no other losses.
Linchun couldn’t find his bamboo horse and wailed loudly.
Zheng San, who was tidying up the messy courtyard, gently patted the boy’s head: “Being alive is good enough, and you’re still crying!”
The little one, who could now walk all over the place, clung to A-Sen’s leg with an aggrieved expression.
Everyone burst into laughter, which dispelled the fear of the tornado.
Madam Wang soon sent someone to check on them. Seeing that Fu Tingyun’s place was already tidied up, Madam Wang’s maid repeatedly praised Fu Tingyun’s household management, making Fu Tingyun embarrassed. She kept saying: “It’s all thanks to Zheng San and his wife’s quick thinking.”
The maid disagreed and smiled: “That’s also because you maintain strict internal order on ordinary days.”
Fu Tingyun could only remain modest for a while longer. Since the maid needed to hurry back to report to Madam Wang, she didn’t detain her, but had Zheng San’s mother reward her with some silver coins before seeing her out.
A few days later, a military man in his thirties wearing a red padded jacket came to visit.
“I am Zhao Ming from Zhuanglang Garrison, in charge of military farms. Since I share the same surname as Ensign Zhao, we are like brothers,” he smiled. “Brother Zhao heard about the black wind in Zhangye. I came to the Commander-in-Chief’s residence to report on farm matters, and Brother Zhao specifically asked me to check how things are at home.”
His expression revealed some worldliness as he keenly surveyed the furnishings in the hall.
Zheng San’s mother came out from the inner quarters, smiling and bowing to Zhao Ming, conveying Fu Tingyun’s message: “Thank you for your trouble, Manager Zhao. Please tell our master that everything at home is fine, so he need not worry.” She added, “Our master is not home, and our young miss is just a woman, so we can only trouble Manager Zhao to drink a cup of thin wine in the side room as a token of our gratitude!”
“No need, no need!” Zhao Ming hurriedly smiled. “I still have matters to attend to and cannot stay long. When Brother Zhao returns home, I’ll come to visit then!” He strongly declined and prepared to leave.
In such a situation, it wasn’t appropriate to insist. After exchanging some polite words, Zheng San carried the already prepared gifts of wind-dried chicken and duck to see Zhao Ming out.
The next morning, Madam Lu came over, dismissed Xue Mei and Zheng San’s mother, and spoke quietly with Fu Tingyun: “My brother came to Zhangye yesterday. I heard him say that the Mongols have invaded, and Guidesu, Zenhai Fort, and Fuqiang Fort have all fallen. The Marquis has ordered Commander Hu from Xining Garrison and Commander Wang from Zhuanglang Garrison to rush to Xining. There’s a ninety percent chance that Zhuanglang will also send troops as reinforcements.” As she spoke, her face revealed worry. “There’s going to be another war!”
Fu Tingyun was startled to hear this: “Really?” Why hadn’t that farm manager, Zhao Ming, mentioned a word about this yesterday? She thought about how Zenhai Fort and Fuqiang Fort were both under Xining Garrison’s jurisdiction, and with a glimmer of hope, hesitantly said: “Isn’t Nianbo Station closest to Xining? If reinforcements are needed, shouldn’t Nianbo go first?”
“You don’t know,” Madam Lu said with pride showing on her face, “That Commandant Wu Ying from Nianbo is an incompetent fellow. He only became commandant because his brother died at Jiayuguan. When it comes to fighting, he’s no good. They can only send my brother as reinforcement.”
This meant that Zhao Ling might also have a chance to go to the battlefield!
Fu Tingyun felt both shock and joy. Shock because the battlefield was too dangerous, and she worried for Zhao Ling just thinking about it. Joy because military achievements had always been the top priority, and if Zhao Ling had a chance to go to the battlefield, he might establish military merit, which could lead to promotion, and then they might be able to leave the military camp earlier.
“Will everyone go to Xining?” she asked Madam Lu.
Madam Lu smiled and said: “That I don’t know! However, I can talk to my brother and ask him to let Ensign Zhao go to Xining!” As she spoke, her gaze flickered as she looked at Fu Tingyun.
Being able to go to Xining meant being able to fight, and being able to fight meant the possibility of promotion!
She was good at reading faces, otherwise, Mo Yi would not have wanted to take her back for his grandmother’s birthday, nor would he have disregarded Fu Tingyun for her sake. She had long noticed Fu Tingyun’s coolness toward her.
Even before meeting Fu Tingyun, she had heard Mo Yi mention her.
In Mo Yi’s words, this Miss Fu was good at this and that, and he even wanted her to learn proper conduct from Miss Fu. She had originally thought that this Miss Fu, so highly praised by Mo Yi, would be a stern and rigid person. Unexpectedly, her temperament was bright and approachable. What made her even more uncomfortable was that Miss Fu’s beauty was exceptional, perhaps second to none, not just in Zhangye but in all seventeen garrisons under the Gansu Commander-in-Chief’s jurisdiction.
Mo Yi was a person who paid little attention to those beneath him, yet he was so enthusiastic about helping the Zhao family find a residence… So whenever she saw Fu Tingyun’s smiling face, she felt uneasy. Especially since this Miss Fu had lost both parents, her family had declined, and her fiancé Zhao Ling was merely an ensign who would have to rely on her brother to accumulate military merit… yet Fu Tingyun accepted her attentions so calmly. She wanted to find an opportunity to admonish Miss Fu, to tell her not to be so aloof.
Fu Tingyun was quite dismissive.
Rather than asking her, it would be better to directly ask Mo Yi.
Surely Mo Yi would want to know Zhao Ling’s true abilities?
Perhaps Mo Yi had already spoken with Lu Cheng!
“Thank you, Concubine Lu,” Fu Tingyun said. “I think this matter should be decided by Master Zhao. I shouldn’t make decisions for him.”
Madam Lu was somewhat dumbfounded.
In recent years, with the Marquis of Yingchuan commanding the Gansu garrison, whether it was the Mongols, Tatars, or Tibetans, all had suffered greatly at his hands and were quite wary of him. The occasional invasion was usually out of desperate hunger. As soon as the Commander-in-Chief’s troops were deployed, those invaders would mostly scatter at the news, and even if they resisted, they would appear timid and hesitant. Thus, when various garrisons heard of invasions, they often competed to send reinforcements to earn military merit.
Miss Fu probably didn’t know this, which is why she had such thoughts!
Madam Lu hurriedly explained to Fu Tingyun.
Fu Tingyun remained steadfast.
Madam Lu was somewhat surprised. Her brows furrowed, then quickly smoothed out again.
“Indeed,” she smiled. “It’s my fault for being overly concerned. I’m sure Ensign Zhao already has plans.” She then brought up the black wind in the city. “The Marquis of Yingchuan will personally go to the Grand Buddha Temple in a few days to hold a ceremony for the citizens who perished. I also plan to go and pray for the general’s well-being. Miss Fu, if Ensign Zhao happens to go to Xining… why don’t you come with me?”
Fu Tingyun naturally declined politely.
Madam Lu left, disappointed.
Fu Tingyun immediately wrote a letter and had Zheng San deliver it to Zhuanglang Garrison: “…This news probably hasn’t reached there yet. If the Ninth Master gets early information, he can make preparations early.” She paused, then added, “Whether the Ninth Master stays or goes, please bring me definite news.”
In her heart, she had a subtle feeling that Zhao Ling would certainly not miss this opportunity.
She should indeed visit the Grand Buddha Temple.
Zheng San, however, looked troubled: “The Ninth Master repeatedly instructed me before leaving to never leave your side, Miss.”
If he left, the household had both young and weak members. How could he feel at ease?
“We live on the back street of the Commander-in-Chief’s residence,” Fu Tingyun understood his concern. “Don’t worry.” Then she gave an example, “Look at Madam Qi’s house. They don’t even have a gatekeeper, yet they’re fine!”
After much hesitation, Zheng San couldn’t resist Fu Tingyun’s insistence and went to Zhuanglang Garrison.
Fu Tingyun hired a carriage and went to the Grand Buddha Temple with Zheng San’s mother.
The Grand Buddha Temple, also called the Reclining Buddha Temple, had been established for over three hundred years. The main hall enshrined a Nirvana statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, over ten zhang in length. A single middle finger of the Great Buddha could accommodate a person lying flat. It was majestically imposing, unlike anything Fu Tingyun had ever seen before.
But she had no heart to appreciate it.
Squeezed among the bustling crowd, she knelt devoutly on a prayer mat, murmuring prayers to the Bodhisattva, asking for blessings for Zhao Ling’s safety, health, and success in all things.
At that moment, she felt a faint regret in her heart.
Weapons were blind. If something were to happen… perhaps she really shouldn’t have encouraged Zhao Ling to join the military.