Fu Tingyun lowered her head and adjusted the headscarf covering it, hiding most of her jade-like fair face in its shadow. She quickly walked past a group of idle ruffians who were sitting on the stone railing outside the main hall of the Grand Buddha Temple, jeering and calling at her. Only then did her anxiety, like sitting on pins and needles, slightly ease.

She instructed the carriage driver: “Hurry back to the back street of the Commander-in-Chief’s residence.”

The driver, having witnessed the earlier scene, quickly responded and hastily drove the horse away from the Grand Buddha Temple.

Fu Tingyun breathed a sigh of relief.

She didn’t understand how it happened. Despite being as modest and unassuming as possible in both her attire and behavior, blending in among so many women, those men had still quickly spotted her… Their gaze fixed on her like predators eyeing meat on a chopping block, with undisguised greed. When she was donating money to the merit box, one of them had pretended to make an offering as well, using the opportunity to approach her… If she hadn’t been alert and stepped aside in time, that person would likely have bumped into her.

Fortunately, she had left the Grand Buddha Temple without incident!

Before her feeling of relief could settle, Fu Tingyun heard Zheng San’s mother’s terrified voice: “Miss, they’re following us!”

Fu Tingyun looked in the direction of the voice.

Zheng San’s mother was holding up the carriage curtain with one hand, looking at her with a panicked expression.

Fu Tingyun’s heart sank as she moved to the carriage window to look outside.

The man who had followed her to the merit box earlier was riding a healthy reddish-brown horse, leisurely following their carriage along with four or five other ruffians. Pedestrians on both sides made way for them upon seeing them.

Fu Tingyun grew increasingly anxious.

She asked the driver: “Do you recognize these people?”

“Yes.” The driver glanced back, his expression changing slightly. “The leader is Feng Dahu, the brother of Deputy Commander Liu’s concubine.” As he spoke, he revealed a puzzled expression. “Although this man likes to cause trouble, he doesn’t dare be too arrogant in Zhangye. Why is he following us all the way today?”

Fu Tingyun focused on his words “doesn’t dare be too arrogant” and quickly asked: “May I ask, sir, is it because the Marquis governs Zhangye, or is there some other reason?”

“Of course it’s because the Marquis governs Zhangye,” replied the driver. “The Marquis detests lawlessness in his jurisdiction. Not just a concubine’s brother—even the legitimate son of the Marquis of Pingxi’s family has been punished with the rod.” He then reassured her, “Don’t worry. When he sees you live on the back street of the Commander-in-Chief’s residence, he’ll surely retreat.”

Hopefully so.

Fu Tingyun still kept a careful eye on Feng Dahu the entire way.

Indeed, when he saw their carriage enter the back street of the Commander-in-Chief’s residence from a distance, he stopped following them and instead stood there watching them for a long time.

Upon returning home, Fu Tingyun immediately wrote a letter and had A-Sen deliver it to Madam Wang, detailing everything that had happened at the Grand Buddha Temple and requesting that Madam Wang send a reliable person to help guard her door.

Madam Wang immediately sent a burly, honest-looking man in his forties back with A-Sen, and had A-Sen convey a message to her: “This man’s surname is Wei, given name Shi. He has served our commander for over twenty years, and no one in Zhangye doesn’t know him.”

Fu Tingyun’s experience had taught her that completely relying on others meant putting one’s life in their hands.

She had Zheng San’s mother go to the market to buy several boxes of pastries for Madam Wang as a token of gratitude. She also sent A-Sen out: “Whether you buy them or beg for them, bring back several large dogs.”

In the past, when she went to the countryside estate, they had kept many dogs to guard the gates.

Although dogs raised from puppies were the most loyal, she now needed immediate help and had to make do with what she could get. Even if they could just bark to create an intimidating presence, that would be good enough.

A-Sen, excited about keeping dogs, went off happily. By the afternoon, he returned with two large black dogs and four or five small yellow dogs.

“These two big black dogs are to scare people,” A-Sen explained excitedly. “We’ll raise the small ones well for future home protection.”

Their thoughts had aligned perfectly.

She smiled and praised A-Sen, then instructed him to bathe the dogs daily: “To prevent fleas and lice from getting into the house or onto people. If that happens, I’ll shave your head bald.”

A-Sen held his head and stuck out his tongue, then obediently bathed the dogs every day, with Linchun squatting nearby to help pour water.

The sight of one big and one small figure surrounded by gentle dogs brought smiles to everyone who saw them.

After seven or eight days passed without incident, Fu Tingyun gradually relaxed.

Zheng San returned.

Upon entering and seeing Wei Shi, he was quite surprised, but quickly composed himself and respectfully went to the hall to report to Fu Tingyun: “I rode at full speed and saw the Ninth Master before Commander Lu arrived. As soon as Commander Lu returned, the Ninth Master went to see him.” He continued with a grin, “Ensign Yang said that Commander Lu had been probing the relationship between the Ninth Master and the Mo family. Last time, when he took the Ninth Master to deliver New Year gifts to the Marquis of Yingchuan, it was also to see how the Marquis treated the Ninth Master. The Ninth Master understood this, so he wrote a letter to Lin Chi in advance, saying that after meeting the Marquis, he had matters to discuss with Lin Chi. Fearing that asking for leave might displease Commander Lu, he asked Lin Chi to find an excuse to keep him back when Commander Lu came out from meeting the Marquis. Lin Chi, suspecting nothing, did as the Ninth Master requested. When Commander Lu came out from the Marquis’s place, Lin Chi helped the Ninth Master ask for leave and pulled him to his quarters in the Commander-in-Chief’s residence. Commander Lu, knowing that Lin Chi was the Marquis of Yingchuan’s guard, assumed the Marquis wanted to speak privately with the Ninth Master… Since then, Commander Lu has treated the Ninth Master very differently. This time, the Ninth Master again pretended to already know why Commander Lu was going to Zhangye, and Commander Lu became even less suspicious. The Ninth Master barely had to mention it before Commander Lu agreed to let him go to Xining Garrison, saying that the Ninth Master should follow his commands without worry, and that a Commandant position would certainly be his.”

Fu Tingyun carefully pondered this matter.

Zhao Ling’s ability was beyond doubt, and with Lu Cheng willing to give him opportunities, she believed he would certainly achieve merits. But to be promoted to Commandant based on one achievement seemed to require the Marquis of Yingchuan’s influence.

Lu Cheng believed Zhao Ling was favored by the Marquis of Yingchuan, which gave him such confidence. If Zhao Ling couldn’t be promoted to Commandant as expected, wouldn’t all their previous efforts be wasted?

Who could she approach?

Madam Wang?

No good.

Judging from Madam Wang’s tone when admonishing her, Madam Wang was likely someone who strictly adhered to propriety. If she went around for Zhao Ling’s affairs, Madam Wang might not appreciate it and might even think she was like a hen crowing like a rooster, resulting in the opposite effect.

Mo Yi?

As a woman, how could she casually meet with him?

She didn’t know anyone else.

For a moment, she found herself in a dilemma.

Or perhaps, leave it to fate?

If the Marquis promoted Zhao Ling to Commandant, that would be best; if he suppressed Commander Lu’s merit recommendation, saying that the Marquis thought Zhao Ling had only established military merit once, and early success would lead to arrogance and be detrimental to his future, so he would not be promoted yet?

Fu Tingyun thought about many possibilities until she noticed the hall had grown too quiet. Only then did she come back to her senses and realize that Zheng San was still standing respectfully before her, awaiting her instructions.

“I understand this matter,” she smiled. “You’ve had a tiring journey. Go rest now!” Then she told Zheng San about Wei Shi, “Prepare ten taels of silver for Wei Shi, and tomorrow find a restaurant outside to treat him to a meal, then personally escort him back to Madam Wang’s.” She then called for Zheng San’s mother, “Zheng San has returned, prepare something delicious today.”

Everyone had been tense these days. With Zheng San’s return and Fu Tingyun’s order for extra dishes, the mood lightened. Though Wei Shi and Zheng San were meeting for the first time, Zheng San was skilled at socializing, and Wei Shi, being sent by Madam Wang to help Fu Tingyun and the women and children guard the gate, was naturally honest and kind-hearted. With one being sociable and the other straightforward, they got along well, bringing a cheerful atmosphere to the household.

After seeing Wei Shi off, Zheng San carefully inspected all the entrances and exits, and took advantage of the good weather to reinforce the surrounding wall.

At the end of March, news came from Xining Garrison that Commander Hu had led Commandants Li Bing, Sun Shuo, Tang Bin, Wang Yuan, and others to battle the Mongols at Tuba Fort in Datong. Commander Hu had died from an arrow wound, Li Bing and others had been beheaded, and the entire army was destroyed.

When the news spread, Zhangye was in an uproar.

This was the first death of a third-rank military official since the Marquis of Yingchuan had taken command of the Gansu garrison.

The Marquis extracted one thousand men from each of the ten garrisons in Ganzhou and personally led troops to Xining, ordering Commander Lu Cheng of Zhuanglang to retreat east of the Datong River and strictly prevent the Mongols from crossing it. Deputy Commander Liu was left to guard Zhangye, with Major General Mo Yi accompanying the Marquis.

The atmosphere in Zhangye city immediately became tense.

Fu Tingyun set up a shrine at home, enshrining a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha. Every morning she would wash her face and hands, offer incense to the Buddha, and then offer incense before the memorial tablets of Zhao Ling’s parents, praying for Zhao Ling’s safety.

In early April, Nianbo Garrison fell, and Commandant Wu Ying was killed.

Two days later, news came that Tibetans were attacking Jiayuguan Pass.

Zhangye city was on high alert, everyone fearing for themselves, and there were far fewer people on the streets.

Madam Lu suddenly sent someone to invite Fu Tingyun over for drinks.

Fu Tingyun politely declined: “I am still in mourning.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Lu came in person.

“The drinking is just an excuse,” she said somewhat listlessly, murmuring, “I just wanted to spend time with you, Miss. These days are truly unsettling.”

Fu Tingyun had Zheng San’s mother serve her tea and smiled: “Madam Lu should trust the Marquis of Yingchuan and General Mo.”

Hearing this, Madam Lu’s face reddened slightly, and she lowered her head to drink tea, concealing her embarrassment. When she looked up again, she directly changed the subject and earnestly invited Fu Tingyun: “Please do me the honor of coming tomorrow, Miss. I’ve been learning culinary skills from you all this time, please allow me to show my face.”

“Thank you!” Fu Tingyun still declined, “Let’s talk about it another time. If Madam Lu feels uneasy, feel free to come sit with me often. These days, I’m copying the Heart Sutra. Why doesn’t Madam Lu join me in copying scriptures?”

Madam Lu’s smile became somewhat forced.

She stammered a few words to Fu Tingyun, then rose to take her leave.

Fu Tingyun found her attitude very strange but only thought about it briefly before dismissing it from her mind. Each day, after worshipping the Buddha, she would pay respects to Zhao Ling’s parents, then tell A-Sen to begin copying the Heart Sutra after finishing his reading.

Several more days passed like this. Zheng San, who went out to teahouses every morning to gather news, came to report to her with a grave expression: “Miss, I heard that the Mongols have crossed the Datong River. More than half of Zhuanglang Garrison’s men are dead or wounded, and Commander Lu Cheng is also missing.”