Zheng San went to open the door.

It was Li Niang, Mrs. Wang’s mama.

“Is Miss Fu home?” Her fair face was flushed with excitement, joy radiating from the corners of her eyes and brows. “There’s news from Master Zhao. Our mistress sent me to inform Miss Fu.”

“Really!” Zheng San was both shocked and delighted. He quickly led Li Niang into the house. “Miss Fu is currently resting in A-Sen’s room…”

As the two circled Taoist Master Shanning, who was performing the ritual, Li Niang couldn’t help but glance twice at him.

Taoist Master Shanning frowned slightly.

These people had invited him to perform a ritual, yet showed no respect. Was it because he had agreed too readily?

Thinking of this, he felt somewhat annoyed.

Zheng San and Li Niang had already entered the east wing.

“Is there news of the Ninth Master?” Fu Tingyun stood up, overwhelmed with joy, and took the hand of Li Niang, who was bowing to her.

Li Niang smiled and nodded: “Master Wei just returned. As soon as my mistress heard, she sent me to bring the news to Miss Fu. She said Commander Lu was surrounded by Mongols at Wang Family Village. Thanks to Master Zhao’s desperate protection, Commander Lu managed to escape. Because Commander Lu was seriously injured, Master Zhao had to carry him westward. By the time they found Marquis Yingchuan’s main camp, seven or eight days had passed…”

Fu Tingyun was filled with boundless joy and pulled Li Niang closer to ask: “Was Master Zhao injured? Where is he now? Although Commander Lu was defeated in battle, Master Zhao deserves credit for saving him. Surely the Ministry of War won’t blame him?” The questions came like a string of firecrackers, giving Li Niang no chance to interject. When Fu Tingyun finally finished, Li Niang smiled and said: “Don’t worry, Miss. I’m sure the Ninth Master is fine, otherwise, Master Wei would certainly have informed my mistress.”

Mrs. Wang had sent Wei Shi to Xining Guard mainly to inquire about Master Wang’s news. Just as she had hastened to relay news of Zhao Ling, Mrs. Wang herself was probably too preoccupied to ask detailed questions about Zhao Ling at this moment.

Fu Tingyun nodded, unable to contain herself any longer. She said to Li Niang: “I’ll go back to the Commander-in-Chief’s mansion with you—I want to ask Master Wei more about the Ninth Master!” As she spoke, her face reddened slightly.

Li Niang understood this joy of relief after danger and didn’t find Fu Tingyun’s behavior improper. She smiled and nodded repeatedly.

Fu Tingyun gave Zheng San a few instructions like “take good care of the house, I’ll be back soon,” then went inside to change her clothes.

When she came out, everyone had heard the news about Zhao Ling, and each face wore a pleased smile. A-Sen, unwilling to stay home with Linchun, clamored to go along: “I want to listen too.”

She couldn’t bring the entire household every time she visited Mrs. Wang, could she?

In A-Sen’s heart, Zhao Ling was like both father and brother. If she didn’t take the little fellow, even if he agreed to stay now, he would likely sneak out later.

Fu Tingyun thought for a moment and said to Zheng San’s wife: “Let A-Sen accompany me. You stay home and look after Linchun.”

Zheng San’s wife naturally dared not oppose Fu Tingyun’s arrangement. She carried Linchun to the door to see Fu Tingyun off, repeatedly saying: “Please ask Mrs. Wang carefully if we should bring some medicine or clothes, socks, and such for the Ninth Master.”

Fu Tingyun smiled and replied, “Yes,” then left.

Outside, the fighters had dispersed. The doors of the Mo and Qi households were tightly closed, while onlookers gathered in small groups, whispering. Seeing activity at Fu Tingyun’s door, they all craned their necks to look.

A-Sen couldn’t contain his excitement. He laughed loudly: “We’re going to the Commander-in-Chief’s mansion! We’ve received news of our Ninth Master. He saved Commander Lu of Xining Guard and is now resting in Marquis Yingchuan’s main camp!”

“Ah!” Everyone exclaimed in surprise. Looking at Fu Tingyun, who still wore a headscarf but couldn’t hide the smile at the corners of her mouth, they saw confirmation of A-Sen’s words.

“Oh my, Master Zhao saved Commander Lu? Does this mean Master Zhao will be promoted?” someone asked enviously.

“Yes, yes,” someone immediately continued, “Miss Fu, your hardships are finally bearing fruit.”

Fu Tingyun nodded to them with a smile: “Thank you all. For details, I still need to inquire at the Commander-in-Chief’s mansion.”

Everyone chatted with her pleasantly. After Fu Tingyun’s group left the back street, their discussion topic changed to whether the Ministry of War would punish Commander Lu for his defeat in battle.

Concubine Lu, trembling with anger, was directing Xuemei to help the maids and servants clean their wounds, contemplating how much silver to reward them with. The increasingly loud laughter and chatter from outside made her even more irritable. She instructed a newly bought young maid whose hair had not yet been allowed to grow: “Go, listen to what they’re gossiping about.”

When all the neighbors were watching the commotion at the Zhao residence, two men had climbed out of her courtyard… She only heard about this two days later. Without asking, she knew they must be Feng Dahu’s accomplices who had escaped from the Zhao house and hidden in her courtyard.

That fool Feng Dahu! And his accomplices were just as foolish.

Of all times to leave, they chose early morning when everyone was watching the commotion next door!

Damn it… not using their brains at all!

Who knows from what godforsaken place Feng Dahu had found such idiots!

So stupid, so stupid!

Now she was implicated!

This Feng Dahu, what could he do besides cause trouble?

Why didn’t he just die?

At this thought, Concubine Lu’s gaze grew sinister.

That Feng woman was also muddleheaded, still trying to save her useless brother. Even if he survived, he would be worthless, likely to cause more trouble someday, implicating Feng herself.

Her teeth ground audibly.

The General would surely not believe these rumors, but with two men climbing over the wall from her house in plain sight, the General would certainly find those two men… and if those two men were truly found…

Concubine Lu couldn’t help but shudder.

The young maid ran in: “Miss, Miss, they’re saying Commander Lu was defeated in battle, and the court will likely hold him accountable…”

Like oil poured on fire, Concubine Lu, already furious, slapped the maid, causing her to stagger and fall to the ground.

“You little harlot, how dare you spout nonsense! What kind of family is our Lu family? Hereditary captains! How could the court hold him accountable?”

A stream of bright red blood flowed from the corner of the young maid’s mouth.

She covered her face, wanting to cry but not daring to, her eyes brimming with tears.

Seeing this, Concubine Lu grew even more irritated. She stepped forward and kicked the young maid several times until she clutched at her mistress’s legs, crying for mercy.

The other maids and servants in the hall lowered their eyes.

Exhausted from beating the maid, Concubine Lu sat down panting in the master chair. Xuemei quickly served her a cup of hot tea.

After drinking some tea, feeling somewhat better, she barked at the young maid collapsed on the floor: “Get up, stop pretending to be dead. Tell me properly, what are the people outside saying?”

…

Meanwhile, in Mrs. Wang’s room, there was laughter and joy.

“So, General Wang led two thousand men to annihilate four thousand Mongols and even killed the leader of the Hachute tribe, achieving great merit?” Fu Tingyun asked with delight.

Six tribes had participated in this Mongol invasion.

Mrs. Wang nodded modestly: “He is the Commander of Xining Guard. With such an incident at Xining Guard, he has no choice but to make up for his failure with merit. We just hope the court will be less harsh in consideration of his killing a tribal leader. We dare not hope for recognition of merit.” Knowing Fu Tingyun was eager for news of Zhao Ling, she smoothly changed the subject. “I asked Wei Shi. At the time, Captain Zhao was with Ensign Yang Yucheng. After rescuing Commander Lu, they calculated that Marquis Yingchuan might be camped near Tianti Mountain, so they carried Commander Lu westward. On the way, they encountered Ensign Jin Yuanbao, who was searching for them. Twenty or thirty men escorted Commander Lu to meet Marquis Yingchuan. Captain Zhao and Ensign Jin were both unharmed. Ensign Yang’s arm was wounded by an arrow, but it wasn’t serious—it should heal after some rest. Marquis Yingchuan intends to have Commander Lu atone for his crimes by establishing merit, giving him Captain Zhao, Ensign Jin, and several other fierce generals under the Marquis. So rest assured, not only will Captain Zhao be safe this time, but he will also achieve great merit. You should just wait for his return to celebrate properly.”

Fu Tingyun nodded continuously, her heart finally at ease.

The grievances between Marquis Yingchuan and Marquis Xiping ran deep. This Lu Cheng was someone he had personally promoted after coming to Zhang Ye. No matter how one looked at it, Marquis Yingchuan would not let Lu Cheng fall like this. As long as Lu Cheng was safe, Zhao Ling, who had saved Lu Cheng’s life, would naturally be safe as well.

She couldn’t help but sigh: “In the past, when I heard those stories of heroes slaying enemies and returning home in glory, it all seemed so easy. Now that I’m experiencing it myself, I understand the hardships involved. Some days ago, I went to offer incense at the Great Buddha Temple and felt regret, thinking I shouldn’t have let him join the army.”

“When we’re young, we fear nothing. If a husband enters the military, we expect him to become at least a commander or governor to make life worthwhile,” Mrs. Wang also felt deeply emotional. “Later, after becoming a mother, with children to care for and a home to maintain, one’s courage diminishes. We only wish for the family’s safety and well-being. Everything else seems less important.”

As the two were conversing heart to heart, Li Niang entered: “Madam, Madam Feng requests to see you!”

Fu Tingyun was startled.

Mrs. Wang smiled and whispered to her: “She must be here to ask for medicine.”

Fu Tingyun suddenly understood and quickly rose: “Then I should withdraw!”

Everyone knew why Feng Dahu was injured. If Madam Feng saw her, she might want to eat her alive. With Madam Feng’s volatile temperament, now humbling herself to beg Mrs. Wang for help, if a conflict arose and she preferred mutual destruction to swallowing her pride for a moment, wouldn’t that waste all of Mrs. Wang’s efforts?

Mrs. Wang thought for a moment, then nodded: “That’s best. With Madam Feng’s temperament, she wouldn’t use the wound medicine I sent unless she had no other recourse or plan. I suspect she started using it, found it effective, and is now treating a dead horse as if it could still live, coming to me for more medicine. After I give her two bottles and she sees the results, she’ll have to swallow any temper she might have.”

Fu Tingyun smiled and went to visit the Wang family’s two young ladies.