A few days later, news spread from the Commander-in-Chief’s office: Thousandman Wu Ying of Nianbo Garrison had died in battle, and Zhao Ling would temporarily serve as the Thousandman of Nianbo Garrison while retaining his centurion rank.

“Don’t worry,” Madam Wang came specifically to inform Fu Tingyun of this news. “With the Marquis of Yingchuan and my husband helping, Centurion Zhao will be fine. As long as he performs well, promotion to Thousandman isn’t impossible. Send him a message, tell him to act boldly and decisively. Don’t be timid just because it’s a temporary position, or he’ll lose this rare opportunity.” She then added, “As the saying goes, having someone in the imperial court makes it easier to be an official. Gaining the Marquis of Yingchuan’s favor is no small matter.”

Wang Yi had remained in the position of Defense Commander for eight years without being able to move up, not because he lacked ability or military achievements, but because no one in the imperial court could speak for him. This promotion was entirely due to the Marquis of Yingchuan’s recommendation. Fearing that Fu Tingyun and the others were young and inexperienced, not understanding the importance of these connections, Madam Wang made this special visit.

Fu Tingyun was very grateful.

Her uncle and father had also struggled in their official careers because they had no powerful sponsors in the imperial court. This was why her father had been so pleased and satisfied with her engagement to the Yu family.

“I will certainly follow Madam’s instructions and write a letter to Ninth Master,” she refilled Madam Wang’s tea. “Please also convey my thanks to Master Wang. Without Master Wang and the Marquis of Yingchuan, how could a mere centurion like Ninth Master have been appointed to temporarily serve as the Thousandman of Nianbo Garrison?”

A centurion was of the Sixth Rank, while a Thousandman was of the Fifth Rank. The step from centurion to Thousandman was a significant threshold. If crossed, one could at least have a nominal position in the Commander-in-Chief’s office; if not crossed, one could only remain nominally attached to a Thousandman’s command.

“How could Master Wang help?” Madam Wang smiled modestly. “The affairs of the Commander-in-Chief’s office are all decided by the Marquis of Yingchuan!” She hadn’t come to claim credit and changed the subject to ask about Fu Tingyun’s daily life.

“Just doing some needlework,” Fu Tingyun smiled. “It’s almost midsummer now.”

“My two daughters have been hoping every day that you would come to our home to teach them embroidery!”

Fu Tingyun’s uncle’s family had met with disaster last August. Counting the days, it was time for the ceremony marking the end of mourning this month.

Fu Tingyun smiled: “Why don’t they come to my place to play? I’m idle anyway.”

Madam Wang had many affairs to attend to, and if Fu Tingyun could help look after the two young ladies, she would be at ease: “That would be fine. Just don’t complain if they’re noisy.”

After chatting for a while, as noon approached, Madam Wang needed to serve lunch to her husband and rose to leave.

Fu Tingyun escorted her to the door but saw Mrs. Qi peering around from her doorway. Seeing Madam Wang, she smiled awkwardly and came forward to greet her.

Madam Wang exchanged a few courteous words with her and left in her sedan chair.

Mrs. Qi pulled Fu Tingyun aside: “I saw General Mo has returned!” She stood at the door talking.

Mo Yi’s grandmother’s birthday celebration was in September, and counting the days, he should be departing soon.

“He might be coming to get Concubine Lu,” Fu Tingyun smiled as she told Mrs. Qi what had happened.

Mrs. Qi’s eyes shifted as she listened: “So that means this Madam Lu will soon become a concubine?”

“I suppose so,” Fu Tingyun said discreetly.

“Oh!” Mrs. Qi said somewhat absent-mindedly, exchanged a few more words, then said, “You must be busy, and I should go home to prepare lunch!”

Fu Tingyun parted ways with Mrs. Qi, had lunch, and was about to rest when Zheng San’s wife came over and whispered mysteriously in her ear: “I saw Mrs. Qi go to General Mo’s house!”

Thinking of the white bandage still wrapped around Mrs. Qi’s head, Fu Tingyun guessed: “She must have gone to complain!”

Zheng San’s wife nodded repeatedly: “That’s what I think too.”

As Fu Tingyun rested, she listened attentively.

From next door came Mo Yi’s impatient low murmurs, Mrs. Qi’s rather sharp questioning, and, interspersed with these, Concubine Lu’s crying.

She smiled slightly and went to put Linchun down for a nap.

Shortly after, Mo Yi came over, asking to see Fu Tingyun.

Fu Tingyun was quite surprised. After some thought, she invited Mo Yi to sit in the hall, freshened up, and went to meet him.

Mo Yi was even more surprised than she was: “Why aren’t you staying in the main room?”

“It’s more convenient to stay in the east wing,” Fu Tingyun answered vaguely. “Ninth Master is not at home. May I ask what brings General Mo here?”

Hearing this, Mo Yi laughed awkwardly and stammered: “As soon as I returned, Mrs. Qi came to complain, saying she was beaten by our maidservants… Beating people is certainly wrong, but as you probably know, Mrs. Qi has always liked to gossip…”

He wanted to ask her about the rumors of Concubine Lu’s affair, didn’t he?

Mo Yi was a sturdy, robust man, but he had a sensitive and suspicious heart. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have forced Zhao Ling to take sides before because of Zhao Ling’s mysterious background.

Fu Tingyun said gently: “General Mo wants to ask about the rumors concerning Concubine Lu, right?”

Without having to describe those embarrassing details, Mo Yi breathed a huge sigh of relief: “Yes, yes.” He felt grateful, thinking that Miss Fu was truly understanding.

“Last month, thieves broke into my room. Fortunately, Zheng San personally caught several of them and reported to the authorities promptly,” Fu Tingyun said softly. “Officials searched here for most of the night and left at dawn. As a result, neighbors watching the commotion discovered two strange men climbing over the wall from your courtyard. The neighbors then spread stories about Concubine Lu…” She smiled and said, “General Mo doesn’t believe them, does he?”

Mo Yi was slightly taken aback.

Fu Tingyun continued: “Although Concubine Lu comes from humble origins, she is from a respectable family. While her experience may be limited, she understands propriety and shame. Besides, General Mo comes from a noble family, has a generous character, and is skilled in warfare—a famous young general of the northwest admired by many. With Concubine Lu having such an ‘orchid fragrance’, how could she lower herself to ‘filthy mud’? Even if the General doesn’t trust Concubine Lu’s character, you should believe in yourself.” By the end of her words, there was a hint of amusement.

This made Mo Yi blush.

“General, you shouldn’t blame Mrs. Qi either,” Fu Tingyun continued to persuade him. “Even without wind, waves will rise; not to mention when everyone saw it with their own eyes—some idle talk is normal. Rumors stop with the wise. As long as the General remains upright and open, with time, everyone will realize their mistake.”

Mo Yi nodded slightly: “Miss Fu truly has an orchid heart and wisdom. Zhao is blessed from his previous life to be able to marry you.” His tone was very sincere, clearly heartfelt.

Fu Tingyun thanked Mo Yi bashfully.

Mo Yi rose to leave.

Zheng San’s wife, who had come in to serve tea during their conversation and heard fragments of their exchange, felt somewhat indignant: “Why didn’t you tell General Mo the truth? Your heart is too kind. Someone like her—you’re considerate of her, but she might not be considerate of you…”

“Why are you so anxious?” Fu Tingyun calmly interrupted Zheng San’s wife. “General Mo, though somewhat impulsive, is not without a brain. He was just shocked upon suddenly hearing rumors about Concubine Lu and lost his composure for a moment. Once he calms down, he will think carefully. Why would thieves suddenly break into our house? Their house is on the left, Mrs. Qi’s house is on the right, and Mrs. Qi’s house is closer to the lane entrance—so why would the thieves hide specifically in their house? The incident happened in the middle of the night when everyone was disturbed, so how could the thieves hide in their house for several hours without being discovered?” As she spoke, she smiled and winked at Zheng San’s wife: “We live wall-to-wall with Concubine Lu, so she will know about General Mo’s visit to our house, right? What do you think would happen to Concubine Lu if General Mo discovers she’s connected to the thieves who broke into our house?”

Zheng San’s wife still didn’t understand: “Then wouldn’t Concubine Lu hate you to death!”

She was indeed a simple person!

Fu Tingyun sighed inwardly, thinking it was better that she didn’t understand.

“Let’s tidy up the house well,” Fu Tingyun decided not to discuss these matters with her anymore. “The two young ladies from the Wang family might come to visit soon!”

Seeing that Fu Tingyun wouldn’t say more, Zheng San’s wife didn’t dare ask further and loudly acknowledged with a “Yes.” First, she swept the courtyard once, then the next day, borrowed some rice husks from Mrs. Qi, soaked them in alkaline water, and took out the iron pots and tin kettles from the kitchen to clean them. On the third day, she wiped Fu Tingyun’s room thoroughly, not even sparing the floor pillars.

Someone was pounding on the main door, crying out while knocking: “Fu woman, why do you falsely accuse me?”

It was Madam Lu’s voice!

Zheng San’s wife trembled inwardly and didn’t dare open the door. Just as she was about to call Zheng San, he and Asen, having heard the commotion, had already walked out and were looking at her in confusion.

Suddenly, from the outer door came Mo Yi’s voice, muffled and containing some suppressed anger: “Go back home and stop making a spectacle of yourself! Miss Fu didn’t say anything; she even persuaded me not to catch at shadows… It’s clear that you are narrow-minded and without any tolerance!”

Madam Lu outside the door seemed stunned by Mo Yi’s words and remained silent for a while. When her voice was heard again, it was from far away, barely audible: “I, I am narrow-minded, without tolerance… How can the General wrong me like this? It’s clear that Fu woman, saying one thing to your face and another behind your back…”

Zheng San’s wife couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Zheng San also smiled and said to Asen, whose face was tense: “Go back, go back, evil people will be dealt with by other evil people.” Looking up, he saw Fu Tingyun standing under the eaves of the east wing, smiling at them.

Asen ran over happily.

Fu Tingyun put her arm around his shoulders, but the smile on her face gradually disappeared: “Get ready, on the tenth day of the sixth month, I want to hold a memorial service at the Great Buddha Temple, and then perform the end-of-mourning ceremony.”

The joyful atmosphere vanished completely.

Zheng San bowed solemnly to Fu Tingyun: “Yes!”

As lanterns were being lit, Mo Yi came to bid farewell to Fu Tingyun: “…I’m leaving early tomorrow morning. In a few days, the Lu family will send people to take care of Madam Lu. I wonder if Miss Fu has anything she would like me to take along?”

Fu Tingyun was greatly surprised and looked at Mo Yi in astonishment.

Was he not taking Madam Lu back to Luyi?

On Mo Yi’s face, there was a faint trace of desolation!

Fu Tingyun wanted to speak but hesitated.

This might be for the best. With Madam Lu’s temperament, even if she entered the Mo family, she probably wouldn’t be at peace.

Better a short pain than a long one.

She couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

He hadn’t come to bid her farewell; clearly, he had come to give her an explanation!