“Oh!” Fu Tingyun said, somewhat flustered, the words buried in her heart suddenly slipping out, “So Nine’s name is Zhao Ling!”

After speaking, she immediately regretted it. Of all things to say, why bring this up? It seemed as though she had been staring at him just to question why he had concealed his name from her before.

Zhao Ling felt even more uncomfortable.

He had originally thought that after escorting her to Weinan, they would part ways with no further connection—merely strangers who met by chance, so why reveal his name? Now it made him appear petty and overly secretive.

“I wasn’t planning to hide it…” he didn’t quite know how to explain.

Fu Tingyun noticed his embarrassment and felt sympathetic.

He had only rescued her in a time of danger, not proposed marriage—why should he have to reveal his entire family history? She decided to help him out of the awkward situation: “I told Lord Sixteen you were from Longxi County. Did that put you in a difficult position?”

Zhao Ling breathed a sigh of relief and quickly replied: “I once lived in Liangzhou for several years and frequently visited Longxi County, so I’m quite familiar with it.”

Fu Tingyun felt relieved and said: “I heard it from A-Sen, who said Nine found him in Liangzhou, so I instinctively said you were from Longxi County.” Feeling this was somewhat inappropriate, fabricating someone’s ancestral home, she explained further, “At the time, I thought since we wouldn’t see Lord Sixteen again anyway, it was enough to give him some explanation…” At this point, she exclaimed, “Oh my!”

Zhao Ling’s heart suddenly tensed.

Would she now explain the “engaged couple” matter?

Although it was an expedient lie necessitated by the circumstances, it was still an embarrassing situation. Better not to mention it and let it fade away naturally.

As she had said, they wouldn’t encounter Lord Sixteen again anyway, and he had no intention of seeking Lord Sixteen’s patronage. On this point, they agreed.

While fortune might be found in danger, there was no need to risk violating imperial law for the sake of wealth and position.

Then he heard Fu Tingyun ask: “Nine, have you discerned anything from that name card?”

Finally free from circling the awkward topic, Zhao Ling felt like a lost traveler who had found his way again.

He handed the name card to Fu Tingyun: “Take a look!”

The name card was the common bright red, gold-embossed type available anywhere, with characters written in the official script style that all scholars learned.

“‘From the humble servant who bows his head, respectfully, the Hermit of Blue Creek,'” Fu Tingyun read from the card. “Since it doesn’t specify who it’s addressed to, nor mention what business or which servant was sent, and the signature is just a literary name… Even if we showed this card to well-informed elders, they probably couldn’t identify whose card it is.” She examined the card thoroughly inside and out, then pondered, “If lost, others couldn’t guess whose card it is either. Such caution confirms that Lord Sixteen must indeed be a vassal prince.”

Zhao Ling nodded slightly and said: “Tell me from beginning to end how you came to take shelter in the City God Temple.” Previously, with Lord Sixteen and his men present, she had only given a brief account.

Fu Tingyun knew that what she was about to say would be important for Zhao Ling’s assessment, so she recalled carefully, including even the smallest details.

Zhao Ling remained silent for a long while, thinking deeply before saying: “According to what you’ve said, when you entered, Mo Yi and Lord Sixteen pretended not to know each other. Later, when we clashed with the bandit leader, Mo Yi disappeared, while Lord Sixteen just observed coldly. Only after I killed the bandit leader did Lord Sixteen’s men step in to help?”

Fu Tingyun nodded and said: “I felt quite angry at the time. With their excellent martial skills, why did they wait until we were at our wits’ end before helping? I know the best way to earn gratitude is to offer timely help in dire circumstances, but this wasn’t timely help—it was like offering a fan in autumn, waiting until you can no longer hold on. If it were me, I would have stepped in when you confronted the bandit leader… shouting ‘Brother, let me lend you a hand,’ then sending one of my men to charge forward… The bandit leader was still alive then, so the primary credit would naturally be theirs, and we would certainly have been immensely grateful… They would have gained both honor and advantage…”

Seeing her indignation, like a child complaining to adults about not getting candy, Zhao Ling couldn’t help but smile.

He said to Fu Tingyun: “Call A-Sen in. I have a few questions for him.”

Fu Tingyun called A-Sen inside.

“Are you certain the person following you fell into your trap?” Zhao Ling’s expression turned serious, his brow adding a trace of solemnity, instantly dispelling the relaxed atmosphere from moments ago.

“I’m certain,” A-Sen swore. “I originally planned to capture him alive, but feared he might be Master Feng Three’s scout—Master, you always tell us to leave some leeway for future encounters. I was afraid of offending him, and that he might speak ill of us to Master Feng Three, who might then pursue us relentlessly.” As if worried Zhao Ling might misunderstand, he hastily added, “Of course, we’re not afraid of Master Feng Three. We’re just in a hurry to reach Xi’an Prefecture and want to avoid complications…”

Fu Tingyun turned her head aside and covered her mouth to suppress her laughter.

Seeing her shoulders shaking with mirth, Zhao Ling’s eyes also revealed a hint of amusement as he lightly scolded A-Sen: “Alright, alright, stop your glib talk!”

A-Sen glanced at the continuously laughing Fu Tingyun, then at the smiling Zhao Ling, sensing that the atmosphere in the room was different from usual. Though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly how it differed, he felt this change was good.

“I’m telling the truth,” he pouted. “If I hadn’t smelled the blood, I would have prepared something even better for him…”

Zhao Ling didn’t ask further and said: “Go keep watch outside the door!”

A-Sen, always obedient to Zhao Ling, immediately went to the doorway.

Fu Tingyun asked Zhao Ling: “What have you discovered?”

Her eyes were bright with curiosity.

Zhao Ling paused before saying casually: “Nothing much, I just wanted to know what happened while I was unconscious!”

Who was he trying to fool?

Always the same—at critical moments, putting on that coldly detached expression to downplay the importance of matters… treating others like fools.

She hadn’t even pressed him about concealing his name, yet he still presented this attitude toward her!

Fu Tingyun was infuriated. She stood up abruptly and stormed off.

After two steps, she realized this wasn’t appropriate.

What if they encountered similar situations in the future? Would she just walk away again?

Would this behavior ever make Zhao Ling voluntarily tell her what was happening?

She paced back and forth in the room several times, and when her emotions gradually calmed, she asked Zhao Ling: “Is Nine being evasive because you think I’m too stupid to understand even if you explained? Or do you think this matter doesn’t concern me, so I needn’t know?”

Zhao Ling was perplexed.

They had been conversing pleasantly—why was she suddenly angry?

Her temper was like June weather, changing from wind to rain without reason or warning.

His brow furrowed slightly, but the soft backrest behind him, the warm breeze from the window, and the bright, spacious room all reminded him of how attentively she had cared for him… To disregard her would be too unkind.

As Zhao Ling pondered how to break the impasse, Fu Tingyun sat back down beside the bed.

He felt relieved and said, “Miss Fu, please don’t misunderstand. I simply haven’t figured it out yet. Once I do, I’ll certainly tell you!”

Haste makes waste.

Some things require patience.

His assurance was enough for now.

Fu Tingyun stood up with a smile: “You haven’t slept all night and suffered such serious injuries. Nine, you should rest well! We’ll discuss this matter this afternoon!” Without waiting for Zhao Ling’s response, she opened the door with a creak, startling A-Sen, who was leaning against the doorframe: “Miss, what’s the matter?”

“Nothing!” Fu Tingyun smiled. “I’m going downstairs to find a cleaning cloth to tidy up the room.”

Her quarters were also quite dirty.

“I’ll go!” A-Sen ran downstairs with rapid footsteps.

Neither of them noticed Zhao Ling’s troubled expression.

How could he have said, “I simply haven’t figured it out yet. Once I do, I’ll certainly tell you.”?

Did that mean he had to discuss it with Fu Tingyun that afternoon?

She was merely a woman—what could she do even if she knew?

It would only cause her needless worry and fear.

He felt a splitting headache and lay down with his brow deeply furrowed.

…

Downstairs, only Mo Yi sat with legs splayed on the shop’s threshold.

Seeing A-Sen come down, he turned his head slightly and asked: “Is something wrong?”

“Nothing!” A-Sen replied. “I’m helping our miss find a cleaning cloth to tidy up the room.”

Mo Yi nodded as Chen Six and Little Five walked in.

One carried water on a shoulder pole, while the other held a bamboo basket containing flour, eggs, and spring onions.

A-Sen’s eyes lit up: “Where did you get these things?”

The two smiled without answering.

A-Sen guessed their supplies might have been obtained through dubious means, so he didn’t inquire further. After they made pancakes, he took some upstairs to Zhao Ling and Fu Tingyun.

Mo Yi gave Chen Six a meaningful glance.

Chen Six squatted at the bottom of the stairs with his bowl of food.

Mo Yi asked Little Five: “Was it that boy who made you fall into the cesspit?”

Little Five’s face reddened.

Mo Yi’s expression darkened like storm clouds gathering.

…

Upstairs, Fu Tingyun watched A-Sen help Zhao Ling take his medicine, then sat at the bedside: “Nine, have you figured out what happened at the City God Temple?” Then she added seriously, “Actually, I’ve thought it through carefully. Since Lord Sixteen isn’t allowed to leave his fief, he must have come to Shaanxi secretly. Could Mo Yi have been looking for him? Perhaps they happened to meet at the City God Temple, and when we accidentally intruded, they had to pretend not to know each other…”

Zhao Ling’s expression was quite remarkable, unclear whether he was surprised by her theory or exasperated by her persistence.

Fu Tingyun raised her eyebrows at him: “Nine, am I wrong?”

Zhao Ling smiled bitterly.

But he didn’t answer her.

Fu Tingyun simply said: “Well then, Nine, if there’s anything you’re unsure about, why not ask me?”

Seeing the glint of cleverness in her eyes, Zhao Ling couldn’t help but hold his forehead in his hands.

This Ninth Miss of the Fu family had a touch of stubbornness, a hint of determination… Otherwise, when falsely accused of having an improper relationship, she wouldn’t have insisted on getting to the bottom of it.