Asen and Zheng Sanniang crowded by the half-open window, pointing at the passersby on the street.

“Look, look, that woman walking beside the Kunlun slave has green eyes.”

“Where, where,” Zheng Sanniang, despite being a mother, couldn’t resist her curiosity. She looked in the direction Asen was pointing and exclaimed in a low voice, “It’s true, they’re green… like a spirit!”

“This shows how little you know,” Asen lectured Zheng Sanniang with the air of someone worldly-wise, “Those Arab people just look strange. Master Zhao says some even have red hair! Bright red like the couplets we paste up…” At this point, fearing Zheng Sanniang wouldn’t believe him, he turned to seek support from Fu Tingyun, but saw her leaning against the headboard, holding a colorful cushion in her arms, lost in thought.

“Miss Fu,” Asen ran over, “what’s wrong?”

Ever since they had checked into this inn, Miss Fu had seemed somewhat distracted.

“Oh!” Fu Tingyun came back to her senses and smiled, “It’s nothing. I was just thinking.”

Hearing this, Asen immediately said enthusiastically: “Does Miss have any errands for me?” He looked at her with bright eyes, appearing eager.

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but laugh: “You just want to go out and play, don’t you?”

Asen, his thoughts exposed, smiled embarrassedly, but his desire to explore the streets overcame his shyness, and he said ingratiatingly: “Miss, why don’t you go out for a while and take me with you? If Master Zhao knows you want to go out, he’ll agree.”

Fu Tingyun’s face suddenly flushed red, half embarrassed and half angry as she scolded him: “What nonsense are you talking? We’ve just settled in, and Master Zhao and the others are busy gathering information about the Marquis of Yingchuan. How could we go out at a time like this? You only think about playing.”

Throughout the journey, Fu Tingyun had taught Asen to read and write, sewn clothes for him, and treated him like both a mother and sister. He respected and loved her deeply. Hearing her rebuke, his face turned bright red, and he ran out: “I’ll go see if Lin Chun is awake!”

Zheng Sanniang also felt somewhat sheepish.

Asen was still a child, and she had joined in his excitement…

“Miss, I, I, I’ll go see if Master Zhao needs tea!” she stammered, and followed Asen out.

The room quieted down, and Fu Tingyun’s face reddened even more.

He had said she was his fiancée…

She bent her knees and buried her head in the slightly prickly cushion she was holding.

Asen had said it too.

“If Master Zhao knows you want to go out, he’ll agree.”

Whatever she wanted, he always made it happen for her.

Even things she hadn’t thought of, he would think of and do for her.

Like today when they checked into the inn.

Instead of going to the Shanxi Guild Hall with its guides, they had wandered around to find the Zhaixing Tower, and he had paid double for a street-facing room for her… just so she wouldn’t be too bored when he wasn’t around.

And that time on the street in Yongjing County. He always walked on her left side… and wouldn’t let her carry what they bought, saying it was too heavy.

Whenever the carriage went uphill or downhill, he would stay beside it, and if she lifted the curtain, he would ride over to ask if she needed anything…

The more she thought about it, the more such instances came to mind.

He was… truly good to her…

Fu Tingyun bit her lip, her face burning hot, her heart pounding so hard she could barely breathe.

What should she do?

As this thought flashed through her mind, Fu Tingyun felt both embarrassed and guilty, her entire body burning as if on fire.

How could she be thinking about what to do?

It wasn’t as if this was arranged by their parents with proper matchmakers… No, even if it had been, they shouldn’t be acting this way before marriage… especially with her parents still alive! Their behavior was no different from illicit relations… There was nothing more to say… she shouldn’t even be having such thoughts…

With this realization, her heart felt as if it were being pierced by needles.

But if… she ignored him… such a proud person would surely ignore her too.

The image of his cold, indifferent gaze suddenly appeared in her mind… and tears began to flow uncontrollably.

She didn’t like it, she didn’t like it…

Why did Zhao Ling treat her this way?

If only things could be as they were before.

Fu Tingyun began to cry silently.

After some time, someone knocked on the door: “Miss!”

It was Asen’s voice.

Fu Tingyun hurriedly wiped her tears with the back of her hand and said softly: “Wait a moment.”

Asen responded with an “Mm” and waited quietly outside the door.

Fu Tingyun quickly got up to fix her appearance.

Her head felt heavy, and her eyes were red and swollen, too inflamed to open properly.

She found a handkerchief, wanting to wash her face and apply a compress to her eyes, but discovered there was no water in the room.

After thinking for a moment, she asked Asen: “What do you need me for?”

“Master Zhao asks Miss Fu to come over to discuss something,” Asen said with a smile. “It seems to be about the visit to the Commander-in-Chief’s office.”

This was important business.

Fu Tingyun took a deep breath. Seeing half a cup of cold tea she had left by the bed, she picked it up and drank it all at once.

The cold tea slid down her throat and settled in her heart. She shivered, feeling somewhat more clear-headed, and then opened the door.

“Miss Fu…” Asen saw her condition, and his smile froze on his face.

“It’s nothing!” Fu Tingyun pulled him inside. “I just miss home a little.” Then she instructed him, “Don’t tell anyone.” She added, “Quietly bring me a basin of cold water so I can compress my eyes.” Still worried he might tell Zhao Ling, she added, “If Master Zhao sees me like this, he’ll feel guilty knowing I came to Zhang Ye for his sake.”

Asen understood and nodded repeatedly: “Don’t worry, Miss… I’ll quietly bring some cold water, and no one will know.”

Fu Tingyun forced a smile at him.

…

The cold cloth covered her eyelids, making her face slightly pale from the cold, but the redness and swelling of her eyes remained obvious.

Looking at the somewhat anxious Asen beside her, Fu Tingyun felt secretly worried.

Zhao Ling had been waiting for a long time. If he became impatient and came looking for her… asking what had happened, how should she answer… wouldn’t that make things worse!

It would be best if she could apply some makeup.

But she had no rouge or powder.

Well, since they were discussing the visit to the Commander-in-Chief’s office, Yang Yucheng and Jin Yuanbao would likely be there too. In front of everyone, Zhao Ling certainly wouldn’t question her. After returning to her room, she could just close the door and not come out.

Overnight, her eyes should reduce in swelling.

If Zhao Ling asked tomorrow, she would just pretend not to know what he was talking about.

Having made up her mind, she adjusted her hair at the temples and stood up: “Let’s go see Master Zhao!”

Asen’s gaze lingered on her face.

Fu Tingyun explained: “I have my plan.”

Asen relaxed and led Fu Tingyun to Zhao Ling’s room.

Yang Yucheng and Jin Yuanbao were indeed there.

Seeing Fu Tingyun arrive, the two men, following the etiquette of “don’t look improperly,” didn’t examine her too closely but stood up to show respect.

Zhao Ling, however, immediately noticed something was wrong with Fu Tingyun.

She had been crying!

His expression changed slightly: “What happened?” He showed no concern about others being present.

Previously, Fu Tingyun would have felt embarrassed, but now she only felt sad.

She didn’t want to discuss her crying at all and asked Zhao Ling: “Master Zhao, didn’t you say you had something to discuss with me? What is it?”

Yang Yucheng and Jin Yuanbao, hearing the commotion, glanced at Fu Tingyun’s face and both showed surprised expressions.

She was, after all, a young woman, and some matters shouldn’t be brought up in front of everyone.

Seeing this, Zhao Ling had to suppress his anxiety and smiled: “It’s like this. The Gansu Commander-in-Chief’s office has, besides the Commander-in-Chief, the Marquis of Yingchuan, a Deputy Commander-in-Chief, a Deputy Commander in charge of Liangzhou, Commanders in charge of Zhuanglang, Suzhou, Xining, and Zhenfan, and a Mobile Corps Commander—Mo Yi. Among them, the Marquis of Yingchuan, Deputy Commander Liu, and Mo Yi were all appointed by the Ministry of War. Their families are in the capital. The Commanders Hu of Xining, Peng of Suzhou, and Chen of Zhenfan were transferred from Yulin Wei, Suide Wei, and Fengxiang Wei, respectively. Their families remain in their hometowns. The Deputy Commander of Liangzhou is Feng Tong, the eldest son of the Marquis of Xiping, and the Commander of Zhuanglang is Wang Yi. The Marquis of Xiping has long been stationed in Liangzhou, and Wang Yi is from Shandan Wei. Their families are in Liangzhou and Zhang Ye, respectively.” At this point, Zhao Ling pondered, “We need not concern ourselves with the Marquis of Xiping or the Commanders of Suzhou, Xining, and Zhenfan, but we must pay our respects to the Marquis of Yingchuan, Deputy Commander Liu, Mo Yi, and Commander Wang of Zhuanglang. The Marquis of Yingchuan, Commander Liu, and Mo Yi all have concubines serving them, while Commander Wang has his wife with him… The Marquis of Yingchuan and Mo Yi’s situations are straightforward, but it’s said that Commander Liu’s concubine has some relationship with the Marquis of Xiping’s family. She also has the surname Feng and has borne Commander Liu a son, so she is much favored by him. This Lady Feng, perhaps because of her status as a concubine, is particularly fond of gold, silver, and jewels…”

Fu Tingyun immediately understood.

For Zhao Ling’s report to the Commander-in-Chief’s office, he needed to present gifts to these officials. Normally, valuable gifts would suffice. But because of Commander Liu’s concubine, he also needed to consider gifts for the women. There was always a distinction between wives and concubines, but since the Marquis of Yingchuan and Deputy Commander Liu outranked Commander Wang, determining how to present gifts to the women without being disrespectful became a tricky matter.

Fortunately, she had helped buy all these items.

Fu Tingyun thought briefly and said: “Since Lady Feng likes gold, silver, and jewels, why not buy four pure gold wine cups from the street? For the Marquis of Yingchuan, we could give the white jade gourd pendant; for Mo Yi, the pair of gold-mounted jade mandarin duck hairpins; for Commander Wang, the gold earrings with inlaid rubies.”

Jin Yuanbao nodded continuously: “Gold wine cups can be used directly as gold; gourds symbolize many children and blessings; mandarin ducks represent love; and red is the color for the main wife. Miss Fu has arranged it very well.” Then he showed slight hesitation, “It’s just that those rubies are quite small…”

Because at the time, they didn’t have extra money to buy better ones.

“But the quality is good,” Fu Tingyun smiled. “Sometimes, it’s not about how large the gift is, but the sincerity that counts.”

Jin Yuanbao smiled: “Let’s hope Madam Wang appreciates your thoughtfulness.”

“Then it’s decided,” Zhao Ling smiled.

The atmosphere in the room lightened.

Yang Yucheng joked about himself: “Then tomorrow I’d better dress up properly.”

Jin Yuanbao, after some hesitation, said: “I think it would be better if only Master Zhao goes to the Commander-in-Chief’s office tomorrow.”

Yang Yucheng showed a surprised expression.