Chapter 103

At noon in Ledu Town, there were few pedestrians on the streets.

Outside the government office, Zheng San was chatting amiably with Zhao Ming when Fu Tingjun rushed out like a gust of wind.

The suddenness of it left the two men staring blankly at the furious Fu Tingjun, momentarily stunned.

Fu Tingjun had already leaped onto the carriage, yanking hard at the reins. The horse, which had been waiting leisurely, was startled, rearing up with a shrill neigh before bolting off, dragging the carriage in a wild dash down the road.

"Miss Fu!" Zheng San snapped back to his senses and gave chase on foot.

Zhao Ming, however, remained lost in that fleeting glimpse.

"That Miss Fu—she's truly beautiful!" he murmured to himself, when Zhao Ling's urgent, irate voice reached his ears: "Where is she?"

"Oh!" Zhao Ming quickly straightened up and pointed in the direction the carriage had vanished. "She went that way!"

Zhao Ling spotted Zheng San's figure in the distance.

Without hesitation, he gave chase.

But Zheng San was slowing down, eventually coming to a stop at the end of the street.

The horse had run too fast—the carriage was now just a tiny black dot on the post road, leaving only a trail of dust in its wake.

Two legs could never outrun four; continuing the chase was pointless.

He turned back and saw Zhao Ling.

"The horse got spooked." He strode forward to meet him, his expression tense. "I couldn't catch up."

Zhao Ling's gaze darkened instantly. "I'll go back and get a horse!" He spun around and sprinted toward the government office.

On the way, he ran into Zhao Ming, who, though clueless about what had happened, was eager to curry favor.

As he hurried back alongside Zhao Ling, he asked with concern, "Bailhu, what's going on? Want me to round up a few brothers to help search for her?"

"Fine!" Zhao Ling's jaw was clenched tight, his mind consumed by the thought of "the horse got spooked."

If anything happened to Miss Fu... He didn't dare think further.

Zhao Ming, hearing this, immediately dashed off toward the small eatery.

Such a good opportunity—naturally, he'd look out for his own brothers.

Zhao Ling rushed into the government office and ran straight into Miss Tang, who looked anxious. "Ninth Master, what's wrong with Miss Fu? Should I take the maids to go look for—"

"No need!" Zhao Ling's face was grim. This Ninth Miss Fu—what on earth was she scheming? She'd been talking one moment, then bolted the next, even threatening to sever ties with him. "Miss Tang, go ahead and eat first. I'm afraid I won't be back for a while." With that, he headed to the stable to fetch his horse.

"I'll come with you!" Miss Tang was an accomplished rider among women. "One more person means a better chance of finding Miss Fu!"

"No need!" Zhao Ling only wanted to find Fu Tingjun as quickly as possible. Miss Tang's riding skills, however good, couldn't match those of his battle-hardened brothers. "Miss Tang, just stay put in the government office."

He mounted his horse before even leaving the compound, charging straight out through the gate.

Zhao Ming and his men had already ridden up.

"Get a horse for Zheng San." Zhao Ling ordered Zhao Ming. "You all search that direction, I'll take this one. Give me a signal once you find her."

Fu Tingjun didn't know how to drive a carriage, and with the horse spooked, she'd likely let go of the reins and let it run wild. Zhao Ling kept the most obvious post road for himself and assigned the other directions to Zhao Ming and the others.

The men acknowledged with a shout and galloped out of town.

The commotion drew many onlookers, who poked their heads out to gawk and murmur: "What's going on?"

Standing at the government office entrance, biting her red lips as she watched Zhao Ling and the others ride off into the distance, Miss Tang's eyes flickered thoughtfully.

...

Just as Zhao Ling had predicted, Fu Tingjun didn't know how to drive a carriage. Leaping onto it had been a moment of impulsive bravado, mimicking Zheng San's technique—but she'd pulled too hard, spooking the horse instead. The carriage lurched forward abruptly, and caught off guard, she was thrown into the cabin, knocked about until she was dizzy and disoriented. By the time she scrambled back up, the carriage was racing ahead at a terrifying speed. Bounced around until her head spun, she was too frightened to try driving again and simply let go of the reins, letting the horse run wherever it pleased.

After what felt like an eternity, the carriage gradually slowed. Only then did she dare lift the curtain to peer outside.

Both sides of the road were lined with lush green trees. Not a soul was in sight. The sun blazed down on the post road, and white gravel glinted with dazzling light here and there.

Where was this?

She wasn't lost, was she?

Fu Tingjun muttered to herself. Spotting her bundle of spare clothes still in the carriage, she rummaged through it and pulled out a small pouch of bright blue printed with white broken-branch flowers.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

Her clothes and silver were all there. Even if Zheng San couldn't find her, she could find a place to stay first, then send word to him...

At that thought, she frowned with irritation.

Zheng San was in Nianbo Station—if he got word, then Zhao Ling would surely hear of it too. And when he did, he'd definitely come looking for her...

The thought crossed her mind, and she froze for a moment.

Why would she think that? Did she secretly hope he would come looking for her? Even if Zhao Ling did come to find her, what did it have to do with her?

Suddenly, she felt a little uneasy.

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but silently scold herself.

Since she had already decided to cut ties with Zhao Ling completely, dragging her feet like this would only seem like playing hard to get. If he really did come looking for her, she could just ignore him—what was there to worry about!

Yes, that's what she would do.

She tried to encourage herself, but a trace of hesitation crept into her heart despite her efforts.

Was she really, truly going to ignore Zhao Ling?

And after that, wouldn't she never see this person again?

Even if they did meet, wouldn't they have to pass each other like strangers?

At this thought, her heart suddenly ached beyond measure.

She curled up in the carriage.

Or perhaps, she should just let it go?

After all, no matter who she married, her husband would always take concubines. Miss Tang had a history with Zhao Ling—if she were magnanimous about it, Zhao Ling would surely be pleased and would respect her all the more for it.

She asked herself, and in her mind's eye, she saw Zhao Ling smiling at Miss Tang.

Her chest felt as if a heavy stone were pressing down on it.

No, no, no. Anyone but Zhao Ling.

She liked him so, so much—if his heart held someone else, she, she couldn't bear it!

What happened today would happen again.

Once, twice, again and again—even the most devoted couple couldn't withstand such prolonged turmoil. In the end, he would only find her repulsive, and she would only find him heartless... Rather than become enemies in the end, it was better to part now.

Fu Tingjun sat dully in the carriage.

Let's just part like this... While he still saw her as the gentle, graceful beauty she was in his eyes, and she still saw him as the chivalrous, handsome man he was in hers... let them part!

She slumped helplessly in the carriage and burst into loud sobs.

It wasn't until her eyes were so swollen and sore that she could barely open them, and her nose was so clogged with mucus that she could hardly breathe, that Fu Tingjun finally stopped crying with sniffles, found a handkerchief to wipe her tears and blow her nose.

Then she realized the carriage had stopped at some point.

She slowly crawled to the driver's seat and looked out.

Before her was a small river. The light of the setting sun shone on the water's surface, shimmering like gold leaf stirred by the wind.

Was the sun already about to set?

Fu Tingjun sat dully in the carriage, watching the horse leisurely nibbling at the lush grass by the bank.

The horse pulling the carriage must have seen this grass and stopped here because of it.

She let her thoughts wander.

A breeze blew across the river, carrying a hint of coolness, dispelling the stuffy heat inside the carriage.

Fu Tingjun got down from the carriage and walked toward the river.

The riverbed was shallow, the water clear, and she could see round pebbles of every color.

After crying so hard, she must look a mess right now!

Fu Tingjun crouched by the river, cupped water in her hands, and washed her face.

The river water was cool and refreshing, making her feel much more spirited.

Fu Tingjun simply took off her shoes and socks and stepped into the river.

It felt wonderful.

All the summer heat vanished without a trace.

Fu Tingjun placed her shoes and socks on the bank, took off her linen vest, tucked the hem of her skirt into her waistband, rolled up her pant legs, and walked toward the middle of the river.

Along the way, she startled a school of small fish that scattered in all directions.

Watching those shuttle-shaped fish, her mood inexplicably lifted.

Everyone has a place to go, and the little fish were no exception.

Let's return to the capital!

Her mother was still waiting for her there.

No matter what she had done wrong, her mother would forgive her.

Fu Tingjun gazed at the clouds filling the sky, her heart as calm as still water.

The sound of urgent hoofbeats came from behind.

Fu Tingjun turned around.

She saw Zhao Ling galloping toward her at full speed.

Zhao Ling spotted Fu Tingjun too.

She stood serenely in the river water, the brilliant evening glow like silk gilding her silhouette in a golden outline, her features indistinct.

His heart suddenly raced with panic.

What was she doing standing in the river?

Why did she look right at him as if he weren't there?

He jumped off his horse and his legs nearly gave way, almost sending him tumbling to the ground.

"You—come up here quickly!" he shouted, running toward her, his voice trembling slightly. "Don't—don't do anything foolish!"

Fu Tingjun watched him stumble as he ran over, and couldn't help but smile.

"I'm fine!" She took a deep breath, feeling as if the old Fu Tingjun—the cheerful, open-hearted one who never feared difficulties—had returned. "It's too hot, so I'm just cooling off by the river! Don't misunderstand—I'm not thinking of jumping in. If I wanted to drown myself, I'd have done it long ago, not waited for you to show up!"

She was so composed, so calm, so rational, yet Zhao Ling felt his heart pound with alarm.

He waded through the water with a splash and stopped in front of her.

Finally, he could see her face clearly.

Her eyes were swollen, her nose red, but her gaze was clear as water, and the corners of her eyes and brows carried a faint smile, like a flower quietly blooming in a corner of a wall—peaceful, composed, and serene, with the ease of one who has shed all pretense.

This Fu Tingjun was unlike any he had ever seen, and it filled him with a vague sense of unease.

"Why are you running?" His question came with a hint of breathlessness.

Anxiety, panic, worry, fear... He had traveled over a hundred li, his horse galloping too fast—he feared his eyes might blur and miss her; too slow, and he feared that by the time he found her, it would already be too late... For the first time, he doubted his own judgment!

Why was she running?

Fu Tingjun pressed her rosy lips together and lowered her gaze. "I... I'm afraid!"

For the first time, she confessed the deep feelings she had hidden in her heart to this man.

Zhao Ling was taken aback. "Afraid? What are you afraid of?"

Fu Tingjun raised her head and gazed steadily into his eyes. "I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself." A glimmer of moisture shone at the corners of her eyes. "When I heard that Miss Tang was a beautiful woman, I couldn't help but burn with jealousy and went to rummage through your room; when I heard you were going to help Miss Tang, I couldn't help but fly into a rage and obstruct you in every way; when I saw you straightening your clothes to go meet Miss Tang, I couldn't help but be plagued by anxiety; and even when I heard you introduce me to Miss Tang as 'Miss Fu,' I flew into a fury and ran out without a second thought..."