Chapter 107

"So what?" Zhao Ling said, his brow cold as ice. That Fu Tingjun had been coveted by scoundrels and had to flee to Madam Wang's home to escape was the greatest humiliation of his life. If he did not kill Feng Dahu, he would have no face to see Fu Tingjun again. Turning to see the worry etched on Fu Tingjun's face, his expression softened slightly, and he offered a smile, hoping to ease her anxiety. Yet he still felt uneasy and explained further, "In the past, I merely considered brotherly bonds, wanting to secure a future for Yang Yucheng, Jin Yuanbao, and the others, which is why I brought them into the military. But now it's different—I have you, and soon we'll have our own little home. I will surely rouse myself and tread carefully." As he spoke, he gripped Fu Tingjun's hand tightly, his gaze no longer tender but filled with solemn resolve. "Nannan, please believe me—I will never let you suffer such humiliation again." His voice was low, yet his expression was so earnest, his tone so sincere, carrying a gravity that brooked no doubt.

Fu Tingjun nodded involuntarily, her eyes welling up until her vision blurred.

...

The next day, the neighing of horses shattered the quiet of Centurion Si's home.

"I told you—if it got too late, Lord Zhao would surely rest at Brother Si's place in Minhe Town," Zhao Ming said, his booming voice tinged with a hint of pride. "What do you think, Brother Zheng San? Was I right or not?"

Zheng San smiled and flattered him: "Assistant Commander Zhao is indeed a man of military upbringing."

Centurion Si, who had come out to greet them, laughed heartily: "This brother speaks truly—what could escape the eyes of our Brother Zhao?" Then he loudly called for a servant to take the horses and feed them fine fodder, and cupped his hands toward Zheng San: "And this brother is..."

"Steward Zheng San of Lord Zhao's household!" Zhao Ming quickly introduced the two.

"A pleasure! A pleasure!" Centurion Si's smile grew even warmer.

"You flatter me, you flatter me!" Zheng San exchanged pleasantries.

The clamor of voices woke Fu Tingjun.

Her conversation with Zhao Ling had set her heart, which had been suspended in midair, fully at ease, and she had slept soundly until dawn.

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she sat up, only to see the room bright with daylight and the bride, fully dressed, sitting by the kang edge sewing a shoe sole. She gave a start: "What time is it now?"

"It should be nearly noon," the bride said with a smile, setting down her needlework to bring Fu Tingjun a basin of wash water.

Fu Tingjun inwardly groaned.

She usually rose at dawn—how had she ended up sleeping in at someone else's home? What would the Si family think of her?

She quickly thanked the bride and hurriedly got up.

The bride, watching her, recalled the sounds she had heard outside the door last night.

Miss Fu's tone had carried a hint of displeasure, and Lord Zhao had found ways to coax her into laughter... Who would have thought that the usually cold and imposing Lord Zhao would be like this before his betrothed! Still, Lord Zhao and Miss Fu reminded her of her own marriage—if she got angry, her husband would also cheer her up... She looked at Fu Tingjun with a newfound warmth and comforted her kindly: "My mother-in-law said that since you were frightened yesterday, it's best you sleep a little longer. Otherwise, you'd need to go to the Great Buddha Temple for a fright-cleansing ritual."

Fu Tingjun smiled sheepishly.

Last night, she and Zhao Ling had gone back and forth, their words seemingly endless. If the bride hadn't coughed twice from the night wind, who knew how much longer they would have talked!

Thinking of how reluctant Zhao Ling had been to leave when he escorted her back to her room last night, a sweet warmth filled her heart. She asked the bride, "Has Lord Zhao woken up?"

"Lord Zhao only just woke up as well," the bride said with a smile. "He came to check on you, and when he saw you were still asleep, he told us not to wake you. He's in the main hall with my father-in-law."

Fu Tingjun's cheeks flushed slightly. Remembering the commotion she had heard upon waking, she asked, "Has someone come? Why all the noise?"

The bride went out to check and returned carrying a bowl of fish-shaped noodles.

"It's Assistant Commander Zhao and Steward Zheng San from your household," she said, setting the noodles on the kang table. "They said they split up with Lord Zhao to search for you and made it all the way to the Datong River. Assistant Commander Zhao figured you couldn't have crossed the river, so he and Steward Zheng San stayed overnight at a post station. This morning they headed for Minhe Town, and as soon as they entered, they heard that Lord Zhao and you had stayed at our home last night, so they came looking. They're talking with Lord Zhao in the main hall now." She gestured to the large bowl on the kang table. "Have something to tide you over—lunch will be ready soon."

Fu Tingjun felt embarrassed.

Her momentary willfulness had sent Zhao Ming, Zheng San, and the others rushing about...

She murmured her thanks to the bride and sat down to eat the noodles when Zheng San came to pay his respects to her.

Zheng San saw that Fu Tingjun's face was radiant and knew the storm had passed, but he couldn't help speaking tactfully: "It's fortunate that Lord Zhao specially kept two gentle horses for you, miss. If anything had happened, regret would have been too late."

Fu Tingjun blushed and felt a little uncomfortable.

Seeing this, Zheng San naturally couldn't say anything more and asked about other matters instead: "Ninth Master said we would return to Ledu after lunch..." But in his heart, he was thinking that Miss Tang was also in Ledu, and he wasn't quite sure how Fu Tingjun felt about that.

Fu Tingjun nodded, feeling that she should make this matter clear to Zheng San, otherwise no one would know how to treat Miss Tang: "Ninth Master discussed it with me yesterday. Old Master Tang has passed away, and there are still some unsettled accounts. Miss Tang wants to ask Ninth Master to act as an intermediary, but Ninth Master isn't in a position to get involved in such matters right now. However, out of respect for Old Master Tang, he can't just wash his hands of it either. Miss Tang will probably need to stay in Ledu for a few more days. Since she's a guest from afar, I'll greet Miss Tang first, and then we'll return to Zhangye."

Zheng San had heard Zhao Ming mention this Miss Tang more than once on the road. He said Miss Tang was beautiful, her parents both deceased, leaving her with vast wealth, and with no brothers or sisters, whoever was fortunate enough to marry her would gain both wealth and beauty. He also said that Miss Tang had traveled a great distance to find Lord Zhao, clearly admiring him greatly. If Miss Tang were willing to humble herself as a concubine, who could refuse such a good thing?

Zheng San thought it over and felt Zhao Ming's words made a lot of sense.

He couldn't help but worry for Fu Tingjun.

Marriage was not just about uniting two families, but also about bearing descendants and prospering the clan.

He knew Zhao Ling was a man of integrity who kept his promises, but if Miss Tang truly was willing to humble herself as a concubine, then although Fu Tingjun was beautiful and virtuous, and shared a bond of hardship with Zhao Ling, from what Zhao Ming said, Miss Tang wasn't ugly either. Add to that her willingness to be a concubine, her private fortune of vast wealth, and if she bore a son or daughter, over time, no matter how beautiful or virtuous Fu Tingjun was, she might find it hard to keep Miss Tang in check. If a principal wife couldn't control a concubine, then that principal wife was only a wife in name.

Fu Tingjun had saved his life, and he was her servant, so his loyalty naturally lay with her.

He had been anxious the whole way, afraid that Fu Tingjun would be too stubborn and break things off with Zhao Ling, giving Miss Tang an opportunity, and also afraid that Fu Tingjun would be too naive and rashly agree to let Zhao Ling take Miss Tang as a concubine...

Fortunately, Fu Tingjun and Zhao Ling had reconciled, and fortunately Zhao Ling was an honorable gentleman!

Only then did he truly breathe a sigh of relief and take his leave.

The cat's ear noodles that Madam Si made were chewy and springy, with a refreshing broth, absolutely delicious. Fu Tingjun finished the entire large bowl, and by the time lunch came around, she couldn't eat another bite. She sat in the room chatting with the bride and packing up her things. When Zhao Ling's banquet ended on the other side, Madam Si brought over snacks and fruits for her to take on the road, and personally escorted her to the carriage at the door.

Fu Tingjun looked up and saw Zhao Ling, dressed in a ginger-yellow linen robe, taking his leave of Centurion Si at the gate.

Perhaps sensing something, Zhao Ling suddenly turned his head.

Their eyes met.

His gaze suddenly burned with intensity.

This was their first meeting since confessing their feelings to each other.

Across the crowd, she could still feel his tender affection.

Fu Tingjun's face flushed like the morning clouds.

Hastily nodding at Zhao Ling, she fled into the carriage.

Even after the carriage had left Minhe town, her heart was still pounding wildly.

...

Her jet-black hair was coiled into a bun, held by two pure white mutton-fat jade hairpins. She wore a bamboo-green sheer blouse with a right-side closure and a lotus-root-colored Hangzhou silk horse-face skirt, as radiant as a pomegranate blossom blooming in May. Especially her face—her forehead and the tip of her nose were still beaded with a few drops of sweat. She clearly hadn't applied any powder, yet her skin appeared even fairer and finer than the snow-white complexion she had always prided herself on.

Miss Tang looked at the person before her, her gaze wavering unsteadily.

She truly hadn't expected that a man as proud as Zhao Ling would chase after her in front of so many people!

Fu Tingjun paid no mind to Miss Tang's shifting moods.

As long as Zhao Ling was devoted to her, she had nothing to fear.

Smiling, she exchanged pleasantries with the wives of the centurions and banner commanders who had come upon hearing of her safe return. She patiently answered their questions—"How did Lord Zhao find you afterward?", "Thank goodness you only fell into the water; if you'd hurt yourself falling somewhere, what would have happened?", "I know Madam Si well; her cat's ear noodles are legendary. Miss Fu is truly lucky to have tasted them!"—while inviting the ladies into the hall to sit and instructing the two women who served Zhao Ling to bring tea.

Miss Tang followed them into the hall as well, and with a humble demeanor, sat on the small stool closest to the door, which ironically made her stand out all the more.

A woman smiled and waved her over: "Miss Tang, you're not an outsider—come sit closer." Then she said to Fu Tingjun with a smile, "Miss Fu, you may not know this. When your horse was startled, Miss Tang was so worried something might happen to you that she spent the whole night at the City God Temple last night, burning incense and praying for you."

The other women nodded in agreement, praising Miss Tang for her kind and generous heart.

Fu Tingjun was quite surprised and said with a smile, "Miss Tang is far too modest. If you hadn't mentioned it, I would never have known." With that, she smiled and gave a slight bow to Miss Tang. "Thank you for your concern, Miss Tang." She then added with genuine care, "I noticed you looked a bit pale today, but I never imagined you'd spent the whole night at the City God Temple. You must be very tired. You should go rest! Staying up all night is the worst thing for one's health."

Miss Tang quickly demurred, "It's fine, it's fine. I couldn't be of any real help, so I could only pray to the Bodhisattva to keep Miss Fu safe and sound!"

"Miss Tang, you're so thoughtful." Fu Tingjun thanked her repeatedly and urged her to go rest, saying, "Otherwise, I simply couldn't feel at ease."

Some of the ladies exchanged glances and lowered their heads to sip their tea. Others also joined in urging Miss Tang to rest. Unable to decline such warm insistence, Miss Tang apologized to the ladies and returned to her room to rest.