Chapter 109

"Miss Tang, your father has passed away, and you've traveled all the way from Xi'an Prefecture to Niambo Station alone with just two maidservants and two stewards. Just this courage alone already makes you a woman who rivals men. When you arrived at Niambo Station, you didn't stand on ceremony with Ninth Master and me, and you spoke frankly about your worries. You must be a straightforward and open person. Since that's the case, I'll set aside all those empty formalities for now and speak plainly. If I say anything presumptuous, I hope Miss Tang won't take it to heart."

Miss Tang's heart pounded wildly: "Miss Fu, I've known Ninth Master for five or six years now. As you said, I didn't stand on ceremony with Ninth Master and you, which is why I came to find you..."

"That's excellent!" Fu Tingjun smiled and interrupted Miss Tang. "What Miss Tang worries about is nothing more than your late father's estate not being protected." She didn't bring up talk of murder for property. "In my opinion, Miss Tang might as well take in a son-in-law?"

"Miss Fu!" Miss Tang stared at Fu Tingjun in astonishment.

Fu Tingjun nodded and said seriously, "Miss Tang may not have read our dynasty's laws." Not to mention Miss Tang, even ordinary scholars rarely had the chance to read the complete laws of the dynasty. "According to our dynasty's laws, when taking in a son-in-law, a matchmaker must be employed, a marriage contract must be clearly written, and the terms for providing for the parents or the number of years of living with the wife's family must be specified. If there is only one son, he is not permitted to be given out as a son-in-law. If taking in a son-in-law to provide for the parents in old age, one person from the same clan who is the proper heir must still be designated to carry on the ancestral sacrifices. The family property shall be divided equally. If the designated heir dies before being established, the clan elder shall decide according to precedent."

Zhao Ling already understood Fu Tingjun's meaning, and his eyes lit up: "Right, this is a good method!"

But Miss Tang was confused inside, looking at Zhao Ling with a puzzled expression.

"When taking in a son-in-law, how the family property is divided and how the offspring will carry on the ancestral sacrifices must all be written clearly in black and white when the marriage contract is established. Since Miss Tang's matter can't avoid the Feng Family, why not ask the Feng Family to serve as witnesses and write clearly how Miss Tang's property will be disposed of." Fu Tingjun smiled. "For example, if you die unexpectedly and the children are still minors, how should the family property be handled? Another example, if you die unexpectedly without bearing heirs, how should the family property be handled? With the Feng Family as witnesses, I think no one would dare not follow the agreement. If that person only wants Miss Tang's property, with such harsh conditions and no advantage to be gained, he would naturally give up. If he truly admires Miss Tang, even if he gets not a single coin, he would still gladly help Miss Tang support the household. Killing two birds with one stone—wouldn't that be better?"

"This..." Miss Tang looked at Fu Tingjun who was smiling at her, then glanced at Zhao Ling who was looking at Fu Tingjun with admiration in his eyes, and felt nothing but bitterness in her heart.

"Given Ninth Master's temperament and the relationship between your family and Ninth Master, it would be best if Ninth Master came forward to serve as the witness." Fu Tingjun said with sincere tone, "But now Ninth Master is a man of officialdom—above him are a thousand-household commanders, regional military commissioners, provincial military commissioners, regional commanders... as numerous as stars. The Feng Family is actually better suited. First, Ninth Master's relationship with Master Tang cannot be openly stated in front of others, and interfering in clan matters would lack proper justification. Second, everyone knows the Feng Family and the Tang Family have had their disputes. If the Feng Family steps forward to protect you, that would truly be rescuing someone from distress, and they would have more legitimate grounds than Ninth Master. If Miss Tang thinks my suggestion is acceptable," she said, looking at Zhao Ling, "I'll ask Ninth Master to write a letter on Miss Tang's behalf." Her tone was somewhat hesitant, but Zhao Ling nodded to her without hesitation. Seeing this, Fu Tingjun revealed a sweet smile, and her tone grew more resolute: "I believe the Feng Family, out of respect for Ninth Master, will handle this matter carefully. Miss Tang, what do you think?"

Miss Tang looked at Fu Tingjun, who under the moonlight smiled with a purity and beauty like an epiphyllum blooming in full, and twisted the handkerchief in her hand into a ball.

Was she just going to let it go like this?

She refused to accept it.

After a moment of silence, Miss Tang said in a deep voice, "I'm just afraid the Feng Family will see me as meat on their chopping board. Then it would be like throwing a meat bun at a dog—gone forever with nothing in return!"

"Aside from the Feng family, there's no one else suitable among the people I know." Fu Tingjun sighed. "I don't know much else, but I've heard from my wet nurse that there are swindlers and kidnappers out there who can devise all sorts of traps for a mere hundred taels of silver. Even gentlemen who have passed the provincial or imperial examinations sometimes fall for them, let alone ordinary people. Although Master Tang wasn't well-known in the countryside during his lifetime, he was a formidable figure on the northwestern road. Many people who specialize in shady dealings must know about the Tang family's affairs, and countless eyes are watching in the shadows. Even if Ninth Master finds a way to entrust you to someone like the Marquis of Yingchuan or Deputy General Wang, they might not see through the intricacies of this situation. When the scheming meets the unsuspecting, no one can guarantee they won't be deceived. Only the Feng family, who have connections in both the underworld and the legitimate world, can handle these messy affairs—for them, such tricks would be like wielding an axe before Lu Ban, the master carpenter. Only the Feng family can intimidate these people who make their living through devious means."

Miss Tang trembled with anger upon hearing this, yet she couldn't utter a single word of rebuttal.

This Madam Fu was clearly mocking her for coming from a humble, rough-and-tumble background, implying that was why the Tang family had fallen into such misfortune, and why she could only resort to the Feng family's protection...

"Ninth Master!" She looked toward Zhao Ling, tears glistening in her eyes, her objection unmistakable.

Fu Tingjun felt displeased.

If Miss Tang truly wanted to discuss matters sincerely, why did she keep looking to Zhao Ling for help at the slightest hint of trouble?

With that thought, she immediately made a decision. Before Zhao Ling could react, Fu Tingjun spoke up: "Miss Tang, my knowledge is shallow. Whether this plan works or not, you must decide for yourself. I'm merely concerned that the longer this drags on, the more disadvantageous it will be for you."

Let me see how you can scare me with such alarmist talk!

Miss Tang sneered inwardly, but outwardly maintained a submissive demeanor: "Miss Fu, what do you mean by that?"

"Every profession has its own mysteries. Not long after Master Tang's passing, everyone on the northwestern road likely knows he left you a vast fortune, but the scions of official families may not have heard of it yet." Fu Tingjun said. "Given time, those swindlers and kidnappers might collude with some degenerate noble sons to scheme against you together. When that happens, even the Feng family might keep their distance. If those people were to succeed... I fear the elders of those families would look down on you. Forget about a proper marriage with full rites—even securing a mere title or status might prove difficult. Moreover, those who would collude with such ruffians are hardly people of good character; they may not even have the intention of marrying you..."

Miss Tang was overjoyed at these words.

She had thought this Miss Fu had some clever tricks up her sleeve, but it turned out to be nothing special.

Miss Fu had already said everything that needed to be said on her behalf. If she waited any longer, she would only be foolish and stupid.

"That is why Peiling begs Ninth Master and Miss Fu to take me in." She stood up, her pearly teeth biting her red lips, stubbornness mingled with a hint of shyness, and knelt before Zhao Ling and Fu Tingjun.

So Miss Tang's given name was Peiling!

Fu Tingjun picked up her teacup and took a slow sip.

After all this circling around, she had finally gotten Miss Tang to "speak her mind."

Zhao Ling would certainly help Miss Tang. And since Fu Tingjun couldn't possibly stay in Niarbao until Miss Tang's affairs were settled, it was better to make things clear-cut rather than waste time entangled with her. This would also spare Miss Tang from doing things like going to the City God Temple to pray for her blessings. She didn't want to be pointed at and called a "jealous woman" later.

The rest was up to Zhao Ling.

Without Zhao Ling's explicit refusal, Miss Tang would never give up!

She too looked toward Zhao Ling.

Zhao Ling felt somewhat emotional.

He was not unaware of Miss Tang's feelings for him, but at the time, he was determined to return to Jiangnan and had no intention of starting a family. Later, Miss Tang had always conducted herself with grace and composure, and he assumed the matter had been dropped. He admired her forthrightness and treated her with added respect. He never expected that when he made clear he already had a betrothed wife, she would rather...

Could it be, as Tingjun had said, that Miss Tang was after the vast fortune left by Master Tang?

Then again, he could understand. If such wealth had been accumulated through generations of hard work by his own family, he certainly wouldn't want to give it up easily either.

"Please rise, Miss Tang!" Zhao Ling sighed. "I will find a way to help you with your affairs. You really don't need to humble yourself like this."

Fu Tingjun sensed the pity in Zhao Ling's tone toward Miss Tang and was rather surprised.

Miss Tang naturally sensed this as well: "Ninth Master, I do not feel wronged. My late father had on several occasions wished to entrust the Tang family's affairs to you. I am merely following my father's last wishes. I beg Ninth Master to..." She could not bring herself to say anything more explicit.

Although Fu Tingjun knew that Zhao Ling would not break his word to her, she still felt a pang of jealousy, casting a sidelong glance at Zhao Ling with her large eyes, half-smiling, half-mocking.

Zhao Ling saw her watching as if enjoying the spectacle, and shot her a feigned glare, tilting his chin toward her to signal that she should quickly help Miss Tang to her feet. Yet his tone remained gentle: "Miss Tang should know my nature. Such a thing as kicking someone when they are down is something I, Zhao Ling, could never do. Rest assured, Miss Tang, I will do my utmost in your affairs. There is truly no need for you to go to such lengths—it only makes me seem greedy and calculating, as if I were seeking repayment for a favor."

How could this be?

A flicker of bewilderment passed through Miss Tang's eyes.

She had lowered herself to such a degree, and yet he remained unmoved. Could he truly be so hard-hearted, without even a shred of sympathy for her?

The words Zhao Ling had spoken moments ago, the expressions on his face, surfaced in her mind one after another, like a series of paintings.

Oh no!

She started in sudden alarm.

She had fallen into Madam Fu's trap.

Madam Fu had insisted time and again that she was after the family's vast wealth... No wonder Zhao Ling thought that accepting her would be greedy and calculating, as if seeking repayment for a favor!

Cold sweat beaded on Miss Tang's forehead.

"Ninth Master, please hear me out." She reached out to grab Zhao Ling's sleeve, but Fu Tingjun seized her arm instead: "Miss Tang, whatever you have to say, you can just as well say it standing up. We are of similar age, and there should be no reservations between us in conversation. Acting like this only makes you seem distant toward us."

Saying they were not treating her as an outsider, yet in truth they were handling her as one at every turn...

Miss Tang's heart ached with fury, and she raised her elbow to shake Fu Tingjun off, but the corner of her eye caught sight of Zhao Ling.

He was blinded by this honey-tongued, dagger-hearted woman before him. If she truly harmed Fu Tingjun, would he not be displeased?

At that thought, Miss Tang forced the anger back down her throat.