Chapter 112

"I'm taking Jingtong and Jingyi back to Fujian." Madam Wang set down her teacup and said with a hint of emotion, "Who knows if we'll ever have the chance to meet again."

Fu Tingjun was taken aback.

Madam Wang hadn't returned to Fujian even for her mother's birthday—why was she suddenly going back now?

"Is something the matter at home?" she asked after a moment's thought.

"Mm!" A delighted smile spread across Madam Wang's lips. "My mother wrote to me, asking me to come back for a visit."

But there was no need to leave for good!

Could Deputy General Wang have recently received a change in post?

That didn't seem right either—Deputy General Wang had just been promoted, and even a transfer wouldn't happen that quickly!

Fu Tingjun was even more puzzled.

Madam Wang saw her confusion and laughed. "This is a family matter, but I've never treated you as an outsider, so there's no harm in telling you." She sighed softly. "I'm the second daughter in my family. When my mother gave birth to me, she had a difficult labor that nearly cost her her life, and it left her with lasting health problems. After that, she became pregnant several times, but none of the children survived—two of them were boys. Because of this, my mother favored my elder sister more. When we two sisters grew up, my sister married the second son of Lord Cheng, the Commander of Quanzhou Guard, and I married Lord Wang. My father felt that Lord Wang was virtuous and capable but came from a poor family, so he pitied Lord Wang more and wanted Lord Wang to inherit our family's hereditary post of Qianhu. My mother, however, felt that since Brother-in-law Cheng was a second son with no claim to his family's hereditary title, she wanted him to inherit our family's Qianhu position instead. Over this matter, my mother and father argued frequently, and my mother became unwilling even to see me." Her eyes grew slightly moist as she spoke. "Seeing this, Lord Wang persuaded me to return with him to Shandan Guard."

So that was it.

Fu Tingjun suddenly understood. "Then this time, with the old lady writing to ask you back, could it be that she regrets her earlier decision?"

Madam Wang nodded, tears glistening in her eyes. "I received my mother's letter at the same time as one from my father. He said that Brother-in-law Cheng's conduct over the years has been rather reckless, and my mother is deeply disappointed. She fears that if our family estate falls into his hands, it will be squandered, and then my sister's life would be even harder. So she regrets her earlier decision and wants us to return. I discussed it with Lord Wang, and he feels that since my mother is advanced in years and has come to regret her choice, he worries her agitation might bring on some illness. He suggested I take the children back to Fujian first, and after some time, he'll find a way to be transferred to the Jiangnan region. As for the family's hereditary post—all these years Brother-in-law Cheng has treated it as his own. If it were suddenly given to Lord Wang, he might behave even more outrageously, and my sister's life would become even more difficult. It's fine to let him have it. As long as we still hold this rank of Zheng Sanpin, he won't dare act recklessly. That's enough."

"Congratulations, Madam!" Family conflicts were the most unreasonable and the hardest to resolve, so Fu Tingjun spoke from her heart. "There could be no better outcome than this!"

Madam Wang nodded repeatedly, her smile full of gratification. "So I'll set out after the Mid-Autumn Festival." She added, "We've known each other for a while now—I certainly won't be able to attend your wedding to Lord Zhao. I have a pair of camphor wood chests that I'd like to give you, as a keepsake."

In Fujian, when a family married off a daughter, they would have camphor wood chests made as part of her dowry—perhaps this very pair had been part of Madam Wang's own trousseau?

"I couldn't possibly accept such a gift!" Fu Tingjun waved her hands repeatedly.

"Do accept them!" Madam Wang said, hiding her smile behind her sleeve. "If you ever have use for them in the future, just send word to me."

Use for them in the future—unless it was for marrying off her own daughter.

Fu Tingjun's face flushed crimson as she called out "Madam!" and protested, "You're teasing me with such jokes too!"

Madam Wang chuckled heartily and said, "I've just been so happy these past few days." Then she invited her, "Why don't you come to my home to admire the moon on Mid-Autumn Festival? Jingtong and Jingyi will miss you terribly!"

Fu Tingjun thought of those two lively, adorable little girls, and of Madam Wang's guidance that had been both maternal and sisterly, and felt reluctant to part as well. "I'll certainly come then."

Madam Wang smiled and nodded slightly, then rose to take her leave, leaving behind the two camphor wood chests.

Fu Tingjun ran her fingers over the passionflower patterns inlaid with ivory on the camphor wood chests, feeling a touch of melancholy. She went with Zheng Sanniang to the market and bought two tapestries woven by the Hui people, then selected a pair of pure gold cordyceps hairpins from the jewelry her mother had given her, placed them in a small box, and sent them over to Madam Wang's residence.

Madam Wang's room was filled with people who had come to see her off. Fu Tingjun smiled politely and exchanged pleasantries with everyone. Among them, a comely woman in a pink lined jacket smiled warmly at Fu Tingjun, and a lady beside her introduced them: "This is the Marquis's concubine, Xiao Shi."

Fu Tingjun was somewhat surprised.

Compared to Deputy General Wang's concubine Madam Feng, the Marquis of Yingchuan's concubine Xiao Shi was a figure who existed like a shadow. According to Madam Qi, she rarely even stepped out of the second hall of the Yingchuan government office. She had been in Zhangye for nearly a year, and this was the first time Fu Tingjun had seen this Xiao Shi.

She smiled and greeted Xiao Shi.

Xiao Shi said warmly, "The white mutton-fat jade gourd pendant Miss Fu gave me is very beautiful, and I like it very much." As she spoke, she pulled a red cord from her collar, and hanging from it was precisely the white mutton-fat jade gourd Fu Tingjun had given her.

Fu Tingjun was surprised. "I never expected you would still wear it on your person."

"I truly do like it," Xiao Shi said with a sincere and sweet smile.

Fu Tingjun recalled what Zhao Ming had said—that the Marquis of Yingchuan and the current emperor's only son, Prince Zhuang, were brothers-in-law—and decided it was best to keep her distance from the inner courtyard of the Marquis of Yingchuan's residence. She exchanged a few pleasantries with Xiao Shi, smiling, then rose to take her leave.

Xiao Shi urged her, "Though Madam Wang has returned to Fujian, the General's residence still has us." As she spoke, she smiled and glanced at the various ladies and madams seated there. "When Miss Fu has leisure time, she should still come to the General's residence often, just as before."

Fu Tingjun smiled and agreed, and was escorted to the door by Li Niang.

"Why is Concubine Xiao out socializing today?" she asked Li Niang.

"I don't know." Li Niang was Madam Wang's dowry maid, and now that Madam Wang was returning to Fujian, she was as delighted as her mistress, having spent these days busy packing their belongings. "These past days, Concubine Xiao has been going out frequently." At this, she laughed. "Perhaps it's because our mistress is returning to Fujian, and there's no longer any woman of higher status than her in the General's residence, so she can't contain herself and has started showing off everywhere." Her tone carried a hint of teasing.

"Perhaps," Fu Tingjun said, feeling she might be overthinking things. She chatted with Li Niang as they walked, then parted ways at the gate of the General's residence.

As she entered the alley of the back street, she saw Madam Qi standing there holding a small jar of wine, chatting with the owner of the sundry shop. When Madam Qi spotted Fu Tingjun, she hurriedly exchanged a few words with the shopkeeper, then called out with a smile, "Miss Fu, hurry home! Your Lord Zhao has returned!"

Passersby all turned to look at Fu Tingjun.

Her heart pounded wildly, but she dared not show the slightest hint of it. She gave a soft "Oh" and said, "Is that true?"

"True, true!" Madam Qi said. "If you don't believe me, ask the shopkeeper—Lord Zhao just passed by here."

The shopkeeper smiled and nodded.

Then it was truly so—he had returned!

Fu Tingjun was filled with joy. She merely smiled and greeted Madam Qi and the shopkeeper, then quickened her pace slightly and entered her own courtyard.

Zheng San and A Sen were talking with a young man whose face she didn't recognize, but Fu Tingjun went straight to glance toward the stable. Seeing Zhao Ling's horse resting there, her heart finally settled. A smile she could no longer contain spread across her entire face. She lifted her skirt and ran toward the main hall, leaving even Zheng San's calls behind her, and urgently pushed open the door to Zhao Ling's inner chamber.

"Ah!" Zhao Ling, who was changing clothes, quickly turned around. Fu Tingjun's face flushed crimson, and she hurriedly stepped back out of the inner chamber.

The August weather was cool and pleasant, yet standing under the eaves, her whole body felt hot.

He was tall... his skin fair... his shoulders broad... his chest sturdy...

A Sen came running over.

"Miss, miss." His voice was filled with joy. "Ninth Master has returned and is bathing in the room..." pulling Fu Tingjun's thoughts back.

Fu Tingjun quickly composed herself. "Oh," she said, and out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the unfamiliar young man looking at her with a somewhat awed expression. She took the opportunity to gesture toward him. "And this is?"

"His name is Anxin, the new page boy Ninth Master has taken on. He just turned fifteen this year," A Sen explained with a smile. "Ninth Master said that if anything comes up in the future, Anxin will help relay messages." He added, "Anxin is from Ledu. His family are military households, and he rides horses very well. Last time Ninth Master took men out for training for over two months, Anxin was noticed by Ninth Master during that time. This time, he was specially brought here to learn the way to our door."

So he wasn't using Zhao Ming anymore?

But that was fine—Zhao Ming talked far too much anyway, and he went around proclaiming that he and Zhao Ling were relatives.

Zhao Ling had killed Feng Dahu by using the training exercise as cover to leave Ledu. Then he split his men into several groups—one group thought Zhao Ling was with another, and that group thought Zhao Ling was with this one—while he himself slipped away to Liangzhou... Could Anxin have some connection to that affair?

Fu Tingjun decided she would find an opportunity to ask Zhao Ling about it.

Anxin was quite sharp. The moment Fu Tingjun looked at him, he stepped forward to greet her with a bow, and after A Sen finished his introduction, he respectfully addressed her as "Miss Fu."

Fu Tingjun smiled and nodded to him. Zhao Ling walked out. "So you've already met. Then I needn't say more." He instructed Anxin with a stern expression. "From now on, whatever Miss Fu asks you to do, you must carry it out with the same diligence and care as when I give you orders. Understood?"

Anxin promptly replied, "Yes!"

Zhao Ling ignored him and continued talking with Fu Tingjun. "You said you went to see Madam Wang—is there something going on at the Wang household?" His tone was casual and natural, without the slightest hint of embarrassment or unease at Fu Tingjun having barged into his private quarters. Fu Tingjun's heart settled accordingly.

"It's a long story." Seeing his wet hair gathered atop his head, Fu Tingjun had A Sen bring some dry cloths, then set a stool for Zhao Ling to sit under the eaves. While wringing out his hair, she quietly told him about Madam Wang's plan to return to Fujian.

Zhao Ling listened, lost in thought for a moment, then said, "So it was Madam Wang's family who asked her to bring the children back to Fujian?"

"Mm." Fu Tingjun smiled. "Lord Wang may also be transferred to Jiangnan in a few days."

Zhao Ling was silent for a long while.