Chapter 113

Fu Tingjun found Zhao Ling's attitude somewhat strange: "What's wrong? Is there something off?"

"Nothing!" Zhao Ling said with a laugh, "I was just thinking that with Madam Wang back in Fujian, you've lost someone to talk to."

Fu Tingjun was a bit suspicious of Zhao Ling's answer, but he had already changed the subject: "You were saying that Concubine Xiao of the Marquis of Yingchuan's household has been quite kind to you..." So she didn't dwell on it, and replied with an "Mm," adding, "But I think what Madam Wang warned me about earlier makes a lot of sense. I don't want to have too much to do with this Concubine Xiao."

Zhao Ling agreed wholeheartedly, saying, "Then why don't you move to Niambo Station? I'll probably be staying there for the next few years anyway. If you come over, I'll have someone to take care of my daily needs. What do you think?" By the end of his speech, his gaze had turned tender, and his tone carried a hint of pleading.

Fu Tingjun's heart softened. Recalling how reluctant he had looked every time they parted after enjoying the evening cool in the courtyard at Niambo Station, she said softly, "You... will you be staying at Niambo Station for a long time?"

Hearing this, Zhao Ling knew that Fu Tingjun was quite tempted by the proposal, and his heart leaped with joy. He said, "Last time, the Marquis of Yingchuan hinted to me that because he feared others might scheme for the position of Niambo Station's chiliarch, although he had already pulled strings with the Ministry of Civil Appointments and the Ministry of War, he hadn't stopped the Wu family from making moves in the capital. In other words, he was telling me to seize this opportunity and accumulate military merit as quickly as possible over the next two or three years to secure the position."

Fu Tingjun understood.

The Marquis of Yingchuan wanted Zhao Ling to become the chiliarch of Niambo Station, but what Zhao Ling lacked was sufficient military merit. Coincidentally, the family of Wu Ying, the former chiliarch of Niambo Station, was pulling strings in the capital, hoping to have a collateral branch of the Wu family adopted into Wu Ying's name to inherit the position. The Marquis of Yingchuan was using the Wu family's desire to inherit the post to his advantage—on one hand, he was putting pressure on the Ministry of Civil Appointments and the Ministry of War to prevent the Wu family from succeeding, and on the other, he wasn't stopping the Wu family from making a fuss in the capital. This way, as long as the Wu family's matter remained unresolved, the court couldn't easily appoint a new chiliarch for Niambo Station. Zhao Ling could take this opportunity to accumulate military merit, and with the Marquis of Yingchuan's recommendation, the chiliarch position would be his. However, the court couldn't let the Wu family keep making a fuss forever, nor could it leave the chiliarch position of Niambo Station vacant indefinitely. Within at most two or three years, the matter would be settled. In other words, whether Zhao Ling could truly earn the position depended on these next two or three years.

"Once I become chiliarch, it'll be easier to get transferred," Zhao Ling said. "Then we can find a way to return to Jiangnan!" After saying this, remembering that Fu Tingjun was from Shaanxi, he added, "Or we could return to the Shaanxi Regional Military Commission."

Staying in Shaanxi—it was all because of her, wasn't it?

But if they stayed in the Shaanxi Regional Military Commission, who knew when Zhao Ling would be able to return to Jiangnan to clear his mother's name, and he would continue to be entangled with Sixteenth Master. She would rather follow Zhao Ling to that unfamiliar Jiangnan.

Fu Tingjun's heart felt warm. She lowered her head and said softly, "Let's return to Jiangnan... I'll always follow you."

It had a hint of a wife following her husband's lead, and Zhao Ling was so overjoyed he didn't know what to say. After thinking for a long moment, he suddenly turned around and crouched in front of Fu Tingjun, taking her hand and saying earnestly, "For the Mid-Autumn Festival, shall we go watch the lanterns together?"

The fact that her decision could affect Zhao Ling's mood made Fu Tingjun both happy and cherish the moment. She smiled and nodded.

Zhao Ling's brows and eyes immediately lit up with joy.

Then, as if something suddenly occurred to her, Fu Tingjun let out an "Oh no!" and furrowed her brows.

"What's wrong?" Zhao Ling asked immediately, his expression full of concern.

"I promised Madam Wang I'd go to her house for dinner on Mid-Autumn Festival," Fu Tingjun said quickly, a look of chagrin on her face.

"We can go together then," Zhao Ling said, relieved that it was only this. He laughed, "We can have dinner, and then go watch the lanterns afterward." He added, "I actually have some official business to attend to on this trip back, so this is a good opportunity to go see Lord Wang."

Fu Tingjun relaxed, her eyes and brows brimming with smiles. She asked Zhao Ling if he had eaten, how many days he could stay at home, and what official business he had to attend to.

Zhao Ling had only eaten in the morning. His trip to Zhangye this time was to discuss with Deputy General Wang the matter of allocating a batch of weapons to Niambo Guard. He wouldn't return to Niambo Station until this was settled, so he couldn't say for sure how many days he could stay at home.

And so, smiles that couldn't be contained spilled from Fu Tingjun's eyes. She helped Zhao Ling comb his hair, personally went into the kitchen to cook a few of his favorite dishes, and shared a meal with him—a meal that was too late for lunch and too early for dinner. Then she brewed some tea, and they sat in her room, sipping tea and chatting about what had happened at home these past days. Meanwhile, A Sen and Anxin were sparring in the courtyard, with little Linchun perched on her father's shoulders watching from the side, occasionally clapping her little hands to cheer A Sen on.

The atmosphere in the courtyard was warm and lively.

Then Sanfu suddenly came to visit.

He wore a lilac-colored short jacket, carrying a bundle, covered in dust from head to toe, and barefoot to boot. When the teacup was handed to him, he gulped it down in one go, then asked Zheng Sanniang for another cup. He looked nothing like a minor banner soldier, but rather like a destitute commoner.

Fu Tingjun found it quite strange, but seeing that Sanfu had arrived so suddenly and Zhao Ling sat there in silence, she knew they had matters to discuss. She smiled and asked Sanfu if he had eaten, then excused herself to prepare some food for him.

In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Zhao Ling and Sanfu came out together.

"I have business to attend to with Sanfu," Zhao Ling instructed Anxin to saddle the horses, then said to Fu Tingjun, "We may be away for two or three days. If anyone asks, tell them I had urgent business in Linze—the commander of Ganzhou Guard is marrying off his son." He added, "Do we have any ready-made flatbread or the like at home? Pack it all for us."

The commander of Ganzhou Guard marrying off his son certainly wouldn't make Zhao Ling this tense!

Fu Tingjun had many questions in her heart, and intuitively felt that this matter was not simple. But Zhao Ling was leaving in such a hurry that this was not the time to ask. She quickly said, "We only have a few steamed buns at home. How about you wait half an hour, and I'll make you some fresh steamed buns and flatbread..."

"Never mind!" Zhao Ling said immediately. "We'll buy some on the road." With that, thinking they might not make it back by the Mid-Autumn Festival, he showed a hint of hesitation. "Mid-Autumn Festival..."

In just two days, it would be the Mid-Autumn Festival.

"Official business comes first." Fu Tingjun said at once. "Mid-Autumn mooncakes will keep fine for ten days or half a month." As she spoke, her voice suddenly became as gentle as spring water. "You must come back safely. You promised me—next spring, you'll accompany me back to the capital."

"Mm!" Zhao Ling nodded heavily, gazing at her tenderly for a moment, then mounted his horse with Sanfu and Anxin.

...

After Zhao Ling left, people indeed came to ask about him.

Fu Tingjun repeated what the two had agreed upon beforehand. Madam Qi sighed in admiration: "Your Lord Zhao is truly capable—in less than a year in Zhangye, he knows people everywhere. Unlike my husband, who always socializes with the same few people."

"Lord Qi is in charge of internal affairs, after all!" Fu Tingjun smiled to soothe Madam Qi. "Now that Ninth Master has entered the Commander-in-Chief's office, aren't some matters still decided by Lord Qi!"

"Of course!" Madam Qi salvaged some face, chatted a while, and then took her leave.

A Sen was alone in the courtyard practicing with a wooden sword. Linchun called to him, but he ignored her, looking somewhat forlorn.

Fu Tingjun walked over. "What's wrong?" She put her arm around A Sen's shoulder and asked.

"Ninth Master brought Anxin..." A Sen said sullenly. "In the past, for things like this, he always brought me!"

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but laugh. "That's because Ninth Master is now the Hundred Household Chief of Niambo Station! For military matters, he naturally has to use military personnel!"

"It's definitely not military business." A Sen muttered. "Brother Sanfu looks honest, keeps his composure, and runs fast—he was always the one assigned to surveillance. If it were military business, whose surveillance would Ninth Master have him do?"

Fu Tingjun was taken aback.

Indeed, what exactly had happened?

By the fifteenth of the eighth month, with the sky full of evening clouds before her and still no sign of Zhao Ling, Fu Tingjun could wait no longer. She picked up the gift box and, with A Sen in tow, went to Madam Wang's residence.

The two Miss Wangs were hanging lanterns with Li Niang. Seeing them, they all ran over, calling "Sister Fu, Sister Fu," and dragged A Sen off to hang lanterns as well.

Hearing the commotion, Madam Wang came out wearing a sapphire-blue robe with gold embroidery running through the sleeves.

Her face was radiant, looking positively beaming.

"Come inside and sit." As she spoke, she peered behind Fu Tingjun. "What's this? Is Lord Zhao blaming me for not sending him an invitation, so he didn't come?" Madam Wang teased. "Our Lord Wang is still waiting for him to come drink!"

"He went to Linze." That was all Fu Tingjun could say to Madam Wang.

Madam Wang was somewhat surprised, but quickly let it go, and even comforted her: "Now Lord Zhao counts as a rising figure in Zhangye. Many people want to know him. If he wants a smooth official career, he can't avoid such social engagements. You should be understanding."

"I know." Fu Tingjun said sincerely. "In the future, this kind of thing will probably become more and more frequent."

But the problem was, this time he wasn't going to socialize with any commander of Ganzhou Guard at all!

Fu Tingjun muttered to herself as she entered the house with Madam Wang.

The two had just sat down when Li Niang led in a sharp-looking young servant boy: "Madam, Moxiang has come on orders from the Marquis of Yingchuan, inviting the master to come admire the moon."

Madam Wang was startled, then looked at Fu Tingjun with a mix of amusement and exasperation: "See, here it comes!"

Fu Tingjun pursed her lips and smiled.

The young servant stepped forward and respectfully bowed to Madam Wang and Fu Tingjun.

Madam Wang smiled and waved him off. "Lord Wang is in the study—go find him there!" She added, "And if his lordship gets drunk, be sure to help him back!"

"Rest assured, madam. I will take good care of Lord Wang." With that, he grinned and withdrew.

Madam Wang then laughed and said, "Well, that's settled—now we can have some peace and quiet." She led Fu Tingjun toward the rear garden. "There's an osmanthus tree in the back garden. We'll have our evening meal beneath it."

Fu Tingjun smiled in agreement.

When they entered the rear garden, they found the two young ladies of the Wang family and A Sen already there.

The second young lady, supported by her maidservant, was hanging a rabbit-shaped lantern on the osmanthus tree.

The eldest young lady stood beneath the tree, asking A Sen, "Will you come to Fujian to visit us?"