Chapter 114

After returning from Madam Wang's residence, a light drizzle began to fall. Fu Tingjun tossed and turned all night thinking about Zhao Ling, unable to sleep a wink.

The next morning, the sky cleared, but Zhao Ling still had not returned.

Fu Tingjun sighed and directed Zheng San to take down the lanterns hanging from the trees that had been soaked into a sorry state by the rain. A Sen, however, ran to the general store at the street corner, spent two coppers on a handful of candy, and sat on the steps outside the shop, silently eating his candy while watching the passersby come and go. His silence carried a hint of melancholy, so much so that the shopkeeper's wife felt a pang of sympathy and asked him with concern, "Did you have a quarrel with your sister-in-law?"

Before her words even faded, A Sen jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on: "You're the one who quarreled with your sister-in-law!" And with that, he scurried back home in a flash.

"You little rascal!" the shopkeeper's wife scolded with a laugh before turning back to her business.

A Sen trudged home with his head hanging low and found Fu Tingjun kneading dough in the kitchen.

"Miss, what are you making?" he asked curiously.

"I'm making some flaky mooncakes," Fu Tingjun said with a smile. "Ninth Master hasn't had any of the family's mooncakes this year!" Her brow was gentle and serene, and a hint of a smile lingered at the corners of her mouth.

"But..." A Sen wanted to say that Ninth Master had gone off on business this time in secret, and when he returned, he would still need to ask Lord Wang to allocate some weapons to Nianbo Station. There would surely be dinners and bribes to arrange, and Ninth Master might not have time to stay at home. But the words caught in his throat, and he swallowed them back down.

What if Ninth Master really did find time to stay home for a few days?

If he said such things now, wouldn't it break Miss Fu's heart?

With that thought, A Sen ran into the kitchen: "Miss, let me help you make the mooncakes!"

Fu Tingjun smiled at him. While patiently teaching him how to make the mooncakes, she asked him what the eldest young lady of the Wang family had said to him.

His lips were sealed tight—no matter how Fu Tingjun pressed him, she couldn't get anything out of him.

Fu Tingjun simply laughed.

That evening, Zhao Ling still had not returned.

The next day, Fu Tingjun brought A Sen along to see Madam Wang off.

Everyone traveled by carriage or sedan chair, escorting Madam Wang and her daughter to Seven Stars Temple outside the city. Daoist Shanning came out in person to host them, laying out several tables of vegetarian dishes. After eating and drinking their fill, they sent off Madam Wang and her daughter, exchanged pleasantries among themselves, and then each went their separate ways.

Fu Tingjun was just about to board her carriage when Xiao Shi, surrounded by a crowd of people, smiled and called out to her: "Miss Fu, let's go back together!" She warmly invited Fu Tingjun to share her carriage.

All the madams, ladies, and concubines turned to look at Fu Tingjun. In an instant, she became the center of everyone's attention.

"How could I presume to trouble Concubine Xiao!" Fu Tingjun declined with a gentle smile and polite words.

Xiao Shi smiled in response, and her smile carried a hint of understanding. "Actually, I have something I'd like to say to Miss Fu."

Her gaze was clear, her expression sincere.

Given both the circumstances and Xiao Shi's attitude, further refusal on Fu Tingjun's part would have seemed unreasonable and cold. She smiled her thanks and boarded Xiao Shi's carriage.

The carriage was paneled with nanmu wood, its floor covered with a fine Persian carpet, and several large crimson silk-embroidered bolster pillows scattered casually about—luxurious yet tinged with a certain languor that secretly surprised Fu Tingjun.

As if sensing her reaction, Xiao Shi smiled and extended a fair, delicate hand to lift the purple clay teapot, pouring a cup of warm Tieguanyin tea for Fu Tingjun. With a meaningful smile, she said, "These are all the Marquis's preferences!"

Fu Tingjun held the cup, thin as a cicada's wing, in her hand, her heartstrings pulled taut to the breaking point.

What did this Xiao Shi mean by this?

Betraying no emotion, she showed a hint of admiration in response to Xiao Shi's words and said with a smile, "One can see that the Marquis is a man who knows how to live well."

"Indeed!" Xiao Shi smiled sweetly. "The Marquis is most particular in his dealings with people and matters on ordinary days."

Fu Tingjun smiled faintly.

Since Xiao Shi had approached her of her own accord, and her words and manner were tinged with peculiarity, Fu Tingjun decided the best course was to remain still and let the other woman make her move.

She had just resolved on this strategy when Xiao Shi suddenly burst into laughter and said, "Miss Fu, you must think I have some urgent matter to discuss with you, don't you? Actually, no—I simply wanted to see for myself how beautiful a woman could be to make Feng Dahu risk his life, and to make Lord Zhao kill a man a thousand li away!" As she spoke, her lovely eyes fixed steadily upon Fu Tingjun.

Fu Tingjun felt as though she had been struck by lightning.

How did she know that Zhao Ling had killed Feng Dahu?

And if she knew, did that mean the Marquis of Yingchuan and the Marquis of Xiping knew as well?

At the thought of such consequences, her fingertips turned ice-cold.

If this had been in the past, Fu Tingjun would likely have shown some trace of surprise on her face. But ever since she had followed Zhao Ling westward and endured all manner of trials, she was no longer comparable to an ordinary young lady of the inner chambers. Although Concubine Xiao's words had caught her off guard, she could still conceal her true emotions and devise a countermeasure in very short order. Thus, the moment Concubine Xiao finished speaking, she immediately put on a look of astonishment and asked in wonder, "What does Concubine Xiao mean by that?" Then she furrowed her brows slightly, revealing a hint of displeasure. "Concubine Xiao, we women hold our reputation and chastity above all else. To speak my name in the same breath as Feng Dahu's, and to utter such words as 'Lord Zhao killing people from a thousand li away,' places me in a position of impropriety. I wonder what Concubine Xiao intends by this?"

From the moment her words had left her mouth, Concubine Xiao had been carefully observing Fu Tingjun's expression. Now seeing that Fu Tingjun showed not the slightest crack, doubt began to creep into her heart, and her momentum inevitably weakened. She smiled and explained, "Miss Fu, please do not be upset. It's just that when I heard everyone spreading such talk, I grew curious..."

The situation between the two was truly like two armies facing off across a battlefield. The moment Concubine Xiao's tone softened, Fu Tingjun immediately pressed her advantage.

"Concubine Xiao's words are mistaken!" She interrupted Concubine Xiao without the slightest hesitation, speaking with solemn severity. "Concubine Xiao is the honored consort of the Marquis of Yingchuan. How can you make wild speculations based on mere rumors and gossip? And to say such things as 'Lord Zhao killing people from a thousand li away' to accuse Lord Zhao... You must know that Lord Zhao is a court-appointed official. If he knowingly breaks the law and treats human life with reckless abandon, his crime would be compounded, and he would be exiled three thousand li."

Concubine Xiao looked at Fu Tingjun, who stood before her with an air of righteous indignation, and doubts churned in her heart.

Could she really have gotten it wrong?

"Miss Fu, please do not misunderstand," she said hastily. "I merely heard the Marquis discussing privately that when it comes to the northwest, aside from Lord Zhao, he could not think of anyone else who might bear a grudge against Feng Dahu and could kill from a thousand li away without leaving a trace. That is why I asked..."

Fu Tingjun's heart shook violently.

The Marquis of Yingchuan said this? What did the Marquis of Yingchuan mean by that? And moreover, was this Concubine Xiao a favored concubine of the Marquis of Yingchuan? Otherwise, why would the Marquis speak of such matters in front of her?

These thoughts flashed through her mind rapidly, and she said, "The world is vast, and hidden dragons and crouching tigers abound. Lord Zhao is from Longxi County. Had he not joined the army, had there been no Battle of Xining, the Marquis might never have known that a man named Zhao Ling existed. This shows that nothing in this world is absolute."

"That is true." Concubine Xiao looked at Fu Tingjun's cold and stern expression and smiled with a somewhat helpless air. "My words were ill-considered. I hope Miss Fu will not take offense." Her tone carried neither guilt nor apology.

Fu Tingjun found this somewhat strange, but she still knew when to stop pressing her advantage. Her expression softened slightly, and she said gently, "Concubine Xiao, I too am a woman, and I too enjoy idle gossip in daily life. But we women must remember the saying 'be cautious in speech and conduct.' Speak what should be spoken, but not a single word more of what should not be spoken. Otherwise, would we not become people who stir up trouble with gossip?" There was a hint of patient guidance in her tone.

Concubine Xiao looked at Fu Tingjun, whose brow still carried a trace of youthful innocence, and felt somewhat at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

...

Two days later, Zhao Ling returned.

Sanfu was no longer at his side, but instead there was a young man of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years of age, which startled both Fu Tingjun and A Sen, who had rushed out joyfully upon hearing the news.

Zhao Ling smiled and introduced the man to Fu Tingjun: "This is Commander He of the Ganzhou Guard! And this is my betrothed, Madam Fu. This is my younger brother, A Sen."

Commander He's eyes brightened when he saw Fu Tingjun, and he was briefly stunned before cupping his hands in greeting toward her.

Fu Tingjun quickly lowered her head, gave a hasty bow, and said, "I'll go prepare some food and drink," before hurrying into the kitchen.

After A Sen had properly paid his respects to Commander He, Zhao Ling smiled and made a "please" gesture toward him, walking side by side with him toward the main hall.

That Commander He could not help but quickly glance back in the direction where Fu Tingjun's figure had disappeared before gathering his wits and resuming a somewhat carefree and composed demeanor, beginning to chat and laugh with Zhao Ling.

Zheng Sanniang then chided Zheng San: "When a guest arrives, why didn't you say something?"

Who could have known that Miss Fu would rush out so quickly?

But Zheng San dared not say such a thing, so he could only smile.

Fu Tingjun's face flushed red, and she heard A Sen ask Anxin, "Where have you been these past few days? Who is this Commander He? Is he friend or foe to us? Why did he follow Ninth Master back to our home?"

But Anxin sidestepped the question and said, "Commander He is named He Xiulin. He is the eldest son of He Wei, the commander of the Yulin Guard. The master met him in Linze. It happened that Commander He had official business in Zhangye, so the master invited him to travel together and also asked him to come by the house for a visit."

"So it's just an ordinary acquaintance..." A Sen muttered. "Ninth Master really did go to Linze."

Anxin acted as if she hadn't heard, sitting calmly at the small square table in the kitchen, helping Fu Tingjun shell chestnuts.

Someone outside knocked on the door: "Zheng San! Zheng San!"

The voice was very unfamiliar. Everyone exchanged glances, and Zheng San hurried to answer the door.

"I've finally found you!" The newcomer was of medium height, thin and pale, travel-worn, wearing a bright blue short jacket. He entered while wiping sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and shouted loudly, "Is Miss Fu at home? I traveled day and night from Xi'an Prefecture to get here, and I'm exhausted. Is there anything to eat in the kitchen? Have San Niang quickly fix me something to fill my stomach, and bring me a basin of water to wash my face. Once I catch my breath, I'll go pay my respects to Miss Fu."

Who was this?

Everyone stood up straight and looked outside.

But they saw Zhao Ling walking out from the main hall: "Old Chai, why are you here? Has something happened at home?"

Though others didn't know Zhao Ling's background, Zhao Ling had never concealed anything from Fu Tingjun.

Fu Tingjun was full of suspicion.

Old Chai had already respectfully bowed to Zhao Ling: "Ninth Master, Accountant Lü collected the autumn accounts and worried you might be short of silver in Zhangye, so he specially sent me to deliver money to you!"

As he spoke, Magistrate He walked out.

Zhao Ling pointed at Old Chai and said casually to He Xiulin, "An old steward from home, here to deliver money." He displayed the typical manner of an aristocratic young master toward a servant of no particular talent, then gestured to He Xiulin: "This is Magistrate He!"

Old Chai very deferentially bowed to He Xiulin.

It was merely an ordinary incident of a family servant suddenly arriving from home and disrupting the reception of guests. He Xiulin smiled without giving it much thought.

"Miss Fu is in the kitchen. If you have anything to say, tell her!" Zhao Ling gave the instruction, then walked back into the hall chatting and laughing with He Xiulin.