Chapter 14

Fu Tingjun was completely unaware of all this. Throughout the journey, she kept thinking about Master Guohui's words.

Could he really be a refugee?

But he didn't look like one!

Not to mention his formidable skills, he had managed to gather so much information in just half a day, and it was clearly organized, with priorities properly distinguished—that alone was enough to draw attention. Moreover, he had led over a dozen people into Biyun Nunnery in broad daylight, silently and without a sound, and had transported the grain out without incident... With such abilities, how could he have failed to protect his family estate and ended up as a refugee?

He certainly wasn't a wanted bandit or a fugitive who had committed murder in the countryside. Bandits and fugitives usually traveled alone, grabbing whatever valuables they could and fleeing, never daring to stay in one place for long. Not only did he have numerous companions, but he had also entered her private chamber several times without even glancing at the jewelry in her dressing mirror, and he even knew to procure medicine for his injured companion.

He wasn't a hunter either. Hunters lived in the mountains, moving through forests as easily as walking on flat ground, but they would be ill-suited to the bustle of towns. He could read and recognize maps—having taken just one look at her crude layout sketch, he was able to enter the Fu residence without difficulty. This was by no means something an ordinary person could accomplish.

At least he hadn't used his strength to harm anyone, nor had he injured Master Guozhi, who had stumbled upon their activities.

At this thought, her steps faltered.

Back then, he had only knocked her unconscious.

Just as he had treated Guozhi—he hadn't taken their lives!

Or perhaps, he had done it deliberately!

The moment the thought arose, she couldn't suppress the surging emotions within her.

So that was why he had placed her under the old locust tree in the back courtyard. First, it provided shade, so she wouldn't fall ill from the sun; second, even if she woke up and cried out at the top of her lungs, she wouldn't alert the people in the nunnery, buying him time to escape!

It must be so!

Fu Tingjun clenched her fists.

Otherwise, with his skills, even ten of her would have been easily dealt with.

Then she thought of how he had kept his promise—knowing full well it was a murky, troublesome affair, he had still unhesitatingly helped her deliver the letter... She very much wanted to see him, to ask him who he really was, why he had fallen to such a state, and if there was anything she could do to help. She couldn't promise much, but since he had done her such a great favor, she could at least persuade her mother to offer a more generous reward.

Oh dear... she hadn't even asked his name!

Fu Tingjun's cheeks flushed slightly.

"Ninth Miss," Lü'e, who had been following behind her, called out, "which way should we go?"

Fu Tingjun snapped back to reality and realized she was standing beside the Grand Buddha Hall.

The afternoon sunlight was scorching and bright. The two ancient ginkgo trees beside the hall spread their canopies like umbrellas, casting a deep patch of shade that looked cool just by gazing at it.

"Go back to the room and look after Hanyan!" She felt her body and mind suddenly lighten. "I'll return to my room and rest. Come after dinner to help me wash up."

Lü'e refused, chattering on about "how can that be" and such, but Fu Tingjun couldn't be bothered to argue with her and turned onto the blue-stone path leading to Jingyue Hall.

Their first meeting had been so terrifying that she had been afraid of him at the sight, wishing only to stay as far away as possible, hoping never to see him again—how could she have wanted to know his name?

When she was young, her mother had told her the story of Su Xun, who had only begun studying in earnest at the age of twenty-seven and eventually passed the imperial examination.

If she started changing from now on, it wouldn't be too late either!

A smile tugging at her lips, Fu Tingjun entered the inner chamber.

Outside, the sun blazed like fire; inside, it was quiet and secluded. The heat on her body quickly faded, and her heart calmed.

"Help me grind the ink!" At this hour in the past, she would have been doing needlework, but since there was no needlework to do now, she might as well practice calligraphy! Come to think of it, she hadn't practiced calligraphy since arriving at Biyun Nunnery.

Calligraphy required daily practice without interruption to see improvement.

Lü'e acknowledged and took the water basin to fetch some water.

As the soft brush tip touched the paper, Fu Tingjun gradually immersed herself in the joy of calligraphy.

...

The next day after lunch, Fu Tingjun sent Lü'e away, closed the window shutters, and sat alone in the stuffy room, flipping through the "Miscellaneous Collection."

Nanny Chen came knocking at the door: "Ninth Miss, this servant has something to report!"

Fu Tingjun went to open the door.

In the sweltering heat, Nanny Chen wore a white stand-collar cotton blouse with a black outer garment trimmed with blue lotus patterns. The white pipa-shaped buttons on the stand collar were fastened neatly, giving her a somewhat solemn appearance.

Behind her were Nanny Fan and another Nanny Sun. Both women were extremely stout, dressed in dark blue left-lapel cotton gauze jackets, standing like two door panels blocking the entrance to the inner chamber. Nanny Fan was holding a red-lacquered bamboo food box.

Fu Tingjun felt a quiet sense of curiosity and turned to sit in the armchair at the desk.

"What is Ninth Miss busy with?" Nanny Chen asked, but instead of standing before her as she usually did, she walked a circle around the room. When she saw the window shutters tightly closed, she looked somewhat surprised.

Fu Tingjun saw no need to be courteous with Nanny Chen and asked her directly: "What business does Nanny Chen have?"

Nanny Chen said nothing, standing there in silence, her eyelids lowered, gazing at the blue bricks on the floor.

What was this about?

Playing tricks and putting on a show!

Fu Tingjun was muttering to herself when she saw Nanny Fan approaching with her head lowered, setting the food container on the small side table.

"Ninth Miss, the weather is scorching hot. Your health hasn't fully recovered since your heatstroke, and with the Yu family about to send a marriage proposal, the Elder Master is worried. He sent over a dose of cooling medicine." Her voice was low, even somewhat heavy. "While the medicine is still warm, Ninth Miss should drink it quickly!" As she spoke, she opened the food container.

The red lacquer gleamed like a mirror, holding only a blue-and-white porcelain bowl, the blue of the bowl's walls turning the brown medicinal decoction into black.

What does this mean?

Fu Tingjun looked at Nanny Chen with some bewilderment.

Nanny Chen stood motionless, staring at the floor, as still as a carved wooden statue.

Nanny Fan stood bent at the waist, her hands tightly clasped together, as if bracing against something.

In the room so quiet one could hear a pin drop, a faint rustling sound came.

Fu Tingjun looked over.

She saw Nanny Sun standing at the doorway of the room.

A scene flashed through her mind, and Fu Tingjun suddenly understood.

Her face turned deathly pale in an instant, all the blood in her body surging violently toward her head. She raised her hand to sweep the bowl away.

Nanny Fan, who had been still until now, stepped forward and blocked her path, just calling out "Ninth Miss" when Fu Tingjun had already turned and climbed onto the grand wooden chair, lunging toward the window lattice.

Everyone in the room was stunned for a moment.

Fu Tingjun scrambled over the writing desk on all fours to reach the window lattice.

"Stop her!" Nanny Chen's voice was both urgent and panicked.

Nanny Sun, who had been guarding the door, rushed over and grabbed Fu Tingjun's feet.

Fu Tingjun screamed shrilly: "Lü'e... Hanyan... Master Guohui... Master Guozhi..."

Her mouth was covered.

She bit down without mercy, using all the strength in her body.

"Ouch!" The one crying out in pain was Nanny Chen.

Fu Tingjun bit down even harder.

Nanny Fan and Nanny Sun grabbed her shoulders and Nanny Chen's hand respectively: "Ninth Miss, let go quickly!"

You all want me dead—do you think I care about hurting you?

Fu Tingjun's mind was buzzing, focused solely on biting the piece of flesh in her mouth off from Nanny Chen.

Some pleaded, some pulled, some shook their hands, some bit with all their might—the four of them circled around in a tangle, a mess like a knotted hemp rope.

Fu Tingjun suddenly released Nanny Chen.

Nanny Chen covered her hand and backed away repeatedly.

Fu Tingjun charged headfirst at Nanny Chen.

Seeing that Fu Tingjun had let go of Nanny Chen, Nanny Fan and Nanny Sun breathed a sigh of relief, and their grip on Fu Tingjun unconsciously loosened—so much so that they failed to hold her for a moment.

Fu Tingjun broke free from their grasp, twisted her body, and while shrieking "Help!" at the top of her lungs, rushed to the door and swiftly opened the inner chamber door.

Nanny Chen and the others were greatly alarmed. Without needing orders, Nanny Fan and Nanny Sun chased after her.

The main hall was empty, the front door and window lattices tightly shut—clearly the coarse-duty maids had been instructed beforehand to stay away.

By the time all the door bolts were drawn open, Nanny Fan had caught up. When Fu Tingjun pulled the front door open a crack, Nanny Fan's hand touched her shoulder.

The advantage was lost; there would be no more chances.

She made a decisive choice and ran toward the central hall.

Nanny Sun and Nanny Chen chased out one after the other.

"Ninth Miss!" Nanny Chen looked at Fu Tingjun, who was leaning against the long table with fearful, uneasy eyes. "We are merely acting on the Elder Master's orders..."

"You lie!" Fu Tingjun's voice had never been so shrill. She shouted, "He is my uncle—how could he bear to let me die! Besides, matters of the inner household have always been handled by the matriarch. How could the Elder Uncle interfere? Clearly you resent that I never put you in your eyes, and you've deceived your superiors while bullying those below, trying to put me to death..."

Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, as if it would leap out if she didn't restrain it.

Even if she died, she would not let Nanny Chen, who dared to bring her poison, have any peace.

"Ninth Miss!" Nanny Chen's face darkened. The trace of hesitation that had lingered in her eyes slowly faded, replaced by an icy coldness. "What words are these? The Elder Master merely took pity on Ninth Miss's illness and sent some medicine. Why must you speak so frighteningly of life and death? Surely you haven't been delirious from your sickness."

"Since I am ill, a physician should be called," Fu Tingjun shouted loudly, hoping someone would hear the commotion and rush in to turn the tide against her disadvantage. "I have never heard of giving medicine without taking a pulse or consulting a doctor. Our Fu family has no such rule. Nanny Chen, don't try to deceive me with my uncle's name."

She hadn't expected Ninth Miss to be so sharp-tongued.

Matters of life and death could not be swayed by words alone.

She could neither convince Ninth Miss, nor would Ninth Miss accept her fate.

Nanny Chen signaled to Nanny Fan and Nanny Sun with her eyes. She held her position at the front door while Nanny Fan and Nanny Sun charged at Fu Tingjun from left and right.

Fu Tingjun's expression changed drastically. She looked around frantically for something to use as a weapon and spotted the incense burner, plum vase, flower vase, and table screen displayed on the long table.

She hurled them all at Nanny Fan and Nanny Chen in one go.

The crisp sound of shattering porcelain and the dull tolling of bells rose and fell in succession. Though they blocked Nanny Fan and Nanny Chen's steps, they were still drawing closer and closer to Fu Tingjun.

Who will come and save me!

Fu Tingjun's heart gradually sank, tears welling up in her eyes.

A thin, silent figure suddenly surfaced in her mind.

Her heart leaped with joy.

How could she have forgotten—they had an appointment!