Chapter 153

Fu Tingjun stumbled back several steps, exclaiming, "How can this be? How can this be?"

It wasn't as if she couldn't move on her own—there was no reason for a woman to be carried on a man's back. If anyone saw this, wouldn't they laugh at Zhao Ling for being henpecked and mock her for being shrewish?

Zhao Ling didn't need to guess to know what she was thinking.

He truly ached for her.

But there was no other good option.

Without a word, Zhao Ling stepped forward, took Fu Tingjun's arm, and draped it over his shoulder. He crouched down, wrapped his arms around her knees, and hoisted her onto his back.

Fu Tingjun let out a low gasp and quickly wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.

Zhao Ling reassured her: "At this hour, everyone has either already gone home or is still watching the lanterns on West Street. No one will see us!"

Only then did Fu Tingjun have a chance to look around.

The bright moonlight shone down on the street, and all was silent, save for the large red lanterns swaying in the summer night breeze before each household.

Her heart settled somewhat.

Zhao Ling's broad shoulders, sturdy back, and steady footsteps made Fu Tingjun lean against his shoulder without thinking.

She remembered when she was a child, when she played too late in her grandmother's room, her mother would carry her back to her own room on her back.

Back then, her mother—in her eyes—was just like Zhao Ling at this moment, with broad shoulders, a sturdy back, and steady footsteps, making her feel utterly safe and secure. As long as she was carried on her mother's back, no matter what happened, she wouldn't be afraid... Zuo Junjie still hadn't been found, her father refused to acknowledge her, and she still needed to seek justice from her eldest uncle regarding her eldest cousin-in-law's matter... She had many things to do. Yet at this moment, her heart felt incredibly peaceful and resolute.

As long as this person was willing to guard her like this, no matter what lay ahead, she wouldn't feel afraid or find it difficult.

With this thought, Fu Tingjun asked softly, "Are you tired?"

Zhao Ling chuckled. "I've carried over a hundred catties on my back and marched over a hundred li in a single day. What's this?"

So that was how they had earned their present wealth and status?

Fu Tingjun's heart ached faintly, and she couldn't help but gently kiss the back of his neck.

Zhao Ling's body stiffened, and his steps faltered slightly.

Feeling the effect she had on him, Fu Tingjun couldn't help but curl her lips into a pleased smile.

"Ninth Master," she murmured, closing her eyes and pressing her cheek against his back, feeling the warmth that seeped through his clothes, "we're going to live well together for a lifetime."

Zhao Ling heard her clearly.

He hummed in acknowledgment and said, "We will live well together for a lifetime." His tone was so firm, leaving no room for doubt.

Suddenly, a loud boom sounded in their ears, and a great burst of colorful fireworks bloomed in the deep blue night sky.

Multicolored and dazzling.

Like shooting stars streaking across the sky, they fell one after another.

Then another firework exploded in the air.

Illuminating the western sky.

Zhao Ling and Fu Tingjun couldn't help but stop and look up.

From not far away came a young man's frustrated voice: "If I'd known West Street would set off more fireworks, I should have waited a bit longer before coming back."

Another young man replied, "How about we turn back?"

"Forget it!" said yet another. "By the time we get there, the fireworks will be long over. We might as well just enjoy them from here."

"But this place isn't as good as West Street—that archway on Double Mill Street blocks the view."

"Then let's go to Double Mill Street to watch the fireworks..."

In the quiet night, the young men's voices were especially clear.

Fu Tingjun and Zhao Ling looked at each other in dismay.

Double Mill Street connected with Chaoyang Gate Avenue and was a main thoroughfare of the capital. If not for that archway, no one could tell where Double Mill Street ended and Chaoyang Gate Avenue began. Both sides of the street were lined with shops, all shuttered now, leaving nowhere to hide.

A dim yellow glow appeared at the street corner.

Clearly, it was the lanterns carried by those young men.

Fu Tingjun struggled urgently. "You—put me down now!"

Would he be stumped by such a small matter?

Zhao Ling recalled the sights he'd passed along Double Mill Street before, and smiled to reassure her: "You just stay put on my back..." His eyes swept around and spotted a narrow alley not far away. His voice grew more confident. "Don't shout too loudly, or you'll draw them over." As he spoke, he strode quickly into the alley.

The alley was a dead end, pitch black. They had barely hidden themselves when they saw several ornately dressed young men, flanked by a large retinue of attendants, pass by the mouth of the alley.

Fu Tingjun let out a long sigh of relief. "That scared me to death."

Zhao Ling couldn't help but laugh heartily.

His laughter rang out especially loudly in the still night.

Startled, Fu Tingjun quickly covered his mouth. "Keep your voice down. What if you draw people over?"

No matter the reason, hiding here like this was hardly the conduct of a gentleman.

But Zhao Ling merely licked her palm.

Fu Tingjun was startled, a tingling sensation spreading like waves from her palm through every limb and bone... just like when he kissed her.

But how could this be?

She quickly pulled her hand away.

Zhao Ling let out a soft chuckle. "Understood." He turned to look at Fu Tingjun. "Let's go home."

In the darkness, his eyes gleamed brightly, gazing at her with such focus that it seemed as if no one else existed in the world but her.

Fu Tingjun found herself drowning in that gaze, unable to look away.

...

Back at home, Zhao Ling personally fetched a basin of hot water to soak Fu Tingjun's feet.

Fu Tingjun refused.

Zhao Ling's face turned serious. "Be good. This isn't the time for such formalities. Let me check if you've developed any blisters on your feet."

Fu Tingjun had no choice but to obediently let him move the lamp beside the foot basin and carefully examine her feet.

Her jade-white insteps showed faint blue veins, and her pink toenails were neatly trimmed.

Zhao Ling kissed her instep and teased, "Good thing there are no marks left, or I'd regret it to death!"

Fu Tingjun recalled how during their escape from Huayin, Zhao Ling had pushed her along in a small cart the whole way... If there were no marks on her feet, wasn't that also thanks to him?

She remembered how her fourth cousin had once had fingers as delicate as scallions, but within a few years of marriage, scars had appeared on her hands. Her fifth cousin had even discussed with the other sisters the saying "poverty and hardship make every matter sorrowful." But back then, they hadn't been wealthy either! Clearly, how life turns out depends on how people live it.

When Zhao Ling finished washing and came to bed, Fu Tingjun couldn't help but tightly wrap her arms around his waist, pressing her body against his back.

This unprecedented display of clinging made Zhao Ling turn over and pull her into his embrace, asking softly, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

These past days, he hadn't been restrained at all, and he didn't know if he'd done the right thing.

"Nothing!" Fu Tingjun replied softly, burying her head in Zhao Ling's chest.

Tenderness flooded Zhao Ling's heart as he gently kissed her forehead. "Then I'll blow out the lamp."

Since their wedding night, Zhao Ling had always slept on the outer side of the bed, and whenever anything needed doing, he would get up to do it.

Fu Tingjun gave a soft "mm" in response, and Zhao Ling propped himself up to blow out the lamp.

The bed curtains were immediately plunged into darkness.

Zhao Ling thought about how he'd disturbed Fu Tingjun all morning when he got up, hadn't returned until late at night, and had made her walk such a long distance. Though he held her warm, fragrant body in his arms, he forcibly suppressed his desires, gently stroking her hair and kissing her forehead. "Go to sleep! If you're tired, we'll rest at home tomorrow and go to Tanzhe Temple the day after. It's not like the temple is going to run away!"

Fu Tingjun found his words amusing and giggled softly, tossing and turning in his arms until she found a comfortable position and settled down.

Zhao Ling groaned inwardly.

Fu Tingjun had first squirmed around in his arms, then turned her back to him, arching her body so that the two of them fit together like a gourd ladle, with no gap between them. Her round, pert bottom pressed against him, sending his blood rushing downward.

Zhao Ling couldn't sleep at all.

He couldn't help but open his eyes wide, staring at the corner of the bed canopy, thinking about what Teacher Yao had said to him a few days ago: "What a pity about the Marquis of Yingchuan—a hero of his generation, yet trapped by all those messy family affairs."

Teacher Yao had been implicated in the imperial examination scandal in his youth and banned from office forever. Though he now enjoyed great imperial favor, the matter from those years was too deeply entangled for him to ever sit for the examinations again, and thus he could never become a grand councilor. Even so, though Zhao Ling had only known Teacher Yao for a short time, he greatly admired his strategies and insight.

Teacher Yao wouldn't have said such things without reason, would he?

He thought of the Marquis of Wuding's marriage.

What was the emperor planning?

Had the Marquis of Wuding invited him to the wedding feast to forge a connection, or merely to add to the crowd?

Though they say "when the birds are gone, the good bow is put away," if the emperor was also a man of such narrow tolerance, he'd better make plans early.

While his mind raced, Fu Tingjun felt something pressing against her—growing harder and hotter...

Was Zhao Ling sparing her because she was too tired?

She thought of how frequently he'd been wanting this lately... She bit her lip lightly, a misty gleam flashing in her eyes.

Zhao Ling heard Fu Tingjun let out a soft moan, as if turning over restlessly in her sleep.

He quickly pulled his thoughts together and adjusted his position to hold her again, only then realizing how painfully hard he'd become.

Zhao Ling couldn't help but smile bitterly.

But before his smile could fade, Fu Tingjun had already nestled against him. Not only that, she seemed to have shifted about and loosened her garments, her plump, peach-like fullness pressing against his chest through only a thin bodice. Her long, delicate legs also restlessly draped over his waist, her hidden valley perfectly aligned with his hardness...

Zhao Ling's entire body went rigid.

One roll over, and he could... but he had just made up his mind to let his darling rest for a full night...

Just as he was locked in fierce internal struggle, Fu Tingjun wrapped both arms around his neck and let out a soft moan in his ear, her smooth, cream-like feet rubbing against his calves.

"Boom"—the fire in his heart blazed uncontrollably.

Forget it... tomorrow, then. Tomorrow he'd let his darling rest for an entire day...

He silently vowed to himself, but his body had already taken matters into its own hands, rolling over as he murmured "darling" in her ear.

Fu Tingjun responded lazily, her arms tightening around his neck as if she couldn't bear to be apart from him even for a moment.

Zhao Ling was overjoyed...

Fu Tingjun opened her eyes, pursing her lips into a smile.