Chapter 221

Madam Wu's words surprised Fu Tingjun greatly, but upon careful reflection, this did seem rather like Zhao Ling's handiwork. Remembering that Zhao Ling had told her not to pay attention to this matter, she had no choice but to give Madam Wu a vague response: "Could there be some misunderstanding in all this? My husband isn't the sort of person to do such things, is he?" She also promised Madam Wu, "This is the first I've heard of it, and I'm truly astonished. How about this—once my husband returns, I'll ask him about it and then give you an answer?"

"Then I'll await your news." Madam Wu's mind was a muddle at this point, and she had no better recourse. She repeated herself to Fu Tingjun with phrases like "I never would have thought" and "This really is a case of good intentions leading to bad outcomes," then rose and took her leave.

Fu Tingjun, however, sat on the large kang by the window in deep thought for a long while before calling Yuwei in and picking up their earlier conversation about A Sen's marriage.

When Zhao Ling returned that evening, she pulled him into the study to talk. "Madam Wu came to say that the reason the Zhao family learned of your whereabouts is that Shopkeeper Ye San let it slip once after drinking too much. She suspects that you and Shopkeeper Ye San conspired together to scheme against the Zhao family... What exactly is going on here? Why didn't you say a word to me about it?"

Zhao Ling was taken aback at first, then chuckled and rubbed his head, saying, "Clearly, the world is full of clever people!" His expression was rather nonchalant, but it was an indirect admission that he had indeed schemed with Shopkeeper Ye San against the Zhao family.

Fu Tingjun's brows knitted slightly.

Some experiences are like drinking water—only the drinker knows whether it is cold or warm.

Take her, for example. In the eyes of others, if a ruler demands a minister's death, the minister must die; if a father demands a son's death, the son must die. Her refusal to acknowledge her father and kinsmen made her unfilial and disloyal, but who knew of her grief, her disappointment, her despair?

She believed that when it came to the matter of the Zhao family, no one had more right to speak than Zhao Ling himself.

But the fact that Zhao Ling hadn't told her made her heart ache.

Zhao Ling looked at her and gave a wry smile.

"Ajun," he said with a long sigh, "I didn't want you to get involved in this matter..."

Husband and wife were meant to be one—what did he mean by not wanting her involved?

If he wanted to keep things separate, why marry her at all?

Wasn't it too late to say such things now?

Fu Tingjun's expression turned cold. "So by your reasoning, my affairs have nothing to do with you? And so whatever you do has nothing to do with me either..."

Zhao Ling saw her face growing pale and knew she was furious. He shook his head with some helplessness and stepped forward to put his arm around her waist.

"What can I say?" His tone was filled with deep affection. "Why do you have such a temper? Such a small thing, and you get this angry..."

"Now you think my temper is bad?" Fu Tingjun felt a surge of grievance. "It's not like we just met yesterday. Before we married, why didn't you think my temper was bad?" Before she could finish speaking, tears welled up in her eyes.

"Hey, hey, hey," Zhao Ling panicked and quickly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her tears. "Let's just talk—there's no need to start crying at the drop of a hat!"

Now even her crying was being called delicate!

On top of her grievance, Fu Tingjun felt a fresh pang of hurt.

She turned her face away, forcing herself not to let the tears fall.

This stubborn yet fragile appearance struck Zhao Ling deeply, making his heart tremble.

"It's my fault, it's my fault." He decided to apologize first, no matter what, and soothe his wife's feelings before anything else. "Don't be angry. I was just teasing you, wasn't I? You know I love to joke with you!" As he spoke, he gathered her into his arms, kissing and coaxing her.

Fu Tingjun's tears turned to laughter, and she said with playful reproach, "You said you had nothing to do with me... it made my heart ache!"

When did I ever say such a thing?

Beads of sweat formed on Zhao Ling's forehead.

No wonder people said women were impossible to reason with—even someone as calm and composed as Ajun could occasionally fall prey to such a failing.

His attitude became even more accommodating.

Zhao Ling was usually composed and dignified before her, so seeing him like this actually made Fu Tingjun feel a bit unaccustomed.

She took the initiative to wrap her arms around his waist and rest her head on his shoulder.

So this counted as clear skies after the rain?

Zhao Ling sighed inwardly and kissed Fu Tingjun's cheek.

Fu Tingjun asked him softly, "As for the Zhao family matter, what exactly do you plan to do?"

Since he couldn't hide it from her, Zhao Ling stopped trying. He said solemnly, "Naturally, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!"

Fu Tingjun was puzzled.

Zhao Ling explained, "They were unhappy because my father overshadowed them, weren't they? Fine, then I'll have Shopkeeper Ye San spread the word that not only am I not dead, but I've also earned merit of following the dragon and been appointed as the Xuantong Deputy General, a full third-rank position. With over a dozen branches of the Zhao family inside and out, I refuse to believe that when this news reaches the Zhao family, no one will be stirred."

Fu Tingjun began to understand.

She mused, "So you're telling me to ignore this matter, letting the Zhao family members panic and point fingers at each other to clear themselves, even shifting all the blame onto Sixth Great-Uncle Zhao, who presided over this matter back then..."

"Exactly!" A cold glint flashed in Zhao Ling's eyes. "When the time comes, someone will naturally step forward to seek justice for my mother. I was too young back then, and so many years have passed. If I were to return to the Zhao family abruptly, things have changed and people have moved on. Without loyal servants or close associates in the family to help gather evidence, even if I wanted to clear my mother's name, it would likely be impossible. Better to let them tear each other apart like dogs fighting over scraps, exposing the truth of what happened back then. And let Sixth Great-Uncle see how those who once curried favor with him treat him now, letting him taste the bitterness of being abandoned by all and left utterly alone!"

Fu Tingjun felt the muscles in his body stiffen, and she couldn't help but hug him with sympathy.

Zhao Ling's expression softened slightly, and he lowered his head to kiss the top of her head.

"Then, when the time comes, I'll use the main lineage's moral failure as grounds to demand a new clan head be selected." His voice had also grown calmer. "I'll find a household from the branch lineages, support their candidate as clan head, and demand that the main lineage hand over the clan's communal property... However they schemed to seize my family's estate, I'll let others scheme to seize theirs!"

"Mm!" Fu Tingjun nodded in support, but then she pondered—could it be that Zhao Ling didn't tell me because he was afraid I'd think him ruthless and venomous?

The thought flashed through her mind, but she immediately dismissed it.

She had witnessed far worse behavior from Zhao Ling. What was this compared to that?

She couldn't help but ask, puzzled, "Then... why didn't you tell me? You had me worrying myself sick!"

Zhao Ling let out a long sigh and said gravely, "Ajun, you've already severed ties with the Fu family. I don't want you to make enemies of the Zhao family as well." As he spoke, his hand came to rest on Fu Tingjun's belly. "This little one came at just the right time!"

Fu Tingjun was stunned.

If one person says you're no good, perhaps that person misunderstood you. But if two or three people say you're no good, others usually start to think there must be something wrong with you.

But what did that have to do with the child?

Thinking of her earlier pettiness, she felt both ashamed and embarrassed, not daring to look at Zhao Ling.

"Alright," Zhao Ling said gently, his chin rubbing against the top of her head. "You didn't know." Then, as if unwilling to let her continue feeling guilty, he changed the subject. "Just don't get involved in this matter." His voice was low but carried a reassuring steadiness. "If anyone comes to you, don't say anything—just look at them with a troubled expression. Men handle external affairs, women handle domestic ones. If they have any complaints, they'll have to come to me."

"No!" Fu Tingjun mustered her courage and raised her head, her clear eyes sparkling like gleaming jewels. "I'll stand with you—how can we push everything onto you? I'm just a woman; even if I make some impropriety, it's merely dismissed as 'long hair, short wisdom.' But you're a third-rank official—your reputation matters more than mine." She knew that once Zhao Ling made up his mind, it was hard to change, especially when it involved her reputation, so she tried to persuade him. "Besides, I'll have to return to Songjiang with you anyway to relocate my parents-in-law's graves. There's no way I can distance myself from this..."

But Zhao Ling said, "I wasn't planning to take you to Songjiang!"

Fu Tingjun was taken aback.

"You're pregnant now!" Zhao Ling said seriously. "How could you travel south with me?"

So that's why the child came at just the right time.

If she weren't pregnant, she'd certainly have to accompany Zhao Ling to Songjiang. Now, with pregnancy as an excuse, she could legitimately stay in the capital.

"Ninth Master!" Her heart surged with emotion. "I..." But the thought of disregarding her child's safety to forcibly accompany Zhao Ling to relocate his parents' graves gave her pause.

"Didn't you remind me to prepare my parents' gravesite early?" Zhao Ling looked at her with a faint smile and said warmly, "His Majesty has already granted me two months of leave. When the time comes, I'll head to Jiangnan. You'll be escorted by Zheng San and the others, taking Youyou and Xige'er slowly toward Chang'an, and get things ready with Shopkeeper Lyu there. By the time my parents' coffins arrive in Chang'an, there'll be someone to oversee the arrangements, so we won't be flustered and lose proper decorum." He added, "Since we're setting up ancestral ritual land in Chang'an this time, we'll naturally need to establish a residence there as well. After all, it's where we'll be living in the future—how it should be done requires your decision. I wouldn't feel at ease having someone else handle it."

That was true.

But letting Zhao Ling go alone to Songjiang to contend with those Zhao family members still gave Fu Tingjun some hesitation.

"Alright, alright," Zhao Ling said with a laugh upon seeing her expression. "That settles it—you women are always so wishy-washy." Then he added, "I'm going to Jiangnan to exhume the graves, but Chang'an needs someone to receive the spirits, doesn't it? It's a pity our Xige'er is too young—otherwise, I'd have brought you along."

Was he trying to comfort her?

Fu Tingjun's eyes glistened with tears, and she pressed her lips together in a smile.

The glistening moisture in her eyes made her pupils appear clear and spirited.

She asked him softly, "When do you plan to set out?"

"I'll leave in a day or two!" Zhao Ling said, unable to resist leaning down to kiss her rosy lips, his tone carrying a hint of distraction, "Once you let Madam Wu know that I'm heading back to Jiangnan... the Zhao family will be like cornered dogs jumping at walls, and chances are they'll contact me halfway along the road."

Fu Tingjun nodded: "Alright!"

Her rosy lips seemed like a silent invitation.

Zhao Ling scooped Fu Tingjun up in his arms and, in one motion, tumbled with her onto the arhat couch in the study.

"Don't be like this..." Fu Tingjun pressed her hands against his chest, "I... I haven't passed the three-month mark yet!"

"I know!" Zhao Ling nibbled on Fu Tingjun's earlobe, "I just want to talk with you..."

Since when did anyone talk like this?

Fu Tingjun wanted to protest, but what escaped her lips was a heart-racing moan...

Her face flushed crimson, and she buried her head in Zhao Ling's embrace!