Chapter 236

While Fifth Cousin was inwardly deliberating over what would be appropriate attire for visiting Fu Tingjun, Fu Tingjun herself was clinging to Zhao Ling's waist, her head buried against his shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably.

Zhao Ling's gaze dimmed. He called out softly, "A-jun..." at a loss for what to say.

Hearing his voice, Fu Tingjun lifted her head and dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. "I know—you didn't want this either. And I know I shouldn't be crying and carrying on like this... but I just can't seem to control myself..." As she spoke, she tightened her arms around his waist again and leaned her head against his shoulder. "You must take care of yourself," she said, then, afraid that her tenderness might move him, causing him to worry about her and their child and lose his decisiveness in battle, she hastily amended, "Don't worry about things at home—I'll handle everything! When you went to Xuanfu, didn't I take care of the household just fine?" As she spoke, she couldn't help but press a kiss to his jaw, and a subtle air of intimacy immediately bloomed between them. Her voice dropped as she called out, "Ninth Master..." in a coquettish, winsome tone.

Those murmurs, brimming with tender affection, warmed Zhao Ling's chest and made him wish he never had to leave the woman before him even for a moment.

You in me, me in you... as if he wanted to fuse her into his very being, he pulled Fu Tingjun tightly into his embrace. "Don't worry. I'll come back safely. His Majesty has been lying low for so long—everything that needed to be done has been done. It's time to clean up the bureaucracy. This battle is just an excuse. His Majesty wants to see what dissenting voices remain in the court... So whether we win or lose, His Majesty has made full preparations... Of course, winning would be better... A triumphant momentum is an auspicious sign, and it would make His Majesty's work go more smoothly... If we lose, the worst that happens is I return to the capital and get stripped of my rank to become a commoner..." At this, he suddenly laughed. "You won't be reluctant to give up the capital's splendor and prosperity, will you?"

Fu Tingjun knew he was trying to lighten the mood, trying to cheer her up.

But she truly couldn't muster any cheer.

"Don't you try to fool me!" Fu Tingjun pouted. "How many defeated commanders end up with a good ending? I don't ask for you to be promoted or honored—I only pray day and night for your safe return!"

Seeing Fu Tingjun so disheartened, Zhao Ling regretted his earlier words. He took her by the shoulders and looked at her beautiful, flower-like face with a smile. "I was planning to win you the title of Second-Rank Lady! You can't go crushing my ambitions."

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but laugh. "Trying to coax me again? Mother-in-law is only a Third-Rank Lady of Virtue—how could I possibly become a Second-Rank Lady! Good thing I've read a few books, or else you'd have me believing the sun rises from the west!"

Seeing that she had temporarily set aside her worries, Zhao Ling felt a surge of joy and teased her with a chuckle: "They say 'books make one wise,' but I beg to differ." Then he brought up the circumstances of their first meeting. "If you were an ordinary woman, encountering those bandits of mine, wouldn't you have reported it to the authorities? Clearly, it's not that you've read too many books—it's that you're too clever. You could tell at a glance that I was one of the good guys."

Fu Tingjun couldn't hold back her smile. "Are you praising me or praising yourself?"

Zhao Ling burst into hearty laughter.

Fu Tingjun then brought up the matter of Zhao Ling's campaign in Guizhou. "This battle is so important—can't Mo Yi go instead? You can just continue serving as his assistant!"

Zhao Ling broke into a cold sweat at her words. "His Majesty wants to use this opportunity to free me from the Mo family's influence—how could he possibly agree to let me serve as someone else's deputy? Besides, His Majesty isn't acting without reason. When Marquis Longping went south back then, wasn't I the chief camp officer? I'm fairly familiar with the situation there. Just sit back and wait for news of my great victory." But inwardly he thought, truly, love makes one anxious. When A-jun herself was trapped in prison, she had been so calm and rational. Now that he was merely leading troops on his own, she had become this flustered—today she was saying nothing but childish things... Though, he mused, didn't this also show that in A-jun's heart, he mattered more than she herself did?

At this thought, Zhao Ling's arms tightened around Fu Tingjun, and he pressed his cheek against hers. "A-jun, my dear, nothing will happen to me."

Fu Tingjun bit her lip and nodded.

It seemed to affirm Zhao Ling's words, but more than that, it seemed to be her trying to convince herself.

Suddenly, she felt a movement in her belly.

Zhao Ling, pressed close against her, felt it immediately.

He was briefly startled, then broke into a smile. "Our third one is getting upset—Papa and Mama are so busy talking that they've forgotten all about him!" With that, he eagerly helped Fu Tingjun sit on the heated brick bed nearby, then crouched down and placed his hand on her belly. "That kick just now seemed to come from right here... Do you think it might be a boy? So mischievous! If it's a girl, that would be a problem—you'll have to raise her well, or else she might never find a husband when she grows up..."

Fu Tingjun also found it amusing and said, "Youyou started moving at five months, but Xige'er was lazier—he didn't start until eight months. At first I worried something might be wrong with him... This one is already six months along, so it's not late at all."

A flicker of guilt passed through Zhao Ling's eyes at her words. "When our third child was born, I wasn't home again..."

"And what could you have done if you were home?" Fu Tingjun knew this was a knot in her husband's heart, so she feigned a nonchalant air to comfort him, smiling as she said, "Just do as you did before—write a letter every ten days, and I'll read them to the children so they know their father, though a thousand li away, thinks of them every moment!"

"Of course, of course." Zhao Ling quickly assured her. "Although Guizhou is far away, the Ministry of War's dispatches usually arrive within a month or so. I've already instructed Lin Chi—if anything comes up, just send word to him through someone, and he'll relay it to me via the Ministry of War's official channels."

Fu Tingjun nodded.

Anxin announced from behind the curtain: "Ninth Master, Madam, Lord Jin and Lord Yang have arrived."

Fu Tingjun was somewhat surprised.

Zhao Ling said in a low voice, "The situation has changed now. I asked them whether they'd be willing to follow me to Guizhou, and both agreed on the spot. But to secure the outside, one must first stabilize the inside—I thought they should go back and discuss it with their families first. They've likely come to give me their answer."

"Then go quickly!" Fu Tingjun helped Zhao Ling straighten his collar.

Zhao Ling kissed Fu Tingjun on the cheek before heading out.

Shortly after, Fifth Cousin arrived and said bluntly, "I've heard about Ninth Brother-in-law going to Guizhou. He's a capable man—you needn't worry too much."

Before her own sister, Fu Tingjun didn't bother to hide her feelings. She sighed and said, "I know that, but I just can't seem to calm my heart. I'd like to go to the temple and get a blessing amulet for him."

"I'll go with you!" Fifth Cousin also thought that would be a good idea. "I wonder which Zen temple in the capital has the most efficacious blessing amulets? Today is the eve of the New Year—shall we go tomorrow instead?"

Fifth Cousin and Fu Tingjun had thought of the same thing.

When she mentioned it to Zhao Ling, he thought that with the bitter cold and the holiday season, the temple would be quiet and empty—better to wait until after the New Year, when they could even catch a temple fair. But seeing the faint worry in Fu Tingjun's brow, he quickly smiled and agreed: "Let's go to Tanzhe Temple, then? I'll go with you. We can also visit Teacher Yao and seek his counsel on matters concerning Guizhou."

Fu Tingjun was delighted to hear this.

Anything that benefited Zhao Ling, she was willing to do.

"That sounds wonderful! Should we bring Youyou and Xige'er along?"

"The weather's too cold, and the children are still young—let's leave them at home." Zhao Ling smiled. "We'll go with Fifth Brother-in-law and the others. When we get there, I'll go see Teacher Yao, and Fifth Brother-in-law can accompany you to pay respects to the Bodhisattva."

"No!" Fu Tingjun said. "You must pay respects to the Bodhisattva too, and ask the Bodhisattva to protect you with safety and smooth sailing."

"Alright," Zhao Ling agreed readily with a smile. "I'll kowtow to the Bodhisattva alongside you then, and ask for blessings of peace and good fortune for our whole family."

Fu Tingjun nodded with a beaming smile and gave the orders. The next morning, considering that Fifth Brother-in-law didn't know how to ride a horse, they took two carriages to Tanzhe Temple.

Just as Zhao Ling had predicted, Tanzhe Temple was quiet and still.

After they offered incense in the Grand Hall, the abbot, having been informed of their arrival, hurried over with the guest master and the librarian monk.

Upon learning their purpose, the abbot welcomed them to a side hall in the back and personally presented an opened and consecrated blessing amulet.

Fu Tingjun had originally wanted to ask the abbot about Zhao Ling's fortune, but seeing how the abbot's manner—though seemingly cordial, was in fact tinged with a certain eagerness—was too far from her image of an eminent monk of profound enlightenment, she abandoned the idea and simply accepted the amulet on Zhao Ling's behalf.

Zhao Ling then asked to see Teacher Yao.

The abbot was momentarily taken aback at this and said tactfully, "The master is deeply immersed in the study of Buddhist scriptures. I can only send someone to announce your arrival, sir..."

Zhao Ling didn't mind and said with a smile, "Then please have someone announce me."

Seeing how confident Zhao Ling sounded, the abbot muttered inwardly: How many dignitaries of the court have been turned away at Teacher Yao's door? Just the other day, even Lord Qin Feiyu, who had long enjoyed Teacher Yao's favor, was refused entry. Though you are a favored minister of the emperor and a second-rank official, how could you compare to Qin Feiyu?

But he showed no trace of these thoughts on his face. He smiled and agreed, summoning a young novice to deliver the message. Then he said with a smile, "It will soon be noon. The vegetarian feast at our Tanzhe Temple has earned even Teacher Yao's highest praise. I've already prepared one—I do hope you won't decline, Lord Zhao."

Zhao Ling didn't stand on ceremony, and the party went to the western courtyard where the vegetarian feast was served.

The young novice who had been sent to deliver the message came running up breathlessly: "Abbot, Abbot! Teacher Yao has invited Lord Zhao to see him."

Master Zhi Nan looked utterly astonished, pausing for a moment before snapping back to his senses. He quickly made a "please" gesture toward Zhao Ling and said, "Lord Zhao, please follow me."

He even intended to personally escort Zhao Ling there.

Fifth Brother-in-law's lips twitched slightly.

Fifth Sister-in-law quickly tugged at the hem of Fifth Brother-in-law's robe.

Fifth Brother-in-law gave his wife an awkward smile and said nothing.

Zhao Ling, meanwhile, quietly instructed Fu Tingjun with a few words—"No need to wait for me. Teacher Yao is meticulous; since he called for me, he must have prepared lunch"—before following Master Zhi Nan to the back mountain where Teacher Yao practiced cultivation.

Fu Tingjun smiled and said, "Then let's eat first! It's getting late."

Fifth Brother-in-law and Fifth Sister-in-law naturally had no objections.

They had their midday meal, then followed the attentive guest monk to the side hall for tea. Still, Zhao Ling had not returned. Instead, Master Zhi Nan sent a young novice to relay a message: "Teacher Yao has kept Lord Zhao for a game of chess. He asks that the lady wait a moment."