Chapter 302

Anxin glanced at him without a word and walked straight out.

The scout understood and followed Anxin out of the Zhao family's gate in silence.

They stopped at the door, and Anxin looked at the empty alley in the noonday sun before lowering his voice: "The lady asked why we didn't save him."

The scout panicked at once and said hurriedly, "You only told me to follow, sir, and didn't say what to do. I was just following the usual rules, wasn't I? Who knew the lady actually wanted to spare that surnamed Guo's life..."

Anxin laughed at this and said, "Why are you panicking? I already explained things to the lady on your behalf. Our lady isn't unreasonable—she won't blame you for something like this." His expression was completely relaxed, and it was clear he truly bore no grudge.

"That's good, that's good." The scout wiped the sweat from his forehead and muttered, "This time I got to come to the capital with you to work for the Commander, and the scout camp fellows were all so envious. If I'd botched this, how could I ever face my brothers back home?"

"You didn't botch it, you didn't botch it." Anxin smiled at him, looking in excellent spirits. "You handled this very well." His expression turned slightly satisfied. "You know the Commander is strict about separating public and private matters. I'm short on helpers, and I can't just order just anyone around. When I saw you were home on leave, I called you in privately. Though you did a fine job, I can't report your merit to the Commander." He clapped the scout hard on the shoulder. "Consider this a personal favor I owe you. If you ever need anything in the future, as long as it's within my power, I'll walk through fire and cross any river—I won't refuse."

"Sir, you flatter me," the scout said quickly. "Whatever I am today, I owe to the Commander's patronage. Without him, how would a man like me with no connections and rough manners ever have become a squad leader? I dream of repaying the Commander. Being allowed to come to the capital is already a sign of your regard. If I went to the Commander to claim merit, wouldn't I be a man who forgets loyalty for gain? Rest assured, sir, I'll take this to my grave. Even if my wife asks, I won't breathe a word."

"Then I'll thank you here, brother." Anxin bowed to the scout.

The scout hurried to return the bow: "Sir, you'll overwhelm me with such courtesy!"

"Since we're brothers, I won't stand on ceremony." Anxin, having spent years in the military camps with Zhao Ling, had picked up a soldier's forthright manner. He didn't linger on the subject and said, "I've already spoken with the lady—we'll head back to Guizhou within the next couple of days. Pack your things; we'll be setting off soon."

Since they could go back, it meant the matter was settled.

The scout happily acknowledged and asked Anxin, "Will you stay here, sir, or come back with me?"

Anxin had rented a residence for the men who'd come from Guizhou to help with matters—only four or five streets away, not far.

"I'll come back with you," Anxin said after a moment's thought. "The lady just heard that Miss Min's personal maid hired a killer, and she's still in shock. Once she recovers, she'll surely ask about Miss Min. I'll come with you and see if Old Xia has learned anything. If the lady asks, I'll have an answer ready."

As soon as Anxin had heard the full story, he'd sent Old Xia to investigate Magistrate Min's case. By his calculation, Old Xia should have returned by now.

The scout nodded, and the two of them strolled out of Shi's Alley, heading toward their rented lodgings.

On the way, the scout chatted with Anxin: "...I was shocked too. That maid looked so kind and gentle, but who'd have thought she knew how to hire killers? I suspect that Miss Min isn't any innocent either. No wonder her clan wouldn't help her when her family ran into trouble, and when her brother went missing, she suspected the clan of foul play. You can see heaven's justice works—what goes around comes around!"

"Indeed," Anxin laughed, though his mind was on Yu Jingxiu. "This shows a person should be kind to others and do good deeds." Otherwise, even if Ninth Master wanted to scheme against Yu Jingxiu, he'd need some handle to grab hold of.

By the time lamps were lit, Fu Tingjun had recovered her composure and finally sensed something was off.

She summoned Anxin for questioning: "...Was Magistrate Min truly wronged or falsely accused?"

"I hear it was the verdict of the Three Judicial Offices," Anxin said. "Nine times out of ten, it should be correct."

Clearly, Yu Jingxiu had no eye for people—no wonder he'd been the top scholar yet still hadn't made anything of himself to this day.

Fu Tingjun nodded thoughtfully. Knowing that Anxin would be departing in a couple of days, she gave him some words of caution about traveling safely, then had Yuwei bring him a hundred taels of silver for the journey.

Anxin hurriedly declined: "When I came, Ninth Master gave me two thousand taels in bank notes. I spent a thousand, so I still have a thousand left—more than enough for travel expenses. There's no need for you to give me more, madam."

"Take this silver to buy yourself some wine," Fu Tingjun said with a smile. "You didn't say anything, but I know well enough that for such a major matter, you investigated every detail thoroughly—you must have enlisted some help along the way. You're one of our own household, so I won't stand on ceremony with you, but those who came to help deserve something. If the silver isn't enough, use it to buy some local gifts—consider it a token of my appreciation."

Anxin could hardly refuse again. He thanked Fu Tingjun, accepted the silver, and set off for Guizhou on the third day.

Fu Tingjun then took Yuwei to Pu'an Temple outside the city and asked the abbot to conduct a memorial service for Young Master Guo.

Yuwei disapproved. "Madam, your heart is too soft."

"It's not that my heart is soft," Fu Tingjun said. "I'm doing this to accumulate merit for Ninth Master and Anxin."

Yuwei was puzzled.

Fu Tingjun sighed. "Anxin is probably quite pleased that Young Master Guo was done in by Miss Min."

"Surely not!" Yuwei refused to believe it. "He wouldn't dare deceive you, madam!"

"I'm not saying he deceived me," Fu Tingjun said with some exasperation. "It's just that—'taking another's wife' versus 'killing a husband to take his wife'—the latter clearly carries a heavier sentence."

Yuwei grew excited at this.

If that were truly the case... she felt Anxin had done a great deed.

"I think you're wrong to say that, madam," she defended Anxin. "Anxin is a man, after all—how would he know the twists and turns of the inner chambers? Even we never imagined Miss Min would have such audacity and such methods, so how could Anxin have foreseen it? It happened suddenly, and they were caught off guard—it's understandable."

"You!" Fu Tingjun shook her head with a smile and went to see the abbot.

Yuwei smiled sheepishly. When she offered incense, she added three extra sticks for the Bodhisattva and knelt there praying silently, asking the Bodhisattva not to blame Anxin—if anyone was to be blamed, let it be her. Only then did she feel somewhat at ease and returned with Fu Tingjun to Shi's Hutong.

Fu Tingjun simply waited for the other side to make a spectacle of themselves. As the engagement between the Marquis of Yingchuan's second son and Qin Feiyu's second daughter was settled, her attention gradually turned to Youyou. When she visited Third Cousin's home, her gaze would involuntarily fall upon Chunbing.

It was then she noticed how truly good Chunbing was to Youyou.

That he yielded to Youyou in food and drink was a small matter—but the way he unconditionally believed whatever Youyou did was right moved Fu Tingjun slightly.

Still, the children were young, and it was too early to speak of such things.

Moreover, after this incident, any family coming to propose marriage would surely weigh matters carefully—which meant they wouldn't have to offend anyone over their children's match.

Fu Tingjun's gaze toward Chunbing grew even gentler. After the Beginning of Winter, she made Chunbing a pair of cotton shoes and Yuanxiao a new set of clothes.

Yuanxiao cast a smug glance at his elder brother and ran off to the Zhao household wearing the new clothes Fu Tingjun had made for him.

A trace of bitterness flickered in Chunbing's eyes.

But Third Cousin was grinning from ear to ear. She put her arm around her eldest son's shoulders. "You silly boy—does everyone get shoes and clothes made for them?"

Chunbing didn't understand, but seeing his mother so delighted, he vaguely sensed that this meant Ninth Aunt held him in special regard, and he too felt happy.

Third Cousin then discussed with her husband: "Tell me, should we prepare something for Youyou? A pair of gold bangles, or perhaps hunt down a pair of hair flowers at Baoqing Tower?"

"There's no hurry for that," Third Cousin's husband said. He was naturally pleased to see the two families growing closer. "The children are still young. Chunbing may be doing well in his studies, but without passing the county examination and the metropolitan examination, it's all just empty reputation. Fortunately, Youyou won't be betrothed anytime soon—don't overreach and spoil things."

Third Cousin nodded repeatedly. At New Year's, besides the red envelopes, she also gifted Youyou a pair of hair flowers set with southern pearls.

Fu Tingjun felt the gift was too lavish, but Third Cousin hugged Youyou and laughed. "They're just little trinkets—don't stand on ceremony with me." She added, "When our Youyou is older, Third Aunt has even finer things in store for her!"

The children knew nothing of the adults' intentions. Youyou giggled and ran off with the pearl flowers to play with Yuanxiao.

Just then, a letter arrived from Zhao Ling, saying he would return to the capital this spring to report on his duties.

For a time, both Fu Tingjun and Third Cousin felt this New Year had passed with incomparable contentment.

But on Jiadao Street, Lady Fan sat as if on a bed of needles, at a complete loss for what to do.

Although her mother-in-law did not favor her, she still maintained appearances for the sake of propriety. Since giving birth to Zhen Ge'er, she had shown no further signs of pregnancy. The Concubine Wu and Concubine Fei, whom her mother-in-law had arranged to be brought in, were as good as ornaments. She had all the dignity and respect due to her position, yet she gradually began to worry about the matter of heirs. One after another, she purchased several clever, beautiful maidservants, hoping only to have a son or daughter, so as to repay her mother-in-law and husband for their kindness to her.

But she had never imagined that her husband and Madam Min would still be entangled, still in contact with each other.

Hadn't Madam Min's father passed away?

Instead of observing mourning for her father, she was exchanging flirtatious glances with Yu Jingxiu... And Yu Jingxiu had the audacity to put on a righteous face before her, speaking with such self-righteousness!

The most detestable of all was Lady Fei.

She had gone behind her back to visit Madam Min, and every few days she would help Madam Min pass messages to Yu Jingxiu...

At the thought of all this, her face turned livid with rage, and she could not utter a single word.

Mozhuan watched her, her eyes darkening.

Ever since the eldest young mistress had quarreled with the eldest young master over Madam Min's matter, although the eldest young master had not agreed to stop concerning himself with Madam Min's affairs, as long as he was in the capital, he no longer left early and returned late as he had before. They had all thought that the eldest young master was quietly yielding to the eldest young mistress, but who would have known that he was secretly crossing the river under cover of darkness, instructing Lady Fei to go and see Madam Min every so often.

At this thought, she could not help but gnash her teeth and ask, "Eldest young mistress, shall I summon Lady Fei?"