Chapter 44

“Business?” Fu Tingjun said in surprise. “What kind of business?”

Zhao Ling said, “Mo Yi said there isn’t much water left in the house, so we need to find a way to get more. But when he goes out, someone needs to help keep an eye on the place. Since Zheng San used to be a bodyguard, have Zheng Sanniang pass word to him—five steamed buns a day. If he’s willing, he can come see Mo Yi tomorrow morning.”

Zheng Sanniang was naturally willing.

Early the next morning, Zheng San arrived.

He was about thirty-two or thirty-three, of medium height, with an oblong face and somewhat thick lips, looking both honest and simple. Fu Tingjun simply could not connect the man before her with the one who had loudly berated his wife that day.

Mo Yi asked Zheng San a few questions, was quite satisfied, paid him the five steamed buns in advance, gave him a few instructions, then grabbed a stick and headed out the door.

Zheng San had Zheng Sanniang, who was holding the child, accompany Fu Tingjun upstairs to rest. He closed the back door and stationed himself at the foot of the stairs.

Before long, a commotion broke out at the end of the street.

Zheng Sanniang looked terrified.

Fu Tingjun wanted to open the window to see what was happening, but Zhao Ling stopped her. “Just wait for the result!” He didn’t seem worried in the least.

His composure calmed Fu Tingjun. She brought Zheng Sanniang and her child into her own bedroom and played with Linchun.

About half an hour later, Mo Yi returned.

He looked disheveled, but his expression was cheerful—there was even a hint of pride in his brow. “I took care of them all. From now on, we can fetch water whenever we want.” Then he patted Zheng San on the shoulder. “You did well—knowing that with only one person, you couldn’t handle anyone barging in, you sent everyone upstairs and held the stairway yourself. One man holding the pass, ten thousand cannot break through…” His tone carried a note of approval, and he added, “Are you interested in continuing to do business with us?”

Zheng San said respectfully, “Whatever Manager Mo commands!”

Mo Yi nodded and smiled. “Every day, you’ll carry four buckets of water for us from the end of the street. Your pay will be two steamed buns.”

Zheng San agreed immediately.

And so Fu Tingjun had water to bathe and wash clothes.

Zheng Sanniang came by every day to help.

Within a few days, Chen Liu and the others returned, pushing a small cart piled high with goods.

“Master, Master…” A Sen, carrying a large bundle on his back, came clamoring up the stairs. “I’m back, I’m back!”

He startled the refugees nearby.

He set down his bundle and kowtowed several times to Zhao Ling.

“Master, everything you instructed me to do is done.” He looked up at Zhao Ling, his eyes red. “Master, are you feeling any better?” His expression was full of concern.

“Get up now!” Zhao Ling, who had been reading, smiled and ruffled his head. “I’m much better. But what about you—have you eaten?” His voice was very gentle.

“I’ve eaten, I’ve eaten!” A Sen scrambled to his feet with a grin. “We had dried rations on the road.” Then he added, “Master, I can see your complexion is much rosier than when I left!” Spotting Fu Tingjun, he bounded over to greet her with a bow. “Miss Fu!” He was overjoyed.

“You’re back at last!” Fu Tingjun smiled as she looked A Sen over. Seeing that he looked no worse than when he’d left, she felt relieved.

A Sen, meanwhile, ran to the side and untied the bundle he’d brought back. He took out a round silk fan with a bamboo handle embroidered with orchids and handed it to Fu Tingjun. “Miss Fu, Master instructed me to buy this for you. And there are a few pieces of clothing too…” With that, he handed her another small bundle.

Fu Tingjun was quite taken aback.

“I noticed you weren’t used to the palm-leaf fan, so when A Sen went to Xi’an Prefecture this time, I had him bring back a round fan,” Zhao Ling said casually. “I also told him to buy us a few sets of clothes.” He explained, “Fine feathers make fine birds. Since we’re returning to Xi’an Prefecture, we need to dress ourselves in some decent clothes. Otherwise those gatekeepers might look down on us and make trouble.”

“Oh!” Fu Tingjun held the round fan, feeling her face grow warm, not knowing what to say.

A Sen didn’t notice any of this. He was animatedly telling Zhao Ling about his journey to Xi’an Prefecture. “Brother Chen Liu and Brother Xiao Wu took good care of me. They even took me to the most famous restaurant in Xi’an Prefecture to eat…”

Zhao Ling glanced at Fu Tingjun, who stood silently with her head bowed, her jade-white fingers gently stroking the rattan-yellow handle of the round fan. A faint, barely perceptible smile flickered in his eyes. He softly interrupted A Sen. “Alright, alright. Whatever you have to say, we’ll talk about it after dinner.”

A Sen understood and grinned in acknowledgment. He went downstairs to see Mo Yi and helped Chen Liu and the others carry the goods from the cart into the side room.

That evening, there was lamb stir-fried with scallions, shredded green peppers with scrambled eggs, and old hen stewed with mushrooms… Fu Tingjun made seven or eight dishes. She picked out two bites of each and had A Sen deliver them to Zheng San and his wife. She carried Zhao Ling’s meal upstairs, and after dinner, brought tea up as well.

A Sen was sitting beside Zhao Ling, talking. “…They bribed the gatekeepers with thirty taels of silver and were lowered into the city in a basket in the dead of night. Besides us, there were several others who got in the same way.”

"Once we entered the city, Chen Liu was supposed to take me to the 'relatives' house. I had them stop at a decent-looking residence and knocked on the door... I simply said that the master and mistress had given us this address. They then led me around the streets to do some shopping. I took the opportunity to leave a secret mark for Brother Yucheng and Brother Yuanbao, and as you instructed, I bought shoes, socks, and clothing."

"When we came back, we exited through the Yongning Gate in the south. We gave a few taels of silver to the guards at the city gate, and they didn't conduct a thorough inspection. After walking about a li, we encountered a merchant caravan heading to Lantian County. Chen Liu paid ten taels of silver as a membership fee, and the caravan agreed to bring us to Linchun."

Downstairs, Mo Yi was questioning Chen Liu: "...What did that kid do?"

Chen Liu said, "He followed us the whole time. We delivered him to the relatives' house as he said, knocked and went in, but the family said they had lived there for thirty years and had never heard of any relative that A Sen mentioned. Later, A Sen went shopping with us. Besides buying a round fan for Miss Fu, he also bought several finely made outfits for Miss Fu, Zhao Ling, and himself, and then came back with us."

Mo Yi frowned. "That's all?"

Chen Liu nodded. "That's all!"

Mo Yi looked at Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu also said, "Aside from eyeing the street snacks and asking Sixth Brother for a few copper coins to buy some treats twice, he stayed obediently with us the whole time."

A contemplative expression appeared on Mo Yi's face.

There were a few faint sounds outside the room, like a cat slipping over the wall or wind sweeping through the corridor.

Mo Yi and the others immediately stood up alertly.

Before long, the sound of fighting came from downstairs.

A Sen hesitated. "Should we go down and help them?"

"No need!" Zhao Ling laughed. "He brought so much food—of course people would covet it. Let him deal with the headache." Then he carefully asked about the merchant caravan: "How many people in total? How old is the leader? How did they arrange their sleeping arrangements at night?"

A Sen recalled the details carefully.

The more Zhao Ling listened, the graver his expression became.

Fu Tingjun watched with growing unease. "What's wrong?"

"I suspect they're from one of the military garrisons," Zhao Ling said thoughtfully. "How could it be such a coincidence—all men in their twenties and thirties, every one of them strong and powerful..."

Before he could finish, a hearty laugh came from downstairs: "Trying to rob me? You're still too green. I've got nothing better to do, so I'll toy with you."

A Sen and Fu Tingjun were dumbfounded, while Zhao Ling shook his head helplessly.

From then on, Mo Yi took endless delight in fighting off those who came to rob or steal. Even Zheng Sanniang, who came daily to wash their clothes, was caught in the crossfire.

"They thought I was carrying food on me," Zheng Sanniang said, still shaken at the memory. "If my husband hadn't arrived in time, my child and I would have lost our lives."

"Why don't you and Zheng San move in here with us?" Fu Tingjun felt this couldn't go on. "In those people's eyes, you're already one of us anyway. It's too dangerous for you to stay on the street."

Zheng Sanniang hesitated for a long time, then finally agreed to go back and discuss it with Zheng San.

That evening, Zheng San brought his wife and son to move into Fu Tingjun's small courtyard.

Within a few days, the courtyard returned to its former peace. Even the refugees who had lived around them moved away. Mo Yi complained of boredom, and Zheng Sanniang's look of terror toward him only deepened—no matter how Fu Tingjun tried to reassure her, it did little good.

This peaceful life lasted only a few days before someone came to rob them again.

Mo Yi perked up with renewed energy.

But Zheng San came to see Zhao Ling.

"Master Zhao, this can't go on!" His brow was creased with worry. "More and more people are settling in Linchun town. Even if Steward Mo had three heads and six arms, he couldn't hold out against this every day. Besides, there are hidden dragons and crouching tigers among the common folk—Steward Mo's skills are impressive, but if he meets a true master, he might not come out ahead."

Zhao Ling's gaze sharpened. His previously calm face suddenly turned cold and stern, and the air in the room shifted, taking on a chilling edge that made Zheng San shiver. His look at Zhao Ling became suddenly fearful.

"So, you've noticed something already?" Zhao Ling spoke slowly, making Zheng San so nervous his mouth went dry.

"I haven't noticed anything, sir." He licked his parched lips, his address to Zhao Ling unconsciously shifting. "It's just that during the flight from disaster, I witnessed with my own eyes a famous martial artist beaten to death by hundreds of refugees wielding clubs over a few steamed buns..."

They had far more than a few steamed buns.

Zhao Ling immediately said, "Please ask Steward Mo to come up. I have something to discuss with him."

Zheng San breathed a sigh of relief and went to fetch Mo Yi.

"We leave tonight." Zhao Ling's expression was icy, his demeanor carrying an unyielding decisiveness. "I hope Brother Mo will stand with us."

The implication was clear: if Mo Yi refused to leave, Zhao Ling would take Fu Tingjun and the others and go on without him.

Zhao Ling in this state felt utterly unfamiliar to Mo Yi... He couldn't help but freeze in place.

Zhao Ling gazed at him quietly, his eyes deep and inscrutable, stirring in Mo Yi a faint wariness—a reluctance to cross swords with him.

"Might I ask what Brother Zhao has in mind?" Mo Yi said slowly, his tone carrying more caution and less of his usual teasing.

"We're heading to Xi'an Prefecture," Zhao Ling said without hesitation. "It's the provincial capital, with Prince Jian and Dong Hanwen there. If even that city falls to the enemy, then the fall of the entire kingdom can't be far off."

Mo Yi drew in a sharp breath.

Yet the look he gave Zhao Ling was one of undisguised admiration. "Excellent! Xi'an Prefecture it is!"