Chapter 54

Yang Yucheng said respectfully, "Miss Fu, please give your orders!"

"Didn't you rent a courtyard at Xisheng Inn, Young Master Yang?" Fu Tingjun smiled at Yang Yucheng. "Why don't you, along with your brothers Sanfu and Shizhu, go stay at Xisheng Inn?"

"What?" Yang Yucheng stared at Fu Tingjun in surprise.

Fu Tingjun nodded and asked him, "Why does Young Master Yang think Mo Yi would put Ninth Master in danger?"

Yang Yucheng frowned slightly. "Naturally, because Ninth Master saw something he shouldn't have and refuses to pledge himself to that Sixteenth Master."

"If Ninth Master pledged himself to Sixteenth Master, would there be no danger then?" Fu Tingjun smiled.

Yang Yucheng remained silent, his brow furrowing even deeper, clearly unconvinced by Fu Tingjun's words.

"I heard earlier from A Sen that you were originally headed to Jiangnan. Though I don't know why you were going there, I imagine it has long been Ninth Master's wish. Between pledging to Sixteenth Master and going to Jiangnan, you've all concluded that Ninth Master would surely choose Jiangnan, which is why you see an impasse between Ninth Master and Sixteenth Master." Fu Tingjun said seriously. "So I'd like to ask you to stay at Xisheng Inn, to be with Ninth Master, to let him know that you're willing to share life and death with him." She sighed. "Ninth Master is a man of deep loyalty and righteousness. He may not value his own life, but he will never abandon his brothers' lives. This is the only way—only then might Ninth Master change his mind." Then she smiled. "I imagine since you're not even afraid of death, you wouldn't be afraid of facing Mo Yi and the others together with Ninth Master, would you?"

"I understand what Miss Fu means," Yang Yucheng said. "Moving to the inn—I've considered that too." He hesitated. "But if something should happen to Ninth Master... wouldn't there be not even a chance to escape?" He wore a look of anxious indecision.

This was what they meant by being blinded by concern!

They were accustomed to obeying Zhao Ling without question. When Zhao Ling showed even slight opposition, Yang Yucheng, though knowing another possibility existed, simply couldn't make up his mind.

"Do you really think hiding in the shadows would surely help Ninth Master escape his predicament? I don't think so!" Fu Tingjun said. "Rather than that, why not move directly to Xisheng Inn and persuade Ninth Master to change his mind. If Ninth Master refuses, then take Sixteenth Master's name card and present it to Wu Xin, the Chief Clerk of Shaanxi Provincial Military Commission on Ninth Master's behalf." Her tone was resolute and unwavering. "Whether you move Ninth Master through brotherly affection or force him to pledge to Sixteenth Master, you must make him change his mind. That's still better than helping Ninth Master escape from behind the scenes, only for him to face pursuit by the Marquis of Yingchuan and others, waiting for them to issue a warrant under fabricated charges. Besides, since you deal in smuggled salt, they wouldn't even need to fabricate charges!"

"This..." Sweat beaded on Yang Yucheng's forehead.

He had probably never thought of forcing Zhao Ling to change his mind!

Fu Tingjun thought to herself, then said, "As the ancients said, 'To comply with every whim and bend to every wish, leading one's parents into unrighteousness, is to be unfilial.' If this applies to parents, how much more so to Ninth Master."

Yang Yucheng's expression turned awkward.

"You're afraid Ninth Master will blame you, aren't you?" Fu Tingjun sighed softly. "If Ninth Master should blame anyone, Young Master Yang can simply say it was my idea." She lowered her eyes. "Let Ninth Master resent me, then."

Yang Yucheng looked at Fu Tingjun's pale and helpless face, and was visibly moved.

He took a deep breath. "Very well!" he said resolutely. "Then we'll move to Xisheng Inn."

Fu Tingjun raised her head, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

...

The crescent moon curved like a bow, hanging silently in the blue-gray sky, with a few stars scattered far away.

Zhao Ling opened his eyes, his gaze gleaming brightly in the darkness like a leopard poised to strike, fixed on the shadow that was tiptoeing through his chamber, quietly rummaging through things.

"What are you looking for?" He spoke suddenly, his voice calm and composed, echoing through the deathly silent chamber.

The figure froze as if turned to stone.

The chamber suddenly brightened.

The octagonal oil lamp on the large round table in the center of the room flared to life, illuminating a delicate, handsome face.

A Sen's face was flushed crimson as he stammered, "I, I... it was Miss Fu... no, it was Brother Yucheng... who sent me..." He couldn't seem to string together a coherent sentence.

Yang Yucheng had already been staying for three days. With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, they had made no progress at all. Fu Tingjun had no choice but to send A Sen over: "The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunion. They might choose to make their move before then, so they can enjoy a peaceful holiday themselves. We must obtain the name card before that." Unfortunately, Zhao Ling had been lying in bed every day since Fu Tingjun left, and Yang Yucheng had no opportunity to act. Thinking of A Sen—small in stature, always attending to Zhao Ling closely, and familiar with all of Zhao Ling's belongings—he bribed A Sen to put some calming herbs in Zhao Ling's medicine and, under cover of night, sent A Sen to search for the name card.

Zhao Ling pulled something out from beside his pillow and showed it to A Sen: "Are you looking for this?"

Under the dim yellow lamplight, the large red gold-embossed name card gleamed brilliantly, shimmering with golden light.

"I, I..." He stammered, kneeling before Zhao Ling, "Ninth Master..." Tears streamed down his face. Ashamed and mortified, he lowered his head, not daring to look at Zhao Ling even once.

"Go and call Yucheng here!" Zhao Ling ordered A Sen.

"Yes!" A Sen, looking like a frostbitten eggplant, hung his head and left the room.

Zhao Ling let out a long breath, gazing at the beam overhead, and smiled silently as if recalling something amusing.

Footsteps lingered hesitantly at the door.

Zhao Ling withdrew his smile: "Come in!" His voice was calm and indifferent, yet it made Yang Yucheng's heart pound with fear.

"Yes!" Yang Yucheng crept in timidly.

Zhao Ling sat up and leaned against the headboard.

The large red gold-embossed name card lay carelessly by the bedside, yet Yang Yucheng didn't dare glance at it even once.

"You've grown older, gained more experience, and developed more ideas of your own," Zhao Ling said, looking at him with a faint tone. "You've even resorted to stealing things right from my room."

Yang Yucheng's legs trembled like a sieve. He forced a smile uglier than crying: "Isn't this all for your sake, Ninth Master? I couldn't very well be like those remonstrating officials who get themselves killed and drag their lord into injustice!"

What utter nonsense.

Zhao Ling muttered inwardly, but his expression remained indifferent: "Tomorrow at dawn, pack your things and go to Willow Lane with Sanfu and Shizhu!"

"Ninth Master!" Yang Yucheng's face turned pale.

Going back like this would mean the trip had been for nothing.

"This is Xi'an Prefecture, the seat of the Shaanxi Provincial Administration Commission, Surveillance Commission, and the Regional Military Commission," Zhao Ling said with a casual, dismissive tone. "Even if Mo Yi and the others wanted to act, they'd have to consider not just the three commissions but also the Censorate. It's not that easy. Setting that aside, I'm more than capable of guarding this room myself." He added, "When you buy something, you compare prices from three vendors. If we don't compare, how will they know what we're worth!"

"Ninth Master!" Yang Yucheng stared at Zhao Ling in shock.

"Alright, go get some sleep!" Zhao Ling said. "It's the middle of the night, and you're making such a racket that no one can rest." With that, he lay back down. "Oh, and get me a Longquan sword." Then he muttered, "I've only recovered half my strength, so I'd better not recklessly use my true energy."

Only then did Yang Yucheng snap back to his senses.

"Ninth Master, are you serious?" His face lit up with joy. "I, I didn't mishear you, did I!"

Zhao Ling closed his eyes.

Yang Yucheng grinned foolishly and jumped up: "I, I'll go get a Longquan sword for you right away!" Then he dashed out in a flash.

A Sen was peeking in from the doorway.

Zhao Ling beckoned him over: "Go back and tell Miss Fu to stay put and enjoy the Mid-Autumn Festival there. Tell her not to overthink things all day!"

A Sen had been eavesdropping outside the whole time, and Zhao Ling hadn't bothered to hide anything from him. He already knew what had happened in the room. His face was flushed red, his eyes sparkling with excitement that overflowed from his expression. He answered loudly and happily, "Yes! I'll go tell Miss Fu right away!" He turned to leave.

"Come back!" Zhao Ling said sternly. "What time is it? What are you running around for?"

By this hour, the city was already under curfew.

A Sen came back, grinning foolishly at Zhao Ling, his brow radiating indescribable delight, which brought a hint of a smile to Zhao Ling's face as well. A Sen grew bolder, leaning over Zhao Ling's bedside, and said: "Miss Fu has been so worried these days. She chats and laughs with Madam Lyu during the day, but the moment she turns away, her brows furrow. She eats very little and has grown thin. Once, I even saw her secretly crying on her bed. If I go back and tell Miss Fu, she'll be overjoyed."

"What's all this talk of life and death!" Zhao Ling gently scolded him, his eyes brimming with a smile, sparkling like stars under the lamplight. "Who did you learn that from? Miss Fu?"

"No, no." A Sen waved his hands repeatedly. This time, Ninth Master's matter had been resolved thanks to Miss Fu, and Ninth Master was surely displeased about that—he mustn't provoke Ninth Master's anger again. "I misspoke!"

Zhao Ling looked at him with a lukewarm expression: "It seems that not only does Yucheng follow her every word, but you're quite protective of her too!" Yet there was an inexplicable gleam in his dark eyes.

A Sen was stunned.

Zhao Ling closed his eyes once more.

A Sen didn't dare to move. Only after hearing Zhao Ling's breathing become long and even did he quietly retreat, carefully closing the door behind him.

Footsteps sounded in the courtyard—light, yet to Zhao Ling's ears they rang like drums as someone sprinted away.

He smiled faintly.

That little one couldn't resist running off to report the news to Ninth Miss Fu.

He wondered what expression she would have when she heard he had changed his mind!

Zhao Ling suddenly wanted very much to see it.

...

"Really, really, really!" Fu Tingjun paced excitedly around the room. "Ninth Master really said that?" Her face was full of smiles, yet tears streamed down uncontrollably.

"Mm!" A Sen was overjoyed as well, nodding heavily. "Brother Yucheng has already gone to get the Longquan sword for Ninth Master!"

"We must get it, we must get it!" Fu Tingjun said. "Will the Longquan sword do? Are there any other better swords? A craftsman must first sharpen his tools to do his work well. This can't be taken lightly. How about having Zheng San run errands for Young Master Yang—Zheng San knows Xi'an Prefecture very well." As the words left her mouth, she suddenly stopped in place, a puzzled look on her face. "Wait, why did Ninth Master change his mind so quickly? Is what he said true or false? He's not just stringing us along, is he?"

"No, that can't be!" A Sen stared at Fu Tingjun in astonishment. "Why would Ninth Master string us along?"

Fu Tingjun pulled A Sen to sit down. "Then tell me, why does Ninth Master want to go to Jiangnan?"

She looked at him with a smile, a hint of cunning flashing in her eyes.