Chapter 61

The ritual was to last seven days.

Every morning, Fu Tingjun, accompanied by Zheng San and his wife and Sanfu, would go to Daxingshan Temple, have dinner there, and by the time they returned to Yangliu Lane, the sky was often already full of stars.

Sometimes Zhao Ling would already be back and would greet her in the courtyard; other times he had not yet returned, and Fu Tingjun would strain her ears listening until the lanterns were hung high in the front courtyard and there was some commotion—only then would she settle down to sleep.

After the ritual was completed, Fu Tingjun donated one hundred taels of silver as merit money and twenty taels for incense. Although Daxingshan Temple enjoyed thriving incense offerings, this was still a considerable sum. The reception monk, smiling broadly, invited Fu Tingjun to see the abbot: "...The female benefactor sincerely venerates the Buddha. The abbot master wishes to present you with a consecrated magic artifact to bless you with good health and good fortune."

Fu Tingjun pressed her palms together in greeting to the reception monk and followed him to the abbot's quarters.

The abbot was an old man in his sixties. Upon seeing her, he showed a kind smile, offered some blessings, and gave her a string of small-leaf red sandalwood prayer beads: "You may also wear them on your wrist to ward off disasters and calamities." He also invited her, "On the first day of next month, there will be a Dharma assembly at the temple, and eminent monks will expound the scriptures. The female benefactor is welcome to come and listen."

Fu Tingjun thanked the abbot and promised that if she could go out at that time, she would return to pay homage to the Buddha. The reception monk escorted her all the way to the mountain gate.

Zhao Ling stood by the carriage waiting for her, with A Sen and Shizhu behind him. In the eyes of the reception monk, he looked very much like a young master of a wealthy family. The monk stepped forward eagerly to greet him, saying many auspicious words, and only after Fu Tingjun and her party had gone far did he turn back through the mountain gate with a few young novices.

A Sen and the carriage driver sat on the shafts. Fu Tingjun handed him an oil-paper bundle: "These are the vegetarian buns from Daxingshan Temple that you like best."

A Sen cheered, opened it, and stuffed one into his mouth, chewing happily with a smile. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he quickly composed himself, took one out of the oil-paper bundle, and handed it to Zhao Ling, who was walking beside them: "Ninth Master, you have some too!"

"You go ahead and eat!" Zhao Ling said with a genial smile, like a big brother from next door. "I'm not hungry!"

Fu Tingjun, who had lifted a crack in the carriage curtain to look outside, secretly marveled at this.

She wondered what had gotten into Zhao Ling these past few days. He seemed to be in a very good mood, with a hint of smile always in his eyes.

A Sen also offered some to Sanfu, Shizhu, and the driver, but of course they wouldn't compete with him for food. A Sen sat on the shafts, eating with great relish.

Fu Tingjun spoke to A Sen in a low voice: "What have you been doing these days? I haven't seen you for quite a while."

A Sen twisted his head around to talk to her: "We bought three shop fronts on Baoqing Street, three hundred mu of land in Lujia Village in Chang'an County, over four hundred mu in Xihuai Village, and over a thousand mu in Dongjiang Village..."

His voice was crisp and loud, and it made Fu Tingjun's face flush. She couldn't help secretly glancing at Zhao Ling's expression.

Zhao Ling had a smile at the corners of his mouth, as if their conversation was very amusing, his expression relaxed and tolerant.

How could this be?

Fu Tingjun stared at Zhao Ling's face with deep suspicion, trying to discern some clue from his expression.

As if sensing someone watching him, Zhao Ling suddenly looked over, and their eyes met.

She had been caught peeking.

Flustered, Fu Tingjun hastily let the curtain fall, and naturally did not see Zhao Ling's smile growing wider and wider.

Sanfu and Shizhu did not notice anything unusual between the two; they were listening to A Sen talking with the driver.

"Where are you folks from? You must be really wealthy. Shop fronts on Baoqing Street aren't cheap—buying three at once is no small feat." The driver clicked his tongue in admiration. "The main shop of Baoqing Silver House is right there, and all the famous silver shops and antique stores in Xi'an Prefecture are located on that street. I hear one shop front rents for over two hundred taels a year!" He added, "Over seventeen hundred mu of land—that must have cost a good deal of silver, right?"

"Not really," A Sen said. "The harvest years have been bad lately, so we got a bargain." But his tone couldn't hide a note of pride.

The driver laughed heartily. "Even during the wars of the Kangsheng years, land still sold for one or two fen of silver per mu. Young brother, you're being too modest." Then he introduced himself, "My surname is Ma, and I'm second in my family. Everyone calls me Ma Er. I live on Lizhi Lane east of the city and usually do business by the Jinshui Bridge in the east. If you ever need a carriage again, young brother, just give me a call and I'll be there right away."

"So you're Brother Ma Er." A Sen, young but shrewd, chatted amiably with this Ma Er. "I'll remember that. If anything comes up in the future, I'll trouble Brother Ma Er." Then he started chatting with Ma Er about all sorts of things—where the best sweets were, where the best meat pies were, where combs were sold, where hair ribbons were sold—and the whole way, one could hear A Sen chattering away.

Zheng Sanniang could not suppress her astonishment and whispered to Fu Tingjun, "I never expected Ninth Master to have built up such a large fortune at such a young age. Miss, you are truly blessed."

Fu Tingjun broke out in a cold sweat and hastily changed the subject. "I still have some cotton left over. Would you like to make two pairs of padded trousers for Linchun?"

Zheng Sanniang was overjoyed. "Thank you so much, Miss!"

But Fu Tingjun was thinking about Jin Yuanbao.

She wondered when he would return.

If her mother had other arrangements for her, she would have to leave Xi'an Prefecture. When Zheng San and his wife learned that she and Zhao Ling had no relationship at all, who knew how shocked they would be?

The carriage swayed back and forth, and Fu Tingjun's heart rose and fell with it. Finally, they arrived at Yangliu Lane, where Master Lyu and Madam Lyu stood at the door with Luwei, waiting for them.

Madam Lyu helped Fu Tingjun down from the carriage.

From afar, someone came running toward them, shouting, "Ninth Master! Ninth Master!"

He called out all the way.

Everyone turned to look.

There was Jin Yuanbao, dressed in tattered clothes, carrying a bundle and running swiftly toward them, with Yang Yucheng following behind, panting heavily.

"Brother Yuanbao! Brother Yuanbao!" A Sen waved excitedly. "We're over here!"

Jin Yuanbao ran up to Zhao Ling and grabbed his arm tightly. "Ninth Master, Ninth Master, you—you really are alive!" Before he could finish speaking, he burst into tears like a child.

Zhao Ling's eyes glistened with moisture as well. Seeing the carriage driver staring at them curiously, he said in a low voice, "Let's go inside to talk."

Jin Yuanbao nodded continuously through his sobs. Master Lyu dismissed the carriage driver, and the others crowded around them as they walked into the house.

Yang Yucheng caught up. "You—why did you run so fast? I chased you, chased you for two whole streets. I haven't run like that in years. I'm exhausted, exhausted to death!" With that, he draped his arm over Sanfu's shoulder. "One of you, at least give me a push!"

Everyone couldn't help but laugh.

The atmosphere was cheerful.

Zhao Ling smiled and lightly scolded Yang Yucheng. "Alright, stop your antics. Yuanbao has had a long journey and worked hard." Then he instructed Zheng Sanniang, "Heat some water and prepare some food." His gaze inadvertently swept past Fu Tingjun, who stood off to the side, and a hint of hesitation appeared on his face.

Yang Yucheng called out from the side, "On such a fine day, let's order a banquet! The lamb spine soup at Thirteen Mountains is truly excellent!"

"Fine!" Zhao Ling quickly withdrew his gaze from Fu Tingjun, and his expression became calm and composed once more. "Go to Thirteen Mountains and order the banquet!"

"Ah!" Yang Yucheng howled like a wolf. "Why me? I waited at Xisheng Inn for Yuanbao for over ten days, not even daring to use the latrine..."

Everyone knew he was putting on a show to amuse them, so they ignored him and suppressed their laughter as they headed toward the main hall.

"Why am I so unlucky! Why am I so unlucky!" Yang Yucheng trailed at the back, head hanging low, muttering incessantly. "Fine, I'll go order the banquet—but who's paying?"

The others could no longer hold back and burst into loud laughter.

Fu Tingjun watched it all, her vision growing blurry.

Now that Jin Yuanbao had returned, she would have to leave this place.

She would never again see Yang Yucheng, handsome and dashing yet fond of joking, nor lively and adorable A Sen...

Her gaze fell on Zhao Ling.

He was laughing heartily.

His eyes were slightly narrowed, and there was an indescribable joy in his expression—like sunlight breaking free from dark clouds, so bright and dazzling that it was hard to look at directly.

Fu Tingjun lowered her head.

Her chest felt as if someone had struck her a blow, the pain making it hard to breathe.

Naturally, she did not see Zhao Ling glance her way.

His eyes were deep as the sea, inscrutable and unfathomable.

...

In Master Lyu's study, furnished like an accountant's office, three people sat: Zhao Ling, Fu Tingjun, and Jin Yuanbao.

Everyone wore solemn expressions, and the atmosphere in the study was naturally somewhat heavy.

Madam Lyu served tea, then quietly withdrew, closing the study door behind her.

Zhao Ling gestured to Jin Yuanbao, signaling him to take a sip of tea first. "Did you encounter any danger along the way?"

Jin Yuanbao's emotions had already calmed. Were it not for the lingering redness around his eyes, one would never guess he had just been crying hard.

"I deliberately took the small paths," he said respectfully. "The journey went smoothly. It took only ten days to reach Huayin." As he spoke, he glanced at Fu Tingjun.

Fu Tingjun knew he was about to speak of her affairs. Her heart tightened, and her hands clenched into fists.

"...However, I was unable to see Madam Fu!"

"What?" Zhao Ling and Fu Tingjun exclaimed in unison. Even someone as composed as Zhao Ling could not help but ask urgently, "What happened? Why didn't you see Madam Fu?" Fu Tingjun's face turned even paler, and she nervously twisted her fingers.

"I heard from the Fu family that Madam Fu has gone to the capital," Jin Yuanbao said, glancing at Zhao Ling with a flicker of something in his eyes, then letting his gaze drift past Fu Tingjun. "I was afraid the rumor might be wrong, so I found a way to sneak in and check. Madam Fu has indeed already left for the capital. She only left two households of her dowry servants to manage the estate; everyone else went with her to the capital."

"How could this happen?" Fu Tingjun said, her expression panicked. "How could Mother leave me behind and go to the capital?" She looked at Jin Yuanbao, her eyes filled with hope. "Did Mother not leave a message for me?"

Jin Yuanbao gazed at those eyes, glittering like gems, and after a long moment said in a low voice, "According to the people in Huayin, after Ninth Miss of the Fu family passed away from illness, Madam Fu was so stricken by the blow that she fell ill. Fifth Master Fu, fearing that Madam Fu would be overcome by grief at the sight of familiar places, proposed to Old Madam Fu that Madam Fu accompany him to his post. Old Madam Fu agreed. Seventh Master Fu came in person to escort Madam Fu to the capital."

Fu Tingjun's elder full brother, Fu Tingzheng, ranked seventh among his cousins.

Ever since Fu Tingjun's father passed the imperial examination and remained in the Hanlin Academy, he had been studying with his father in the capital. The wife he married was the daughter of his father's fellow examination graduate. His sister-in-law had only stayed at home for three months before following her husband to the capital. Both of her nephews were born in the capital, and she had never even seen them.