Chapter 71

When Zhao Ling appeared at the inn with two carpets slung over his left shoulder and a large bundle of tea leaves in his right hand, following behind Fu Tingjun, everyone stared in stunned disbelief, unable to react for a long moment. It was A Sen who was quickest on his feet, being the first to rush over: "Ninth Master, why didn't you call for me when you went out?" As he spoke, he reached out to help Zhao Ling carry the tea.

Zhao Ling pulled his hand back, dodging A Sen, and said, "The tea is too heavy—you wouldn't be able to lift it."

Meanwhile, Yang Yucheng and the others snapped out of their daze and hurried over, some helping to carry the carpets, others helping with the tea, as they crowded around Zhao Ling and Fu Tingjun, escorting them into the main hall.

Zheng Sanniang brought in tea, and by then Sanfu and the others had already put the items away.

Yang Yucheng took the tea from Zheng Sanniang and offered it to Zhao Ling while complaining, "If you thought A Sen was too young to be of much help, you could have called on us! Or, if that didn't work, you could have spent a few coppers to hire a porter on the street. Why did you carry everything back yourself?" He continued, "Regardless, our lives were saved by you, and our food and clothing are all provided by you. Now that we've been able to join the military rolls and become soldiers, it's all thanks to you. If you keep such a distance from us, it truly weighs on my heart, and this official post wouldn't feel worth holding."

Sanfu and Shizhu nodded in agreement as they listened.

Zhao Ling, however, looked somewhat embarrassed.

He truly hadn't meant anything by it.

When he'd left, he'd only wanted to take a walk alone with her. Having bought the goods, there was no way he'd let her do the heavy lifting—so of course he carried them back himself. And fearing she might get separated from him if she lagged behind, he'd had her walk ahead, keeping her in his sight, which put his mind at ease.

But such words were not something he could say aloud.

"It's nothing," he said with a dismissive smile. "I bought them right at the doorstep. It's not like I'm some pampered young master who can't carry a thing. Hiring a porter would have been too much trouble." His expression betrayed nothing unusual as he asked Zheng Sanniang, "Is lunch ready?"

The inn at Yongjing County mostly hosted traveling merchants, and since merchants valued profit, the inn's meals were typically cheap and good. Plus, since Yang Yucheng and the others had business to attend to these past couple of days and their return times were uncertain, their meals were also handled at the inn—that way, whenever they came back, there would always be food ready.

Zheng Sanniang quickly replied, "I'll go check the kitchen right away."

Zhao Ling nodded and asked Yang Yucheng and the others, "You're back so early?"

Jin Yuanbao smiled without answering, while Yang Yucheng wore a sly grin: "Ninth Master, weren't we just thinking about mealtime?"

Zhao Ling burst into laughter, knowing that the inquiries about Lu Cheng had gone smoothly. He gestured to the tea beside him and said, "I didn't expect to find such fine Biluochun. Let's each take a share!"

Going west through the pass, tea merchants sold compressed tea cakes; only when heading south by sea did they sell loose leaf tea.

Yang Yucheng chuckled. "Which unlucky fellow paid his tuition fees here?"

Everyone laughed at that.

Zheng Sanniang brought in the midday meal.

Fu Tingjun returned to her room to eat, while Zhao Ling, Yang Yucheng, Jin Yuanbao, and the others had lunch in the main hall, then all went together to Zhao Ling's bedroom.

No sooner had they sat down than Yang Yucheng spoke eagerly: "I've found out all about it. This Lu Cheng is a concubine-born son of the Lu family. Because the legitimate son injured his leg in a riding accident, several of his uncles were clamoring to 'borrow the succession.' His legitimate mother had no choice but to let Lu Cheng inherit the title. That's also why the Lu family members don't really respect his authority. Later, he remarried, taking the widowed younger sister of Li Yunlan, the former Gansu Regional Commander, and that's how he was promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Zhuanglang Guard. Everyone in Zhuanglang Guard knows all this—we didn't even need to go asking around."

Zhao Ling was quite surprised.

Seeing this, Jin Yuanbao quickly added, "Ninth Master, don't underestimate him. That man, all things considered, is a true man who knows when to bend and when to stand tall."

Zhao Ling raised an eyebrow.

Jin Yuanbao continued: "Later, when Li Yunlan was thrown into prison for losing Hami Guard, everyone assumed Lu Cheng would divorce his wife. But not only did Lu Cheng not divorce her, he also pulled strings up and down on Li Yunlan's behalf. When Li Yunlan was stripped of his rank and reduced to commoner status, Lu Cheng sent him a parting gift of a hundred taels of gold and dispatched his personal guards to escort Li Yunlan back to his hometown." Here, he smiled with a worldly understanding of affairs, saying, "So when the Marquis of Yingchuan took up the post of Gansu Regional Commander, the first person he met with was Lu Cheng, and because of that, Lu Cheng was appointed as the vanguard to attack Hami Guard."

Zhao Ling laughed. "This Lu Cheng is quite interesting!" He seemed invigorated, like a lonely chess player who had finally found an opponent, his face glowing with excitement.

Yang Yucheng grinned at Zhao Ling. "If you hear one more thing, you'll find it even more interesting!"

Zhao Ling smiled back at him.

Yang Yucheng lowered his voice: "After Mo Yi arrived in Zhangye, he took a concubine—surnamed Lu."

Zhao Ling was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter.

His laughter was hearty and cheerful: "Now that is interesting!"

A Sen brewed tea and brought it in, glancing at Zhao Ling with a curious look before quietly slipping out and hurrying over to Fu Tingjun.

"Miss, miss, what did you and Ninth Master buy while out on the streets?" he asked with curiosity.

Fu Tingjun took out the headscarf and showed it to A Sen: "Isn't it pretty?"

Thinking that this was a gift from Zhao Ling, her face flushed slightly, tinged with a hint of shyness.

A Sen nodded repeatedly: "It's very pretty!" Then he remarked with wonder, "Is this a Muslim headscarf?"

"Mm!" Fu Tingjun replied, trying the headscarf on her head.

The black velvet fabric, embroidered with golden silk threads, was resplendent and magnificent, setting off Fu Tingjun's jade-white complexion, jet-black eyebrows, and rosy lips. The vivid colors brought out a dozen times more captivating allure from her features.

"Miss Fu," A Sen said admiringly, gazing at Fu Tingjun, "you look absolutely beautiful wearing that!"

"Really?" Fu Tingjun was both surprised and delighted, going to look in the mirror.

Zheng Sanniang came in and saw Fu Tingjun wearing the headscarf before her vanity case, looking utterly delighted. She hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Miss, this is a Muslim item. It's fine to wear it indoors just for fun."

Fu Tingjun felt somewhat disappointed.

If she only wore it indoors for fun, how could Zhao Ling ever see it?

Perhaps she could find an opportunity to let him catch a glimpse?

He would definitely be taken aback and stare at her.

The thought flashed through her mind, and she immediately blushed to the roots of her ears.

He already often did things that left her flustered. If she were to wear the headscarf he bought and dangle it in front of him... wouldn't that be telling him she liked it very much!

Fu Tingjun bit her lip.

Would he think she enjoyed him treating her that way?

Then, then perhaps it was better not to let him see it after all.

Even as she thought this, her spirits still sank.

Fu Tingjun let out an "Oh," put the headscarf into her trunk, and decided to put the matter out of her mind. She asked about Zheng San: "Has he not returned yet?"

Two hundred taels of silver was no small sum; anyone carrying that amount would naturally worry about their safety.

"Not yet." Zheng Sanniang was pleased to see Fu Tingjun take her advice so readily, and said with a beaming smile, "Miss need not worry. My husband is always out and about; nothing will happen to him!"

Fu Tingjun murmured in acknowledgment and said no more. A Sen then asked her to watch him practice writing: "I practiced all morning today. I can write all the characters from memory now without looking at the book."

"A Sen is getting smarter and smarter." Fu Tingjun promptly praised A Sen and had him bring in the sand tray to watch him write.

Before long, Zheng San returned. He hadn't found a fur coat, but he had brought back seven or eight fox furs and a bolt of plain blue silk gauze: "...The best were squirrel furs, all nearly new. I happened to run into a foreign merchant selling furs, so I took the liberty of buying a few pieces."

Fu Tingjun stroked the glossy, smooth fox furs and praised Zheng San for his capable handling of the matter. She had Zheng Sanniang attend to him for his meal, then spread the newly purchased woolen blanket on the kang and began cutting cloth for garments.

Two days passed in this manner. She had finished sewing the main body of the garment when they set out for Zhangye.

Zhao Ling came specifically to remind her: "Spread the new carpet in the carriage; it'll be warmer."

Fu Tingjun nodded.

But Zhao Ling fixed his gaze on the plain blue silk gauze garment in her hands—clearly a man's robe—and asked, "Who is that for?" His brows furrowed slightly, his expression carrying a hint of displeasure.

Fu Tingjun had already felt uneasy when he stared at the blue silk gauze in her hands.

This was already the second time she had made clothes for him.

Although last time was to thank him for saving her life, and this time was to repay him for the fur coat he had given up, she still hoped Zhao Ling wouldn't misunderstand. So when Zhao Ling asked that question, she didn't overthink it and hastily explained: "You gave up your fur coat for me. I originally wanted to buy one to repay you, but there wasn't a suitable one. I happened to come across good furs, so I thought I'd make one for you..."

Before she could finish speaking, Zhao Ling's brows had already relaxed, and a faint hint of amusement appeared in his eyes.

"Then take your time with it," he said gently. "There's no rush to wear it. Just mind your eyes." Then he spurred his horse forward: "We'll stop at the inn by the post road in Zhuanglang Guard today."

Yang Yucheng and the others laughed and acknowledged.

But Fu Tingjun felt that Zhao Ling, who was usually so taciturn, suddenly calling out like a caravan foreman seemed somewhat out of character.

Or perhaps men, when mounted on horseback, were filled with bold spirits and behaved differently than usual?

She pondered this, smiled, and shook her head, lowering her head to continue sewing.

...

Zhao Ling and the others rode horses, while Fu Tingjun and her party also traveled by carriage, making good time.

Within a few days of leaving Zhuanglang Guard, they passed Liangzhou Guard and stopped at an inn next to the Shuiquan'er post station near Yongchang Guard.

Shuiquan'er—as the name suggested—was a place with water.

Many caravans would stop here to rest and replenish their water supply before heading west.

As she descended from the carriage, a caravan was departing.

They passed each other by.

Fu Tingjun recognized the man with the thin mustache whom they had encountered while shopping in Yongjing County. He was seated atop the lead camel of the caravan, and from the look of it, he was the caravan's leader.

The man with the thin mustache noticed them as well.

He paused briefly, nodded toward Zhao Ling, and led the caravan westward.

Jin Yuanbao asked Zhao Ling in a low voice, "Does Ninth Master know this man?"

"No, I don't!" Zhao Ling replied, gazing at the caravan of no fewer than a thousand camels before them, his expression turning serious. "We ran into him once while shopping in Yongjing County."

Unable to contain himself, Yang Yucheng said, "Let me go ask whose camel train this is—such a grand scale." With that, without waiting for Zhao Ling's approval, he headed straight for the inn's front desk.

"You're asking about Master Ye!" the innkeeper said with a hearty chuckle. "That's the Shanxi Datong Trading Company's caravan."

Zhao Ling and the others couldn't help but be taken aback.