Chapter 73

Early the next morning, the snow stopped.

The world, draped in silver, lifted one's spirits.

While waiting for breakfast, Zhao Ling and the others stood in front of the inn admiring the snowscape.

Jin Yuanbao said, "Since it's started snowing, the weather won't improve anytime soon. If we run into a heavy blizzard on the road, that would be terrible. Why not rest at the inn for a few days? After all, Zhangye is only five or six days away, so we won't delay our journey."

Yang Yucheng thought the opposite.

"Precisely because Zhangye is only five or six days away, I think we should leave early," he said with a smile. "Even if we encounter a heavy blizzard along the way, it's nothing to worry about—we can grit our teeth and push through. Once we reach Zhangye, everything will be fine. Lingering on the road like this makes me feel uneasy!"

If it were up to Zhao Ling's nature, he would agree with Yang Yucheng.

Even a heavy blizzard would be nothing to fear.

But thinking of Fu Tingjun, he hesitated.

A man beside them spoke with a gentle smile, "How about you all travel to Zhangye with us?"

Everyone turned around and saw Master Ye of Datong Hao standing beside them with a smile, followed by five or six men who looked like stewards.

Seeing Zhao Ling turn around, Master Ye smiled and said, "Our caravan has guides who have traveled this route for years, and we have camels. If we do run into a heavy blizzard, we'll have some shelter. What do you think?" He looked at Zhao Ling with bright, intent eyes.

Zhao Ling recalled the argument from yesterday... This Master Ye must have heard something... He smiled and said, "Then we'll be in your care, Master Ye."

Master Ye was clearly a bit surprised. "Young master, you know my surname is Ye?"

Zhao Ling said, "Last time when Master Ye was leaving the inn and we were entering, we heard it from the innkeeper."

Master Ye chuckled and formally introduced himself: "My name is Shouxin, courtesy name Shangcheng, third steward of Datong Hao. If you don't mind, young brother, you may call me Third Steward."

Zhao Ling, half a businessman himself, had an instinctive respect for merchants but wouldn't belittle himself either. He smiled and said, "I wouldn't dare," then added, "My surname is Zhao, given name Ling, and I'm the ninth in my family. Brother Shangcheng may call me Zhao Jiu."

Master Ye made a bow of greeting: "Brother Zhao."

The two exchanged polite remarks about the weather, and then one of the Ye family's stewards came to invite Master Ye to breakfast. Master Ye warmly invited Zhao Ling and his companions, but Zhao Ling politely declined.

Yang Yucheng watched Master Ye's retreating figure with some excitement. "Are we really traveling with Master Ye?"

Datong Hao was a legend in the business world.

Jin Yuanbao shot him a glare. "Can you have a bit more ambition? You're a military officer now."

Yang Yucheng, thinking of that green-robed centurion, straightened his back considerably, but still muttered quietly, "I just think the people of Datong Hao are pretty impressive!" Then he added, "This Master Ye is so good to Ninth Master—could he be plotting something against him?"

"What could Master Ye plot against me?" Zhao Ling laughed. "I'm just a minor banner officer. Merchants like them, who can organize such a large caravan and travel thousands of li doing north-south trade, all have backing—at the very least a third-rank regional commander. He simply doesn't want to stir up trouble." He added, "Alright. For businessmen, helping others is helping oneself. No need to overthink it. If we can get such convenience, why not take it? Go pack your things quickly, so we can hit the road."

The group each had their breakfast and set off together.

Master Ye showed no particular enthusiasm toward Zhao Ling, nor any coldness or neglect—his words and actions were all natural and cordial. They chatted and laughed, discussing the scenery along the way. Master Ye, having traveled far and wide, naturally knew a great deal, and though Zhao Ling was young, he could keep up with whatever Master Ye talked about. This secretly surprised Master Ye, and his attitude toward Zhao Ling gained a measure of respect alongside his warmth.

The snow fell intermittently, making the road somewhat inconvenient, but they encountered no major blizzards, and finding lodging along the way went smoothly. They arrived at Zhangye two days later than originally planned.

The majestic city walls, stretching for miles, made Fu Tingjun, who had quietly lifted the carriage curtain to peek outside, widen her apricot-shaped eyes in amazement.

Zhao Ling turned around and saw a jade-white, lustrous finger showing through the gap in the blue carriage curtain.

He smiled faintly to himself.

Master Ye rode over on his horse. "Brother Zhao, why not come stay with me at the Shanxi Guild Hall? Our Shanxi merchants have permanent representatives in Zhangye. If you need anything, you'll have someone to call upon."

Zhao Ling smiled and said, "I've heard that Zhangye's Star-Plucking Tower is built along the slope and offers a view of the city..."

Master Ye laughed at this. "Zhangye is one of the Nine Border Towns, a military stronghold—how could they possibly let people overlook the city? It's just that the terrain is somewhat elevated."

But Zhao Ling insisted on staying at Star-Plucking Tower.

After all, their acquaintance was still shallow, so Master Ye said no more and queued up to enter Zhangye city.

They squeezed through the bustling, clamorous crowd and found the Star-Plucking Tower on Zhangye's busiest street.

As Master Ye had said, the Star-Plucking Tower was merely built on a slightly higher foundation.

Zhao Ling, however, was quite satisfied and asked the innkeeper to arrange a few rooms facing the street.

The innkeeper looked a bit troubled.

Yang Yucheng said in a low voice, "Ninth Master, rooms facing the street aren't safe..." urging him not to insist.

"This is Zhangye," Zhao Ling said with a smile. "And we're not merchants."

Seeing that his mind was made up, Yang Yucheng said no more.

"Even one room will do," Zhao Ling said, smiling at the innkeeper. "I'm willing to pay double."

Yang Yucheng and the others were somewhat puzzled.

The innkeeper thought for a moment, then called over a young attendant and whispered some instructions. The lad nodded and hurried off. Jin Yuanbao paid the deposit, and when the attendant returned, he said with a smile, "There's still one room facing the street. Please wait a moment, honored guests—the current occupant is just about to check out."

Everyone knew the innkeeper had persuaded the guest to vacate the room, but they pretended not to notice and chatted casually among themselves.

Yang Yucheng, however, suddenly dashed out of the inn in a few quick strides and hauled a man back inside, gripping him like an eagle snatching a chick.

"Why have you been following us?" He flung the man hard to the ground.

The man couldn't get up for a long while.

Fu Tingjun found his face unfamiliar, but Zheng San recognized him as one of the men accompanying the green-robed centurion. He immediately went to Zhao Ling's side and whispered a few words.

Zhao Ling recognized him too, but Zheng San's alertness still pleased him. He nodded at Zheng San with satisfaction, then asked the man coldly, "What did your centurion send you to follow us for?"

His expression was icy, and his sharp gaze shot at the man like an arrow, making him shiver. But when he thought of the one who had sent him, he gained some confidence and muttered, "Our centurion said, a mere petty banner commander—what right does he have to report at the Gansu Regional Military Commission? He sent me to see whether you're real or fake." At this point, he recalled the centurion's words—"Only chiliarchs are qualified to report in person at the Regional Military Commission"—and grew even more suspicious of Zhao Ling. His tone hardened. "If you're genuine, fine. But if you're fakes," he sneered, "our Lord Feng will make sure you regret it!"

Fu Tingjun knew nothing of such matters, and hearing this, her heart secretly rejoiced.

So the Shaanxi Regional Military Commission did regard Zhao Ling with some favor after all.

For people like them, without background or connections, it was very hard to get ahead if those above didn't take notice. If they wanted to transfer to another commission, they might not even find a way in.

It was like the maids and serving women in the Fu household. As long as they showed their faces before the mistresses from time to time and put a little effort into the head stewards when good assignments came up, a single mention from those stewards would usually get the matter done.

This time, when they went to report at the Gansu Regional Military Commission, they needed to find a way to build connections with the people there.

As Fu Tingjun was pondering this, she heard Zhao Ling sneer, "Since your Centurion Feng wants to see clearly, I'll let him see clearly." He called out loudly, "Yucheng!" and said, "Find him a room to stay in. When we go to report at the Gansu Regional Military Commission, we'll bring him along." His voice was low, sinister, carrying a bone-chilling coldness. "Once he's seen everything clearly, we'll settle this account properly." He clearly had no intention of letting the matter rest with Centurion Feng.

The man shuddered.

Yang Yucheng laughed heartily and grabbed the man by his collar. "Come on, I'll find you a room." He dragged him toward the back.

The man grew frightened and shouted, "Do you know who our Lord Feng is? He's the eighth son of the Marquis of Xiping..."

Yang Yucheng's hand paused, but Zhao Ling remained unmoved.

Things had come to this point—if they showed weakness, they would only be humiliated for nothing.

Yang Yucheng understood this as well and said bluntly, "Don't worry. If we beat you, our master will naturally go and explain it to the Marquis of Xiping." Without mercy, he dragged the man away.

Although Fu Tingjun didn't know who the Marquis of Xiping was, the fact that this man could brandish his name to intimidate Zhao Ling meant he was no ordinary figure.

Her head began to ache.

They hadn't even reached the Gansu Regional Military Commission to report, and already they'd provoked Mo Yi first, and now this Centurion Feng...

Zhao Ling, however, teased himself to comfort her: "Envy from others only proves one's worth." He added, "The Marquis of Yingchuan is a powerful house in the capital, while the Marquis of Xiping has guarded Ganzhou for generations. Even with all my ability, I couldn't possibly make both of them like me. Besides, I was recommended by Sixteenth Master—I have to make a choice."

He had likely already been branded with the seal of the Marquis of Yingchuan when he went to report at the Shaanxi Regional Military Commission.

Fu Tingjun had been schooled from childhood in the arts of inner-court balance—seeking common ground amid differences, maintaining harmony all around.

She couldn't help but sigh.

Perhaps this was the difference between the outer court and the inner chambers!

Zhao Ling smiled and beckoned to her. "Come with me!"

She followed him into the room facing the street.

Zhao Ling pushed open half the window and pointed below. "Look!"

Outside the window was a street. Persian men in white robes led tall camels, Central Asian men with curved swords at their waists and long, drooping handlebar mustaches, Uyghur maidens with countless braids, wearing four-cornered embroidered hats and leather vests while carrying water jugs, and Hui women in groups of three or five hurrying along the street. The crowd bustled with noise, everyone speaking languages she could not understand, a lively and bustling scene.

"This..." Fu Tingjun had a vague realization but feared she might be overthinking. She pressed her lips together and looked at Zhao Ling nervously.

"I am merely a minor centurion in Zhuanglang Guard. After reporting to the General's Mansion, I'm afraid it will be hard for me to come to Zhangye again." His gaze was as gentle as water as he looked at Fu Tingjun. "I plan to stay in Zhangye for a few days to sort out whatever connections I can. Now that you're here, you are my 'fiancée.' I likely won't have much time to accompany you on strolls through the streets. If you feel bored, just open the window and take a look—it'll help ease your mind!"