Chapter 74

A Sen and Zheng Sanniang squeezed together in front of the half-open window, pointing and commenting on the passersby in the street.

"Look, look—that woman walking beside the Kunlun slave has green eyes."

"Where, where?" Zheng Sanniang, though already a mother, could not suppress her curiosity. She followed the direction A Sen pointed and exclaimed in a low voice, "Really, green eyes... like a demon!"

"That's because you don't know," A Sen said in the condescending tone of someone who had seen the world, lecturing Zheng Sanniang. "Those Dashi people just look strange. Ninth Master said some of them even have red hair! Red as the couplets we paste up..." At this point, afraid Zheng Sanniang wouldn't believe him, he turned to look for Fu Tingjun, hoping to get her support—but instead saw her leaning against the headboard of the bed, hugging a colorful cushion, staring off into space.

"Miss Fu," A Sen ran over, "what's wrong?"

Ever since they'd checked into this inn, Miss Fu had seemed a little restless.

"Oh!" Fu Tingjun snapped back to attention and put on a smile. "Nothing's wrong. I was just thinking about something."

Hearing this, A Sen immediately perked up with enthusiasm. "Then is there something you'd like me to do, miss?" He looked at her with bright eyes, as if eager to spring into action.

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but laugh. "You just want to go out and play, don't you?"

A Sen, caught red-handed, smiled sheepishly—but his desire to go out and play still won out over his embarrassment. He put on a shameless grin and said, "Miss, why don't you go out for a stroll and take me along? If Ninth Master hears it's you who wants to go out, he'll definitely agree."

A flush of red suddenly rose to Fu Tingjun's cheeks. Half shy and half annoyed, she scolded him, "What nonsense are you talking? We've only just settled in. Ninth Master and the others are all busy inquiring about the Marquis of Yingchuan—how could we go out at a time like this? All you ever think about is playing."

Throughout the journey, Fu Tingjun had taught A Sen to read and write, sewn clothes for him, and treated him like both a mother and an older sister. He held her in equal parts respect and affection. At her words, his face turned red and he bolted for the door. "I'll go see if Linchun is awake yet!"

Zheng Sanniang also felt a bit awkward.

A Sen was still a child, but she had joined in his antics...

"Miss, I, I, I'll go see if Ninth Master's side needs tea!" she stammered, and followed A Sen out of the room.

The room fell quiet, and Fu Tingjun's face grew even redder.

He said she was his betrothed...

She drew up her knees and buried her head in the cushion, whose fabric felt slightly prickly against her skin.

A Sen had said it too.

If Ninth Master hears it's you who wants to go out, he'll definitely agree.

Whatever she wanted, he would always make it happen for her.

Even things she hadn't thought of—if he thought of them, he would make them happen for her.

Like today, when they'd found lodging.

Instead of going to the Shanxi Guild Hall with its guide, they'd circled around to find Star-Plucking Tower, and he'd paid double to get her a room facing the street... all so she wouldn't feel too bored when he wasn't around.

And that time on the streets of Yongjing County. He always walked on her left side... and wouldn't let her carry anything she bought, saying it was too heavy.

Every time the carriage went uphill or downhill, he stayed close beside it, and whenever she lifted the window curtain, he would ride over and ask if she needed anything...

The more she thought about it, the more such moments came to mind.

He was... really good to her...

Fu Tingjun bit her lip, her face burning hot, her heart pounding like a drum, beating faster and faster until she could hardly breathe.

What should she do?

The thought flashed through her mind, and Fu Tingjun felt both ashamed and mortified, her whole body burning as if roasted over a fire.

She—she was actually thinking about what she should do?

It wasn't as if this were arranged by their parents with a proper matchmaker... no... even if it were arranged by parents with a matchmaker, before marriage they shouldn't be like this... and besides, her parents were still alive! How was this different from a secret liaison... There was nothing more to say... Such thoughts shouldn't even exist...

At this thought, a sharp pain pierced her heart like a needle.

But if she... ignored him... someone as proud as him would certainly ignore her too.

Suddenly, his cold and indifferent gaze surfaced in her mind... and her tears came pouring out uncontrollably.

She didn't like it, didn't like it...

Why did Zhao Ling have to treat her this way?

If only things could be like before.

Fu Tingjun wept silently.

After who knew how long, someone knocked at the door. "Miss!"

It was A Sen's voice.

Fu Tingjun quickly wiped her tears with the back of her hand and said in a low voice, "Wait a moment."

A Sen hummed in acknowledgment and waited quietly outside the door.

Fu Tingjun hurriedly got up to tidy herself.

Her head felt heavy and groggy, and her eyes were red and swollen, barely able to open.

She looked for a cloth to wash her face and soothe her eyes, but found there was no water in the room.

After a moment's thought, she asked A Sen, "What did you need me for?"

"Ninth Master invites Miss Fu over to discuss something," A Sen said with a smile. "It seems to be about the matter of the Commander-in-Chief's office."

This is a serious matter.

Fu Tingjun took a deep breath. She noticed half a cup of cold tea she had left by the bedside, picked it up, and drank it in one gulp.

The icy tea slid down her throat and settled in her chest. She shivered, feeling considerably more clear-headed, then went to open the door.

"Miss Fu..." A Sen's smile froze on his face when he saw her condition.

"It's nothing!" Fu Tingjun pulled him inside. "I'm just a little homesick." Then she cautioned him, "Don't tell anyone." She added, "Quietly fetch me a basin of cold water—I need to soothe my eyes." Still worried he might mention it to Zhao Ling, she added another line, "If Ninth Master sees me like this and thinks it's because of his affairs that I came to Zhangye, he'll feel guilty."

A Sen suddenly understood and nodded repeatedly. "Rest assured, miss. I'll fetch the cold water quietly—no one will know."

Fu Tingjun forced a faint smile at him.

...

The cold cloth pressed against her eyelids, making her face turn slightly pale from the chill, yet the redness and swelling in her eyes remained all too obvious.

Glancing at A Sen, who looked somewhat uneasy nearby, Fu Tingjun felt a quiet sense of urgency.

Zhao Ling had already been waiting for a long time. If he grew impatient and came looking for her... and pressed her about what had happened, how would she answer? Wouldn't that be even worse!

The best option would be to apply some makeup.

But there was no powder or rouge to be had.

Forget it. Since this was about discussing the visit to the General's residence, Yang Yucheng and Jin Yuanbao were most likely there too. In front of everyone, Zhao Ling surely wouldn't question her. Once she returned to her guest room, she could simply keep the door tightly shut.

A single night should be enough for the swelling to go down.

If Zhao Ling asked again tomorrow, she could just pretend she knew nothing.

Having made up her mind, she smoothed her hair at the temples and stood up. "Let's go see Ninth Master!"

A Sen's gaze lingered on her face for a moment.

Fu Tingjun explained, "I have my own plan."

Relieved, A Sen led Fu Tingjun to Zhao Ling's guest room.

Yang Yucheng and Jin Yuanbao were indeed there.

Seeing Fu Tingjun arrive, the two observed the propriety of "not looking at what is improper" and refrained from scrutinizing her too closely, rising to their feet as a sign of respect.

Zhao Ling, however, noticed Fu Tingjun's unusual state at a glance.

She had clearly been crying!

His expression shifted slightly. "What happened?" He asked without any regard for the others present.

In the past, Fu Tingjun would have felt embarrassed, but now she only felt sorrow.

She had no desire to discuss her tears and asked Zhao Ling, "Didn't Ninth Master say he had matters to discuss with me? What might they be?"

Yang Yucheng and Jin Yuanbao, having heard the commotion, had already glanced at Fu Tingjun's face, and both wore expressions of surprise.

She was, after all, a young woman—some things simply couldn't be brought up in front of everyone.

Zhao Ling, seeing this, had no choice but to suppress his inner agitation and said with a smile, "It's like this: at the Gansu General's residence, besides the Commander-in-Chief, the Marquis of Yingchuan, there is also a Deputy General for Coordination, a Deputy General stationed in Liangzhou, Regional Commanders stationed in Zhuanglang, Suzhou, Xining, and Zhenfan, and a Mobile Corps Commander—Mo Yi. Among them, the Marquis of Yingchuan, Deputy General Liu, and Mo Yi were all dispatched by the Ministry of War; their families are in the capital. Lord Hu stationed in Xining, Lord Peng stationed in Suzhou, and Lord Chen stationed in Zhenfan were transferred from Yulin Garrison, Suide Garrison, and Fengxiang Garrison respectively; their families are in their hometowns. The Deputy General stationed in Liangzhou is Feng Tong, the eldest son of the Marquis of Xiping, and the one stationed in Zhuanglang is Wang Yi. The Marquis of Xiping has hereditary command over Liangzhou, and Wang Yi is from Shandan Garrison—one has his family in Liangzhou, the other in Zhangye." At this point, Zhao Ling paused thoughtfully. "The Marquis of Xiping and the Regional Commanders of Suzhou, Xining, and Zhenfan need not be bothered with, but the Marquis of Yingchuan, Deputy General Liu, Mo Yi, and Wang Yi of Zhuanglang must be properly attended to. The Marquis of Yingchuan, Lord Liu, and Mo Yi all have concubines attending them, but Lord Wang has brought his wife to his post... The Marquis of Yingchuan and Mo Yi are easy enough to handle, but it's said that Lord Liu's concubine has some connection to the Marquis of Xiping's family—she's also surnamed Feng—and has borne Lord Liu a son, which has made her quite favored. This Madam Feng, perhaps because she's a concubine, has a particular fondness for gold, silver, and jewelry..."

Fu Tingjun understood immediately.

When Zhao Ling went to the General's residence to report, these people would certainly need to be bribed. In principle, sending valuable gifts would suffice. But because of Lord Liu's concubine, the inner quarters had to be attended to as well. There was always a distinction between a principal wife and a concubine, yet since the Marquis of Yingchuan and Deputy General Liu outranked Lord Wang, how to properly attend to the inner quarters without breaching etiquette had become a thorny issue.

Fortunately, she had helped purchase the goods.

Fu Tingjun thought for a moment, then said, "That Madam Feng likes gold, silver, and jewelry, doesn't she? I think we should go to the market and buy four solid gold wine cups. For the Marquis of Yingchuan, give him the white jade gourd pendant; for Mo Yi, that pair of gold-inlaid jade mandarin duck hairpins; and for Lord Wang, the gold earrings inlaid with rubies."

Jin Yuanbao nodded repeatedly: "The gold wine cup can be used directly as gold, the gourd symbolizes many children and blessings, and double blessings, the mandarin ducks signify conjugal love, and red is the color of the legitimate wife. Miss Fu has arranged everything wonderfully." Then he hesitated slightly, "It's just that the ruby is very small..."

Because at the time there wasn't extra money to buy something better.

"But the quality is quite good," Fu Tingjun said with a smile. "Sometimes, it's not that bigger is better; sincerity matters more."

Jin Yuanbao smiled: "I hope Madam Wang can appreciate the thought you've put into this."

"Then it's decided," Zhao Ling said with a smile.

The atmosphere in the room became more lively.

Yang Yucheng joked about himself: "Then tomorrow I'll have to dress up properly."

Jin Yuanbao, however, hesitated for a long while before saying, "In my opinion, it would be better for Ninth Master to go to the General's Mansion alone tomorrow."

Yang Yucheng looked surprised.