Chapter 79

"The properties over in Xi'an Prefecture aren't yielding any returns yet, so it's best to keep the Baoding House banknotes for emergencies. Ninth Master brought two thousand taels of silver, and combined with what I have, that comes to three thousand five hundred forty-two taels and six qian. We've just settled in, so we need to buy all sorts of things, and the household expenses come to about seven or eight taels a month... As for the New Year's gifts, I took the liberty of arranging them on your behalf. For the Marquis of Yingchuan, I prepared gifts worth two hundred taels; for Deputy General Liu, fifty taels; for Lord Wang, who guards Zhuanglang Garrison, sixty taels; for Lord Hu guarding Xining, Lord Peng guarding Suzhou, and Lord Chen guarding Zhenfan, twenty taels each; for Mo Yi, forty taels; and for Registrar Qi and the other neighbors we know, three hundred wen each..."

The room was peaceful and quiet, and Fu Tingjun's voice was as crisp and pleasant as pearls large and small falling onto a jade plate, yet Zhao Ling felt a wave of sharp unease.

He had clearly seen the undisguised joy in her eyes the moment she first laid eyes on him, but in the blink of an eye, she had become restrained, polite, and... distant.

He had been quite startled at the time, but after a moment's thought, he let it go.

With so many people around, the fact that she could run out to greet him upon hearing news of his return already spoke volumes about her feelings for him—how could he demand anything more?

Thinking of this, the image of her beautiful face blooming like a magnificent flower at the sight of him floated into his mind, and an irrepressible joy flooded his heart. He couldn't bear to take his eyes off her for even a moment.

He sat in the armchair in the hall, watching her walk lightly to the door, smiling as she took the kettle of hot water that Zheng Sanniang had brought... Her fair fingers gripped the black lacquered handle, smooth and delicate like fine mutton-fat jade, making him want to take her hand and caress it, to see which was smoother—the jade or her hand... As the steaming water fell into the translucent white teacup, she took a half-step back, as if afraid of being scalded... He recalled how she had once said she often brewed tea for her grandmother... He wondered if she had been exaggerating... His smile deepened.

She had already placed the teacup on the large red lacquered tray decorated with gold-painted crabapple blossoms, and holding the tray with both hands, she walked toward him with a smile.

The green was the tea, the pale white was her hand, the red was the tray—vivid and bright, like the colors of spring, captivating and lingering. He couldn't help but rise with a smile to take the teacup... Then she smiled politely and sat in the armchair beside him. She didn't ask him why he had returned at this hour, didn't ask if he had eaten, didn't ask what he had been doing these past days... Instead, she softly began calculating the household expenses with him.

That matter-of-fact manner, polite yet tinged with coldness—even the most careless person would sense something amiss, let alone Zhao Ling, who was always observant.

What exactly was the problem?

He had interrupted her at the time, saying, "These are all trivial matters—you decide as you see fit!"

But before the words even faded, Fu Tingjun's expression turned even colder, her displeasure evident: "Ninth Master went to such great lengths, wasn't it all for the day when you could stand out and escape the predicament of being controlled by others? Could it be that after barely a month apart, Ninth Master has changed his mind? You've even reduced sending New Year's gifts to your superiors to a trivial matter!" Her slightly mocking tone left him momentarily speechless.

She seized the opportunity to bring up the matter of New Year's gifts: "...I waited until the twentieth of the twelfth month, but there was still no word from Ninth Master. I thought that back home, sending New Year's gifts after the Minor New Year would be considered somewhat disrespectful. So I had Zheng San take your name cards to pay respects at each household..."

He had been prepared for this, but looking at Fu Tingjun's face, which seemed covered in a thin frost, and thinking of how she had devoted herself wholeheartedly to managing things for him, he suddenly lost the courage to confess everything.

"It was my oversight." The words of admission slipped out as if without passing through his mind.

He was immediately deeply embarrassed.

Though he had resolved to treat her well, he couldn't just admit fault without considering right and wrong, could he? Some things that needed to be said should still be said.

But when he looked up, he saw that her expression had softened slightly, and a hint of warmth had crept into her voice.

He immediately abandoned his earlier decision.

A true man needn't quibble over words with a woman. Since she cared so much about this matter, he might as well indulge her to make her happy—there was no need to cling to solemn notions of right and wrong that would spoil the atmosphere between them.

Seeing that Zhao Ling had readily admitted his mistake, Fu Tingjun, though still full of anger, couldn't very well corner him with no room to maneuver. She relaxed her tone and said, "Have you been to see Lord Lu?" Then she thought of how he had entrusted all his belongings to her before leaving... Perhaps he thought that since he had given her all the money, she would naturally handle everything for him, which was why he hadn't bothered... Her anger dissipated by more than half, and her voice grew gentler as she told him, "Wait a moment," before turning and entering the inner chamber.

Zhao Ling was puzzled. After waiting about the time it takes half a cup of tea to cool, Fu Tingjun returned and placed a treasure-blue pouch embroidered with intertwined lotus patterns beside his hand: "Here are two hundred and fifty taels of silver. Two hundred of them are for you to buy gifts for Commander Lu. I've already sent Zheng San on horseback to deliver them to Zhuanglang Guard, saying only that you had instructed your household early this morning, but the journey was long and the weather poor, so it was delayed. Commander Lu should not be too upset. Use the rest for social engagements during the New Year. Since you're back, you should at least visit Mo Yi..."

Wait—did she think he would be spending the New Year in Zhangye?

Zhao Ling vaguely felt a headache coming on. Years of decisive action in military matters had taught him that the longer this dragged on, the worse the consequences. But he didn't want to upset Fu Tingjun again. After a moment's thought, he smiled: "The reason I came back this time is to accompany Commander Lu in delivering New Year gifts to the Marquis of Yingchuan. His share can be sent directly to the inn, saving Zheng San a trip to Zhuanglang Guard."

Fu Tingjun stared at Zhao Ling in surprise.

So that's why he had come back alone—not to spend the New Year at home, but to accompany his superior in delivering gifts!

If he could accompany his superior to deliver gifts, then Zhao Ling and Lu Cheng must be getting along well!

She quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhao Ling steeled himself and nodded, smiling: "I'll be heading back to the inn shortly. This afternoon I still need to accompany Commander Lu to meet the Marquis of Yingchuan."

Fu Tingjun suddenly felt a hollow emptiness in her heart. The anger that had been burning within her dissolved into a wisp of smoke, vanishing without a trace. All her thoughts now centered on those words—"I'll be heading back to the inn shortly." She hurriedly asked: "Have you had your midday meal yet? Did you arrange what time to return to the inn?" Thinking of how she had deliberately given him the cold shoulder and chattered on about trivial matters, she felt deep regret, and asked urgently: "Have I delayed your important business?"

Zhao Ling looked at her concerned expression, and the corners of his mouth curved up into a delighted arc.

"It's fine," he explained. "Commander Lu told me to come home and check on things as soon as we arrived at the inn. From the look of it, he probably has matters he wants to keep from me—he might even invite me to share a meal at noon. I just need to be back at the inn before shen chu , when he's scheduled to meet the Marquis of Yingchuan."

Fu Tingjun felt relieved. Remembering his words—"Commander Lu told me to come home and check on things as soon as we arrived at the inn"—she knew he hadn't eaten yet. She glanced at the hourglass on the long table and saw that it was just past wu chu . Her mood relaxed a little more, and she said: "Then Ninth Master should rest here at home for a while!" Thinking that the kang in the main room's west chamber was cold, and by the time it warmed up, he'd have to leave anyway, she consulted him: "Shall I have Zheng Sanniang tidy up A Sen's room?"

His past experiences had taught him to fall asleep quickly wherever he collapsed, so he wasn't particular about such things. He smiled: "Sure! It's not like I haven't slept there before."

True enough!

Fu Tingjun called A Sen to attend to Zhao Ling's washing up, then instructed Zheng San to immediately go to the market and buy another set of New Year gifts matching those for the Marquis of Yingchuan: "...Not exactly the same, though. Remember to swap the glass cup for a jade one—if jade isn't available, gold will do; and replace the boxwood paperweight with a brush rest." She called out to Zheng Sanniang: "Ninth Master will be leaving right after the midday meal, so hurry up and make lunch." Thinking that since Zhao Ling wouldn't be home for the New Year, the provisions she had stocked up were pointless now, she instructed Zheng Sanniang again: "Take out the carrots Madam Qi gave us and braise them with the lamb, and soak some dried daylily flowers for a quick stir-fry..." Feeling there were too many things to oversee, she finally said: "Forget it—I'll cook myself!"

Everyone in the house sprang into action. The bustle and noise filled the air, yet it felt warm and reassuring.

Zhao Ling washed his face, changed into clean clothes, and lay down on the warm kang. A Sen immediately sidled up to him: "Master, tell me about life in the army!" His face was full of longing. "In a few years, can you get me into the guard station too?"

"Let's talk about that once you can lift a blade," Zhao Ling said with a laugh, affectionately tapping his head. Thinking of Fu Tingjun in the kitchen, he asked: "What has Miss Fu been doing at home these days?"

"Nothing much!" A Sen said, a little bored. "She stays home every day—either doing needlework or teaching me to read. Occasionally Madam Qi from next door comes to visit. Since you left, I've only been out on the street twice, and both times it was when Miss Fu sent Brother Zheng San to buy New Year provisions and needed someone to watch the cart."

This boy—he'd grown up running wild with him, and couldn't stand even a month of this.

"You need to listen to Miss Fu, understand?" Zhao Ling said seriously to A Sen. "From now on, we're going to live a normal life. The things Miss Fu teaches you are what normal children should learn. You need to study hard."

A Sen obeyed Zhao Ling above all else. Though he didn't fully understand, he nodded vigorously.

But Zhao Ling found himself lost in thought.

With this Ninth Miss of the Fu family, his days would gradually become normal too, wouldn't they?

Every day spent bustling for firewood, rice, oil, and salt, scheming for a chance to rise above the crowd... all that relentless striving—sometimes, it's not without its own kind of happiness.

He let out a faint, self-deprecating smile.

A man's voice called out from the front gate: "Anyone home?"

Zhao Ling sat up.

A Sen hurried over to open the door.

Before long, Mo Yi followed A Sen through the curtain, stepping inside.

"You rascal, you're back and didn't even say a word!" He laughed, giving Zhao Ling a light punch on the shoulder—a gesture that seemed rough but was filled with familiarity. "If I hadn't run into Lu Cheng, I wouldn't have known!"

Lu Cheng's cousin had, at Lu Cheng's arrangement, become Mo Yi's concubine.

Since he had come to deliver New Year's gifts to the Marquis of Yingchuan, how could he possibly forget Mo Yi?

Zhao Ling smiled and gestured for him to sit: "These past few days, everyone from the garrison has been running to the Commander-in-Chief's mansion, so I figured you'd be busy. Since you're here, why not join us for lunch?"

"Sure!" Mo Yi agreed readily. "To be honest, I've been craving the cooking of that one in your household!"