Chapter 83

Fu Tingjun lowered her head and tugged at the headscarf draped over her hair, her fair, jade-like face mostly hidden in the shadow of the cloth. She hurried past the group of idle loafers who sat on the stone balustrade outside the main hall of the Great Buddha Temple, hooting and jeering at her with strange cries. Only then did the prickling unease begin to ease somewhat.

She instructed the coachman, "Hurry back to the street behind the General's residence."

The coachman had also witnessed what had just happened. He quickly acknowledged her with a grunt and urgently drove the horses away from the Great Buddha Temple.

Fu Tingjun let out a sigh of relief.

She had no idea why it happened. No matter how low-key and humble her clothing and demeanor were, even mixed in among so many other women, that group had spotted her almost immediately... Their gazes fixed on her like meat on a chopping board, with undisguised greed. When she had been donating incense money to the offering box, one of them had pretended to make a donation as well, using it as an excuse to get close to her... Had she not been quick-witted and dodged in time, that man would likely have collided with her.

At least she had escaped the Great Buddha Temple without incident!

Before her inner sigh of relief had even settled, Fu Tingjun heard Zheng Sanniang's terrified voice: "Miss, they're following us!"

Fu Tingjun followed the sound.

Zheng Sanniang was holding up the carriage curtain with one hand, looking at her with a panicked expression.

Fu Tingjun's heart sank. She leaned toward the carriage window and peered outside.

The man who had earlier followed her to the offering box was now riding a sturdy chestnut horse, accompanied by four or five loafers, trailing unhurriedly behind their carriage. Pedestrians on both sides of the road quickly made way for them.

Fu Tingjun's mood grew even heavier.

She asked the coachman, "Do you know these people?"

"I do." The coachman glanced back and his expression shifted slightly. "The leader is Feng Dahu, the brother of Deputy General Liu's concubine at the General's residence." He paused, a puzzled look crossing his face. "This man likes to cause trouble, but he wouldn't dare act too brazenly in Zhangye. Why is he following us all the way today?"

But Fu Tingjun was only thinking about his words "wouldn't dare act too brazenly." She quickly asked, "May I ask, elder, is it because the Marquis is stationed in Zhangye, or is there some other reason?"

"Of course it's because the Marquis is stationed in Zhangye," the coachman said. "The Marquis detests any wrongdoing under his jurisdiction. Never mind the brother of a concubine—even the legitimate son of the Pingxi Marquis's Feng Family was once punished with the cane." Then he reassured her, "Don't worry. Once he sees that you're staying on the street behind the General's residence, he'll surely back off."

Let's hope so.

Fu Tingjun continued to keep a careful eye on this Feng Dahu the entire way.

Sure enough, when he saw from a distance that their carriage had entered the street behind the General's residence, he stopped following and instead stood there, staring at them for a long while.

When Fu Tingjun returned home, she immediately wrote a letter and had A Sen deliver it to Madam Wang, recounting everything that had happened at the Great Buddha Temple in full detail, and asking Madam Wang to send a reliable person to help guard the gate.

Madam Wang immediately dispatched a burly, honest-looking man in his forties to return with A Sen to the back street, and also sent a message through A Sen: "This man's surname is Wei, given name Shi. He has served our family's Assistant Regional Commander for over twenty years. There's no one in Zhangye who doesn't know him."

Fu Tingjun's life experience had taught her that relying completely on others meant putting her life in someone else's hands.

She had Zheng Sanniang go to the market to buy a few boxes of pastries and take them to Madam Wang's as a token of thanks. She also sent A Sen out with instructions: "Whether you buy them or beg for them, get us a few big dogs to bring home."

Back when she used to visit the farm estate, they had kept many dogs to guard the gates.

Although dogs raised from puppies were the most loyal, she needed help urgently now, so she had to make do with whatever she could get. Even a few dogs that could bark to make a show of strength would be better than nothing.

When A Sen heard they could keep dogs, he went off in high spirits. By the afternoon, he returned leading two big black dogs and four or five small yellow puppies.

"These two big black dogs are for scaring people," A Sen explained animatedly. "The little ones we'll raise well, and they'll guard the house in the future."

It was exactly what Fu Tingjun had been thinking.

She smiled and praised A Sen, then told him to make sure the dogs were bathed every day: "Otherwise they'll get fleas and lice and bring them into the house or onto people. If that happens, I'll shave your head bald."

A Sen clutched his head and stuck out his tongue, obediently bathing the dogs every day while Linchun crouched nearby, pouring water over them.

One big one and one small one, surrounded by a pack of gentle dogs—everyone who saw them couldn't help but smile.

Seven or eight days passed like this with not a stir, and Fu Tingjun gradually began to relax.

Zheng San returned.

Upon entering and seeing Wei Shi, he was quite surprised, but quickly concealed his expression and went respectfully to the main hall to report to Fu Tingjun: "I rode at full speed and met Ninth Master before Commander Lu arrived. As soon as Commander Lu returned, Ninth Master went to see him." He grinned as he spoke, "Yang Xiaoxiao said that Commander Lu had been testing Ninth Master's relationship with the Mo family all along. Last time he took Ninth Master to deliver New Year's gifts to the Marquis of Yingchuan, it was also to see what attitude the Marquis held toward Ninth Master. Ninth Master understood this clearly, so he wrote a letter to Lin Chi in advance, saying that after meeting the Marquis, he had matters to discuss with Lin Chi. Fearing that requesting leave would displease Commander Lu, he asked Lin Chi to find an excuse to detain him when Commander Lu came out from meeting the Marquis. Lin Chi suspected nothing and followed Ninth Master's instructions—when Commander Lu emerged from the Marquis's residence, he helped Ninth Master request leave and dragged him to his quarters at the General's residence. Commander Lu knew Lin Chi was the Marquis's personal bodyguard, so he assumed the Marquis wanted to speak with Ninth Master privately... From then on, Commander Lu treated Ninth Master very differently. This time, Ninth Master again put on a show of already knowing why Commander Lu was going to Zhangye, so Commander Lu became even less suspicious. The moment Ninth Master mentioned it, he agreed to let Ninth Master go to Xining Guard, even saying that Ninth Master could rest assured following his orders—a hundred-household command would certainly be forthcoming."

Fu Tingjun couldn't help but ponder this carefully.

Zhao Ling's abilities were beyond question, and Lu Cheng was willing to give him the opportunity. She believed he would certainly distinguish himself. But to be promoted to hundred-household commander on the strength of a single military achievement—that would likely still require going through the Marquis of Yingchuan.

Lu Cheng believed Zhao Ling was someone the Marquis favored, which was why he had such confidence. If Zhao Ling couldn't secure the hundred-household promotion in the end, wouldn't all their previous efforts be wasted?

Who could she turn to?

Madam Wang?

No.

Judging from the tone Madam Wang used to admonish her, she was most likely someone who strictly adhered to propriety. If she went running around on Zhao Ling's behalf, Madam Wang might not appreciate it—she might even think Fu Tingjun was overstepping her bounds as a woman. The result would be counterproductive.

What about Mo Yi?

She was a woman—how could she casually meet with him?

As for others, she didn't know anyone.

For a moment, she found herself in a dilemma.

Or perhaps—leave it to fate?

If the Marquis of Yingchuan promoted Zhao Ling to hundred-household commander, that would be best. If he suppressed Commander Lu's merit report, she could say the Marquis felt that Zhao Ling, having earned only one military distinction before promotion, would surely become arrogant with early success, which would be detrimental in the future—so the promotion was temporarily withheld?

Fu Tingjun mulled over many possibilities until she noticed the hall had grown too quiet. Coming back to herself, she saw Zheng San still standing respectfully before her, awaiting her instructions.

"I understand the situation now." She smiled. "You've had a tiring journey—go rest for now!" She then told Zheng San about Wei Shi, "Seal ten taels of silver for Wei Shi, find a restaurant outside tomorrow to treat him to a meal, then personally escort him back to Madam Wang's residence." She also called Zheng Sanniang in, "Zheng San is back—make something delicious today."

Everyone's spirits had been somewhat tense these past days. With Zheng San's return and Fu Tingjun's order for extra dishes, and since Wei Shi and Zheng San were meeting for the first time—Zheng San being skilled at dealing with people, and Wei Shi, sent by Madam Wang to help guard the gates for Fu Tingjun and the other women and children, being by nature honest and straightforward—one was attentive and the other forthright. They hit it off immediately, and the atmosphere in the household became cheerful.

After seeing Wei Shi off, Zheng San carefully inspected the front and back gates, and took advantage of the good weather to reinforce the surrounding walls.

At the end of the third month, news came from Xining Guard: Commander Hu of Xining Guard had led Hundred-household Commanders Li Bing, Sun Shuo, Tang Bin, Wang Yuan and others into battle against the Mongols at Tubao Fort in Datong. Commander Hu was struck by an arrow and killed; Li Bing and the others were beheaded; the entire force was annihilated.

When the news arrived, Zhangye was thrown into an uproar.

This was the first third-rank military officer to die since the Marquis of Yingchuan had taken command of the Gansu General's residence.

The Marquis of Yingchuan drew one thousand men from each of the ten guards of Ganzhou and personally led the troops to Xining Guard, ordering Commander Lu of Zhuanglang Guard to withdraw east of the Datong River to strictly prevent the Mongols from crossing. Deputy General Liu was left to guard Zhangye, with Guerrilla General Mo Yi accompanying the campaign.

The atmosphere in Zhangye immediately grew tense.

Fu Tingjun set up a shrine at home, enshrining a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. Every morning she would wash her face and hands, offer incense to the Bodhisattva, and then burn incense before the memorial tablets of Zhao Ling's parents, praying for them to protect Zhao Ling from harm.

In early April, Nianbo Guard fell, and Thousand-household Commander Wu Ying was killed.

Two days later, word came that the Tibetans were attacking Jiayuguan Pass.

Zhangye was gripped by panic—everyone feared for their own safety, and the number of people on the streets dwindled greatly.

Madam Lu suddenly sent someone to invite Fu Tingjun over for a drink.

Fu Tingjun politely declined: "I am still in mourning."

Upon hearing this, Madam Lu came over in person.

"Claiming it was for drinking was merely an excuse." She seemed listless, murmuring, "I just wanted to gather with you, miss. These days, life truly feels unsettling."

Fu Tingjun had Zheng Sanniang serve her tea and smiled, saying, "Concubine Lu should trust the Marquis of Yingchuan and General Mo."

Upon hearing this, Madam Lu's face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head to sip her tea, masking her embarrassment. When she looked up again, she directly brushed past the topic and warmly invited Fu Tingjun, "Please, miss, do honor us with your presence tomorrow. I've been learning cooking from you these past days; let me show off a bit."

"Thank you kindly!" Fu Tingjun declined once more. "Let's wait a few more days. If Concubine Lu feels uneasy at heart, feel free to visit me often. I'm about to transcribe the Heart Sutra these days; why not join me in copying the sutra?"

Madam Lu's smile turned somewhat forced.

She exchanged a few hesitant words with Fu Tingjun before taking her leave.

Fu Tingjun found her attitude peculiar, but merely pondered it briefly before setting it aside. Each day, after paying respects to the Bodhisattva, she would pay respects to Zhao Ling's parents, and after A Sen finished his reading, she would begin transcribing the Heart Sutra.

A few more days passed in this manner. Zheng San, who went out to the teahouse every morning to gather news, came to report to her with a grim expression, "Miss, I've heard that the Mongols have crossed the Datong River. More than half of the people in Zhuanglang Guard have been killed or wounded, and Commander Lu Cheng has gone missing."