Chapter 99

Within two days, news came from the General's Garrison: Wu Ying, the Qianhu of Niambo Guard, had died in battle, and Zhao Ling, holding the rank of Baihu, was temporarily assuming the duties of Qianhu of Niambo Guard.

"Don't worry," Madam Wang came specially to tell Fu Tingjun this news. "With the Marquis of Yingchuan and our Lord Wang helping, Zhao Baihu won't have any trouble. As long as he performs well, promotion to Qianhu isn't out of the question. Send him a message telling him to act boldly and decisively—don't let the temporary nature of the position make him timid and hesitant, or he'll miss this rare opportunity." Then she added, "As the saying goes, it's easier to be an official when you have connections at court. Earning the favor of the Marquis of Yingchuan is no easy feat."

Wang Yi had remained in his position as garrison commander for eight years without being able to move up—not because he lacked ability, nor because his military achievements were insufficient, but entirely because he had no one with influence at court to speak for him. His recent promotion was entirely due to the Marquis of Yingchuan's recommendation. She was afraid that Fu Tingjun and the others were young and inexperienced, unaware of the gravity of these connections, which was why she had made a special trip.

Fu Tingjun was deeply grateful.

Her uncle and father had also struggled in their official careers because they had no powerful patrons at court to recommend them—which was precisely why her father had been so delighted and satisfied when she was betrothed to the Yu family.

"I will certainly write to Ninth Master as you've instructed," she said, personally refilling Madam Wang's tea. "Please also convey my thanks to Lord Wang on my behalf. If not for Lord Wang and the Marquis of Yingchuan, a mere Baihu like Ninth Master would never have been considered for the temporary position of Qianhu of Niambo Guard."

A Baihu held the sixth rank, while a Qianhu held the fifth rank. The step from Baihu to Qianhu was a threshold—cross it, and one's name would be registered at the General's Garrison; fail to cross it, and one would forever remain merely a name on the rolls of a Qianhu's office.

"What help could Lord Wang possibly offer?" Madam Wang said modestly with a smile. "Everything at the General's Garrison is decided by the Marquis of Yingchuan!" She wasn't there to claim credit, so she dropped the subject and asked instead about Fu Tingjun's daily life.

"I've just been doing some needlework," Fu Tingjun said with a smile. "Before we know it, midsummer will be here."

"My two girls have been longing for you to come and teach them embroidery!"

Her uncle's family had perished in the eighth month of last year. Counting the days, the mourning period would be ending this month.

Fu Tingjun smiled. "Why not have them come over to my place to play? I'm idle anyway."

Madam Wang had many matters to attend to as well, and she would feel at ease knowing her two girls were under Fu Tingjun's care. "That works. Just don't mind if they get too noisy."

The two chatted for a while until noon approached. Madam Wang still needed to attend to Lord Wang's midday meal, so she rose to take her leave.

Fu Tingjun escorted her to the door, where she spotted Madam Qi peeking toward her house from her own doorway. Seeing Madam Wang, Madam Qi approached with an awkward smile to greet her.

Madam Wang exchanged a few pleasantries with her, then got into her sedan chair and departed.

Madam Qi grabbed Fu Tingjun's arm. "I saw General Mo return!" she said, standing at the doorstep.

Mo Yi's grandmother's birthday was in the ninth month. Counting the days, he should indeed be setting out soon.

"He's probably here to pick up Concubine Lu," Fu Tingjun said with a smile, recounting the situation to Madam Qi.

Madam Qi's eyes darted as she listened. "So that Lu woman is about to become a concubine?"

"I should think so?" Fu Tingjun replied tactfully.

"Oh!" Madam Qi said a few absent-minded words, then added, "Well, you go about your business. I should head home to make lunch!"

Fu Tingjun parted ways with Madam Qi, ate her lunch, and was about to rest when Zheng Sanniang came running over, whispering mysteriously in her ear: "I saw Madam Qi go to General Mo's house!"

Thinking of the white headscarf Madam Qi still wore, Fu Tingjun guessed: "She must be lodging a complaint!"

Zheng Sanniang nodded vigorously. "That's what I thought too."

Once Fu Tingjun lay down to rest, she pricked up her ears.

From next door came Mo Yi's impatient, low muttering and Madam Qi's rather shrill accusations, interspersed with Concubine Lu's sobbing.

She smiled faintly and went to coax Linchun to sleep for his afternoon nap.

Before long, Mo Yi came over, requesting to see Fu Tingjun.

Fu Tingjun was quite surprised. After a moment's thought, she invited Mo Yi to sit in the main hall, freshened up, and went to meet him.

Mo Yi was even more surprised than she was. "Why aren't you staying in the main quarters?"

"It's more convenient in the eastern wing," Fu Tingjun answered vaguely, then said, "Ninth Master is away from home. Might I ask what brings General Mo here?"

Mo Yi gave an awkward smile at this, then said hesitantly: "The moment I returned, Madam Qi came to lodge a complaint, saying she was struck by our maids and servants... Striking someone is wrong, of course, but as you surely know, Madam Qi has always been fond of spreading gossip..."

He wanted to ask her about the matter of Concubine Lu's infidelity, didn't he?

Mo Yi was a big, burly man, but he had a sensitive and suspicious heart. Otherwise, he wouldn't have forced Zhao Ling to take sides back then just because his origins were unclear.

Fu Tingjun said softly, "General Mo is asking about the rumors concerning Concubine Lu, isn't he?"

Without having to recount those unspeakable details, Mo Yi let out a great sigh of relief. "Exactly, exactly." A hint of gratitude rose in his heart, feeling that Miss Fu was truly considerate and understanding.

"Last month, a thief broke into my quarters. Fortunately, Zheng San was there and personally caught several of the thieves, reporting them to the authorities in time." Fu Tingjun said gently. "The officials searched the area for most of the night and only left at dawn. Then some nosy neighbors noticed two strange men climbing over the wall from your courtyard and fleeing. Among the neighbors, word spread about Concubine Lu... and her affairs." She smiled as she spoke. "Surely General Mo wouldn't believe such rumors, would he?"

Mo Yi was momentarily stunned.

Fu Tingjun continued, "Although Concubine Lu comes from humble origins, she is still a girl from a respectable family. Her knowledge may be somewhat shallow, but she knows propriety and shame well enough. Besides, General Mo comes from a distinguished household, has a bold temperament, and is a renowned young general in the northwest. Countless people admire him. Since Concubine Lu has the fragrance of an orchid, why would she stoop to wallow in the mud? Even if the General doesn't trust Concubine Lu's character, he should at least trust himself." By the end, her words carried a hint of amusement.

Mo Yi's face flushed red at this.

"As for Madam Qi, the General shouldn't blame her either." Fu Tingjun continued to persuade him. "Waves rise even without wind, and since people saw it with their own eyes, some gossip is only natural. Rumors stop at the wise. As long as the General conducts himself openly and honestly, in time everyone will realize their mistake."

Mo Yi nodded slightly. "Miss Fu truly has an orchid heart and a keen mind. For Brother Zhao to have married you is truly a blessing cultivated from his past life." His tone was utterly sincere—clearly spoken from the heart.

Fu Tingjun blushed and thanked Mo Yi.

Mo Yi rose to take his leave.

Zheng Sanniang, who had come in to serve tea during their conversation, caught fragments of what was said and felt somewhat indignant. "Why didn't you tell General Mo the truth? Your heart is too kind. For someone like her, you show her consideration, but she may not show you the same..."

"What's the hurry?" Fu Tingjun interrupted Zheng Sanniang's words without any rush. "General Mo, though somewhat impetuous in temperament, is not a man without brains. He merely heard the rumors about Concubine Lu suddenly and, in his shock, lost his composure for a moment. Once he comes to his senses, he will think things through carefully. Why would thieves suddenly break into our house? To the left is their house, to the right is Madam Qi's. Madam Qi's house is closer to the mouth of the alley, so why would the thieves hide in their house instead? The incident happened in the middle of the night, and everyone was roused. How could the thieves hide in their house for hours without anyone noticing?" She smiled and winked at Zheng Sanniang. "We live wall-to-wall with Concubine Lu. She would certainly know about General Mo coming to our house, wouldn't she? Tell me, if General Mo were to discover that she had some connection to the thieves breaking into our house, what would happen to Concubine Lu?"

Zheng Sanniang still didn't understand. "Then wouldn't Concubine Lu hate you to death!"

What an honest soul!

Fu Tingjun sighed inwardly. Perhaps it was better that she didn't understand these things.

"Let's tidy up the house properly, shall we?" Fu Tingjun decided not to discuss the matter further. "Perhaps the two young ladies of the Wang family will soon come to visit!"

Seeing that Fu Tingjun wouldn't say more, Zheng Sanniang didn't dare ask further questions. She loudly acknowledged with "Yes," and first swept the courtyard clean. The next day, she borrowed rice husks from Madam Qi, soaked them in lye water, and scrubbed the iron pots and tin kettles in the kitchen. On the third day, she wiped down every surface in Fu Tingjun's room, not even sparing the floor pillars.

Someone pounded on the front door, crying as they knocked, "Fu, why do you wrong me?"

It was Madam Lu's voice!

Zheng Sanniang's heart trembled. She didn't dare open the door and was about to go fetch Zheng San when Zheng San and A Sen, having heard the commotion, came out one after another, looking at her in confusion.

Suddenly, from outside the gate came Mo Yi's deep voice, tinged with suppressed anger: "Get back inside! Stop making a spectacle of yourself here! Miss Fu didn't say anything against you—she even advised me not to chase shadows and catch the wind. Clearly, you are narrow-minded and have no tolerance whatsoever!"

Madam Lu outside seemed stunned by Mo Yi's words. For a long moment, she was silent. When her voice was heard again, it was already from far away, barely audible: "I... narrow-minded, without tolerance... How can the General wrong me like this? It's clearly that Fu woman—one face in front, another behind..."

Zheng Sanniang let out a sigh of relief. Zheng San also smiled at A Sen, whose face was still taut, saying, "Go back, go back. Every villain has a villain to torment them." He looked up and saw Fu Tingjun standing under the eaves of the eastern wing, smiling at them.

A Sen ran over happily.

Fu Tingjun put his arm around his shoulder, but the smile on his face gradually faded. "Make the preparations. On the tenth day of the sixth month, I will go to the Great Buddha Temple to hold a memorial service, and then perform the ceremony of removing mourning garments."

The festive atmosphere was swept away in an instant.

Zheng San bowed solemnly to Fu Tingjun. "Yes, sir!"

When it came time to light the lanterns, Mo Yi came to take his leave of Fu Tingjun. "...I'll be leaving early tomorrow morning. In a few days, the Lu family will send someone to look after Madam Lu. Is there anything Miss Fu would like me to bring back for her?"

Fu Tingjun was taken aback, staring at Mo Yi in astonishment.

Was he not taking Madam Lu back to Luyi with him?

A faint trace of loneliness showed on Mo Yi's face!

Fu Tingjun opened her mouth as if to speak, then stopped.

Perhaps this was for the best. Given Madam Lu's temperament, even if she entered the Mo household, she would hardly find peace.

Better to endure a short pain than a long one.

She couldn't help but smile bitterly.

He hadn't come to take his leave of her at all—he had clearly come to give her an explanation!