Chapter 103: Deep Affection (Bonus Chapter for 1160 Pink Votes)
First, I must apologize to everyone for not updating on time yesterday.
Many readers have felt my writing tends to be overly verbose, and I've been striving to overcome this flaw by picking up the pace. After posting yesterday's chapter, many found it rather frustrating, so I revised the ending to better align with the characters' personalities and accelerate the narrative. After all, Miss Tang is merely a small ripple in the protagonists' story—there's no need for her to occupy too much of the main couple's spotlight.
O(∩_∩)O~
I sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding regarding any inconvenience caused.
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At noon in Ledu Town, the streets were nearly deserted.
Outside the government office, Zheng San was exchanging pleasantries with Zhao Ming when Fu Tingyun suddenly rushed out like a gust of wind.
The abruptness of her appearance left both men momentarily stunned as they gaped at the furious young woman.
Without hesitation, Fu Tingyun leaped onto the waiting carriage and yanked the reins violently. The previously relaxed horse startled, reared up with a whinny, and bolted down the road, dragging the carriage behind it in a wild dash.
"Miss Fu!" Zheng San snapped out of his daze and sprinted after her.
Zhao Ming remained entranced by that fleeting glimpse of beauty.
"That Miss Fu... she's truly stunning!" he murmured to himself, only to be interrupted by Zhao Ling's urgent and angry voice: "Where is she?"
"Oh!" Zhao Ming immediately straightened up and pointed in the direction the carriage had vanished. "She went that way!"
Zhao Ling spotted Zheng San's retreating figure in the distance.
Without hesitation, he gave chase.
But Zheng San gradually slowed his pace until he finally stopped at the end of the street.
The horse had run too fast—the carriage was now just a tiny black dot on the post road, leaving only a trail of dust in its wake.
Two legs could never outrun four. Continuing the pursuit was pointless.
Turning back, he saw Zhao Ling approaching.
"The horse spooked," Zheng San said as he strode forward, his expression tense. "I couldn't catch up."
Zhao Ling's face darkened instantly. "I'll go back for my horse!" He immediately turned and raced toward the government office.
Along the way, he encountered Zhao Ming, who—though clueless about the situation—was eager to help.
Keeping pace with Zhao Ling, he asked with concern, "Centurion, what happened? Should I gather some men to help search?"
"Yes!" Zhao Ling's jaw was clenched tight, his mind filled with the terrifying thought of "the horse spooking."
If anything happened to Miss Fu... He didn't dare dwell on it.
At this, Zhao Ming immediately dashed toward a nearby eatery.
Such an opportunity naturally called for bringing along his trusted brothers.
Zhao Ling hurried into the government compound, where he ran into an anxious Miss Tang. "Ninth Master, what's wrong with Miss Fu? Should I take my maids to help search—"
"No need!" Zhao Ling's expression was grim. What on earth was this Ninth Miss Fu up to? One moment they were talking, the next she ran off, even declaring she wanted to sever ties with him. "Miss Tang, please have your meal first. I might be delayed for a while." With that, he headed straight for the stables to saddle his horse.
"Let me come with you!" Miss Tang, an accomplished rider among women, offered. "An extra person means better chances of finding Miss Fu!"
"No need!" Zhao Ling's sole focus was finding Fu Tingyun quickly. While Miss Tang was skilled, she couldn't compare to his battle-hardened comrades. "Please remain here at the compound."Without waiting to leave the yamen, he mounted his horse and charged straight out through the gates.
Zhao Ming and the others had already ridden over on horseback.
"Find a horse for Zheng San," Zhao Ling instructed Zhao Ming. "You search that way, I'll search this way. Give me a signal when you find her."
Fu Tingyun didn't know how to drive a carriage. If the horse got spooked, she would most likely let go of the reins and let it run wild. Zhao Ling kept the easiest route to find—the post road—for himself, directing Zhao Ming and the others to search the other directions.
With a collective acknowledgment, the group galloped out of the small town.
The commotion startled many people, who poked their heads out to watch and gossip: "What's going on?"
Miss Tang, who had been standing at the yamen gates biting her red lips as she watched Zhao Ling and the others ride away, noticed the scene and her gaze flickered thoughtfully.
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Just as Zhao Ling had predicted, Fu Tingyun didn't know how to drive a carriage. Jumping onto the carriage had been an impulsive act of defiance, and she had tried to imitate Zheng San's way of handling the reins. But she pulled too hard, startling the horse. The carriage suddenly accelerated, throwing her into the compartment before she could react. Dazed from the impact, she struggled to get up, only to find the carriage hurtling forward at a terrifying speed. The violent jolting left her disoriented, and it took her a long time to regain her senses. Too frightened to try steering again, she let go of the reins and allowed the horse to run freely.
After what felt like an eternity, the carriage gradually slowed down. Only then did she dare to lift the curtain and look outside.
Lush green trees lined both sides of the road, but there wasn't a soul in sight. The sun shone on the post road, making the white gravel glint dazzlingly.
Where was she?
Had she gotten lost?
Fu Tingyun muttered to herself. Spotting the bundle containing her spare clothes still in the carriage, she quickly rummaged through it and pulled out a small indigo-blue pouch printed with white floral branches.
She let out a sigh of relief.
Her clothes and money were still there. Even if Zheng San couldn't find her, she could find a place to stay first and then send someone to deliver a message to him...
At this thought, she frowned irritably.
Zheng San was at Nianbo Garrison. If he got the news, Zhao Ling would surely hear about it too. And then Zhao Ling would definitely come looking for her...
The thought gave her pause.
Why did she think that? Did some part of her still hope he would come for her? Otherwise, what did it matter to her even if Zhao Ling did come looking?
A sudden unease settled in her heart.
She silently scolded herself.
Since she had already decided to cut ties with Zhao Ling, why was she still being indecisive? Wouldn't that just seem like playing hard to get? If he really came looking, she could just ignore him—what was there to worry about!
Right, that's what she would do.
She tried to bolster her resolve, but a sliver of hesitation crept into her heart.
Could she really, truly ignore Zhao Ling?
Then in the future... wouldn't she never see him again?
And even if they did meet, would they have to act like strangers?
The thought sent a sudden, unbearable pang through her heart.
She curled up in the carriage.
Or... should she just let it go?
After all, no matter who she married, her husband would eventually take concubines. That Miss Tang had a history with Zhao Ling—if she was magnanimous about it, Zhao Ling would surely be pleased and respect her more for it.
She asked herself this, but the image of Zhao Ling smiling at Miss Tang surfaced in her mind.
Her chest tightened as if weighed down by a heavy stone.
No, no, no. Anyone else, but not Zhao Ling.She liked him so, so much. If there was still someone else in his heart, she—she couldn't bear it!
What happened today would repeat itself.
Again and again, no matter how loving a couple was, they couldn't withstand such prolonged torment. Eventually, he would only find her repulsive, and she would only see him as heartless... Rather than turning into enemies later, it was better to part ways now.
Fu Tingyun sat dazedly in the carriage.
Let's just part like this... while he was still that chivalrous and handsome man in her heart, and she was still that gentle and graceful woman in his... Let's part!
She collapsed weakly in the carriage and burst into loud sobs.
Only when her eyes were swollen and sore to the point of barely being able to open, and her nose was so stuffed with mucus that she could hardly breathe, did Fu Tingyun finally stop crying with intermittent sniffles. She found a handkerchief to wipe her tears and blow her nose.
Then she realized the carriage had stopped at some point.
She slowly crawled to the front and looked outside.
Before her was a small river, the lingering glow of the sunset reflecting on its surface, sparkling like gold foil ruffled by the wind.
Was the sun about to set?
Fu Tingyun sat blankly on the carriage, watching the horse leisurely munch on the lush grass by the bank.
The horse must have seen the grass and stopped here, right?
Her thoughts wandered aimlessly.
A breeze blew from the river, carrying a hint of coolness that dispelled the stifling heat inside the carriage.
Fu Tingyun got off the carriage and walked toward the river.
The riverbed was shallow, the water clear, revealing colorful, rounded pebbles.
After such a bout of crying, she must look utterly disheveled now!
Fu Tingyun crouched by the river, cupped water in her hands, and washed her face.
The cool river water made her feel much more refreshed.
Fu Tingyun simply took off her shoes and socks and stepped into the river.
It felt wonderful.
All the summer heat vanished without a trace.
She left her shoes and socks on the bank, removed her plain cloth vest, tied her skirt at the waist, rolled up her trousers, and waded toward the center of the river.
Along the way, she startled a school of small fish, sending them darting in all directions.
Watching the fish dart like little shuttles, her mood inexplicably lifted.
Everyone had a place to go, even the little fish.
Let's return to the capital!
Her mother was still waiting for her there.
No matter what mistakes she had made, her mother would forgive her.
Fu Tingyun gazed at the clouds filling the sky, her heart as serene as still water.
The sound of urgent hoofbeats came from behind.
Fu Tingyun turned around.
She saw Zhao Ling galloping toward her on horseback.
Zhao Ling also spotted Fu Tingyun.
She stood quietly in the river, the brilliant sunset casting a golden outline around her figure, making her features indistinct.
His heart suddenly raced.
What was she doing standing in the river?
Why did she seem to ignore him even after seeing him?
He dismounted, but his legs gave way, nearly causing him to fall.
"You—come up quickly!" he shouted as he ran toward her, his voice trembling slightly. "Don't—don't do anything foolish!"
Fu Tingyun watched him stumble forward and couldn't help but laugh.
"I'm fine!" She took a deep breath, feeling as if the cheerful, fearless Fu Tingyun of the past had returned. "It's too hot—I'm just cooling off by the river! Don't misunderstand, I'm not trying to drown myself. If I wanted to, I would've done it long before you got here!"
So composed, so calm, so rational—yet Zhao Ling felt his heart pounding with dread.He splashed through the water and came to a stop before her.
Finally, he could see her face clearly.
Her eyes were swollen, her nose red, yet her gaze remained clear as water. The faint smile at the corners of her eyes and brows was like a flower quietly blooming in the corner of a wall—serene, composed, and calm, carrying the tranquility of one who had shed all pretenses.
This Fu Tingyun was someone he had never seen before, and it unsettled him faintly.
"Why did you run?" His question carried a hint of breathlessness.
Anxiety, panic, worry, fear... He had traveled over a hundred miles. If the horse ran too fast, he feared he might miss her in his haste; if it ran too slow, he worried he might be too late when he found her... For the first time, he doubted his own judgment!
Why did you run?
Fu Tingyun pressed her rosy lips together and lowered her gaze. "I... I was afraid."
For the first time, she confessed the deep affection she had hidden in her heart to this person.
Zhao Ling was stunned. "Afraid? What were you afraid of?"
Fu Tingyun raised her head and fixed her eyes on his. "I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to control myself." The glimmer of tears shone at the corners of her eyes. "When I heard Miss Tang was a beautiful woman, I couldn’t help but burn with jealousy and went to rummage through your things. When I heard you were going to help Miss Tang, I couldn’t suppress my shame and anger and tried to obstruct you in every way. When I saw you tidying your clothes to meet Miss Tang, I couldn’t stop myself from fretting over gains and losses. And when I heard you introduce me to Miss Tang as 'Miss Fu,' I flew into a rage and ran out without a second thought..."
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There will be another regular update tonight, but since I’m writing carefully, it might be a bit late. No need to wait up—you can read it first thing tomorrow morning!
(End of chapter)
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