Chapter 104: Reconciliation
The bride nodded shyly. "Centurion Zhao and Centurion Zhao are relatives. Every month, he sends a letter to Miss Fu, Centurion Zhao's fiancée in Zhangye. Any rewards Centurion Zhao receives are also kept by Miss Fu. Everyone knows about this."
Fu Tingyun felt embarrassed and couldn't help but mutter to herself: When did this Zhao Ming become relatives with Zhao Ling? And "everyone knows"? Most likely, Zhao Ming has been blabbing about it everywhere.
She pondered whether to inquire further when Si Baihu's wife entered, carrying a tray with meat soup and dishes. "Miss Fu, Centurion Zhao said it's cold at night, and since you washed your hair, he’s worried you might catch a chill. He asked that you dine in your room."
As if she were some fragile flower.
Fu Tingyun thanked Si Taitai, who, noticing that Fu Tingyun was about the same age as her eldest daughter-in-law and that they seemed to get along well, gave her daughter-in-law a meaningful glance, signaling her to serve attentively before smiling and withdrawing.
The bride stood by, serving Fu Tingyun dishes, and said enviously, "Centurion Zhao treats Miss Fu so well!"
Fu Tingyun immediately felt awkward and replied with a smile, "You should go and eat too. I’ll let you know once I’m done here."
The bride stubbornly refused.
Any further insistence would seem overly fussy.
Fu Tingyun had no choice but to relent, though she ate quickly and soon finished dinner.
The bride cheerfully cleared the dishes, and just then, Zhao Ling’s cheerful laughter echoed from outside.
Fu Tingyun found it odd.
The bride peeked out and turned back with a smile. "My father-in-law, along with several Centurions from the battalion and my husband, are drinking with Centurion Zhao!" She looked proud, as if Zhao Ling’s happiness was a great honor.
Fu Tingyun grumbled inwardly. The bride picked up a fan and began gently fanning her. Exhausted from days of travel and the emotional highs and lows in Ledu, Fu Tingyun soon drifted asleep in the soothing breeze.
When she groggily awoke, moonlight filled the window frame, and she found herself alone in the room. The bride, who had promised to sleep beside her, was nowhere to be seen, though someone had thoughtfully covered her with a blue-flowered sheet.
Thirsty, Fu Tingyun groped for the water jug on the table in the moonlight and took a few sips. Just then, soft voices came from outside the door:
"You go to sleep. Don’t worry about me. Miss Fu is still in the room!"
"I don’t care," the bride’s voice was sweet and sticky. "Miss Fu went to bed long ago. I want to stay here with you. Besides, Centurion Zhao is drunk—he’ll surely cause trouble in the middle of the night. If I’m here, I can help fetch water or bring sobering soup."
"Silly girl!" The young man’s voice was tender and doting. "You have to wake up early tomorrow to serve Father and Mother. If you stay up too late, you won’t be able to get up. Be good and go to bed. I can handle Centurion Zhao alone."
"But I want to stay with you!" the bride cooed.
The affectionate young couple brought a faint smile to Fu Tingyun’s lips.
She cleared her throat softly.
Silence fell outside.
They must have been startled...
Fu Tingyun almost laughed when the door creaked open, and the bride slipped in, calling cautiously, "Miss Fu?"
"I’m here!" Fu Tingyun replied with a smile."Oh my!" The bride was startled to see her standing in the middle of the room and hurriedly explained, "Baihu Zhao drank too much. My husband is taking care of him and just asked me to fetch some water..."
No doubt the young couple had been instructed by their parents-in-law to look after her and Zhao Ling!
Fu Tingyun smiled warmly. "You've worked hard." Then she asked, "Did Baihu Zhao drink a lot? How is he now?"
This man, drinking recklessly even at a subordinate's home. Drunken misbehavior would undermine his authority as a superior!
Seeing Fu Tingyun wasn't angry, the bride relaxed and answered honestly, "He's been sleeping in a daze. Just now he called out for water, and my husband already helped him drink." As she spoke, she reached for a candle to light the room.
"No need for lights," Fu Tingyun said with a smile. "Let's go check on Baihu Zhao."
The bride immediately accompanied Fu Tingyun to the adjacent room where Zhao Ling was resting.
Si Baihu's eldest son was a fair-skinned young man, no more than seventeen or eighteen, his face still bearing traces of youthful innocence.
Fu Tingyun sighed inwardly at the sight.
She and Zhao Ling were only a year or two older than this couple, yet they had experienced so much more, lacking such simple joys.
In the dim candlelight, Zhao Ling lay quietly, but his brows were tightly knit as if troubled even in his dreams.
What could be weighing so heavily on him?
Wondering this, Fu Tingyun asked Si Baihu's son, "Has Baihu Zhao been sleeping the whole time?"
"Yes!" the young man replied respectfully. "He's been asleep since getting drunk."
Fu Tingyun felt slightly reassured.
A groan came from the bed: "Water... water..."
The young couple scrambled to fetch some.
Suddenly, Zhao Ling grabbed Fu Tingyun's hand where she stood by the bed.
"What's wrong?" she asked anxiously, confused by his action.
Zhao Ling seemed dazed, half-opening his eyes to glance at her before closing them again.
Si Baihu's son brought over the water.
Zhao Ling kept holding Fu Tingyun's hand firmly, so she had to stand by as the young man helped him drink.
Zhao Ling fell back into deep sleep, but his grip remained tight. Fu Tingyun tried several times to free her hand without success, her cheeks flushing pink. She thought since he was drunk, it wasn't worth making a fuss.
Noticing this, the bride tugged at her husband's sleeve, and the two quietly withdrew.
Suddenly, Zhao Ling opened his eyes.
Fu Tingyun jumped in surprise. "What is it?" she asked hurriedly.
With a sudden pull, Zhao Ling yanked her into his arms.
"Wh-what are you doing?" she cried out sharply, thoroughly alarmed.
The heads of Si Baihu's son and daughter-in-law peeked through the door crack before quickly disappearing again.
Zhao Ling held Fu Tingyun tightly around the waist, immobilizing her. Her gaze involuntarily fell on his face.
Though his face was slightly flushed, his eyes were clear and bright, showing no trace of drunken haze.
"You..." Her heart pounded wildly, sensing something was about to happen.
Zhao Ling murmured softly, "Don't move."
His focused gaze traveled over her—from her dark hair to her eyes and brows, then down to her rosy lips—with such intensity and care, as if she were his most treasured possession, endlessly fascinating. It made her face burn like fire, too abashed to meet his eyes."What... what are you doing?" Fu Tingyun struggled to sit up.
"What... what's your name?" Zhao Ling tightened his grip, his voice slightly hoarse as he asked, an emotion she couldn't quite grasp swirling in the air between them, making her heart flutter uncertainly.
"Why... why are you asking that?" Fu Tingyun lowered her lashes.
A young lady's given name wasn't something to be shared lightly. Only parents, siblings, and one's husband should know it.
"Then can I call you Nannan?" A mischievous glint flashed in Zhao Ling's eyes. "I'm from Songjiang—we Songjiang folk call girls we like Nannan!"
"Nonsense," Fu Tingyun retorted, her face flushing despite herself. "Do you think I've never been south of the Yangtze? I've read that Songjiang people only call little girls before they come of age Nannan—not young ladies who've already had their hair-pinning ceremony!"
Amusement flickered in Zhao Ling's eyes. "Then what should I call you?"
Suddenly, Fu Tingyun realized—Zhao Ling was teasing her!
That usually composed man who remained unflappable even if Mount Tai collapsed before him—was actually teasing her while slightly drunk!
Fu Tingyun was momentarily at a loss.
Zhao Ling continued as if to himself, "Anyway, you'll be marrying me eventually, and your temperament is as changeable as a child's—I'll just call you Nannan..."
Fu Tingyun grew both flustered and indignant. "Who said I'd marry you?" The realization that she was still leaning against him made her feel as if her entire body was on fire. The warmth radiating from him, carrying a faint scent of alcohol, left her dizzy and weak. "You... you're bullying me!" Tears began to fall uncontrollably.
Zhao Ling had merely been emboldened by alcohol. Fu Tingyun's tears fell like molten lava upon his heart, causing him unbearable pain.
"Don't cry!" He quickly released her. "This is all my fault, entirely my fault..."
Fu Tingyun seized the opportunity to sit up, wiping her tears with her sleeve.
Zhao Ling produced a handkerchief from somewhere and offered it to her.
Fu Tingyun didn't take it, standing instead. "Since you're fine, I'll take my leave." Her voice was muffled, clearly unhappy.
Zhao Ling panicked.
Opportunities were fleeting, but they always favored those who seized them.
He jumped off the kang. "Wait—I have something to say." His voice was urgent and rushed, completely unlike his usual composed and confident self.
Fu Tingyun looked up in surprise.
Though anxiety creased Zhao Ling's brow, his voice steadied. "I understand your meaning. My feelings for you mirror yours for me." As he spoke, his expression grew solemn. "Rest assured—'I wish to win one heart, white-headed never to part.' I... I will never fail you... There will never be anyone else between us..."
Fu Tingyun froze.
I wish to win one heart, white-headed never to part.
There will never be anyone else between us.
Was this... his promise to her?
Did he understand what this meant?
Fu Tingyun stared blankly at Zhao Ling.
Zhao Ling nodded, his expression incomparably earnest.
Fu Tingyun sank weakly onto the edge of the kang, her vision blurred by tears."I know that with both my parents gone, no fixed home, no scholarly honors, and just being a lowly baihu, I'm hardly an ideal match in the eyes of parents." He crouched beside her, his large hand enveloping her small one that had been nervously twisting the corner of her clothes. Looking up at her with sincerity, he said, "But I'll treat you well all my life. I'll earnestly plead with your uncle and aunt, work hard to become someone capable of protecting you, so they can feel at ease giving you to me in marriage..."
Fu Tingyun's tears fell like rain.
Was becoming a son-in-law of the Fu family really that easy?
Especially for her, who had once been the bearer of such high hopes.
"What if my father and mother absolutely refuse to agree?"
"Then I'll kneel at the front gate and beg them," Zhao Ling said with complete seriousness. "If people ask why, I'll say straight out that I'm seeking to marry the Fu family's Ninth Miss. And if they say, 'But hasn't the Fu family's Ninth Miss already passed away from illness?' I'll say, 'No, she's alive and well...'"
"You scoundrel!" Fu Tingyun laughed through her tears and gave Zhao Ling a light push.
Zhao Ling collapsed onto the ground as if made of paper.
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O(∩_∩)O~
(End of Chapter)
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