Chapter 115: Unexpected Changes
Who would open a gift right in front of the giver?
What mischief was this guy up to now?
Fu Tingyun shot him a sideways glance but didn’t take the bait. With a smile, she said, “Thank you,” and accepted the box. Then, with a coquettish tone, she chided, “The rain is pouring down, and you didn’t even bring an umbrella. Autumn has already begun—getting drenched in this cold rain could make you sick. What then?” She stepped off the heated kang and instructed Anxin to fetch a change of clothes from his room. After handing Zhao Ling a freshly brewed cup of hot tea, she finally settled back into her seat.
Her every action was poised and graceful, but the lingering blush on her cheeks betrayed her true feelings, making her resemble a delicate, blooming flower—radiant with charm and unspoken emotions.
Now dressed in dry clothes and sipping his tea, Zhao Ling couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. If only his Nannan had opened his gift, how wonderful that would have been!
Opportunities were fleeting, and it seemed he’d have to wait for the next one.
He sighed softly but still couldn’t resist pressing his luck. “Then it’s settled—next Mid-Autumn Festival, we’ll go see the lanterns together!”
She had all the time in the world—it was up to him whether he could spare it.
Fu Tingyun agreed with a cheerful “Alright,” her smiling gaze fixed on Zhao Ling, who suddenly felt a twinge of guilt. Hastily, he steered the conversation back to their earlier topic. “Who would’ve thought the bandits targeted Datong Company this time?” His eyebrows lifted slightly as he chuckled. “Truly, ‘after searching high and low, the answer comes without effort!’”
By now, Fu Tingyun had pieced everything together.
After a thoughtful pause, she said, “For Datong Company to have grown to its current scale, it must have powerful backers. So Ninth Master deliberately saved Shopkeeper Ye, leaving behind a living witness. Even if Datong Company could stomach the loss of goods and wanted to sweep the matter under the rug, how could they explain this to the families of the deceased managers? Or to their current employees? If they don’t seek justice, who would dare risk their lives for the company in the future? Besides, secrets never stay buried forever. Datong’s rivals are bound to learn about the robbery outside the pass. If they publicize it, it would cast doubt on the company’s competence and credibility.”
“Exactly,” Zhao Ling nodded. “That’s why I must ensure Shopkeeper Ye arrives safely in Xi’an. Once there, the Ye family will take over. Even if Xiping Marquis wants to let it slide, Datong Company won’t let it go.”
What a brilliant plan!
Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but show admiration in her eyes.
Zhao Ling was taken aback, and his heart swelled with pride, as if he’d drunk a cup of aged, mellow wine.
Lost in her thoughts, Fu Tingyun didn’t notice his expression. After another moment of contemplation, she suggested, “In that case, why must Ninth Master take such risks himself? Why not introduce Shopkeeper Ye to Marquis Yingchuan—”
“No!” Zhao Ling rejected the idea without hesitation. “If Marquis Yingchuan learns of this, he’ll use it as leverage against Xiping Marquis. Shopkeeper Ye would be silenced, and even we—who know too much—would be in danger. That would be a loss with no gain.”
After a brief reflection, Fu Tingyun realized she’d proposed a terrible idea.The Datong Company would certainly not let this matter rest, and at this time, Marquis Yingchuan was not yet ready to openly break with the Xiping Marquis. For him, the best course of action was to hand Shopkeeper Ye over to the Xiping Marquis for punishment. This way, Marquis Yingchuan would not only curry favor with the Xiping Marquis but also serve as a warning, striking fear into him. The Xiping Marquis was no match for Marquis Yingchuan to begin with, and now he would likely be even more intimidated, too afraid to oppose him. By then, the entire Shaanxi Regional Military Commission would truly fall under Marquis Yingchuan’s control. Once this situation was established, even if Zhao Ling’s killing of Feng Dahu were discovered, Marquis Yingchuan, for the sake of stability, would likely turn a blind eye to the Xiping Marquis’ retaliation against Zhao Ling. After all, Zhao Ling and the Sixteenth Master were merely acquaintances—no matter how capable Zhao Ling was, how could he compare to the stability of the northwest? Even if the Sixteenth Master found out, he probably wouldn’t say anything, right?
Such was the sorrow of small figures.
A pang of sadness struck her heart, and a trace of melancholy appeared on her face.
Zhao Ling misunderstood, thinking Fu Tingyun was ashamed of having misspoken in front of him. How could he bear to see her unhappy? He quickly reassured her, “That’s why I specifically invited He Xiulin, who comes from a military family, grew up in the northwest, and is known as the ‘Little Mengchang,’ to visit us. I also staged this act with Shopkeeper Ye to provide evidence of his identity when I send someone to escort him back to Xi’an.” Lowering his voice, he added hesitantly, “I manipulated things a bit to make Shopkeeper Ye believe that Marquis Yingchuan has long known about the Xiping Marquis’ actions but has tolerated them repeatedly for the sake of the bigger picture—so he wouldn’t help him…”
Fu Tingyun’s heart skipped a beat, and she urgently interrupted Zhao Ling, “Then does Marquis Yingchuan actually know about the connection between those bandits and the Xiping Marquis?”
“He does,” Zhao Ling replied. “But before coming to Zhangye, Marquis Yingchuan had always served in the Five Armies Commandery. After arriving, although he heard rumors about this matter, he lacked concrete evidence against the Xiping Marquis. Unlike us, with our connections in the underworld, it was easier for us to uncover those bandits. Otherwise, Marquis Yingchuan would have used this as leverage to subdue the Xiping Marquis long ago!”
Fu Tingyun immediately felt as if sitting on pins and needles. She hurriedly told Zhao Ling about Xiao Yiniang’s probing: “Do you think Marquis Yingchuan might have discovered something?”
Zhao Ling’s expression turned serious as well.
He lowered his head in deep thought, while Fu Tingyun held her breath, waiting in tense silence.
For a moment, the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Then, light footsteps approached, breaking the stillness.
“Sir!” It was Anxin’s voice. “Someone from the General Military Headquarters is here. Commander Meng requests your presence.”
Marquis Yingchuan?
Right after Zhao Ling had just returned from the General Military Headquarters?
The two exchanged glances.
Zhao Ling called Anxin in and asked, “Who delivered the message?”
“It was Lin Chi, along with two colleagues.”
If she remembered correctly, Lin Chi was the very man who had been ordered to kill Zhao Ling before. He and his companions were Marquis Yingchuan’s personal guards, highly skilled in martial arts.
Fu Tingyun grabbed Zhao Ling’s arm, her lips trembling, but no words came out.
“It’s fine!” Zhao Ling smiled and patted her hand. “Trust me!”
Somehow, those simple words instantly calmed her. Composed, she said, “I’ll have Zheng San escort Shopkeeper Ye away.”Zhao Ling nodded and whispered to her, "Sanfu is staying at the City God Temple outside the city. Have A Sen send a message to Sanfu—he can escort Shopkeeper Ye back to Xi'an Prefecture. Yang Yucheng will be waiting for them at Zhuanglang Garrison."
Fu Tingyun gave a soft "Mm" and instructed Anxin, "Go inform the official from the General Military Headquarters that Ninth Master will join them shortly after changing clothes."
Anxin acknowledged and left.
Fu Tingyun went to the eastern wing where Zheng San resided.
Shopkeeper Ye, having narrowly escaped death, had finally relaxed his taut nerves and slept for a full day and night. He had just woken up and was being tended to by Zheng San, sipping chicken broth prepared by Zheng Sanniang. Upon learning of the change in plans, a sharp, icy glint flashed between his brows. "Miss Fu," he said, "please convey to Lord Zhao that if this were solely my own affair, I would go with him to see Marquis Yingchuan without hesitation. But I bear the grievances of dozens of lives from the Ye family. Forgive my disloyalty—I must flee now." He then added, "Great kindness need not be spoken. As long as I, Ye Shangcheng, live, I will never forget how my life was saved!" With that, he stood up and cupped his hands toward Zheng San. "I trouble you, Steward Zheng!"
His back was straight, his bearing imposing and dignified, with no trace of the earlier despondency. He seemed to have reverted to the authoritative third shopkeeper of Datong Company, making Zheng San shrink back in awe. Zheng San hurriedly bowed and murmured deferentially, assisting Shopkeeper Ye in packing his belongings.
Zhao Ling, attended by Anxin, hurried through the courtyard.
Fu Tingyun and the others watched his figure disappear into the heavy curtain of rain. Shopkeeper Ye and Zheng San donned bamboo hats and straw rain cloaks, silently cupping their hands toward Fu Tingyun before leaving her home.
A distant rumble of thunder rolled across the sky.
The rain grew heavier, and within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the courtyard was already flooded.
Zheng Sanniang supported Fu Tingyun's arm. "Miss, let's go back inside! Your skirt is already wet."
Fu Tingyun seemed not to hear, standing motionless under the eaves as the splashing rain dampened her clothes. Zheng Sanniang was about to urge her again when Fu Tingyun suddenly turned and walked back into the courtyard, murmuring, "When will this rain ever stop?"
Zheng Sanniang glanced up at the sky, finding the question abrupt. As she pondered how to respond, Fu Tingyun had already waded through the water toward the eastern wing that served as her inner chamber. Zheng Sanniang hurried after her. "Miss, shall I carry you?"
"No need!" Fu Tingyun quickly stepped inside.
Because of the rain, though it was still afternoon, the room was as dark as deep night.
Zheng Sanniang lit a lamp and helped Fu Tingyun change her shoes.
Fu Tingyun climbed onto the kang, moved the lamp to the kang table, and opened the vermilion gold-traced box Zhao Ling had given her.
Inside was an ivory comb.
No larger than a palm, its smooth surface glowed with a warm, soft yellow hue under the lamplight. The back was carved with a pair of twin lotuses.
That scoundrel—he really had ulterior motives.
Fu Tingyun imagined how Zhao Ling would have teased her if she had opened the box in front of him...
The thought made her cheeks flush. She sat before the mirror, redoing her hair and securing the twin lotus ivory comb into her tresses. Then, slipping on a brass thimble, she picked up the half-finished shoe sole and quietly resumed her needlework on the kang.
※※※※※As the lamps were lit, the rain gradually lessened.
Zheng Sanniang came in: "Miss, it's getting late. Perhaps you should—"
"We'll wait for Ninth Master to return before having dinner together." Fu Tingyun didn't even look up, her eyes fixed on the shoe sole in her hands. Her voice was as gentle as usual, yet carried an unyielding firmness.
Zheng Sanniang said no more.
From outside came A Sen's excited cry: "Ninth Master... Ninth Master is back!"
Fu Tingyun jumped off the kang and rushed out, seeing Zhao Ling striding toward her with a smile on his face.
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Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes... O(∩_∩)O~ Today I finally managed to update a chapter at the normal time!
(End of Chapter)
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