Chapter 216: Countermeasures
Madam Wu's words left Fu Tingyun utterly astonished. Upon reflection, however, the matter did seem like something Zhao Ling might orchestrate. Remembering his advice to ignore the situation, she could only respond vaguely, "Could there be some misunderstanding? My husband isn’t that kind of person!" She then assured Madam Wu, "This is the first I’ve heard of it, and I’m truly shocked. How about I discuss it with him when he returns and get back to you?"
"I’ll await your reply then," Madam Wu replied, her mind in turmoil. With no better options, she repeated phrases like "I never expected this" and "Good intentions led to disaster" before finally taking her leave.
Fu Tingyun remained seated by the window, lost in thought for a long while before summoning Yu Wei to resume their discussion about A Sen’s marriage arrangements.
When Zhao Ling returned that evening, she pulled him into the study. "Madam Wu came by today," she began. "She said the Zhao family learned of your whereabouts because Shopkeeper Ye San let it slip while drunk. She suspects you and he conspired to manipulate the Zhaos... What’s really going on? Why didn’t you tell me?"
Zhao Ling froze momentarily before chuckling and rubbing his head. "Seems there’s no shortage of clever people in this world," he remarked, his tone dismissive yet indirectly confirming his collusion with Shopkeeper Ye San.
Fu Tingyun’s brow furrowed slightly.
Some experiences were like drinking water—only the person involved knew whether it was cold or warm.
Take her, for instance. To outsiders, a subject must die if the ruler demands it, and a child must perish if the parent commands it. Her refusal to acknowledge her father and clan was seen as disloyalty and filial impiety. But who understood her heartache, despair, and desolation?
She believed no one had more right to speak on how to handle the Zhao family than Zhao Ling himself.
Yet his silence stung.
Noticing her expression, Zhao Ling sighed deeply. "A-Jun," he said, "I didn’t want you involved in this..."
Husband and wife shared the same roots—how could he claim he didn’t want her involved? If he wished to distance her, why marry her in the first place? Wasn’t it too late for such words now?
Her expression cooled. "By that logic, my affairs have nothing to do with you, and yours have nothing to do with me?"
Seeing the faint pallor of anger on her face, Zhao Ling shook his head helplessly and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"What am I to do with you?" he murmured, his voice thick with affection. "Such a temper over such a small matter..."
"Now you think I have a temper?" Her heart swelled with boundless grievance. "We’ve known each other for more than a day or two. Why didn’t you think so before we married?" Before she could finish, tears welled in her eyes.
"Hey, hey, hey," Zhao Ling panicked, hastily pulling out a handkerchief to dab her cheeks. "Talk if you must, but no crying!"
Now even her tears were deemed childish.
Beyond her earlier sorrow, fresh hurt bloomed in her chest.
She turned her face away, fighting to keep the tears from falling.That stubborn yet fragile look in Fu Tingyun's eyes made Zhao Ling's heart ache with tenderness.
"It's my fault, all my fault," he decided to apologize first regardless, wanting to soothe his wife's emotions. "Don't be angry anymore. I was just teasing you! You know how much I love joking with you!" As he spoke, he pulled her into his arms, showering her with kisses and coaxing words.
Fu Tingyun's tears turned to laughter as she pouted, "You said you had nothing to do with me... It hurt my feelings!"
When did I ever say such a thing?
Zhao Ling broke out in a cold sweat.
No wonder people say pregnant women are unreasonable—even someone as composed as A-Jun occasionally falls into such moods.
His attitude softened further.
Zhao Ling had always maintained a steady and dignified demeanor around her, so this side of him felt unfamiliar to Fu Tingyun.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder.
Was this the calm after the storm?
Zhao Ling sighed inwardly and kissed Fu Tingyun's cheek.
In a gentle voice, Fu Tingyun asked, "What exactly are your plans regarding the Zhao family?"
Since he couldn't hide it anymore, Zhao Ling decided to be honest. His tone turned serious: "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."
Fu Tingyun looked puzzled.
Zhao Ling explained, "They couldn't stand my father overshadowing them, right? Fine. I'll have Shopkeeper Ye San spread the word that not only am I alive, but I've also been promoted to Deputy Commander of Xuantong, a third-rank military position, thanks to my merit from supporting the emperor. With over a dozen branches in the Zhao family, I refuse to believe this news won't stir up some reactions."
Fu Tingyun began to understand.
After a thoughtful pause, she said, "So that's why you told me to ignore the matter—to let the Zhao family panic, turn on each other to save themselves, and even shift all the blame onto Sixth Master Zhao, who orchestrated everything back then..."
"Exactly!" A cold glint flashed in Zhao Ling's eyes. "Eventually, someone will step forward to seek justice for my mother. Back then, I was too young, and after so many years, if I rashly returned to the Zhao family without loyal servants or close allies to help gather evidence, clearing my mother's name would be nearly impossible. Better to let them tear each other apart and expose the truth themselves. And let Sixth Master Zhao see how those who once fawned over him now treat him—let him taste the bitterness of betrayal and isolation."
Fu Tingyun felt the tension in his muscles and hugged him tighter in sympathy.
Zhao Ling's expression softened slightly as he kissed the top of her head.
"Then, citing the main branch's lack of virtue, I'll demand a new clan leader be chosen," he continued, his voice calmer now. "I'll support a candidate from a collateral branch to take over and force the main branch to surrender the family's collective assets... Just as they schemed to seize my family's property, I'll have others do the same to them."
"Mm!" Fu Tingyun nodded in agreement, then wondered: Did Zhao Ling keep this from me because he feared I'd think him ruthless?
The thought vanished as quickly as it came.
She'd seen Zhao Ling at his worst—this was nothing in comparison.
Still puzzled, she asked, "Then... why didn't you tell me? You had me worried sick!"Zhao Ling couldn't help but let out a long sigh, speaking solemnly, "A-Jun, you've already severed ties with the Fu family. I don't want you to have conflicts with the Zhao family as well!" As he spoke, his hand rested on Fu Tingyun's abdomen. "This little one came at just the right time!"
Fu Tingyun was stunned.
If one person says you're no good, it might be a misunderstanding. But if two or three people say the same, others will usually think there's something wrong with you.
But what does that have to do with the child?
Thinking of her earlier pettiness, she felt both ashamed and guilty, almost unable to meet Zhao Ling's gaze.
"Alright," Zhao Ling said softly, rubbing his chin against the top of her head. "You didn't know." Then, as if to prevent her from dwelling on her guilt, he changed the subject. "Stay out of this matter." His voice was low but carried a reassuring steadiness. "If anyone comes to you, just say nothing and look troubled—men handle external affairs, women manage the household. If they have any grievances, they'll have to take them up with me."
"No!" Fu Tingyun mustered her courage and lifted her head, her clear eyes shining like radiant gemstones. "We're one. How can I push everything onto you? As a woman, even if I make any missteps, it'll just be dismissed as 'long hair, short wisdom.' But you're a third-rank official—your reputation matters more than mine." She knew Zhao Ling was hard to sway once he'd made up his mind, especially when it involved her reputation, but she still tried to persuade him. "Besides, I'll have to go back to Songjiang with you to relocate your parents' graves. There's no way I can stay out of it..."
But Zhao Ling said, "I wasn't planning to take you to Songjiang!"
Fu Tingyun was taken aback.
"You're pregnant now!" Zhao Ling said seriously. "How can you travel south with me?"
No wonder he said the child came at the right time.
If she weren't pregnant, she would undoubtedly have to accompany Zhao Ling to Songjiang. Now, with pregnancy as an excuse, she could legitimately stay in the capital.
"Ninth Master!" Her heart swelled with emotion. "I..." But the thought of disregarding the child's safety to insist on accompanying Zhao Ling to relocate his parents' graves gave her pause.
"Didn't you remind me to prepare my parents' graves early?" Zhao Ling smiled gently. "The Emperor has granted me two months' leave. When I return to Jiangnan, you can travel slowly to Chang'an with Zheng San and the others, taking Youyou and Xi Ge'er with you. Work with Shopkeeper Lu to prepare things there. When my parents' coffins arrive in Chang'an, there should be someone to oversee the arrangements so we don't rush and breach etiquette." He added, "Since we're setting up ancestral land in Chang'an this time, we'll naturally need a residence there—after all, we'll be living there ourselves in the future. You should decide what suits us best. I wouldn't trust anyone else to handle it."
That made sense.
But the idea of Zhao Ling dealing with the Zhao family in Songjiang alone still left Fu Tingyun hesitant.
"Alright, alright," Zhao Ling said with a laugh, seeing her expression. "It's settled—you women always fuss over such things." He continued, "I'll go to Jiangnan to exhume the graves, but someone needs to receive the spirits in Chang'an. It's just a shame our Xi Ge'er is still too young. Otherwise, I'd take you with me."
Was he comforting her?
Fu Tingyun's eyes brimmed with tears as she pressed her lips together in a smile.The glimmer of tears in her eyes made them sparkle with liveliness.
She asked him softly, "When do you plan to set off?"
"Probably in the next couple of days," Zhao Ling replied, unable to resist leaning down to kiss her rosy lips, his tone somewhat distracted. "You can let Madam Wu know I'm returning to Jiangnan... The Zhao family, cornered like a dog, will most likely try to contact me along the way."
Fu Tingyun nodded. "Alright!"
Her flushed lips seemed like a silent invitation.
Zhao Ling swept Fu Tingyun into his arms and tumbled with her onto the daybed in the study.
"Don't be like this..." Fu Tingyun pressed her hands against his chest. "I... I haven't passed the three months yet!"
"I know," Zhao Ling murmured, nibbling her earlobe. "I just want to talk with you..."
Is this how people talk?
Fu Tingyun wanted to protest, but what escaped her lips was a breathless moan instead...
Her face flushed crimson as she buried it in Zhao Ling's embrace!
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O(∩_∩)O~
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(End of Chapter)
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