Chapter 231: Peace Talisman
While Fifth Sister was privately wondering when would be the best time to visit Fu Tingyun, Fu Tingyun herself was clinging to Zhao Ling's waist, burying her face in his shoulder as she wept.
Zhao Ling's eyes darkened. He softly called out, "A-Jun..." but found himself at a loss for words.
Hearing this, Fu Tingyun lifted her head, took out a handkerchief, and wiped her eyes. "I know... I know you don’t want this either. And I know I shouldn’t be crying like this... but I just can’t help it..." As she spoke, she tightened her arms around his waist again and rested her head on his shoulder. "You must come back safely," she murmured, then quickly worried that her tenderness might soften his resolve—that he might hesitate in battle, thinking of her and their child, and thus lose his edge. Hurriedly, she added, "Don’t worry about things at home. I’ll take care of everything. Didn’t I manage just fine when you were away in Xuanfu?" Then, unable to resist, she kissed his jaw, instantly filling the space between them with an intimate warmth. Her voice softened as she cooed, "Ninth Master..." with a playful, affectionate lilt.
Those tender murmurs, brimming with love, made Zhao Ling's chest burn with emotion. He couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her, not even for a moment.
You in me, me in you... As if wanting to meld her into his very being, he held Fu Tingyun tightly in return. "Don’t worry," he reassured her. "I will come back safely. The Emperor has been biding his time for so long—everything that needed to be done has been done. Now is the time to reform the bureaucracy. This battle is just an excuse. The Emperor wants to see what dissent remains in the court... So whether we win or lose, His Majesty already has a plan in place. Of course, victory would be better... It would be an auspicious sign, boosting morale and making it easier for the Emperor to act. But even if we lose, the worst that happens is I return to the capital and get stripped of my rank..." Here, he suddenly chuckled. "Just don’t be too attached to the capital’s luxuries when the time comes!"
Fu Tingyun knew he was trying to lighten the mood and cheer her up.
But she couldn’t bring herself to smile.
"Stop trying to fool me!" she pouted. "How many defeated commanders ever meet a peaceful end? I don’t care about promotions or riches—all I pray for day and night is your safe return!"
Seeing her so disheartened, Zhao Ling regretted his earlier jest. He gently turned her shoulders to face him, gazing at her lovely, flower-like features with a smile. "I was planning to earn you the title of Second-Rank Madam! You can’t go dampening my spirits like this."
Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but laugh. "You’re sweet-talking me again? Your mother is only a Third-Rank Worthy Person—how could I possibly become a Second-Rank Madam? Good thing I’ve read a few books, or else you’d have me believing the sun rises in the west!"
Relieved that she had momentarily set aside her worries, Zhao Ling grinned and teased her. "They say 'books make people wise,' but I’m not so sure." Then he brought up their first meeting. "If you were an ordinary woman, wouldn’t you have reported a scoundrel like me to the authorities? Clearly, it’s not that you’ve read too much—it’s that you’re too clever. You could tell at a glance that I was a good man."
Fu Tingyun burst into laughter. "Are you praising me or yourself?"
Zhao Ling threw his head back and laughed heartily.Fu Tingyun brought up Zhao Ling's upcoming mission to Guizhou again: "This battle is so important, can't Mo Yi go instead? You can continue assisting him!"
Zhao Ling broke into a cold sweat at her words: "The Emperor wants to use this opportunity to free me from the Mo family's influence—how could he agree to let me serve as someone else's deputy? Besides, the Emperor isn't acting without reason. When the Longping Marquis went south before, didn't I serve as Chief Military Officer? I'm quite familiar with the situation there. Just wait for news of my great victory." Though inwardly he thought, indeed, concern breeds confusion. When A-Jun herself was imprisoned, she remained so calm and rational. Now that he's merely leading troops alone, she's become this flustered—today she's been saying such childish things... But doesn't this also show that in A-Jun's heart, he matters more than herself?
With this thought, Zhao Ling tightened his embrace around Fu Tingyun, pressing his face against hers: "A-Jun, my dear, I'll be fine."
Fu Tingyun bit her lip and nodded.
It seemed like she was agreeing with Zhao Ling's words, but more so, it felt like she was trying to convince herself.
Suddenly, she felt a movement in her belly.
Zhao Ling, pressed close to her, noticed it immediately.
He paused briefly before breaking into a smile: "Our third child is angry—Mommy and Daddy were too busy talking and forgot about him!" Then, with enthusiasm, he helped Fu Tingyun sit on the nearby kang, crouching down to touch her belly. "He kicked right here just now... Do you think he might be a boy? So mischievous! If it's a girl, we're in trouble—you'll have to raise her properly, or she might never find a husband when she grows up..."
Fu Tingyun couldn't help but laugh: "Youyou started moving at five months, but Xi Ge'er was so lazy, he didn't move until eight months. At first, I worried something might be wrong with him... This one's already six months—it's not late."
Zhao Ling's eyes flashed with guilt: "When our third child is born, I won't be home again..."
"What could you do even if you were home?" Knowing this was a sensitive topic for her husband, Fu Tingyun pretended nonchalance to comfort him, smiling. "Just do as before—write a letter every ten days. I'll read them to the children so they know their father, though far away, is always thinking of them!"
"Absolutely, absolutely," Zhao Ling quickly assured. "Though Guizhou is distant, the Ministry of War's dispatches usually arrive within a month. I've already instructed Lin Chi—if you need anything, send word through him, and he'll include it in the Ministry's correspondence to me."
Fu Tingyun nodded.
Anxin announced from behind the curtain: "Ninth Master, Madam, Lord Jin and Lord Yang have arrived."
Fu Tingyun was surprised.
Zhao Ling whispered: "With the situation changed, I asked if they'd go to Guizhou with me. Both agreed immediately. But to secure the outside, we must first settle the inside—I thought they should discuss it with their families first. They must be here to give me their answers."
"Then you should go quickly!" Fu Tingyun adjusted Zhao Ling's collar for him.
Zhao Ling kissed her cheek before leaving.
Soon after, Fifth Sister arrived and said bluntly: "I've heard about Ninth Brother-in-law going to Guizhou. He's a capable man—you don't need to worry too much."Among her own sisters, Fu Tingyun didn’t bother to hide her feelings. She sighed and said, “I know, but I just can’t calm my heart. I want to go to the temple to get him a Peace Talisman.”
“I’ll go with you!” Fifth Sister also thought this was a good idea. “I wonder which Zen Monastery in the capital has the most efficacious Peace Talisman? Today is Minor New Year, let’s go tomorrow!”
Fifth Sister and Fu Tingyun were of the same mind.
When she mentioned it to Zhao Ling, he thought the weather was freezing cold, and with the New Year festivities, the temple would be deserted. It would be better to go after the New Year when they could also enjoy the temple fair. But seeing the faint worry between Fu Tingyun’s brows, he quickly agreed with a smile, “Let’s go to Tanzhe Temple then? I’ll accompany you. We can also visit Mr. Zhao and seek his advice on Guizhou matters.”
Fu Tingyun was delighted to hear this.
Anything that benefited Zhao Ling, she was willing to do.
“Great! Should we bring Youyou and Xi Ge’er along?”
“The weather is too cold, and the children are still young. Let’s leave them at home,” Zhao Ling said with a smile. “We’ll go with Fifth Sister’s husband. When the time comes, I’ll visit Mr. Zhao, and Fifth Sister’s husband can accompany you to pay respects to the Bodhisattva.”
“No!” Fu Tingyun insisted. “You must also pay respects to the Bodhisattva and ask for blessings to keep you safe and prosperous.”
“Alright,” Zhao Ling readily agreed with a laugh. “I’ll kowtow to the Bodhisattva with you and ask him to bless our whole family with peace and smooth sailing.”
Fu Tingyun nodded with a smile and made arrangements. Early the next morning, considering that Fifth Sister’s husband couldn’t ride a horse, they took two carriages to Tanzhe Temple.
Just as Zhao Ling had predicted, Tanzhe Temple was quiet and deserted.
After offering incense in the Mahavira Hall, the abbot, having received word of their arrival, hurried over with the guest-prefect.
Understanding their purpose, the abbot escorted them to a side hall in the rear and personally presented them with a consecrated Peace Talisman.
Fu Tingyun had originally wanted to ask the abbot about Zhao Ling’s fortune, but seeing how the abbot’s seemingly warm demeanor was tinged with an overly eager enthusiasm—far from the image of an enlightened monk in her mind—she dismissed the idea and simply accepted the Peace Talisman for Zhao Ling.
Zhao Ling then mentioned his wish to see Mr. Zhao.
The abbot was momentarily taken aback and tactfully replied, “The master is deeply immersed in Buddhist studies. This humble monk can only send someone to inform him of your presence…”
Zhao Ling was unfazed and smiled. “Then please have someone inform him.”
Seeing his confidence, the abbot thought to himself: So many dignitaries have been turned away by Mr. Zhao. Just recently, even Lord Qin Feiyu, who was usually favored by him, was denied an audience. Though you are a trusted minister of the emperor and hold a high-ranking position, how can you compare to Qin Feiyu?
Outwardly, however, he showed no sign of doubt and agreed with a smile, summoning a little monk to relay the message. Then he added, “It’s almost noon. The Vegetarian Feast at our Tanzhe Temple is something even Mr. Zhao has praised highly. I’ve already instructed the kitchen to prepare it. Please don’t decline, Lord Zhao.”
Zhao Ling didn’t stand on ceremony, and the group headed to the western courtyard for the Vegetarian Feast.
The little monk who had gone to deliver the message came running back, panting. “Abbot, Abbot! Mr. Zhao requests Lord Zhao’s presence.”The abbot couldn't conceal his astonishment, pausing for a moment before regaining his composure. He hastily extended his hand in a gesture of invitation toward Zhao Ling, saying, "Lord Zhao, please follow this old monk."
He was actually going to personally escort Zhao Ling.
Fifth Sister's husband watched with lips slightly parted.
Fifth Sister quickly tugged at her husband's sleeve.
With an awkward smile toward his wife, Fifth Sister's husband remained silent.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ling quietly instructed Fu Tingyun with words like, "Don't wait for me. Mr. Zhao is meticulous—since he's summoned me, he must have prepared lunch," before following the abbot to the back mountain where Mr. Zhao practiced his cultivation.
Fu Tingyun smiled and said, "Then let's eat first! It's getting late."
Naturally, Fifth Sister and her husband had no objections.
After lunch, they followed the attendant monk to the adjacent flower hall for tea. Zhao Ling still hadn't returned, but the abbot sent a little monk with a message: "Mr. Zhao has kept Lord Zhao for a game of chess. Please wait a little longer, madam."
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For some reason, I couldn't log into Qidian on my end. After much difficulty getting in, several attempts to post failed... ⊙﹏⊙b sweat
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(End of Chapter)
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