Chapter 269: Whispered Words
Zhao Ling chuckled. "What do you think I could be up to? In this peaceful and prosperous world, under the clear heavens, I have a family, a wife, and children. Do you still think it's like the old days when I was alone, with no one to worry about but myself?" His expression was open and unguarded.
"You might fool others, but not me," Fu Tingyun retorted, unconvinced. "If you simply missed us, you would have stayed home instead of spending just two days here and then going to Zhangjiawan for several days as an imperial commissioner. That’s not like you." Knowing he was the type to stick stubbornly to his decisions—especially when it involved her and their children, keeping them in the dark—her tears fell harder. "This is what hurts me the most. It’s as if you see me and the children as burdens. When you’re out there alone, I can’t take care of your meals, your clothes, or your daily needs. Every time I think about it, I feel miserable and guilty. And yet, you only ever share the good news, never the bad. If you truly cared about me, you’d put yourself in my shoes." She traced her fingers lightly over his back. "Where did this scar come from? You didn’t have it when you left Yanjing. You wrote to me every ten days, but never mentioned it." Then she cut him off before he could respond. "Do you want me to live in constant fear?" With that, she wrapped her arms around his waist and sobbed quietly.
Zhao Ling sighed, wiping her tears with a wry smile. "Sometimes, a woman being too clever really isn’t a good thing..." His words tacitly admitted that his early return had another purpose.
Fu Tingyun stopped crying and looked up at him, sniffling. "Then what is it, really?"
Her eyes were glistening with tears, her nose red, like a wronged child.
Fu Tingyun had always been strong in front of him, but this was the first time she had shown such vulnerability.
Zhao Ling felt a surge of tenderness, his touch gentler as he wiped her tears. "I have to go to Xi'an Prefecture for something..."
Fu Tingyun froze.
Zhao Ling continued, "You know Feng Laosan—my old rival from the salt smuggling days. Now that I’m a second-rank official and on good terms with Wu Xin, he’s afraid I might still hold a grudge over past grievances. He asked Third Older Cousin's Husband to mediate, wanting to host a reconciliation banquet. He even personally came to Guizhou to plead. Didn’t you want me to leave that world behind? I listened to you. Naturally, I won’t meddle in those affairs anymore. But I thought this might be a good opportunity to settle things with the Feng family. Since I wanted to come back early anyway, I figured I’d take care of it along the way."
"Really? Is it that simple?" Fu Tingyun remained skeptical despite his smooth explanation. "If you truly want to leave that world behind, why bother with what the Feng family thinks? You don’t seem like you’re stepping away—more like you’re trying to intimidate them! Is there something else going on?"
Zhao Ling gave her a playful smack on the rear. "Why so many questions? Since when did you become so suspicious?" Then he pulled her tightly into his arms, capturing her lips in a fierce kiss.
When he finally let her go, Fu Tingyun slumped slightly, straightening her clothes with a subdued expression. "There’s still some time before dawn. You must be tired from the journey—why not rest a little longer?" Her tone was dejected.
Zhao Ling was taken aback.
He hated seeing Fu Tingyun like this.He took her hand and asked gently, "What's wrong?"
Fu Tingyun's eyes reddened as she whispered, "I thought that since you wouldn't tell me, I'd ask Jin Yuanbao or Yang Yucheng and try to trick them into revealing what you're up to. But then I reconsidered—after saying all this and you still won't confide in me, I feel ashamed. Maybe I should just stop caring. I might as well be a decoration in your room—do as you please! At least I won't annoy you." With that, she shook off Zhao Ling's hand and went to put on her undergarments.
The atmosphere in the bedchamber instantly turned cold and distant.
Zhao Ling couldn't help but frown.
Fu Tingyun lay down on her side, her shoulders trembling slightly.
"Hey!" Zhao Ling quickly leaned over, reaching to touch her face.
His hand came away wet.
Yet the moisture felt like flames, searing his heart.
Panicked, Zhao Ling said, "A-Jun, don't be like this." With a gentle but firm motion, he turned her toward him. "Talk to me properly—no sulking."
"You rarely come home, and I only want you to be happy. How could I bear to sulk?" Fu Tingyun sobbed. "That's why I didn't want to speak—I needed time to think things through. Once I've sorted my feelings, I can face you cheerfully again..."
Wasn't this just putting on a facade?
They were husband and wife who had weathered hardships together—when had they ever been so estranged?
Cold sweat broke out on Zhao Ling's back as regret washed over him.
If he'd known it would come to this, he should have endured everything and finished his business before returning. This was his own fault for lacking self-control! Now that Fu Tingyun had caught him red-handed, there was no getting past this without an explanation.
"Alright, alright, no need to corner me with words. I'll tell you everything, all right?" he said with some resignation. "Feng Laosan is indeed afraid I'll settle accounts with him later and wants to resolve things with me. Nearly everyone in the northwest knows about the feud between our family and the Yu Family. He's grown close to the Xiping Marquis these past few years and knows the Marquis has close ties with the Yu Family, so he thought to use this information to curry favor with me. Since we've already broken openly with the Yu Family, I considered whether we could turn this situation to our advantage. But such matters can only be implied, not stated outright. After much deliberation, I decided it would be best if I went to Shaanxi myself." Here, a cold glint flashed across his face. "After what he did to you—not only escaping punishment but continuing to live his carefree life without a shred of remorse—how can we let him off so easily? Whatever he did to you, I'll repay in kind. Let him taste the bitterness of false accusations and familial abandonment!""No, no, no." Fu Tingyun quickly grabbed his hand. The Yu Family had deep roots, having been built up over several generations to reach their current position. Although Grand Secretary Yu's influence was waning now, a starved camel was still bigger than a horse—they couldn't easily shake such a family in their current state. His intention was clearly to give them a taste of their own medicine by framing the Yu Family, but such a scheme was too significant, involving too many people. If any part of it went wrong, it could be exposed later. It really wasn't a good plan. "I don’t want you to go. It’s not worth risking yourself for someone like him. I don’t feel resentment or hatred anymore—only relief." Her brows furrowed with anxiety. "Really, Ninth Master, please don’t do anything else that might harm yourself for my sake. I’m fine now. All I want is to have children with you and grow old together... Let’s just leave him be!" She sat up, shaking Zhao Ling’s hand. "Alright? Ninth Master! Promise me we won’t bother with him anymore..."
Zhao Ling smiled and caressed her cheek. "I know my limits." Then he laughed heartily. "Didn’t I tell you? I’m a man with children, a family, and a home now. I wouldn’t do anything that benefits me at others’ expense, let alone something that harms others without even benefiting me."
"Then you..." Fu Tingyun looked at him suspiciously.
Zhao Ling raised an eyebrow at her. "Now that you know, remember to help cover for me—don’t let anyone find out I’ve returned to the capital." He added, "When I go to Shaanxi, I’ll act according to circumstances. We have a long life ahead of us. If we miss this opportunity, there might be another. I won’t force anything. If I end up trapped myself, even if another chance comes later, I won’t be able to shake the Yu Family. I can still do the math."
Fu Tingyun knew Zhao Ling was a clever man, so she relaxed slightly upon hearing this. Still, she worried he might take reckless risks. Nestling into his arms, she murmured, "In my heart, even a single strand of your hair is more precious than Yu Jingxiu..."
"I know," Zhao Ling replied softly, his heart brimming with tenderness as he gently stroked her hair. "We still have so many good days ahead. I wouldn’t make you sad for his sake."
Fu Tingyun nodded.
"But it’s almost dawn," Zhao Ling said. "We’ll have to get up again as soon as we fall asleep. Why don’t we do something else?"
"Do what?" Fu Tingyun looked at him in confusion.
Zhao Ling chuckled without answering, pressing her down onto the bed...
Suddenly, a flurry of rapid, light footsteps pattered outside the door.
"Father! Father!" The inner chamber door was slapped loudly. "It’s Youyou! Mama Tong said you came back last night. Why didn’t you come see us?" Her voice was filled with excitement at the prospect of seeing her father.
Fu Tingyun inwardly groaned.
"Get up!" she whispered urgently, hastily straightening her clothes. "The children are here."
Zhao Ling was visibly frustrated.
Fu Tingyun had no choice but to coax him with sweet words. "Let me go now... I’ll do whatever you want tonight, alright?"
Seeing her take the initiative, Zhao Ling was overjoyed and immediately seized the opportunity, whispering, "No—during the afternoon nap..."
Fu Tingyun, desperate for him to release her, nodded repeatedly.Zhao Ling quickly released her and whispered, "You go down first. I'm in this state... I'll come down later."
Fu Tingyun, thinking of his predicament, couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Outside the door, Mama Tong's voice could be heard advising, "Young Miss, it's still early. The master and mistress haven't gotten up yet! Let's come back later, shall we?"
"But I'm already awake," Youyou said puzzled. "Mother is usually up by this time..."
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O(∩_∩)O~
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(End of Chapter)
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