Chapter 297: Interest
Anxin glanced at him but said nothing, walking straight out the door.
The scout understood immediately and followed Anxin silently out of the Zhao residence.
Once they stopped outside the gate, Anxin scanned the deserted alley at noon before lowering his voice. "Madam asked why we stood by and did nothing to help."
The scout panicked at once, stammering, "Sir, you only told me to follow them. You didn’t say what to do, so I just followed the usual protocol. Who knew Madam actually wanted to protect that Guo fellow..."
Anxin chuckled. "Why are you so nervous? I already explained it to Madam on your behalf. Our Madam isn’t unreasonable—she won’t blame you for something like this." His expression was relaxed, clearly showing he genuinely bore no grudge.
"That’s good, that’s good." The scout wiped sweat from his forehead, murmuring, "This time, being chosen to come to the capital with you to handle matters for the General is something the entire scout battalion envies. If I messed this up, how could I ever face my brothers back home?"
"You didn’t mess up. Not at all." Anxin grinned at him, clearly in high spirits. "You did very well." His expression turned slightly satisfied. "You know how the General is—strict about separating public and private matters. I needed help but couldn’t just order anyone around. Since you were on leave, I called you here privately. Though the job was done well, I can’t report it to the General for credit." He clapped the scout on the shoulder. "Consider this a favor I owe you. If you ever need anything in the future, just come to me. Even if it means climbing mountains of blades or diving into seas of fire, I won’t refuse."
"Sir, you’re too kind," the scout hurriedly replied. "I owe everything I have today to the General’s guidance. Otherwise, someone like me—no background, rough around the edges—how could I ever become a Centurion? I dream of repaying the General’s kindness. Being chosen to come to the capital was already an honor. If I went to the General now asking for credit, wouldn’t that make me an ungrateful wretch? Rest assured, sir—I’ll take this to my grave. Even if my wife asks, I won’t breathe a word."
"Then I’ll thank you here, brother." Anxin bowed slightly to the scout.
The scout hastily returned the gesture. "Sir, you’re embarrassing me!"
"Since we’re brothers, I won’t stand on ceremony." Having spent years in the military with Zhao Ling, Anxin had adopted a soldier’s straightforward manner. Without further ado, he said, "I’ve already informed Madam—we’ll be returning to Guizhou in a couple of days. Pack your things; we’ll set off soon."
If they were heading back, it meant the matter was settled.
The scout responded cheerfully, then asked, "Will you stay here, sir, or return with me?"
Anxin had rented a house for the men who’d come from Guizhou to assist, just four or five streets away—not too far."I'll go back with you!" Anxin thought for a moment and said, "Madam is still shocked after hearing that Miss Min's personal housekeeper actually hired assassins. Once she collects herself, she'll surely ask about that Miss Min. Let's go back together to check with Old Xia and see if he's learned anything. If Madam asks, I'll be able to respond properly."
As soon as Anxin heard about the incident, he had sent Old Xia to investigate Minister Min's case. Calculating the time, Old Xia should have returned by now.
The scout nodded and walked leisurely out of Shi Family Alley with Anxin, heading toward their rented residence.
On the way, the scout chatted with Anxin: "...I was just as shocked. That housekeeper looked so kind-faced—who would have guessed she knew how to hire killers? I suspect that Miss Min is no saint either. No wonder her clan refused to help when her family got into trouble. When her brother disappeared, she even suspected her own clansmen of foul play. Truly, divine justice is clear—retribution is inevitable!"
"Exactly," Anxin laughed, though his thoughts drifted to Yu Jingxiu. "This shows people should be kind and do good deeds." Otherwise, even if Ninth Master wanted to scheme against Yu Jingxiu, he'd need to find some leverage first!
By dusk, Fu Tingyun finally came to her senses and realized something was amiss.
She summoned Anxin for questioning: "...Was Minister Min truly wronged, or was the accusation false?"
"I heard it was the verdict of the Three Judicial Offices," Anxin replied. "There's a ninety percent chance it's correct."
It seemed Yu Jingxiu truly had poor judgment—no wonder he hadn't achieved much despite being a top scholar.
Fu Tingyun nodded thoughtfully. Remembering that Anxin would soon depart, she gave him some advice like "be careful on the road" and then instructed Yu Wei to give him a hundred taels of silver for his journey.
Anxin hastily declined: "Ninth Master gave me two thousand taels in bank notes before I left. I've spent one thousand and still have another thousand left—more than enough for travel expenses. There's no need for Madam to give me more."
"Take this for drinks," Fu Tingyun said with a smile. "You didn't say it, but I know—handling such a major matter, you must have investigated every detail and likely sought help from others. You're one of our own, so I won't stand on ceremony with you, but those who helped deserve thanks. It's not much, but buy some local gifts as a token of my gratitude."
Unable to refuse further, Anxin thanked Fu Tingyun, accepted the silver, and set off for Guizhou on the third day.
Fu Tingyun then took Yu Wei to Puan Temple outside the city and asked the abbot to conduct a ritual ceremony for Young Master Guo.
Yu Wei disapproved. "Madam is too soft-hearted."
"It's not that," Fu Tingyun said. "I'm doing this to accumulate blessings for Ninth Master and Anxin."
Yu Wei was puzzled.
Fu Tingyun sighed. "Anxin was probably glad Young Master Guo was harmed by Miss Min."
"No way!" Yu Wei refused to believe it. "He wouldn't dare deceive you, Madam!"
"I'm not saying he lied to me," Fu Tingyun said helplessly. "But compared to 'stealing another's wife,' 'killing a husband to take his wife' carries a much heavier sentence."
Yu Wei's eyes lit up with excitement.
If that were truly the case... she thought Anxin had done a great deed."I don't think it's fair for you to say that, Madam," she defended Anxin. "After all, Anxin is a man—how could he possibly understand the intricate affairs of the inner household? Even we didn't anticipate Miss Min would have such audacity and cunning methods, so how could Anxin have predicted it? The situation was sudden, and their unpreparedness is understandable."
"You!" Fu Tingyun chuckled and shook her head before heading to the abbot's quarters.
Yu Wei smiled sheepishly. While offering incense, she lit three extra sticks for the Bodhisattva, kneeling in silent prayer to ask for forgiveness on Anxin's behalf—if blame must fall, let it fall on her instead. Only then did she feel somewhat at ease, returning to Shi Family Alley with Fu Tingyun.
Fu Tingyun simply waited for the farce to unfold. As the engagement between Marquis Yingchuan's second son and Qin Feiyu's second daughter was settled, her attention gradually shifted to Youyou. Whenever she visited Third Sister, her gaze would involuntarily linger on Chunbing.
It was then she realized how genuinely kind Chunbing was to Youyou.
Letting Youyou have the better share of food and drink was trivial—what truly moved Fu Tingyun was his unconditional belief that everything Youyou did was justified, his unwavering partiality toward her.
But the children were still young; it was too early to consider such matters now.
Moreover, after this incident, potential suitors would likely weigh their decisions carefully, sparing them the trouble of offending others over their children's marriages.
Thus, Fu Tingyun's gaze toward Chunbing grew even gentler. After the start of winter, she made him a pair of cotton shoes and sewed a new outfit for Yuanxiao.
Yuanxiao cast a triumphant glance at his elder brother and dashed off to the Zhao residence in his new clothes.
A trace of bitterness flashed in Chunbing's eyes.
Third Sister, however, couldn't stop smiling as she wrapped an arm around her eldest son's shoulders. "Silly child, don't you know shoes and socks aren't gifts just anyone would give?"
Chunbing didn't fully understand, but seeing his mother's delight, he vaguely sensed that Ninth Aunt held him in special regard and felt joy in turn.
Third Sister then consulted her husband: "Should we prepare something for Youyou? Perhaps a pair of gold bracelets or some hair ornaments from Baoqing Tower?"
"No need to rush," her husband replied, pleased to see the families growing closer. "The children are still young. Though Chunbing shows promise in his studies, passing the imperial exams is no guarantee—mere talent without the title of Presented Scholar amounts to little. Fortunately, there's no hurry to arrange Youyou's marriage. Let's not overreach."
Third Sister nodded repeatedly, but when New Year came, she still gifted Youyou a pair of pearl hair ornaments along with the customary red envelope.
Fu Tingyun found the present too extravagant, but Third Sister hugged Youyou and laughed. "They're just trifles—no need for formalities between us." She added, "When our Youyou is older, Third Aunt has even finer gifts for her!"
Unaware of the adults' thoughts, Youyou cheerfully took the pearl flowers to play with Yuanxiao.
Just then, a letter arrived from Zhao Ling, announcing his return to the capital for official duties that spring.
Suddenly, both Fu Tingyun and Third Sister felt this New Year had brought them unparalleled contentment.
Meanwhile, Fan Shi of Alley Street spent her Spring Festival on pins and needles, utterly at a loss for what to do.Although her mother-in-law didn't like her, she still maintained basic decorum. After giving birth to Zhen Jie'er, she had shown no signs of another pregnancy. The concubines her mother-in-law had arranged for him—Consort Wu and Fei Shi—were mere ornaments. She enjoyed all the respect due to her position, yet she gradually grew concerned about the heir issue. One after another, she purchased several clever and beautiful maids, hoping to bear at least one child to repay her mother-in-law and husband for their kindness.
But she never expected that her husband and Min Shi were still entangled, maintaining contact!
Hadn't Min Shi's father died?
Instead of observing mourning for her father, she was making eyes at Yu Jingxiu... And Yu Jingxiu had the audacity to put on a righteous front in front of her, pretending to be chivalrous!
The most detestable was Fei Shi.
She visited Min Shi behind her back and even helped Min Shi pass messages to Yu Jingxiu every now and then...
Thinking of this, she turned livid with rage, unable to utter a word.
Mo Zhuan noticed the darkening of her expression.
Ever since the mistress had quarreled with the master over Min Shi's matter, although the master hadn't promised to cut ties with Min Shi, as long as he was in the capital, he no longer came and went at all hours like before. They had all thought the master had quietly yielded to the mistress. Who would have guessed he was secretly scheming, instructing Fei Shi to visit Min Shi periodically?
At this thought, she couldn't help but gnash her teeth and ask Fan Shi, "Mistress, should we summon Fei Shi?"
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End of the month, seeking pink votes...(>_
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