Chapter 305: Plans
Fu Tingyun quietly observed but noticed nothing unusual. Just as she was feeling puzzled, Zhao Ling returned.
He arrived in the capital with a few attendants, covered in dust from his journey.
"Why didn’t you send word ahead?" she chided, though her face betrayed an irrepressible smile. She personally fetched water for him and stood by the washstand, watching him freshen up without blinking.
Zhao Ling felt warmth rise in his heart.
He smiled at her before lowering his head to wash his face.
Youyou rushed in, leading her three younger brothers.
"Father, Father!" Her voice was as clear and cheerful as a lark's. "When are you going back to Tongren Prefecture?"
Zhao Ling dropped the towel, crouched down, and lifted Youyou high into the air.
She gasped in fright and clung tightly to his arm.
Fu Tingyun hurriedly said, "Put her down! She’s nine now, not a two- or three-year-old girl anymore!"
Zhao Ling chuckled sheepishly and set Youyou down, gently patting her head. "Father just got home and hasn’t even steadied his feet yet, and you’re already asking when I’ll leave for Guizhou?"
"No, no!" Youyou waved her hands frantically. "Cousin Yuanxiao said that on the eighth day of the fourth month, the Buddha’s birthday, there will be elephant performances in front of Baiyun Temple. My brothers and I all want to go." To prove her point, she tugged at Xi Ge'er, who stood nearby. "Right, Eldest Brother?"
Xi Ge'er nodded repeatedly, his gaze at Zhao Ling a mix of awe, nervousness, shyness, and hope—but none of the excitement a child usually shows upon reuniting with a long-absent parent.
Zhao Ling felt a faint pang in his heart.
With all his sons, from birth to upbringing, he had failed in his duties as a father.
The thought made him pull Xi Ge'er and Xu Ge'er close. "Do you two want to go as well?" he asked with a smile.
"Yes, yes!" Xi Ge'er and Xu Ge'er brightened instantly. The youngest, Han Ge'er, still too young to understand, echoed his brothers in a childish voice, "Yes!"
Zhao Ling picked up his youngest son and laughed. "Alright, Father will take you all to see the elephants then."
The children cheered.
Xi Ge'er suddenly felt his father become much closer to him. The natural bond between father and son overcame the unfamiliarity of two years apart, and he grew affectionate at once. "Father, Father! Let’s buy cherries too!"
Early cherries were already in season by the fourth month.
"Of course, of course," Zhao Ling agreed amiably, without a hint of impatience, like a doting father.
Encouraged, the children grew bolder.
Xu Ge'er tugged at Zhao Ling’s sleeve. "Father, I don’t want cherries—I want to buy a big sword!"
Zhao Ling froze, clearly not expecting such a request from his second son. His first instinct was to refuse, but then he remembered how rarely he was home, how little opportunity his children had to enjoy outings. Guilt overrode reason. "The swords sold at temple fairs are just cheap trinkets that can’t even cut wood. In a couple of days, I’ll take you to Liangcao Hutong. There’s a century-old shop there that specializes in forging blades—even the Five Armies Commandery sources their weapons from them. I’ll have a proper sword made for you."
Xu Ge'er’s mouth fell open.
Beside them, Fu Tingyun burst into laughter.
Now it was Zhao Ling’s turn to be stunned."It's not a real sword that Xu Ge'er wants, but the peachwood sword sold at the temple fair," Fu Tingyun said with narrowed eyes, her face full of mischief.
"This..." Zhao Ling scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly.
Yu Wei entered: "Master, Mistress, the meal is ready. Where would you like it served?"
"Just set it up in the inner chamber," Fu Tingyun said, feeling her heart swell as she looked at Zhao Ling.
Yu Wei smiled in acknowledgment and brought in the kang table with two maids.
Zhao Ling climbed onto the kang and saw the children standing by the edge, gazing at him eagerly. He couldn't help but bend down with a smile and ask, "Would you like to join me for some food?"
The children hesitated, but Fu Tingyun interjected, "They've just had breakfast. It's almost time for lunch in another hour. If they eat now, they won't have an appetite later." Then she turned to the children, "Those who should be studying with the tutor, go study. Those who should be practicing martial arts with the master, go practice. I'll speak to the tutor later—you can have half a day off this afternoon to spend time with your father."
The children cheered and scattered happily.
Zhao Ling's gaze toward Fu Tingyun grew warm: "Would you like to join me for some more?"
Fu Tingyun shook her head with a smile and brought up another matter: "You promised the children to take them to see the elephant performance. Can you stay until the eighth day of the fourth month? Why did you return to the capital for your official report so late? Won’t the censors impeach you for this?"
"I submitted a memorial to the Emperor, saying I contracted dysentery on the road and would be delayed by a month," Zhao Ling replied, his expression turning serious. "Actually, I took the opportunity to visit Xi'an Prefecture..."
Fu Tingyun's attention was entirely caught by the words "contracted dysentery."
Dysentery was hard to treat, and many had lost their lives to it.
Her face paled, and she pressed urgently, "How did you get dysentery? How are you feeling now?"
"It was just diarrhea," Zhao Ling quickly clarified. "I used it as an excuse because I needed to find a way to visit Xi'an Prefecture. In truth, I came straight from there."
"As long as you're fine!" Fu Tingyun sighed in relief but still felt uneasy. "I'll have Zheng San fetch a royal physician to examine you, just to ease my mind."
Zhao Ling knew he was perfectly fine, but to reassure Fu Tingyun, he nodded with a smile.
Only then did Fu Tingyun ask about Xi'an Prefecture: "...Did Feng San send any news?" Suddenly, she realized, "Is that why you had Shopkeeper Ye come every day to discuss opening a branch—to distract me?"
"It was a coincidence," Zhao Ling laughed. "I didn’t want you to worry, but the matter was too important to entrust to a messenger, so I asked Shopkeeper Ye to keep an eye on you. He must have deliberately given you something to do to keep your mind occupied."
Fu Tingyun found this both amusing and exasperating.Zhao Ling decided to share with her the details of his trip to Xi'an Prefecture: "...Feng Laosan sent me a message recently. There are two grazing fields under the jurisdiction of the Xiping Marquis. Over the past few years, the Marquis's eldest son, Feng Tong, has been secretly trading horses behind his father's back. All the good horses from the grazing fields have been sold off, leaving only the old and sick ones. Now that the provincial governor is about to conduct a military inspection, Feng Tong is panicking and trying to borrow horses to pass the evaluation..."
Fu Tingyun was shocked: "This Feng Tong has some nerve!" Then she asked him, "What do you plan to do?"
"I'll see if there's a chance to report this to the Censorate," Zhao Ling replied with a smile. "That's why I intend to stay in the capital a few more days."
"Be careful," Fu Tingyun urged him. "Don't get yourself involved."
Zhao Ling chuckled and patted her hand.
His large, bony hand was warm and strong.
Fu Tingyun turned her wrist and gripped his hand tightly.
Zhao Ling was surprised, then warmth flooded his eyes.
"Nuannuan," he murmured, gazing at her intently as he gently stroked her temple with his other hand, his affection boundless.
Fu Tingyun smiled and rested her head on Zhao Ling's shoulder.
Zhao Ling tilted his head and kissed her forehead. He wanted to ask if she had missed him, but the question seemed unnecessary—her actions had already given him the answer.
For a moment, his heart was filled with mixed emotions.
Five more years—no, three at most—and he would return to properly accompany his wife and children...
Guilt welled up as he called her name softly, "A-Jun... It's my fault..."
But Fu Tingyun shook her head gently, signaling him not to speak. "I just want to lean on you like this," she whispered, closing her eyes with a sweet smile.
Unable to refuse her, Zhao Ling sat with her on the heated brick bed, quietly watching the budding pomegranate tree outside.
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After the meal, Zhao Ling went to the palace to submit his credentials.
Before he even returned home, relatives and friends had already learned of his arrival in the capital.
The house quickly became lively.
Zheng Sanniang was busy in the kitchen, working nonstop from noon until evening. Fu Tingyun bustled about, serving tea and snacks, chatting with one guest about their children and inquiring after another's elders, her hands full.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ling left the crowded room and went to the study with A Sen.
"...Still no movement in Needlemaker Alley?" he asked seriously.
"None!" A Sen replied, frustrated. "I don't know what Yu Jingxiu is thinking—he hasn't visited Min Shi these days."
"Could he have lost interest?" Zhao Ling murmured. "If so, that complicates things."
A Sen scratched his head. "Should we still send word to the Guo family?"
Zhao Ling pondered. "Yes. Even if we can't deal with Yu Jingxiu, we should at least inform them."
"Right," A Sen sighed. "That Young Master Guo died so unjustly!"
But Zhao Ling had another concern. "Young Master Guo's father is quite opportunistic. It's hard to say whether he’d stand up for his son once he learns the truth. If he hesitates, find a way to let slip the discord between our families—help him make up his mind."A Sen responded loudly with a "Yes," when Fu Tingyun's voice came from outside: "Ninth Master, are you in the study? Lord Qin and the others have arrived and are looking everywhere for you!"
Zhao Ling gave A Sen a meaningful glance and whispered, "Let's keep this matter quiet for now." With that, he opened the tightly shut lattice door and raised his voice with a laugh, "I was trying to slack off and chat with A Sen here, but you found me so quickly."
Fu Tingyun smiled. "Should I tell them you're not home?" she asked, straightening his collar as she spoke.
"Since I'm back, I should at least greet them," Zhao Ling sighed. "I'll go and say hello."
Unaware of anything amiss, Fu Tingyun exchanged a few words with A Sen and saw Zhao Ling out through the festooned gate. Just as she was about to return to the hall, she spotted A Sen's page running toward her in a hurry.
Upon seeing Fu Tingyun, the boy immediately stopped and bowed respectfully.
Fu Tingyun smiled. "What's the rush?" she asked.
The page hesitated for a moment, caught off guard by the question.
Amused, Fu Tingyun pointed toward the study. "Is Second Master over there?"
The page quickly thanked her and dashed off toward the study.
A Sen was impulsive by nature, and those around him tended to share his impatience.
Shaking her head with a smile, Fu Tingyun entered the hall.
In the study, the page was panting as he reported to A Sen, "Yu Jingxiu is about to welcome that Min Shi into his household!"
A Sen sprang up excitedly. "Let's go find Ninth Master!" he exclaimed.
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(End of Chapter)
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