Chapter 45: Promise
Xi'an Prefecture, the capital of Shaanxi and an ancient capital, stood grand with its towering city walls and majestic architecture, exuding a unique magnificence unlike any other place.
Fu Tingyun tightly gripped the thick rope, watching as the figures of Mo Yi and the others gazing up at her from the ground grew smaller and smaller.
"Miss," Zheng Sanniang, who had already ascended, reached out to pull her up. "Be careful."
Fu Tingyun looked up and saw Zhao Ling standing beneath the watchtower on the city wall.
The gentle moonlight bathed him in a quiet glow. The tall watchtower cast a shadow over his upright figure, leaving half his face hidden in darkness and the other half illuminated by the moonlight, giving him an inexplicable air of serenity and solitude.
When Fu Tingyun met his gaze, he smiled slightly, the warmth in his expression dispelling the chill around him.
A Sen, carrying Linchun, approached. "Miss, are you alright?"
"I'm fine!" Fu Tingyun smiled at him. Under the moonlight, she resembled a blooming night-blooming cereus, radiant yet tranquil.
Zheng Sanniang couldn't help but murmur, "Miss, you're truly beautiful."
The guards nearby grew impatient. "Hurry up, don't dawdle. If the night patrol catches us, we'll all be dead."
"Apologies, apologies!" Zheng Sanniang took the child from A Sen, nervously offering her apologies.
Zhao Ling had decided to leave Linchun Town, and Fu Tingyun wanted to bring Zheng San's family along. "Because they fetched water and washed clothes for us, the migrant bandits in Linchun Town already see them as our people. If we leave, they'll likely be left with no way out. I still have some valuables—enough to cover the bribes for entering the city."
Zheng San was overwhelmed with gratitude, his eyes red as he pulled Zheng Sanniang to kneel before Fu Tingyun.
Fu Tingyun quickly stopped Zheng Sanniang. "If anything, it's my fault for dragging you into this."
"Don't say that, Miss. Without you, our whole family wouldn't have survived," Zheng San said. "I may not have much skill, just some brute strength." He gave a bitter laugh. "Even that brute strength was only preserved because you gave us food. We can never repay your kindness in this lifetime. If not us, then our Linchun will. If not Linchun, then her children. Just say the word, and we'll go through fire and water for you."
Zhao Ling, who had been watching, seemed thoughtful. On the road, he said to Zheng San, "If you have nowhere else to go, why not follow Miss Fu? At the very least, as long as she has food, so will you."
Without hesitation, Zheng San immediately offered to pledge his loyalty on the spot.
Wouldn't this be taking advantage of their gratitude?
"No need!" Fu Tingyun waved her hands repeatedly.
Ignoring her, Zhao Ling said to Zheng San, "Once we enter Xi'an Prefecture, let Manager Mo witness it. You can draft a deed of servitude."
He even wanted their indenture contract!
Fu Tingyun opened her mouth to protest, but when Zhao Ling shot her a stern look, she swallowed her words.
Zheng San agreed immediately.
At the city gates, the guards demanded an exorbitant fee—thirty taels of silver per person, including Linchun, and insisted on payment in cash. Mo Yi was so furious he nearly jumped in anger. Zhao Ling, however, somehow produced three large gold coins and handed them to the guards. Their eyes lit up, and they immediately ordered the guards on the wall to lower the hanging basket.
Zheng Sanniang couldn't help but feel uneasy about the gold coins paid to the guards.
If they failed to enter the city because of her, no amount of deaths would be enough to atone for it.She didn't dare say more and quickly stepped aside, watching as the guards pulled up Mo Yi, Zheng San, Chen Liu, Xiao Wu, and the others one by one.
"Let's go!" Unlike Zheng San and A Sen's silence, Mo Yi, Chen Liu, and Xiao Wu seemed quite relaxed. "We'll find a place to wait for dawn—it's the middle of the night, and the city has a curfew. If we alert the patrols, we'll be in trouble."
No one spoke as they followed Mo Yi down the city wall, heading west. Several times they nearly ran into patrolling guards, but Mo Yi skillfully led them to avoid detection. Finally, they stopped beside a street bustling with revelry: "Wait here. I'll see if I can find a place for us to change clothes. Our current state is passable at night, but come daylight, we'll stand out. Anyone who sees us will know we're Migrant Bandits—nowadays, Xi'an Prefecture sends all Migrant Bandits straight to Nine Mile Gulch."
The group remained silent, staying put while Mo Yi took Chen Liu to the neighboring street.
Fu Tingyun noticed the adjacent street was brightly lit by red lanterns, filled with the laughter of women, and bustling with activity. She asked curiously, "Is there a performance next door? Which family is hosting such an extravagant event?"
Zhao Ling stood with his hands behind his back, as if he hadn't heard her. A Sen kept his head down, Xiao Wu glanced around, and Zheng San stood far away with a large bundle on his back. No one answered her.
In the silence, the women's laughter from next door became even clearer, making the deserted alley feel lonelier and emptier.
Zheng Sanniang, noticing everyone ignoring Fu Tingyun, feared she might be displeased and said with a smile, "Xi'an truly lives up to being the capital of Shaanxi. The wealthy families here host performances with such grandeur. Back home, even the county magistrate's birthday celebrations aren't this lavish."
"Stop talking nonsense!" Zheng San broke into a sweat and scolded his wife. "When the young lady speaks, it's not your place to interrupt!"
Zheng Sanniang shrank back.
"We're just chatting casually—no need for such strict rules," Fu Tingyun said with a smile. "Be careful not to wake the child."
Zhao Ling suddenly spoke up, "Let's move further in. Standing at the street corner makes us easy targets for the night patrol."
Xiao Wu quickly agreed, and the group retreated about twenty paces.
Soon, Mo Yi and Chen Liu returned.
"All set!" Mo Yi said cheerfully. "Follow me." He led them into a narrow alley on the opposite street, entering a small, rundown courtyard.
Inside was a modest back room.
Fu Tingyun and Zheng Sanniang changed clothes first, followed by Zhao Ling and the others.
By the time everyone was ready, the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon.
The group left the courtyard.
The neighboring street was now quiet, with only the occasional hurried man passing by, carrying a strong scent of perfume.
Fu Tingyun found it strange.
Mo Yi took them to a nearby inn called "High Ascent," claiming they were traveling merchants looking to rent a side courtyard.
The innkeeper, a plump, middle-aged man with narrow eyes, said apologetically, "Sir, I'm afraid we're fully booked. Perhaps you could try the 'Rising Together' inn next door?"
They went to Rising Together, but only two rooms were left. At the innkeeper's recommendation, they tried another inn called "Joyful Union," which had a small courtyard available—for ten taels of silver per day, payable upfront.Mo Yi stared at Zhao Ling.
Zhao Ling met his gaze: "I'm completely penniless now."
Everyone was stunned.
Fu Tingyun felt especially distressed.
How could he have nothing left... If Mo Yi hadn't asked him to pay for the inn this time, would he have never let anyone know about this situation... She thought of that bucket of bathwater in Li Family Hollow, picturing Zhao Ling struggling because he had no money... It felt like being stabbed, the pain in her heart beyond words.
She stepped forward and tugged at his sleeve.
He turned back: "Whatever it is, we'll talk later."
With everyone watching, Fu Tingyun couldn't insist.
Mo Yi glared at Zhao Ling: "You gave those gatekeepers three gold coins in one go when you're penniless?"
Zhao Ling replied: "Seeing you buy so many provisions without taking any when we left, I assumed Brother Mo had already made arrangements."
Furious, Mo Yi paced back and forth at the inn's entrance before finally leading them to another inn.
Seizing a moment, Fu Tingyun whispered to Zhao Ling: "I still have some valuables in my bundle..."
Before she could finish, Zhao Ling said: "I have this under control. Don't worry about it."
This reassured Fu Tingyun.
After much trouble, by noon they finally found suitable lodging at an inn called "Xi Sheng."
Having missed breakfast, exhausted from walking under the scorching sun, everyone was worn out. After settling in and enduring an overpriced, disappointing lunch at the inn, they freshened up and immediately fell asleep—except for Zheng San, who remained vigilantly on guard at the courtyard gate.
It wasn't until lantern-lighting time that everyone gradually woke up.
Zhao Ling summoned Zheng San and his wife, with Mo Yi as witness, to press their fingerprints on a prepared contract. Then he knocked on Fu Tingyun's door in the east chamber and handed her the contract, whispering: "Where's your bracelet? Keep your belongings safe!"
Being so eager to have Zheng San sign the contract...
Fu Tingyun felt Zhao Ling wasn't being generous enough in this matter.
Zhao Ling quietly explained: "I've observed carefully—Zheng San is sharp and capable, with martial skills; Zheng Sanniang is honest, simple, and diligent. Having them by your side will give you support in the future... This deed of sale must be signed."
Support?
Why would she need to rely on Zheng San and his wife!
The thought flashed through her mind, and Fu Tingyun suddenly realized—she was already in Xi'an Prefecture.
According to their agreement, upon reaching Xi'an, he would find a way to send word to her mother... Then her future would be decided by her mother's arrangements...
Zhao Ling would soon part ways with her!
Fu Tingyun's face suddenly turned deathly pale.
Fear, sorrow, loss... came one after another.
But what could she do?
This had been agreed upon from the start.
He had already sacrificed so much for her... From Huayin to Weinan, from Weinan to Xi'an Prefecture, she couldn't trouble him further.
Though she knew this, why did she feel such indescribable grief?
Though she knew he had considered everything for her, why did she still feel afraid?
Though she knew she should thank him gratefully, why couldn't the words come out?
Fu Tingyun gazed at him in panic, her eyes inexplicably moistening.
Zhao Ling sighed softly in his heart.
No matter how far you escort someone, parting must come.
This was all he could do for her.No matter what, she was still a daughter of the Fu family, with elders above and uncles below—how could it be his place to meddle in such matters?
Besides, he had his own affairs to attend to, and she had her own path to walk. Even if he had the intention, he couldn’t be of much help. In fact, he might only make things worse and end up harming her in the end.
Just like this time at Azure Cloud Temple… To simply abduct someone like that—who knew what the Fu family thought of it? Would they blame her for this incident?
His mind was in turmoil.
All he could hope was that after enduring these trials, Heaven might take pity on her and spare her further sorrow and suffering.
But when he looked up, he saw the shimmering tears in her eyes.
Clear and pure, flawless.
Too heartbreaking to face.
"Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re safe before I leave."
Another promise, uttered as if guided by unseen forces, slipped out without thought.
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(End of chapter)
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