Chapter 57: Mid-Autumn Festival
Rabbit lanterns, lotus lanterns, watermelon lanterns, and an exquisite octagonal revolving lantern adorned the courtyard, their crystalline glow illuminating the space in a dazzling display.
Two round black-lacquered tables—one large, one small—stood in the middle of the courtyard, separated by a folding screen decorated with a Ling Mountain stone motif. Blue-and-white porcelain plates were laden with pears, apples, grapes, mooncakes, melon seeds, peanuts, and slices of watermelon.
Zheng Sanniang and Luwei, the maid from the Lu household, were boiling water for tea on the steps nearby. A Sen dashed around the courtyard with Linchun perched on his shoulders, the child’s delighted giggles scattering like pearls across the ground.
Seated at the larger table with Master Lu, Yang Yucheng laughed and scolded A Sen, "Be careful not to scare the child!"
Zheng San, who had just entered carrying a wine jar, quickly interjected, "No harm done, no harm done! Children love playing with children."
From behind the screen, Madam Lu chuckled warmly.
As Zhao Ling stepped out of the side room and took in the scene before him, an unprecedented sense of peace and tranquility settled in his heart.
Wasn’t this exactly what he had longed for all along?
He had thought that only by returning to Jiangnan and putting the past behind him could he ever experience such contentment. Yet here it was—the scene from his dreams appearing before him without warning.
Letting go of his obsessions had opened up a world of boundless possibilities.
It turned out that what he had hoped and yearned for had always been right beside him, right before his eyes.
His gaze instinctively sought out Fu Tingyun.
She sat beside Madam Lu, a striking contrast to her simple attire of the past few days. Tonight, she had clearly dressed with care. Her moon-white silk blouse, fastened on the right, was embroidered with lake-green persimmon motifs at the hem and cuffs. Her skirt, in a soft blue hue, featured borders adorned with delicate floral patterns. The golden lantern earrings set with lapis lazuli swayed gently against her jade-like cheeks, enhancing her grace and allure.
Zhao Ling’s heart skipped a beat, his breath catching for an instant.
Sensing someone’s gaze, Fu Tingyun looked up.
Her face was like a lotus in full bloom on a summer’s day.
When she saw it was Zhao Ling, her lips curved into a smile, her eyes shining brighter than gemstones.
"Ninth Master," she greeted, rising to give a slight bow.
At the sound of her voice, the others turned their attention toward him, calling out "Ninth Master" in cheerful succession.
Zhao Ling smiled and clasped his hands in greeting before taking a seat beside Master Lu.
Master Lu and the others stood up in deference.
"No need for formalities today," Zhao Ling said warmly. "It’s rare for us to be in such high spirits."
"Indeed, indeed!" Yang Yucheng was the first to sit back down. "A time for universal celebration!"
Laughter filled the air as everyone relaxed and took their seats.
Yang Yucheng promptly called for tea, and Luwei brought it over.
Zheng Sanniang, now holding Linchun, returned to her spot by the stove and began peeling grapes for the child. Freed from his duties, A Sen plopped himself down beside Zhao Ling.
"Ninth Master," he chirped with childlike enthusiasm, "after the Mid-Autumn Festival, will you be an official?"
Another round of laughter rippled through the group.
"I’ve told Official Wu that I still have some personal matters to settle," Zhao Ling replied, his gaze flickering subtly toward Fu Tingyun. "I’ll report to the Provincial Military Command on the 25th."
"Ah!" A Sen leaped up in excitement. "I’ll be an official’s attendant! I’ll be an official’s attendant!"
His outburst sent everyone into fits of laughter.The maid Luwei, who was serving tea, quickly glanced at Zhao Ling upon hearing this, a faint blush suddenly appearing on her pretty face. She then swiftly looked around at everyone present, noticing they were all focused on Zhao Ling and no one had paid her any attention. She couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.
Why did he glance at her while speaking? It almost felt like he was explaining something to her.
The thought flashed through Fu Tingyun's mind, making her ears burn.
Was it because she had immediately asked him if he had gone to the Provincial Military Command to see Official Wu when they met that day?
At the time, she had only been anxious about potential changes in the situation. But now, looking back, she—she had seemed like a nagging wife pushing her husband to study and seek fame through the imperial examinations...
Would Zhao Ling think the same way?
The thought startled Fu Tingyun.
Surely it couldn’t be as she imagined...
Overcome with shame, she couldn’t help but turn slightly to look at Zhao Ling.
He was listening to Master Lu speak: "...I’ve always been worried about Ninth Master. If Ninth Master can consider joining the army, consider pursuing...pursuing an official career, I’ll finally be able to sleep peacefully from now on." Under the lamplight, a glimmer of tears actually appeared in the corners of his eyes.
Zhao Ling was taken aback.
He hadn’t realized his actions had caused such concern.
If his parents were still alive, would they have felt the same as Master Lu?
And as for the Ninth Miss of the Fu family—she must have started pondering this matter the moment she saw Sixteenth Master give him the name card. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to grasp so many intricacies of the situation, nor convinced Yang Yucheng to act according to her plans.
His gaze involuntarily turned toward Fu Tingyun.
Their eyes met.
Fu Tingyun was overwhelmed with embarrassment and wanted to look away, but she caught a trace of confusion in his eyes.
She froze.
Today was supposed to be a joyous occasion—from now on, he would walk the righteous path. Why did he seem lost?
Could it be that the so-called righteous path in everyone’s eyes wasn’t something he wanted?
A sense of unease crept over her.
After all, this entire matter had been largely facilitated by her.
No amount of gold could buy genuine desire.
If he didn’t like it, even the best path would have flaws. At this point, not only would it be impossible for him to achieve anything, but even staying in the military camp would become a torment. It was just like how she disliked painting landscapes—the moment she picked up a brush, she felt irritated, let alone attempting to copy a masterpiece! She had even once thrown her brush into a pond in frustration.
If this were truly the case, she would need to find a way to console him.
Lost in her thoughts, she momentarily forgot Zhao Ling was still looking at her.
Zhao Ling found himself staring into a pair of eyes as startled as a deer’s.
He was puzzled.
Why was she so flustered?
Was it because he had caught her looking at him?
At this thought, his heart began to pound uncontrollably.
Could it be...had she been secretly watching him?
The idea made his heart soften instantly, and his pulse quickened even more.
But soon, those startled eyes took on a tinge of sorrow.
Why was she sad?
Was it because she felt lonely during the Mid-Autumn Festival, without her family by her side?
Zhao Ling suddenly felt restless.
Jin Yuanbao would definitely return by the 25th of August, but he had no idea how Madam Fu planned to arrange things for her daughter. As far as he knew, the remaining relatives on Madam Fu’s side were distant cousins beyond the fifth degree of mourning. Moreover, the Ninth Miss of the Fu family had been disowned by her family for that very reason. Rather than seeking refuge with those barely related relatives, it would be better for her to stay in Willow Lane. After all, he would soon be joining the army, and whether he could ever return to Xi’an Prefecture was uncertain.Having made up his mind, he felt slightly more at ease.
He thought it best to give her a hint of his intentions to ease her constant anxiety. After being drugged, he had expended great effort to nurse her back to health—she mustn’t fall into depression and relapse now.
Just as he resolved to stand and speak, Master Lu raised his glass in toast: "Ninth Master, not only did you save our lives, but you also avenged our son, daughter-in-law, and grandson. Such great kindness cannot be repaid with mere words. This humble cup of wine is but a token of our gratitude!" With that, he downed the drink in one go.
Zhao Ling smiled and raised his own cup, only to be interrupted by Fu Tingyun's startled cry: "Ninth Master, you haven’t fully recovered yet! You should drink tea instead of wine!"
The moment the words left her lips, silence fell over the courtyard.
All eyes turned toward the screen behind which she sat.
Fu Tingyun wished she could vanish into the ground.
How could she have blurted that out?
Even his wife wouldn’t dare correct him so openly in front of others—let alone her!
He must be mortified, thinking her an unreasonable, spoiled woman!
Her head bowed, she felt utterly wretched.
Then Zhao Ling’s calm, composed voice came from behind the screen: "Ah, I’d forgotten about that. You all drink—I’ll have tea instead."
Fu Tingyun looked up, disbelief written across her face as she stared at the screen.
What had he just said?
"You all drink—I’ll have tea instead." His gentle tone seemed to brush against her ear, and her heart slowly began to beat again.
He… he hadn’t scolded her.
But no sooner had the thought crossed her mind than her heart clenched once more.
Was he merely saving face for her in public? Or did he truly not mind her interference?
Her delicate, feather-like brows knitted tightly together.
Madam Lu, seated across from her, observed her expression with a knowing glint in her eyes and patted her hand reassuringly. "You meant well, and Ninth Master understands that. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have agreed to switch to tea. After all, he’s known for his drinking prowess!"
Was that really the case?
Fu Tingyun’s heart churned with uncertainty, and she dared not speak another word, listening instead to the conversation at the main table.
"...Originally, I thought there might be matters Ninth Master couldn’t attend to personally, so when you asked me to oversee the estate, I agreed without hesitation. But now that you’ve decided to enlist, I should return the property to you," Master Lu said warmly. "While you still have some free days ahead, let’s visit the magistrate’s office to transfer the deeds and settle the accounts from these years." He added, "I used to work as a shop manager. Though I’m older now, I’ve kept myself busy, always scouting the streets for profitable ventures. Over the years, I’ve gained some insight. If Ninth Master doesn’t mind, I’d be honored to serve as your manager again!"
The estate had cost a considerable sum back then, but it meant little to him now. The Lu couple had dutifully maintained it all these years—they deserved it as a gift. As for business, Zhao Ling had long known of Master Lu’s capabilities, but his focus on returning to Jiangnan had kept him from considering such arrangements.
Zhao Ling was about to decline when he hesitated.
Better to ensure Miss Fu’s situation was settled first.
If she truly had nowhere to go, he might as well leave both the estate and any shops to the Lu couple."Let's set this matter aside for now," he said. "There's something else I'd like to ask everyone." Zhao Ling's expression turned serious. "I've already discussed it with Official Wu. When the time comes, I'll be bringing along a few sworn brothers to enlist. Who among you wishes to join me?"
"Ah!" Yang Yucheng and the others beamed with joy.
The chance to cleanse their identities and live openly from now on... Who wouldn't be delighted by such an opportunity?
"I'll go with Ninth Master!" Yang Yucheng was the first to speak up.
"I'd also like to follow Ninth Master," Sanfu and Shizhu said in unison.
Sanfu was in his thirties, while Shizhu was two or three years younger. Both were of average build with honest faces—one appearing rather dull-witted, the other looking simple and sincere.
"Good. We'll wait for Yuanbao to return and see what he decides. Then we'll all go together to the Regional Military Commission to meet Official Wu," Zhao Ling said, glancing toward the screen partition as if trying to gauge Fu Tingyun's reaction.
Fu Tingyun listened with a sense of melancholy.
Once Jin Yuanbao returned, it would be time for her to leave!
She began to feel anxious.
She needed to explain to Zhao Ling about persuading him to enlist in the military camp and stopping him from drinking earlier... She had to clarify these matters quickly. Otherwise, once she left, these misunderstandings might never be resolved!
Fu Tingyun hoped she could leave Zhao Ling with a favorable impression.
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O(∩_∩)O~
(End of Chapter)
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