Escape to Your Heart

Chapter 62: Zhuanglang Garrison (Bonus Chapter for 480 Pink Votes)

Her brother actually came in person to fetch their mother...

Fu Tingyun paced anxiously. "Is my mother seriously ill?"

Jin Yuanbao hesitated before replying, "Before your mother left for the capital, all the in-laws of the Fu family sent courtesy gifts. I also inquired at those families. Few discussed your mother's illness, but many talked about... the death of the Fu family's Ninth Young Lady."

In other words, her mother had gone to the capital solely to escape the gossip.

Fu Tingyun stood frozen, then slowly lowered her head, eyes brimming with unshed tears.

It was all because of her... If not for her, her mother wouldn't be subjected to such pointed fingers...

Zhao Ling, however, frowned. "Has news from Weinan not reached the Fu family yet?"

"When I arrived in Huayin, the Fu family had just received word," Jin Yuanbao said. "By then, Madam Fu had already left Huayin." He added, "The Fu family's Eldest Master and Wu Laoye departed together. Currently, Second Master is managing affairs and has sent people to Weinan to assist with funeral arrangements and to deliver the obituary to the capital."

Her mother didn't know about her uncle's death, which was why she left without leaving any message... Her mother must have thought she had safely reached her uncle's home... When the news arrived, with her uncle deceased and her whereabouts unknown...

Fu Tingyun couldn't bear to continue the thought.

Zhao Ling sighed softly but didn't pursue the topic further. Instead, he asked Jin Yuanbao, "What are your plans?"

Earlier in the hall, everyone had already filled Jin Yuanbao in on recent events.

After some thought, Jin Yuanbao replied, "I wish to remain by Ninth Master's side."

Implied was that if he couldn't stay with Zhao Ling, he had no interest in joining the military.

Zhao Ling nodded.

If he couldn't even secure this much, it would mean Mo Yi and the others didn't take him seriously at all. His future in the military would likely be bleak.

"Then it's settled," Zhao Ling said. "You must be tired from your journey. Go freshen up, and we'll share a drink later."

Understanding that Zhao Ling wished to speak privately with Fu Tingyun, Jin Yuanbao bowed respectfully and withdrew.

Yang Yucheng had been waiting in the courtyard outside the study. Seeing Jin Yuanbao emerge, he immediately approached. "What did Ninth Master say?"

Most residents of the Willow Lane residence had followed Zhao Ling for years and knew his rules. They kept their distance when he entered the study, leaving only Yang Yucheng and Jin Yuanbao outside.

The two walked a few paces away, ensuring they wouldn't overhear the study's conversation, then stopped.

Jin Yuanbao first recounted events in Huayin, then said, "Ninth Master asked if I'd join the military with him. I said I would go only if I could stay by his side, otherwise..."

He left the rest unsaid, but the meaning was clear.

Yang Yucheng grew agitated. "How could you say that? Ninth Master has no choice in this matter—of course he wants us all together—"

"I know!" Jin Yuanbao cut him off with a silencing gesture. "I have my own plans regarding these matters."

Yang Yucheng fell silent.Jin Yuanbao was different from the others. They all came from farming families and had turned to smuggling salt under Ninth Master's lead when life became unbearable. Jin Yuanbao's father was a scholar, and he himself had once studied the Four Books and Five Classics. He had previously worked as an accountant for a wealthy household but was imprisoned after getting caught in the crossfire of a feud between the family's legitimate and illegitimate sons over inheritance. By chance, he met Ninth Master, admired his righteous and strategic nature, and thus chose to follow him. Though they all ate from the same pot, his demeanor and habits set him apart, making it hard for the others to feel close to him. While he appeared taciturn, when he did speak, his words carried the persuasive force of Zhang Yi reborn—no one could out-argue him. He was also resolute; once his mind was made up, not even nine oxen could pull him back...

On ordinary days, this didn’t seem like much, but now, with Ninth Master in a difficult position, Yang Yucheng couldn’t help feeling resentful. He muttered under his breath, "If Miss Fu hadn’t guessed right, I’d have thought you ran away!"

Jin Yuanbao knew they often saw him as deliberately enigmatic. He didn’t want to be that way, but sometimes no matter how much he explained, they still didn’t understand—occasionally even finding his worries laughably excessive. Over time, he simply stopped trying. After all, distance tests a horse’s stamina, and time reveals a person’s heart.

Hearing Yang Yucheng’s muttering, he was taken aback. "What did you say?"

Yang Yucheng, already in a sour mood, saw Jin Yuanbao’s surprise and inwardly scoffed: Weren’t you the one always boasting about your flawless calculations, acting all composed and unshakable? Well, today I’ll give you a real shock.

With that thought, he flashed a smile as bright as summer. "Weren’t you in Huayin? Everyone was uneasy, but Miss Fu said you’d calculated that Ninth Master’s plan had little chance of success. You didn’t want him to have regrets, so you went to Huayin to deliver a message, then planned to come back and help collect our bodies..."

"What did you say?" Jin Yuanbao’s expression shifted dramatically, his gaze at Yang Yucheng filled with disbelief.

Yang Yucheng couldn’t help feeling smug and added fuel to the fire. "Miss Fu had you completely figured out. She said you were trying to emulate Cheng Ying." This was something he’d learned from the opera The Orphan of Zhao . "She also said enduring humiliation to live is harder than dying heroically."

Jin Yuanbao turned his head toward the study, his expression a strange mix of joy and sorrow. He stood there silently for a long time.

※※※※※

In the study, Zhao Ling was speaking to Fu Tingyun: "You shouldn’t worry too much. Since your mother is in good health, that’s what matters most. I’ll find a reliable person to send to the capital in the next couple of days to deliver a message to her. For now, stay here peacefully. Once the messenger returns, we’ll decide what to do next."

There was nothing else to be done.

Fu Tingyun nodded dejectedly.

Her mother had gone to the capital... her uncle was gone... To the Fu family, the ninth young lady had already passed away from illness... In this vast world, where was her home?

Her heart grew heavier.

She looked up at Zhao Ling.

He sat there solemnly, lost in thought, unmoving for a long while.

At this point, even he must feel helpless.

Fu Tingyun smiled bitterly, her spirits low. "Then I’ll trouble Ninth Master for now.""Oh!" Zhao Ling snapped out of his thoughts and quickly said, "No need for such formalities." As if realizing his words sounded too stiff, he added with a smile, "With you here, Willow Lane has become much livelier."

Fu Tingyun forced a faint smile and stood up to take her leave.

Zhao Ling silently escorted her to the study door.

Yang Yucheng and Jin Yuanbao, who had been talking in the courtyard, turned around and bowed to Fu Tingyun.

Fu Tingyun curtsied slightly before heading toward the rear courtyard.

Yang Yucheng and Jin Yuanbao approached.

"Ninth Master, Miss Fu..." Yang Yucheng gazed at Fu Tingyun's retreating figure.

Zhao Ling remained silent.

Who could truly be called reliable?

Jin Yuanbao hesitated before speaking: "Perhaps I should make a trip to the capital?"

Yang Yucheng widened his eyes at him.

Pretending not to notice, Jin Yuanbao hinted meaningfully: "The rumors about the ninth young miss of the Fu family are spreading wildly in Huayin. Some say she never died of illness but eloped with someone. Others claim she was... violated while offering incense at Azure Cloud Temple. To protect her reputation, the Fu family silenced all the maids and matrons who served her there..."

Even someone as composed as Zhao Ling couldn't suppress his fury.

"Absolute nonsense!" he thundered. "The Fu family has deep roots in Huayin. How could they allow such slander without attempting to clarify matters?"

Neither Yang Yucheng nor Jin Yuanbao had expected Zhao Ling's outburst and stared at him in surprise.

Zhao Ling knew he'd lost his composure, but his anger refused to subside.

After pacing the courtyard several times, he gradually calmed down. Turning to Jin Yuanbao, he asked, "Is Second Master currently leading the Fu household? What kind of man is he?"

Jin Yuanbao smiled bitterly: "Indecisive. The slightest matter requires consulting the old madam in the inner quarters—he dares make no decisions alone."

Zhao Ling lowered his head in thought.

Jin Yuanbao continued: "Ninth Master, there are countless people surnamed Fu in this world. But if anyone connects Miss Fu with the ninth young miss of the Fu family, it would be disastrous for both you and her. Few should know of this matter. Besides me, no one else is suitable to go. Moreover, the capital's situation is complex—an ordinary person might not even find the Fu family's gates!"

Zhao Ling nodded slightly: "You going might be best. At least we could determine why the Fu family's First Master also went to the capital at this time... Something feels unusual about this situation."

The Fu family was renowned for its strict adherence to propriety. If rumors about their young lady eloping or being violated weren't properly addressed and gained credence, it could shake the family's foundations. Even if the First Master had urgent business in the capital, shouldn't they have left someone competent in charge?

Understanding Zhao Ling's meaning, Jin Yuanbao nodded: "I plan to leave on the evening of the 25th of August."

Both Zhao Ling and Yang Yucheng looked puzzled.

Jin Yuanbao explained: "I returned to Rising Joy Inn secretly. Mo Yi only left Xiao Wu on guard—he doesn't know I've returned to Xi'an Prefecture. If I can't travel with Ninth Master, I might as well rush to the capital overnight."

This way, Jin Yuanbao would become Zhao Ling's hidden move.

"But what if you can travel with Ninth Master?" Yang Yucheng quickly asked."If I can leave with Ninth Master, then I'll find a way to make a trip to the capital after arriving at the garrison," Jin Yuanbao said with a laugh. "After all, we're being assigned to the garrison by the Regional Military Commission. When the time comes, we can just say we have business back in Xi'an Prefecture. Those garrison officials probably won't want to offend us over such minor matters!"

Zhao Ling chuckled at this: "Then you'd better stay indoors these next two days." Clearly agreeing with his reasoning.

Jin Yuanbao respectfully acknowledged with a "Yes."

A Sen came running in: "Ninth Master, Ninth Master, Manager Mo is here."

Everyone exchanged glances.

Yang Yucheng looked at Jin Yuanbao and muttered: "Could Mo Yi know you've returned?"

Jin Yuanbao seemed uncertain.

Zhao Ling, however, was straightforward: "I'll go meet him and find out." Then added, "The rest of you go about your business and avoid running into him." With that, he went to the main hall.

Mo Yi sat comfortably in a Grand Tutor chair sipping tea. Seeing Zhao Ling enter, he smiled: "This residence of yours is quite impressive! Must have cost a fortune?"

"Not too bad," Zhao Ling replied modestly. "I bought it years ago when the previous owner needed ready cash for business." Then he changed the subject: "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Manager Mo?" He continued, "I haven't seen Manager Tao, Chen Liu, or Xiao Wu lately. I've been missing them."

Mo Yi appeared indifferent but maintained an enthusiastic smile: "I came to congratulate you! I heard Wu Xin assigned you to Zhuanglang Garrison. We'll be like family from now on."

Zhao Ling was taken aback.

Zhuanglang Garrison was under the jurisdiction of Gansu's Regional Commander, Marquis Yingchuan Meng Shu.

Mo Yi watched him, revealing a row of gleaming white teeth!

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Got up at 4am to write, progress was slow, couldn't finish before work hours, had to continue during lunch break, hence the delayed update...(>_