Escape to Your Heart

Chapter 63: Preparations

"Is Ninth Master going to Zhuanglang Garrison?" Fu Tingyun adjusted the winter coat on A Sen, then stepped back to examine him from all angles, checking if any alterations were needed.

She had barely slept the previous night and looked rather weary.

A Sen was sweltering in the heavy winter garment, yet he stood rigidly straight on the stool, not daring to move for fear of dirtying his new clothes.

"Brother Yucheng and Brother Yuanbao thought I was asleep," he giggled. "They were whispering, and I heard everything!"

"You little rascal!" Fu Tingyun couldn't help but laugh, her spirits lifting considerably.

She had A Sen remove the winter coat and heated an iron.

"That Mo Yi admitted he's some Guerilla General," A Sen said, leaning on the table as he watched Fu Tingyun press the clothes. "He said he'd wait for Master in Zhangye." Noticing Fu Tingyun might not know the location, he added, "Brother Yuanbao said the General Military Headquarters of Gansu is in Zhangye. Zhuanglang Garrison is one of its subordinate garrisons. Master has to report to the Gansu headquarters first before going to Zhuanglang. That's why Mo Yi said he'd wait in Zhangye. He even promised to 'treat Master to fine wine in luminous cups' when the time comes."

Fu Tingyun was taken aback. "That far away?"

A Sen nodded cheerfully. "Brother Yuanbao said it takes two to three months to travel there from Xi'an Prefecture!"

Before he could finish, Zhao Ling entered.

A Sen immediately jumped down from the stool in alarm. "Ninth Master!"

Zhao Ling smiled at Fu Tingyun. "So you already know." He didn't seem the least bit displeased.

A Sen exhaled deeply in relief, his eyes darting curiously between them.

Ninth Master normally detested people discussing matters privately, let alone sharing their affairs with outsiders—he'd even killed for it before. But Miss Fu was different. That day in Dongjiangcun when they'd bought over a thousand mu of land at once, the broker had marveled at their luck: "Had you come earlier, the Jiang family wouldn't have parted with it. Any later, and news would spread, attracting wealthy families from Xi'an who might have snatched it from you." He'd joked, "Dongjiangcun might as well be renamed Zhao Village now."

A Sen had swelled with pride and said, "Miss Fu would be so happy to hear this." Ninth Master had merely hummed in acknowledgment. Later when Miss Fu asked questions, he'd answered frankly without hesitation—with Ninth Master right there, making no move to stop him.

This time was no different.

Ninth Master had sharp ears. He'd told Miss Fu everything Brother Yucheng and Brother Yuanbao had whispered about, yet Ninth Master wasn't angry—he was even smiling while talking to her... Could it be that Miss Fu had become one of them?

But Miss Fu didn't cook for them daily or do their laundry like Brother Fugui's wife did. Then again, there were things even Fugui's wife wasn't allowed to know... And Miss Fu still had Zheng Sanniang and Madam Lu attending to her daily... Still, Miss Fu was truly wonderful. Though she didn't cook every day, her meals far surpassed those made by Fugui's wife or Brother Yuanbao. She'd only made winter clothes for Ninth Master and himself, but they were so beautifully crafted that even shop-bought ones couldn't compare. It'd be nice if Miss Fu became one of them.

A Sen pondered this deeply.

I'll ask Brother Yuanbao about it later.If Miss Fu wasn't already one of them, would his guarantee be enough for her to join their group...

Fu Tingyun had no idea that in the blink of an eye, A Sen had already spun so many thoughts in his mind.

She put away the iron and turned to pour Zhao Ling a cup of tea: "A Sen was just asking about it!"

Miss Fu said she had asked him, not that he had told her... Miss Fu was really quite considerate... A Sen grinned at Fu Tingyun, his eyes curving into crescents.

"Since Mo Yi dared to come and say it, there's likely no changing it now," Zhao Ling took a sip of tea. "But I don't know where Yucheng and the others have been assigned yet. We'll find out tomorrow when we meet Wu Xin." He then sighed, "I never expected this Mo Yi to fixate on me like this!"

Fu Tingyun sat beside him and asked, "What does Ninth Master plan to do?"

Zhao Ling hesitated, but quickly raised his brows with a smile: "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." His tone seemed to mask something.

Fu Tingyun grew suspicious and wanted to inquire further, but didn't know how to begin. While she hesitated, Zhao Ling chuckled and said, "Speaking of which, it's been years since I last went there." His manner suggested casual conversation.

Not one to leave others hanging, Fu Tingyun followed his lead: "I heard the General Military Headquarters of Gansu is in Zhangye, which is already beyond the pass. Since Ninth Master's matter is almost settled, perhaps you should take advantage of the two days before departure to buy some winter clothes and fur coats to bring along." She added, "Fortunately, Xi'an is the capital of Shaanxi—you can find anything here. Otherwise, it would be quite a predicament!"

Zhao Ling looked somewhat awkward: "I'm used to being careless. I wear one fur coat all winter, then buy a spring robe when the season changes and toss the coat aside. By the time the north wind blows in winter again, I can't even remember where I left the coat, so I just buy a new one..."

With only A Sen to attend to him, and A Sen being a child himself, it was no wonder he was so untidy.

Fu Tingyun pondered this and couldn't help laughing: "Well, if there's anything you need to add, I..." She paused. "Why not have Madam Lu help with the preparations?"

A cold sweat broke out on her back.

Thankfully, she had swallowed the words "I'll help you prepare" in time.

She wasn't his... wife, after all. What right did she have to handle such matters for him?

If those words had slipped out, it would have been utterly embarrassing.

Her face flushed red.

Zhao Ling gazed intently at Fu Tingyun for a long moment before finally lifting his teacup for a sip. Slowly, he said, "Once I'm there, I'll inevitably have to interact with generals and commanders. I wonder if Madam Lu would know what to prepare for such occasions."Fu Tingyun breathed a sigh of relief and quickly steered the conversation elsewhere: "In that case, besides clothes, it would be best to bring along some medicinal herbs, antiques, and gold ornaments." She recalled the items her mother used to send to the capital every year. "The journey is long, so it's best to carry things that are small yet valuable or exquisitely crafted and uniquely designed—they'll make good gifts for superiors. Also, bring some silver coins of one or two fen for tipping colleagues' children. For the children of superiors, silver sycee of seven or eight taels would be more appropriate... And prepare several different pouches for the reward money to avoid mix-ups..." She then thought about how her sixth aunt would pack for her sixth uncle, who loved traveling for study. "At least three fur coats are needed—one for visiting superiors and social engagements, one for daily wear, and one for wearing at home. Similarly, at least three cotton-padded jackets—two thicker ones for autumn and one lighter one for when the spring winds still carry a chill. It's also best to prepare a spring robe, just in case delays make it impossible to have one made in time. As for boots, I think at least six pairs are necessary. I've heard the area is full of wind and sand, with gravel roads that wear out boots quickly. Two pairs of cotton boots are also needed for indoor wear..." As if trying to cover up her nervousness, she rambled on and on.

Zhao Ling remained silent, listening patiently and quietly with a faint smile at the corners of his lips.

A Sen, however, was dumbfounded and couldn't help interrupting her. "Miss Fu, with so many clothes, one might never wear them all in a lifetime!" He looked at her with great confusion.

His implication was clear—was it really necessary to buy so many clothes?

"This is already the bare minimum!" Fu Tingyun replied. "Any less, and we'd have to make do." Worried that Zhao Ling might share A Sen's thoughts, she turned to him earnestly. "If this were any other place, one could simply hire a tailor whenever more clothes were needed. But Ninth Master is going beyond the frontier, where resources are scarce and life is harsh. Even with money, good fabric and skilled tailors might be hard to come by. It's better to be prepared."

Zhao Ling nodded. "Then it's settled." He then smiled and said, "You just listed so many things—even someone with a memory as good as mine couldn't keep track. Why don't you write down everything we need to buy? I'll have Madam Lu prepare them accordingly."

Fu Tingyun flushed with embarrassment.

A Sen helped her grind the ink, and as she thought, she wrote, taking over half an hour to complete the list. After carefully reviewing it, she handed it to Zhao Ling, who had been sitting nearby sipping tea.

Without even glancing at it, Zhao Ling tucked the list into his sleeve and went to see Madam Lu.

That evening, Madam Lu came with the list. "Miss Fu, three fur coats—one for visiting superiors, one for daily wear, and one for home. What's the difference between them?"Fu Tingyun explained carefully, "When visiting a superior, one must be dignified but not overly extravagant. If you dress too lavishly, even better than your superior, it will make them unhappy. A good-quality Hangzhou silk outer layer with a gray squirrel fur lining would suffice. For everyday wear, it depends on what's currently popular in Jiangnan. I've heard that the nobles in the palace are all wearing 'Suzhou styles.' People often judge others by their attire first, so buying something in that style won’t go wrong. As for indoor wear, comfort is key. It’s best to find something made of fox fur—light, warm, and it won’t lose its shape even after a decade."

Madam Lu realized there were such intricacies to consider. She had thought that when visiting a superior, the more luxurious the attire, the better, with everyday wear being secondary, and at home, anything would do... Thankfully, Ninth Master had reminded her to ask, or she might have made a serious mistake.

She couldn’t help but say, "Miss Fu, why don’t you come with me tomorrow? Just these three fur coats have already left me indecisive. As for the gifts for the superior, I wouldn’t dare decide on my own."

"This..." Fu Tingyun hesitated.

"Miss Fu," Madam Lu took her hand, "Ninth Master is meeting Wu Daren tomorrow and will set off for Zhangye at the latest the day after. Please, do this for me." Her tone was earnest.

Indeed, Zhao Ling would soon leave for Zhangye. He had helped her so much—she could do this for him in return.

At this thought, Fu Tingyun felt a sudden clarity.

"Alright!" she said with a smile. "I’ll go shopping with you tomorrow."

Madam Lu laughed in relief and expressed her gratitude profusely before leaving.

Shortly after, Zheng Sanniang came in. "Miss, Ninth Master gave Zheng San a thousand taels of silver and asked him to accompany you tomorrow for shopping."

Fu Tingyun was surprised.

How had he given Zheng San a thousand taels so quickly? It seemed as though it had been prepared in advance, just waiting for her to agree to go shopping with Madam Lu tomorrow.

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I must work harder... The pink votes are slipping again...

(End of chapter)