Chapter 65: Where To
Fu Tingyun left the study courtyard with a heavy heart.
The main hall was filled with laughter and chatter.
Everyone had gathered around A Sen as he animatedly recounted their experiences in town: "...When the shopkeeper noticed Miss Fu's gaze lingering on a shimmering bolt of satin, he immediately scurried over and said, 'This is Hangzhou brocade—the very same used for imperial tributes from Jiangnan.' Miss Fu just gave the slightest nod," he said, mimicking Fu Tingyun's posture—spine straight, chin slightly raised, with an almost imperceptible tilt of her head. "Then she studied the fabric for a moment before slowly remarking, 'Is that so? The quality is decent, though the pattern is from a couple of years ago.'" He couldn't help but chuckle. "The shopkeeper was speechless for a long moment. Miss Fu then ran her hand over a piece of napped fabric nearby, had it unfolded for inspection, and then motioned for it to be put back. The shopkeeper couldn't resist interjecting, 'This is Jiaxing twill.' Miss Fu replied, 'I'm looking for material for a fur-lined jacket—Nanjing velvet would be more suitable.' The shopkeeper's face turned red with frustration. But when Miss Fu mentioned she needed fabric for undergarments, he eagerly presented a bolt of silk-like white cloth, declaring, 'This is Songjiang three-shuttle cloth—perfect for undergarments!'" He blinked mischievously. "Guess what Miss Fu said?" Without waiting for a response, he continued, "She said, 'Though Songjiang three-shuttle cloth is fine, it's too expensive. Wuzhong looped cotton may not have the same prestige, but it wears just as well.'" He burst into laughter. "You should've seen the shopkeeper's face—he was completely dumbfounded! When Miss Fu asked, 'How much for this three-shuttle cloth?' he stammered out, 'Twenty-one hundred wen.' Yet just next door, she bought me a pair of Songjiang three-shuttle cloth socks for five hundred eighty wen... Then she ordered twelve sets of undergarments for Ninth Master on the spot—the shopkeeper nearly turned green!"
The room erupted in laughter.
Madam Lu, sharp-eyed, spotted Fu Tingyun and hurried over. "Miss Fu, where is Ninth Master?" She glanced behind her, disappointment flickering across her face when she saw no one else.
Lanterns had already been lit under the eaves and in the hall—it was well past dinnertime. After a long day outside, everyone was starving.
"They're still talking," Fu Tingyun said apologetically. "We'll have to wait a little longer."
"Of course we'll wait for Ninth Master," Madam Lu replied warmly. "We're all eager to hear where Brother Yang and Brother Jin have been settled!"
As they spoke, they entered the hall.
Sanfu and Shizhu stepped forward to bow to Fu Tingyun, clumsily expressing their gratitude: "...They fit perfectly, as if tailored just for us. The colors and fabrics are excellent too. We've never worn anything so fine before!"
"I wasn't sure of your preferences, so I just picked a couple of things," Fu Tingyun replied with modest pride, though inwardly, she was quite pleased.
Of course they fit well!
Back when she was learning needlework, her teacher had only considered her skilled once she could tailor clothes just by looking at a person. Because of that, her maids and servants had never lacked new outfits.
The thought brought a faint bitterness to her heart.
If not for the strict training she received at home, would she have earned such admiration today?No matter what, that place was still her home!
Light footsteps echoed from the alleyway.
Fu Tingyun turned to see Zhao Ling, Yang Yucheng, and Jin Yuanbao approaching one after another.
"Ninth Master!" A Sen shouted excitedly, running over to greet Zhao Ling. "Come quick and see—Miss Fu bought so many things for you! Besides clothes, there's pitch-pot, cuju, backgammon, and even dominoes..."
"Oh, she even got these?" Zhao Ling responded to A Sen, but his gaze remained fixed on Fu Tingyun. His expression was calm, yet there was an unfathomable depth to it, mysterious and inscrutable.
For some reason, Fu Tingyun's heart began to race uncontrollably.
"Indeed!" She tried her best to appear composed and at ease. "Sometimes playing backgammon or dominoes with superiors or colleagues helps build familiarity quickly."
Jin Yuanbao's eyes flickered slightly at her words.
Master Lu, who had been following A Sen, chuckled and said, "I never expected Miss Fu to be familiar with such things?" His tone was ambiguous—whether it was praise or veiled criticism was unclear.
Not wanting Zhao Ling to misunderstand, Fu Tingyun smiled and explained, "I’ve noticed that even the stewardesses in our household often invite their subordinates for drinks and games like backgammon when managing affairs. I imagine it’s the same outside."
The group laughed.
Madam Lu sought Zhao Ling's opinion: "...Should we serve dinner now or wait a little longer?"
"Let’s serve now," Zhao Ling replied, and Madam Lu and the others went to prepare.
Since this was a gathering for the men, Fu Tingyun naturally had to excuse herself.
But Zhao Ling instructed Zheng San, "Set up one table inside and another outside." As if to explain, he added with a smile, "Today is a special occasion—let’s all celebrate together." Then he announced loudly, "I went to the military headquarters today. We’ve all been assigned to Zhuanglang Garrison!"
Sanfu and the others cheered.
"Really? Really?" A Sen jumped for joy. "We’re really all going to Zhuanglang Garrison together?"
Zhao Ling gave an affirmative hum. "Though it’s a bit far, we’re all enlisted now. Compared to Suzhou Garrison or Ganzhou Garrison, it’s not that distant."
Shizhu grinned. "As long as I’m enlisted, I’d go even to Suzhou or Ganzhou Garrison!"
Zhao Ling widened his eyes in mock surprise. "You’d actually want to go there? Had I known, I would’ve asked Official Wu to assign you there!"
The group froze for a moment before scattered laughter broke out.
Zhao Ling looked slightly embarrassed.
Fu Tingyun couldn’t help covering her mouth to stifle a laugh.
Zhao Ling rarely cracked jokes, and no one was quite used to it...
Fortunately, Zheng San soon brought out tables, and Sanfu, Shizhu, and the others helped set one up in the east and another in the main hall. Fu Tingyun and the other women sat at the eastern table, while Zhao Ling and the men took their seats in the hall. Zheng Sanniang and Luwei served the dishes, and Master Lu brought out a jug of strong liquor: "Tonight, we drink this!"
Yang Yucheng grinned. "This must be your prized stash!"
Master Lu laughed, though his eyes glistened slightly. "Beyond the pass, this is the only drink worth having!"
He was from Liangzhou.
Everyone understood—Master Lu was thinking of his homeland.
Jin Yuanbao poured drinks for everyone. "Tonight, we don’t stop until we’re drunk!"
"Agreed!" Yang Yucheng laughed heartily. "But this jug might not be enough!"
Master Lu declared boldly, "I’d be more worried about you drinking until you can’t tell north from south!" His usual humility was replaced by a rare exuberance.“Why would I need to find north?” Yang Yucheng scoffed. “All I need to recognize is the door to the side chamber.” Then he called out, “Bring the sea bowls!”
The hall erupted in laughter again, the lively atmosphere restored.
Fu Tingyun lowered her head.
Such scenes would likely never grace her life again.
Zhao Ling’s gaze traveled over the crowd, settling on the beaded curtain of the eastern chamber.
Jin Yuanbao, pouring wine nearby, glanced at Zhao Ling. His hand trembled slightly, nearly spilling the wine, earning a loud exclamation from Yang Yucheng.
※※※※※
The crescent moon hung in the azure night sky, casting a hazy silver glow.
Zhao Ling stood in the courtyard, exhaling deeply as if expelling the alcohol’s warmth from his chest.
The eaves blocked the moonlight, leaving the lower half of the side chamber’s stone walls bathed in light while the upper windows remained shrouded in shadow.
Jin Yuanbao stepped out just as Zhao Ling stood there.
He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Ninth Master, everyone toasted you today, yet you merely wet your lips each time.”
Zhao Ling turned his head.
The colorful threads on Jin Yuanbao’s bat-head shoes were clearly visible in the moonlight, but his face remained hidden in the eaves’ shadow.
“My internal injuries haven’t fully healed,” Zhao Ling said slowly. “It’s better to drink less.”
Jin Yuanbao burst into laughter as if hearing something hilarious, then abruptly fell silent as if remembering something.
Zhao Ling turned away, his tone indifferent. “You did that on purpose today, didn’t you?”
Jin Yuanbao played dumb. “On purpose? I didn’t push you to drink today!”
Zhao Ling smiled faintly, more elusive than the moonlight. “When did you notice Miss Fu outside the study?”
Jin Yuanbao remained silent for a long moment.
Zhao Ling waited patiently.
Finally, Jin Yuanbao sighed helplessly. “When Yucheng called me heartless… Normally, you detest infighting among comrades, yet today, you reacted slower than I did. I jumped up in anger before you finally scolded him.”
“Is that so?” Zhao Ling seemed surprised.
Jin Yuanbao hesitated, then took a few steps forward.
His plain face emerged into the moonlight, lending his gentle eyes an added tranquility.
“If you… why not just tell her directly?” He sounded puzzled. “Letting her overhear fragments and guess the rest will only make her more anxious…”
Zhao Ling fell silent.
Just as Jin Yuanbao thought he wouldn’t answer, he murmured, “Perhaps because… I’m hesitant too.”
Jin Yuanbao didn’t understand.
Zhao Ling chuckled softly. “Right now, I both hope she’ll go to Zhangye… and fear that she will.”
Jin Yuanbao began to grasp his meaning.
If Miss Fu chose Zhangye, it would mean mutual affection. Yet if she truly went, the Ninth Master feared she couldn’t adapt to life beyond the frontier.
Was such ambivalence good or bad?
Gazing at Zhao Ling’s sharply defined features, Jin Yuanbao felt a twinge of unease.
Zhao Ling had been tormented lately, and Jin Yuanbao was his sworn brother. Since his feelings were laid bare, the words flowed naturally: “Zhangye is too desolate. I don’t want her withering there. Her living well is enough for me.” Yet inwardly, he felt guilty: Testing her like this was truly unjust.The persistent unease that had kept him tossing and turning was finally laid to rest, and Zhao Ling exhaled a long sigh of relief.
Each lost in their own thoughts, they failed to notice the long shadow standing silently in the narrow passageway.
"Zhangye is too desolate. I don’t want her to wither away there!" Fu Tingyun caught only this fragment of words, repeating them silently in her heart. She dwelled on Zhao Ling’s unyielding tone, on his quiet sigh, and for a moment, she felt dazed.
If she hadn’t been unable to sleep, if she hadn’t mustered the courage to seek Zhao Ling out for answers, would she have never known of his pity for her?
No—she should have realized long ago.
When he had saved her.
When he had disregarded his own safety to escort her to Weinan.
When he had hidden her in a water vat upon encountering Feng Laosi.
When he had pushed onward westward despite his injuries, never uttering a word of complaint.
...
Some things, she could wait for.
Others, not even a moment could be spared.
Since this matter had arisen because of her, she would be the one to resolve it.
Just as Zhao Ling had done for her.
Without evasion, without escape, without complaint... there would always come a day when things were settled.
In an instant, her heart felt as light and free as willow catkins dancing in the air.
(End of Chapter)
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