Chapter 73: The Inn (Additional Update for 640 Pink Votes)
Early the next morning, the snow stopped.
The world was blanketed in white, a sight that lifted everyone's spirits.
While waiting for breakfast, Zhao Ling and the others stood in front of the inn to admire the snowy scenery.
Jin Yuanbao said, "Now that it's started snowing, the weather won’t clear up anytime soon. If we run into a blizzard on the road, it’ll be disastrous. Why don’t we rest at the inn for a few days? It’s only five or six days to Zhangye anyway—it won’t delay our journey."
Yang Yucheng, however, thought the exact opposite.
"Precisely because it’s only five or six days to Zhangye, I think we should leave sooner," he said with a laugh. "Even if we encounter a blizzard along the way, it’s no big deal—we’ll grit our teeth and push through. Once we reach Zhangye, everything will be fine. Staying stranded on the road just feels unsettling!"
If it were up to Zhao Ling’s nature, he would agree with Yang Yucheng’s approach.
A blizzard was nothing to fear.
But thinking of Fu Tingyun, he hesitated.
Just then, a man nearby spoke up warmly, "Why don’t you travel with us to Zhangye?"
They turned to see Master Ye of the Datong Company standing there with a smile, accompanied by five or six men who looked like stewards.
As Zhao Ling faced him, Master Ye said, "Our caravan has guides who travel these routes year-round, and we have camels. If we do run into a blizzard, we’ll have some shelter. What do you think?" His eyes gleamed as he watched Zhao Ling.
Zhao Ling recalled yesterday’s argument… no doubt Master Ye had heard something… He smiled and said, "Then we’ll trouble you, Master Ye."
Master Ye seemed surprised. "You know my surname is Ye?"
Zhao Ling replied, "Last time you were leaving the inn while we were entering, I heard the innkeeper mention it."
Master Ye chuckled and formally introduced himself. "This old man is named Shouxin, courtesy name Shangcheng, the third manager of the Datong Company. If you don’t mind, young brother, you may call me Third Manager."
Zhao Ling, being half a businessman himself, instinctively respected merchants but didn’t belittle himself either. With a smile, he said, "I wouldn’t dare," and added, "My surname is Zhao, given name Ling, ninth in my family. Shangcheng-xiong may call me Zhao Jiu."
Master Ye cupped his hands in greeting first. "Brother Zhao."
The two exchanged polite remarks about the weather until Master Ye’s stewards invited him to breakfast. Master Ye warmly extended the invitation to Zhao Ling and his companions, but Zhao Ling politely declined.
Watching Master Ye’s retreating figure, Yang Yucheng grew excited. "Are we really traveling with Master Ye?"
The Datong Company was legendary in the business world.
Jin Yuanbao shot him a glare. "Have some dignity, will you? You’re a military man now."
Yang Yucheng thought of the green-clad centurion and straightened his back a little, but still muttered under his breath, "It’s just that the people from the Datong Company are so impressive!" Then he added, "This Master Ye is being so nice to Ninth Master—could he be scheming something?"“What could Master Ye possibly want from me?” Zhao Ling chuckled. “I’m just a lowly Centurion. Merchants like him, who can assemble such large caravans and travel thousands of miles for trade between the north and south, always have powerful backers—at least a third-rank provincial governor. They simply prefer to avoid trouble.” He added, “Enough. Businessmen live by the principle of mutual convenience. No need to overthink it. If we can enjoy such benefits, why not? Hurry and pack up so we can get moving.”
After breakfast, the group set off together.
Master Ye treated Zhao Ling neither with excessive warmth nor cold indifference. His demeanor was natural and amiable. They chatted and laughed, discussing the scenery along the way. Master Ye, having traveled extensively, naturally knew much, while Zhao Ling, though young, could engage in conversation no matter the topic. This subtly surprised Master Ye, who began to regard Zhao Ling with a touch of added respect amidst his friendliness.
The snowfall came and went, making the journey somewhat inconvenient, but they encountered no major storms. Finding lodging along the way went smoothly, though it took two extra days to reach Zhangye.
The majestic city walls and sprawling fortifications stretching for miles made Fu Tingyun’s eyes widen as she peeked out from behind the carriage curtain.
Zhao Ling turned and caught sight of jade-like fingers gently holding up the blue-green curtain. He couldn’t help but smile faintly.
Master Ye rode over and said, “Brother Zhao, why not stay with me at the Shanxi Guild Hall? Our Shanxi merchants have permanent representatives in Zhangye, so you’ll have people to assist if needed.”
Zhao Ling replied with a smile, “I’ve heard that the Star Gazer Tower in Zhangye is built on a slope, offering a view of the entire city…”
Master Ye laughed. “Zhangye is one of the Nine Frontier Garrisons, a military stronghold. How could they allow anyone to overlook the city? It’s just slightly elevated.”
But Zhao Ling insisted on staying at the Star Gazer Tower.
Their acquaintance being shallow, Master Ye said no more, and they queued to enter Zhangye.
Amidst the bustling, noisy crowds, they found the Star Gazer Tower on Zhangye’s busiest street.
As Master Ye had said, the tower was merely built on slightly higher ground.
Yet Zhao Ling was satisfied and asked the innkeeper for rooms facing the street.
The innkeeper hesitated.
Yang Yucheng whispered, “Ninth Master, street-facing rooms aren’t safe…” urging him to reconsider.
“This is Zhangye,” Zhao Ling replied with a smile. “And we’re not merchants.”
Seeing his resolve, Yang Yucheng dropped the matter.
“One room will do,” Zhao Ling told the innkeeper. “I’ll pay double.”
Yang Yucheng and the others were puzzled.
The innkeeper thought for a moment, then called over a servant and murmured instructions. The servant hurried off. After Jin Yuanbao paid the deposit, the servant returned and said cheerfully, “There’s one street-facing room available. Please wait a moment—the guest is about to check out.”
Everyone knew the innkeeper had persuaded a guest to vacate the room but pretended otherwise, making small talk.
Suddenly, Yang Yucheng darted out of the inn and dragged a man inside like an eagle seizing prey.
“Why have you been following us?” He flung the man to the ground.
The man took a long time to get up.
Fu Tingyun didn’t recognize him, but Zheng San identified him as one of the men who had accompanied the green-clad centurion. He immediately went to Zhao Ling and whispered in his ear.Zhao Ling also recognized him, but Zheng San's quick-wittedness still pleased him. He nodded approvingly at Zheng San before coldly asking the man, "Why did your centurion send you to follow us?"
His expression was icy, his sharp gaze piercing the man like an arrow, making him shiver. However, recalling the person who had sent him, the man mustered some courage and muttered, "Our centurion said a mere centurion has no right to report at the Gansu General Military Headquarters. He sent me to check if you're genuine." At this point, he remembered his centurion's words—"Only a chiliarch has the right to report personally at the General Military Headquarters"—and grew even more suspicious of Zhao Ling, his tone hardening. "If you're genuine, fine. But if you're not," he sneered, "our Lord Feng will make sure you regret it!"
Fu Tingyun, unaware of these matters, couldn't help but feel a surge of joy upon hearing this.
It seemed the Shaanxi Regional Military Commission still held Zhao Ling in special regard.
For people like them, without background or connections, it would be hard to rise above the crowd if those in power didn't value them. If they wanted to transfer to another regional commission later, they might not even find a way.
It was like the maids and servants in the Fu household. As long as they occasionally caught the attention of the mistresses and exerted a little effort on the housekeepers when good assignments came up, a word from the housekeeper would usually seal the deal.
This time, when reporting at the Gansu General Military Headquarters, they must find a way to establish connections with the people there.
As Fu Tingyun pondered this, she heard Zhao Ling sneer, "Since your Centurion Feng wants to see for himself, I'll let him see clearly." He raised his voice and called, "Yucheng!" then said, "Find him a guest room. We'll take him with us when we report at the Gansu General Military Headquarters." His voice was low, sinister, and bone-chilling. "Once he's seen enough, we'll settle this account properly." Clearly, he had no intention of letting Centurion Feng off easily.
The man shuddered.
Yang Yucheng laughed heartily as he grabbed the man by the collar. "Come on, I'll find you a guest room," he said, dragging him away.
The man grew frightened and shouted, "Do you know who our Lord Feng is? He's the eighth son of the Xiping Marquis—"
Yang Yucheng paused, but Zhao Ling remained unmoved.
At this point, backing down would only invite humiliation.
Yang Yucheng made up his mind and said bluntly, "Don't worry. After we deal with you, our master will personally explain things to the Xiping Marquis." Without hesitation, he dragged the man away.
Though Fu Tingyun didn’t know who this Xiping Marquis was, the man’s bravado in threatening Zhao Ling suggested he was no ordinary figure.
She couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on.
They hadn’t even reported at the Gansu General Military Headquarters yet, and already they’d crossed paths with Mo Yi and now this Centurion Feng...
But Zhao Ling lightheartedly reassured her, "No one envies a man of no talent." He added, "The Marquis Yingchuan is a noble from the capital, while the Xiping Marquis has guarded Ganzhou for generations. No matter how capable I am, I can’t expect both of them to favor me. Besides, I was recommended by the Sixteenth Master—choices had to be made."
By the time he reported to the Shaanxi Regional Military Commission, he had likely already been branded as Marquis Yingchuan’s man.
Fu Tingyun had been raised on the art of balancing relationships within the household, emphasizing harmony and finding common ground amid differences.
She sighed softly.
Perhaps this was the difference between the outer court and the inner chambers.Zhao Ling beckoned to her with a smile, "Come with me!"
Fu Tingyun followed him into the street-facing guest room.
He pushed open half the window and pointed below, "Look!"
Outside was a bustling street—Persians in white robes leading tall camels, Westerners with curved swords at their waists and long mustaches, Uyghur girls with countless braids, square-patterned hats, leather vests, and water jars, and Hui women hurrying along in small groups. The crowd was lively and noisy, speaking languages she couldn’t understand, creating a vibrant scene.
"This…" Fu Tingyun had an inkling but feared she might be overthinking it. She pressed her lips together, gazing at Zhao Ling with some nervousness.
"I’m just a lowly Centurion from Zhuanglang Garrison. After reporting to the General Military Headquarters, I doubt I’ll have many chances to visit Zhangye again," he said, his gaze gentle as water. "I plan to stay here for a few days to sort out all the connections I can. Since you’re here as my ‘fiancée,’ I likely won’t have time to accompany you on strolls through the streets. If you feel bored, just open the window and take in the view to lift your spirits!"
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O(∩_∩)O~
(End of Chapter)
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